<Mike_Holmes> *

<Mike_Holmes> *

<Mike_Holmes> **

<Mike_Holmes> Tez, Teodric, and Lana all have their own rooms at Ruin House waiting for dinner to be served. Nula and Zirun had been left in the room at the inn at which they'd been hiding out, when they came to this place. Nula because it was deemed too dangerous for her, and Zirun because he was found incapable of putting on urban airs.

<Teodric> Teodric finds a book of poetry on the shelf in his room. He sits on the bed to read. This is a ritual he's done many times to calm his nerves before negotiations.

• Tez 'entertains' the maid loudly, while quietly asking her questions between odd noises and the occasional thump.

<Tez> "You knew my mother? How?"

<Mike_Holmes> "As I told you, she saved my life, by getting me a place here," the servant brushes the hair from her face and continues. "You may not be aware, but she used to come her frequently."

<Tez> "What for? I didn't know anyone came here on purpose."

<Mike_Holmes> "Well...the owner of this house is, unbeknownst to many, her half-brother," she says. "Your half-uncle, as it were."

<Tez> "He...what?! He is not!"

<Mike_Holmes> "I'm afraid so," she relates. Tez estimates that this woman isn't much older than she. She must have been a child when she started on here at Ruin House.

<Tez> "But he's...evil or something."

<Mike_Holmes> The woman makes a noncommittal gesture, and tries to look at something else in the room. "He gave me a house to live in."

<Tez> "I'm sorry... I know my mom wouldn't put you in a dangerous place...but the rumors? Are they true?"

<Mike_Holmes> "Well," she doesn't want to talk about it, apparently. "It's not like I'm allowed everywhere. Especially not down into the ruins below."

<Mike_Holmes> She looks at the floor, and her face grows a bit paler.

<Tez> "Listen, I can get you out of here if you want. Lana's got money."

<Mike_Holmes> She looks at Tez confused.

<Tez> "If you're afraid to stay, I mean. I got you in trouble down there... I don't want you to get hurt cause of me."

<Mike_Holmes> The woman nods, "I...they might..."

<Mike_Holmes> "If I left where would I go?"

<Mike_Holmes> "This is the only life I know."

• Tez looks her up and down, "Well... I promised I'd help out my old gang when I finished here, but if you want, you can probably work with me, or Teodric or Lana can find something for you. They seem to like rescuing maidens in distress." she grins.

<Mike_Holmes> "I..." she can't seem to figure out what to do. This is just entirely out of her range of experience.

<Tez> "What will happen to you if you stay?"

<Mike_Holmes> "I don't know," she says. "I suppose that depends on why you are here."

<Tez> "To find things out. I think someone..." she looks around suspiciously... "I shouldn't say."

<Mike_Holmes> "If it's bad, they might do something bad in proportion to me to make me pay," she admits reluctantly.

<Tez> "I thought so... I'm sorry, I really am. But you can come with us, or stay... My mother helped you once, let me help you now..."

<Mike_Holmes> She thinks about it for a moment and then says, with trepidation, "OK, I'll do it. How...?"

<Tez> "Hmmm... well first we need to convince them what we were doing in here was...what they think it was. Maybe a little hurt, too. That should hold them off for a bit while we find what we came for. I'll try to buy you off of them, and if that fails, well we'll get you out of here anyway."

<Mike_Holmes> "What does that mean? Where do I wait? Here?" she asks.

<Tez> "erm..." she blushes. "I think maybe..." she thinks back on some of the scenes she's snuck in on, to steal the men's riches in the brothels while they were uh..unattended.

• Tez haltingly explains one of the slightly less disturbing scenes, with disclaimers about how it definitely wasn't her and she wouldn't do that, but if she were not 'finished' per se, how it would look when she took a break.

<Mike_Holmes> The woman is a little uncertain about the plan, but in the end acquiesces to it. As Tez ties her up, she says, "If it's not presumptuous, my name is Aylant."

• Tez laughs, "At this point, I think there are no presumptions. It's lovely to meet you, Aylant. I'm Tez, as you know. I'm sorry we didn't have a more pleasant meeting." she replies formally.

<Mike_Holmes> *

<Mike_Holmes> *

<Mike_Holmes> **

<Mike_Holmes> Finding Lana a bit later, in her room, Lana asks, "What happened to the servant girl?"

<Tez> "Oh, well. She's okay for now."

• Tez blushes and fidgets.

<Mike_Holmes> Lana's room is, apparently not just for guests, it's too large and opulent. Maybe they didn't have enough places for this many guests...

<Mike_Holmes> "Check out this window," says Lana. "Do you think your friends could make it up here? It looks like a clear rout when it gets dark later? What do you think?"

• Tez snoops around the room looking for hidden eyes and ears, then checks out the window.

<Mike_Holmes> Lana smiles, "Thanks for the double-check. But I think they're not listening in. I think they intend to feel us out a bit at dinner yet."

<Mike_Holmes> "So?" she says as Tez looks out.

<Tez> "I think it'll work well." She leans out the window, and marks the sill with a phosphorescent fungus in a pattern of dots and spirals,incomprehensible to any but her gang. It says, 'Enter here. Save girl A in my room"

• Tez thinks for a moment, then adds 'we're just friends'

<Mike_Holmes> Lana looks about out the window some more. "There's a good ledge out here. Care to take a stroll?"

<Tez> "Sounds like a good idea, I could use some fresh air..."

• Tez climbs out onto the ledge, looking down below as she breathes in the fresh air, calming her mind. "We need to help Aylant. The servant girl."

<Mike_Holmes> Lana seems to take to the ledge as though she were just walking on normal ground - one gets the impression she does this sort of thing a lot.

<Mike_Holmes> As they proceed further there's a point where the elaborate decorations of Ruin House make it such that they have to climb over a detail to get to the next part of the ledge.

<Tez> "I...think I'll stay on *this* ledge." she eyes that part warily.

<Mike_Holmes> After a moment Tez moves forward, and puts a leg over the detail. She slips momentarily, and, though she probably wouldn't have fallen, Lana reaches out quickly and grabs on to her pulling her over.

<Mike_Holmes> Lana looks at her as if to say, "quit playing around."

<Mike_Holmes> As she does so, Tez sees something disturbing. Behind Lana, the vines on the wall are starting to move. Slowly they're creeping they're way toward the two of them.

<Tez> "Uh..Lana...We better move. Those vines are going to get us!"

• Tez reverses, now pulling on Lana's hand, scrambling back the way she came!

<Mike_Holmes> They turn and find the detail. Lana checks the nearest window. "In here!"

• Tez yanks open the window and dives in

<Mike_Holmes> As they stand up, a man emerges from a bed, in which there is an elven woman. Tez does not know her name, but knows her by reputation. This is the concubine of the Lord of Ardania.

<Tez> O.o

• Tez siiidles off behind the curtains

<Mike_Holmes> Lana doesn't even try to hide, it being just too obvious, as she's landed near the foot of the bed.

<Mike_Holmes> The man, naked, approaches her. "I'm the Lord of Ruin House. And you are?"

<Mike_Holmes> Tez notes that there is a sword on the table beside the man...her half-uncle.

<Mike_Holmes> *

<Mike_Holmes> **

---

---

<Mike_Holmes> Aaron repaired, Agnes shows the group about Ohidar one more time, displaying it's many splendors for them. She recalls her encounter with her father as he fixed Aaron.

<Agnes> "I know you must think it was a strange fit for my father -- to leave Green Lake and nest with the 'goblins.' But you saw him at work. The Murlogi accept him in a way that he never felt accepted at Green Lake." Agnes shrugs. "Did you see the way he worked on Aaron..?"

<Agnes> "He would never have been able to reshape the torso around the birds while simultaneously keeping all that life-force intact without the aide of that crane he built. And you wouldn't have let him build that down on the lake."

<Agnes> "That entire construction was pieced together from the parts of something like thirty people -- all directed to work in unison. His workshop there is almost alive."

<Agnes> "But at least I could tell how happy he was to see you guys, particularly Aaron. And it was funny to see your startle, Dhazari when you noted that he carried the chegain, even underground after all that time. It was cute."

<Mike_Holmes> Dhazari nods, still perplexed to some extent.

<Mike_Holmes> Around them, the mines sprawl out in every direction, magical gems providing luminescence to places far off.

<Agnes> "I think you guys have pretty much seen it all...what do you think? Surprised?"

<Mike_Holmes> Serama finishes taking in the vista, and turns back to Agnes, "Surprised? Well, I suppose..."

• Agnes raises her brows, "...?"

<Mike_Holmes> "Well, it's just that...this place..." Serama doesn't want to say something insulting.

<Agnes> "It's not like other places you've been..." Agnes agrees.

<Agnes> "Well, let's go." Agnes leads the outsiders back to the chamber where they stabled their beasts and pays the guards for their time.

<Agnes> Travelling with Rot-rot will be interesting -- Agnes wonders how fast he can move over land.

<Mike_Holmes> As they arrive in the entry chamber, a largish host of goblins appears, led by Oblik, still in attendance with the High King, and not at Tooth Hold as he usually is. The relatively massive goblin says, "Hold Agnes! These you travel with, they are to be taken to the pits."

<Mike_Holmes> "Oh, and you, too," says Oblik a small grin on his face. Oblik is a soldier, and he's always disliked the High King's acceptance of the humans in the midst of the goblins.

<Agnes> She looks to her companions and back to Oblik. "Why?"

<Mike_Holmes> "Just temporary," says Oblik with a grin.

• Agnes thinks back to this morning: therapy with her father was strange -- but it did feel like he helped her work out some of the issues that were blocking her telepathy. She mutters, "I wonder..."

<Mike_Holmes> "Apparently a priest had gone missing," Oblik continues. "Questions have to be answered. The High King is not pleased."

<Mike_Holmes> Oblik looks simultaneously hideously dangerous, and also ridiculous in his armor. Apparently at some point he'd killed some dwarf that had made a fabulous suit of enchanted high steel. It glows ostentatiously with a hole still left, irreparable, where Oblik punctured it himself.

<Agnes> Just as her father was able to reach into her and straighten things out, Agnes reaches into nasty little Oblik -- these warriors are so rarely prepared the way Serama is...

<Mike_Holmes> Oblik proves to be no exception, either. His mind shows easily that he is prevaricating. This is part of some power play he's making. He does intend to get Agnes in trouble with the High King, however, by hook or by crook.

<Agnes> Agnes addresses the crowd of goblins with spread arms and a smile that breaks into a short laugh. "You almost had me convinced. I salute your ingenuity. It _is_ clear that you're making this up, but it was good for one of Oblik's...thoughtfulness."

• Agnes leans in to kiss Oblik congratulations.

<Agnes> "As Agnes leans away from the kiss, seeing the seething on Oblik as his hand inches for his weapon, she relates their encounter to the Story of Grzik. "We all remember Grzik, true? 'When Grzik did not as he were bade he knew that he must draw his blade. But when the fool did reach too far he fell from grace and fed the tar." She looks meaningfully into Oblik's face with a wee bit of a smile as she goes on...

<Agnes> " So every year we do recall the bad decision that made him fall. We learn to keep and know our place that we won't too fall from grace."

<Agnes> As Oblik's groupies watch the exchange and listen to Agnes orate their own poetry that pokes fun at their hero, the consensus is that Agnes is right. She called him on fabricating the arrest -- at least some of them knew that to be correct and she mocked him openly, with humor and subtlety (for goblins), but openly. Oblik's social support fades palpably just as his hatred burns brighter.

• Agnes turns to her human companions, "We should probably go now."

<Mike_Holmes> Serama surreptitiously rolls her eyes, but moves with alacrity, as do the others.

<Mike_Holmes> Oblik can't run...that would be trouble for him. But he can't attack, that would show he cares about what Agnes thinks. Even though everybody knows he does. The situation seems to be building up steam in Oblik's head.

<Agnes> As a parting peace gesture, Agnes whispers to Oblik "You need to laugh it off -- if you're in on the joke, you don't lose any esteem. Smack me on the ass and leer at your friends as you wish me good luck after I turn to leave. Good bye for now..."

• Agnes turns her back on her enemy and walks away without a care in the world.

<Mike_Holmes> Oblik takes her advice and begins to laugh. Some of the dumber goblins probably buy it, but Oblik is not a great actor.

<Mike_Holmes> As they get their gear and get near to the exit, Oblik is figuring out that her advice isn't working too well. But before he can act, they've managed to make their exit from Ohidnar. The massive black metal valves that form the gate creak shut as the trolls inside pull them together.

<Mike_Holmes> *

<Mike_Holmes> *

<Mike_Holmes> *

<Mike_Holmes> *

<Mike_Holmes> As Agnes approaches Green Lake, Rot-rot belches, and the entire group can smell the rotting flesh of the antelope that he'd eaten earlier that day. Truly a well named beast.

<Mike_Holmes> On a nearby hill, Agnes notes tents of a design that she does not recognize.

<Agnes> "Dhazari, who's that?" She gestures with a tip of her chin.

<Mike_Holmes> "No idea," he says. "Let's go see."

<Agnes> "Well OK then," and they turn toward the new tents to investigate...

<Mike_Holmes> "You know what they say around here," says Dhazari.

<Mike_Holmes> "Always somebody new at Green Lake?" responds Serama.

<Mike_Holmes> Dhazari looks at her, surprised, but smiles.

End of #indie_nar2 buffer Tue Dec 05 05:24:35 2006

---

---

• Now talking in #indie_nar3

<Okhfels> Alquas sets his carpet down gently in the dry dusty grass. About twenty feet away from him, a trio of men sit astride horses, watching warily, chegains near to hand. A little further away, four more approach at a jog, bearing tall shields and long spears.

<Okhfels> The two groups eye each other warily over the distance between, as more and more soldiers arrive.

• Alquas watches with amusement as his father's carpet,still in the distance, comes in rather more slowly

<Okhfels> Ultimately, one of their local chiefs walks over, escorted by a couple of big men with the large shields.

• Alquas views him with amusement.

<Okhfels> "Alright, so you're not going to attack us, " he says. "So what's going on?"

<Okhfels> The men who are with you are guards and servants. They look to you to handle the situation.

<Alquas> "You don't want to be speaking to me, Zhanjiir." says Alquas, grinning nastily all the while. "My father will be here shortly."

<Okhfels> "Well, you can't stay here... that's the point. We'll have fifteen dozen goats in this pasture tonight, and I doubt your father would find that comfortable. You need to move."

• Alquas regards the man, and his smile falls.

<Alquas> "We will move," he says "at our own pace, Zhanjiir."

<Okhfels> "You've got an hour." He puts his fists on his hips confrontationally, and the spearmen behind him grip their weapons a bit tighter.

• Alquas studiously ignores the man, looking to the skies, where his father and his retinue are floating toward the gorund.

<Okhfels> "Oh, no... you're not landing MORE people here."

<Okhfels> He whistles and gives a sharp command, and a half-dozen men with spears move under the descending carpet, spears up. If it descends any further, it will impale itself on the spears.

<Okhfels> Your brother sits at the front, sneering down at you. You couldn't handle even this simple task.

<Alquas> "You would do well," snaps Alquas, with irritation, "to send your men away. This is Ajaar Jarya ei Qeddim, Seyjii of Ajaarya, and my father. He is here to see... ah.. Thrakelust, was the name? As was agreed."

• Alquas pauses at the unfamilliar syllables.

<Alquas> "Yes, Thrakelust."

• Alquas now turns to his father, and switches to Vajarri.

<Alquas> "Am I now done with this ridiculous rigmarole? You can surely introduce yourself. Or get a servant to do it."

<Okhfels> "As was agreed by whom? I have not been told of any visitors. You can go land at the caravanserai like any other visitors, unless you've got some kind of credentials."

• Alquas ignores the man's further comments, glaring at his still silent father.

<Okhfels> Jarya says simply, "Well?"

<Okhfels> "Didn't I?"

• Alquas pauses icily at the implied slight, and then continues, in Vajaari:

<Okhfels> "You had a simple job, Alquas. Secure a landing place."

<Alquas> "This Shujak fool wishes to see your credentials."

<Okhfels> "Alquas... please take a moment to consider your deep gratitude for being given the opportunity to preserve some shred of dignity, and finish the job. Secure a landing place."

<Okhfels> More soldiers are gathering around the edges of what is clearly a pasture.

• Alquas practically spits.

<Alquas> "The man wants papers, father! This whole performance is absurd."

<Okhfels> "Are you refusing my orders?"

• Alquas glares at his brother, who is clearly enjoying his humiliation, and also at the vizier, who is silent and impassive beside his father. Other than the guards and servants, they comprise the party.

<Okhfels> Alquas brother says something quiet over his shoulder. The vizier makes a calming gesture, as if to say, "Hold on a minute."

• Alquas snarls, and then turns to a servant, whom he feels more qualified to boss around. "Papers!" he barks, in Vajaari.

<Okhfels> The servant bows deeply. He doesn't seem too terribly flustered by the outburst. When he rises, there are two scrolls in his hands, one sealed and one unsealed.

• Alquas takes them with bad grace, and returns to face the chief.

<Alquas> "Here", he spits, in heavily accented Rhiani, losing concentration. "Pa-pers."

<Okhfels> The chief is clearly losing patience.

<Okhfels> He takes them from you, looks over the unsealed one, and hands them both back. "Alright, so you're a delegation from the Lord ey-Kiddim. You still can't land here." He points off to the north. "There's a patch of land on a little rise up there which will be much better for you... not nearly so much goat... fertilizer."

<Okhfels> "But if you insist..."

<Alquas> "The indicated area will suffice, Zhanjiir. Please order your men to stand down."

<Okhfels> The man whistles again, and at a hand gesture, his men return to the perimeter of the pasture.

• Alquas barks to the guards to secure the indicated spot. Then he turns to his father and bows elaborately. "If you would be so kind as to follow me." he says.
• Alquas trudges across the feild, beckoning the carpet to follow.

<Alquas> He is apparently uninterested in what he is walking through, and does not look at anyone as he marches to the spot.

<Okhfels> The servants on the first carpet start burdening themselves with bundles from the carpet to follow.

<Alquas> A significant amount of excrement now having adhered to the bottom of his sandal shoes, Alquas reaches the site.

<Okhfels> Before too long, you are on top of a low hill overlooking the colony. The grass here is long and untouched, and it must be said that it's not a bad campsite.

• Alquas bows elaborately to his father once more.

<Alquas> "Your landing site is secured, o great Seyjii."

<Okhfels> Your brother's expression as he helps his father down is almost exultant in your humiliation.

• Alquas waits a few seconds to see if anyone has anything further to say to him.

<Okhfels> Your father is stern. He simply grunts. "See to the servants," he says. "I expect everything set up in time for the evening repast."

<Okhfels> He then puts your brother in charge of setting up the perimeter guards.

• Alquas grunts in response, and stalks off to the edge of the site. He removes his shoes and places them some distance to one side, finds a reasonably clear spot, and sits.

<Okhfels> The servants know their business, and they don't actually need any direction to get their jobs done.

<Okhfels> After a time, one of them, a girl by the name of Kani, approaches with a bowl. "Wine, Master?" she ventures to offer.

• Alquas locates a small pouch on his person, and removes from it some papers and an amount of herb.

<Alquas> He notes the girl. "Why not?" he says to nothing in particular. "Mix poision and pleasure in equal measure..."

<Alquas> He holds out a hand, without looking at the Shadjiir girl.

<Okhfels> "Poison, Master? Do you wish me to taste it for you?" Kani has been trying to catch your eye for a few months now, trying to become your "favorite". You're fairly certain that she did some maneuvering to get onto this expedition with you.

<Okhfels> Either that, or she's a spy sent by your brother to get you into trouble.

• Alquas snorts.

<Alquas> "Figurative poisions, girl. Do not speak again until you are directly adressed."

<Alquas> And with that he resumes rolling up the tube of whatever the substance is.

<Okhfels> "Yes, Master." She hands you the bowl and kneels, head bowed.

<Okhfels> Her behavior, except for addressing you as boldly as she did, is almost as submissive as a slave's would be.

<Okhfels> Soon, the delicious aromas of cooking food start coming from the fire in front of the servants' tent. Torches are lighted as night begins to descend.

<Alquas> The tube lit and to his lips, Alquas seems almost instantly calmer. He turns to finally regard the girl.

<Alquas> "Kani, isn't it? You may speak."

<Okhfels> "Thank you, Master."

<Okhfels> "Is there anything else I can get for you, Master? A pillow? Your tent will be ready shortly, I think..."

• Alquas smiles, but without the earlier malice. He has relaxed considerably now. He takes a draw from his roll-up.

<Alquas> "A pillow, yes. And someone to share it with, perhaps?"

<Alquas> He smiles again.

<Okhfels> She looks down demurely, smiling slightly to herself. It does not take a shrewd judge of character to see that she is not merely submitting to the will of her better, but getting something she wants as well.

<Okhfels> "By your leave, Master, I will prepare for you."

• Alquas could scarcely smile wider. "Be gone for now, then. I shall see you later tonight."

<Alquas> He watches her depart.

<Okhfels> She disappears into the servants' tent.

<Alquas> Alquas' smile fades instantly.

<Okhfels> "Alquas!" your brother's voice, thick with amusement, calls from the main tent.

<Alquas> "Yes, Jaffar?" Alquas responds, still staring after where the girl had left. One of Jaffar's games, perhaps? Tonight will tell...

<Okhfels> He pokes his head out of the tent. "A word with you, dear brother?"

<Alquas> "Of course, fair sibling, it would be the highest of honours."

<Okhfels> Your father is lying among his pillows, snoring. Clearly, the trip has been exhausting for him. The remains of a meal are neatly stacked to one side, where a servant can efficiently pick them up later, but for now this tent holds only the three of you.

<Alquas> So, to what do I owe the esteemed pleasure of such a munificient audience?"

<Okhfels> Jaffar sneers his condescending little smile. "I just wanted to commend you on how efficiently everything was set up."

• Alquas bows. "Kind words, dear brother. But undoubtedly my efforts would have come to naught but for you staunch captaincy of the guards against whatever threats might have emerged from the field of goats."

<Okhfels> He laughs. It's sincere, but also dismissive in a way. "Fairly said, /younger/ brother. Perhaps, then, you should retire after your labors?"

• Alquas snorts.

<Alquas> "Surely maintaining vigilance over marauding ruminants is the more trying task? I imagine you are the one in need of rest, o brave leader of men."

<Okhfels> He harumphs, opens his mouth to speak, then harumphs again and slips out.

<Okhfels> As he pushes aside the tent flap, you hear him say, "Out of my way, bitch!" followed by a >smack< and a sharp cry from Kani. "I'm sorry, Master," she says, quietly.

<Alquas> "Kani?"

<Okhfels> After a minute or so, she enters the tent. She has her hand up to her face, where a red mark shows where Jaffar backhanded her.

<Alquas> "Are you hurt?"

<Alquas> "My brother is a callous brute."

<Okhfels> She takes her hand away from her face, and looks down at it. There's a bit of blood from a shallow cut on her cheek. She does not speak.

<Alquas> "He has no sense of how to treat a woman, even one of lowly birth."

• Alquas casts about for a cloth and some water.

<Okhfels> She looks up. There's a tear in her eye. You spot a washbasin and rag, only partly used after the repast.

<Okhfels> Gingerly, she touches the cut. "Is it... is it bad?"

<Okhfels> "I can't tell."

<Alquas> "It is only shallow, it should not scar."

<Okhfels> She looks visibly relieved.

• Alquas gathers the rag and, picking a clean corner, dampens it.

<Alquas> He reaches over to clean the blood off the girl.

<Alquas> "A relief, yes? It should be a shame to scar such a pretty face."

<Okhfels> She gazes into your eyes as you dab the blood from her hand, and her face. Already the wound is beginning to clot. She doesn't seem to be hearing you.

<Okhfels> "You are kind, Master. I wish..." She closes her eyes and looks down.

<Alquas> "Please, do speak."

<Okhfels> She speaks very softly. Clearly, she does not wish her words to be heard by anyone else.

<Okhfels> "I wish you had a household of your own, so I could serve only you."

<Alquas> "Indeed?" Alquas raises a well-plucked eybrow.

<Okhfels> She nods slightly, still looking down.

<Alquas> He lowers the cloth, and puts it to one side, and reaches up to brush her head slightly with his fingertips.

<Alquas> "And... there is no-one else you wish to serve?"

<Alquas> The question hangs there, in the air.

<Alquas> "You should tell me, Kani, as your master I should know. Do you truly serve only me?"

<Okhfels> "Much as I would wish it were different, Master... I must also serve your brother, your father, his wives, his concubines..."

<Okhfels> Her voice gets even quieter if possible. She moves in closer and whispers. "Please... do not tell anyone. Someday... I would be so... you are a great and kind man, Alquas. You would be a fine leader of this household. And I would be honored to be your concubine. I dream this, at night."

<Okhfels> Y Ou? know that there is only one way this could ever happen...

<Okhfels> Both your father and brother would have to either die, or so terribly dishonor themselves that they would be stripped of their titles.

• Alquas smiles.

<Alquas> He moves closer. "Well, as we are sharing secrets," he says "That is a fine dream."

<Alquas> "And though you are not my concubine, dear Kani, perhaps tonight we can at least share that dream together."

<Okhfels> A breath of relief escapes her.

<Okhfels> In the course of your... intimacies...

<Okhfels> Later in the evening

<Okhfels> She is lying across your body. You hear a quiet sob escape her.

<Okhfels> She rises, and lights a candle. Tears streak the remaining bloodstains on her face. Wordlessly, she turns her head, and pulls her hair away from the side of her neck, high behind her ear.

<Alquas> "Kani?"

<Okhfels> There you see a tiny mark, a golden, shining shield. It is the mark of House Wahhar, a deadly enemy. They have sought to destroy your family for generations.

<Okhfels> "Please," she says, "Kill me. For I cannot do that which I came to do, and I cannot fail."

• Alquas regards her silently, for a time, and then gets up to retrieve a knife.

<Okhfels> She closes her eyes, and raises her chin, bravely preparing herself for the stroke.

<Okhfels> Tears flow once again.

<Alquas> Still naked, he approaches her from behind, raises the blade to her neck...

<Alquas> ..and cuts, shallowly, just once, at the small symbol there.

<Okhfels> She gasps...

<Alquas> He drops the knife.

<Okhfels> She puts her hand over the tiny wound.

<Okhfels> looking up, a light of hope dawns in her eyes.

<Alquas> "It was a mark of what you were, not who you are."

<Okhfels> She spins and wraps her arms around your knees.

<Okhfels> *

<Okhfels> *

<Okhfels> *

<Okhfels> *