As Greg stood there, numbstruck, a little girl was passing by when suddenly she exclaimed, "Hey! That's my mommy's necklace! Help! Police!" The police came running fast and he didn't have time to escape. They quickly surrounded and captured him. As he was brought to a dungeon to stay, he wondered why stealing a fake necklace would be so bad. I mean, stealing happened all the time! He sat on a bench in in his cell and thought about things. Is this really the life I want? Hiding from slave drivers, running from wandering monsters, searching desperately for food? Even going against the laws and inventing? That reminded him, he was lucky they didn't notice his inventions. Why did I leave? Why did I forget my friends, my family?

Aidelyn stared as the other door way opened, "You're on." Atha had told them. Aidelyn shivered at the back of the group, not wanting to go dance in front of other people. If they were Vlad's friends, who knew how bad they would be?

Nevertheless, the four slinked out of the room, Aidelyn at the back. First they stopped in front of the seated guested and bowed deeply to their master, staying in their reverant position until they recieved the instruction from Vlad to begin the entertainment.

Aidelyn noted how they acted a lot more 'slave-like' and reverant towards Vlad when he had guests, especially when ones of higher stature were expected. Aidelyn tilted her head up ever so slightly, while still bowing, inspecting the guests through her eyelashes. She couldn't help but glare a little when she saw Vlad sitting up above everyone else.

Vlad nodded, giving his permission for them to start entertaining. Some of them began dancing while others went up close to the guests talking to them, posing every once in awhile. Aidelyn stayed back, glaring, There is no way in seven hells she was going to dance in the way-too revieling costumes that Vlad was making them wear. She crossed her arms, feeling a pair of eyes or two staring at her. <Damn that Vlad.>She fumed to herself and glared around the room.

Jormungand began to move again towards the imperial capital

As others geared up, including Dezil and Ssslara, and got excited as the dancers came out, marveling at their appearance and beuty, Zalbag seemed to be annoyed by the whole thing. <So easily blinded by carnal desires, pathetic. It is examples like this that makes me realise other races aren't as different from humans as they would like. They simply go to pieces over a display lke this, and forget all that is important. This is just another delay towards me getting a hold of that amulet. Fools, all of them, and all the reason more to get this mission done as soon as possible after this tournament is over, so I can be rid of such idiocy...> Zalbag thought causticly. He watched the girls, but differently, not from a leering angle, but more to observe their abilities. As the dance began, those in the rows closest cheered and goaded the, what species were they again? Nairids possibly, fairly rare outside of more watery areas, and most likely very expensive slaves. As three of them danced and posed for the audience, one stayed back with a sense of quiet hostility about her. <Now that is an interesting one, a new slave, perhaps? One to keep an eye on...> Zalbag thought, watching the show much more casually, but focusing on what must have been a new or at least more defiant slave.

Vlad noticed the same troublesome slave from before not entertaining the guest. Might have to step outside and train her...

"Stop." Vlad said, causing each of the neried to stop what they were doing and take a step back. "You," Vlad pointed at Aidelyn, "why aren't you entertaining the guest?"

ooc: Because she has a strong will, and liked being free to choose her life for herself.

Ic: The journey was going well, Jormungand, however, was feeling tired. He found a lone tree on a rocky hill which he climbed into and took a nap.

Aidelyn glared at Vlad, "I learned how to dance, like you instructed, but I think your guests are staying entertained enough just leering without me moving to provoke them any more."

Vlad was going to speak again, but then noticed that even the mage seemed to be getting into a more relaxed mood by watching the unmoving slave. "Nevermind. Continue." The three nerieds began to dance again.

Zalbag had figured Vlad was about to issue some punishment, but was surprised to see otherwise, and the rebellious Neried had somehow won the argument? There was something more at work here then met the eye... Although his companions were enthralled by the other three, and had only been briefly interrupted by the disturbance. He kept an eye on Vlad as well as the rebellious Neried, trying to figure out the situation, and why the neired felt so free to try and rebel against her master. He let the situation filter through his mind like a problem to examine and solve, occupying his mind far more then the dance itself that occupied the others.

Aidelyn looked at Vlad, surprised. She was expecting to get scolded more, or at least threatened. <Maybe Vlad was sick of arguing?> She relaxed a little, just a little, and turned her head to look out the front glass window. "I wonder when the tournement is going to start..." She wondered outloud. She had never seen a tournement before, and frankly, she didn't know what to expect.