[IC] Condemned

[Thinslayer]

"Look mommy, can I have that one?"
"No love, she's too expensive."
"But I want it-hit-hit!"
"I'm sorry, we can't afford it."
"Noooo! I want that one! Gimme!"

Erudessa watched the buff amazonian mother struggle to drag the child away from her display. She adjusted her aching wrists in the stocks and risked a glance at Frandur. Two women fawned over him, touching him in all the wrong places and giggling at the wrongness of it. The elf remain unflappable, not flinching even when groped. Erudessa couldn't help admiring his resolve, especially since she was much less reserved toward the man who felt her up a few minutes ago. She had nearly bit his head off - literally. The man let out hysterical shrieks when her teeth scraped his skull, and even the subsequent beating she received couldn't dim her satisfaction.

Now, though, watching the women assault her friend set her blood boiling more than the mild groping she'd endured. Thankfully for her sore back, the women moved on before she could fire off another string of curses. The only indication Frandur gave that he felt violated was the slight dimming of his eyes. Erudessa leaned forward to get a better view of his face. "You okay?" she asked in Elvish.

Frandur adjusted his neck. "No. But then again, neither are they." Erudessa had to think for a minute about what he meant. Of course they're fine, they live in the most powerful- unless you meant more in the head. I hadn't thought of that. Perhaps you're right; these morons could be pitiable to some degree. I should be more sympathetic. But they don't deserve it. They don't deserve you.
"You're staring," he reminded.
Erudessa pushed her lips into a smirk. "Maybe if you were married, they might not find you so attractive."
He groaned and lolled his head back. "You sure picked a fine time to propose again. Besides, aren't I a little old for you?"
"I don't mind."
"Let me rephrase that: Aren't you a little young for me?"
The teasing twinkle in her eye grew brighter. "Look on the bright side. You get to have fun with a young wife before you die, and I'll get some experience in before I move on. It's a win-win."
This time, Frandur laughed aloud, drawing a few surprised eyes from the crowd. "Honestly, that made my day. Tell you what, free us, and I'll think about it."
Erudessa's smirk widened into a grin. "Deal."

They watched a gaggle of guards push their way to the auction stand. Frandur looked at Erudessa again, his smile dimmed into gravity. "I know you pretend it's a joke, Eru, but I've known your true feelings for a while. If I were a few centuries younger, I'd have married you in a heartbeat. You're kind, funny, and sexy as hell. And seriously, your joke is the best argument I've heard yet to accept your offer. I just thought you should know that your feelings were not wholly unreciprocated."

Erudessa's breath hitched. She looked away to hide her widening smile and replied, "Dangit, you've got me all motivated now to escape."
No response.
"Frandur?"
She turned her head to see a pair of guards hauling him away. "Frandur! No! Where are you taking him?" she cried out. Then another pair of guards took her out of the stocks to take her away too. As soon as she was free, she elbowed one in the head and threw him into his comrade. The two careened into a wall behind her. Erudessa charged after Frandur, only to run headlong into another group of guards. They wrestled her to the ground and held her down as both elves were injected with another round of sedatives.

Then Gurgle Moor dragged Frandur to the stand, the altar prepared behind it. "Ladies and gentlemen!" he crowed to the crowd. "The gods have rewarded us with a great victory over these cowardly elves! Thanks to the brilliance of our generals and unparalleled courage of our soldiers, we can sell you the finest slaves this side of the continent. Who wants to guess the value of the first prize?"
"Ten gold!" one person shouted.
"Twenty!"
"Fifteen!"
Gurgle patted his chest and roared with laughter. "Excellent guesses, folks! Our expert evaluators put him at twenty-five Solid. Gold. Crowns!"
Cheers went up from the crowd. Erudessa knitted her brows. Why would anyone get so excited for a high price? The answer to her question came a moment later. Gurgle yanked Frandur over to the altar, where he strung up the elf to an X cross and pulled out a knife. Erudessa's eyes widened.

"NO!" she shrieked. The guards pressed her down harder. Gurgle chortled. "Seems we have another volunteer," he taunted. The onlookers started to chuckle and jeer at her and Frandur. Gurgle pierced the knife at the nape of Frandur's neck, eliciting a stifled grunt from the elf. The crowd broke into a wild chant. "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Erudessa looked on in horror as Gurgle dragged the knife down Frandur's back and worked to peel away the skin. Foam poured from the elf's mouth. Erudessa felt her stomach lurch, and turned her head to spill her last meal on the straw floor. "Stop! You're hurting him!" she screamed when her mouth was empty again. "At least let me ease his pain! Please! I'll do anything!" She started struggling again, and the guards had to throw all their weight into her to keep her down.

Gurgle did not stop, forcing Erudessa to watch her friend, her crush, get peeled apart over the altar. The crowd's shouts of delight drowned out her screams, and by the time the knife reached his beautiful face, she vomited again and passed out.

Erudessa woke a few minutes later sputtering water from her mouth. A guard put down the pail and hefted her to her feet. "Your turn," he grunted. He handed her off to Gurgle, who marched on to the auction stand with his merchandise in tow. "Now for the next prize! This one's the Engineer who plagued our men up north." He sifted his hand through her silver tresses. "Get a load of her exclusive hair! I've never seen an elf's hair this color, and I've seen a lot of them. Starting bid is twenty gold!"

Nobody raised a hand.

An ugly grin formed on Gurgle's mouth. A few members of the crowd held back a few snorts of amusement. "So, you want her sacrificed too, eh?" he crooned. "Can't say I blame you. It would be terribly exciting to tear apart that gorgeous bod of hers. Shall I?"
Whoops and cheers flew up. Erudessa's blood ran cold. "W-Wait, p-please don't do that," she quietly pleaded with Gurgle. "I- I can cook, clean, build, and- I'll do anything, anything you want."
Gurgle leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Too late." With that, he dragged her by the hair to the altar and forced her head onto the rough stone surface.

Erudessa gritted her teeth and shut her eyes. Calm down. Think this through.
Don't let Frandur's death be in vain. But she could not calm down this time. Her breaths grew more ragged as her rising panic peaked. This is it. I'm going to die. There's no way out. We're all going to be skinned alive, and I'll die useless. I don't want to die! Help me...somebody help me...please God...

"Please..." she sobbed.

"Last chance to buy!" Gurgle cried, knife raised to her neck.

[BellBottomBlues]

The assault had gone better than expected -- almost too well. Supply lines between the newly established front and the previous Imperial garrison were now secured, and legionnaires were making their way to and from the front. Under Lanik's order his rangers were dispersed throughout the front-line forces, acting as knowledgeable liaisons between the undiscovered forests of Aetherion and the Imperial officers. From what he understood what his men were doing proved to be invaluable to the spearheading forces, and he could not be prouder. The Covenant Rangers were making a name for themselves, not simply under the guise as the hooded men of the North.

While Rayne was in charge of the cohort during his absence, Lanik made his way to Midhaven on horseback alongside Darian and his personal guard. Fin had been dispatched back to Northaven, where mages with magical talent beyond his expertise could assist him with the new life he was to embark on. Lanik cringed at the thought. He could not imagine an existence bound to a chair should the mages magic fail. He wished the best to his man.

There was a distilled silence between the duo as they made way down the road tread by so many others before them. The rolling hills West of them and the lush forests to the East, dotting farming villages sprouting up here and there as far as the eye can see. The sun was at its highest point in the sky prompting Lanik to pull over his hood. He noted the looks of the farmers working their fields, the shepherds lazily watching their herd run amok among the vivid green grasses like a tarp over cresting mounds. The sun was hot, and he could feel himself boil underneath his ranger plate mail. But Midhaven was not terribly far away, so he did not complain.

And while the trek had been long Lanik kept occupied with the thought of the mysterious elf he had encountered in the forest. Kindness was something seldom encountered in the field of battle, and yet she had shown more than such. Guilt stung Lanik’s gut as he remembered the look she gave as she was being dragged away. He was not a man who would sit idly by while a person he was indebted to was dragged off in chains. As warlike as his beloved Imperial culture was, that did not mean all soldiers under said banner functioned without honor. She would most like be sold off into slavery.. . unless Captain Moor had something else in mind. He shuddered. By Lanik's account she would be at the grand auction house in Midhaven, thus giving reason to his trek back to the mighty capital.

Lanik couldn't help but note Darian's change in disposition compared to the last time they spoke. The usually jovial and amiable little Darian was keeping to himself, as if experiencing a sudden mood-spell. He even was riding in the front of the line, Lanik four horses to his rear. It was strange to say the least. Darian must not have found the glory he was expecting during his assault on Aetherion. Though.. . he had plenty of time. The invasion had only begun, and this victory only marked the first of a long line of treacherous campaigns to push further into the heart of elven country.

Marië was finding her way into Lanik's thoughts ever since the journey began. Luck, as it would see fit would grant Lanik another visit with his beloved daughter. One misstep scaling that cliff with Finnigan on his back.. . one wrong direction through the forest.. . hell one single encounter with an elf not so keen on his aid and Lanik would have been a dead man. He was thankful before he left to have Rayne send out a few of his rangers to her school and escort her personally back to Midhaven where he would be meeting her. And though the they shared great distances apart, Lanik was never uninformed about her safety. He was looking forward to seeing her.

The captain reared his horse and galloped to the front, sick of the silence and curious to see if he could break Darian's acrimonious mood.

"It's strange Darian," Lanik said, "I figured with such a great victory you would be more talkative than you usually are. Not the opposite,"

Darian sighed, pulling his blonde lock behind his ears and looking over to see his brother, "Why didn't tell me you had Marië escorted by your personal guard. She is my niece brother, and I'd like to know about these things,"

Lanik frowned at such an odd statement, "I didn't I was supposed to. And she may be your niece but she's my daughter," and that was the truth. It was perplexing to hear that since Darian had never shown an interest in Marië's well-being before.

Darian gave a halfhearted grunt before pointing in the distance, catching Lanik's gaze ahead. He gave a nod before proceeding forward.

Midhaven loomed in the distance, beckoning the group ever closer in the shadow of her ferocity. To this day Lanik's breath was taken away every time he saw the ivory towers standing center, shooting upwards and prodding the light blue that cast over the city on a day like today. As he passed through the mighty wrought iron gates into the city Darian briefly turned to him.

"I'll be in the military quarter," he gave a nod before taking off. Lanik sat there perched on his horse, watching his little brother and cohort of guards take off. Strange.

Lanik glanced up, admiring the architecture of particularly the older buildings he could see. There was a charm that could not be replicated with those older buildings, and despite construction methods changing within the last decade Lanik could swear that those older buildings would outlive anything built now. Even now he could feel a boyish happiness inside him. He remembered his days as a young boy, staring over schematics and buildings plans. And then his time at the Carpenter's Guild. He was a talented woodworker, good with his hands with a keen eye for detail as his professors would say. It was the one thing he was better at than Marcus.

Something stung a Lanik's heart, leaving him apprehensive as he approached the grandeur doors of the Auction House. Just as vividly as he remembered the late nights planning and sharps chisels striking parallel to the grain of the wood, Lanik could remember his brother being there alongside him the whole way. He cursed himself. He had spent the better part of a year toiling over his loss.. . he thought he was over the pain. He thought he was over the aching he could never explain to himself, let alone to little Marië when she asked where uncle Marcus was. That was a long time ago, but if Lanik learned anything from that experience it was that some wounds never truly heal.

Lanik walked through the auction house towards the great room. His silverite plate armor shined and long elegant sky-blue cape caressed the floor behind him as he moved. There were all sorts of people here. To his left were lesser merchants selling off their wares of sickly slaves and the weak, and to his right were the human spoils of those the Imperium had conquered down south. Lanik could hear their bids to and fro. 5 pieces! 7 pieces! 10 pieces! The fact that a human life could be condensed into the value of a hunk of metal was beyond him. Lanik noted a ruckus in the great hall, men and women, legionnaire and officer alike chanting in unison.

Kill! Kill! Kill!

Lanik pushed through the crowd of people, exerting more effort as he approached the front. It was as if the sea of people became denser the closer he neared. Soon enough he broke the mob of people. He widened his eyes at the sight before him.

Erudessa.

The elf had a knife to her throat. He had to do something or surely she would be bleeding out right in front of his eyes. Between the manic of the crowd and the chanting growing louder and louder with each passing moment Lanik raised his hand, unthinking of his position or the consequence. Unthinking of the fact that her kind drew blood from Marcus and ended his life. This elf had saved his ranger, and he was in debt.

"Fifty pieces!" he shouted, the crowd hushed. This man, bearing the sigil of the Ranger Covenant had just bought a slave.

[Thinslayer]

@BellBottomBlues
Gurgle stopped.
The crowd hushed.
Fifty pieces? For an elf? That was an offer old Gurgle had to seriously consider. With that kind of money, he could afford to buy off the crowd's good opinion and still turn a profit. And if he could make a show of freeing her so he wouldn't have to buy off anyone, he could keep all the proceeds for himself. Considering that all she wore now was a few cloth straps, the most embarrassing way to hand her off would be to force skin contact with her new master. He grinned, baring all his ugly yellow teeth. "Very well, Ranger. You can have her. Here, take her!" He took her by the arm and dragged her part of the way, then shoved her toward Lanik. With the partial paralysis already setting in, she wobbled, stumbled, and crashed into Lanik. The crowd roared with laughter. "Not so elegant now, are you, elf?" one woman jeered. "I bet your master's going to love you in bed!" one man taunted.

Sweating profusely and drawing ragged breaths, Erudessa only had enough strength to wrap her arms around Lanik's neck and pray she didn't fall further. Brutes...the lot of you... The only expression she could muster was an exhausted scowl. With her forehead buried in Lanik's neck, she got a whiff of his scent. Though she couldn't visually recognize him from the altar, his smell was more familiar to her. From the forest. I think this man is a Ranger. The one I helped? No, this one's a little different. His companion. Should I thank him? What if he has a more painful end in mind for me? I'd better hold my thanks until I know what he plans to do with me.

Gurgle roared again. "Ah ha ha ha! Aw, how sweet, how touching their reunion. Look at the way she holds him, like a whore spent from a night of lovemaking. Go enjoy your elf, Ranger! Wah ha ha ha ha ha!" All the onlookers roared with him.
"Eca, a mitta lambetya cendelessë orcova," Erudessa retorted under her breath.

A guard seized the fifty golds pieces, and the auctions resumed. Erudessa looked up at Lanik.
"Hello again," she breathed.

[BellBottomBlues]

Lanik held the exhausted elf, grabbing her on the sides of her shoulders and propping her up as best he could. Reaching over his own shoulder he unclipped one side of his cape, then the other, then swung the light blue drape over her form. It was the best he could do to salvage whatever dignity she had left among the Imperials gathered around, still yelling and cursing, though Lanik could not help but feel a few of their eyes upon them. It was well known fact that his father had long before iterated the idea that his Rangers could not own slaves. An idea based solely on function, the rangers were created to be self sufficient, and having a slave was counterproductive to that idea. Lanik met Erudessa's gaze, pushing stray locks of silver hair behind her pointed ears and pulling over her hood. She would stand out in a city full of Imperials, and it would be in his best interest to keep her ambiguous (her hair did not help in the slightest). At least until he figured out what the hell he was going to do next. Anywhere than here, he thought.

"Shh," he spoke softly, but sternly, "Keep your head down, don't look anyone in the eyes,"

He grabbed her by her wrist and led them away through the crowd. Despite Lanik's disguise he knew she would stand out. He moved quickly even though he knew she was barely composed to move at such speed. The sedative the slavers used were much akin to the ones he tipped his arrows with during his military campaigning in the Southern part of the Empire. It was extremely potent stuff with enough kick to fell even the most powerful of beasts. How she managed to even keep her eyes open was beyond him. It must be something related to elven biology that he knew nothing about.

The duo were soon standing outside the auction house. There were several whistles and cheers from officer passersby, a common occurrence when any officer lands a particularly good find at the auction. He helped her saddle first, then himself.

"Hold on," he said, and with a HYAH! the mount was off.

Lanik made his way through the maze of twists and turns of the Imperial capital. It was hustle and bustle all around, vendors and beggars calling out their pleas into the air as gypsies danced about to a foreign tune. There was a culture here, one a person could only find if they looked past all the violence and slaving and murder and bloodshed. It was instilled in Lanik to believe the society around someone does not force them into being a bad person. Being here, seeing the common Imperial folk only bolstered that regard.

"You're lucky I arrived when I did," he said over his shoulder, "Captain Moor is skilled at what he does, however sick you may think it is,"

He listened to her response, if there was one.

The decided destination was the small and quaint Wintergate estate located just on the outskirts of the city wall. It was a small house, given to Gregoir by the King after deciding Lord Wintergate would have a place in Midhaven politics. It screamed of continental design. White, square and boxy with a large pergola beckoning visitors into the front door from the pathway. Cedar lattice accented the front of the house, with green vines sprawling all over the grid. Lanik dismounted, helping Erudessa off and leading her into the house. They walked in the front-entry, an open area with old antique furniture sleeping here and there throughout the room. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the bedroom, motioning her to sit on the bed.

"Rest here while I.. . decide on what to do with you," he rubbed his face, scratching his head while moving to the corner of the room where a dresser sat. His voice betrayed something.. . regret? Hesitation? Lanik was uncertain. After rummaging through for a moment he grabbed one of his old shirts and a pair of pants. He tossed it towards her when he heard a knock on the front door.

Shit.

Lanik looked back to Erudessa, "Get dressed," he said before attending to the visitor. He approached, turning the knob with a creak and cracking the door open.

"Brother," Darian grinned, "Word spreads quickly y'know. I thought Rangers couldn't own slaves?" there was a menace in his voice Lanik had never heard before.

✱ ✲ ✳ ✴ ✵

When Erudessa would awake she would be greeted by a young girl. Ten by the looks of it? She sat on the edge of the bed, poking, pulling and prodding at her pointed ears with a childish curiosity observed through bright emerald eyes. She was a very pretty girl dressed in a blue and white dress, with raven hair and a shade of skin between pale and foreign. Freckles dotted her face innocently around her petite nose. The girls gaze widened in amazement, as if she were a scientist discovering a new formula or solution to an equation that had long been bogging the mind.

"You're an elf! You're a real elf!" she tugged at Erudessa's ear one more time. A sunny smile engulfed her face, then almost in the same instant turned into a suspicious frown.

"But.. . you couldn't be. Uncle Darian told me that.. ." she puffed out her chest, placing her hands at her side and expanding her cheeks as if to emulate a particular someone. She spoke with the lowest tone of voice as she possibly could.

You nasty elves are stinks with horns and claws.

She let out a childish laugh then sat on the floor looking for breath. That impression must have taken a bit out of her. Sitting up with legs stretched out in front of her, she tilted her head and eyed Erudessa very closely.

"But.. . you're definitely not that. You're very pretty. You're a very pretty elf," she lowered her voice to a whisper.

"Don't tell father I said that," she paused for a moment, looking up at the ceiling and suddenly snapping back her attention to the elf as if suddenly remembering something.

My name is Marië. Do you want to see me do a magic trick?

[Thinslayer]

Erudessa continued staring at Lanik even as he propped her up and threw a cloak over her. He met her gaze and lifted his hand. She winced, preparing herself to be struck. Instead, he gently pushed stray locks of her hair behind her ears. Her eyes fluttered as his fingers trailed her cheek, calming her until she found it difficult to stand. Then he pulled over the hood and murmured, "Shh, keep your head down, don't look anyone in the eyes." Erudessa nodded, still holding his gaze. Lanik grabbed her wrist and made to lead her through the crowd, but the strength in her legs failed her, and she dropped to her knees. Unwilling to stay a moment longer, she rallied her strength, looped her arm in his, and pulled herself back up until she could walk side by side with him.

But it was grief, not obedience, that forced her head down. Frandur is dead. My friend is dead. I will never see him again. I will never hear his wisdom, his kind words, or his honest advice. Frandur is gone. It's my fault. I couldn't save him. It was my responsibility, and I failed him. A wet sniffle punctuated the silence. I'm so, so sorry, Frandur... As they weaved through the crowd at a brisk pace, her thoughts grew even darker. I let them skin you, let them take your beautiful face, let them take you from me. Forgive me.

She barely noticed when Lanik put her on the horse, only remembering when he issued the command to hold on. So she wrapped her arms around his waist, laid her head on his shoulder, and held tight. As they weaved through the city, her thoughts drifted back to a few minutes prior, to the moment his fingers brushed her tresses from her cheeks. He was so gentle. Might he actually care for me? He bought me for an outrageous amount, right before the captain hurt me, and covered my nakedness as if concerned for my dignity. Maybe he's actually a nice person. But what if he doesn't actually like me? What if he hates my guts and is just acting purely out of guilt or duty? Or what if he just means to use and abuse me? Please don't let it be that. I want to like him. He's cool.

"You're lucky I arrived when I did," he said suddenly. "Captain Moor is skilled at what he does, however sick you may think it is."
I'm lucky...I'm lucky he says...that must mean he thinks his intentions for me are nicer than what that Captain Moor had in mind. Thank goodness. Her response was to squeeze him harder. He's so cool.

The horse slowed to a stop, a signal that they arrived at some place significant. Still, she caught a grip on his sleeve and didn't let go until she was safely standing on the ground. The paralysis had worn off enough that she could walk, albeit with concentrated effort. He led her into the house and straight to the bedroom. Her cheeks flushed as she considered why he would bring her here. It didn't help that he expected her to sit on the bed. She instinctively pulled his cloak tighter.

"Rest here while I...decide on what to do with you," he commanded. Erudessa shifted to the far side of the bed and started looking for escape routes. A flapping noise drew her attention. It was an old shirt. A pair of pants soon followed. Well. If he was going to use me, he would hardly make me dress up, now would he? Unless he has a fetish for ripping things off. I know a couple elves like that. She shivered at the thought and picked up the clothes.

A knock on the door echoed through the house. Erudessa looked up. That had better not be guards.
"Get dressed," Lanik ordered, and went to go get the door. Erudessa closed the bedroom door and undressed, taking a moment to assess her body. A few squeeze tests here and there revealed less body mass than she liked. Wow. Depression really took its toll on me. I need to eat. I can eat because Frandur made it possible. The thought darkened her expression for a moment. No. I mustn't let sad thoughts plague me forever. That's how they win. I can't let them win.

With renewed determination, she put on the shirt and pants, belted the pants with one of the straps, and placed her hand on the doorknob. Voices rose to meet her. One was Lanik's. The other...she'd know that voice anywhere. It was the man who teased her back in the forest. She backed away to the bed and threw herself under the covers.

Nope nope nope nope
__________

Erudessa blinked.

Did I fall asleep?

"Ow!" she exclaimed as something pinched her ear. She sat up to find the source to be a human child - a girl, to be exact. Her dark hair swished with her deep blue dress as she studied the elf with almost scientific curiosity. "You're an elf! A real elf!" the girl exclaimed.

Erudessa blinked again. "Why yes, I'd imagine so," she replied at length. She leaned forward and met the little girl's gaze.

The girl's grin suddenly turned upside down. "But...you couldn't be. Uncle Darian told me that..." She assumed a pompous pose and said in her lowest voice, "You nasty elves are stinks with horns and claws." Erudessa raised an eyebrow. "The stink part I agree with, but I don't know about the horns and claws," she replied.

The girl must have found something funny, whether it was her own impression of Uncle Darian or the elf's reply, because she cackled until she plopped to the floor. "But...you're definitely not that," she said when she finally composed herself. "You're very pretty. You're a very pretty elf."

Erudessa leaned back and flipped her hair. "Do you think so?"
"Don't tell father I said that."
"Don't worry, I'm sure he already knows I'm pretty." She winked and tapped the girl's nose with one finger. "But he needn't know you agree with him. It'll be our little secret."

The girl paused to stare at the ceiling. Uh oh. Did I say something wrong? Then her gaze snapped back to Erudessa.
"My name is Marië. Do you want to see me do a magic trick?" she whispered.
Erudessa cocked her head. "A magic trick? Okay, sure."

[BellBottomBlues]

"Okay! Watch this!" she immediately got to it, a fierce determined expression furrowing her brow. The little girl reached into the front pocket of her dress and pulled out a deck of cards. She closed her eyes mumbling an incantation to herself. In slow but sure motion the cards each began to singularly file out of the box, stacking themselves on top of each other. In front of her she held her hands in a triangular shape, then in one swooping motion she looked as if she were chopping the air. The cards matched the movement instantaneously, all spread out neatly all the while levitating a foot off the ground. Marië through gritted teeth spoke. The whole ordeal was obviously taking a lot out of her.

"Okay.. . pick.. . a card.. ,"

After Eru would pick a card Marië would clench both her hands, and the spread array of cards would move into a neat stack. She then placed both hands face down, on on the other, and slid the top one forward. As she did a single card separated from the pile, moving out and flipping to face the elf. Whether or not it was the right one was irrelevant since in just a few seconds the card would burst into flames, Marië letting out a little squeak and plopping back to the floor on her butt. The deck of cards fell, scattering. She sighed and tilted her head, shrugging.

"They don't let me do magic at the art academy, but I practice when I can," she grinned.

Whatever the case, the spectacle was impressive especially for a ten year old. Marië stood, wiping off the hem of her dress. After a cleaning up a bit she jumped forward, placing her hands on Eru's knees and staring intensely at her, shooting off a barrage of questions.

✱ ✲ ✳ ✴ ✵

Lanik sat in the kitchen with Darian both sipping on some foreign blood import. Darian had brought a leatherskin of the stuff over, and it was considered wholeheartedly rude in Imperial culture to refuse an offer of the drink. Darian's composure had changed since the last time he had saw him, which Lanik supposed was a good thing. He had brought over Marië who was as they were speaking unpacking things in her room. That made Lanik happy. Marië always did. Darian and Lanik resorted to idle chit chat before delving into deeper conversation.

"So, why'd you buy her brother?" Darian asked, grinning. He had mixed his bloody drink with several types of wine, so to say he wasn't a little drunk would be a fallacy.

"Buy who? The elf?" Lanik feigned innocence.

Darian let out a chortle of a snort that resonated throughout the whole house. He laughed afterwards too, tearing up.

"Obviously the elf, dear brother. Don't play dumb with me,"

Lanik rapped on the table with his fingers, thinking about what to say next. To hell he would tell Darian of her involvement with saving one of his rangers. That would complicate things. He scratched his chin, supposing he would play the part.

"I've never been with an elf before, and you said yourself before I should try one," he almost cringed saying that, but he shrugged instead.

Darian raised both eyebrows, "Well I didn't think you'd take me seriously," Darian stood up, wavering but eventually doing so, "But don't you worry I won't tell Serani. I own over a hundred slaves brother, one isn't going to hurt you," he raised a finger, suddenly remembering something, "Ah, don't let me forget,"

Darian reached under the table pulling out a branding iron with the Convenant Rangers Fox sigil on it's end and a Limiter collar. Darian looked at Lanik.

"A few presents for your purchase," he stumbled towards the door, Lanik stood up and immediately jumped to his side, slinging his arm over his shoulder and aiding him to the door.

"You'll be okay getting home, Darian?" Lanik asked, holding the door open for him.

"HAH!" Darian walked down the path leading to the front door, near the middle he opened his arms, spinning around, "Lanik! I am home! This is the Imperium, right!?" he laughed and stumbled to his horse. Lanik watched him ride off.

The captain just shook his head with a cheeky grin on his face, remembering Lanik dancing in the bloody moonlight not long before. Night had fallen, and having had a long day he was ready to hit the sack. But before doing such he went back to the kitchen, inspecting the gifts Darian had left for him. He picked up the branding iron, running a hand over the end. It was skillfully made, the blindfolded fox with barred teeth more menacing than ever. He sighed, and while he wished he wouldn't have to use it if he were to continue this guise as a slave owner he would have to act the part in some ways. Branding was one of them. He cringed, imagining the tip soldering hot in cherry red.

He turned his attention to the collar, looking at its design. Interesting he thought.

That's when he heard voices in the main bedroom. Lanik frowned, had Marië finished packing already? And wait.. . she's not alone with that elf is she? Lanik hurried over quietly to the main bedroom, cracking the door open just a little to see what was happening inside.

There was his daughter, hands on the elves knees and spouting questions in her face. It didn't surprise him, she had always had a curious demeanor not unlike himself. He grinned listening to her shoot them off like a machine gun.

Why are your ears pointy?
Why is your hair silver?
Can you do magic?
HOW OLD ARE YOU?

[Thinslayer]

@BellBottomBlues
"Okay! Watch this!" Marië withdrew a box of cards from her front pocket. She closed her eyes, mumbled a spell, and the cards flew out of the box. They stacked together one after the other. Then she peaked her hands and chopped the air. The cards spread out along the floor, levitating in mid-air.

"Okay...pick...a card..." she panted.

Entranced, Erudessa pointed to a card, a Clover-4. Marië clasped her hands, and the cards stacked again. She slid out one hand and put it atop the other. A single card mirrored the motion, then flipped to face the elf. It was the Clover-4! Erudessa laughed and applauded as the card burst into flame. "Well done! Well done! That was amazing, Marië. I swear, you're better than I was at ten times your age. That's a very hard magic to master, young lady."

Marië shrugged. "They don't let me do magic at the art academy, but I practice when I can." She grinned.
Erudessa grinned back. She overheard Lanik and Darian talking about her, and could make out just enough of the conversation to guess that it had turned dirty. With an innocent little girl present, reacting didn't seem appropriate, so she held her grin and pretended not to notice. The girl then stood up, braced on Erudessa's knees, and fired off a barrage of questions.

"Why are your ears pointy? Why is your hair silver? Can you do magic? How old are you?"
Erudessa chuckled. She caught the door crack open in the corner of her eye, but chose to ignore it. It was probably Lanik anyway. "My my, so many questions! I'll start with your first one: Why are my ears pointy? Because...well, they don't serve any biological purpose, per se. The Ancient Creators designed them to set us apart from the humans. Most elves can hear better than humans, so people have come to associate the pointed ears with hearing better, even though it doesn't actually do anything."

She took a lock of hair between her fingers and held it up. "My hair looks silver because it contains silver. It conducts magic exceptionally well, like an aqueduct for mana, and it makes me a really powerful mage. I suppose that partly answers your third question - yes, I can do magic." Erudessa counted off her spell abilities on her fingers. "I can do telekinesis, emberlighting, enlightening, shielding, summoning, reconstruction, regeneration, reinforcement, and a couple other niche spells." Subtly, she telekinetically slipped a card from the deck while Marië wasn't looking and flicked Lanik's nose with it.

"I'm young as elves go," she continued. "I am two hundred seventeen years old, two hundred eighteen in two months. Most elves can live for up to a thousand years. A friend of mine lived to be nine hundred. Humans normally can't live that long without magic, and I've heard of some who do just that to extend their lives by a few hundred years. It's really advanced, though, and I haven't learned it yet." Erudessa leaned forward and looked Marië in the eye. "What do you say we figure it out together someday?"

[BellBottomBlues]

Lanik watched the two converse, more specifically though, he watched the way Marië held on to every word the elf said. It made reminded him of himself once upon a time, lying under the stars and asking a relative string of questions to Marcus who could never answer them. As far as he was concerned any catalyst that prompted a child's mind to delve into the wonders of curious imagination was a good one. It was healthy. It's what makes being young so special, when eyes are innocent enough to see beyond the wickedness and savagery of the world presented to him. He paused, letting the thought sink in -- which was quickly broken with a projectile card colliding dead center in between his eyeballs. Lanik squinted his eyes suspiciously at the silver-haired vixen. Cheeky elf.

"I'm young as elves go," she continued. "I am two hundred seventeen years old, two hundred eighteen in two months. Most elves can live for up to a thousand years. A friend of mine lived to be nine hundred. Humans normally can't live that long without magic, and I've heard of some who do just that to extend their lives by a few hundred years. It's really advanced, though, and I haven't learned it yet."

Lanik watched her lean forward to meet Marië's gaze.

What do you say we figure it out together someday?

Marië's eyes widened, and she nodded several times. Her eyes scanned the elf carefully, and what was once suspicion, a doubt in the reality of the scene slowly morphing into awe and wonder. The little girl's expression reflected this, her tilted head in curiosity and fierce eyes changing into a bright smile of excitement. She bit her lip, then nodded again.. . then jumped forward, colliding hard with the elf in a childish hug that sent the two sprawling back onto the bed. She made one more grab for Erudessa's ear, pulling it then smiling, grabbing her hands in her own.

"I've never had an elf friend before!" she grinned.

Lanik decided now was as good a time as any to make his presence known. He opened the door fully, stepping in the room.

"Marië," he said, his voice stern and authoritative.

His daughter darted her eyes over to the sound of his voice, scrambling off the bed and standing a ways in front of him, brushing off the hem of her dress and looking at the ground.

"Captain," she said, already knowing she was in trouble.

"Marië," he put one foot forward, getting in a kneeling position and speaking eye level with his daughter, "What did I say about being alone with the slave?" he paused for a moment, letting the question sink in, "Go to your room, finish unpacking, I'll speak with you before bed,"

Marië nodded slowly, "Sorry papa,"

Lanik didn't speak. He only offered one of his cheeks to which Marië promptly kissed. She gave him a hug before exiting the room, not looking back once.

Captain Wintergate stood up, "She's got the liveliness of a fox sometimes, it makes it hard for me to keep track of her sometimes,"

Lanik pulled a nearby chair, sitting in front of Erudessa. He stared at her for a moment, sharing a momentary silence before speaking what had been on his mind for quite some time now.

"I guess I haven't formally introduced myself so," he brushed of his knees, "My name is Lanik Wintergate, I'm the commander of the Wintergate Rangers and Captain under commission of the Imperial crown. Normally we're not allowed to take slaves but I uhh.. ." he paused, ".. . made an exception for you. I appreciate what you did for Finnigan. He's a good man, and deserves to go back home with at least a fighting chance,"

He proceeded to the core part of what he wanted to say.

"But let me make myself clear. You're a slave here. I didn't take buy you out of pity. I didn't buy you out of spite. I bought you because unlike a lot of my kin I have a sense of obligation and.. . honor. Whatever my reasons are it doesn't change this fact: you're legally bound to me. Under Imperial law I can have you killed at a whim, and I won't hesitate to if you try anything, especially with Marië," he eyed her carefully, "Do you understand?"

He let her answer before reaching in his back pocket and pulling out the Limiting collar.

"I need you to put this on, as a precaution,"

[Thinslayer]

@BellBottomBlues
Marië leaped into Erudessa's arms, and the two fell back on the bed. "I've never had an elf friend before!" the girl exclaimed. Erudessa laughed. "I've never had a human friend before!"

"Marië," came Lanik's stern voice.

Marië scrambled off the bed and stood to attention. Erudessa sat up and straightened her shirt. Both of them hung their heads.
"Captain," the girl acknowledged.
Lanik knelt to eye level with his daughter. "Marië, What did I say about being alone with the slave?"
He must have told her while I was sleeping.
"Go to your room," he continued, "finish unpacking. I'll speak with you before bed."
Marië nodded an apology. Lanik offered his cheek, which she kissed before hugging him and leaving the room.

Lanik stood up. "She's got the liveliness of a fox sometimes. It makes it really hard to keep track of her sometimes." He pulled up a chair, took a seat and stared at her for a few moments.
Erudessa clenched the bed. This is going to be a very long stay without her.
"I guess I haven't formally introduced myself," Lanik began, "so my name is Lanik Wintergate. I'm commander of the Wintergate Rangers and Captain under commission of the Imperial Crown."
A Captain? If the Imperial ranks are a meritocracy, that would make him exceptionally strong.
"Normally we're not allowed to take slaves, but I...uh...made an exception for you."
I'm touched. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"I appreciate what you did for Finnigan. He's a good man and deserves to go back home with at least a fighting chance."
You can show your appreciation by setting me free.
He did not. "But let me make myself clear. You're a slave here. I didn't buy you out of pity. I didn't buy you out of spite. I bought you because, unlike a lot of my kin, I have a sense of obligation and...honor. Whatever my reasons are, it doesn't change this fact: you're legally bound to me. Under Imperial law, I can have you killed on a whim, and I won't hesitate to if you try anything, especially with Marië. Do you understand?"

Erudessa stared at him for a few moments.
Why does he still keep me enslaved? Is it because he spent a lot of gold on me and wants his money's worth? I don't owe him a thing. I was taken against my will. He bought my services, not from me, but from my captor. I'd like to play the power card and scare him, to make him back off. I could pull it off; I'm taller than he is, and brimming with enough power to snuff out everything he is and has. But he's awfully close, and despite his youth and inexperience, he could still kill me if he chooses. Pride won't get me anywhere with him. He hasn't yet seen my strong side; he's only ever seen me when I was compromised. If I can maintain that image, perhaps he could be persuaded to trust me, and maybe reveal his true intentions.

So Erudessa shrank between her shoulders and looked away. "I understand," she replied with a small voice. She gently took the collar out of his hands and examined it.

"Will I ever be free?" she asked, demurely lifting her eyes to him.

[BellBottomBlues]

Will I ever be free?

Lanik watched her shrink into herself, and a pang of guilt quickly overtook him. He didn't know how his brother did it, or any of the other slave owners to be completely honest. The captain was never a materialistic man, living simply and humbly despite his position in Imperial hierarchy. It was a big jump, to suddenly being responsible for an actual person -- an elf no less. They were a proud and dangerous people, ones not to be trifled with if the whole ordeal with Marcus had taught him anything. And yet here was one, docile. He could let her go but.. . from what Darian had told him progress on the Aetherion front was overwhelmingly successful. If the Imperial war machine continued on the path it usually does, it wouldn't be long before Aetherion would fall and elven slaves would be common place. He couldn't imagine what some of the other slave owners would do to her. Despite being an Imperial Lanik was not cut from the same cloth as those with more barbaric tendencies. Perhaps she would come to an understanding in due time that he was only trying to save her life, and spare her some morality during her stay here. Would she ever be free? He sincerely couldn't answer that question.

Lanik diverted with a command, "Put on the collar and follow me, I'll show you the estate,"

Lanik led the two to the kitchen. It was an exquisite build, shimmering of vintage origin something akin to a woodsman's cabin. There was an island in the middle, the counter constructed out of a solid hunk of a tree trunk that Lanik had made himself for his final project in the Carpenter's Guild. Above it hung garlands of exotic herbs wildly colored pink, blue, red and green. There were pots as well, assorted utensils and plates all neatly stacked here and there on counters riddled with jars of spices. As fancy as the cooking area was, it looked like it hadn't been used in ages. The Captain was never a talented cook, and father and daughter usually frequented nearby dining establishments for anything culinary related.

"The kitchen's here. If you can cook, you're more than welcome to.. uhh," he picked up a spatula, inspecting it closely then putting it down, "If not Marië and I usually go out,"

He then took them to the living room, the first place Erudessa would have seen when entering the Wintergate home. Antique furniture dotted the place, all pieces Lanik had built himself. They were beautifully crafted with exceptional attention to detail. Against the far wall was a fireplace, a large-bellied pot suspended between two iron hooks inside. In the corner was an old guitar and an older violin, an instrument Marië had just begun last year. Above the stone mantle was a picture of the legendary Gregoir Wintergate, Lanik's father, poised triumphant with gray hair signifying his seniority both in achievement and age.

"Here's the living room. Marië or myself are usually in here. You'll have to excuse the violin, Marië's just started and needless to say she has a bit more practicing to do,"

He turned, striding past the elf and walking outside through the backdoor. Going outside they entered the garden, a true spectacle boasting of all species of fauna. It was a large lot, a greenhouse in one corner, and lugubrious shed in the other and the rest of it sectioned off into neat squares of vegetables and other produce. It was still night out, but the moonlight essence illuminated the outside just enough to cast faint shadows against a blue twilight. The moon was big and bright with stars twinkling overhead, sending blessings to the earth from millions of miles away. Lanik turned to face Erudessa, about to give another one sentence explanation before locking a gaze on her figure. Maybe it was the way the nightly ambiance accented her willowy outline and starlit hair, because Lanik up until that point had never noticed it before... but it was there, despite being coated in his old baggy clothes. He stared at her deeply for a moment.. . then looked away, obviously flushed and blushing.

Fuck.

"And this is... the garden..," he stammered for a bit, something unusual for him, "We.. . do garden here," he gulped, cursing under his breath once more and pushing past her quickly and leading the two to the attic.

Lanik's footsteps clomped hard against the simple oak staircase that lead into the highest point of the house. It was here where Lanik and Marcus would stay when father made his political expeditions into the heart of Midhaven. The captain pushed open the trapdoor, climbing in and extending Erudessa a hand when he was inside. It was a fairly small space. A dusty bed tucked away in one corner and a single dormer window the only source of illumination. Webs clung onto the top corners of the room where ceiling and roof met. On the far side of the room was a desk with a rickety chair to which Lanik walked over to. On top of the desk was a picture. He picked it up and stared at it for a awhile, as if lost in the moment.

It was a picture of Marcus and Lanik, young and innocent with arms slung around each-others shoulders, a big smile plastered on both their faces. Back during a time where the two boys held no responsibility other than to themselves and to each other and the youthful pursuit of happiness. How times were much simpler back then, something Lanik longed for even now. He glanced up. On every wall was a poster size schematic little Lanik had drawn up as a child. Some of them were outrageous ideas, like vehicles of war made out of wood and stone propelled by a magical engine with tracks that could crush any obstacle. And some were docile, realistic, like more efficient models of windmill components and siege weaponry. Lanik picked up one of the scattered schematics off the desk, studying it for a moment before realizing his guest. He pushed the photo of Marcus face down, almost forgetting Erudessa had been there all along.

"The attic will be your quarters during your stay with us, at least while we're in Midhaven," he glanced up to her, "Excuse the mess.. . I haven't been up here in awhile,"

He brushed himself off then walked to the trapdoor, "Settle in for the night. Marië and I will take you out to the market in the morning to get you some clothes. I'm sure you don't want to be garbed in my things for any longer than you need to,"

He began to step down through the trapdoor, but he stopped, looking over his shoulder.

"I don't know if you'll ever be free Erudessa, the way the Imperium works makes it hard to say," he sighed, "Just.. try to make yourself comfortable. It might be awhile. Plus I know I'll --," he held his breath, redirecting his statement, "Marië will enjoy your company,"

Good night.

Lanik descended the stairs, his footsteps getting softer as he distanced himself from the attic.

[Thinslayer]

"Put on the collar and follow me, I'll show you the estate,"
Erudessa held up the collar.
Once I put it on, it is never coming off. From now on, I will belong to another, body and all, for as long as I live or until I am freed. And someday, I will be free. But it is not this day.
She placed the collar around her neck.
This day, I will play the role of the slave.

It attached with a click.

Erudessa followed Lanik into the kitchen. "The kitchen's here," he said. It seemed to her more like a pharmacy, for the herbs and spices outnumbered ordinary cooking elements and completely dominated the counter space. Just to make sure there was, in fact, food for them to cook, she peeked inside a few of the cabinets. Containers of flour, sugar, molasses, and other bulk items sat with varying levels of dust. Erudessa squinted. Has the man no chef?

"If you can cook, you're more than welcome to," Lanik began.
Erudessa closed the cabinet and peeked over the counter.
"If not...Marië and I usually go out," he added.
She stood up and nodded. "I'll cook."

Lanik then led her back to the living room, where she could now take the time to observe it. "Here's the living room," Lanik commented. "Marië or myself are usually in here." Erudessa brushed one hand over the back of a hand-crafted chair. The piece was a strange amalgam of sturdy wood and cheap fabric, but the combination worked. Were it not for the rough fibers of the seat cushions, she might have mistaken it for the work of an Eastern craftsman. Some of the fibers were loose. Hand-woven? I could have sworn the Imperium had access to professional textile workers. Surely he doesn't...do this himself? She plopped into the chair and bounced a little to test it. At least the chair was comfortable. The couch along the wall might be more so, though a tad hot if one sat on the end closest to the fireplace. A generic picture of some anonymous great person sat on the mantlepiece.

Then she noticed a violin resting in one corner. "Is that what I think it is?" Erudessa rose out of the chair and strode over to examine it.
Lanik apparently felt the need to defend it. "You'll have to excuse the violin. Marië's just started, and needless to say, she has a bit more practicing to do."
In spite of herself, Erudessa couldn't resist teasing him. "Needless to say? No fear of that, I assure you." She bit back her laughter as he turned to lead her outside.

The two walked through the back door into the garden, where grew an impressive collection of fauna rivalling Sadron's. She waded into the moonlight and trailed her fingers along each plant and flower that passed her by. Some of them entranced her with their mesmerizing glow. Others sprang up and saluted her with wild colors. A few of them intrigued her by their clever traps and savvy defenses. Each one of them was unique.

"And this is...the garden..." Lanik stammered.
Erudessa turned to him, unable to contain the delight radiating from her face. "It's beautiful!" she confessed to him. "Who keeps it?"
"We...do garden here," he added, followed by a curse he thought she couldn't hear. His cheeks darkened, and as Erudessa's delight faded into confusion, Lanik stormed back inside the house. What in the world. She blinked and shook her head. "You are a very strange man," she remarked to herself before following him in.

Lanik clomped up the staircase to the highest room in the house. He must have meant for her to follow him, for he made no complaint when she trailed behind him. He pushed open a trapdoor in the roof at the end and climbed in. Then he reached down and offered his hand. Erudessa looked up at him. Were his cheeks pink because his body was tilted down, or because of some emotional reason related to her presence? If it was the former, the pinkness would go away when he had lifted her into the room. If it was the latter, they would only get pinker. She took his hand, admiring the callous strength in his fingers, and allowed him to pull her up. While she couldn't quite make out whether his cheeks changed color, she became acutely aware of the color change in her own.

The color drained from her cheeks when she looked around. If she'd woken up in this room instead of voluntarily climbed into it, she'd have described it as a prison cell. A small bed sat abandoned in one corner of the room underneath a pathetic little window. Cobwebs dusted the corners of the ceiling. There was a chair in another corner of the room, but Erudessa dared not sit in it for fear of spawning fat-jokes in the subsequent crash. Lanik walked over to it and picked up a picture on the desk. Erudessa came up behind him and looked at it over his shoulder.

In the picture, a younger Lanik and another man slung arms around each other. Their broad smiles suggested that it was a happier time, and the intimate way they leaned on each other spoke to a closer relationship than that of mere friends. And unless Lanik was a closet homosexual (unlikely, given that he had a daughter), the other man here was most likely family.

She looked up with him at the posters around the room. Shrouded by layers of dust, they escaped her notice on the first pass through the room. Erudessa gasped. The posters held schematics for numerous inventions, some fantastical, some realistic, all of them imaginative. She wiped away the dust on one to reveal a drawing of a clothes-washing mechanism. As she put it together in her mind, the critiques and objections she formed in response seemed to spring up on the margins of the paper. He and I may think more alike than I realized.

Her concentration was broken by a sudden comment from Lanik. "The attic will be your quarters during your stay with us, at least while we're in Midhaven. Excuse the mess, I haven't been up here in awhile." He brushed himself off and walked to the trapdoor. "Settle in for the night. Marië and I will take you out to the market in the morning to get you some clothes. I'm sure you don't want to be garbed in my things for any longer than you need to."

He began to step down through the trapdoor, but then he stopped and looked over his shoulder. "I don't know if you'll ever be free, Erudessa. The way the Imperium works makes it hard to say. Just...try to make yourself comfortable. It might be awhile. Plus I know I'll-"
He paused. His jaw shifted as he reworded his thought.
"Marië will enjoy your company,"

Erudessa folded her arms. His verbal slip revealed the reason behind his inexplicable awkwardness over the last few minutes: he was attracted to her. I'll enjoy your company was what he really wanted to say. It explained the pink in his cheeks. As long he kept his hands to himself, there was no harm in allowing it. She could even exploit it and use him, if he were properly manipulated. Unfortunately, manipulating people still wasn't her forte, even with decades of practice, so cultivating his affection would take effort.

So she nodded. "And I hers." Acting shy should help him read between the lines. She gnawed on her lower lip and brushed back a strand of hair. "I'll see Marië at breakfast."

As Lanik disappeared down the stairs, Erudessa chuckled.

"What an interesting man."

[BellBottomBlues]

Lanik stared at the high cedar ceilings in his chambers, lying in his bed with Marie nestled close to him on his left side. The night was quiet spare for the ambient chitter chatter of the sparkle bugs attending to their nightly gossip: first by his window sill, then out by the garden only to be lost in the abyss of the cool blue night. The Captain gently ran his hands through Marie’s raven hair who slept soundly, the rhythm of her breathing in time with his. How lucky a man was he to have such innocence believe so wholeheartedly in him. Marie and Lanik like any daughter father duo had their ups and downs, but the Captain’s love for her was as permanent and strong as the deepness of the night that surrounded them. His breathing paused. He thought of Erudessa.

What was it about the elf that made his mind wander into the night? Objectively, taking her as a slave was a foolhardy political move. Lanik had no doubt that the pretty slave would have all Imperial courtisans and courtesses running amuck; the high elite with their fancy plumed dresses and robes talking over blood wine and fresh game. The night could almost hear him smirk. Lanik could picture the conversations even now.

Did you hear? The handsome ranger took an elf as a slave! Their Covenant have never bought a slave before! They must have some serious plans for her.
About damn time, prissy rangers thinking that they’re better than us inner province folk.
I wonder what they’re like in bed.. ?
What? Rangers? I’d imagine no different than your standard Imperial Legionnaire… ?
Not the Rangers ser, the elves!

Lanik frowned. It would be a lie to say the captain did not feel possessive over Erudessa. He lay there in the darkness, combing over his thoughts on why it could be. Perhaps the Imperial sentiment of slaves had finally gotten to him, to have that much power and control over such a delicate thing… the thought scared him. Surely he would not turn to such savagery that the typical Imperial reveled in. But Lanik knew his feelings were more than just a sense of honor and debt to one who had saved one of his charges. He sighed. Lanik was no fool and he knew exactly why. It was because she was beautiful. It was human nature to feel possessive over things deemed beautiful.

There would be no sleep tonight, and knowing this the Captain got out of bed and moved silently towards the kitchen. He poured himself a cup of mead, lighting a candle before allowing his racing thoughts to rest in the solemn space around him. The nights were the hardest, because the nights were when grief over Marcus and hate for Serani and love for Marie collided fiercely in the darkness. He drank his cup, filling and drinking thrice before moving into the living room and taking a seat by the hearth. Sitting alone there, the Captain let his thoughts rest. Thoughts of the elf and the night were catalyzed by his stupor till finally he fell into the arms of lady sleep.