Into The Night, The Priestess & The Lion *Closed*

[Anulia of Amora]

General Maahes-The night. The fall of dusk's breath across a foreign nation seemed only to bring this beast alive. With the sweep of a cool breeze the city streets seemed to only empty as many passed through the large doors of the Inne; hope to escape the spring storm that rolled across the horizon. Thunder cracked with the flashes of the light though only gently at first. Still a good bit away the scent of the coming storm would fall before the rain. Maahes had found the rest he so desperately needed, but of course with one eye open. Habit caused such an action for he had so far found no reason not to trust those of the Isle. He in fact had caused the people of the Isle to distrust this tangled web of a man. Most moved in the form of pairs of two at the dawning hour, and he followed their direction. As many disappeared into the Inne, he hesitated listening to the bits of laughter inside. There were many people inside that much he was sure, and he had hoped to avoid a crowded room. Yet, tonight something pulled him inside, and so the Avarian General would raise a calloused hand and press back the door. Instantly the sounds of mindless chatter rushed at him like steam rising over the boiling pot of his mind.

Anulia of Amora-Such a night had Anulia pondering on life and what it had been once before. She had been one of the few that had escaped the spring rains due to working in doors at the Briar Rose. A duty, or as they spoke to be a job, she enjoyed it greatly for more reasons then one. it was how she learned to speak this language and how she learned to communicate in the fashion of asking those what they wished to have or knowing some that came in often to get the same mead, whiskey or food. Skirts of blacks and reds moved around her slender legs as she walked from one table to the other, old leather boots marked out her path with soft 'thud thud' along the wooden floor, making it creak even though she was a smaller woman in the sense of height. Shoulders, were partly exposed due to the dress that she wore from the Gypsy friends she had made among the time she had been here on the island. It was not uncommon to see Anulia at Carnival Lane. Her difference in look meant nothing there. Only coin and laughter was welcomed and wanted. Chocolate eyes rose as men within the corner shouted out in booming laughter, making others give a glance, smile and go back to their own business or affairs. When she felt a hand touch her shoulder gently, her chin tilted towards the direction where the hand had been placed, making her chin brush a bare and slightly scarred shoulder before chocolate eyes landed on Rose, the owner of the place. "So sorry...I was...pondering? Is that the correct word?" Anulia's beaming smile separated full and wide lips as Rose gave a giggle to her and said it was nothing to worry on. Spiraled curls of her culture had been wrapped within a thin line of cotton material, hiding part of her hair from view as the wrap flowed down towards her hips and swung each time she walked. Another round of drinks were placed on the counter and Anulia was heading right for them. Each time the door opened, Rose was there to offer a smile from wherever she was within the room and greet the person coming in. Tonight..was no different. Anulia, had not needed to turn to feel him...it simply was there, making her pause in her reach for the tray and look over a scarred shoulder once more to see him. Maahes..

General Maahes-The General who never dressed like one, seemed to somehow pull his image together. Velvets and hand spun silks were replaced with linens and well worn cotton. Outside the dark flesh of a sun-stained skin, Maahes kept with the natural earth tones from the basic beige to the darkest of brown. More often then not his tunic was void of sleeves, tattered around the edges and in dire need of mending, but to this men it was about the freedom. The more that kept your encased the less you could return. A thick strap crossed over his chest, keeping the leather straps of a hostler together. Across his spine rest the blade of his ancestors; top heavy and curved the sword was a perfect swing for a sudden death, but it would rarely be needed. Unlike many the tip of the blade rest against his shoulder while the hilt sat in the dip of his back. When released the pull of gravity would be used to send the pendulum swinging. As he pressed further into the room, the eyes of ever patron were met and slowly they were learning to quickly deflect their eyes elsewhere. However, their would always be one. Anulia's open gaze was caught within his own and of course dark eyes only narrowed. Yet, there would be no silent threat that would leave his stare, just a simple understanding. If you are going to stare I'm not going to like it. Simple right? But was anything truly that easy? As he passed her his eyes would not leave her slender form until he would move past. No, there would be no dark corner to hide in, no slinking to the back table for this one; Maahes took his seat against the bar and would scan the menu. It was often he drank, but after the past few nights he was willing to make an exception.

Anulia of Amora-Where others looked away, Anulia did not. It was not that she wanted to be rude, but the concept of the action being such when she was doing it in good favor, seemed lost on her. If someone had but told her that looking made others uncomfortable, she would reframed herself from doing so as often as she did. She simply looked to those that made her mind in the slight bit of awe. Aman-ud-Din did it, some times Odis made her do the same, so this male...would certainly get a reaction quite similar if not more due to the likeness of skin tones and hair. While other women may have swooned over him in the matter of mating, Anulia looked to him as either a enemy, to be feared and someone who could and would truly hurt her or a protector, to save her from those that meant her harm. It was rare, that someone was in the middle with her thoughts. That womanly figure moved to turn only slightly as he moved past her, making the ground shake, with every heavy booted step he took until he was just at the end of the bar she was moving from. Only when Anulia bumped into a table, did she realize she had been moving as well. Luckily, her fingers clamped down on the tray and no drink was lost. Quickly, chocolate eyes moved from him to head back towards those that were in need of their drink and gave them each mug separately before heading away and back towards the bar where...it seemed he took a seat at. Anulia looked towards the dark haired male tender as he approached Maahes and asked what he would like to drink. The male was young and while he seemed hesitant, he was trying to not judge a giant. Anulia took in the attire of Maahes, knowing it looked similar to something else, but her mind was lost and blank in other things. Only then, did she realize this male did not want to be bothered and left him be to go about her work. Only giving a glance here or there, she went to take other orders. Foods, breads, drinks..it was always great demand. More so with her sweet breads. Still, she was but a few feet away from Maahes, seeing the weapon so differently placed along his back.

Bump. The simple gesture would catch the dark sinister eyes of a passing rouge. The solid green eyes of the patron passed over the woman as if seeking further then just her clothes. The men at his side drunkenly laughing and calling out to others in the smaller room. They were a rough and rowdy bunch, but in the middle would be their calm. The man went by the name Gin, his hair the darkest of black and stick straight hanging like silk over his shoulders. His features were elongated as most villains were and his chin came together in a defiant point. His lips were pale as well his flesh, but the rich reds of his attire only made them stand out even more. One of the men noticed their captains attention drawn away from their little victory party, and would follow the direction of the man's eye.

"Oh, look, Capin' got his eye on a darkie."

The man's voice was like bubbling stew weeks old as it was stale and teeth were rotting away. The men around the man sneered with bits of laughter until a well polished slender hand rose to silence them with one motion. Suddenly they stilled, the hungry look of a fight filling their eyes.

General Maahes-He had just about had enough of this woman, but for now would let the fight subside. However, there would always be that bit of fire that could never be released. When the rage would subside truly Maahes was a gentle soul. As often men did they fed from their eyes, and Maahes would motion to the man down a few from him with a plate of roast and that would be enough to send the tender on his way. Great manners huh? He would pick up on her little glances and with the last one would part his lips only to speak in a richly accented tone. "Maahes." The sound was much like the thunder passing in the hills, deep and rattling his chest. He had waited for her to come close enough where her ears were the only to catch it, and he would keep his head low.

Anulia of Amora-Nights with such gestures and comments had only come one in a while. Anulia was different. Sometimes that difference scared people or made them fear what could come of it, others found it alluring and found it temptation to their good morals if any were to be had. Anulia, was different in every way compard to those upon the island. Only recently, were there others that held skin in darker tones of reds and browns. As Rose had taught her to do, she ignored what others said about her or to her if it was something that made her feel uncomfortable. Anulia was truly a kind soul without a bit of violence in her until it came time to lash out like a wild animal. Such was the case with the Lord Marshal only a few months prior. Rose, had been tending the males that seemed excited beyond reasons others could understand and as a older lady, many did not bother her in such fashion. Anulia had gotten the orders and was moving for the back area to place them with the cook when she gave pause to that voice, so masculine that it could not be ignored. Anulia would not even try to do so, for one word..made her pause and look as she was almost to the door. His name..repeated but this time from his own mouth. "Maahes.." she repeated softly before giving a soft smile towards him. " Anulia.." was her answer after she had repeated his name and moved on to give the orders before lingering in the back for a short while. As she moved towards the front a large plate of roast was handed to her and she was told to give it to the tender up front. The moment she walked out, the brown haired teenager gave her a nod towards Maahes since he had a customer already. Moving towards him with more confident steps, she eased until she was right next to him, holding it up as if offering some great feast when it was not but a plate of food to cover it. The smell of the roast lingered with the steam that came from it. Roasted potatoes cut in large mouthfuls would be piled on the side along with some for of thick broth or gravy that only added to the aroma it gave. "Yours yes?"

General Maahes-It had been almost an entire day since his last meal so he was very pleased. Maahes had slept through the festivities by will or by drug he was still not sure; never would he put it past Tommy to make him sleep through such political gatherings. The Egyptian would insist on going for her protection and end up severing any ties that could possibly be crossed. The right amount of coin would be placed in the til and he'd pass dark eyes back towards the woman with a nod.

The dark man would rise from his steps and move in the direction of the bar, placing that scaly slender hand over the flat surface. "I'll turn on the floor with the lady." He spoke to the younger boy with a half boy-thingyed grin. His vulgar eyes peering at her and the fitting curves images passing what would be beneath. "and I hear it's not polite to turn a man down around here."

Anulia of Amora-The plate was placed down before him and she moved away, seeing no reason to linger on it. The coins were swiped from the bar counter, letting her feel the texture of wood and then gold and silver until she was able to place them in the small pocket of her skirts, hidden away from the view of eyes. Anulia was proud of herself and of the male, seeing that there seemed to be no more threatening or hostility towards her now. No sooner did she turn around, then did the male come forward and ask to dance. " I beg your forgiveness, but I am to do my duties...I can not dance and I do not know the way of your people." What lust passed in his eyes were missed as Anulia smiled softly and went to move around him only to feel a hand grab her wrist. She could feel the heat of the and the roughness of his skin against her smooth scars. Her scars, were her weakness and normally she could handle people grabbing her as such, but something about the man's tone and how he asked that question to her..made her pause and hestiate in her normal kindness." I beg your forgiveness...was there something else I could get for you?" she inquired, asking once more because it was possible she forgot something.

"How did you get these little puppet?" He'd run a thumb over the surface of those scars that were held so tightly under his arm, and it did not take long for him to feel the burn of eyes against his back, but this was often the largest mistake. None would find the care to turn and look; just simply brush the feeling away. "Women of your..color, darkie, are slaves." He'd run his tongue over his bottom lip as if already tasting her own, but as the light suddenly was removed from his path he felt the shadow draw over him. The hot rush of an exhale smoothed into a low growl, and the man would slowly release the woman's hand when the sound of booted feet stopped behind him.

General Maahes-"Answer her question first." His voice drug through the air like a blade over stone scraping along the depths of his rich accent. Maahes's words often ran together and rolled with the forming of vowels, but through clenched teeth his meaing could not be missed. The man's face would be met with a stone solid chest and he would have to cant his head back to stare the beast in the eye. Maahes was as far against the man as he could be without their bodies touching. His hot breath ran the length of the man's neck and chilled his spine.

The man's men grew silent as they stood from their seats, ready and waiting to jump in if needed. "I..have no further use of her no." Speaking about Anulia as if she were a tool that could easily be tossed aside. Perhaps the man was a fool, but he would be a brave one at that, turning his back to the General he would never know how close to death he had truly came. A signal of his hand would pull his men like dogs to return to his side and out into the night they would venture..only to wait.

General Maahes-The meal had been forgotten and so to his appetite as the Muslim stood there against the bar. People would never understand what different, but it would be Maahes who could not understand the truth behind people. All eyes were again turned to him, and he would give one look around the room before retreating his gaze back to Anulia, and in a quiet voice his lips would part, "do not walk the streets alone." Call it a hunch, but that feeling was never wrong.

Anulia of Amora-Chocolate colored eyes went wide as he noticed her scars. Had he been a man of fair hair, large height with armor dressing his form and a hat that held the horns of demons, Anulia would have screamed and ran for her life out of the tavern and into the night to never be heard from again. The demon men, scared her beyond anything else in her dreams. Few, looked like them here, but were not them. The man's question made Anulia shake as she felt his rough fingers along her skin. Her eyes could truly not get any more wide then they were as she felt like a fish out of water. Slave? No...he knows. "Anilia....free." she whispered as her mind returned to the more primative speech pattern it had once been. Her whispered words were just that and seemed to be lost as the light of the tavern darkened and the air seemed to grow in a odd manner. Anulia's eyes lifted and saw the giant not but a few inches from them. Had he come to save her? When he spoke, his voice always seemed to make Anulia shiver all the more at the dominance in it. She was not use to such a voice, being around men that held a lighter husky and accent filled one that soothed her. This made her blood move faster and her body feel chaotic. In a way..Maahes made Anulia uncomfortable, but it was because he was different and yet the same from what she knew. The moment her wrist was released, she moved a step back, wanting more space in case she needed to run. Eyes darted from Maahes to the unknown male as he seemed to leave. His comment and tone..was unknown and passed off from Anulia's mind as she turned her eyes up to Maahes, making her tilt her head back. " I...I have no way to call on my escort.." if she had, she would have asked Aman-ud-Din to come to her as fast as a candle could be lit. " I live in the castle, a few blocks from here. Why...should I not walk home alone? I do so..every night."

General Maahes-Oh, how women were fools when it came to their own safety. Many moved in patterns, every night the same, and then in turn would pick up on another's. If she moved down the same streets day in and day out, and eyes would catch her alone over time they would work out her own pattern. It was a simple game of strategy, the streets becoming a map and Anulia the treasure. What a treasure she would be. There would be only silence to pass over him as the woman spoke and he would place a bet within himself. 5 silver that he would sit the night through until her shift was over and return her safely to the castle.

[Anulia of Amora]

Anulia did understand danger, but she had been here for some time and was started to grow comfortable in her environment. Before, she had been protected and no one would have hurt her because of what she meant to the tribe, here she was simply a face of different color, different culture and many found that interesting to a point that was beyond morals. Anulia did not truly want to be foolish, but the fact was fact. She had no one to ask, for the cook would be staying at the tavern as he always did and there was no other male she knew within the tavern itself. Rose could not walk her, she was a older woman, so it left Anulia to sigh and turn around for a moment before she paused. "Thank you for the suggestion and for coming to aid. Hopefully someone will come to that I know before my duty comes to a end for the night. Please..enjoy your meal. It grows cold in your absence. Turning from him, she went about her duties, heading for the kitchen to finish cooking her sweet breads so she could serve them and gather the extra coin for the night.

She did not truly need the coin, but it was nice to have and spend on Tahirah and herself when they would head to the market. Anulia adored the child as if she were her own and wanted to give her all the pretty things she wanted and was use to from her homeland of Pern. The bread was sliced and Anulia moved back out to begin passing it to those that wished to pay a coin for some, making what extra she could until the bread was gone. An hour had gone by and Anulia's time had come to a end. She had cleaned off the tops of the tables that were empty and refilled more mugs so that none would be empty as she moved to the back to collect her coin for the night from Rose and undid the servant apron upon her dress. The wrapping about her head and hair was undone, leaving the spirals of chocolate and onyx free to trail down over her shoulders as if reaching for her curved hips in a gentle embrace. A soft sigh left full lips as she walked back out the door, pressing a small hand to push the wood from her way before pausing and seeing Maahes was still present and at the bar. Chocolate eyes stayed on his own amber ones as she moved forward, wondering if he had elsewhere to go.

The reality was, that Anulia did not know this man at all. The thoughts had crossed her mind more and more as time went on and while he looked as she did, that did not make him a good man. Anulia did not wish to judge people, but events that happened in the past few months. For a moment, she hesitated and then she simply asked. Maahes had come to her defense when he did not have to, that said something about his sense of honor yes? It was a conflicted choice to ask, but Anulia had to trust someone at this moment, even if only a small bit. It was either that, or face what ever could be waiting from Maahes' words, outside for her to come. That lower, full lip was pulled between her teeth before she spoke to Maahes. " I know...I do not know you very well, but you did ...I am not sure what the word is for what you did, but it must mean you have some honor in you." She paused, but her chocolate eyes never left his amber ones. ""I am sorry, my words, are not the best at times because I am still learning. I do not want to seem as if I trust everyone and you are a stranger, but for some reason, I would feel better and be grateful if you walked me home. If it is not out of the way you may be going. I do not wish to take up your time, but you would not have said that to me without reason yes?Anulia did not understand things at times, but she was not unintelligent, simply uneducated in these lands. If she was in her own, she would be held in high re-guard for her knowledge. She waited with patience as she looked to those eyes. A nod, a word of yes or no. Hoping he would say yes.

[Lord General Maahes Asad-Aziem]

She was so quick at first with her refusal, and perhaps it would be something by now he should be used to. The women of these lands used their politics with polite smiles and warm words, while as back home most of them used poison tipped blades and frank gestures; barbarians really these warriors of Avaria. Though in truth he preferred them that way. Spoken in turns and ready to ward off any danger tossed their way, it would be written in history.

Yet his time in Tarus Lan reminded him of his travels through the docking bay’s of Italy where he had made his escape. The structured towns were on a perfect grid, rows and rows of homes, filled with shops, and littered with taverns. Avaria was in ruins compared to the clean pristine city of this Isle. Perhaps given time he could easily make a home here, but for the present The Beast preferred the rocky mountainside city of the Avarian Isle.

Throughout the night he had kept his senses fixed on his surroundings until the mixture of body odder and ale started to cause his stomach to turn, and he would be forced to retreat into his own mind. He could hear their laughter; listen in on little conversations of distant travels and the victory of a civil war. For that he was thankful, no matter the difference between he and the people of Skye, they would have one thing in common. They could drink to another night’s energy spent alive, as they were the same with all survivors.

Time had slipped by with only a single breath it seemed, as the hour grew later and later. Perhaps he had not meant to remain, but there was a calling to protect that ran deep inside the beating drums that made up his heart, like that of an African tribe. Free and wild it sounded under solid stone, pumping the thick powerful bloodline of his forefathers to heat his flesh. Yet, as her voice soothed over the air like a gentle song, he would be brought back to reality and that animalistic heart would still.

Maahes did not rise from his thoughts; his head still bent listening to the tail end of a man’s story of a land he had never heard of. Curious cat this beast was, and someday he would let it get the best of him. As her voice drifted into the window of his thoughts he’d catch her little comment and struggle for words.

No, she did not know him very well, nor did she expect him to walk her, but what she may have gathered was that his statement earlier was not an offer. Did she really think he would have stuck around in this stinky pit at tavern’s edge for this long? No, the warlord had a handful of men waiting his return and a son to beat. This was Galen’s third time following the Egyptian and he was more then ready to make it his last.

“You are going to win wars, and I’m going to be right behind you.” Galen’s bright blue eyes peered up to the man, and with Maahes frown he knew the Beast had no means of an argument. It would be that push to keep fighting, he would return Galen to safety. That was the rules right?


So there would not be a simple yes, that was not his style, but as the Beast turned to face her he would run tired eyes over her face searching for perhaps an answer he already knew the answer to.

“I do not like to spend too much time here.” Meaning the tavern, and that was his way of saying, ‘Ive been waiting.’ The men were waiting outside, he knew by each weary eye that passed to their partner as they moved into the tavern. They had seen the dark men lingering in the alley, and whispered their prayers for the coming victim. If she would carry any bags he would take them, and don’t blame that one on kindness..thats all Tommy’s doing. She was hell bent on carving him into some kind of Gentleman.

[Anulia of Amora]

Anulia knew she was a odd woman to many, for she asked questions that no one else seemed to and she normally had a beaming smile upon her face that others did not understand. Of course, she was not a chipper happy as others, but she refused to let what happened to her and her people make her hate life and those that she might meet. It was a poison of the mind to think that way and Anulia would not survive such a way of living. Some said she was stronger for being as she was then those that lived in the darkness of their mind. In reality she was so use to the golden cage she had once been in, content and happy as everything she needed to live was given to her along with advancement in her own people's culture to become their Priestess, that she learned to be content with the simplest of things here in these lands. If she only had a few straps of material to cover her body from the eyes of others, she would wear them and be fine, but it was told to her that it was inappropriate. So many things she had known, were inappropriate that in a sense, she was no longer herself and yet, she was at the same time. Only when she looked to this male, did she realize that she was different. She had become trained in a sense to try and blend in, but the changes made to ones manner and speech did not change how one looked or felt inside. She did not act like a savage, at least not in the public eye. While in her own room and alone, she acted very much on her whim and tried to hold nothing back so she could keep her customs alive.

Many nights she would dress in the small bit of cloth from her homelands, covering only that which made man and woman different and leaving her mocha colored skin fully exposed everywhere else to the night air while walking about her room full of trees, plants and flowers. The jungles. While it was not her birthplace, it was the only place she knew. Thoughts of her homeland were fading gently in the back of her mind, only being re-birthed when she looked upon a fruit or plant that she had once known from her home or....this man. Inside, she wondered if that was why she stared at him or what made her drawn to him. Searching into the forgotten past was not easy for Anulia and she was trying so hard to place things. Questions would need to be asked, but he did not seem like a very talkative male. Even now, his words were short and to the point, making her feel as if he truly did not like the action known as conversation. She would not hold it against him, for she had no idea what events happened in his life that made him who he was as he stood before her. His words, brought her from her mind though she had never allowed her eyes to leave his. " I am sorry to here such, but I understand that it is not as you might be use to and I thank you. I am grateful for you being here tonight not once, but twice now." A beaming smile was given to show she truly meant her thanks to him. Words were softly spoken before she awaited for him to rise so they could head out the door together. Her softer steps, with his powerful ones marking out his path behind her. Such a great height difference that she truly looked smaller then she was. At 5'5, he was more then a foot her size and truly towered over her while she had more tissue beyond the flesh as was accustom for women to have when it came to the difference between men and women. Rose gave Anulia a brow perk as if silently questioning who the male was, but either she trusted Anulia's judgement or knew somewhere inside that she more then likely could not stop the man from following her.

The night air was as it had been for the past few nights, cool and yet holding a warmth that did not need a cloak about someone's form to keep them comfortable to it's touch. The moon held almost a complete circle for it's form in the onyx colored sky while stars sparkled about it, as if making some silent music one could see but not hear. A soft inhale could be heard from her, making her chest swell slightly as she took in the night air's scent and waited for him to shut the door and move on. Anulia might have been shorter, but she kept up, matching his pace instead of making him struggle to match her own. Silence passed between them and she was truly fine with it. It allowed her to listen to the activities of the city at night. the sound of horse shoes upon the hard dirt as they passed by, giving their scent to the air as well. Fur and hair unlike her own. She had never rode a horse before and more then likely never would, for she had no need to. People's soft and loud conversations filled the street of the sound of those closing up their carts for the night came out and into the air around them. It was only when they got past the corner that life seemed to slow down more for only a few were wandering around in search of doing their final duties for the night before heading home. Lanterns had already been lit along their path, sending a dim glow on the ground and along the sides of the buildings. Buildings were still a new and amazing thing to Anulia, for she never had such like these of stone and brick.

The question came to her mind as a slender and small hand reached up to push back the wild spirals of her hair from her face. " Maahes..you are not...from these lands yes? May I ask where you are from? What is...it like there? I...I can not help but stare at you at times...because I believed you were from the same place I was and I tried to place your face, but a friend told me I could be wrong. Why....is it that we look alike in skin tone and features, but you are not from the place I once called home?" Anulia did not know if he was truly from her homelands or not, she did not even know if he had the answers, but inside her own mind she was not getting any so why not ask another? As they walked on, Anulia stayed by his side, wanting to reach out to hold his hand out of habit, but not sure he would find that to his liking. Hands laced in front of her as she moved with that confidence and female sway due to the hour glass figure she held, not trying to seduce or lure men, but simply being graceful in life. how little people knew. She was stronger then she lead on with a past she could not uncover alone. So much was becoming lost in time.

[Anulia of Amora]

General Maahes- Her humble thank you was well kept in his thoughts, though he found no reason why he could not have waited. "I am not of these lands, I'm from Avaria." His words were drawn together like a low grumble of thunder, rich and full of his accent, though the tone not belonging to the rest. "but I was not born there." His eyes darkened as they tried to return to those crossroads of destiny and all he ever knew. The hot sands burned into his soul, and with the unforgiving sun of the baron wasteland how could he deny his history. It was not shame that caused him to fumble through the right answer, but just the remorse of lost memories. "I had lost count of the days that came and gone with the ships journey. I could not tell you how far, but.." Anulia was being given the longest set of a single session of his words any had been granted. She was the first to have ever been brave enough to ask, but perhaps her lack of understanding was what pressed her in. Most of Avaria had assumed it somewhere in the Middle East having just returned from the wars there. Tommasina who had helped with his escape perhaps could have shared his secrets, and most just left it at that. "Hot sands as far as the eye can see, in all directions, there are no rules or laws. Stone structures carved from the backs of slaves, that were once my people..before Christ was born." He had pulled ahead of with his long strides, but slowed as the clouds swept the sky and removed the moon. It would not be until he broke from the images that flashed before his eyes, did he turn to face her; stopping dead in his tracks. "It was not my home." Such a raw side now on display, and honest truth passing over his face. There was no greater love then of this man for the lands he swore to protect. It rippled over him and burned inside his chest with those beating drums.

Anulia of Amora- Anilia's own voice was soft yet she was no weak woman in her mind. When that rich, thunder of a voice came out and Maahes started to speak on where he was from, the name was not familiar to her. Many were not familiar to her here in these lands though. The small bit of breeze in the night air allowed her to inhale his scent and perhaps him with her own, a mingle of wild flowers and not dough from the sweet breads she had been making all night long to gain extra coin. The more Maahes spoke, the less of a beast he seemed to her as she listened to him. Eyes drifted to the darker corners of the streets for a moment before her mind nagged at her, trying to place things she could not remember. The same thing happened when Tahirah and Aman-ud-Din spoke of their home. It was a place of sand as far as the eye could see that was hot to the touch. All she could see where the jungles, but why did the press of something she knew and forgot always come to her. Before Christ. Anulia was still learning of this...saint was it? It was all so new to her and while she was settling into understanding she still felt conflicted when some rules of God seemed to not make sense of counter another. Slaves...that word. It meant nothing good as far as she was concerned. Would that have been what the Demon men would have done to her people? Make them build things like this? As he slowed, she did the same, taking smaller steps then she had been to keep up with him. Why did this man seem familiar to her? Why did these words and talks of a home she had never known seem to play and place images in her mind that were vivid? Was her imagination as good as Tahirah's, or was a piece of her puzzle missing? When he stopped and turned to her, she paused dead in her own tracks, casting her head back and her chin tilted upwards to look upon his face, so full of something that it made her heart speed up and then feel as if it were splitting inside her chest. She had seen this face before...on many different people. The people she thought were her own with the darker skin, they all held this face at one point or another while on the boat. Some died with their face stuck in such a look that to look down and see them rotting on the floor made other's cry. Anulia felt her breath shorten before she swallowed hard." No..as.this is not my home...nor was the place before it. But it is all we have known...is it not? Do you....are you..happy in Avaria. Does that home treat you as a living thing and not a slave? Do people stare at you because of your skin there or do they accept you? I...I am sorry that your people have suffered...those that started the journey here with me were not my people but they protected me and accepted me among them. " Eyes left his own and looked down. "I am sorry for staring at you like I did. I realize now that may have offended, but I am alone here when it comes to those that are called ' my people' and you are the first I have ever seen to hold the same features as me."

General Maahes- "I did not know my people, their lives were lived long before my own." As swiftly as he had let go, the man hardened just as quickly. Returning to the streets the rest of his history would have to wait, but to answer her question the people of Avaria looked upon him like a hero. Their lives could be lived because he and his comrades fought that war that split the nation. At first mother's would clutch their children and whisper their little gasps to one but now the Egyptian was just part of the team. Maahes was never a slave, he had the freedom to escape whenever he wished but he was held by the captivities of his own mind. It was what felt right, what he knew, and so there would be what Tommy made him run from. She had won his freedom with talk of another land, but both of their fates would be sealed as their travels came to a small halt. However, that was a story that would need to wait. His body came to stop once again, but this reason was not to prove a point. No he could hear their steps, these boots over stone; the sounds of blades being released. Hands flew out to make their fatal mistake and bore down heavily on his skin. One man pressed back the Beast's shoulder to wrap a strong strap of leather around his neck. This would be his attempt to take the man down as he then bore his weight back to capture the General's breath. Maahes's dark eyes watched as greedy hands came to reach for the body of Anulia. The same dark figure from before, surrounded by a league of devoted fools.

Anulia of Amora- Anulia did not remember or know her true people either and at this point, she never would. She had no idea where she ever came from the last time, where her jungles rested or where she had been before then. Now..was all that mattered to the lost savage. "I do not remember those I came from. I can not remember, nor do I think I have ever seen my mother's face." she spoke quietly, never having told a soul that. Even in the tribe, she did not speak of such things, for they would not understand. Everyone was mother...everyone was father. As a whole they survived and raised the children. When Maahes moved again, Anulia picked up her skirts and moved forward, silencing herself because of how he had become and ready to allow the rest of the walk to be only their breaths and steps. When he paused again, Anulia expected him to turn around and say something to her, so her chocolate colored eyes were on his form, watching how his bare arms tensed in the shadows of the night, making muscles flex under the skin before they rose to his side profile, wondering what was wrong. Being within the jungles, she was not use to the noises of the streets so things like foot steps were ignored and brushed aside. It was how, she was not as alert as he was, yet she did not speak. She remembered the warriors of her tribe telling her silence was needed on a hunt or when things were not easy to hear. Suddenly, she saw the flash of hands and a man move what looked to be dark rope around Maahes throat as he pressed into him, trying to bring the giant down. NO! Too familiar....too real and fast. This time..she would not stand and watch, she moved forward to reach for the rope as well and try to stop it from choking Maahes, but thick arms wrapped around her slender waist and lifted her high up from the ground, making her kick out in a attempt to throw her weight back and hopefully knock them over as a sweaty and rank smelling hand sealed itself over her lips. Anulia was no fighter, not even in the least, but human nature made her struggle with everything she had, throwing her smaller weight around, using the ground to bounce up and down with it possible. Not again! Please God no!

General Maahes- Perhaps he had expected her to be aware of her surroundings, to know what was right and what was wrong..to understand not everyone was pure in the inside, but Maahes was in for a quick awakening. As with every good villain the man would wait to watch as his men brought defeat. This was his vendetta to the General who had done worse then any physical pain. Maahes had embarrassed the man, and bruised his pride, now he would live in the victory as the man's skin started to turn blue. bytch please. To think that this would be Maahes's end was a fool's hope, and perhaps the dark man should have done a little research. Yet, Ale and the hormones of a lonely old captain could easily cloud his mind. Large hands were brought to capture that of what he could reach of the strap. Like a wild bull Maahes bucked the man with a tug of the leather and a roll of his shoulders. Another would come to the tossed man's aid and one more would start in with that of a sword well rusted on the edges. Within that same instance would they no longer be in the presence of a man, but in many ways a machine. Maahes switched from one extreme to the other his eyes darkening and loosing focus as they were no longer needed. This had been his life, while others had toys Maahes had swords, while children had loving mother's Maahes had only that of a reprimanding Overlord and his need for the perfect army. The smooth flat surface of his palm came to slide down the length of the man's slash, missing the danger of the blade and soon swallowing the man's wrist. Twist, a single turn would cause the man's arm to follow through until the socket would no longer be necessary. "Kill him!" The dark man's voice boomed with surprise as he stood in shock against the streets, and realized his men were doing the very same. Relieved then of his sword, the man who had started would be against the ground crying out for an arm that he would never use again.

Anulia of Amora- Anulia closed her eyes as the smell of the man's thick palm made her gag. His fingers were pure power as they pressed into her cheek, pushing flesh and muscle to bone so hard she knew it would bruise. Still she struggled, but only when she heard the other noises around them, did she open her chocolate hues to see Maahes was more then able to handle himself. She should not doubt him, but those that had sworn to protect her had failed before and while she would never hold that against them, it was the truth of things. Brave was not a word that Anulia knew, for she never had moments to test her on such and had hoped she never would. Hands moved up and grasped that larger one around her mouth, trying to pry it off for some sense of freedom though she knew no words she could scream would make a difference. The man pressed harder and Anulia found more animal instincts took over as she did the opposite and pressed his palm flatter to her mouth, pulling full lips apart as best as she could between the flesh so strong teeth could clamp down over his skin, harder and harder. She even pressed into her own lip, biting through it to get to him. Kill him?! NO! It was not fair. Maahes should not suffer for this. She did not know him and that made guilt surge into her all the more. The male holding her cried out and moved his hand from her mouth to shake it while keeping her tightly against his form. Her face twisted in grief as she struggled only to pause when Maahes seemed...no longer in need of help. It was the first time since being grabbed that even she stood perfectly still and looked up in awe at him.

General Maahes- Perhaps he had expected her to fight back, or perhaps it was just habit but the blade in his hands would be passed in her direction. This would have been all the women of Avaria would need. However it could perhaps be lost, but the attempt was made. They circled him then like wolves each holding their swords like they would hold their own coke, the grip tight but loosely in an attempt to better their chances. Each man would eye Maahes's now empty hands and the pack would sneer. Had they just won? Would this man really give up that easy? However perhaps if they would have kept quiet enough to learn more of this man's past they would understand. A man's last defense was his hands, the bare solid strength of a closed fist would be the last of many men. Yet, Maahes was out numbered so while he kept their gaze fixed within his own, one hand would slowly move to the small of his back and unclasp that of his own blade. Against his shoulder blade the scimitar's heavy tip was held, upside down to most standards but the downfall was key. Gravity would often be the next in line of a man's first defense, and gravity would unleash the flash of a blade and seal the deal on many fates.

Anulia of Amora- Did he just toss a blade to her? Anulia had no idea why and had missed to reach for her. While she had never learned of such weapons, she knew that his reason was so she could defend herself, but she had no idea how to use it..not having been shown. It went sliding along the hard dirt and cobblestone, making a screeching noise as it went before coming to a halt not be a few feet from her. She panicked, seeing her only defense laying too far to reach now and went wild once more within the male's hands, kicking out and grunting to use all her weight. A hand and arm flexed to reach behind her, digging claws into any part of his face she could find and scraping them down, making him curse and release her. Anulia had never moved so fast in her life as she did in that shuffle to get to the blade. Her hands were clumsy and she truly had no real idea how to hold it. Still, she found some common sense to help as she wrapped small fingers around the handle with a tight and firm grasp. Quickly she spun around, some ways away from Maahes and those that surrounded him. The angry male that started this was coming for her, even as she held the blade out in front of her. One could see she was no skilled warrior and when he moved close, she simply started swinging wildly, making him laugh and take heed.

General Maahes- Blood and sweat pored over his face as he had caught a small graze of one who out ranked the rest. A dislodged head soon tumbled within his reach as the blade came to it's still, until released into another fit of slashes. Maahes had caught sight of the woman and a smirk laced his face until worry overtook him. A mental note was taken that he would need to correct her stance...grip..swing..ok everything. One after one the men came at him like a pack of hungry wolves. They tore into him just as hard as he tore back, but this was like a contest between a small stream against a mighty ocean. Seeing there would not be an easy defeat, perhaps it was the ale that ran thick in their blood that kept them fighting, but soon their bodies would find the ground and now the General turned like a slow storm on the horizon to the dueling pair. Anulia was giving him hell, and this man would dare laugh. No matter how pathetic her attempt was, he was playing right into Maahes's trap. A distraction was needed, and this little jungle beauty was playing her part perfect. From the moment he had laid eyes on the dark man he knew he was a skilled swordsman. The way the man carried himself, the way his shoulders were square with his body, and the way his eyes were quick to dart from one motion to the next could speak volumes on his technique. Yet, he had played right into this warlord's tactics. The man would draw the sword from Anulia's hand and sneer as he would raise it to come down against her. He wanted this woman, wanted her so none could have her, perhaps it was a sickness of his own, but if he could not have her none would. So up his arm would go the blade tipped in her direction aiming for her heart.

Anulia of Amora- It was a very chaotic scene for Anulia, never having been in war and anytime she was involved in death or punishment of this kind was when her and the tribe to called her own was captured by the Vikings. Chocolate eyes darted towards Maahes, unsure what to do and then back to the male who laughed at her. Why was he laughing? Was the man sick within his mind or crazed of some kind. Anulia's face showed every bit of fear she had. She did not want to become a slave of any kind again. She would rather die first. She could feel tears of fear in her eyes and when he came forward, she swung wildly once more with all her might. Up, down,.right,left. Any way she could and as fast as she could but the blade was heavy and it took it's own direction, hard to change it once it went on and moved out with a swipe. It left her open and the male was able to grab her wrist and the blade before she could get the strength to bring it back around. Anulia gasped and gritted her teeth together in a snarl that was more animal then woman. NO! It did not matter how angry she was, he was stronger, faster and knew how to move the blade as she did not. In the blink of an eye, she saw the blade now in his control, obeying it's master as it dove down for her. Out of reaction, she went down, letting her body fall to go in the only direction away from the blade she could.

General Maahes- Anulia would find no need to dive away as the man's body tensed with the touch of a heavy hand. Like a snake curling around it's prey so did Maahes's arm curl around his neck. Thick solid biceps tightened to suffocate the air and cause a distraction for his free hand. Soon the palm of his hand cupped the man's chin and with one solid snap the dark man's life was no more. The sound echoed into the night, and would likely be one Anulia would never forget. For years it will haunt as it had done so many, but this coward who used other men to win his prize deserved no less. The body fell away with the back of his head bent against his chest and the flesh boiling to a deep purple. A savage barbarian killed like that, but that was everything Maahes was made up. His roots ran deep with destruction and his heritage was built on cruelty and power. So when he would stand there body heaving with fresh feel of the battle, how many times had he reminded others of those gods that existed only in books. His chest rose and fell heavily as now he stood in a small pool of blood belonging to the men that lay at his feet. Maybe he should have just won her freedom and ran; that death was not the answer. However they had tempted their fates and brought truth to his nickname; Beast.

Anulia of Amora- Already on her way to the ground, she did not stop her destination and landed with a solid 'oof' to the ground while eyes watched as Maahes was born of the darkness around the other male and used his strength to over power, then life slipped away faster then it could ever be given. How easy it was to take something that meant so much to the person who owned it. Chocolate eyes stayed on Maahes as the man fell and she quickly got to her feet, looking down at the lifeless bodies around them. How did it happen so fast? How did things end up like this..and was she now to blame for this carnage? If she had not asked Maahes...he would be safe some where else, though he seemed alive and well in front of her. Anulia knew without him, she would not have survived. Her heart was pounding so loudly she could hear it within her larger chest that she heard it within the depth of her hears and head. She could see him breathing hard, his chest rising and falling as his body tried to get back what he had lost in fast actions, or perhaps it was the thrill of it. She could not miss how good he was at killing, but she could not bring herself to fear someone who just saved their lives. Chocolate eyes looked over him carefully, now ignoring the dead men around them as she moved closer. Anulia once more allowed instincts to take over as she reached up to his face and pressed a palm to cup his cheek with care as she stepped forward. Eyes looking to the blood that came from under and above his eye."I am so sorry....I caused this. " the concern for him could not be hidden on her face as the glow of the street lanterns showed it. Anulia was a kind soul and she knew gratitude and when it should be given.

General Maahes- His burning flesh stilled and froze at the touch of her hand, like a sickness that ran his body his skin crawled with chills. How quick he would be to pull his face away and return her concern. "I have had worse." Compared to most this was just a scratch and would be gone within a matter of days. Maahes has been run through the ringer, his latest three arrow blades bedded well into his back while still carrying his partner-in-crime across the battle field. The witch that traveled with them would find this one easy as her healing hands would work their magic. Having pulled his face away he replaced her hand against the palm of his own to lower it. Cupping the back of her hand he curled his fingers around it as it fell and for a moment said nothing as he let her hand go. "The one who deserves the blame is that of those who raised you." His words ran together with the heavy thick accent of his homelands. "All should know how to defend." He bore his heavy stare into hers, as if lost as to why she had never at least been taught to hold a blade, or ball her own fists.

Anulia of Amora- When his face was pulled away, Anulia would not pursue it, for some people did not like to be touched and Odis' words moved into her head. She needed to remember these things, but such was a hard habit to break. Anulia's eyes went his larger hand as fingers curled over her smaller ones, allowing her to feel his warm and hardness all at once. Those hands...how many lives had they claimed? Was it all done with honor? She wondered before her chocolate eyes moved towards his amber ones as he spoke of who was to blame here. Did she disagree? No. Only recently did she understand she had been held in a cage of gold like some of the birds she had seen in the markets. They were fed, given soft words to coo them and treated so well that the bars meat little to them. His stare was taken by her own still shocked face at what all had happened. For the first time..she felt..hot. Too hot, like her body had been standing next to a fire for too long. "I can not take back the past....only move forward.." she was not angry with his words...just the truth. They were too blame and while they lay dying, she could do nothing but watch like a child. Full lips pressed firmly against each other before she inhaled softly and let it out to release that heat of anger at those who were now dead. "La ref" spoken in Arabic because she was not sure if admitting it to him or not was a good thing, so it was best to not say it in a tongue he could understand. "It was not my place to defend."

General Maahes- "La taqlaq, sabahan.." His voice stretched into the deep tones as he returned his voice to the nationality he knew and understood well. Often he had forgotten that language even existed. Few had heard him speak it, as it only came forward when he was tired or beyond anger. "I will teach you." For now the night had come to a close as the sun would be on the rise soon. She would need to be calmed as he, and perhaps the rest of the walk within the nights cool air would do them both good.

Anulia of Amora- Aman-ud-Din had been trying to teach her how to defend her, but the first time, a male like those that had captured her, had come to the area they wanted to train in and startled her. Then Aman-ud-Din had to go to war, so it was placed on hold once more. When he spoke in Arabic, Anulia's eyes rose to his and her full brows furrowed a moment at that. She had not known others could speak this language...perhaps she should ask more and see who could. No one seemed to speak hers...but now this one..spoke Aman-ud-Din and Tahirah's language. What could she say to that? Only a nod of her chin was given as he turned and she moved by his side, walking over the bodies that lay upon the ground. Someone would have to be told, but would they get in trouble for it? Anulia shook slightly with worry and tried to simply let the night take the images away. In their place...came that of her capture and they were far worse."Shokran" she spoke a thanks to him in that tongue, moving it so well but unable to hide her own accent as it was there when she spoke the way of this land also. Both fell into silence as they walked and Anulia had reached out to grab his hand out of habit only to brush two of her fingers along the top of it then pull back, remembering his reaction when she touched his face. When the castle came and she was save beyond the walls, she thanked him once more and promised to meet him there in the morning, before asking him to be careful on his way to where ever it was his was staying. He had a son to worry about, she knew that much. In one last attempt to do something and not feel so useless, she removed the wrapping about her right wrist and bunched he material in her hand to push it up towards the cut and wipe some of the blood from his face with it. When he reached up to take it, she did not fight him. "I feel like I was useless, the least I could do was wipe your wound. I would heal it if you would let me...or clean it." When he repeated that it was nothing, she gave a nod, leaving him with her cloth to hold against his face if he choose or to throw it away when he wiped all the blood from his flesh. It was the second time she was expose her wrist so willingly to someone, but for good reason

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