Khasmir growled in anger for the second time in less than an hour. The guest quarters were empty and Jhasira was nowhere to be seen. Just before, he had looked in his own chambers and found the pretty young servant girl gone as well.

"It's almost as if they're avoiding me," Khasmir mused to himself as he exited the chambers and began striding down the hall towards the stairs leading to the courtyard. But that was nonsense, of course. After all, he had fortune, charisma, genius, and power all rolled up into one handsome package. What woman could resist that?

"They're probably just tired," Khasmir said to himself as he hurried down the stairs and strode through the courtyard. Yes, that must be it. One of them had just been sold like a common good, and the other was working too hard. Both of them must have other things on their minds, they'd come around in time. They all did.

Khasmir entered the second building and halted briefly, taking a look around to see if anyone were following him. Shirlath may have denied him his noonmeal, but his father had also often told him the importance of having secondary plans in case the primary failed. If nothing else, Khasmir had taken that advice to heart.

He immediately took off down the left hallway, heading for the library. He remembered the small box he had preserved a small meal in and hidden amongst the bookshelves. Nobody would think to look there, nobody ever came into the library any more.

At least, he had thought nobody did.

"Oh, hello there," he said as he eyed Jhasira. "I wasn't aware you were in here."

*** *** ***

"Onruh," Shirlath said as he walked through the courtyard with the hulking butler. "Would you mind retrieving my lunch from the kitchen? I believe I would like to dine in...my other quarters today."

"Certainly sir," Onruh said with a bow and took off for the kitchen.

Shirlath watched until he had disappeared into the first house, then cast a glance about to see if anyone else were watching. Content that he was alone, he murmured a few arcane words and waved his hands about in a series of complex gestures.

In the blink of an eye, seven elder Ashirias stood where one just had. Each of them twiddled their moustaches in unison, smirking, then split off and headed their seperate ways.

"I have been dead for quite sometime. In fact, I was watching over you before I died. For about a year I was watching you, then I got ambushed, someone figured me out I guess. Anyhow, that's not really important. When I made my way back to this plane...well, I decided to continue my work." The man said with a high note of pride and satisfaction in his voice.

"You certainly haven't been easy to keep safe. You have no idea what I've had to do to keep you from being attacked. I lost track of you a few minutes before you got ambushed, I'm not sure what I could have done to prevent the battle though. Those people were certainly interesting." The man fell silent again, content to walk in peace.
"Don't misunderstand me Master Karnaj, I wish of nothing from you. Work is it's own satisfaction for me." The ghost said, looking down a dark alley as they passed along the street.

"Master Khasmir," she says, inclining her head. "I had not expected anyone to be in here this afternoon. Liotas said I was free to go where I pleased, and as I enjoy a good book as much as the next person, I thought I would come here." She bows a little and starts to head back to the bookshelf she got her book from to replace it. "I will depart now and leave the place to you, however. Good day."

"Yes, Sir Stallak. I have been studying the book you gave me," Replied Kris.

"Good. Let us start."

The man reviewed basic alchemy, before moving on to more advanced potions and poisons. Many hours passed as he lectured Kris and Kris asked any question that popped into his head.

*** *** ***

Kris woke as he hit the floor next to his bed. ~I must have fallen asleep. What an odd dream. It seemed like I've been there before and I knew him. Like that was somehting I've experienced before. It seemed like hours have... wait! The time!~ Kris looked out the window. ~No more than an hour could have passed. I must not fall asleep like that in the afternoon.~

Kris got up off of his bed and walke out of his room and headed to the garden.

I think Parcelan has abandoned us.

Khasmir moved to block Jhasira's way as she began to leave. Smiling slyly, he shuffled around her, so as to face the same way, then slid his arm around her shoulders.

"Now just a moment," he hissed softly. "This is a large library, there's no reason both of us can't share it. Now, tell me, whatever are you up to?"

IC:

Sighing to herself, Jhasira lets herself be 'caught'. She's careful not to turn her head in his direction and just continues to look forward, saying lightly, "I told you, my lord. I was simply looking for something to occupy myself. And as I am an avid reader, the library was a good place. But I do not wish to disturb your peace."

Khasmir wrapped his hand around a book, and plucked out three volumes. Of course, it was a small piece of wood painted like books. He tossed the coverpiece to the ground and picked a small box out of the bookshelf and set it down on a nearby table.

"Be a dear and open that, will you?"

He gently took her by the shoulders and sat her down on the table, then reached into the small box. He produced a small wedge of soft, gourmet cheese and a few pieces of doughy bread then handed them to her.

For himself, he produced a bottle of wine and a crystal glass. Pouring himself a goblet-full he sipped it and looked at Jhasira.

"So, are you enjoying your stay here?"

He snickered and slipped the wine back into the box, closing it shut. He then wrapped his arm around Jhasira's waist and smiled.

"Do you like animals?" he asked, "Let me show you our menagerie. You can meet my children there."

COME BACK!! I'M BORED!!!

[ 07-12-2001: Message edited by: Daniel Gow ]

"Nonsense," he said as he walked out the door and down the hallway with her in tow. "You may have seen the menagerie, but you simply must meet my sons. They'll be just thrilled to meet you."

"I didn't see any children when I was just there, my lord. Perhaps they've gone outside to play in the garden?" she queries, figuring if he's going to make her stay with him someplace, she'd rather be someplace out in the open than a private room in a quiet building.

The young man was sure not to let up on his grasp around her as he walked the young lady down the hall towards the main room, and then into the menagerie. He approached the pit and pointed to a long, wooden pole with a dulled metal hook on the end.

"Retrieve that for me, would you, m'lady?" he asked, releasing her and sending her towards the hook with a good-natured pat on the fanny. He turned and looked at Alystin and Kyria. "Oh, hello you two, what brings you here?"

"He....hello milord...I really must be going, I have chores to finish..."

She turns to leave, hesitating.

She leaned over and withdrew several tiny strips of meat and distributed them amongst the tigers as evenly...
She looked over to Jhasira, then back to Khasmir.

"I'll leave if you'd like, sir."

Khasmir's eye caught the fleeing Kyria and he suddenly jumped out and blocked the servant's path, then gently grabbed her shoulders and turned her about.

"Now why is everyone in such a rush to leave today?" he asked to nobody in particular as he gently herded Kyria into place next to Jhasira. "Besides, you fainted today, you really should refrain from doing more work this day."

He smiled gratefully and winked at Jhasira as he took the hooked pole and dipped it into the snake pit. After a few moments of manipulation, he lifted the pole and removed a large cobra from the pit, the snake's hood folded back in calmness.

"Here's the pride of my family," he said as he draped the snake over his shoulders and around his neck. "Ladies, please bid yourselves welcome to King Anama."

[ 07-13-2001: Message edited by: Parcelan ]

[ 07-13-2001: Message edited by: Lyinar ]

Idly, one of her hands reached down to pet one of the tigers on the head and scratch his ears through the bars.

What a great way to meet women.

"Now, now," the young man said as he strolled over to the two women. "King Anama is a very friendly fellow once you get to know him. Here, why don't you two make friends with one another?"

He plucked the cobra from his shoulders and draped the slithering serpent around Jhasira's, grinning as he did. This was always a good way to test a woman's resolve, he had always thought. And any woman who enjoyed all things legless and scaly as much as he did was truly a prize.

"Now then," he said, tilting up Jhasira's chin with his finger and smiling to her face. "What do you think of the King?" He grinned and winked. "I wouldn't advise sweating, King gets excited by sweat."

"He is a...fine specimen of...snake, my lord," she replies. "Perhaps this other young lady would like a chance to...meet...him as well?"

[ 07-13-2001: Message edited by: Lyinar ]

He smiled at Kyria. "I believe she's worked hard enough to earn herself a little gratitude. See that she's given proper quarters for the night, she may return to rest with the other servants tomorrow." He cast a disapproving glare at her and frowned. "And do see if you can scrounge up something more proper for her to wear."

He walked back over to the snake pit and slid his toe under the wooden pole of the snake hook. With a snap of his ankle, he kicked it into the air and caught it. With a quick check over his shoulder to see if Jhasira had noticed, he dipped the hook low into the pit and extracted another snake, this one a powerful constrictor python as thick as a human arm.

"Now this is another addition to the family," he said, plucking the snake off of the hook with ease and walking over to Jhasira. "Young Jhasira, please meet Lady Naheera."

He gently slid the python around Jhasira's body, right between the waist and the chest so that the powerful python coiled around her ribcage. He slowly withdrew his hands as the constrictor held firmly to the young woman.

"Now then," he said, smiling. "I don't appreciate it when people humor me. I, like my father, enjoy being honest and open." He stroked Lady Naheera's scales and grinned. "Lady Naheera doesn't like lying either, it makes her depressed. And when a constrictor becomes depressed, it coils. They're strong enough to kill a deer, dear.

"Now," he said, cradling the woman's chin in his hand. "Why don't you tell me precisely what you're feeling right now?"

[ 07-13-2001: Message edited by: Parcelan ]

"Do you know where you're supposed to be staying for now?"

She raises her eyes quickly to his again, repressing a shiver of fear at his chilly words. She feels his warm hand on her chin and fixes her gaze on his. "You do not...want to know what is in my mind at this moment, my lord," she tells him quietly.

[ 07-13-2001: Message edited by: Lyinar ]

He gently tapped Lady Naheera in a sensitive spot, and the large python slithered around Jhasira's body, tightening ever so slightly as she did.

"Now, shall we continue talking or do you wish to meet more of my children?"

"It is not very...flattering, my lord," she says, just barely holding in her anger. "There is no reason to pollute your ears with my thoughts."

He ran his fingers along the constrictor once again, causing the serpent to tighten its coil around the young lady. Of course he had never gone beyond two squeezes, most women cracked at that point. He didn't exactly know how a third squeeze of the python would affect Jhasira. He didn't really want to know, either.

"Now, Lady Naheera is becoming rather impatient," he said, "let's have it before she loses her temper."

She takes in another breath when she's done, as deep as the snake will allow. She stares at him, her eyes challenging and her expression very unhappy.

[ 07-13-2001: Message edited by: Lyinar ]

But this one, this one did not break down nor stand still as a wooden dummy. Instead, she had spoken back to him. To a bloodline of House Ashiria! The penalty for doing so could have been whatever he pleased, from lashing, to maiming, to death. With just one word, he could have her beaten within an inch of her life. Or even, with just one quick, sudden movement, the King and Lady Naheera would end it.

With just one word, one movement, this beastly little girl who spat out insults at him could be destroyed. And Khasmir did make a movement.

However, it was not the movement he expected to make, as he stepped forward, grabbed the woman around the waist and pulled her closer, embracing the girl in a kiss.

She starts to open her mouth to throw herself on his mercy and beg for his forgiveness, but her words turn into a yelp of surprise when his arms grab her waist and pull her closer. She feels his kiss with a burst of shock, but is too stunned to try to wriggle away. Akvet never did anything like that to her! His kisses were always nice little pecks, mostly on the cheek. This was...was...well, she couldn't explain it, but she couldn't really say she disliked it, either. Sighing to herself in resignation, she lets Khasmir have his way for the moment, closing her eyes and going along with things.

[ 07-13-2001: Message edited by: Lyinar ]

What the devil is this doing on page three? Where did the rest of you go? Did you die? :P

[ 07-14-2001: Message edited by: Kloie ]

Bumping this so I can find it when I get creative again.