What Slaves May Say (Amarantha)

[Marcus Ahysen]

There it was! A hint, not quite a slip up, but a hint. The way she had avoided Arien's profession, it meant he was something she did not want to say out loud. Granted, there were other things he could be than a knight, but not many of those things were something people would fear to speak about in Ravok. Marcus did his best not to show his excitement. He could tell from the slave's body language that she was getting tired of the questioning. Marcus considered his options. He could continue to press the woman, try to get her to slip up again, but that might arouse more suspicion. It was good that Arien was not home, it gave him some time alone to think things over, but at the same time if he alerted the man's slave to his true purpose she might warn him when he arrived. Deciding it was better not to risk it, Marcus decided to take a different tact. "So.. have you, um.. always been a slave? I don't mean to pry.. but I'm bad with awkward silence. Who were you before.. all this?" Marcus figured if he could get Amama talking about herself, perhaps get on her good side, he might be able to use her in the bells to come. If being friends with Ben was a better than Arien, maybe she would betray the man, even if it was by accident. Even if it didn't work.. Marcus really wasn't a fan of awkward silence, and the conversation would pass the time.

[Amarantha]

Amarantha stared at the man before her, surprised at his question. In all the time she had been a slave she had never been asked about her past. Most assumed that she was stupid and dull, meant for nothing other than abiding others beck and call. "Well..." Amarantha paused, realizing that she was not being a very good slave at all. She had been told repeatedly that a slave was there simply to serve and that such a low being had no right to opinions or beliefs. But this man had asked a question, and it would be rude not to answer, wouldn't it? "I was born up north, in Avanthal. When I was around sixteen my mother died of illness and my father never recovered from his grief and got into trouble with a loan shark and sold me to the man in payment. From there I was brought here and I was sold to your cousin." As Amma finished speaking a bitter note made it into her voice and she looked down at her hands. She calmed herself with the usual thoughts; It could have been worse, you could have been born a slave.

[Marcus Ahysen]

Born up north, mother dead, only recently purchased. It was a complete story, and if it was true then the slave was unlikely to have anything to do with the Syliran Knights herself. More likely she had only been purchased so as to help the man keep his cover. She seemed to know something about him, but perhaps she was not guilty in the matter. It wasn't a slave's place to betray their master, though if she had betrayed him in this particular matter she might have been rewarded. It didn't matter though, as far as she knew, Marcus was just Arien's cousin Ben and he wasn't anybody to betray anything to. "That must have been horrible for you, to lose your mother and then be betrayed by your father. ..I can only imagine how painful it must have been. I-" Just then the front door opened, and in walked Arien. The man froze when he saw Marcus, his eyes going from the stranger to his slave, and back again. "What is the meaning of this!? Who is this man," Arien demanded of Amma, "And what is he doing in my home?" Marcus stood and turned around before Amarantha had a chance to respond, spreading his arms out in greeting. It was now the moment of truth. Would his disguise be enough, could he impersonate the man's own blood? "Arien! You do not recognize your own cousin? It's me, Benjamin. I sent you a letter telling you I was coming." OOCI'll let you decide what his reaction will be.

[Amarantha]

OOCSorry this took ages! My computer decided to kick the bucket. Sorry it's so short as well. Amma took a quick step back and into a corner near the door. Dropping her head she stared at her feet as Arien turned his harsh glare towards his cousin. His eyes softened after a moment and he grinned. "Of course! Forgive me cousin, I spoke before i thought. I hope my slave has been of good service to you while I was out." Amma glanced at the table, towards her book. She yearned to grab the volume and run before Arien had a chance to take it from her but knew it wasn't an option. For now she could only hope he would not notice it. "Please, sit. How was your trip Benjamin? It has been a long time since we have had the chance to talk."

[Marcus Ahysen]

"She has been quite alright, Arien, though I'm surprised to see you with a slave." Arien only grunted in response to that comment, and walked over to the table. He moved to sit down, but stopped when he spotted the book. The man bent down and picked up the volume, studying it's cover before spinning around and turning to Amma. "What is this," he bellowed, "Have you been reading again? I told you, slaves aren't supposed to read." Arien raised the book to strike Amarantha with it but Marcus, seeing a chance to indenture himself with the slave, stepped in and grabbed Arien's arm before it came down. "Temper, temper, cousin. The book is mine. I bought it for my wife." Hopefully Arien had never seen that particular book before, because it would have blown his cover, but it seemed to work to calm the man down. Although, Marcus may have blown his cover anyway. "Wife? I didn't know you had a wife." For an instant Marcus froze. He had slipped up! It was true, Benjamin did not have a wife. Marcus had merely blurted the first thing that had come to his lips, without considering the backstory. Now he would have to improvise for the rest of the night. "Ah.. well. Of.. course you didn't know. We're not actually married yet. That's what I came here for. I wanted you to come with me back to Zeltiva for the ceremony and be my best man." OOCSorry for taking so long on this. Life has been very hectic for me these past couple weeks, but it's finally slowing back down.

[Amarantha]

Amma was frozen in shock. Why would a total stranger lie to protect someone they barely know! "Congratulations!" Arien exclaimed, handing his cousin back the book and giving him a hearty thump on the back. "Knowing you i am sure she is very beautiful." he joked, laughing. "When is the wedding?" Amma eyed the two men with a mixture of emotions. For Arien she felt only contempt and for a brief moment she contemplated suffocating him while he slept that coming night. She dismissed the thought before it started to make sense and twined her fingers behind her back to distract herself. His cousin on the other hand was a mystery. Was the man really engaged or was that all part of an elaborate lie? Biting her lip she studied him carefully, slim eyebrows furrowed, watching his expressions and the way he spoke.

[Marcus Ahysen]

With the way things were going, Marcus was beginning to wonder whether or not Arien was indeed a spy as he had been told. Syliran's didn't believe in slavery, and unless Arien was trying very hard to fool him, he probably wouldn't be so mean to his slave. But then again, if he suspected Marcus, Arien might be trying to play the part of a Ravokian. If he wasn't, that didn't mean the man was off the hook. It just meant Marcus had to plant evidence against him. Somebody of more importance than the lowly agent wanted Arien gone, and Marcus was tasked with making that happen. Things were progressing slowly, and Marcus was already slipping up. He needed to speed things up, get them taken care of quickly. He needed to find out one way or another before his cover was actually blown. But how? "Say, Arien, do you mind if I take a few chimes to clean up? I want to get into some clean clothes, and maybe take a bath." It was an idea, at least. From what he knew of the layout of the house, the bath chambers were connected to Arien's bedroom, so Marcus could probably sneak in and look around while he was pretending to take a bath. "Of course you can. My home is your home, Benjamin. AMMA!! Go and run him a bath, and lay out some clean clothes for him, and whatever else he needs." Arien motioned to the door that led to his bedroom, "The bath is through there. Amma can take care of you. She'll do anything you want." Marcus chuckled and nodded his thanks to Arien as he followed Amma into the bedroom. It wasn't quite what he wanted, he was hoping to get some alone time, but he couldn't just send the slave away. That would just make Arien suspicious, or at least feel like 'Ben' was being ungrateful, and Marcus didn't want that. Plus, now he would actually have to bathe, and Amma would most likely be nearby. Marcus used what little time he had while Amma prepared the bath to look around Arien's room, trying to do it in the least suspicious manner possible. He tried to play it casual, doing things like picking up random decorative objects and pretending to appreciate them while actually looking over the random documents on the nightstand. He didn't have much time, it would take Amma long to draw the bath. He prayed to Rhysol that it would at least be a heated one, but that might be asking for too much. Arien wasn't that wealthy. He wondered what all Amma expected she was required to do for him. In his family home, the slaves actually washed their masters, but Marcus had not lived there for a long time. He couldn't deny he was tempted by the chance to be alone with her, but at the same time.. it might be an opportunity to question her some more.

[Amarantha]

Amarantha dipped her fingers into the bath tub, testing the temperature of the water. Pulling her hand back she shook the cool liquid from her finger tips and walked to the door leading to Ariens room. Turning back once more she swept her eyes over the sparce furniture, making sure she had everything that would be needed. A clean towel was folded neatly on a small table in the corner and her bag, full of all the oils, lotions, stones and linens needed for a good massage, was leaning against the wall next to it. Stretching, Amma pushed up her sleeves before exiting into the bedroom. Benjamin was bent over the night stand examining a small brass paper weight. Clearing her throat Amma caught his attention. "Pardon me Sir, but the bath is ready."

[Marcus Ahysen]

"Oh, of course. Thank you," Marcus replied as he followed her into the bathing chamber, feigning embarrassment as he undressed and slipped into the cool water, also hiding his disappointment that it wasn't heated. Whether she bathed him, as the slaves in his family household, or he bathed himself, Marcus would try to strike up a conversation of sorts with the woman. It was time to play the part of a concerned Zeltivan cousin, and though Marcus had never been to Zeltiva himself, he considered himself pretty well informed on how they viewed slavery. As far as he knew, most Zeltivan's would find it appalling. "I must apologize for my cousin.. where he grew up, slavery was not tolerated. I am shocked to see he has you here. Does he at least pay you a wage? He's not abusive, is he? If he is, I could talk to him for you." Marcus was curious to see what she would say about her master. It was clear to him that she wasn't overly found of the man, or at least she was pretending that she wasn't, but would she betray his trust and speak against him? If she did, then perhaps Marcus could pry out more important details from her, especially if he offered her an escape from her life with the man.

[Marcus Ahysen]

For the next several days Marcus stayed with his "cousin," and finally on the fourth day he had the opportunity to search the house more thoroughly. Arien was off to the doctor, feeling rather ill that morning, and he brought his slave with him to carry back his medicines. This left Marcus alone in the house, and as soon as he was sure they were gone, Marcus went and searched the man’s room. It didn't take him long to find the chest hidden in the back of the closet. Marcus drug the chest out, it was rather heavy and he could hear the sound of metal clinking inside as he pulled on it. The chest was locked, but Marcus was now certain he would find what he needed inside. Marcus called on one of the Ebonstryfe lock pickers, and it was only a matter of minutes before they were able to flip open the lid to the chest. Inside was evidence more damning than Marcus could have ever hoped for. Resting atop a suit of armor was a shield, blatantly emblazoned with the crest of the Syliran Knights. As if that weren't enough, Marcus also found within the chest various letters from the spy’s superiors. It was all too perfect. When Arien and his slave came home, the spy was immediately arrested, though Marcus convinced them to let Amarantha be returned to the slave pens. Over the past several days he had grown soft on the woman, and his eyes a life as a slave was better than being held as a traitor and a spy. Amma was sent to the slave market to be resold, and Arien was taken away. It was the end of Marcus' first mission, and it was a success. ~End