Meal Plans

**Date Started:** September 28th, 2021
 **Date Completed**: TBA
**Previous Role-Play** None
**Next Role-Play:** Coming to Grips
**Users Involved:** User:Blackdagger01 & User:HoloArc
**Setting:** Ogonsekai
**Characters Involved:** Violet Fleur, Andrew Drake, Stella Drake, Eleina Drake, Ingrid Drake.

The sound of the cage rang out with each forward movment by the cart as the steel cage in which she sat shook and jostled with every small hole or rock in the path of the unpaved road. Her hands sat in her lap, bound by locked metal cuffs as she leaned her head against the one of the metal bars of her small but hopefully temporary prision. Only her eyes moved as she looked to her captors, having found speaking to them to be senseless. She'd already told them everything she could think of. She'd tried showing them her travel permits, her papers, research notes but all of it was for naught. Thinking perhaps it was a language barrier she'd opted to wait until they arrived at their destination in hopes of speaking to someone higher in the chain of command and more likely to understand the misunderstanding that had seemed to have occured.

Shifting her eyes toward the sky she saw not the large expanse blue she'd seen yesterday but rather rolling hills of light grey clouds through which the sun seemed to barely penetrate. Though despite the look it hadn't rained a drop since the clouds had rolled in, a shame, as she'd become rather parched on the long journey she'd found herself involuntarily taken on. Hearing the voices of the others speaking she raised her head to see what it was they might have been talking about. In the distance she saw what looked like a fortess of some kind though she was too far away to make out the details from here she was at least sure that was their destination. If for no other reason that it was the only other noteable landmark she'd seen since they'd taken her prisoner. Perhaps it was their capital city. At least if she ended up in a cell she might be able to write a letter home about what has happened and have the issue taken care of by the university or her parents. Yes, she only needed to hold out hope for that.

The Gurza captors had done little to keep her healthy during their travels. They had fed her up until this morning and not given anything since. Water was spared away from her, not giving more than absolutely necessary. Coming before the grand walls of the city, she would be able to see two colossal statues made from brass, horns clashing against eachother and eyes which glared onto the road they came from. Pathing their way through the modest buildings, she could see children playing among the buildings, women of various races attending different chores.

The wagon rattled the cage as they came down a small hill, and from this point she would be able to bear witness to the downright colossal construction of metal, its shape reminiscent of many palaces, with a dark metal covering the exterior. While the path first seemed to take her there, it soon turned to the right amongst the sandstone buildings, sallying forth to a great oval building with many banners standing outside. Some had the emblem of a gaping maw, another of a crescent moon, another of a Saur, another of a whirlwind of sharpnel, and too many others to really make notice of before the wagon came to a halt. Ahead of them came a Calco man, standing just about as tall as the Gurza around her, looking over the content of the wagon. The meats, the pelts, and lastly the woman caged. Taking a moment to look at her and then the men, he called out: "Load it off! Get her out of there. Get her inside." he said as the Gurza begrudgingly did as told.

And with that the cage was unchained from its place on the cart. Feeling it and herself lifted up into the air before being brought inside the building. Before she'd even entered it she felt a sneaking suspicion that this place was not a jail but frankly, she knew little of the Khalahai culture she didn't know which building was which. A house from a business, a jail from a palace, it was unrecognizeable as far as she was concerned. That was whens he'd realized something, the Calco had spoken in words she could understand. Indeed, she'd understood him perfectly and thus, he could likely understand her. So as they carried the cage she tried her luck. Not wanting to miss a shot by not taking one at all.

"Good Sir! Oh please, good sir! There seems to have been some sort of mistake but alas I've not encountered someone with whom I could speak until just now. I'm here from Lubbock, I'm a researcher. I have my travel permits right here!" She called out, getting up onto her knees and holding the envelope above her head as she waved the man down.

The Gurza was about to give the cage a strike with the side of his fist to silence her when the Calco raised two fingers to keep him back. "Move on." He commanded, and so they did. Walking beside the cage, he looked up to the woman. "Do not mistake yourself. They do understand you. They just pretend otherwise." He said as he reached inside and took the envelope from her, opening it up to read it. "You are here legally indeed." He said as he handed it back. "Sadly for you, us Tyrants don't care much for the laws of the cities and outsiders. Still, I take no joy from this. You found yourself at a most ill opportune moment, madam."

"What are you talking with it for? And what about our meat? My belly aches, and it's round and firm, just the way I like it." Said the Gurza ahead of them.

"Silence. You mewl like a fawn who's being denied it's milk. 'It' is for the Ordo Tyrannical." The Calco spat back. Looking back to the woman, he held an apologetic look in his eye. "A pity that such a beauty were to find herself here. I am sorry. What is your name, madam? From where do you hail?" He asked, trying to make her a bit more at ease.

She was left ill at ease by the conversation of things she did not understand, however, she was not so foolish as to not catch on the fact that they knew well she was here legally. There was no misunderstandings, at least not on their part and that left a bad taste in her mouth. If they had no intentions of letting her go then what did they intend to do with her? Was she to be a slave? No, what a waste that would be. She would not allow it. She was a doctor and a genius above all of that. Surely there was something she could do.

"Violet Fleur, I hail from Lubbock. I'm a doctor at a most pretigious university there. I've come here on research business, to study the medicinal potential of your flora and fauna. Surely you've heard of me, yes? I'm the one who discovered that antibotic that could be created from moss that grew in Ogon. I can only imagine something equally as ground breaking could be discovered here as well. Imagine what that could do for your people?" She explained, trying to make her value known if for no other reason than to let them know she'd be a better hostage for ransom than as some slave in a field or worse, a brothel.

"Fascinating field of work. And a bit foolish to come here for the sake of plants." He said solemnly. "If it were up to me I'd take you on that potential in a heartbeat. If you are as good as you claim, I would have great use for you in my Khanite. But it isn't up to me. Not to mention that the Khanites aren't too keen on sharing knowledge or assets with anyone. Especially not something as useful as medicine... I'll make sure you get to try and make a case for yourself. I can't promise anything else. The other Tyrants have something special in mind." He said as they kept walking. "The moment the Tyrants got word of you they knew what to do... They are doing this to spite one of the other ones, you see... Here. Get her inside."

The Gurza opened up the cage and with rough, thick and mighty hands he grabbed her by the arm and tugged her towards the door. Opening it up he all but threw her inside. The Calco stood by the doorway and looked at the woman sympathetically. Around her she would find different produce. Meats, fruits, salt and brews, among other things. With a flick of his wrist, the Calco lit up the candles within the room, giving her light. "Feel free to eat and drink to your heart's content. The Tyrants won't like me for letting you do that, but I frankly don't care right now. Enjoy yourself, Fleur. You're likely not to get another chance." He said as he backed away, about to lock the door. "There will be a few attendants who will come to 'assist' and collect you later. A couple of the Khanari. Say your prayers and make your peace, madam. Might as well just in case."

Even when she found herself on her own she tried to keep up a brave face. From what the Calco had to say it seems they didn't intend to keep her alive, but perhaps that was a better alternative than the other worst case scenario's she'd thought up in her head. With air filled cheeks to keep her tears from flowing she looked around the room at the items they intended for her to make a last meal of. She looked around at what she had to choose from, not because she was hungry but rather to see if any combination of these items could add up to a poison? She saw a barrel of apples and she contemplated using the seeds, yes, enough apple seeds could see to her end but it could take far too long to collect enough. If they were to arrive before she'd had enough all her effort would be for nothing. Then perhaps it would be better to choke on something? The thought terrified her but was the unknown fate that awaited her any better than the pain of such a violent death?

Walking over to a table she found herself a goblet of water, too little to drown in even if she tried. But more than enough to quench her thirst and so she drank from it. Downing half the cup before she was satisfied. Looking at what was left she looked back over to the door, surely it was locked. But with water, salt, and the catalyst that hadn't yet been taken from her clipped to her belt she could very well freeze the lock until it shattered. Yes, that was a possibility as well. But could she fight her way out of this place? No.

Dropping to her knees she felt something she hadn't felt in a long time, utter defeat, dispair, hopelessness. What was she to do if every possibility found her a corpse. To stay put was to die, to take her own life was to die, to fight back was to die. Was fate truly so cruel as to give her endless options to the same unavoidable conclusion? Was she truly to die in such a place so far from family or friend? Yet even so she did not cry, she did not allow it. Each tear that rolled down her cheek froze solid before falling to the ground and shattering like glass. She would not be so fragile.

It was such a bore. A real drag to be around here today. The shortly sized blue figure wandered through the halls, at least now grateful for being allowed the chance to leave the vile, vicious meeting of the Tyrants. Luckily, her own was insightful enough to know her mind in the matter and sending her off to collect their guest. Under her arm she carried a bundle of clothes. Approaching the door, she unlocked it, her ears twitching at the sound of something breaking against the ground? 'She better not be breaking stuff in there.' She thought to herself. Opening up she found a distressed young figure on the floor. She almost appeared to be weeping, but her cheeks were unblemished from tears. "Hello? You're our guest, are you not?" The little blue creature called out, trying to get the girl's attention. Closing the door behind her as to remain undisturbed, she looked back to the kneeling human. "Something the matter?

Violet wiped her eyes before turning to face the sudden intruder, though, for all she knew she was exactly the person meant to be here. Look at the small blue creature she didn't know what to make of it... or her? She didn't know and she didn't know if she cared to know either. She'd referred to her as a guest, a guest of what? Is that how they referred to their prisoners? "I don't know... I'm not sure if I'm the person you're looking for. I was thrown in here and that's all I've really managed to process. As for if there is something wrong, I do direct you to my previous statement. I shouldn't be here, this is a mistake. I'm supposed to be far from here doing... something! Something good for the world."

"Purple clothes, curves in the right places, and that hat? Yeah, you are the one I am looking for." Said the little thing with a sweet voice. She knew about what this girl is going through. She went through the same once. "We all want to do something good for our fellow man. It is just an innate drive, now isn't it? But I guess you are a bit more vocal and prevalent in that regard, aren't you?" She asked, putting down the black bundle of clothes beside her, walking up to the girl. "I hear you came into our borders to study? That's quite bold. Brave little thing you must be. And yes, I do realize the irony in what I just said." She joked, putting a four fingered hand on her shoulder, her long braided hair dragging in the ground a bit. "I am Stella. Stella Drake. You are Fluer, right? That was your name, wasn't it?"

Violet pulled the hat from her head, it being rude in her country to greet someone for the first time while wearing one. "Y-yes, my name is Violet Fleur... And it's not that I want to, I was. I've dedicated my life to it in fact. But now I'm here and I don't even know what's going on."

"If I'm the one you're looking for then tell me for what reason you've come looking?"

Stella walked back a few paces and grabbed the bundle of clothes she had brought with her. "To give you this. The Tyrants who have gathered want you to put these on and come with me to present yourself to them. It's nothing much, but it is a bit more customary for foreign guests to dress something like this. They say that you are a guest who wants to study, so they want to give you a deeper insight into the workings of their culture." She said with a sigh and a roll of the eyes. "I don't believe it. I saw the cage when it was carried away. If I were to guess? One of the Tyrants will want to take you for a bride. Or, well, Khanari as they call it. If that is the case... I feel for you. To have ones life claimed by a Tyrant isn't exactly how most would want to enter a relation."

The possibilities only seemed to grow worse in the woman's mind, where death had once been at the forefront of her mind it was no replaced with the possibility of a far worse fate once again. She covered her mouth, lest she vomit, "T-this is horrible... At least death would have meant the end of this maddness. Surely there is something that can be done? Some way out of this?" She asked, the mask of calm slowly beginning to fall away as the dread of the situation truly began to set in the pit of her stomach. She did not wish to be wed to some raider nor to have her maidenhood stolen by such a brute.

Stella looked to the side, not knowing how to answer her first. Sighing, she looked at the girl with as much compassion as she dared to give. "Look, there is nothing I can do about this. There is nothing anyone in this building or city can or will do about it." She began, reaching her hand forward and holding up her chin with her index finger. "Except for one. If that is indeed what is what will happen, I will talk to my Tyrant who leads the Steelfury Khanite." She said before pulling her hand away. "I know the title is a scary one, but he... he is a bit different. Doesn't really live up to the title as well as the others. He is a human like you, so he can certainly appreciate a human's beauty. Which I would say you've got in spades, which is lucky, because he is a bit of a sucker for a pretty face. If someone wants to pick you, I am sure he will come to your defense." She spoke, trying to offer comfort.

Frankly, her words did not help to quell her dread. But she was no fool, even if some would be quick to say otherwise. She knew the value of having an ally, even if only for a short while. At the very least, one could say it was better than being wholly alone. Looking into the eyes of the small woman she nodded her head to confirm that she'd heard her. "Thank you," She responded sincerely as while her words alone did not bring her comfort, the knowledge that not all here were apathetic to her plight gave her hope that she might escape it. Though if all were like the Calco whom she'd spoken to earlier than words would be all they could offer her.

Stella nodded back to her, an attempt at a smile on her face. "No problem... Now, you should probably get dressed. The Tyrants are waiting and will want to see you follow their customs. You could try and refuse I suppose, but that would likely only anger them." She said, handing over the ashen dress before walking out of the door. "I'll be right outside. Just knock on it when you are ready to come along." Stella spoke, stepping outside and closing the door behind her, sighing a breath of relief to be out of that situation. She did really understand and feel for the woman's plight. She had been there once too. She just hoped now that nothing would go wrong. She'd hate to have the weight on her shoulders knowing that she might have given the girl hope for nothing.

With the click of the door, Violet looked down at the clothing in her hands. The dress certainly wasn't something she'd have cared to wear of her own choice but it seemed it was the best option lest she find herself angering whoever it was that awaited her. Changing into it, she didn't know if she would get her old clothes back and as such she removed her catalyst from them, placing the golden flower on her chest like a brooch. Should worst come to worst she might have use for it but even if she did not she knew better than to leave such an object behind. Once she was clothed once again, adjusting the dress to the best of her ability to better fit her curves as it was just a little tight in a few places, she knocked on the door.

"Stella, I've changed."

The door opened shortly after, the young Vart'hya looking over the woman. "Not the best fit and I think you looked quite a bit better in the old stuff... But it is as they ordered at least. Here, let me take care of these for you." Stella said as she went forward and picked up the bundle of clothes left behind. "Follow me."

Stella led the way for Violet to follow, walking through many corridors and rooms of the building until they started to approach the center of the complex. They stood before a grand wooden door. "Ready or not, here we go." Stella spoke as she pushed the doors open. Within the confines of the room sat around fifteen different men and women, gathered in a single spot, leaving three quarters of the room standing either completely empty, or surrounded by less imposing men and women in either finer or skimpier attires. In front of the tyrants was a heightened platform surrounded by braziers. The men and women that gathered in a clutch spot were all lightly dressed, wearing bagy pants, mostly leather straps as harnesses and gloves or gauntlets. They were all large, muscular and imposing. The Gurza, men and women alike, bragged boisterously about their latest feats which were hard to make out from all the shouting. Some Calco sat gathered around as well, more calculated in their speech and moves, and fewer still were the human Tyrants, most of which sat in similar dress as the rest, with one exception.

Somewhere in the center of it all, Violet would be able to make out a single figure, a woman by the looks of it, in long robes with a see through shirt that revealed everything beneath the chest and above the pelvis. A golden hair clip to keep the bangs out of her eyes and yellow lipstick. She seemed to take in everything that was going on, interracting with anyone who made an approach on her and smiling along with the rest as they all talked and cheered with ale in hand. Her attention was pulled from them and towards Violet as she stepped through. The rest just seemed to ignore her with a passing glance for the moment. "Go sit on the platform in the center. I'll take care of your stuff in the meantime. Wait until they adress you." Stellas said as she carried the stuff with her and took position along the wall, standing next to a yellow skinned Vart'hya with hooves for feet and a gurza woman of ash-black skin and blazing red eyes.

After some time of laughter later, one of the Calco gathered the other Tyrants' attention with a surprisingly loud fingersnap. The Calco chugged a bit of his ale filled tankard before speaking up: "Joyous as this have been, I think it is time to adress the human in the room." he stated, his voice melodic and light.

"Ah, very well." Said the biggest Gurza in the middle, looking over to Violet, a hint of a sneer on his face, his voice deep and guttural. "The little human here came here to our lands to study and learn. I brought her here to learn a bit first hand how this works." He said with a bit of a chuckle which triggered the same in most of the other Tyrants as well. "So then, little one, why don't you tell us a bit about yourself?"

Violet shuffled nervously in place, not merely because of the situation at hand but the eyes that fell upon her as well. She did not care to be the center of attention in any regard. Preferring the solitude of the field or a lab, never one for interviews or lectures. At the command to introduce herself knew now was her chance to state her case and it needed to be a convincing one lest none take her seriously. So, steeling her nerves and taking in a deep breath she spoke up.

"My name is Violet Fleur from the nation of Lubbock, alumni of Cardea university where I work as an accomplished medical researcher and doctor. Most well known for the most recent discovery of antibotics that can be created from specific kinds of moss grown in Ogon. A treatment that has already been used to save countless lives all over Domah since mass production began. I came here to Khalahai in hopes of making similar ground breaking discoveries that can be shared with the world at large." She started off, taking in another deep breath to offset her long winded explaination. "I implore you to allow me to return to my studies so that I might help further not only medical science but magic as well." She said, touching at the flower shaped catalyst on her chest which began go glow an icy blue color for a moment.

"Woah." Said one of the Tyrants. "That was a whole lot of words that told me a whole lot of nothing. And I don't recall us allowing you to keep your Catalyst. What do you say, Steelstorm? Didn't we say that your Khanari was supposed to take away everything?"

"Hm." Came the dry, curt and barely audible response from the midst of the group.

"Either way, I am confident that we can take her if she tries anything. Besides, I think what she is trying to tell us is that she is a very good doctor and wants to go home to become even better." Said another Calco Tyrant. The very one whom had been talking to her through the cage earlier. He looked apologetically at her for but a moment before he steeled himself. As things were progressing, a couple of slaves entered the room. Shaved heads and brands on their necks, they went to the Calco and Human members of the Tyrant gathering and handed them utensils. The female human accepted them with a confused look.

"True. But for all intents and purposes, I still find it quite rude." Spoke the giant Gurza in the middle. "But I guess we should at least be grateful for that she changed for this moment. Always something, right?" He said, which was responded with varying degrees and versions of 'aye'. Once all non-gurza had been given utensils, the slaves were quick to head out. "But I think there is a bit of a problem with you proposition, little lady. Your mass production of medicine doesn't reach us. What we need to take we take, and for such things it may even come at a great risk. It is generally not worth to plunder for medicine alone. Not to mention the lack of glory in it." He scoffed. "If anything of the sort were to happen it would be better to keep you close at hand. To treat the weak and wounded."

"She wouldn't exactly be shared for that though, now would she?" Said the Calco Tyrant.

"We're sharing her now, aren't we?" Replied the Gurza.

"Are we though? We are sharing her time, but little else." Was a voice heard from the crowd. The female human shuffled a bit to the side to get a better view of Violet.

"There will be more fun to it later, trust me." He said again, the looks of some of the other Tyrants directed towards him, mostly the humans, were less than flattering. "Tell me then, sweetcheeks; What else can you do to justify your staying? Magic is not too keen a subject here, and your medicine skills are untested. What else have you got? Besides some voluptuous shapes?" He said with a sneer.

She crossed her arms over her body as if to hide herself from their predatory gaze to the best of her ability. She had no answer to his question, she'd only ever been good at one thing and she'd excelled at it. If they did not care for her healing magic nor her medical abilities then she had nothing to offer them. It was like a sword thrust through her chest, a blow to her ego coated in the dread that despite everything she'd done in her life none of it mattered in this very moment when they wanted more from her than she could give.

"I-I can make things other than medicine... steroids, drugs, things of the like. With a proper lab I can produce those sorts of things with ease." She spoke in her defense but every word felt like acid in her throat. Was she truly so desperate as to throw away her morals for the chance to live? Who was to say living was the better alternative? To be wed to one of these... things? Used to create drugs and other harmful concoctions, the opposite of the study she dedicated her life to.

"If I'm allowed to return home, surely I can organize these things to be create in large quantities and shipped directly to Khalahai. Y-you wouldn't need to risk your lives in raids for them. Free supplies every month." She spoke, lying through her teeth this time. If she could get home she could forget all of this, hire extra security just in case they sent someone after her but at least she'd be home and far away from this place, this situation. "You have my word."

"Free supplies? Just go ahead and call us weak while you are at it." Spat the only Female Calco in the gathering. "We have no use for your gifts. If they can even be trusted to be fulfilled. Drugs? Weakens the mind and the senses. A good opportunity to be set upon. I don't even know what 'steroids' are. Surely poison in disguise." She hissed.

"Either way," The giant Gurza interferred. "Regardless, you offer a lot of things we know very little of and risk ourselves and our dignity. That will not stand. Besides, we are not in the business of keeping 'labs'. We are traveling fighters. Warriors!" he called out, followed by a battlecry of the gathering, save for a few. "Sorry, but you don't have anything we can trust you to uphold. Besides, only one of us would get to reap the benefits even if it could be. WHich would also make them a target for everyone else. No, we have different plans for you." He spoke as one of the Calco sharpened his utensils against one another with a wicked look upon his face.

The direness of the situation dawned upon Stella as the Gurza walked up to Violet and grabbed her brooch, janking it off of her body and tossing it aside across the room. After that he grabbed Violet by the wrist and began to tie her to the brazier with a leather belt. "Now, who wants the first bite?"

To have her catalyst tossed to the side filled her with a sudden and deep sense of fury for but a moment before the realization of defeat firmly settled into her mind. They did not want her alive, nor was she to be killed as some political message, at least not one she could understand. No, they desired to eat her, to toss her away to fill their putrid and overfilled stomachs. She grit her teeth when she felt the heat of the flames that threated to lick at her as she was tossed around like paper in the wind. Only now, when all hope was to be lost to the flames of the stove did she finally allow herself to weep in anticipation of both the pain of what remained of her life and the unknown that awaited her in the next.

When no one stepped up, only giving snide grins, the Gurza turned to the feminine Tyrant. "How about you then, 'Steelstorm'? Surely you of all people wouldn't want to miss out on such a pretty face?" He cast his remark at the woman. When she only gave a frustrated glare at him, he chuckled. But before anything could be said, the knife in his hand flew forward and cut through the belt that held her to the brazier. The whole gathering lost their tonuge at that moment. Save for the Gurza. He bellowed a laugh of untold proportions. The woman paid him no heed as she stepped up and towards the weeping Violet. Kneeling down beside her, 'she extended a well trimmed hand of theirs and said: "I am sorry." The voice... It wasn't a woman's. It was most certainly that of a man.

"Aw, and trying to offer comfort to the meatbag. How precious."

"Silence that tongue and sit yourself down, Katakros. You are but a little man, playing a little game." The Tyrant Steelstorm ordered. "Stella, Eleina, help me here." He ordered as the blue and yellow Vart'hyas came up the steps to him and Violet. "Their actions do not reflect upon me, I assure you. Take my hand. I'll be here for you." He said, trying to be as sweet of voice as he could.

Violet knew not what to say or do, having resigned herself to her fate already it had seemed none would take her side. She stared up at the tall, deep-voiced female as the tears still trailed down her cheeks. Luckily, she didn't need to think, or rather, her body didn't care to give her the time to as she reached up and took hold of the unknown person's hand if for no other reason than to have some last inkling of hope to hold onto.

He smiled at her as he slowly pulled her up, not wanting to make anything sudden or distressing. Once she was up on her feet, Stella and the one called Eleina escorted her to the side of the room, where she would get the evil eye of the Gurza woman who so far went without a name.

The Gurza didn't take kindly to the insult thrown at him by the human. He snarled and bared his tusks and teeth. "'Little man'? You are of gall to demean my efforts when you stand here granting comfort to meat!"

Steelstorm turned around to look at the Gurza, then the crowd gathered and then up to the roof which had a brazier of crimson flames. "You are all little folk. Clamoring for little spoils. Your measure of strength and power was to torment a broken woman and eat her. Your measure of strength was to capture a lone, peaceful woman on the fields and take her here to spite me. Well? How did that work out?" He said with a grin.

"And what is it that makes you different from us then, meekling."

Steelstorm began to pace up the center of the platform. "It was here... This very spot. This place where I made my oath as a Tyrant. That I'd break the enemies of Khalahai. That I'd besiege Doma'Khane and plunder it's spoils for our own. To bring down their deified devils and bring their broken bodies back to Vael'Dohm, unlike any Khanite or Tyrant has ever done."

Karkakros grinned. "And you were foolish enough to believe that you could do it. Haven't worked out too great for you so far, has it?"

The smile of Steelstorm didn't falter. "And here? Now? What have the great Tyrants of Khalahai schemed and planned over the day? Which towns to raid? Which cities to demand tribute from? How many steeds and women to demand as payment? You are all petty little people. Lacking ambition and strength to challenge yourselves. None of you are worthy of this prize. But I am... That is why I'll take my leave with it." He said and with a nod, he turned around and waved for his Khanari to follow him and escort Violet with him. Reaching down to the floor, he grabbed the Catalyst and kept walking. With a wave of his hand, the guards and slaves parted ways and left.

Walking in silence towards his room, he and his Khanari stepped inside and allowed Violet to enter first. Once inside, he handed her the Catalyst which had been so roughly and unceremoniously tossed aside. "I am sorry for that display. You'll be safe in here. On my word." He said softly. He looked to his wives and nodded towards Violet. "Take care of her. Give her a drink. Food. Space to redress to her clothes. I'll be back in a moment." He said and was about to leave when the Gurza woman intervened. "I'd come with you too. I have things to discuss." She spoke with a gruff voice. He just nodded after some hesitation, leaving Violet at the care of his two remaining Khanari.

She held her catalyst in her hands but she saw no divinity in the object, no grace from the gift that had been given to her by the Gods themselves. Why? Because when it mattered most it was nothing more than a piece of unknown metal incapable of saving her. Though perhaps that was her own fault? Were she stronger, had she chosen more offensive types of magic, perhaps it was she who ultimately failed herself and not the Gods. Looking up from the metal rose in her hands she looked toward the other two woman, in human, yet somehow more so than most other humans she'd met and certainly more so than the things that existed outside of this room. Raising her arms he wiped the remaining tears from her eyes before speaking the only question she could think of at the moment: "What just happened?"

"They brought you here so they could test our Tyrant." Spoke the yellow woman whom had been refered to as Eleina. She offered Violet a napkin to help her clean up her face. "He rose up in spite of them and saved your life. He will likely be even less liked for it, but it is what it is." She said with a smile.

"Don't sound like that, Eleina. He did a brave thing back there." Stella retorted as she handed Violet her clothes. "There is a room down that corner. You can get yourself prepped in there. There is also water and some other hygiene items in there in case you want to feel a bit more pretty again... I know it was a harsh ordeal you just went through. But I assure you that it is over. Andrew will take care of you from here."

"As will we, of course." Eleina spoke as well. "He will have to make himself out a bit more grandiose and dangerous for a time to compensate, but it is for the best. For your health so well as his conscience. They wanted to show everyone that he was weak. He proved them otherwise by belitteling them. He will have more enemies now."

"Nothing you need to tell her, Eleina. She needs rest, not more weight." Hissed Stella. "If you want to get dressed, go ahead. And if you want, we can prepare a meal for you?"

She shook her head at the offer of a meal, "No. I don't know if I could hold anything down at the moment but thank you, your kindness is appreciated nonetheless." Violet spoke as she collected her clothes, cautiously making her way to the room they'd specified, washing her face of dirty and the smeared portions of what little make-up she wore. Though her life wasn't in any immediate danger she couldn't help but feel that she wasn't really in a much better situation. After all, 'different' or not, the woman... or man? She didn't know, either way, just because they were different didn't necessarily mean better. Once her face was washed she changed into her old clothes, wishing she were back home in the midst of a bubble bath. She couldn't remember the last time she'd wished to be home instead of out on a expedition. Though if anything could push someone toward that, surely it would be near death.

Placing her hat atop her head, straightening it until it sat the way she wanted, she lowered her hands and simply stood there for a long while until she could force her hands to stop shaking. Only then did she allow herself to rejoin the others, offering them a more proper greeting this time around. "My name is Violet Fleur, I apologize for any inconvenience that I may have caused and thank you for the kindness you've shown me." She spoke with hand over her heart.

"You are welcome." Said Eleina softly. "But it is Andrew that you should really thank. Without him... Well, let's just say that we personally wouldn't have been able to do something. Speaking of names, however." Eleina reminded herself, looking at Violet, hand over her chest and took a small bow. "I am Eleina Drake. Khanari of the Gorger Tyrant Andrew Drake."

Stella nodded. "You alredy know me, but I might as well; Stella Drake, Khanari of the Gorger Tyrant Andrew Drake. Who should be back soon." She huffed with a bit of annoyance. "Either way, it is no concern, we are happy to help out someone in need."

"I wish the feeling was mutual." Came the gruff voice of the Gurza woman from the doorway. "Since introductions seem to be in order; Magda Drake, Khanari of the Gorger Tyrant Steelstorm. Pack your things ladies. We are heading out soon."

"What do you mean?" Eleina asked, confused.

"The tyrants are not too happy. Steelstorm deems it the best idea to leave the city now before they get any ideas. So, pack. Your. Things." She ordered, which seemed to annoy Eleina as they began to collect their items. She began to pack together her dresses and personal items into a smaller chest and then proceeded to walk out the door. Stella just seemed to pick up a backpack and a big hammer. But rather than head out, she stuck next to Violet, looking up at the more towering woman and nodded towards the door to quietly insinuate that it was time to go.

With nothing but the clothes on her back she had nothing to grab unlike the others, unsure of the situation she knew it was best to do as the others told her for now. She was a stranger in a strange land after all, she would most certainly need their guidance. With a nod toward the smaller, blue furred woman, Violet nodded her head and motioned for Stella to lead the way.

Stella motioned for Violet to stick close as they ventured out. Walking through the halls, there was more than one evil eye glaring at Violet and Khanari and the company they kept. Once they were outside, there stood a collection of wagons, horses, and other mounts of varying species. In the front of it all stood a Rocktusk, a massive creature that appeared to be an odd mixture between a cow, a mammoth and a boar. The tyrant Steelstorm stood there barding the giant beast. "It is said that he wrestled that thing." Stella said with a bit of humor in her voice. Leading her down, the Tyrant then got a glimpse of them all. Fastening the last strap, he walked up to them. "Miss Fleur. Again I beg a thousand pardons for their mistreatment of you. Come, let us part from here." He said as he gestured for one of the wagons, holding out a hand towards her as to help her up. While this was happening, Magda and several other men and woman of the caravan looked upon them with a bit of discontent.

She hesitated, not because of the stares. No, those went unnoticed by her. She hesitated because she wished to question where they would go? What would become of her? Would she be allowed to leave this place now? All of those questions boiled just under her skin, questions no doubt reflected in her sunswept forest eyes. But she dared not ask, not for fear of the answers though that fear did exist, but because for just a moment... a fleeting, quiet moment, she wanted to simply believe that everything would be alright from now on. So, she took his hand and was pulled up into the wagon.

Stella followed suit, carried up to the same wagon as Violet by Andrew, much like a child might be lifted by a parent. She seemed quite disgruntled by this. Eleina climbed atop a horse next to the Rocktusk and Magda jumped atop a Direwolf and flanked the wagon on which Violet and Stella sat. With a cry from Andrew atop his beast, the caravan began to move. The earth rumbled beneath the tread of the mighty beast. Their path led out of the city, the wagons of goods and steeds of approximately a hundred people rode behind their tyrant. Once outside of the confines of the walls, Stella breathed a sigh of relief. "I've always found that city suffocating. Always looking over my shoulder." She said with a half hearted chuckle. She leaned forward a bit in her seat, looking up at Violet. "I don't want you to worry anymore. I can't tell you not to, it is just something I wish you won't feel for much longer. Trust me, my husband is a good man. He'll take good care of you. Who knows? He might even set you free." She said, trying to be encouraging.

"Don't count on it." Magda interjected. "She has already made our tyrant look weak as it is. I doubt he can do much more."

"He has presented himself as a giant to them. They would be idiots to contest his strenght." Stella retorted.

"A giant would be just the challenge they want to topple to climb."

Stella groaned at the woman's words. "Pay her no heed. She is a bitch who never knows when it is time to stop being one."

Violet's hands sat fidgeting in her lap as the wide brim of her hat covered her eyes, listening to the bickering of the other women as she gathered information from their words rather she meant to or not. And what she gathered was rather simple, simple but heartbreaking. Stella's words of encouragment had made it clear that despite it all she was still not free. Merely moved from one prison to another, though at the very least she was confident that this wasn't the death row the other one was. At least not yet, but what she would have to do to keep it that way remained unclear. She held hope in her heart that, as a human, the 'tyrant' would understand the value of her knowledge. If that wasn't the case and he wanted other things from her...

Her stomach lurched and she quickly covered her mouth as if she thought she might puke. The shaking in her hands returning again for a moment before she tried her best to calm herself. Not wanting to cause a scene or draw more attention to herself than she'd already had. "I'm sorry again, for any trouble I've caused." Were the only words to escape her lips.

"If you were really sorry you would-"

"Don't you even dare, Magda!" Shouted Eleina. Pulling back her horse she grabbed the reins of the wolf and dragged it and Magda further forward in the train. Stella shook her head. "Again, ignore her. She is just annoyed because she can't get things her way. And you don't need to apologize for anything, Fleur. Despite what others may think or say, this is the best outcome all things considered. You are alive, and Andrew can walk away with a clean conscience knowing that he saved a poor innocent soul from a grim fate." Stella said kindly, moving over from her end to sit next to Fleur. Crossing her arms and leaning back, she spoke up yet again: "I am the sorry one though. Until he can set you free, you will have to stick around his Khanite for some time. Just until he has built up enough of a reputation to be able to set you free. But set you free he will. I know it."

"Is that a promise?" The words slipped from her mouth before she could really think, she knew it was rude to be so eager to run off from the ones who saved her life but alas, she'd had her fill of Khalahai for one life time. "No... Don't answer. I- I'd rather not get my hopes up so soon. If he does intend to allow me to return home than I imagine it won't be for quite some time."

Stella gave her a sympathetic look and a nod. "It might. It might not. He is a dedicated warrior and is quick to build reputation... We'll see what the future holds." The rest of the trip continued on in silence or the off offer of food or drink. After around four hours of travel, Violet and the rest of the caravan arrived by the borders of the Khanite encampment. Over twenty thousand Khaleys, twelve thousand of them being combat riders. Two-thousand Vanguard riders, Andrew's personal elite heavy-shock cavalry, and six other Rocktusk riders, each of which are known as Kholecs, or Doom-Riders in common. After a fight some years ago he had more than swelled his numbers by two times its original count.

Looking ahead, Andrew saw a certain woman standing by the 'entrance' to the camp. A woman of great import and strength. The wisdom and strength to keep him anchored to his path. He made the salute a Khaan gives to a dear Khanari or a trusted comrade. All five fingers pressed together like a bird's beak against his forehead before spreading them into an open hand and waved downwards. By customs it is a greeting reserved for those who mean something to people of import. It is roughly translated as meaning: 'I see you, Great One.'

Jumping down from his mount, Andrew approached the Vart'hya woman with bunny-like features, offering her a half-smile, not wanting to seem too happy. The day's events didn't call for it. "Tempest of my heart," He began softly. "I see you've managed to keep this place from devolving into complete anarchy. Any incidents?" He asked, getting straight to the ordinary business when a Tyrant returns to his khanite.

Meanwhile in the rear, Eleina offered a hand to help Violet off the wagon while Stella took her stuff and proceeded to try and find her own steed. "Welcome to the Steelfury Khanite. Your sanctuary for the time being."

Ingrid opened her mouth to report before something behind the man caught her eye for just a moment, causing the woman to hesitate. But quickly her eyes returned to her husband and she nodded her head. "All has been calm, none would dare stir trouble knowing you were soon to return. One of our raiding parties is set to return tonight, the others are hopeful that they'll return with quite the bounty. Not for lack of anything but rather for the accumulation of surplus."

Reaching out, she gently placed her hands upon his chest. Though in doing so she displayed no other affection in neither her expression or her body language. "And what of your trip to Alkah, Master? You seem to have returned with more than you left with. Not an uncommon occurance of course, but she stands out among the others." She asked with a clearly curious tone, finding the clothing of the strange woman odd as it certainly made her stand out as an outsider. And for an outsider, standing out was dangerous.

Ingrid stood as one of his most precious Khanari. Not that she ever received any particular treatment for such a thing, yet all the same. She has been surprisingly loyal, all things considered. Commited to his success. He cupped her cheeks in a similar act of affection, but besides a smile he didn't go further than that. He would not press the woman. "Another prize, you could say." He said as he turned around to call out to his men. "Gather everything and bring it inside. Feed and water the steeds!" He barked his orders before turning back to his wife. "Come. There is much to discuss." He said as he began walking ahead with Ingrid at his side.

Stella returned with a Quilin mount, a partially draconic unicorn of substantially greater size than herself. She and Eleina led the way into the camp, passing by many tents, makeshift stables and campfires. The evening sun was starting to set beyond the mountains as the gathering of men and women gave the new woman the stink eyes. A foreigner is rarely a good thing to happen. At least not in this Khanite as Andrew is not too keen on extortions and ransoms.

Andrew over this period has talked to Ingrid about the events in Alkah and what his plans are for the weeks to come. "She will be under our care for the forseeable future. Gonna keep her out of Karkakros' hands. In time I intend to set her free when we are a bit closer to Doma'Khane's borders. She will be given all the respect a woman of her profession deserves. If she needs something to work on her medicine and projects, we give it to her. The bird is happier in a bigger cage." He said, trying to put in a mean front, hoping to hide the compassion he truly acted upon. But for some reason, he had a feeling that she wouldn't quite buy into that.

She lifted her head up slightly as he finished speaking, keeping an eye on him as they walked side by side. But she spoke nothing in protest to the action, nor any smart remark toward it. Instead, she lowered her head again to its natural position and nodded her head to him. "Yes, Great Khaan. If that is what you wish then so it will be. I will see to it that the arrangements are made so that her stay here will remain comfortable." She spoke before falling quiet again.

"There is no doubt in my mind that one such as yourself has noticed the stares of Khanite, ones directed toward your new prize. They worry at the sight of an outsider, a foreigner. Perhaps it would be wise to quell their worries before their worries become fear and fear becomes whispers that lead to action. Or perhaps better to let it come to that? Weed out those who might second guess your decisions?" She asked in a low tone as to keep their conversation private as could be given the situation.

"Let them second guess. So long as they obey in the end it matters not. And if they think of challenging me, let them. I am not losing now when my ambitions are so close to fruition. But you are right, I should adress them at the very least. I'll do so tomorrow. I am not in the mood to work my way through the muck and mire of their discontent. I've had quite a bit of it as is today."

"Obligations of Tyranny getting too heavy, is it?" Came the deep booming voice of a familiar being. Andrew looked to the newly arrived man of the hour. A giant brown and white minotaur whose stature dwarfed even that of the Gurza tyrant whom had tied Violet to the brazier. Muscles to no end and a blustering tone. "I have heard of what happened already."

"Of course you have..." Andrew sighed. "I suppose I should have known that word would travel fast. Bane, listen. The human is going to stay, and she will remain safe and sound. If I get word of anyone moving against her, you will answer to me."

"Maybe it is time then to stop answering." Bane growled. "Your mind is weak and your heart is soft 'Khaan'. The Khaan who values the sanctity of a foreigner over the safety of his Khanite is no Khaan at all!" He growled, pulling out his battleaxe.

"I don't have time for you and your nonsense, Bane. I have other matters to attend." Andrew spoke as he took his wife by the shoulder and began to continue leading her away. That was the mistake. "Gah!" Andrew cried out in agony. Getting down to his knees from the shock and pain, he only now had the chance to react to the woodhacker axe that was embedded in his right shoulder.

Shock was the first expression to come across her face as for but a moment she did not know the cause for such a reaction until her nose caught the sense of blood and her eyes caught the glint of metal sticking from her Tyrant's shoulder. Then where shock once filled her features settled and animalistic fury as her head and body twisted in the direction in which the attack had come. For but a moment she expected an enemy, an attack from someone who had snuck into their camp, perhaps even from the foreigner herself but when she saw none of those but rather one of their own, she pounced like an animal toward the Khaley without hesitation.

Bane raised his hardened axe's blade as a defense, yet even with that, there was cracks beginning to manifest on it. With all his strenght he thrust his axe, sending the woman back. More men and women were about to either intervene or watch when a single word loudly resonated in the air: "Gorshcka!"

Stop. A single command sourcing from the wounded Tyrant. Getting back up on his feet, he turned to look at the Minotaur, rage filling his gaze. "Gorshcka..." He said once more, softly despite the pain as he began to walk up towards the minotaur. "I will not have your body buried... You do not deserve that honor." He growled as he reached over with his left hand to his shoulder, yanking out the axe. His arm slouched, wounded to the point where he could not currently move it. Even so, he remained stoic. Axe in hand, he approached the minotaur, straight backed. "I will leave your mangled corpse to the crows. With beetles feasting on your eyes and maggots crawling in your lungs." he hissed.

Bane swung his axe one, twice, thrice. And each time he missed. Or rather, was easily dodged by the tyrant. Even with an injured arm that hung limply, he escaped every strike without even a single scratch. Spinning around him and tripping him to the ground, he took position a few paces away from the minotaur. "The rains and storms will weather away your body as it fades and rots until there is nothing left of you but bones!"

Bane growled and roared as he got up and swung his axe again and again. Each time it missed it was Andrew who approached. "First you will have to kill me!" He shouted as he did a side swing of such might that the gust of air rattled the furs and skin roofs of the camp. Even so, in that one sweeping motion, he already found that Andrew was behind him again, axe raised in the air. Without time for reaction or fear or begging, it was over. "I already have!" Andrew cried as he embedded the handaxe into the back of the Minotaur's neck. Bane fell to the ground, paralyzed and soon dead. Andrew looked around himself at all the people around him. One functioning arm left he raised it in challenge and circled his gaze at his people. "Anyone else?"

When there was no response, he began to move for his tent. "Dispose of the body. Leave it outside our borders." With a clap to the wounded spot, with his steel magic he placed three clamps that held the wound together. It wouldn't heal anything, but it would at least stop the bleeding.'

Though she wanted to speak, Ingrid didn't say a word, instead following his order as she began to command those standing around gawking to help move the body.

Violet on the other hand, pulled tightly to the brim of her hat to cover her ears as if to muffle the sounds of carnage that had just transpired and still lingered fresh in her mind. Confirming to her that despite what one might say this place was no sanctuary, not even for their leader did this place of home bring safety. All said and done, even with fear in her heart the gapping wound on the feminine man's shoulder did not go unnoticed by her and like a moth to the flame her instincts seemed to kick in. She knew how to treat it, how to dress it, and how long it would take to heal if treated properly.

"Stella..." She started with hesitation in her voice, unsure if she could speak or if what she might say would only cause more trouble. But she knew it was only right to say them all the same. "I-I don't know if your group has any doctors... but your leaders wounds are severe. I could treat them, I owe him that. Is doing such a thing okay? Or must he heal on his own?" She asked, looking off in the direction that Andrew had gone.

"We have doctors, but... Most of them are a bit old fashioned. They may just recommend amputation of that thing... Go to him then. If you can help him, then I beg you to do it. I'll keep everyone else away from you and the tent. Just... Keep that arm of his safe, alright? That's his kind arm." Stella tried to joke despite being almost equally shook by the events that had transpired.

As Violet would wander towards the biggest tent in the camp, she would notice the looks she had been given had vanished. No one paid her any more heed than a casual glance to see who was approaching. Once inside the tent, she would find it rather finely decorated, if not a bit jumbled. Five sections of different accomodations. Each of them belonging to either Andrew or one of his Khanari. He currently sat in the middle of the room, tending to his own wound, putting on more clasps to keep the bleeding at bay. His blood drenched his otherwise feminine and pretty dress, which forced him to remove it and just sit there, groaning with each clasp he put on. At the rattle of the door flap, he turned his head to see Violet enter. "Ms Fleur! Forgive this... Sorry state I am in. And many pardons for what you had to see. I understand if you were to feel even more discontent with the predicament of yours." He said with a hollow laugh as he turned his upper body, face contorting in anguish as the clasps strained against his movement. "I also understand if you would not prefer to linger here. I... I know it may not look it, but so long as I am alive, nothing can happen to you. Though... After that little spectacle, I'd be surprised if you didn't feel hesitant about that too."

She was a bit slow to do so but she approached the man, getting a better look at the gastly injury that he'd recieved. She'd seen injuries like this before but never in person. Only in the photographs they'd been shown during the later years of her schooling. "I am... unsatisfied with my current predicament, yes. But there seems to be little I can do about it at the moment. So it's best to focus on things I do have control over, things such as my ability to heal your arm." She said, walking until she was nearly within arms reach of the man. Looking over the injury, she could immediately tell there was nerve damage, the cut was deep and though he held it together it did little to stop the bleeding.

"You're doing well to keep it attached, that's good. But it can't heal like that. Tell me, did it cut through any bones that you can tell? You're not bleeding enough to have had an artery cut so that's good. If I use my magic you could be healed by noon tomorrow. But know that every moment until then will be agonizing." She gave it to him bluntly, from the time it would take to the pain he would feel while it healed. "I might be able to numb the pain however, if you all have the right ingredients I could create an anesthetic... provided you trust me not to poison you that is."

He chuckled softly at her last remark. "Are you trying to make me paranoid...? I trust you, Violet. You are a good woman, I can tell. But there will be no numbing here. I should have known not to turn my back. The pain will have to be part of my reminder of that. As for the injury... My clavicle feels like it took a bit of a nock and my scapula feels as if it has been cut and shattered all at once... I'd prefer to keep my arm. I am not nearly cute enough without it." He joked at the end. He stretched behind his back and undid the steel clasps, allowing her to get a good view of his wound. The clavicle had indeed suffered a hit, but barely more than a scratch. The scapula on the other hand was a grim sight to behold. "Is it possible for you to save it? I owe you everything if you can."

"Of course I can save it. What do you take me for?" She spoke with absolute confidence in her abilities. Though, without her tools it would indeed be difficult to go about working on it. Holding her hand over the wound caused her catalyst to begin to glow, ice began to form and grow over the wound until the entire thing was incased in a thick layer of ice. "Have one of your doctors bring me over some supplies and I'll go about collecting the bone fragments and cleaning the wound. Once that's done I can go about healing it with my magic."

Andrew shivered as the ice encased his injury. He just nodded at her instructions, calling for a Khaley. The one who arrived displayed a sign of worry that his Khaan was currently being attended to by the foreign woman, but made no words of discontent heard as he nodded and ran off to find the medics. This left for a couple of minutes of them being left alone to their own devices. Andrew raised his good hand and began to use his Steel magic to conjure up a selection of tools for surgery and treatments. Scalpels, tweezers and more, almost all of them being on surgical necessity levels. Practically all a medic might need to get to work. "I don't know exactly how it looks, so I don't know which of these you might need. If you need something else for the process, let me know. They should be sterile as well. I have yet to create any blemished or rusty metals." He said as he placed them next to her by the fur. "You have an admirable trade, ms Fleur. You seem passionate about it as well. Both of which I admire."

She looked over the tools, her hand hovering over them as if somehow testing them. Like she could tell by sight alone their quality and makeup. Picking a few she let her ice melt, having the duel purpose of cleaning the wound of blood and other fluids to give her a better look at the state of the wound. Giving it a once over again before she began to work on it. "Bite down on something if you need to, this will hurt quite a bit as I said before." She told him before she began to go about removing the shards of bone that had splintered off into his flesh. It wasn't long before her gloves were bloodied red and she'd used her magic to wash away the blood from the wound again. She just needed him to hang on until she could seal the wound, if he could remain alive until then she was sure she could heal him.

Feeling confident she'd collected all the fragmants that weren't shattered down to near dust she began to reassmble them to the best of her abilities before incasing them in ice and basically "gluing" them back together with what remaine of the bone. Setting aside those bloodied tools she placed a small amount of ice on the lesser injured bone just so that it would heal as quickly as the other if not faster. Placing more ice over the damaged nerves which would reconnect them overnight before picking up some steel thread and needle to go about sealing it shut.

Upon getting the alcohol she'd requested, she cleaned the area after having sowed it shut before once more covering it in ice. Using her forearm to wipe the sweat from her brow she let out a sigh. "As your nerves begin to heal you'll feel a great deal more pain just because they're reconnecting. It shouldn't last more than half an hour after it starts. The rest will be a little less painful and should be healed by noon tomorrow. That said, the ice inside you doesn't simply disappear. Your body will absorb the water as it melts. So toward the end of the healing process you'll likely be making several trips to the restroom." She explained to him as she pulled the bloodied gloves from her hands.

He wanted to chuckle, but with the new stitches he was afraid that they and the ice might break if he made too many hasty movements. "I'd almost say that you were janking my chain, had it not been for the fact that you are a doctor. I'll keep it in mind, Ma'am." He said a bit teasingly as he got back to his feet, groaning as he did so. She wasn't joking. It hurt already, and the nerves weren't really in the midst of healing yet. "Your skills are incredible. My medics could never have done that... Maybe you could teach them a trick or two? See if they can pick them up? I've tried myself the best I could, but it is clear that your skill surpasses me or anyone in my khanite by a mile." He spoke as he wrapped a cloak around himself to hide the injured arm. "Maybe your numbing solutions could be a step in the right direction? We mostly use heavy brews to numb pain by getting flat out drunk."

"Hm... That's not good after losing that much blood. Drinking that is. I could make some with the proper ingridents and equipment. Several things that you might find useful perhaps. As I said, I don't like the situation that I'm in but above all else I made a pledge to tend to the sick and wounded no matter their race, nation of origin, or creed. I intend to uphold that, even with things as they are now..." She trailed off into silence as she remembered the events of the day with a twisting feeling in her stomach. "If they are willing to learn, I will teach your medics all that I can before I am allowed to return home."

Andrew nodded. "I appreciate your willingness... You said you were here for study, right? To look over the fauna and flora and see what could be done with it? I don't judge you for wanting to leave as quick as possible. But if you still want to learn, I can take you to whatever sites you wish to investigate. This time, you can do so with my protection. Later, or sooner if you'd prefer, we will travel to Doma'Khane. Once deep within their borders, I will set you free. You can pass yourself off as a victim to my Khanite. That ought to earn you some sympathy points." He spoke as he walked up to the woman. "If you were to be interested, I can show you a place with a very special flower I discovered a while back. Poisonous to eat. Every animal avoids it with a glaring passion. I noticed however that after chewing it and spreading it over a wound, it very quickly cleaned and cleared any infections. Might be a worthwhile thing to look at? I am curious how such a thing could be used in a proper Lubbocky Laboratory."

She tapped her chin at his suggestion, her hesitation clear but she couldn't quite fight off her curiosity. As such, she nodded and spoke: "I'm curious as well. I've heard of plants capable of such things. Older texts speak of them being used before we learned to refine such things, I'm unsure if the one you mention is among those but I'm sure I'll be able to tell once I've seen it firsthand." She explained, lowering her finger from her chin. "But for now it's best for you to rest and let my magic run its course. We can discuss such things tomorrow when you're feeling better, okay?"

"Heh, don't mind if I-" He was about to speak when Eleina and Stella came running through the flaps. "Great Khaan! Another Khanite is approaching us!"

Andrew's features went from soft and kind to steeled in a passive look of determination. "How many?"

"Some thousand riders. They carry a banner of a shattered skull." She said in a look of panic.

"Karkakros then... I should have known that he wouldn't be satisfied with me running away with his 'prize'. Stella, prepare my Kholecks and fetch Ingrid. I will have need of them. With a right hand absent I need her to fill its void." He hissed, then looking to Violet. "I swore I'd protect you, and I will even from this. Whatever it takes... Eleina will remain here and keep you under safe watch." He said as Stella ran off to do as commanded. "I need to face him... Can you tie my arm close to my body? Like a bandage and brace or something? If a fight breaks out, I don't want to immediately ruin your hard work."

"I- Sure, I can do that." Violet responded as she pulled out the bandages from the medical kit that she'd been brought and doing her best to wrap up the wound tight enough that it wouldn't be flung about in the midst of a battle. Though, for his sake and hers, she hoped one wouldn't break out. She'd seen enough blood for one day.

The moment she'd finished, tieing off the sling, the tent flat was torn open by none other than the beast woman she'd seen with Andrew earlier. Not even givng them a moment to recognize the situation before she spoke in a commanding voice. "Great Khaan, I have come as you have requested. Will we do battle on this day? Should I rally our Khanite?"

"They are here to intimidate, not outright battle. More a confident show of what he can do with just a piece of his Khanite if he felt like it. We will show him in kind what we could do with just my six Doom-Riders. Even so, if they were to try and fight, my Kholecks will be enough to hold them off until Stella can rally the rest of our host." He said confidently. Walking up and towards the exit, he gestured for her to follow. Outside, he continued: "Fetch your steed. We'll meet them together. If they want blood, I shall have my most greatest and most trusted warrior beside me.

"Yes, Master." She spoke with a bow before running off to fetch her mount as he'd ordered.

Once Ingrid had returned upon the back of her mount, they began to walk out to meet their intruders. With Ingrid riding beside him and the Kholecks marching behind them, they marched towards the Shatterer Khanite. Halting about a thousand feet away from their camp, Karkakros could be seen from the shorter distance away as he rode upon a monstrous boar. He had his own ten Kholecks behind him in a V formation. They were riding upon mighty Namean Lions. Karkakros and his piece of the full Khanite halted about fifty feet away from Andrew, dismounted and walked up, trying to use his size to dwarf the shorter human. "You have something that belongs to me." He growled.

"On the contrary. I have exactly what I deserve after your attempt at an insult. I merely claimed due compensation. Unless you would like to fight for this prize?"

"It is a walking bag of meat. You took my property without giving anything in return. But I am a benevolent Tyrant. I'll trade resources with you for the woman. Meat for meat." He said with a finger snap, to which five wagons of food and resources could be found carried up. "More than a due trade." he said with a confident look. "And we could both walk away as happy, and in your case, wealthier men."

Andrew simply took a single look at the offering and realized the danger here. The Ordo tyrannical would definitely look upon this as Karkakros being in the right, and the trade was the only way of not triggering aggression from the other Khanites as well. Grand and powerful as they were, Andrew knew well that he could not endure sustained combat with every other Khanite. What could he do now? How could he continue holding up his word without appearing cowardly or just a treacherous fool?

...There was but one course of action. Others would hate him for it, but it would put him in the right. He looked to Ingrid to steel his nerves before looking back to Karkakros. "It is not sufficient."

The gurza looked furious. "You would deny me the meal despite this!?"

"It is just not a due trade. It would be have to be more. Something more lasting."

"What could that possibly be!?"

"A Khanari would be the best start. A Khanari for a Khanari." Andrew spoke, stunning the Tyrant in place.

Ingrid tilted her head at this, finding the offer strange all things considered. But alas, she knew better than to speak up here and now. Placing faith in the man that he had a plan to go along with this little stunt. Who it was he might be offering didn't quite register in her head for a moment, her eyes widening slightly when she realized it was indeed the foreigner that he spoke of. She turned her head to him, as if to nonverbally ask what it was he was thinking, as it contradicted what he claimed to have planned for the woman earlier in the day.

Karkakros was fuming. "You cannot mean it... You are just doing this to spite me! You are just saying things to drive me off! I should cut you down for even trying this little stunt."

"You could try." Andrew replied. "I am one arm short. I am exhausted. You could most certainly try. You just gotta ask yourself." He leaned forward tauntingly. "Do you think you could win if you began a fight with me?" He taunted. The gurza stepped back, as if the sheer confidence was somehow a force of nature that forced him backwards.

"I... I want proof of your union! You will have wed this woman before month's end, or I will be coming for her again. That time with all my Khanite."

"You are most welcome to the attempt. And you won't need to wait so long. Ten days from now it will be official with ceremony and offerings. You are most welcome to bear witness to it. I will send a rider to fetch for you when the time comes." He said with a cocky smile. "For now, I got to ask that you part from my lands. My Khanite is getting tense from your presence. And I don't think you want conflict under," He trailed off as he gestured to his relatively small force. "These circumstances."

After a minute of simply standing and staring at eachother, Karkakros ordered for his men to withdraw. Andrew waved in kind of his Kholecks to turn back as well. Heading back himself to the camp once more, he turned his head to look at Ingrid, seeing the look in her eyes he could tell that things were off. "You may voice your concerns. As always." he said with an almost defeated sigh.

She looked down from her mount at the tyrant, eyes narrowing as she judged what words she might use to convey her thoughts. "You're going through a lot of trouble for this outsider, Master. A lot of trouble I worry we'll have nothing to show for by the end of this. You intend to wed her? I understand why you've chosen this course of action but it goes against what you told the woman up until now. I merely worry for the consequences of our actions on this day." She spoke freely, turning her gaze back toward their camp for a moment before looking back to him.

"But worry not, Master, it is not my place to question your decisions. I will follow your orders as they are given regardless of content. If it is this woman you wish to wed I will make the preparations immediately."

Andrew nodded. "Indeed. It goes against everything I've said and told. But there is no other way to protect her by now. I promised I would keep her safe. But I will not do so at the cost of my Khanite. I never go back on my word, you if anyone knows this." He said as they continued back. "I need to rest. Today has been... A lot. And worry about the preparations later. A Khaan should be part of them, and I am not in the right space to do that." He groaned at the end as a sudden sharp and lasting pain came to his shoulder. 'Seems like the nerves are attaching now."

Once back at camp, Stella stood there ready for whatever might have happened. He looked to her. "Fetch Eleina and Violet. Set up a tent for her. Keep it under watch."

"What happened, master?" Stella asked with curiosity.

He looked to Ingrid and back down to Stella. "You are about to be joined by another sister." He said softly as he continued onwards with a downtrodden look on his face.

Stella was stunned for just a moment before looking up to her Khanari sister. "Surely he is joking? Her life has been miserable in this land and now he means to keep her stuck here? What is he thinking?!" She spoke, feeling kind of annoyed. "What exactly is his plan here?"

Looking down at the much shorter Khanari, Ingrid remained stone-faced at the questioning. "He is not, and it is for her own good. But more importantly than any of that, it is what the Khaan wishes and as he has wished it so it shall be."

"We are his brides, not his slaves. I am not just going to stand here and let it all go by without a good talking to." She said with a determined gaze as she began to march towards Andrew, exhausted as he was.

Ingrid's jaw tightened as the woman walked away from her, hopping down from her mount she began to speed-walk toward her fellow Khanari. Not hard to catch up to her given their difference in stride she stepped in front Stella to block her path. "If you insist on making your opinion known to him then at the very least wait till he is of mind to hear it. Or are you so dull that you've forgotten the pain that he is in? He was betrayed by one of his own. He is tired and he is weary. Let him rest for now, Please."

"Don't you dare insult me-!" Stella caught herself before she said anything she might regret. "You are right..." She spoke, sweeping her hair back and scratching behind the ear. A common thing she did when put on the spot. "I know you are right... I don't want to be cruel to the man or impose on him too hard. It's just... She didn't chose this life. You and I? The likes of us at least knew what we were getting into by being part of Khalahai, and in your case, being a Khaan. She is just a bystander in most unfortunate circumstances. It's not right to force her to stay.

"Nor is it right to start a war for her sake. I understand where it is you're coming from and I don't like the idea of her joining us either but it's the only way to prevent all out war. If you're so worried about her then fight on so that our Khanite can grow stronger and when the day comes that our Khaan stands atop all of the others he can do whatever he pleases without worry of what others think. But that's a dream we can only realize if we keep down this path. The girl will stay, that is final. You can try to talk him out of it but unless you can find some other way to prevent bloodshed and keep our Khaan from looking weak before the others it will not go the way you want it to. That's the reality of the situation."

"And again, sadly, you are right... I'll just go and prepare that tent for her and find some trusty men to help keep it safe. I... I'll see you around, Tempest. Look after our Khaan right now, alright? I think he'll need you quite a bit." Stella finished before walking off, using a piece of Andrew's nickname for her, something that was not really uncommon between Khanari.

With a solemn nod, Ingrid turned away and walked toward the largest tent in the camp to tend to their Khaan.

**...**
Meanwhile, Eleina attended to Violet, making sure that she was not feeling distressed from the news of Karkakros' approach. "Khaan Drake will ensure that they won't even get within a miles radius from you. If I know my husband right, he won't even need to raise a hand against him. They will back down from the sheer balls of that man." She said a bit jokingly.

"I certainly hope you are right. I do not know if my worry is for his safety or my own but either way, with an injury like that..." Violet trailed off as she attempted to wash the blood from her gloves to the best of her abilities. "I feel like I'm causing too much trouble. I feel like I shouldn't be here and not for the obvious reasons. If I'm only to continue to cause issues then perhaps the sooner I leave the better. I don't wish to be a burden on anyone."

"The moment you stop being a 'burden' is the moment you become captured again. Master will not allow that. He made a promise to you to see you safe back home, didn't he? He will live up to that promise. By any means necessary. Why?" Eleina trailed off as she walked over to her area in the tent and fetched something. "Because he is a man of his word. He believes that if a man's word means nothing, then actions mean nothing as well." She said as she returned with a brush of quite pristine craftmanship. "Here. Your hair is a bit of a mess after everything right now. I have a mirror over there as well if you would need it."

She set her gloves aside before taking the brush into her hands. Looking down into the bloodied water she realized just how right the woman was, she barely looked herself. She didn't feel much like herself either, not today. Averting her eyes she looked back up to the horse-woman, "Thank you, I haven't had the time to get a good look at myself. Truly dreadful isn't it?" She asked with a small, half hearted chuckle as she rose to move toward the mirror.

Eleina smiled softly as she followed. She presented a case of various beauty articles as well, together with a wet rag to clean herself off with. "My husband tends to spoil me with these things. A privilige to being the Prime Khanari I suppose." she joked with a bit of a giggle. "That and the others are not as keen on these things as I am. Natural beauties, you know?"

"If you wish, I could sew some more culturally fitting clothes that still falls in line and due dignified looks like that you already wear? If you are to stay here for a while, might as well look the part for the time being... Especially if you'll get a mount of your own. Can't well ride anything in this."

"You underestimate yourself. I think you're plenty beautiful, make-up doesn't make beauty, it simply enhances what is already there. But if you're keen on these sorts of things, though I'm more in the practice of medicine I could see myself capable of making something along the line of beauty products. The least I could do if you're willing to make clothes for me." Violet offered, not one who liked being in debt. Even if she was as deep in debt as she'd ever been right now thanks to having her life saved by Andrew. Still, should his arm heal well enough surely she would have paid some of that back.

"As for a mount... I'm not sure, I've never owned anything of the like. I have no idea how to ride even a horse, we use something different for transportation in Lubbock."

"Whatever it is, I can't imagine it is half as good as riding upon a living animal. To have a bond with the creature that would carry you to the ends of Domah if you so asked it. As for the riding part, don't you worry. Me, Stella and Andrew will most certainly be there and ready to teach you the little tricks to be riding like a true professional." She said with a nod. Before she had the chance to say anything else, there was the sound of the tent flaps being moved. Eleina turned around to find her Khaan standing there.

"My sunshine." He said. "I would like for you to help Stella construct Violet's tent. Make it as comfortable for her as possible. Quite roomy too for that matter. Find a few good and trusty men who can watch it as well. Give her room to accomodate it to her liking."

"Roomy? That would normally be reserved for people of great import for the Khanite or the Khaan. Am I missing something?"

"She is to be our new scholar and doctor for the time being. I'd have her be equipped with all the space and area necessary to accomodate whatever lab we will manage to provide her. Along with any other items she feel so inclined to collect."

Eleina appeared like something immediately clicked in her head and she appeared both stunned and a bit annoyed at the same time. "As you so wish master." Turning around to look at the woman, she said with the same expression; "I will be back soon. Need to make the preparations for you." She said a bit curtly before moving out.

Andrew sighed and looked to the woman by the mirror. "Glad to see that you are taking more care of yourself now as well." he said, biting through the pain of the merging nerves. "I would hope that Eleina has been accomodating for you... Is there anything in particular that you would require for your lab? I may be able to acquire such things from the cities. Were aren't too far away from one as is." He asked with a bit of a forced smile.

She smiled softly at the man, sympathetic to the pain she knew he must be enduring. "I feel I've already recieved too much, though I have little doubt you will tell me otherwise. If that is the case, then I will need only a few things if I am to craft medicine for you and your people. Beakers, test tubes, a mortar and pestle... a few most likely, and I can provide you with a list of herbs and chemicals I will need." She explained, walking over to the needlessly tall man.

"But such things can wait, you should rest. I wish I could do more for the pain but at the least I hope you can take comfort in knowing it will pass soon into soreness. Provided you are at the stage of healing that I think you're at that is."

As soon as Violet finished speaking the sound of quick footsteps were heard before Ingrid appeared behind the man. "Master, Please-" She started before noticing the outsider standing there. Growing silent for but a moment before she turned her attention back to her husband. "Great Khaan, let the others handle this. The day has been long as though stretched by the Gods themselves. Find rest in your tent, let your mind rest while your body heals."

She moved around to face the man that stood only a few inches taller than herself, "Allow me to wash away the sweat and dirt from the hours you spent toiling in the sun and then I shall comfort you through the pain as a Khanari should." She offered him, placing her hands against his chest as she'd done before but this time offering the man a kiss.

He looked down at the most tantalizing offering, saddened to part his eyes from such a view, but it needed to be done. For they still had a guest in their tent. "You are dismissed for now, ms Fleur. Seek out Stella and Eleina for details regarding your home. We'll discuss further details and matters at a later time. If you'll excuse me." He said as he looked down to Ingrid once more, cupping her chin between his thumb and his index finger. "I am not one to neglect my brides." He spoke softly, leaning down to accept her kiss, his one good arm snaking around her waist, pulling her close. Her closeness was something he adored. Her offers, which were not as infrequent as the rest of his Khanaries, were an irresistable temptation. Her hands on his bare and toned chest stoking the flames within him.

Violet raised her arm as if to grab hold of her hats brim and bring it down to cover her reddening cheeks. Though, upon not finding it atop her head she simply elected to bow her head. "Y-yes, I will see you later. E-enjoy your rest." She spoke hurriedly before exiting the tent at that same speed to find the others. Stepping outside the tent and stepping out into the large, maze-like camp.

"Find Stella and Eleina..." She repeated to herself, walking past the rows of tents and supplies that littered the camp.

Violet would wander aimlessly for some while, getting looks of passing interest from the people sitting by the campfires. The sun had set by long now, only casting a vague orange hue from the horizon. "Are you lost, *sister*?" Violet would hear a most displeased and snide voice. Should Violet turn around she would find Magda standing there, her charcoal colored skin standing in great contrast to her eyes that blazed like the color of the setting sun. "Looking for your tent?"

Her eyes shot toward the familiar voice, "Oh my, yes, quite so. I was told to find Stella and Eleina but this place is far larger than I'd expected, like a city of its own I'd say." Violet responded to the woman with a warm but tired smile, wandering had made her weary and hungry and seeing someone familair, even if it was someone that didn't like her, was a wonderful thing as far as she was concerned. "Might you be so kind as to point me in the right direction?"

Magda nodded. "*Gladly*." She said and nodded in the general direction, telling her to come along. Going first in line with Violet behind her, she led her through the many camps and gatherings, garnering some interested looks from the human members of the Khanite. "I don't know how you managed to wrap the Khaan around your finger so effectively, but let it be known that the rest of us won't tolerate any form of control or loss of power from him. If your influence leads to the downfall of the Khanite, I'll have you hounded in this life and the next." She growled. "It's just down the path here. Come along. Your sisters will be waiting for you and your opinions."

"Oh, believe me, I haven't the slightest idea what your leader thinks of me. I'm merely grateful that I can see the end of another day because of him, I'll do what I can for your people before I return home. I won't allow myself to be a burden on the lot of you, with the right equipment I'll see to it that your Khanite will me the most medically advanced in all of Khalahai. You have my word on it." She explained as the tent she believed they were heading to came into view. "Whatever opinions might they need? I'm sure whatever it is they've whipped up will be fine for the duration of my stay."

"Well at least you are not picky." Magda replied simply. "We have been instructed to follow your every instruction of what you need for your tent. Extra size for the lab. More space for whatever else you will have need or want for. He has a tendency to spoil his Khanari when they ask for it, yet this kind of treatment is... unprecedented. Good fortune to your stay." She said as she turned heel and walked away, leaving her with Stella and Eleina, the latter of which seemed a bit less pleased that she had arrived when compared to Stella, whom also had a bit of a downtrodden disposition to her. "Violet... Mind coming over and give an overview and opinion?"

She walked over to the women, giving them a wave as she greeted them. "I apologize it took me so long to find you, this place is much larger than I thought. I wandered about for quite some time I'm afraid." She said as the women lead her into the tent, far larger than it had seemed upon her approach. The place was spacious though aside from the furs and general things one might expect to find in their living quaters it was rather empty, one side left all but completely unfurnished, the side she assumed would be her lab.

"It's rather spacious, a fine living quarters indeed though it'll double as my lab. I'll take care not to mix the two spaces to the best of my ability. I thank the both of you for setting it up. I only wish I could have located you sooner, I would have helped to set it up. I'm not too handy with those sorts of things but I'd have done my best." She spoke to the two with a warm but weary smile on her face. "Now, tell me, once I've gotten my supplies is there anything your camp is in dire need of?"

"Medicine. Anything that helps with infections and festering wounds." Stella was quick to answer. "Master often spoke of those flowers, but we don't have the luxury to go there all the time and harvest whatever we like. For every soldier who is slain on the field, another will suffer from a grievous wound. And for every five of those, we lose one man to infections. If you could help us with that, we would be grateful... Our parties will arrive shortly. They ought to have some of the herbs and ingredients you might need." She spoke with a finger snap. Shortly after, two men came carrying a chest with them. Within it she would find some mortars, some herbs and liquids which were marked as differing chemicals, though not many of them would be usable for the desired effects they asked for. Perhaps save for making very painful and crude disinfectants to be used before an infection happened.

She looked over the bottles and other supplies she'd been brought. "I see... luckily for you all antibotics happen to be my specialty. I'll see what I can do with these things in the morning. In the meantime, I can treat wounds with my magic well enough so long as infection hasn't already set in." She continued as she rose up from the supplies and turned once more toward the women. "I appreciate this, truly. I'll do everything in my power to be useful during my stay here, I don't want to go home feeling I've left you all holding the bill."

"Don't concern youself with such things." Stella said with a wave of her hand in dismissal. "Just do your best for the time you'll spend here, however long that will be. It will take some time, but as he said, you will be out of here in due time." Stella said vehemently, getting a good feeling that Violet was probably a bit unawares of the truth of matter right now. 'Damn it, Andrew. If you haven't told her yet, you'll have me to deal with in the morning.' She mentally hissed. Looking up at the substantially taller woman, she had two more things to say. "I hope everything will be good for you. If you need anything else to function in your work, just let us know, sister. We have been told to help you in any regard after all... Say... What do you make of our Khaan? What do you think of Andrew?"

Violet was taken off guard by the sudden question, "Oh? You want to know what I think of the man? Well... upon first sight I thought he was a woman, I won't lie about that. Though his height is a bit intemidating, he seems like a kind person when you speak with him. After what happened this afternoon however, I'm aware that he is capable of great harm should it come down to it. I suppose that means I should try to stay on his good side, hm?" She half-joked toward the end as she answered Stella's question.

"And what of you? He is your husband after all. I know he seems to have many 'Khanari' but I'd like to assume he loves all of you. Such a thing though, polygamy. It is rather taboo in Lubbock. Different culture and what not after all."

Eleina gave a bit of a quiet nod before taking off. Stella seemed a bit annoyed at that but proceeded to answer her question. "He certainly cares about us, or at the very least respects us." She said with a bit of a hollow chuckle. "Most of us were claimed from other Tyrants as a token prize to prove his superiority. He certainly treats us as lovers and, most of all, equals no matter what. He allows us a lot of free reign over ourselves and what we want to do, which is quite rare among other Khanites... I just don't know if he 'loves' us. He is quite clear on that he does not like the idea of expressing false affection as that feels like lying to himself and others. He does express kindness and some form of affection too, so... what do I know? Expressing too much would be seen as a weakness anyway... While he would never think of treating any of us differently from the other, I... I think he holds Ingrid closest to heart. She is loyal to him beyond compare, but she is not an idiot about it. Maybe that is our fault as well for not being as fervant in our loyalty, but... I don't know." Stella groaned at the end. "I think he wants to love us. I also just don't think he is quite there yet... Sorry. I shouldn't lay all this on you all at once, Sister. Don't want you to have the wrong image of us, or especially him."

Violet shook her head, "No, please, there's no need to apologize. I shouldn't have asked such a personal question nor made such remarks. Like everything about me to you, everything about this place is strange and foreign to me. Things just seem complicated all around from what I can tell so it weighs heavy on the mind." She explained, not wanting to have offended the girl. "I can't say how he feels one way or the other but he's lucky to have someone like you around. You and the others of course, I can't imagine being a leader around this place is easy. Knowing you have people you can turn to is likely more valuable than gold in a place like this."

Stella nodded, a faint smile on her lips. "Thank you, Violet. Heh, you shouldn't have to play therapist for us all. But it is good to know that you are not dismissive of our culture wholly. It also feels nice to know that one is still valuable in the Khanary ranks." Stella said with a nod. "Our party is sure to have arrived home soon. I'll instruct them to give any herbs, vials and other potential essentials to your doorstep here for you to take a look at." She said before snapping a finger. Two tall and imposing figures came and took position at either side of the tent's entrance. One Gurza, and the other a Calco female of rather short stature in human perspectives. "These two will ensure that you may feel safe. You are special now to Andrew, but until the ceremony, you are just a mere guest. Guests can be imposed upon."

"Oh? Thank you..." She looked toward the large gurza that had entered. Frankly, their presence made her more nervous but she wouldn't complain. All she could do was hope that they didn't share the same feelings as the odd minotaur fellow from before. Still, in the midst of all of that something odd stood out to her. Something Stella had said, "Is there perhaps some sort of holiday coming up for your people? Religious or otherwise?" She asked in reference to Stella's mention of a ceremony.

'Damn it, Andrew. Could you really not wait screwing with Ingrid long enough to tell her what was about to happen?' Stella thought to herself agitated, biting her lip. "It seems you have sadly been left out of the loop then. I am terribly sorry about that... When Karkakros arrived he tried to make a trade for you. 'Meat for meat', so to speak... And by all our laws and customs, he would have been in the right of it. Andrew took you away without due repayment or compensation. Karkakros wouldn't even really have had to give anything. He could have come and simply made claim to you without anyone being able to protest... But as always, Andrew finds a way. Even if not a preferable way..." She trailed off, looking to the ground in shame.

Crossing her arms, she looked up to her again. "Andrew told him that you could not be claimed because... Damn it... Violet, I want you to know that it is still in due mind that you are to be released. You will be free from this land in due time. But until then... For your own safety in these lands, you are to be wed to Andrew a week from now. Welcome to the sisterhood... Mrs Drake." She said somewhat ashamed.

A lot of discontent and above all, offense came over her face as she listened to the girl speak, "H-how could you even joke about something like that? I know everyone's sense of humor is different but surely given the situation you'd be a bit more cautious of such things." She spoke with a hint of frustration in her voice as she spoke to the shorter woman. Her breathing was hard and somewhat labored, as though panic was settling into her. "I-I want an apology for such crude humor, I will not take such things lightly." She continued on between breathes as she let herself find a chair to sit down in.

Stella shook her head. "Were it so easy... I hope I have proved by now that I am not malicious person. I would never dream of tormenting you. Especially not more than you already have suffered. This is not a joke, Violet. To protect you from the Tyrant, mine had to lay claim to you so that he could not take you back as his next meal. It... It is not what anyone here wants. Eleina isn't happy about it. Ingrid isn't happy about it. Magda is never happy about anything. Andrew is most certainly not happy about it. It is most certainly not something you are alright with. But it was this or hand you over. As much sympathy as Andrew has for you, he isn't about to go to war for you."

Stella groaned over this whole situation. "You don't have to be happy or content with this. Just know that it is a matter of saving your life. You may hate me, you may hate us, you may hate Andrew. But he will take that to safeguard you. He made a promise, and by any means will he keep it. Not always a good thing, but it is what it is."

She felt more and more lightheaded as Stella went on, her mind held in place only by the swirling sickness that she felt in the pit of her stomach. She grit her teeth, a whirlwind of emotions swelling deep inside the poor girl's heart as every moment of the day had seen her situation worsening even in this place she thought was sanctuary her troubles only seemed to grow and she was powerless to stop it. If this was today then what would tomorrow bring? More horrors? She wanted to puke, to drop to her knees and wretch but she held nothing in her stomach and any appetite she'd held before was now long gone. Covering her face with her hands her voice spoke weakly and muffled through her mits: "Please just leave me alone for the rest of the night... I can't handle anymore of this and yet it all seems to keep pileing on. I can't do anymore today, I'll break otherwise, so please just leave."

"Of course." Stella said with a bow and began to walk away. She cursed under her breath over how things had turned out. Why couldn't things ever be easy? Walking by the Khaan's tent, she heard certain noises which she would have prefered to not have been made privy to. 'Damn these ears of mine.' She thought to herself with frustration as she hastened away. "I really hope you know what you are doing here, My Dawn. I really do hope so."