Natelie nodded weakly, staring at the poor girl like a kindred soul. She'd been bound to that life before running away. It made her feel all the more thankful that she was where she was, and all the more worried about the fact that they were traveling in an imperial caravan. One hand crept up to her necklace, holding it tight.

Yammling dismounted his horse then to let it rest a bit. "I do believe ladies," Yammling said as he walked over to the wagon where Robyn and the other women were situatited, "that we will be here for a little bit." At this he made a slight guesture in the direction of the still dancing courtizan, "If you wanted to get out and stretch or walk around a bit now would be the time. Do stay togeather though and please don't wander off."

Janlarek dismounted, taking the reins of the other horses as the others dismounted as well. "Coming?" he asked Natalie and the slave woman. "We've got grain and water in the wagon."

Robyn, mostly used to riding for a long time, now, only needed to stretch a little bit before her legs lost their stiffness.

Natelie nodded and grabbing a couple reins. She gave the slave girl an inviting glance and followed Janlarek.

The slave took the reins of a couple of the other horses and followed, looking curiously at Natalie and shying away from Artis and his strange appearance. "Hello," she ventured toward Natalie in an almost sisterly way.

Janlarek whistled as he rustled in the back of the cart to find what they needed.

Janlarek dismounted, taking the reins of the other horses as the others dismounted as well.

"Coming?" he asked Natalie and the slave woman. "We've got grain and water in the wagon."

Robyn, mostly used to riding for a long time, now, only needed to stretch a little bit before her legs lost their stiffness.

Yammling staied close to Robyn when she came out and stretched a bit, but kept a close eye on Janlarek, even as he was behaving himself... he had voutched for the aparently well known bandit, and he had no intent on letting the man cause them any undue trouble.

Natelie nodded and grabbing a couple reins. She gave the slave girl an inviting glance and followed Janlarek.

The slave took the reins of a couple of the other horses and followed, looking curiously at Natalie and shying away from Artis and his strange appearance.

"Hello," she ventured toward Natalie in an almost sisterly way.

Janlarek whistled as he rustled in the back of the cart to find what they needed.

Yammling almost smiled, but cought himself when her heard the woman say 'hello' to Natalie. The woman had a soft, warm alto voice, even if it did sound a bit tired and warn... he rather liked the sound. He wasn't surprised that she felt more comfertabul with the Natalie than the rest of them, as a former slave... she probably just seemed safer to the other woman - that, he decided, was most decidedly inapropriate.

"Your... ah- Ladyship," Yammling said turning his attention back to Robyn after realizeing he had all but been stairing at the other woman, "how, how do you wish me to address you here? Now?" He finally just asked her... Yammling was having enough issues with attempting to manage the saftey and comfert of their group having only two useful combatants who he trusted, himself and Josa, to need the added burden of trying to figure out exactly what was 'proper' at the moment and weather or not Robyn was still trying to hide her identity.

"I would prefer if you called me other than by my full title among strangers," Robyn muttered in reply. "If you wish to call me by my true name, that is just as well."

"As you wish My L- Robyn," the words sounded uncomfertabul coming from him they felt even less natural to him and sounded comepleatly WRONG comming out of his mouth to his ears.

"Have you plans for when we reach Alira?" he asked her his speatch sounding a bit more natural.

"We must speak to the Emperor... I would like to know how he is disposed towards us before we do, however... I am sure we can ask around the caravan," she confided.

"We must speak to the Emperor... I would like to know how he is disposed towards us before we do, however... I am sure we can ask around the caravan," she confided.

"I could go introduce myself to some of the guards," he sugested, "but they'll want know why we're here... and what makes us so important as to grant us escourt by the Amir's servant."

She sighed. "Nothing comes to mind at the moment," she confided.

"I could just say I'm 'escourting a foreigon dignitary and not aloud to speak about it'," Yammling sugested... the guards, he knew would likely not believe it was THAT simple... but they might believe ther "I'm not aloud to talk about it" part.

Janlarek chuckled and shook his head, still helping to feed and water the horses.

Yammling shurged uselessly. "They probably won't care that much anyhow... they'll probably be too buissy harrassing me about how I "tend to all the women" anyway," Yammling said.

He thought a moment then, deciding weather or not he should bering Janlarek along to keep a closer eye on him or leave him here under Josa's supervition to keep him further from the Amir's concubine. He'd rather have the man in his sights, Yammling decided.

"Jalaren," he said turning his glance to the elf, "I'm going to go... introduce myself to the other guards... I want you to come with me."

Artis watched the slave pass with a slight snort, quite annoyed still at the concubine and her group for existing in the first place and forcing him in another restricted position.

Saria on the other hand was quick to take to investigating the new person, standing to her feet and trailing her from about five yards away. Many very important questions raced through her mind: Was she edible? Was she allowed to be made edible? Did she provide food, shinies or shelter? Was she a threat? Was she at least interesting?

The slave woman looked nervously back at Saria, not sure what to think. Still, she had a task and she went about feeding and watering the horses with Natalie. Softly she asked the girl, "Where... do you come from?"

"H...Hi." Natelie said, her uneasiness returning. She held the horses as Janlarek gathered the supplies and fed the horses. It hurt to see someone in the situation she had been in.

"Elasune, my father... lives there."

The slave woman gave a small nod. "I see... I was from the North, the city of Frendel. Do you know where that is?"

"Jarlen," he said turning his glance to the elf, "I'm going to go... introduce myself to the other guards... I want you to come with me."

Janlarek grinned and gave a small little chuckle. "This should be priceless. I'll be more than HAPPY to accompany you," he answered.

Yammling sharpened his gaze at Janlarek for a breef moment, his eyes becoming a darker shade of green. "Just don't cause any trouble," he said rather shortly.

He turned back to Robyn for a moment then. "Don't wonder off far from Josa while I'm gone, and do try to keep the other women close by as well," he said in a much softer tone, "perhaps you could ask one of the girls to tend you... help you brush your hair or something. Servents and slaves often know as much or more about the climate of things as their masters do."

Yammling sharpened his gaze at Janlarek for a brief moment, his eyes becoming a darker shade of green. "Just don't cause any trouble," he said rather shortly.

"I won't, believe it or not," Janlarek replied with a smile that no one in their right mind would believe. "You're more likely to cause trouble, Gringo."

"Don't wonder off far from Josa while I'm gone, and do try to keep the other women close by as well," he said in a much softer tone, "perhaps you could ask one of the girls to tend you... help you brush your hair or something. Servants and slaves often know as much or more about the climate of things as their masters do."

Robyn gave him a look that clearly showed her discomfort at asking a slave to serve her, but she gave a small nod.

Yammling sharpened his gaze at Janlarek for a brief moment, his eyes becoming a darker shade of green. "Just don't cause any trouble," he said rather shortly.

"I won't, believe it or not," Janlarek replied with a smile that no one in their right mind would believe. "You're more likely to cause trouble, Gringo."

Somehow Yammling managed not to role his eyes and sigh at Janlarek, and just turned and walked in the direction of the largest group of guards... That of course being the most uncomfertabul place in the camp he could have possably put himself... in the ring of guards watching the Amir's concubine dance.

His idea of propriety and decency aside, Yammling was human, and he did notice Dunazade's obvious attraction... and the way she danced well, he did flick his gaze over to her for a moment, though the look he gave her actually apeared less "interested" that the one he had given the slave woman who had addressed her earlier.

"Hello," he said then turning to one of the guards at random and offering him a handshake in greeting, "I'm Yammling... responsabul for security of..." he flicked his head back briefly to their wagon as he decided what to call his charge, "the Lady Robyn."

"Hello," he said then turning to one of the guards at random and offering him a handshake in greeting, "I'm Yammling... responsabul for security of..." he flicked his head back briefly to their wagon as he decided what to call his charge, "the Lady Robyn."

The guard made as though to shake Yammling's hand, but then pulled it back at the last second to wipe it on his chest guard in the same way one would wipe off filth. Then he and the other guards laughed. "Eh, look at the Gringo," he said to the other guards in their native tongue.

Janlarek snickered along with them.

Yammling didn't so much as wince or grit his teeth or show anyother outward sign of his insult or upset, insted he very calmly... perhaps too "easily" let his hand drop away. His eyes however changed to an impossably deep shade of green, the fact that he had expected such a reaction did nothing to pahse off his level of uspest at being treated so indignantly... he was still rather used to being at least treated with the fasod of respect that court and/or rank generally afforded one.

*He* however would not be such a lout. "Where did you and your caravan head out from?" he asked the absoulute same amount of politeness he would show in court affected his tone and manerisum.

The slave woman gave a small nod. "I see... I was from the North, the city of Frendel. Do you know where that is?"

"Ah... No... I haven't heard of Frendel." Natelie apologized.

"It was a beautiful city... I miss it," she murmured, patting Janlarek's horse. "It's not like this godsforsaken hellhole." Her eyes filled with pain and she reflexively wrapped her arms around herself. Ten years as a slave would be trying on anyone.

"Oh. I..." Natelie looked at the women morosely. She understood, or thought she did. She hung her head, still hold the horses, and let the woman cry.

The woman set her jaw, forcing such sad thoughts aside and offered Natalie a kind smile, pushing the girl's chin up. "The secret is not to let it get you down for long," she whispered, "when you fall, get back up." After a moment's pause she asked, "The elf said you are Natalie, right?"

"Yeah. And that is Jarlen." She nodded towards Janlarek.

[Editied for continuitie: Jalaren/Janlarek went off with Yammling over to where the guards are watching Dunazade danceing.]

"I'm Gabrielle," the woman replied. "I am very happy to meet you... It's rare that I meet others from civilized lands."

"Where did you and your caravan head out from?" he asked the absolute same amount of politeness he would show in court affected his tone and mannerism.

"Eh, Gringo," the man answered, scratching his head. "I no speak." He meant he didn't speak Common. The other guards laughed. He actually did speak the language, but he wanted to have a bit of fun at the foreigner's expense.

Yammling managed to keep the sigh and eye role out of his responce when he made a small gesture to the others in the group and asked, "Any of you?"

The guards all gave him decidedly blank stares, though one or two were trying to hold back their smirks.

Yammling was tired, strung out, irritated, mad, and stressed, and he decided that dealing with these... gentalmen was not what he needed at the moment.

"Ignoring," he started in their native tongue, looking directly at one of the men who was trying and failing at hiding his smirk, "and being out right rude to foreigon dignitries and thoes who represent them is not generally concidered smart practis by most people, especially when their only intent was a bit of polite conversation."

With that he turned on his heal sharply and walked quickly away from the groub back toward where the others were. "We're done here," he snapped at Jan in common without turning back to look at him, by was of meaning, 'you had better be following me or there will be consaquences.'

"Ignoring," he started in their native tongue, looking directly at one of the men who was trying and failing at hiding his smirk, "and being right out rude to foreign dignitaries and those who represent them is not generally considered smart practice by most people, especially when their only intent was a bit of polite conversation."

The guards just snickered in reply. Janlarek grinned and shook his head slightly. He REALLY needed to teach yammling some insults. That would be the only way to get the attention of these guards.

With that he turned on his heel sharply and walked quickly away from the groub back toward where the others were. "We're done here," he snapped at Jan in common without turning back to look at him, by was of meaning, 'you had better be following me or there will be consequences."

"Of course," Janlarek answered. Still, he couldn't resist. The drums stopped as the courtesan finished her dance, and Janlarek looked over his shoulder, catching her eye and giving her a wink.

Dunazade smiled and winked in turn, giving a tiny little wave with her fingers. She knew Harun wouldn't be happy about it. That's why she did it.

"Of course," Janlarek answered. Still, he couldn't resist.

"Come!" Yammling snapped, turning when he didn't hear Jan's footsteps following him...

The drums stopped as the courtesan finished her dance, and Janlarek looked over his shoulder, catching her eye and giving her a wink.

Dunazade smiled and winked in turn, giving a tiny little wave with her fingers. She knew Harun wouldn't be happy about it. That's why she did it.

"That was innapropiate to say the least," Yammling said voice very obviously controlled... he would very much love to smack Jan upside the head at the moment, or pumble any one of the guards at the moment. He did NOT like being undermind and he KNEW that Harun would not be pleased with the bandit flirting with Dunazade.

"Time to get going." Harun said, feigning ignorance of the Jarlen-Dunazade interaction. She knew her limits, it was the bandit he was worried about. He offered Dunazade his hand so as to lead her back to the carriage.

----------------

"Nice to meet you." Natelie replied. The horses were fed and watered now, at least well enough until they made a real stop. "I'd... better get going."

"Time to get going." Harun said, feigning ignorance of the Jarlen-Dunazade interaction. She knew her limits, it was the bandit he was worried about. He offered Dunazade his hand so as to lead her back to the carriage.

Dunazade pouted slightly as the eunuch's lack of reaction. She hated that. Still, she was worn out, so riding in the carriage once more couldn't prove to be TOO much of an inconvenience... aside from the fact that she would be riding with Harun.

********************

"Nice to meet you." Natelie replied. The horses were fed and watered now, at least well enough until they made a real stop. "I'd... better get going."

"Me as well," said Gabrielle with a sigh. More long walking. She was already very tired.

*******************

"That was inappropriate to say the least," Yammling said voice very obviously controlled.

"Janlarek just gave him a devilish grin. "We don't want to offend her by ignoring her, my friend. She WILL have the Amir's ear, after all," he answered airily.

Janlarek just gave him a devilish grin. "We don't want to offend her by ignoring her, my friend. She WILL have the Amir's ear, after all," he answered airily.

Yammling sighed, and this ime he did role his eyes... he didn't really care if he offenede Jan or not... not that he really thought that would offend him anyhow. "I have no doubt that she will have the Amir's ear," he replied comely, eyes easing down from their bright green to a slightly more blue color, "but that doesn't mean you should be flirting with her... We almost didn't get to come along with them simply because of your presance."

Yammling picked up their pace as he spoke. "Make yourselves ready to move out, Ladies," Yammling said to the women, "we're leaving soon."

He turned to Artis then, "You can ride your horse... or in the wagon, as you please... just stay close."

Janlarek just grinned and waggled his eyebrows before mounting his horse again.

Yammling picked up their pace as he spoke. "Make yourselves ready to move out, Ladies," Yammling said to the women, "we're leaving soon."

Gabrielle who had been heading back to her spot with the other slave girls nearly bumped into him. Her eyes caught his fleetingly, then she looked aside again, giving a bit of a curtsy. "Pardon me. I wasn't looking where I was going, Sir."

Robyn mounted her horse, readying to be off again.

He turned to Artis then, "You can ride your horse... or in the wagon, as you please... just stay close."

Janlarek just grinned and waggled his eyebrows before mounting his horse again.

Yammling picked up their pace as he spoke. "Make yourselves ready to move out, Ladies," Yammling said to the women, "we're leaving soon."

Gabrielle who had been heading back to her spot with the other slave girls nearly bumped into him. Her eyes caught his fleetingly, then she looked aside again, giving a bit of a curtsy. "Pardon me. I wasn't looking where I was going, Sir."

"It's quite alright," he said softly, gracing her with a slight smile when her glance caught his. His eyes shifted from their deep greennish-blue to a very bright and clear blue just before his slight smile was replaced again with that unreadabul expresstion he always wore.

Robyn mounted her horse, readying to be off again.

He turned to Artis then, "You can ride your horse... or in the wagon, as you please... just stay close."

Gabrielle who had been heading back to her spot with the other slave girls nearly bumped into him. Her eyes caught his fleetingly, then she looked aside again, giving a bit of a curtsy. "Pardon me. I wasn't looking where I was going, Sir."

"It's quite alright," he said softly, gracing her with a slight smile when her glance caught his. His eyes shifted from their deep greennish-blue to a very bright and clear blue just before his slight smile was replaced again with that unreadable expression he always wore.

Gabrielle caught the smile and, slightly surprised, moved her eyes back to his face, wearing a slight smile in turn that quickly disappeared when she caught his rather stern (to her eyes) expression. She gave another quick curtsy and hurried off, wincing slightly in pain as she walked hurriedly on her bare and blistered feet. She wasn't sure if she had seen that smile... If... If it hadn't been her imagination then maybe... maybe these strangers could help her after all.

Robyn mounted her horse, readying to be off again.

He turned to Artis then, "You can ride your horse... or in the wagon, as you please... just stay close."

"It's quite alright," he said softly, gracing her with a slight smile when her glance caught his. His eyes shifted from their deep greennish-blue to a very bright and clear blue just before his slight smile was replaced again with that unreadable expression he always wore.

Gabrielle caught the smile and, slightly surprised, moved her eyes back to his face, wearing a slight smile in turn that quickly disappeared when she caught his rather stern (to her eyes) expression. She gave another quick curtsy and hurried off, wincing slightly in pain as she walked hurriedly on her bare and blistered feet. She wasn't sure if she had seen that smile... If... If it hadn't been her imagination then maybe... maybe these strangers could help her after all.

Yammling almost spoke to the woman when her saw her smile, until he saw how quickly it fled from her face... He nearly apologized and asked if he had upset her somehow... but he knew that woul;d be both uncomfertabul a question for her to be presented with and inapropriate for him to ask her.

Robyn mounted her horse, readying to be off again.

He turned to Artis then, "You can ride your horse... or in the wagon, as you please... just stay close."

Artis snoted at the comment, his arms crossed. "I'll take the wagon, since it seams to be what you're demandin'."

~~

Saria watcheds as the woman left back to her catavan, keeping a blank, infomation gathering face up. She was quick to ask Nat, "What be civilized and godforsaken?" So much of the conversation confused her to no end. First off, this place wasn't hell last time she had heard, and she knew hell was a place full of tortured and hurting people. Even more so, this was hardly a hole they were in, in fact, it was quite flat. Then there was that lurking feeling something else was happening she didn't pick up and no one would be nice enough to explain to her. The whole situation was incrediably frustrating.

He turned to Artis then, "You can ride your horse... or in the wagon, as you please... just stay close."

Artis snoted at the comment, his arms crossed. "I'll take the wagon, since it seams to be what you're demandin'."

Yammling knited his brows at Artis, slightly frustraited, but he let the comment go. "I was not meaning to demand anything from you," he said in all manor of politeness, eyes shifting to a bit of a greener color with his mounting frustration, "simply telling you that you can travle as you see yourself most comfertabul so long as you stay close at hand."

He turned to Artis then, "You can ride your horse... or in the wagon, as you please... just stay close."

Artis snoted at the comment, his arms crossed. "I'll take the wagon, since it seams to be what you're demandin'."

Yammling knited his brows at Artis, slightly frustraited, but he let the comment go. "I was not meaning to demand anything from you," he said in all manor of politeness, eyes shifting to a bit of a greener color with his mounting frustration, "simply telling you that you can travle as you see yourself most comfertabul so long as you stay close at hand."

"That's not what you were saying a few minutes ago," Artis added in, obviously still ruffled up.

Yammling managed to keep a civil tongue with the demon some how. "I know that is not what I said earlier," he responded still politely, "but now that I have seen the make up of our company... I see no need to keep you in the wagon if you do not wish it."

With that he turned from Artis not interested in speaking another word on the matter he looked to his queen. "Are you ready to set off, Your- Ladyship?" he asked feeling a bit awaquard still about not addressing her by proper title.

"Good. It's already stuffy 'nough 'round here with all the politics," Artis commented casually. "Guess your not as stupid as you act sometimes."

Janlarek chuckled at Artis's comment as the caravan began to move once more. It was slower going than their group had been making, but since the caravan had people walking alongside, even if most were slaves, they needed to keep the slower pace.

"Indeed. You need to learn the language, my friend," Janlarek said to Yammling with a wink. "Or, failing that, enough niceties to get you by. I suggest saying," here he switched to the language of the Empire, "May the fleas of a thousand camels come to rest in your genitals, and may your arms be too short to scratch." He switched back to common. "That's the best way for a foreigner to gain the respect of the common soldier."

Robyn gave Janlarek a soft smile. "I see. What does it mean?"

Janlarek grinned impishly. "Oh... It's just a common saying. Men sometimes use it as a greeting."

"Indeed. You need to learn the language, my friend," Janlarek said to Yammling with a wink. "Or, failing that, enough niceties to get you by. I suggest saying," here he switched to the language of the Empire, "May the fleas of a thousand camels come to rest in your genitals, and may your arms be too short to scratch." He switched back to common. "That's the best way for a foreigner to gain the respect of the common soldier."

"Greeting in deed," Yammling said a bit cooly to Janlarek, though he did not doubt that it would have been more effective than what he himself had said.

Robyn gave Janlarek a soft smile. "I see. What does it mean?"

Janlarek grinned impishly. "Oh... It's just a common saying. Men sometimes use it as a greeting."

"The meaning is irrelavent," Yammling said softly turning to Robyn, "it is not at all a proper thing to say... and you certinly should not speak such words, my lady."

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