The Wanderer was a man of instincts. His training had taught him how to search for that inner guide that could offer him the quickest path to enlightenment. When done properly, he could summon up the same answer that his analytical mind would have spent twice as long in determining. Those instincts now told him he should be ready for a major change.

He could see the growing exhaustion on the Overlord's face as the two of them spoke shortly after the evening meal. As the conversation progressed, it became clear to him that it was far more than mere stress from hosting the Conclave. This alone was enough to alert him. There was a subtle sense of urgency to the Overlord's words, as if quietly emphasizing how important this was to him.

Naturally, Jollis already knew, for it was even more important to his own master. The same goal, yet for different ends.

"Ah, yes. I believe I can come through on that as well, your Lordship," Jollis said. "You may tell him that I ... or, that is to say, you ... can deliver on that promise."

"I realize I took a risk in promising goods before I could speak with you first," Roquan admitted. "Yet he was stubborn. He pressed for a commitment."

"This is understood, Overlord, and I am in no way inconvenienced by it." Jollis smiled. "If anything, I consider it a compliment of the highest order, that you would assume I could come through on it."

Roquan paused a moment, his face appearing as if he were wrestling with the next words to say. "I took a moment to do a tally of the goods you have thus far promised me," the Overlord said, reaching down for a parchment on his desk. He picked it up and let his eyes drift down the freshly-inked figures. "I am ... at a loss to know how and when I will pay you."

"May I see that, your Lordship?"

Roquan nodded and passed the parchment to him.

Jollis appeared to mull it over for a few moments. "I am willing to make you another offer, Overlord. Or perhaps I should say, the same offer again. I again wish to stay on as a permanent tradesman."

"And how does that factor into this?" Roquan asked tiredly.

"I would accept that position as payment in full for all the goods I am to deliver."

Roquan stared silently at the merchant for a few moments. "Did I hear you correctly, Jollis?"

Jollis' smile broadened. "Ah, but I surprise you, do I not?"

"The word you are searching for, merchant, is shocked." He reached over and snatched the parchment from him, brandishing it before him. "You cannot expect me to believe you think any trade relationship with me will bring in enough profits to cover this in anything less than ten years!"

Roquan tossed the parchment towards his desk. Jollis watched it as it wafted down before speaking again. "I do indeed think this will be profitable for the both of us. I would not make the offer if I did not think so." He turned his head and fixed his steady gaze on the Overlord. "I am no fool, you see."

Roquan met the gaze, one almost as unyielding as his own. "The thought never entered my mind."

"But you do doubt, and this is understandable. So be it. Perhaps we postpone this discussion then?"

"It is just as well. I have other business to conduct this evening."

"Oh? Is there another you wish to sway?"

Roquan started to shake his head and caught himself. "Actually, it is one already swayed, so to speak. It is simply a matter of closing the deal."

Jollis paused and nodded slowly. He caught the change in the Overlord's manner. It was just like his own, when he had been forced to commit the most distasteful act upon the Healer. His instincts were making him tense. Not visibly, but mentally and emotionally. "I shall leave you then, your Lordship ..."

"Before you do, Jollis, I wish to ask you something."

The merchant turned back around and nodded once in a respectful manner.

"You speak of a lucrative enterprise by choosing to remain here. Would this have to do with your Far West contacts?"

And now the question came upon Jollis again: How much to reveal? Does he tell the Overlord the truth, or the truth inasmuch as he is allowed to speak it? The events that appear to be about to transpire told him no. It was too dangerous a time to reveal himself.

It was the Emperor's hand. He could feel the shadow of it beginning to pass over them. It was deciding where to strike. He would be a fool to give it a target.

"They are but one set of the many contacts I enjoy, your Lordship," Jollis said smoothly. His contemplation had lasted barely a moment's time. Again, it was all about instinct. "The Far West ones are indeed lucrative, or can be, but they are not my only ones."

Roquan eyed the merchant, and it was clear to Jollis from that gesture that the Overlord suspected there was more. Allow him to suspect. It will keep his curiosity piqued and increase his interest. It will make him amenable to hearing more later.

"Very well. We will discuss this further at another time."

"Yes, your Lordship. I wish you a pleasant evening."

The customary response died on the Overlord's lips as he looked past the merchant. Jollis now turned as well, in time to see Amanda enter the chamber from the outside, with Sirinna behind her.

The merchant could not help but smile. "Ah, but it is good to see you again, little one."

At once, even before the first words were out of his mouth, Jollis knew something was wrong.

Amanda lifted her slightly downcast eyes. They were tinged red about the edges, and there was a sad, despondent look to them. They shimmered slightly. Her lips curled into a very tiny smile, but it was forced.

His eyes shifted to the girl's Trainer. She was a little better composed, but not by very much. She, too, had been crying, and when she drew in her breath, it sounded almost as if she had to choke back a sob.

Smoothly, Jollis turned his head back to Roquan and gave him a polite nod. He then headed towards the door without another look at the two slaves.

Jollis felt the night air on his skin, having been cooled by a quick-moving thunderstorm just before the evening meal. He let it stimulate him, goosebumps rising, helping clear his mind as he walked briskly down the path that led away from Roquan's quarters.

Something was quite seriously wrong, and he needed to find out what it was.

He glanced up at the skies and over to the west. There was still a dull, deep indigo glow that was the remnants of the day, just under some lingering, brooding clouds. There was still enough light to be seen even just off to the side of the path.

The merchant walked down the main path running along the north side of the Manor until he was halfway towards the bluff. At this point, he left the path and strode into the grasses that lined the gardens, carefully picking his steps to do the least amount of damage and leave the least amount of evidence of his passing. Once far enough in, he crouched beside some bushes and waited.

Jollis was not entirely concealed, but by remaining absolutely still, he melted into the growing darkness of encroaching night. He did not have very long to wait. He soon spotted movement on the path, evidenced by the flicker of the magical torches that lined the path, igniting in sequence to provide illumination, darkening behind the person as she passed.

And it was most definitely a female. Jollis knew immediately that it was Overlord Freya D'yros.

Jollis watched as the female Overlord turned down the path towards Roquan's quarters. Even from this distance, the merchant could tell that she was quite pleased with herself. This, in turn, made Jollis all the more wary.

Freya disappeared into Roquan's quarters, and all was still again.

Jollis continued to wait. Again, it did not take long. This time it was Amanda he saw first, still in her restraints, and leading Freya. The merchant remained very still as they approached, his eyes fixed on them. They grew close enough that he could hear Amanda's slightly ragged breathing. Then a pair of torches lit at just the right moment for Jollis to see Amanda's face very clearly.

For the first time, the merchant felt his heart wrench.

All the happiness and laughter were gone from her eyes. They held nothing but despair and defeat. They glistened in the light, and behind the shortness of her breath he could hear the tiny sobs that she was purposely holding back. Her shoulders slumped, much of the energy and enthusiasm he had so admired in her now gone.

As they passed, Freya snapped the chain hard, making Amanda gasp and falter in her step. Jollis' body tensed, all peace and calm gone from his face.

"There may not be others about, Amanda, but I will not have you slouching so horribly," Freya commented.

"Yes, mistress," Amanda said in a hollow voice.

Jollis waited until the two of them had disappeared from sight before he stirred. And even after he had, he took another moment to find his inner peace again.

Forgive me master, he thought silently to himself.

That was the closest he had come to doing something that was the total antithesis of his training and upbringing. Yet never had something filled him with such vile disgust as what he had just witnessed. It represented the worst of Narlassi culture. It was the worst of the Overlord system of slavery.

If he had had any doubts about his ultimate task now, this had dispelled them. He understood now. First the Urisi had devolved, and now the influence was spreading here. His master had been wise to pick Roquan D'ronstaq. He represented the best of the Overlord system, even as flawed as it was.

But now those plans were threatened. It had never been expected that Roquan would do such a trade. Jollis had no doubt that Roquan's hand was forced somehow. It mattered not how it happened, however. The fact remained that it did, and it was not good.

It was not good at all.

The next moment, Jollis realized how far he had nearly come to failing. What he had witnessed had disturbed him so much that it was only now, as he was turning away from the bluff, that he realized someone was almost upon him.

The hand had reached out and grabbed him by his shirt, yanking him hard. Jollis stumbled but for a breath, regained his balance, and struck. But his assailant had not intended to either subdue or kill him, and had already leapt back before Jollis' blow could strike, ending barely inches from the other man's face.

"Taking another walk, foreigner?"

Jollis lowered his hand and straightened his shirt, smiling. "It is a good night for one, is it not, Merchant Herdon?"

Herdon cast two dark and cold eyes at Jollis. "Just as it is one for skulking in the gardens?"

"Ah, but looks can be deceiving when it is so dark. You see there is a path a short distance away. Perhaps you saw me emerging from there?"

Herdon's eyes flicked over to it briefly and then back to Jollis. "Why are you so close to the Overlord's quarters?"

"Am I now?"

"Stop playing games, foreigner!"

"Games? Ah, yes, you misinterpret. Perhaps the inflection in my voice was wrong. I meant 'am I now' in a sarcastic manner, to mean 'yes, this is quite obvious, why do you insist on mentioning it'?"

Herdon seethed. The smile had not altered a fraction on Jollis' face even as the rebuke was delivered. "I thought by now you would be sharing a bed with the slave you wanted so badly."

"There may be a change in plans on this score." He altered his stance just enough so that his face fell into complete shadow, and then let his eyes flick over to the Overlord's quarters, where movement had caught his eye.

He spotted Sirinna now, standing just along the path from Roquan's quarters. She appeared to pause, briefly dropping her face into her hands and shuddering.

Herdon raised an eyebrow at this, but Jollis offered no further explanation. Having no idea that Jollis was looking behind him, Herdon did not turn his head.

Behind Herdon, Sirinna had composed herself and resumed walking away from Roquan's quarters, her gait and manner no better than Amanda's had been. Jollis followed her with his eyes without turning his head until she had disappeared from his field of view.

Jollis had no desire to spar any further with Herdon. He knew that the merchant was up to something. He had seen him and Overlord Gronnus conferring several times. From what he knew of the Overlord, this did not bode well at all. The transaction involving Amanda had come at the worst possible moment, as he was sure that her part had yet to be played.

Herdon sneered. "Don't tell me you have grown bored with her already."

"Perhaps this is true. Sometimes, merchant Herdon, you manage to speak great wisdom."

Herdon blinked in surprise at this praise and was too nonplussed to respond.

Yes, indeed, Jollis thought with satisfaction. Keep your enemy off-balance, even if means praising him.

Jollis smiled all the more and nodded once to Herdon. "Good night to you, merchant."

He turned and quickly strode away.

Freya snapped the chain, bringing Amanda to a halt just inside the Overlord's quarters. She paused and snapped it again. Amanda dutifully turned and looked up at her new mistress with eyes that shimmered with both great sadness and fear.

Freya leaned forward and peered into them. "Well ... I don't quite see that defiance in you very much anymore," she said with a smirk. "Perhaps this was the best thing for you."

Amanda said nothing. She simply looked up at the Overlord, her body trembling slightly.

"Are you frightened of me, Amanda?" Freya asked in a softer voice. She caressed Amanda's cheek gently and watched the girl shiver. "Tell me the truth."

Amanda swallowed. "Y-yes, mistress."

"Are you afraid I'm going to hurt you?" Freya dropped her hand and lightly stroked one nipple.

"Yes, mistress ..." Amanda breathed, her muscles tensing as if bracing herself.

"Are you afraid I'm going to mistreat you?" Freya ran her fingers lightly along one hip, then teased Amanda's sex lightly.

Amanda bit her lip, and in a barely audible voice she said, "Yes, mistress."

Freya paused and lifted her hand. She touched Amanda's chin and nudged her into raising her gaze to her mistress again.

"Really, Amanda, you need not worry about any of these things."

Amanda just stared back at her, panting now in fear.

Freya grinned at her. "In fact, it's all up to you. You get to decide what happens to you. I cannot think of anything more fair than that. Can you?"

Amanda paused a moment before replying, as if some of her defiance threatened to well up in her again. If it had, it quickly died, for she looked at Freya in resignation and said in a tired voice, "No, mistress."

Freya briefly touched Amanda's hair. It was so much like the way Sirinna touched it that it revolted her. She visibly shuddered before she could control herself.

The Overlord tugged on the chain and twirled a finger in the air. Amanda turned away from her. She undid the restraints but left the chain on. When she was done, she snapped it again and made Amanda turn around again.

"Notice how I left the chain on you, Amanda? I did this for a reason. Get used to this. From now on, you will always have a chain. You will always have a collar. There will be no concept of graduating. Do you understand me so far?"

Amanda swallowed again and nodded, her throat closing up. All that she could have gained if she had kept to her training, the privilege of having at least an illusion of some freedom at a later date, now gone in a single night.

Freya snapped the chain. "Nods are not good enough. Say it."

"Yes, mistress," Amanda said in a badly strained voice. She had to resist the urge to cry again.

"The next thing you need to know is there will be no going abroad. You are my slave and mine alone. I am your only mistress. With me so far?"

Amanda was forced to take a quick, deep breath to compose herself again. Now she longed for the chance to be given to a stranger, to have time away from this woman. But even this was now a forlorn hope. "Yes, mistress."

Freya snapped the chain and pointed to the bed. Amanda went over to it, Freya still holding the other end of the chain and walking with her. Amanda climbed onto the bed, looking back at Freya for guidance.

"On your back. Legs spread."

Amanda did as she was told, her heart thumping almost painfully in her chest. Freya could see her trembling and smiled in satisfaction.

Freya turned and secured the chain to one of the bedposts before heading over to where her satchel lay on a chair. She reached in and withdrew the wooden box. "There is something else you should know," she said as she turned. "No need to play any silly games with me. I know you are Draughtless. I know you have been spying for Roquan. Let's get that one out in the open and be done with it."

Amanda's eyes widened and she stared at the Overlord.

Suddenly, it all made sense to her.

After Sirinna had told her the horrible truth, Amanda had spent much of the time harboring an intense hatred of Roquan. It was the only thing that prevented her from breaking out in tears again. All she could think of was that he had sold her like some property, caring nothing for her relationship with Sirinna. Yes, it had looked like he was about to explain to her what had happened, but then Freya had shown up, and she had wanted the transaction concluded immediately.

A transaction! That's what Amanda was to this woman! A trophy! A prize!

Now she understood. It was obvious. Roquan had been cornered into making this deal. Though Amanda could not discard her hatred of him totally, at least not now, not so soon after it had happened. He had still done it, despite learning of her feelings for Sirinna.

Freya grinned. "Yes, you thought yourself oh-so-clever, didn't you, Amanda?" she said, sitting down at the edge of the bed. She touched one of Amanda's thighs, making the girl shiver again. "Really, in a way, you were no better than that -- what's her name -- Janna, Kanna, whatever ..."

"Yanna, and I'm nothing like her!" Amanda cried before she could stop herself, her eyes hard.

Freya looked at her and smiled humorlessly. "Ah, there it is. It was just hiding after all."

"I'm sorry, mistress," Amanda said in a more subdued voice.

"Oh, you certainly will be, Amanda, I can guarantee you that. Now ... you will hold still."

Amanda's eyes flicked down to the box that Freya had in her lap, trying not to look fearful again.

Freya smiled and opened the box. She reached into it and held the inky black object for Amanda to see. Amanda's eyes widened as she remembered where she had seen something similar used on her. She doubted it would be for the same pleasant purpose.

The Overlord reached over and carefully draped the triangle over Amanda's mound and let go. Amanda uttered a short gasp as it writhed against her, flowing over her sensitive folds, making her quiver as it gently stimulated her just from the soft, slick movement. She felt it settle against her, molding itself the contours of her pussy, causing an involuntary ripple of pleasure to pass through her body.

This one felt even more like a second skin on her than the other. It felt a little creepy as well, almost as if it were alive. Freya played her fingers along the inside of one of Amanda's thighs and touched the triangle lightly.

The material rippled, and it was like something warm and wet sliding over and around her womanhood.

Freya said nothing as Amanda rose, the girl's breath turning to a pant, soft moans escaping her lips. It was actually gentle and sweet, not at all what Amanda had expected. It was not until she had climbed higher that she understood the intent. It was here the stimulation plateaued, leaving her the desire and need for release and never granting it.

Freya stood and let Amanda writhe helplessly on the bed for awhile, watching as the girl's fingers curled into the furs, her body tensing over and over in preparation for an orgasm that was never to arrive.

Amanda closed her eyes, trying again desperately not to cry. This was the worst torture of all. Stimulation so light and soft that it was almost tender, but never taking her the final step.

Freya reached down and touched it again. Slowly, the stimulation abated, leaving Amanda feeling swollen, aching, and unsatisfied.

"Oh, I can make you cum if I want," said Freya. "A firmer touch to the center of it will do that. Only my touch of course. And that little present is special in another way in that I alone can remove it. And can you guess what other way it's special, Amanda?"

Amanda just swallowed and stared.

"Even snug on your pussy like that, it will still let you relieve yourself in the sanitary. It's meant to be worn for a long time. A very long time. In fact ... it is highly unlikely that I will ever remove it."

Amanda looked up at Freya in horror.

"Do you think you can obey me now, Amanda? Or do you think you could stand this all the time?"

She touched it again, and again let Amanda moan in helpless torture for awhile before stopping it. A tear trickled from the corner of one of Amanda's eyes.

"So will you obey me?"

"Yes, mistress," Amanda moaned. "Yes, mistress ... I'll o-obey you ..."

"Very good, Amanda. That was your first step. Your second one? Actually doing it. So you will not get a reward yet of a nice orgasm. I reward deeds and not words. Do you understand me? Do you finally understand me?"

Amanda wanted to defy Freya. She wanted to show the Overlord that she could not be swayed by promises of sexual pleasure. But at this point, still in shock over having been taken from Sirinna and soon the Manor as well, she simply had no will to fight. If there were any hope at all, she couldn't see it.

She had reached her limit. She could not take any more emotional pain.

"Yes, mistress," Amanda said in a hollow voice, sobbing once. "I-I'll be good."

Gronnus watched Herdon assemble the crossbow with an ease he secretly wished he possessed. While he would tell no one of it, he sometimes thought he might have enjoyed the life of a craftsman. A fair part of his Clan were indeed craftsmen of some variety, and highly skilled ones at that. It was largely through inheritance that he fell into the career of an Overlord.

Certainly recently, being anything other than what he was had started to look attractive to him.

This diversion helped him forget the fact that the Emperor had yet to contact him. He reasoned that this should not worry him. Yes, there was the statement that the Emperor had made, but it had been conditional on his success at gaining the vote. It was possible that he had managed to sway one Overlord to his side without the need of a deal, so he was just one vote short of denying Roquan the two-thirds vote he needed.

"Ah, that was most excellent work, Herdon!" Gronnus said as the merchant displayed the completed weapon to the Overlord.

Herdon held out the crossbow to him. "Please, your Lordship. Hold it for yourself."

Gronnus smiled eagerly as he took the weapon into his hands. He hefted it a few times. "I'm rather impressed with the weight. Or rather, a lack thereof!"

"It is a lighter wood. Just a strong. Less fatigue after prolonged use."

"And aiming is easier as well, I would imagine!" Gronnus lifted the weapon and held it as if readying to fire, moving slowly as if tracking an imaginary prey animal. "Yes, most wonderful. Perfect for someone like me who is not, well, not as young as he used to be."

Herdon smiled easily. "Thank you for mentioning that first, Overlord. Yes, that was a consideration when I picked it out for you. I did not want to mention it for fear of insulting you.'

Gronnus waved a hand at him. "Nonsense. You're a merchant and you're supposed to cater to your customers. Yes, Herdon, this is most gratifying."

"Please," Herdon said, stepping up to him and pointing out the crank. "Cock it. You'll find that using this will make it easier."

"I'll only need one hand for it?"

"Yes, Overlord. As I said, I made sure it was tailored for your use."

Gronnus did as Herdon instructed, a pleased look coming over his face as the bow was drawn back. It was evident from the cords on his arm that he was putting effort into it, but it did not wind him as pulling back a bow on one without a crank would have done.

"Excellent!" said Gronnus. "I will be most happy to take this hunting when I get back to my Manor."

"There is one more thing."

Herdon reached into the box that had contained one of the pieces of the weapon and drew out a single crossbow bolt.

Gronnus was momentarily distracted by admiring the crossbow. "Hmm? Oh, I won't need that, I have plenty back at the Manor."

"It is not for you or for the Manor. It is for what I will need to do the morning after tomorrow."

Gronnus took another moment before the merchant's words finally registered. He looked up. "What you must ...?"

Herdon took the crossbow from the Overlord's hands. He released the tension on the bow, safely reseting the weapon. "I wish you to listen very carefully to me, Overlord," Herdon said, an edge now to his voice, and a coolness to his eyes.

Gronnus stared at the merchant, a sense of cold dread coming over him as Herdon carried the crossbow over towards a spot near the door. "I am going to place the crossbow and the bolt here," he said, bending down and doing so as he spoke, "When you get up the morning after tomorrow, the first thing you will do is cock the bow and load the bolt. You will put it back down here and block it with something such as your satchel. Do you understand this so far, your Lordship?"

Gronnus paused a long moment. He had to ask the question, even though he feared the answer. "And just why would you have me do this, Herdon?" he asked, trying to sound unconcerned and looking at Herdon with a mix of disinterest and indignation.

Herdon met the Overlord's gaze and returned it with one of his own that made Gronnus inwardly cringe. "So it is available to me when I enter later that morning. Once you have Roquan here."

Gronnus' heart raced. "And why would I have Roquan in here, merchant?" he snapped, though his voice was quickly losing its confidence.

Herdon crossed the room and was standing before Gronnus again before he responded. "I believe you can figure it out for yourself."

Gronnus stared at the merchant helplessly. "Herdon, you ... you can't mean ..."

"The Emperor is not a patient man. You know this already."

Gronnus swallowed and turned away from Herdon. He threw up his hands in exasperation. "He is being unreasonable!" he shouted, though his voice quavered. "He is risking far too much!"

"It is up to him to determine the risk. Not us. We are to follow his orders."

Herdon turned, frowning. "Now see here, Herdon. You don't know as much about Oceanus politics as you think."

Gronnus was surprised when Herdon suddenly laughed. "I know far more than you think I do, Overlord, and perhaps it is you that is not up to date on what is happening."

"I know the Emperor is becoming paranoid and delusional! He is seeing conspiracy everywhere he looks!"

"Perhaps because he knows precisely where to look."

Gronnus had no answer to this. It was becoming quickly apparent to him that there was no use in arguing the point with the merchant. No, with the assassin. He may act the part of a merchant, but this is what he is. Gronnus felt a chill pass through him as he realized he was in the room with someone that could as easily kill a man as he might collar a Captive.

"And you expect me to be able to get Roquan here alone just so you can ..."

"No, your Lordship. You will be with him."

"What?!"

Herdon smiled. "After all, this will allow you to witness it, and be able to tell the others that it was a merchant that did it, a merchant known to be the black sheep of the Clan. Just ask my father. He'll tell anyone that will listen how I was never a real merchant in his eyes. How I had squandered my youth. How I had wasted my skills. How I was worthless to the Clan!"

Herdon's voice became increasingly edged with anger as he spoke, until the last few words were spoken through clenched teeth. He paused and took a moment to calm himself.

Gronnus swallowed, his eyes wide. He was truly frightened by this point.

Herdon turned to him and smiled slightly. "Forgive me for that. My father is something of a sore point with me."

"Even ... even if I witness this for you," Gronnus said, trying to keep his voice even. "This will bring disgrace to the Ne'land Clan! Do you really want to do this?"

"Overlord, I do not care for my Clan. I do not care for the merchants. I do not care for the Overlords for that matter. I care about doing my duty to the Emperor that I swore over ten years ago."

Gronnus gaped at him. "Ten years? Z'haas has been preparing you for this for ten years?!"

"Well, not specifically this task, your Lordship. But I have been one of his trusted intelligence agents since then."

Gronnus paled. This was going beyond the mere indiscretion of infiltrating a Manor with an agent disguised as a slave. That was the misinformed action of an overzealous Emperor. But to go back ten years and find out the same Emperor was planting spies abroad even then!

He shuddered at how many other places the Emperor might have sewn the seeds of espionage.

"There is no need for any discussion on this," said Herdon as he turned away. "The Emperor has decreed that Roquan must be taken out, and this is what will happen. There is no choice in the matter. And you are under orders from the Emperor as well. You must do as he says."

Gronnus' heart was hammering in his chest. Something about this bothered him beyond just the death of a fellow Overlord.

Your usefulness will be at an end.

"Herdon, how ... how do you expect me to get Roquan here? Surely he will be suspicious of anything that I ..."

"Does your Conclave not have the concept of a Point of Order?"

Gronnus frowned. "You want me to conjure up a false debate?"

"Why not? An Overlord has done it once already."

Gronnus had no response to this. Herdon headed for the door.

"But ... Herdon! Wait! Why does it have to be here? And with my crossbow?"

"Because I cannot simply carry a crossbow across the Manor, your Lordship," Herdon said with obviously forced patience. "Since you have one, and it would make sense for you to meet with an Overlord for debate in your quarters, and it would make further sense for a merchant to attend if the intent was to make a deal, then this is perfect setup. No one will even know that it has happened until you inform them."

Herdon was about to open the door when Gronnus blurted out, "And they won't think it was me because my crossbow was the murder weapon, merchant?"

Herdon turned around. "Not if you tell them it was me."

"I am not sure I want to do this."

The merchant paused. There was a flicker of movement and a flash of steel. Gronnus flinched as something whistled past his ear, only to make a dull thunk behind him. He spun his head around and saw a dagger embedded in one of the poles behind him.

He turned back to face the assassin, grabbing onto the back of a chair for support.

"It is not for you to want or not want," Herdon said coldly. "Only to obey the will of the Emperor."

He turned and left.

Jollis entered Sirinna's quarters warily, feeling unsure of himself. It was not a emotion he was very familiar with, and he liked it even less.

He paused just inside the door, hearing nothing. It was only when he advanced further inside that he saw the Trainer, stretched out on her bed. She was turned away from him, lying still. From the way her side rose and fell, it was clear she was not asleep. As Jollis took a step further, he heard a single soft sniffle.

The merchant paused, and considered lodgings elsewhere.

At that moment, Sirinna stirred. She lifted her head, paused, then rolled over and uttered a soft gasp at the sight of the merchant. "Oh, um ... f-forgive me, master," she said, sitting up and rubbing at her eyes. She cleared her throat. It was obvious she had been crying. "Please ... what ... what is your pleasure this evening?"

For a moment, Jollis stood there, both in sadness and surprise, both for the same reason. Why he did not see this before, he did not understand. Sirinna and Amanda were in love.

And this slave had been given the Draught! Yet she could feel beyond simply the need for sex. Far beyond. It was a humbling moment for him. Perhaps his people were a bit misinformed. It would not change their task at all, but ... but it may change some of the methods.

And what would his master say to this? Jollis could guess: the wise man becomes the fool when he thinks he can no longer learn.

Jollis stepped into the room and cast a gentle smile at Sirinna. He sat down on the edge of the bed and took one of her hands. "My pleasure would be your company, lovely one."

Sirinna looked at Jollis in confusion, her eyes wide and rimmed with red. He could feel her hand trembling in his.

The merchant's gaze become clouded. "I will miss her as well," he said simply.

It was all that Sirinna needed. Her eyes misted and tears slid down her cheeks. Jollis wrapped his arms around her and embraced her tightly, and for the evening let her cry softly into his shoulder.

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