Thread: Worlds Collide [HeavenSundered x Inwiththebooks]

The path back home was quite enough as Adelia was transported by palanquin back to her estate, the solitude offering her a chance to think. The current Empress was not easily impressed, she was martial minded and fairly expansionist and tended to enjoy well-crafted swords and armor to rich clothing and jewelry. Since she now had also taken ownership of the exotic womans weapons perhaps she could display them along with the slave. The items in question were certainly exotic though Adelia would need someone to look over them to ensure their quality. As her escort moved through the Upper City she composed a list of smiths she knew of and narrowed it down. When she finally arrived at the estate the woman exited the palanquin, passing under the massive entryway of her estate. How her brother would love to get his hands on the property, its exquisite architecture the envy of many a noble. Father had named her majority owner of the family business and the estate before his untimely demise, something the woman had fought tooth and nail to maintain. A seat on the Senate would secure that and propel her family to new heights, her name forever immortalized in the family while her wretch of a brother would fall into obscurity. The entry hall of the estate was floored with smooth marble and possessed statues of all the great ancestors lining the walls. A few slaves scrubbed the floor dutifully and guards were posted at every entrance or exit, armed and armored in fine iron. It was blissfully empty of the normal crowd gathered to speak of trade grievances and negotiations. The Empress upcoming birthday celebration had the whole of the city in a buzz, tomorrow was certainly going to be an interesting day. Adelia felt no great love herself for the powerful woman she had never met her though her policies had a way of lining her coffers with denars. It was some time later when the blacksmith she sent for arrived in her study, an older man with a stooped gate and face scarred from getting too close to the flames. He looked over each piece of weaponry and armor with amazement in his eyes. The sword and the shorter blade were treated with especial care, his fingers moving carefully along the edge and were pricked quite easily. Adelia examined the affair with great interest, her body slave standing off to the side dutifully and bringing the man each piece in turn as requested. Marvelous I believe these are forged of steel. The craftsmanship is superior, masterful even! Whoever created these is a master of their art beyond anything the Empire possesses. The weapons especially are exquisite. Like nothing I have ever seen in my time. The man stated, clearly impressed by the items. Interesting. In terms of coin, how much would you say these would fetch with a collector? Adelia inquired, folding her hands on her desk. I doubt one could put a price on-. Everything has a price, sir. In your professional opinion what price would you give these? The man mulled it over for a good while. No less than 100,000 apiece for the weapons. The armor would fit around the 75,000 range for the whole set. That was a large sum of money a pleb could likely live off of that form the rest of their lives and never go hungry again. Adelia dismissed the man with a wave of her hand and turned to her body slave. Right. See to it the weapons and armor are prepared for transport tomorrow. I suspect the combination of my newest purchase and they will be enough to gain her favor. Also, only you and I are to know where they are. With this done Adelia opted to take a trip down to the dungeon to ensure her other purchase was well tended to. Flanking her were a few guards and two female slaves bearing washing supplies. When the noblewoman came to the cell she again stared long and hard at the exotic woman in the dim light. She was still extremely beautiful even in these conditions though the dirt and grime on her had not gone unnoticed. Flaws that needed to be purged quickly before tomorrow came. The slave needed to be pristine before being presented to the Empress. You three restrain her and chain her against the wall. Once thats done the slaves will clean her front down, be very meticulous about that shes a gift to the Empress. Remove those clothes by the way I want the Empress to see everything gifted to her. Once you finish the front signal the guards to flip her and do her back. I want every crack and crevice clean. Ill send someone with a warm meal for her later. Get to work. With that Adelia left her underlings to the task.