" My Lady, your offer to clean Roderick's tunic was generous, but if you weren't the cause of the damage, why offer in the first place? It is puzzling, to say the least," Percival's tone wasn't snarky at all. He sounded curious, is all.

"I know Roderick very well, my Lady. Much better than yourself. I know that what you are doing could potentially be dangerous."

Surprised by his words Azara looked up and met Percival's eyes. "I have heard about how he treats his servants and I saw their faces. Both of them were terrified. Yes servants are below us but they shouldn't be treated that way, they deserve some respect. And I can take care of myself. But if there is a slight chance I can't Striker will protect me." Pausing Azara considered if she should tell Percival what her plans were for the night. Deciding that she should she spoke again. "You must know that I am planning on offering Lord Roderick a hefty some for Naerwen tonight. I want to buy her from him. I'm offering him 10,000 gold florins at first and if he refuses I'm going to offer 14,000."

Lord Percival only nodded slightly at her words, but when she told him of her intended offer, he nearly choked on air, "Are you mad?" he hissed.

"My Lady, do you know what Roderick buys those girls for?" He sighed lightly and shook his head.

Azara watched as Percival choked and listened when he called her mad. "I assure you I am not mad and yes I know what he buys them for. But I promised Naerwen I would get her away from him. She is miserable and I can't just leave her there." Azara continued to dance with Lord Percival as more couples joined the dance floor.

"You are mad if you think he will sell her to you without getting what he paid for," Percival said, shaking his head.

"He's a very selfish young man, my Lady, he will not give her up without a fight. ..Nor do I think the girl will leave without making a fuss. ..Roderick has these girls entirely under his control."

-:I'm heading off to bed! :) Gotta rest before work XP Good night!! :):-

"That is why I'm offering 10,000 gold florins. He payed 7,000 for her. Well then I will have to unbrainwash the girl." Azara paused and looked to the ground. "I've done a lot of bad things in my long life. This is one small way I can atone. I want to help Naerwen and I will do anything to get her away from that man."


((I'm off ta bed to. Night Squidie!!!))

Yazelina curtsied when she saw him approaching her. She smiled and gave him her arm. She grabbed Range with her other hand and pulled her with them as they entered the banquet. It was already well nigh begun and she was enjoying every second of it so far. She knew it would be worth attending.
"THank you sir Roderick. I wore this gown especially for you. I apologize but Range would not dress up you know how stubborn some people can be."

Range just stood there glaring. She did not like this guy and she knew he was up to no good.

Roderick grinned as they stepped inside, "Well, it's not exactly what I had in mind for matching colors, but..I do like red. And yes, I know how that is. A few of my servants aren't behaving either. You know how servants are," he stressed the word as he looked to Range.

Roderick looked around the room, his eyes settling on the dance floor. When he saw Percival and Lady Azara, his smirk faded. He chewed the inside of his lip lightly and exhaled slowly through his nose.

"My lady, that is very noble and as a lady of such a standing, it is your unwritten duty to extend a hand to the less fortunate," Percival started, "But some..cannot be saved. ..Not even I could save them. ...I tried." For the first time in the short time that they knew each other, Percival actually looked ashamed and deeply saddened, "It is disgusting what he does, but we cannot stop him. He's too deep in the net of royalty."

Tes'shiran sighed softly as he approached the wagon that housed Roderick's girls. He cleared his throat lightly and he was not going to just barge right in..So..he pounded his fist on part of the wagon, as if he were knocking a friend's door. Then he stepped back and shifted a bit nervously on his feet, running a hand through his hair lightly.

A golden haired maiden opened the small door on the wagon and peeked out, "Tes'shiran. ..How may I assist you?"

Tess smiled lightly at the girl and shifted on his feet slightly again. "Lord Roderick is in need of a new herald.." He looked a little uncertain. Being a herald wasn't all that difficult, not really. Still, he wasn't entirely sure which girl he should pick or if Roderick would disapprove of the one he chose. He frowned slightly. "I am not sure of who should be picked for the task.."

-:Eff that color. I can't see it:-

"Ah, I see," the young woman thought for a long moment, "Would you like us to choose for you?"

Tes'shiran shrugged slightly "I suppose that would make it easier for me...but..Lord Roderick asked me to choose, so that responsibility is mine." He frowned slightly. "I am open to suggestions of who you think Roderick would prefer as his herald." He still seemed rather uncertain.

She leaned back into the tent and discussed it with her harem sisters. She leaned back out, "Santiel is our best choice. She is the most exotic of us all and she speaks clearly in the presence of Lord Roderick."

Tes'shiran shifted around on his feet when she leaned back into the tent. When she popped her head back out, he smiled politely to her. Nodding softly at her suggestion. "Then it's decided..Santiel shall be Lord Roderick's herald. I will let him know when he returns." Then he waved slightly and began to walk off. Percival had told him to slip away and go to his squires while Roderick was at the banquet. Tess frowned for a few moments and then ran towards Percival's camp.

She stared at him a moment. She wanted to say something smart but knew it was not ladylike to speak to a gentleman like that no matter how much of a jerk he was.

"Well truly I consider her more like a sister than anything. I would never get rid of her. She is like my own family member. I apologize if she offends you though sir. Range dear why don't you run off and enjoy yourself. I will be alright with Lord Roderick for a little while."

Range groaned and walked away slowly. She went over to a wall and propping up one leg on it she watched Lina closely. She was not going to let anything happen to her.

Roderick pulled a sickened face when she mentioned caring for Range like a sister. He collected himself and shook his head, "Servants aren't family, m'dear. They're slaves. Do you think I treat my girls like my sisters? Certainly not. They don't deserve such treatment."

Azara turned her head at first and looked to the ground as she listened to Percival's words. But when hse heard his voice saddening she looked up to catch his facial expression. It was filled with shame and saddness. Taking the hand that was on his shoulder Azara brushed her hand across his cheeck before replacing her hand back on his shoulder. "You are right it is my duty and I plan to succeed. I am so happy that you tried and even if you failed that is ok. At least you tried unlike most people. Roderick is one man, I refuse to believe that we cannot stop one man. Naerwen will be mine, I promise you." Azara was beginning to consider Percival a friend which she didn't do lightly. Something about the man called to her.

Striker had been walking around the room keeping an eye on Azara as he did so when he heard Lord Roderick speaking to a Lady. Scowling at his words Striker glanced over to them and saw the Lady dismiss her female guard, Range she had called her, just like Azara had done to him. Striker kept walking around the room, still keeping an eye on Azara as she danced with Lord Roderick.

"Well..then it is settled, I suppose." He smiled lightly when she touched his cheek, "Then let all my luck flow into you. You shall need it." He took a slow breath and continued, "Roderick is bullheaded and stubborn. He's been spoiled since day one by a woman about as rotten as he is. And his father was barely around to care, or so I'm told. You may need to keep that guard of yours close, but Roderick won't speak to you if he stitches himself to your side. Keep him close, but out of sight. Remember, bullies like Roderick will only respond to strength, but if you come charging in, he'll raise his defenses and disappear. You will never see Naerwen again if you threaten him."

Azara frowned when she heard that she wouldn't be able to threaten Roderick. "Thank you for giving me your luck my Lord. If what you say is true then I will need all the luck I can get. I promise to keep my guard around me at all times. He is very adept at being very close but out of sight. Threating him was my second plan. You truly think that if I threaten him it will not work?" Azara had considered turning Harpy on Roderick but she decided not to. It wouldn't be in her best interest if she did that.

He shook his head lightly, "Roderick's been known to disappear when he's threatened. It's what cowards do. He wouldn't return until he was sure you cooled down and when he did come back, Naerwen would be gone. Though I doubt very much that he'd kill her, but he would ensure you never saw her again. If he cannot have something, no one else can have it, either. The best way to get what you want, is to give him what he wants."

Considering his words Azara nodded her head to him. "You're right that sounds like something he would do. I hope what he wants is money, that I can give him." Raising her gave Azara studied Percivals face, curious. "Why are you helping me Lord Percival? Not many nobles would tell me all of this."

Percival laughed lightly, a deep rumble in his chest, "Believe me, my Lady, it isn't money that he wants."

He paused when she asked him why he was helping her and took a slow breath, "I spent a handful of my golden years with that man. I trained him to joust under the request of his bitter mother. All he did was whine and groan and moan about this and that. Everything, really. When I finally declared his training complete, he started this sickening behavior. I'm too old to tangle myself further in his web, so..I shall assist a younger warrior. You, my Lady."

Azara couldn't help herself to smile when Percival laughed. The sound seemed to seep into her skin and she had to smile. But with his words she frowned. "What is it he wants then?" She asked flatly. Azara smiled again when he called her a warrior. "I assure you my Lord I am no warrior," She stated softly even though what she said was a lie. "I thank you for your help my Lord, I turely do."

"And you are most welcome, my Lady. It is the least I can do," he said with a smile. He paused, though, when she asked what he wanted, "To avoid getting graphic and offending your delicate ears, let me say this. Roderick only buys untouched elf maidens." He gave her a sad, but meaningful look.