What the Emperor Doesn't Know

Kaya Marsivus | Leinad's shop

I tilted my head as I flipped the eggs. The eggs landed with a plop! sound, followed by the sound of sizzling. I smiled and let the piece of metal down for a little while. I sighed and leaned against a table, while staring at the egg. How would've mother done it? I should ask Papa Lein sometime. I threw the egg on a plate and filled a glass with water and walked outside with Lou's breakfast.

"Good morning, Lou!" I greeted happily. I set the glass and plate down in front of him.

"Good morning to you too, Kaya," Lou answered, immediately attacking the egg with his fork. I bit my lip and scanned the room for Papa. I sworn I heard his voice in here.

"Where's Papa Lein?" I asked. Lou looked at me for a second, then towards the tunnel entrance. I smiled in thanks before opening the trapdoor.

"Oh, and Papa Lein told me to tell you to go over to the market and buy those herbs again. He's aching again," Lou chimed in. I raised an eyebrow and closed the trapdoor.

"Oh, I see. Okay, I'll go tell Papa that I'm going," I said before opening the trapdoor again and entering the tunnels. The first thing I saw was Xanthus nursing Ezzy. I smiled at the sight. Why is the outside of the tunnel so different from here? We're all people, so shouldn't we be treated equally? I sighed and turned around the corner to see Papa Lein with Maura and Kestral. I smiled and walke towards them.

"Hello everyone!" I greeted the them. I turned towards Papa.

"I'm going off to the market, I'll be back shortly," I said. Maura cleared her throat.

"I can go for you," she offered. I smiled.

"No thank you, I can manage. Thank you anyways Maura," I said.

Louarn | Leinad's Shop:

Louarn sighed. It was dull, here. No customers. Then again, it didn't help that there were a couple of drunks right outside. Lou considered going out there and yelling at them to move on, but disregarded it. That might get him broken.

"Good morning, Lou!" Lou jumped at the sound of Kaya's voice. He blinked at her for a moment. Oh, it was his breakfast.

"Good morning to you too, Kaya," Lou muttered, attacking the eggs with his fork. He frowned as he ate. Leinard hadn't looked too good earlier. Oh, well. The old man would do as he pleased.

"Where's Papa Lein?"

Lou's head came up and he glanced towards Kaya. He gestured towards the trapdoor and shrugged. Kaya pulled up the trapdoor and climbed down the stairs. "Oh, and Papa Lein told me to tell you to go over to the market and buy those herbs again. He's aching again." Kaya climbed back up and closed the trapdoor, raising an eyebow at him.

"Oh, I see. Okay, I'll go tell Papa that I'm going," she said and opened the trapdoor again. She disappeareddown into the tunnels and Lou kicked the door shut. He sighed and went back to eating. He has just finished when the door opened.

Emperor Tharin | The Grand Palace

Raijin’s eggs matched the sandstone flood wash of the dining room walls. Pools of sunlight bathed arcs and angles and kept his mind on small details--the attentionless things--and apart from his plague. The girl, because that’s as much as she could be called at this point, sat sixteen seats apart from His Tormented Majesty--thirty-two if you counted both sides of the table--and was as silent as the stones on the floor that matched the pale wine in his glass. Jewelry, he imagined her--another trinket not unlike the amulet around his neck. A sign of health, he supposed, and good for nothing else.

But commotion and clamour have minds of their own, and interrupted Raijin’s thoughts. Slowly, like the course of a gasping estuary, Raijin placed the prongs of silver on his plate and peered outwards into the daytime sun, into the menagerie. “Perhaps a stroll will bring to memory why you are to respect me?” Raijin smiled, then; it was a crooked smile, one weighted by ages of fighting for righteousness and perfection. He turned fiery eyes upon the girl and she slowly nodded.

“Yes, your Majesty.”

“Yes,” he repeated, and slowly rose from his seat, a pair of slave girls adorning his shoulders with his onyx train.

Kalle came to meet him in the midst of the table, seeming to expect him to take her by the arm. The Emperor merely moved on, casting his eyes on further details away from her imperfections before he could count them all.

The menagerie was a vast expanse of sandstone, granite, marble, and natural things--pointed trees that sloped upon themselves and man-made streams that intoxicated the ears with their soothing whispers. Each piece was laid out in perfect place to match a perfect pattern, a perfect design that would master the energy of the body, draw out the bad in a single breath of respiratory salvation.

Upon the steps, Raijin peered into the scene before him.

Imperfect slave, friend of his perfect seed, second imperfect slave, dissatisfying guard, and his perfect see--

--Raijin furrowed his brow, brushing a hand across his shoulder superstitiously as if fanning the brunt of his rage into the streams. With any luck, it would catch in the throat of that girl who was, without doubt, trailing him like a pup.

Within hearing distance, Raijin narrowed his eyes and cleared his throat, folding his hands behind his hips. “Riaghán, my dear son.” The fire was on his tongue, now, split between the two fraternizing men like that of a serpent’s. “Clearly by now, you know that infatuation is--”

“--the bane of power,” murmured his son. For every lick of flame in Tharin’s lungs, his son could smoulder beneath a blaze of hell and come out with the same glaring smirk that was delivered into Raijin’s eyes then.

Tharin approached him, placing his hands on the boy’s face. “Then why, I may ask, do you wallow in your illness?”

Lyra | The Shop

I had needed some air, so I had stepped out. Simple as that. The tunnels were stuffy and it didn't help that I was slightly claustrophobic. At least I had been smart enough to fix my hair over my eye-socket and wore my hood up. The sun was much needed after all that time in the cold. The sun was beautiful, warm, and it gave me the most wonderful free feeling. As I approached Lien's shop I was stopped by a disgusting drunk man.

"Hello there my sweet, why don't you come with me and we can make beautiful music?" A putrid scent rolled off his tongue and danced around my nostrils, and I couldn't resist fanning it away. It smelt like something had crawled inside his mouth and died. His two wing men nudged each other and laughed. "C'mon Rhode. Let's get outta here before the guard finds you drunk off yer hiney." The man laughed and slurred something to her that made absolutely no sense.

"Well, good day to you too, gentlemen." With that she slid into the shop and closed the door firmly behind her. She had expected to see Lien standing behind the counter, overly cheerful as always. Instead, Lou was standing there and staring at her with the hardest glare he could muster. "Hello, Lou. It's nice to see you too." She mumbled as she pulled her hood down and fixed her hair.

"What are you doing out of the tunnels?" He asked, throwing an old wiping towel over his shoulder. Lyra glared at him and loosened her cloak slightly. He didn't look back up to her as he returned to wiping down the counter. The loud men had quieted down outside, which meant they either left or had been dragged off by a couple of gaurds.

"None of your business, Lou. I wore my cloak and covered my eye so there was no danger in getting a little sun. Now, if you'll excuse me I'd like to get back to hiding my face from the general public."

He nodded towards the trap door and made room for Lyra to get in, and shot another disapproving glare her way. "Do yourself a favor and try and stay down there. It's safer." Lyra made her way towards the door, glaring at him and pulling her cloak closed once again. "What does it matter to you?" Before he could respond she had climbed down and shut the hatch behind her. Now she was free to wander the tunnels unless someone needed something of her.

Riaghán | Palace - Gardens:

Speaking to his father indeed. I shook my head, an amused smile curling up the corners of my lips. "I don't mind. Now, where were we?" I said, giving Dante a sly look. He shfited again. Oh, was I making him uncomfortable? Too bad. "Ah, yes." I slid my hand down the boy's arm and took a step closer to him. "You keep disappearing on me when I request you to stay after your shifts. I don't like people disappearing on me."

Darren shouting at his slave barely registered and neither did the faint footsteps approaching the garden. I was too ingrossed in trying to get Dante to give in and jsut let me do what I wanted. It'd be worse if I had to force him.

“Riaghán, my dear son.” I froze and jerked my hand back. Damn it. Why did my father have to turn up right now? I shot the guard a dark, warning look and turned towards my father. “Clearly by now, you know that infatuation is--”

“--the bane of power,” I murmured, giving my father a dark glare, lips curled into a darkly diisapointed and slightly amused smirk. Looks like he'd caught me at it again. Father approached me and took my face into his hands.

“Then why, I may ask, do you wallow in your illness?” he questioned, meeting my gaze with a sharp one of his own. I sighed and slipped out of his hold. He watched me as I retreated a few steps, shooting the guard a glare that clearly told him to leave. And that I'd catch up with him--later. Maybe. If he behaved. The guard quickly retreated.

"I don't know, Father," I said, sliding one hand into my hair and gripping it. Hard. I resisted the urge to pull it, though. Father always asked me that question when he caught me tormenting men. He knew my ways, though, so I didn't know why he couldn't just accept it. I sighed again. "Perhaps, Father, I am lost."

I didn't turn to see what he'd say about that comment. I just stared out over the grass as Darren glaring down at his slave. Asha stood nearby, openly staring at the pair. I almost, almost, felt sorry for the girl. But then I reminded myself of that beating all those years ago.

"Or perhaps, Father, this is the effect that beating had on me," I muttered, running a hand over my face. I let my hand drop away from my hair. I wasn't sure if he had heard me, and I really didn't care right now. I turned back to him, raising my voice. "Maybe, Father, I just need a little nudge in the right direction. What do you think?"

I turned and walked away without waiting for my father to respond to that. I reached Darren in time to grabbed his arm and stop him from hitting his slave again. Sometimes father disliked people mistreating their slaves.

"Darren," I hissed and he looked at me. "I'm going back inside. I'll see you there if you still want to talk. Asha!" The girl froze and I turned towards her, letting my friend go. "You will come with me. I'm bored." The girl look terrified. Good. I grabbed her arm and her marched her back towards my rooms, leaving my friend standing in the middle of the palace gardens with his slave girl and my father watching from the veranda.


Louarn | Leinad's Shop:

Lou sighed when the girl disappeared downstairs. Damn it, Lyra, he thought and pushed the plate sideways so he could clean the bench. She didn;t have to be so rude about it. Lou really did care about her not getting into trouble.

Several mintues passed and Lou kicked at the bench. Now he was fed and bored, and the shop was empty. How long was Leinad going to take down there? Lou had things he should probably be doing instead of minding the shop--like sorting out his so-called debts. Minor (large) as they were, it shouldn't take long. Or so Lou hoped. He just need to marry into money and maybe all his problems would be fixed.

He watched through the window as people began wandering past the shop, but none came in. Lou wanted to sigh again. It seemed like it was going to be one of those days. One of those slow days. Oh, yes. And it was gonig to be a long one, too.

Oh whoops, I didn't know we had started! All well, here we go guys, my first post. If I've done anything wrong just tell me and I'll fix it up straight away. Just make sure you tell me, I don't want to be the one making up stuff and everyone shakes their heads when they read my post.

Draco | Leinad's Shop

I staggered over to the shop counter from beyond the shadows I had been hiding in, dropping the bottle in my hand onto the front desk. It was a good day to be on the prowl. It was market day and that meant all the good women were flocking around the square undoubtedly trying to catch my undivided attention. Ah, the curse of a beautiful man!

"This water please," I said looking up at the person behind the counter. It was a lie, who drank water these days! It was rum, hard rum. When I saw it wasn't the old man, my shoulders relaxed and I laughed out loud. "Oh Louie, thank gods it’s you; for a second I thought the old timer would catch me trying to buy more alcohol! You know his opinion on us drunks!"

Lou gave me one of those looks he was famous for, huffing as if just the appearance of me was revolting. "I am not allowed to let drunks into the shop, orders of Leinad."

"But I'm not drunk!" I shouted, jumping backwards with both hands raised defensively. "Look I can walk in a straight line." Placing one foot in front of the other, I stumbled forwards, grinning from under my bangs at Lou behind the counter. Alright, I was doing a pretty bad job at walking in a straight line but hell, I wasn't drunk. I only had two glasses and that was of the weak stuff.

"You look like a fool," Lou said truthfully, turning away from me to return to his post of looking out the window.

I laughed, jumping on Lou and throwing one arm around his shoulders as if we were old mates. "C'mon Louie, just do this one thing for me, pretty please with a strawberry on top! I need a drink and badly." I tried to give him a smouldering look but he scowled and threw my arm off of his shoulders.

"Have you done your job in the tunnels?" he snapped.

"Of course not! I just got these boots, why should I get them dirty?"

Lou shook his head. "It's people like you who make it hard for the resistance," he held out his hand. "Just give me the money and go do your job!" A leering smile broke across my face.

Before Lou handed me the drink, he glared at me sternly. “Do you promise to do your job? Because I am not going to crawl after you again?”

I forced an offended face, “when have I ever lied to you, Louie?”

Hestia|The Armour Shop

"Hestia, I heard you went to town on those yams last night. Need an armour resize?" Maylen smirked.

Hestia shoved the man. "Go blow your nose!" She scoffed. Maylen chuckled and continued to polish her sword. "So, killed any law-breaker yet?"

"That's not my job!" Hestia snapped at him, her sapphire blue eyes flashing.

"Hes, I was kidding." Maylen flashed her a cheeky grin.

Hestia glared at him. "Kindly finish polishing my sword."

Maylen grumbled and polished faster.

"G'day, Lady Hestia." A soldier who'd just walked in, bowed to her.

She bowed back. "G'morn, Zenak."

"Hey, you going to the 'walls' again?" Maylen asked nonchalantly. The walls was their code for Resistance meetings. Everyone knew that Hestia loved to stargaze, so they assumed she was out on the city's protective walls, looking up at the sky.

"Depends when the next full moon is." She replied. This was her way of saying she'dgo when the next one is.

"I'll ask Leinard if he knows." Maylen said. Hestia winked and grinned.

"I'll ask him with you. We'll wait until he's done with whatever."

Leinad | The Tunnels

Leinad turned back to Kestral the moment that his granddaughter had left, mustering a gentle smile down at the worried girl. His back was aching like one wouldn't even believe-- smiling was a much more difficult task than it usually was. He had his mouth Half-opened, readily equipped with a few solid words of advice, when yet another pair of footsteps had him turning in order to see who was coming now. The sun had barely been up for a few hours, and the tunnels were already busy! Not that it was easy to tell down here-- morning may as well be afternoon, and night could pass for lunch time.

"Oh, Lyra, could I ask you a quick favor?" Leinad kept up his smile, but judging by the look behind the girl's hood, she coups sense that something was amiss.

"Yes, Papa Lein?" Well, at least she hadn't just outright said no.

"Couod you fetch some oil from one of the far storerooms? The lanterns need to be refueled or they'll go out while somebody's right in the middle of getting food." He nodded at the doorway to the old room.

Without another word, Lyra was gone, and Leinad could only hope that she had silently agreed. Eidonias knew that he wouldn't be able to make the trip himself today. He returned his attention to Kestral for the second time, half-hoping that Maura disnt just vanish on him. "Sorry, Kestral. I was going to say that perhaps you should apologize. You and I both know that Tiberius can be... difficult, but reacting only gets him more worked up. You know that." He raised both eyebrows, not in a condemning way, mind you, just a way thy beckoned the young girl to see his reason. "We also both know that he won't be the one to apologize-- and it's always easier to make up if one of the two relents and says that they're sorry."

Kestral bit her lip, glancing down at her feet. "What if he doesn't stop, even after I apologize? What if he's still mad?"

Leinad chuckled quietly, fighting to keep his smile firmly in place as another throb expanded over his spine. "Then you come tell me, and I'll talk to him for you. If I'm in my shop, then do your best to keep away from him until I am, lest you feel the need to start fighting again."

"Thanks, Papa," she whispered. Every time she left out the 'Lein,' it sent a shaft through the old man's heart. Something about the way she said it made him wish that he had been able to help her sooner, before she had been hurt so badly.

She hesitated for a moment, and with a gentle nod of encouragement from Leinad, started back down the tunnels.

Leinad let out a quiet sigh and turned back to a Maura who was, thankfully, still standing in the doorway to the storeroom. "Well, as you can see, my granddaughter's already gone. I appreciate your concern--" assuming that that's what it was-- "but I am a very respected man in this city, old as I am. The people should know not to lay a finger on Kayla-- they'd have to face me of they did." The disbelieving look on Maura's face had Leinad laughing. "I have a nasty side, Maura, and the slave industry would have it to deal with if they sold my granddaughter. She'll be alright." Of course, now that he thought about it, Maura did have a point or two. Not that he had any shortage of money. He'd purchase her bak and free her if worst came to worst... Oh, Eidonias, he was far too tired for this girl's mind games this morning. Too tired and too sore.

Asha

I cast one last look at Darren and his slave, heart aching for the younger girl. I knew what she wa going through-- I knew how terrified she must have felt at that moment. Ever since Darren ha first started bringing her to the palace, I had been determined to find a way to help her into the tunnels. She needed a gentle touch-- Papa Lein, Bartimeus, Rein... even Louarn or Xanthus would be good company for her. Kestral, too... Maura and Lyra were cold, but they weren't bs people as far as I coils tell. I couldn't comprehend why Darren wa so angered over her looking at a flower. Since when was that a crime, even for a slave?

"Asha!" I tensed, not daring to move even a muscle when the prince shouted at me. "You will come with me. I'm bored." Oh, gods. His hand twisted aroun my arm, and I couldn't stop the panic that was rising in my gut. One hand absently went to my stomach, finger trailing where there was that slightest bulge before I sucked in my breath again.

I let it drop, terrified that he may have noticed, and let him half-drag me out of the gardens and back to his chamber. I broke away from his grasp the moment the door was closed behind us, going straight to the mess that was splayed out over the table. I needed to work-- perhaps he would save the beating or whatever else it was he had planned for later if I started cleaning.

My hands shook as I set the goblets back on the tray, and then turned for a clothe that I could use to wipe a few spills from the tabletop.

"Asha." He didn't sound happy... gods, help me.

I let one hand wrap around my elbow, a compromise for wrapping my arms around my stomach, and half-turned towards him, head low. I couldn't take this right now-- my eyes wandered to his hand, hopin that he didn't plan on using that fist any time soon. I should have just made a run for the tunnels-- why had I come back here again?

Lyra | Tunnels

The lights were beginning to flicker as I strode into the dimly lit room. Lien was right, if someone didn't fill the oil soon some poor soul would tumble into a dark room. It would be worse if the door had closed behind them, this door had a habit of sticking from the inside. I turned to make sure I hadn't let that happen, just to find the exact thing I was worrying about happening to someone else was going to happen to me. I groaned and began frantically searching for the oil, because if that door was stuck I didn't want to be sitting in the dark until someone found me.

Just as I found the half-full can of oil the first of the two oil lanterns burned out. I hurriedly filled the first lantern and moved onto the second one, with just enough oil to fill it half-way. I lifted them with shaky hands and returned them to their hooks on the wall. The room was much better lit now, allowing the shadows to dance in the background. I jiggled the doorknob viciously but the door wouldn't budge, and no voices were coming from out in the tunnel.

With a sigh I sunk down to the floor and loosened my hood. There was no use panicking, and there was no use banging on the door. It would echo through the halls and spook someone, or worse. It could be heard by someone above. That would just be adding insult to the injury. Or would it be adding injury to the insult-- considering having someone above find these tunnels would be much worse. Nonetheless it would be a stupid idea to bang on the door and call for help like some sort of child. I let my hood fall back and moved my hair from my face. It would be a while until someone came for food or supplies, but I was terrific at the waiting game.


(This post is crap, you have permission to eat my face.)

Maura Rowe | the tunnels

Leinad's face shifted from the controlled, kind visage it always was to something more concerned, more tired. It was only for a moment, but she caught it. She felt a twinge of something in her core, though she couldn't place what. She hit her chest once or twice with a balled fist, hoping to dislodge whatever it was. "Kaya's stronger than I give her credit," she said, clearing her throat and standing straighter. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be going."

"Have you time to run an errand for me, Maura?" Leinad called after her as she walked away.

She turned to face him, though continued walking backwards. She held her hands up in a sort of shrug. "Sorry, Papa Lein," she said. "Places to be, people to bother. Perhaps another time." She flashed him a smile and spun back around, heading for the room where the kiddies gathered for their lessons.

Rein stood in front of a group of orphans that gathered around his feet. He was going on about something, a small, sweet smile on his lips, and the kiddies listened attentively. Maura sat back on a crate that stood against the wall of the room and watched. She was far enough away, and there were enough people between them, that he likely wouldn't notice her there.

She tended to lurk around that room when Leinad seemed to be excessively tired of her. While she enjoyed working him down to his last straw, she wasn't quite ready to be thrown out of the tunnel community. She knew how to play her cards right, she always had, ever since she'd left her family all those years ago.

Her hand drifted toward the burn marks and scars that faded along her jawline, a frown pulling at the corners of her lips. She ran her hand along them as the moved down her face to her neck. Beneath her clothes, and beneath the wrap of fabric she pulled tightly around her chest to keep her from looking too...feminine, she knew they flowered across her chest and down the front of her body. It had been years since that fire, but she would never escape the memory.

She sighed and focused on watching Rein teaching. Still, her mind kept drifting elsewhere, to places she didn't like it to go. The only thing to really distract her would be to head out to the market, perhaps tail Kaya, and slip her fingers into purses and unattended market stalls as she did. Just as she considered doing so, she noticed that while she was staring at Rein, he must have caught sight of her, because he was staring straight back at her, as was his pile of kiddies around him.

Leinad

Leinad frowned, glad that nobody was here to see how put-off he was at Maura's response. Things just kept getting better today, didn't they? And by better, he meant that they were getting worse, and he was in a bad mood, and it almost scared him to admit it. Leinad Marsuvis simply was not a man who had dark moods. He was not. Or, he never had been...

He straightened out, wincing and setting a careful hand on the base of his back. Maura really should have said yes-- he needed a walking stick, or something that he could use until he could find himself one, and in all honesty, he was hurt that she hadn't at least inquired as to what he wanted. Obviously, he needed to start sleeping more-- sleep fixed these sort of things, didn't it? Either sleep, or he needed somebody to come and give him one of the spur-of-the-moment child-like hugs... those always made him feel better.

For now, though, he needed some relaxing tea and something warm to put on his back. He turned, took on step and had to stop, bracing himself against the tunnel wall with one hand. Kayla had been right-- he shouldn't have neglected stretching this morning. For the love of Eidonias, he had only missed one blasted morning! If it was doing this to him, then perhaps he should be worried-- maybe it was time to go see Leo. But not now; he could hardly even walk now, much less wander all the way back to the main room or to another entrance and then back to the shop.

He squeezed his eyes shut, holding the bridge of his nose between the thumb and forefinger of his free hand, and eased himself to the ground. He really was getting old, and as thankful as he was to still be in his right mind, he was growing to dislike it more and more as the days went by. Perhaps he'd just rest today. Lou could watch the shop, and the tunnels weren't unsupervised... they would be fine without him for a day, wouldn't they be? Rest, and extra stretching tomorrow should do the trick. Of course, that was all assuming that he ever actually gathered up the strength or the energy to move.

Blast it.

Who, me? Making a really short, semi-pointless, ugly post? Ja. But Papa L just made me want a cup of tea.

Rein | The Tunnels

“And so when the rain comes from the north, when you can feel it getting colder, you know that the winds are coming down from the Pash-Lavan Mountains.”

Rein was seated on a rock--a natural lump in the cavern floor that hadn’t been eroded away in their construction. Around his feet were the younger orphans, most of which were wide-eyed and interested in his story. As they listened, he nervously scratched the outside of his left thigh, once with each finger on his hand, and smiled at the kids.

“I hear that there’s even a spirit that tells the rain when to come when we need water.”

The kids were amazed. It warmed his heart, of course, and he glanced at each face, catching sight of something in his periphery that somehow didn’t belong. He brushed the hood of his cloak back and let it fall against his neck, turning to look--don’t stare, Rein; girls don’t like it when you stare at them--at the righteous thief seated across the room. It didn’t take long for the children to follow his gaze, and soon they were all watching her as she just bobbed one foot up and down by her ankle.

And when she looked and saw them, her gaze jerked from Rein’s eyes--she looked at my eyes--to a young man rolling a crate of vegetables up a slope in the tunnel ahead.

“Um, and that’s where the, uh, rain comes from.” He looked back to his kids and smiled...and they started getting up to leave. They knew by then that when he wrapped up a story, he was done for a while. It was when he’d stalk down Leinad or someone who would possibly want his help...or anyone who could stand his company at all. And, honestly, more often, he’d end up studying old books beneath shafts of lantern light in the main chamber. But they were too low for that today. So Rein stood and began walking towards the doorway where Maura sat, still clearly vexed by the orphan moving the vegetables.

And when he paused beside her, his breath catching in his throat, she turned, giving him a passing glance, almost expecting something dramatic.

But man, did Rein fail at theatrics.

How many times had this happened?

That time in the main room.
That time in the weapon shop.
That time in the pantry.
That time in the corridor.
That other time in the corridor.
That third time in the corridor when he didn’t think she’d noticed him since it was so dark, and it wasn’t like she could see in the dark like a bat, after all--but maybe bats can’t see at all...so is she blind to me? No, no. But she didn’t react that time, so maybe she just doesn’t care to noti--

And she was gone.

Rein sighed, adding this one to the list. And then there was this list to add to the list of folks he’d made lists of...and before he could do that, he needed to organize those lists so they wouldn’t get mixed up. And if there were any repeating lists, then they had to be straightened ou--”OW!”

Rein faceplanted in the cold stone floor, slowly picking himself up by his elbows.

“Have a nice trip, Rein?” The old savior was chuckling, tail on the ground and back against the wall.

Rein turned to see his face...which was the Rein, don’t ask me your questions now, but I would appreciate some assist--yes, I am on the floor for a reas--no, Rein, this is not time to talk logistics stare he got every so often.

Instead of asking questions, Rein extended a hand and a sympathetic glance to Papa Lein. “My apologies for not being more observant, Leinad.” He knelt down and helped the old man up over his own shoulders, his knees shaking under the added weight. Gosh, he wasn’t a body builder by any means.

“Perhaps I could ask a favor of you, Rein?”

Rein seemed puzzled. It wasn’t anywhere near his territory to execute favors. And favors typically meant thieving...which Rein clearly had failed at in the past.

“There are these herbs,” he continued, “that I could benefit from, if you’d be so kind.”

“O-on the surface?”

“On the surface.”

“Oh, uh--I don’t know, Papa Le--I mean, Leinad. I, uh, I’m much more suited to teaching about herbs than actually obtaining them.”

“Ah, but what better way to broaden your abilities than to--” He winced as he took a step towards the other room. “--exercise them?”

Before Rein could respond--pitifully--Leinad was in the other room, and Rein’s unspoken, unwanted acceptance was set in stone.

OOC: AHHHH stop posting and let me finish something! I start to write and come to take a quick peak and something and like 4 new posts are here ! You silly passionate writers, I will add Darren's post to this, but this is just to make sure I get something in! And Sisteritaly, I can change things if they are not right! Oh by the way, if Bartimaeus stumbles into Rein and Lein's conversation he will offer to go to the surface to get the herbs. Yes Lein SHOULD tell him know, since he is... well blind, but that is just how Bartimaeus is. I mean when did being blind actually stop someone!

Blind Bartimaeus| Tunnels

How the hell am I lost again? Bartimaeus thought with some chagrin as he walked briskly along the tunnel. Well maybe briskly was a bit of a stretch, it was more like a blind hobble, but dammit he was blind!

His long cloak was wrapped tightly around his body, and he prayed that he had covered himself up proper. The other day he hadn’t wrapped his cloak tight enough and had exposed his backside to some of the kids. They had found it hilarious, Tiberious most of all, and it had taken hours to get them to quiet down about the whole incident. You would think that after forty some years I would be able to dress myself, he thought with a grin. It had been rather funny, and he could still hear Kaya’s horrified voice when she had found out about the incident. “You did what!” she had gasped. It was made even funnier by the stifled chuckle Lein had been trying to hide at the same moment.

His walking stick let out a dull clank as it clicked against a wall. “Dead end?” Bartimaeus hissed. He put his hands on his hips, and glared at the wall, or where he thought the wall was. It didn’t answer of course, so he gave it a small smack with his stick and grumbled, “Stupid tunnels, we should really finish the blasted things. “Follow the lamps”, Lein always says. Damn that old crippled man, he forgets that I can’t see!” He suddenly paused and began to chuckle to himself at the thought of a crippled Lein. “He’d be worse then me!” Bartimaeus roared as his laughter echoed down the hall. “I can just hear the big baby whining if we made him sit out the next raid!” He whirled and began to walk back the way he came, laughing at the thought.

“The damn fool is older then me! The day he isn’t able to walk will be the happiest day of my damn life!” He loved Lein actually; the man was like a brother. And like brothers they did not always meet eye to eye. Lein had been getting on him a lot lately about his language. “You can’t use that language in front of the kids,” Lein had admonished him just the other day. Bartimaeus was sure the old armor was using that face of his, the one the kids whispered about. The one that made you feel like you had done something wrong and should apologize for… luckily Baritmaeus was blind, and couldn’t see the face.

He had cackled at Lein and yelled, “I’ll talk how I damn well please you old kook!”

He had been able to taste the irritation in Lein’s voice as he growled, “Don’t push me Bartimaeus, you need to be mindful of the kids, and you need to take better care of yourself!”

“So says the cripple with the bad back!” Bartimaeus had crooned.

“NOW LISTEN HERE!” Lein had roared.

Then Kaya had wacked both of them on the head with her spoon, and just like that it was done. “The old man is blinder then me someti-“

He was caught off as he slammed into a door. “Babu!” he swore, as he dropped his walking stick and his hands flew to his noise. It wasn’t bleeding, and didn’t feel broken, thank Babu for that. He reached his hands out in front of him and felt a solid oak door. “When the hell did we put this here!” he grumbled as he fumbled around for the handle.

He finally found it after some fumbling around, and with a grunt pushed the heavy door open. It scrapped against the floor in protest, but finally managed to open up a bit. He peeked his head through the side and said, “Hello? Is this the meeting room?”

At first there was no reply, and then a soft voice whispered, “No.” He didn’t hear anything else for a second, and then the sound of someone slowly standing reached his ears. The person began to walk towards him, and he heard a slight limp in their steps. Lyra. The poor girl didn’t talk much, and according to the others always kept her face hidden, swathed in a heavy cloak. He was the one person she seemed to be able to speak to. Maybe it was because he couldn’t see her, and she felt safe when talking to a blind man. Maybe it was because they were alike, two outcasts whose faces could have them killed if they were ever caught by the wrong people.

“Lyra, my dear,” he said gently, as he fumbled out with his hand, searching for her. “What are you doing here?” She didn't answer, but she did grab his hand. She pulled him down toward the floor and set his stick in his hands. “Thank you,” Bartimaeus said, smiling at her. He hoped it was an encouraging smile, one of the downsides to being blind was not being sure how your face always looked. She didn’t answer right away, so he said, “I am hungry me dear. Would you care to join me for a bite to eat? Now is the best time because all the kids should be with Rein, and we can eat as much as we want without anyone knowing! Unless Lein is around… have you seen him? The last thing we want is to get caught by the old fatty…”

Lyra didn't answer, and he thought he heard a stifled noise, but wasn't quite sure. “Is he down the tunnel?" he asked. when she didn't say know he hoped that meant yes. Otherwise he would be lost... again. "Well then we shall just need to pilfer a bit my dear, come, I need food, and I helping hand to find it. I seem to get more confused the more time I spend down here in the darkness.” He felt Lyra about to ask a question, and then the realization of what he said hit her. She didn’t laugh, but he hoped she was close. The poor girl was troubled, and by Babu he would do whatever he could to brighten her day. She took his hand and put it up against the wall, and then he heard her turn and limp away.

Bartimaues let out a tired sigh as he listened to her slip away. I'm trying Babu, he thought with a sigh, Just throw me a bone, would you?


Darren | Palace Gardens

Darren hated jealousy, especially when he was feeling it. He had everything he could ever want or need. Slaves, money, lovers, and the ability to make people jump and dance with the simple tone of his voice. He could tell a man that if he slit his son’s throat then all his debts would be forgiven, and he had watched more then one man take him up on the offer. Humans were disgusting, most were no better then dogs, so who cared if they were treated as such?

He watched as Riaghan grinned and slowly traced a finger down Dante’s arm. It was a playful hint, something Darren had used himself numerous times, but when it came to Riaghn there was nothing playful about it. The Prince possessed a raw, animalistic hunger when it came to sex, and almost about everything in his life. He was as creative in bed as he was when it came to torturing and manipulating those around him.

Why am I jealous over where his attention lies? Darren thought. He and the prince had done things before, mostly just because of the desire. There was little passion in their love making, mostly just biting and clawing. They used each other for fulfillment or control. Darren supposed it was because they both like the struggle, and he hated to admit that Riaghan usually won. Then again when you are the Prince… who is going to try and stop you?

Darren’s eyes slowly fell back to Liora and he grimaced inwardly. If only that damn scar would go away, he thought. It had been his fault though, and there was no use being beaten up over it. Property got damaged sometimes, and if she ever got damaged beyond repair he would have to simply replace her. He sighed at the thought, what a pain it would be! He was intensely picky when it came to his personal slaves, and the thought of having to search through dozens of worthless ones to find a good one was aggravating.

Liora suddenly looked up at him, and without even thinking Darren smacked her across the face. The girl didn’t even shriek, she merely just curled up on the ground and whimpered softly. “How many times have I told you to never look at your master’s face!” he hissed, “A slave should never raise their eyes above the ground except when explicitly commanded to!”

She looked up again. Maybe it was instinctive, if so it was better that he beat the habit out of her now, instead of later. Darren raised his fist to strike again, but Riaghan grabbed his arm. “Darren,” he hissed, “I'm going back inside. I'll see you there if you still want to talk. Asha!"

Darren watched as the two went off, and once the two were out of sight he slowly turned his gaze toward the Emperor. Some said Emperor Thairn was getting more unstable in his old age. The man demanded perfection in everything. Not only in dress, face, and looks. But in his palace, in the paperwork that was brought to him and how money was handled. He had even raised the taxes a while ago to a more even number to help things flow, to make things more perfect.

Darren wasn’t necessarily close to the old man, though his father had done business with him. The Stal’Vuths had been allowed to build their grand arena by one of the older Emperors. Of course it cost money to watch the games, and the Emperor got a nice piece of that coin. He also good portion of the money that came from the Slave Market. Some called it taxes, Darren called it politics.

He glanced down at Liora and said, "Look at me!" She didn't, and he nearly hit her again. "I said look at me!" he barked angrily, and with trembling Liora slowly looked up. Darren reached down and grabbed her roughly by the chin. "Why do you seek to aggravate me so?" he asked softly. "I don't want to hurt you, but time and time again you force my hand. Do you like being hurt? Do you like it when i beat you?" Liora didn't answer and Darren frowned. "Do you like it?"

"No Master," she whispered softly, her voice thick with fear.

"Then why do you force me to do it?" Darren asked. "I don't want to hurt you Liora, but you make me. I only wish for you to do what is right, to be good. Do you want to be good?" She nodded tentatively, and he awarded her with a smile. "Good, that is what i want for you to. To be a good girl, my good girl. Now we are going to go talk to the Emperor, don't raise your eyes, and be a good girl. Can you do that for me?"

She slowly nodded and he grinned broader. "Of course you can," he whispered. His hand slowly traced the scar on her face as he said, "You wouldn't want me to hurt you again, and you know how I hate it. Now be good, and don't make mistakes."

He slowly turned and sauntered over to where the Emperor was, and made sure his eyes stayed downcast. When he was a few feet away he bowed low, and stayed there, waiting to be acknowledged. Liora followed his example, and he silently prayed she wouldn’t do anything foolish. He wasn’t in the mood to kill someone tonight, but he knew that sometimes sacrifices had to be made. After a few minutes Emperor Tharin slowly looked over at said, “Lord Stal’Vuth, it has been a while since I have seen you. Do you wish to talk to me?”

“If you would be so kind to indulge me the time,” Darren smoothly answered. This was a game he understood. He enjoyed hanging out with Riaghan more for the challenge then the company. The Prince was rash, even volatile, and would succumb to unknown fits of rage or hysteria. Darren enjoyed the excitement of his company, the unknown of what would happen, the game of trying to predict the outcome. Of course Riaghan was Prince and could act that way with few repercussions. He could scream at Lords and Ladies, and make a scene in public. Darren couldn’t. His power was limited, and even know his influence went wide in court, it was something that had to be nurtured and cared for. One wrong move and all his power, influence, and standing could be lost. He played the game well, and enjoyed it.

Thairn slowly nodded, and said, “Me and the Empress were going to go for a walk, you may join us.”

Darren slowly stood straight at the acknowledgment, and fell into step behind the Emperor and Empress as they began to make a slow circuit around the garden. The couples long flowing robes swept over the ground, and Darren did his best not to trip on them as he followed behind. “I am here to bring up a small proposal, one that would not only benefit you, but also this marvelous Kingdom you have created.”

“I am sure it would benefit you as well,” Tharin mildly replied.

Darren grinned, always honest and to the point, oh to be Emperor. “Of course,” he smoothly replied, “And it would also help to clean up our streets of… the trash that is infesting it.”

Darren could have sword that the Empress stiffened at this, and she slowly turned to look at him. “What trash are you referring to?”

“Why the peasants of course my Lady,” Darren murmured sweetly. “More specifically The Day of Filth. The one day when we allow the animals to run free. It is a blight on this jewel you have created.”

“Do you not already raid the slums?” the Empress asked coolly.

Was she getting angry with him? Darren thought with slight confusion. “Of course we do my lady,” he answered, “But it barley keeps the rabble in check! They breed like animals and their numbers increase. This city would almost be perfect if not for them.”

Tharin stiffened and Darren mentally cursed himself for his stupidity. Tharin was a dictator when it came to his beloved Pash, and even the fact that Darren had hinted at it being flawed was dangerous. Darren held his breath and waited. Liora let out a small yelp as she nearly tripped and Darren whirled on her, eyes flashing. He would have struck her if not for the Emperor and Empress being so close. Instead he gave her a sweet smile and said, “Be careful my dear, I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”

The fear in her eyes was evident as she looked down. He noticed that she was shaking worse the normal, he would have to beat that out of her too it seemed. “What are you proposing?” Tharin softly asked.

Darren doubted he was in the clear yet, but this was at least an opening. “I wish to help clean up this city, and to stalk the arena with new prizes. I wish for your permission to take the peasants on the Day of Filth. Let them leave their slums as they usually do, and once they are out close of the entrance and round them up. Take some to the market and some to the Arena. Hundreds of them usually leave on the Day of Filth, it is an opportune time to pick them up. It would cut down on their population, and give us the ability to remind them who is in control. Plus the crown would get a large sum of gold as the influx of slaves were sold. It would save us soldiers and time. We wouldn’t need to go door to door, breaking and smashing as we tried to find some. With your permission, I would like an Imperial Warrant to round them up on every Day of Filth until it is no longer profitable. I wish to help you make Pash even more perfect.”

Blind or not, Lyra doesn't really like adults and she tends to avoid them. She doesn't open up to anyone, not yet anyway. And she certainly doesn't giggle.

Kestral ¬

Feeling much warmer, I left, smiling. The smile soon slipped from my face. What if Tib didn't accept my apology?

I traced my steps, walking back to the cavern we'd been in. It was empty.

Apart from Tib.

"Tib?" I called, slowly. "I'm sorry,"

He kept his back to me, so I walked forward slowly. "Tib, please," I paused and walked closer. I placed a hand on his arm and turned him round to face me, looking him in the eyes. "Please,"