A slave is a person who is owned by another person. A slave is not free. Typically, a slave has no rights and is forced to work, day after day, without pay. Slaves are fed a modest diet to keep them fit for duty and usually provided with some kind of living quarters to allow them to sleep and wash. To be clear, these allowances are not born out of any sense of kindness or compassion on the master’s part, but simply to ensure that the slave is able to perform his duties to the very best of his ability.
If a slave falls ill, he may receive some level of medical care, at the expense of his master. This is in order to get him back to good health as quickly as possible and hence enable him to return to his post. Some masters will recognise that, in order to get the best performance out of their slave (or slaves), it is a good idea to give them little incentives. Nothing too costly, of course. Perhaps a meat dish and ale for dinner, instead of bread and water, or maybe a more comfortable bed or new work boots. Basically something which is of fairly insignificant value to the master but may be highly alluring to the slave. The Carrot and Stick approach, in other words.
