Ready Or Not, Here We Are. [Dimitri]

[Jade Alanon]

Early Evening, Second Cycle of Pontius, Season of Winter.

The suns were only just beginning their descent over the horizon as Jade and Nymira both wandered around Vortex, the city itself had a rather nasty reputation for being a city filled with necromancers, slavers, and hayans and while Jade didn't really care about any of them, she wasn't really interested in meeting any either. Both sisters stayed together, though Nymira shadowstalked when she could, in case someone was around, both Jade and Nymira were paranoid by natura and that helped keep them both alive.

Jade's staff and the decorative gauntlets on her arms were the only weapons visible, the other that she carried was hidden within her pouch, her disobedient blade Aganadara that bore a life of it's own. Jade's long dark brown hair fall over her shoulders and down her back, she cared nothing for how she looked and was aware that she had a few dots of blood from the kill she had made earlier that brightening. It had been an older man and the insanity that struck a Rhasic once they hit a certain age had begun to show, so Jade had done him a favor in murdering him. Nymira had done her work in disabling the man, which was hard given his struggles, but thankfully no one came to his aid as she drove the double bladed dagger into his throat to silence his pathetic cries. Once done, she cut him open and retrieved the crystal from inside him, placing it in her pouch and leading his bodies for the dogs to eat. To keep too many people for suspecting anything, Jade found a place to clean off her hands of the blood and help clean Nymira's maw, though some blood remained.

The wandered aimlessly really for the time being, they didn't bother to ask for directions because they were sure that they could find an Inn once they needed it. "I hate the cities," Nymira commented through their telepathic bonds as they passed between two buildings, a dark alleyway greeting them for the moment. Jade was a woman that didn't fear many things and while she didn't like the dark, she didn't let it frighten her. "It's dulls our senses, I know. But we've killed one so far, can't you be satisfied with that for now?" Nymira sighed and looked at her bondmate, a wolfish grin on her face. "Don't get me wrong, I am quite satisfied with the kill."

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

He knew she was there, his men told him soon. A large hound like that one he had seen before. He would move from the bowels upwards at a great pace and burst into the world above. Ten orcs collected quickly and soon they were behind them, silently they followed, orcs moving like elves, as they had been trained to do over many moons.

What a body they left behind them, it raised the hopes of the Duke. A cold blooded killer with a Virkyn, not a soft and souless mechanical organ like the last one, this one might have promise. The alley would force a confrontation.

Five orcs to each entrance barred an escape of any sort, Dimitri before them, a few steps ahead from one direction. He spoke in a crackling and husky voice that somehow remained a sultry and largely dulcet tone, "Well well well, it has been many moons since I saw my last Virkyn." He hoped this insider knowledge would assail her initial fear of being trapped. He took a step forward.

"I am Duke Dimitri Wladisyaw, captain of the guard of Vortex, you are Jade Alanon, and judging from your pet you have the profession of killer." He smiled, his white teeth glinting, "We are wicked in this city little Jade, but we still frown on murder, it is a sad truth even in this nasty place."

He stood up to his full height, "I dont doubt you and your dog could fight well in your current state but you cannot escape this alleyway, will you lay down your weapons." He paused and smiled, "I have no desire to arrest such a pretty young lady this evening."

[Jade Alanon]

Neither Jade nor Nymira had any knowledge that Valanthia and Umbrosus had been there before, not that it was too surprising since Val did travel before she settled in Arkmat. Jade thought nothing of leaving the body behind, she had never gotten caught for any murder she herself had commited, she had been caught for another set of murders, but that hadn't been because of her own carelessness. As the city dulled their senses, it kept them frown hearing the sounds of footsteps approaching from behind them until it was too late and they were trapped in the alleyway, orcs blocking each entrance, the one man stepping forth as the leader as Jade and Nymira turned to face him.

His words raised her suspicion immediately as only Rhasic and other Sanguine should know about Virkyn. She didn't sense that he was a Rhasic, but this meant nothing, he could be using an arcanic spell to be masking it from the sisters, whatever the man was, he was dangerous, putting Nym and Jade on alert. The presence of orcs surrounding her also served to heighten the instinct to kill, a fight would most likely break out and while Jade and Nymira might not be victorious, they would fall in battle fighting as best they could. Jade held her staff tightly and took a step forward as well, showing Dimitri that while he had her trapped, she wasn't going to play a victim.

He introduced himself and she wasn't sure why that name sounded familiar, she knew for a fact that she had heard it before, she just couldn't remember where or when. She didn't like how he knew who she was, that gave him an advantage that she didn't want him to have. "You introduced the both of us, how kind of you." She was sarcastic and mocking, something that she often did when she couldn't easily lash out with her staff. "Pet?! He knows that I'm a Virkyn and yet he refers to me as a pet?!" Nymira growled, barely her long fangs at the Duke, while he had seen a rather large Umbrosus, it was easy to tell that Nymira was much larger then him, being the alpha female of her brood.

Jade sneered when he called her "little" Jade, that was something that wasn't going to pass easily, but she wasn't in a position to correct him at the moment either. "I see, so you've come cause you found the body, and here I had thought I had been careful." She was trying not to let him know that he had her cornered, though it was certain he knew this fact already. He seemed so smug in the fact that Jade and Nymira were unable to escape and perhaps he was right, but the fact that he wished for her to lay down her weapons was a bit much. "I've no desire to be arrested either, but you've give me no reason to trust that you'll not arrest me."

Perhaps she could talk her way out of this, though normally talking wasn't something she was all too good at. She laid the staff on the ground as well as her bracers and then looked at Nymira. A silent conversation passed between the two before Nymira lay down as well. "There, all my weapons are down, satisfied?"

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"I see every visa passing into this city Jade, I know every person who is here legally and many who are not." He smiled and held his hands before him and showed them, "You kill girl, but you have not spilled as much blood as I. It would be a sacrilige for me to arrest you for a crime I myself revel in." He paused, "And also why would I arrest a murderer, murder is an art and I respect those with the power to take life, cowardice does not appeal to me."

He smiled carefully and closed his one good eye softly, "I am going to offer you a deal Jade Alanon, I cannot have you moving around my city unchecked, I cannot have you doing whatever you desire to do of your own free will." He smiled again and closed his palms into fists, "If you have a desire to be free then you shall be free to die right now you and your companion."

He took another step forward revealing more of his handsome and yet scarred face and large body, "While you are in my city you are going to be my guest, you will not be under arrest....but there will be a few limitations on your actions." He smiled, "If you desire to kill, you will ask me first and you will be watched wherever you go." He carefully ran a hand through his long hair and nodded again as though agreeing with his own plan, "I am unsure of your normal living arrangements, but here you shall be treated like a princess for you have the talents of one I am sure, you will be my equal Jade Alanon, but also my servant for a time perhaps."

He took a few steps back and allowed his guards to carefully draw a variety of cruel weapons, "But of course I leave this choice to you, please agree to my plan, I hate to kill beauty before it has had a chance to bloom." He smiled and inclined his head revealing a smile before revealing his final ace, "You may be inclined to know my fiancee is Anora Eventide, we have met before my little petal." He turned his eyes to the Virkyn, "I have not forgotten you child of the moon."

[Jade Alanon]

Jade had no choice but to listen to whatever Dimitri had to say, she was, after all, trapped by him and his orc guards. She listened carefully and watched Dimitri, both sisters inspecting him carefully, reading his expressions along with his body language to try and gauge what he said as truth or not. As Captain of the guards, it was not surprising that he knew of the people that entered into the city, so this solved that mystery for her, but how did he know of Virkyns? Was he a Rhasic in hiding that wished to rid the world of another Sanguine hunting pair? It didn't seem likely considering they were both still alive and unharmed.

Dimitri seemed secure in the fact that he had killed more then she had and maybe he was right, she didn't really care who killed more people or for what reasons those people were killed. Unlike what Dimitri might have thought, Jade was not about senseless killing, she did in fact get a thrill from it and she thrived in battle, but she had a purpose to her killing and she would continue that. She had killed non-Rhasic before, but mostly out of self-defense. She had to agree that murder was an art, death itself was an art to appreciate and respect. "So you, Captain of the guards, are a murderer, how wonderfully ironic." She couldn't see how any of this information pertained to her.

Jade arched a brow as he remarked Vortex as his, but chose to say nothing for the moment, wanting to hear the offer out. Nymira growled softly as she lay at Jade's side, not liking the situation in the least. This man wished to set limits on the sisters' activity in the city, surely this meant that he worked for the enemy and wished to keep them from killing those they needed to. "So instead of arresting me, you decide to threaten me with death if I don't take this deal, how intriguing." Jade had to think this over a moment, she didn't like being restricted in any way whatsoever either, but she didn't want to die at the moment and the Duke seemed interesting enough to be around.

Dimitri stepped forward a bit more, revealing more of himself, he was an imposing man, not that he really frightened Jade or Nymira, he looked as though he had once been very handsome but now had been scarred, though a bit of his handsomeness remained. Jade was certain she had heard his name before and had seen him before, but she couldn't couldn't remember where. Names and faces blended in her mind all too often anymore. He was limiting her on killing, well that was just fething great, as for being watched wherever she went, she didn't much care about that, they could watch all they wanted for all she cared. "I want to be able to leave the city whenever I wish, no restrictions on that." She wanted to make that quite clear.

He offered accommodations and while Jade didn't care if she lived like a princess or a pauper, having a nice place to stay would be welcome. A servant...now that was going a bit fair, Jade served no one but herself and Niravia. "A servant? What exactly would you be expecting of me as a servant Dimitri?" Nymira had risen to her feet once again, but she did not move, she simply watched Dimitri with her intelligent dark eyes.

Both Jade and Nymira tensed as the guards that blocked off their exits drew their cruel looking weapons, taunting the young woman with the threat of death if she chose to refuse the offer given to her. "So long as I am looked upon as an equal, then I shall agree to this deal, so long as I remain in "your" city." "The Duke talks too much, how about I rip out his throat." Nymira's words were filled with irritation at this unexpected delay, but it was doubtful that they would survive a battle against such odds, not in such a small area, no they needed to choose their battles wisely.

His fiancee was Anora Eventide...so that was where she had seen him. The Rose Masque, she had seen him there with Anora. Well this was a bit of a shock, but at least she knew who he was now and how she had known him. How odd that he was Anora's fiancee and she had been with Austin for a while, though Jade didn't know just where she as with Austin at that moment. "I think I remember you from the Rose Masque, not that we were introduced of course." Petal? Jade wasn't exactly into the pet names, but whatever kept him from calling his orcs on her.

Nymira blinked at his name for her, sort of liking it but not sure how to respond. She did nothing, not wishing Dimitri to know her level of intelligence just yet, though he might already know. "So may I pick up my weapons or how do you want to go about this?"

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"You will ask to leave the city, I propose only this measure for a short period." He smiled, "You will gain my trust quickly if you perform some simple tasks for me, a few humerous little murders that I may need to perform." He nodded, "And the guards wont bother you, so you may mix them in with your own mission here dear girl."

He smiled to himself as he spoke further, "A servant in perhaps the lightest terms, I would be a fool to enslave you like I do others, no you will stay at the Citadel here in Vortex, you will commit some crimes for me and I will protect you and look after you." He cast his eyes to look at Jade, "You will of course eat and drink with me, I want to know more of your.....people." He turned his eyes to the Virkyn, "As for you child of the moon, I have met one of yours before." He smiled, "I know of your uncanny intellect, you are the Lords of your kind, above even the great Wargs of Arium, it shall be a pleasure knowing you also."

"My men will bring your weapons, you your companion shall walk with me." He smiled casually and one route out of the alley was suddenly open and avaliable for the two to leave, Dimitri waited with an arm crooked evidently waiting for her to link arms with him. "We shall act like aristocrats in this city Lady Jade Alanon, for that is what we must be sometimes and that is what we are, far above the weak meangerie that inhabit this city."

[Jade Alanon]

Asking for permission to leave the city was also part of this and while that was an annoyance, at least it meant that she would be allowed to leave the city when she wanted. However, this was not to be a permanent agreement, he mentioned gaining his trust after doing a few menial tasks for him, a few murders that he himself didn't wish to himself. She was sure that these tasks would be a sort of test to see how she killed, how efficient she was, and if she could be trusted, which was fine with her. It wasn't any different then what the Sanguine did to her, she had been trained to become a killer and with Nymira at her side, she earned that bloody title with pride.

Also, here in Vortex, she wouldn't be bothered by the guards, because their captain was in charge and he was having these murders carried out. Jade had considered mercenary work before, perhaps this was just the beginning, though she didn't like being considered a servant. "A few little murders, hopefully some provide challenge." She didn't want her skills to get dull with lack of training and she liked a challenge in those she fought and killed. "What do you know of my mission?"

He was correct in the fact of enslaving Jade, such a thing would be hard and if achieved, then she would simply fight until there wasn't a breathe left within her. She noticed with how he had spoke that he was a slaver, not that such a thing was all that bad, it was legal, though Vortex seemed the place for illegal slavery to occur, citizens being snatched up and their visas being stolen or burned. It was their own fault for not being able to fight for themselves and those there were supposed to protect. "So in exchange for a place to live, food, and protection, I will do tasks that you ask, I guess I could live with that."

Of her people, so he did know something of the Sanguine, but how much? There wasn't much she could tell him because it was a secret clan of people, it was no one else's business but that of the Sanguine and the Rhasic. Nymira looked up when he spoke to her, as he said, he knew of her intelligence and then went on to compliment her, something she definitely liked. Dimitri was a dangerous man and definitely not one to trust, but he did have a way with people, he could mix threats with compliments, though it was apparent that he couldn't fight for himself, hence his guards. "One on one and Dimitri would have been a dead man, he needed his orcs to come and get us." Jade had made this observation as well, but that didn't matter.

Jade hated leaving her weapons behind, but she carried with her Aganadara and she still had Nymira at her side, so she was confidant enough. She strode forward, seeing the orcs moving to let Dimitri and his "guests" through. She saw that he was waiting for her to take his arm and while Jade was far from civilized like aristocrats where, she had seen how they acted in public. She slid her arm in the crook of his arm and began walking with him, Nymira walking at her bondmate's side, turning to growl at the orcs behind them. "I am far from being an aristocrat, but I shall play the part for now."

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"Just hold your pretty head up high and look regal, it is really rather simple." He smiled, "I may have some clothes made for you, it amuses me to run a little court life in Vortex, fine Jaedaxian silks are such a contrast down here in the rotten province." He spoke softly and slowly, one hand was bent so hers could be crooked through it, the other rested upon her hand and rubbed it gently.

The orcs moved to create a protective screen around them as they walked, Dimitri did not like to be seen above ground and he would not feel safe until they were in the Citadel. The great fortress of Vortex already loomed before them on its perch above the city, they began to climb upwards along the roads towards it while Dimitri spoke further, "I do not know why you kill my dear, but people do not murder for no reason, well someone such as yourself would not." He paused and continued after a moment, "You do not have to tell me, but perhaps in the end you shall choose to."

He smiled and squeezed her hand as he began to offer her some clues as to what she would be doing, "What is your opinion on the great church, that of Aslan and the others, are you a follower perhaps?"

[Jade Alanon]

Being a Duke, Jade figured he was aristocratic people quite often, but she had been born in a village in the Hinterlands eras ago and before this life, she had been a simple librarian in the Krevion, she knew nothing of courts or proper Lady's etiquette. She leaned over as Dimitri spoke, instructing her on just what to do, she sighed and did as instructed, not because she wanted to play the part of a Lady but because she wanted her weapons back in one piece. She lifted her head high, showing off her elegant neck, as for looking regal, she had no way of knowing how to achieve this, so she just kept walking.

Clothes were never a big deal for her, but there was one thing she did hear about clothing made for nobles. "Will these clothes be comfortable for me?" She preferred comfort over fashion always and she didn't care if Dimitri didn't like that, she wasn't going to play in his "little court" as he called it, she was an assassin. She said nothing about the scar he held, though she was curious about it, how did he become so scarred? Jade was not all that affectionate by nature, so Dimitri's hand gently rubbing her own hand was odd but she said nothing, just let it pass as she did other things.

Nymira took notice that the orc brutes that had kept them from escaping earlier now surrounded them, though it was more for protection then means of keeping Jade and Nymira trapped. Was Dimitri truly this important to Vortex that he needed to be so protected? Jade's eyes fell upon the Citadel that he had mentioned earlier, it looked rather foreboding, overlooking the city on it's perch. They made their way closer to it, Jade found it odd how the orcs could sound so silent, orcs weren't known for their silence steps but rather clumsy steps that were heard by many. Jade breathed a sigh of relief when Dimitri admitted that he really didn't know about her mission or why she killed, but he knew that she didn't kill for no reason. "Perhaps."

Jade tried to remember what Austin had said about Dimitri before, she knew that neither Venn nor Austin where big fans of Dimitri and it was understandable knowing what Dimitri was now. Her attention fell upon Dimitri once more when he squeezed her hand to get her attention, wanting to speak about religion for some reason. "I am a follower of no god or goddess, for none of them have done anything good for me." She didn't really know all that much about the church, she knew that if you were even thought to have killed monks in Zinn'Sunn, then the entire city turned on you. "I've nothing much to say about the great church either, why do you ask?"

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"The church of the faith in Vortex is a weak organisation, the priest went mad in a recent bizarre event and they are weaker than ever." He paused, "I myself am a priest of the faith and I wish to be the sole govenor of the church in Vortex, but to force myself into that role I need the rest of the priests and the guards to vanish." He smiled, "I can prove some men, and you can rid me of those priests and followers, and in return you can leave the city whenever you please."

They were coming up to the Citadel, soldiers manned the walls wearing not the colours of Vortex but those of the house of Wladisyaw, it had slowly moved from being a city fort to a personal castle of Dimitri. He led Jade past the gates and they were shut behind the pair.

Dimitri released her hands and turned to face the girl. His eye looked into hers and he smiled as his eyes slowly moved over her body appraising it. "Yes some nice loose silks will suit you well, we will put your hair up and show off your eyes and posture." He smiled knowing in all likelyhood he was to be the sole recipient of this little charade.

He spoke his next wors offhandedly and allowed a small smile to creep onto his face as he said it, "So tell me about young Master Austen Eventide? Anora told me you two had a connection at one point."

[Jade Alanon]

Jade listened as Dimitri explained more about the church of faith, she wasn't surprised that it was weak here in Vortex, not that she said anything considering Dimitri supposedly was a priest of that order as well. Killing priests here in Vortex, surely this would mean that she would never enter Aeternia, but then again, she had killed so many people that she doubted a place there anyway. "So you wish me to kill off those that keep you from being sole governor of the church, doesn't sound so hard to me." When he mentioned providing men, Jade worked best alone. "I don't know if I will need any men, Nymira and I work best on our own."

"Leave whenever I wish, free to leave and return as I please?" Jade didn't like being stuck in any one city, she was a traveler by nature and got restless easily.

They drew closer to the Citadel, coming to the gates where soldiers moved to open the gates for the Duke and his guests. Jade recalled how the soldiers at the gates when she first entered Vortex had worn the city colors whilst the soldiers here wore different colors altogether. Still holding onto her hand, Dimitri lead her into the Citadel, never would she have ventured near this place if she wouldn't have been forced into it. Jade and Nymira had to be careful now how they left their victims, she didn't like anyone having an advantage over her.

Nymira stayed close to her sister's side, not willing to leave Jade along with the man for even a moment, she saw the way he looked at Jade, engaged or not, Dimitri was a lustful man. Once inside the gates, Dimitri halted and turned towards her, Jade said nothing as his eyes moved over her body, she didn't like the feeling but she was in his domain and would behave until she left. She almost groaned as he mentioned silk clothing for her and making her look presentable with her hair and such, why did men believe she wanted to look beautiful? She didn't understand it at all, she didn't want nice clothes or jewelry or perfumes, she wanted to complete the curse that kept her soul in twain and be free from it forever. "Whatever you say, I've no idea when it comes to fashion and courtly things."

Jade blinked a few times when Dimitri mentioned Austin, it wasn't too much a surprise that Dimitri knew of him considering he was engaged to Austin's sister and such. Jade didn't necessarily like going into such things as her personal life with other people. It took her a few moments to speak, "Austin and I did have a connection, not sure if we still do, things are complicated at the moment." He got in the way of one of her hunts and had steadfastly refused to stand aside. She could have killed him, possibly should have, but had let emotion get in the way. "I will probably return to see him soon enough in Natura."

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"If you wish for my opinion, seeing the boy again would be...unwise." Dimitri smiled carefully and lifted a finger to her chin and gently lifted her head a fraction observing her neck, "He is rather a man like Venn Drega someone who is naturally geared towards goodness." Dimitri smiled, "How does our young Austen like murder hmm?" Dimitri leaned into her, not to kiss her but to whisper carefully, "You belong beside men like myself, men who do not have the morality of the gods."

He drew back and smiled, "In fact I will change my words to help you for the future, you may leave my city but I ask that you do not go to Natura. It is not a place for those like us with its spring and its morality that pervades the very air of the place."

He smiled and nodded again, "I have business to attend to, for now you will be taken to your new rooms and I will call you when we are to eat, I will have some clothes taken to you, you may wear them this evening." He started to walk away and smiled, "Just for this first evening will your routine be controlled, after this you may have run of the city and I will not stop you, but adhere to my will now, I ask you politely." He smiled, "I will see you for supper later my petal."

He moved away into one of the cavernous stone towers of the fortress while Jade would be led by the orcs to another. Somewhere in the middle of this tower was a room, it was prepared for the two of them as though Dimitri had know before he met the two this would happen. A lavish basket for the Virkyn was laid out with silken pillows and a four poster bed dominated the room. The orcs waited outside stopping exit for the moment. There was but one window and it offered a view of the Great Mountains, they watched the land about them carefully.

[Jade Alanon]

Jade recalled how the confrontation between her and Austin had ended and she wanted to see him again, recalling how he had said that his home and his heart would always be open to her. Her loved her and yet he made her choose between his life and her soul, it hadn't been fair at all. She was surprised when Dimitri decided to interject his opinion on a subject he knew nothing about. Nymira agreed with Dimitri while Jade wasn't so sure, as a Paladin and Thane, Austin was definitely geared towards goodness, there was nothing she could do about this. "No, of course he doesn't like murder, but he said he accepted me." Her voice trailed off, showing that this was a touchy subject.

Dimitri moved forward and whispered something into her ear, declaring that she belonged at the side of a man much like Dimitri, a man who wasn't tied down with morality and would help her with her mission. Dimitri was clever on broaching upon such a subject that Jade herself had been fighting on the inside about, she was vulnerable in that area of her life at the moment. Jade didn't even know if she belonged with anyone, but she really had loved Austin and she still did.

The stipulation on her leaving was changed, less restricting of course but it barred her from visiting Natura, how could she agree to that. Avrie was there as well as Auer and of course Austin, how could she promise that she would not return to Natura. "I make no such promise, I have Avrie there as well that I enjoy visiting with as well as a few others, I could surely avoid Austin while I was there and while the spring hinders me in regards to killing, I can stand it." Also Jade enjoyed the peacefulness of the place at times, it was relaxing though it did soften her up a bit at times.

It wasn't long that they had been in the fortress that he was being called away by business. She nodded and waved good-bye, ignoring the fact that it seemed "petal" was his nickname for her now. The orcs that served him were to take Jade and Nymira to their room and she would meet with Dimitri again during dinner. Nymira was silent for the most part as they were herded towards the room, Jade being wholly uncomfortable surrounded by damned orcs, but she couldn't do anything without her weapons for the most part. Just for this first evening will your routine be controlled, after this you may have run of the city and I will not stop you, but adhere to my will now. Jade didn't adhere to anyone's will very well, she didn't like taking orders, especially not from someone that had forced her into this.

It wasn't too long before the two sisters arrived at the chosen room for them, it was odd how prepared Dimitri had been, a bed for Nymira and Jade both. Nymira stepped inside first, followed by Jade, who sat on the bed with a sigh. She could hear the orcs outside the bedroom door, knowing full well that they were keeping her from leaving the room and the window was too high to actually jump from. "What have you gotten us into now?!" Nymira growled as she jumped onto the bed next to Jade, her telepathic voice angry and nervous. Jade was just as nervous. "I fethin kept us alive, you would have gotten us both killed!"

"At least we wouldn't be playing servant to some Duke, we would have died in battle, something we are always prepared for." Jade didn't want to be fighting with Nymira at the moment, she stood to her feet and moved over to the window, staring out it for the moment. "Us dying would not have helped our cause Nymira and you know it." Jade spoke softly, no longer through their connection but aloud. "We will see this through, do what we agreed to do for Dimitri and then head back out hunting, just like we always do."

Nymira sighed as she too jumped down from the bed, her large canine feet padding over the floor as she paced. "I just don't like this situation, what if he doesn't let us go as easily as he said? And why doesn't he want you near Austin? I understand his point but still, it isn't any of his business." The first part she spoke aloud, figuring the orcs were too stupid to figure there was another person speaking in the room, but the part about Austin was back through their bond. Jade shrugged and lay back on the bed, curling around Nymira as she joined her and just resting for the time being.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

Before long there would be a timid tap on the door, a lithe girl would enter holding a bundle beneath her arm. "Pardon m'am." in a voice that was soft and scared she moved into the room. "The Duke says I am to help you prepare for the evening, he says he wants....he wants you to act the part of a Lady....like he said earlier......that is what he told me anyway." She unwrapped the bundle revealing a sheer and luxurious green silk dress, a pair of dark shoes equipped with wickedly high heels, and various jewellry including a diamond necklace and a small emerald tiara.

A small screen stood in a corner of the room and the girl handed Jade the dress and motioned to it, "If you would be so kind m'am, then I can help you with your hair, the Duke would like you to look a certain way for him." She cast a nervous glance to the Virkyn clearly terrified of the big canine.

If Jade did change the next difficulty was the hair, the girl would spend some time combing it and cleaning it carefully and making the smallest of small talk. But eventually it would sit carefully and elegantly above her head held with the tiara and a number of hair clips. the jewellry would be applied also and then some light cosmetics which were still a novelty in this city. Dimitri however had such luxuries imported from Arakmat, a land he was very fond of. Dark kohl would line her eyes and a little rouge lighten her lips.

A small black silk scarf was tied into a pretty bow about her left wrist and then she was helped to get into the severe footwear. Once she was properly attired for her supper with the Duke the girl would ask quietly, "Any questions m'am or are you ready to go?"

[Jade Alanon]

Jade wasn't exactly sure when or where dinner would be served. It felt as though she had only just closed her eyes when there was a knock at her room, Nymira shot up quickly and growled, such was her instinct, but Jade calmed her down. The door opened to reveal a timid looking girl h