[1:35]  Charlotte Milev closes the creaking gate carefully, she walks around the fountain quietly, not wanting to wake the sleeping man and sets a large soft parcel down on the chest just inside the main room

 [1:36]  Charlotte Milev see’s a shape moving through the screen and feels her hands reach to her hood without thought, wanting to pull it over her red hair…

 [1:37]  Trenzos Dyrssen opened his eyes, suitably surprised by the slivers of sunlight that seeped into room as he leaned back on the couch. He grunted out, rubbing his forehead. Feeling slightly adrift, he leaned forwards to find his hand towards a small bowl of water and without further ado, splashed it over his face, awakening himself. He winced at the water, but he was prepared. Settling for a sigh, he pushed himself up and picked up his staff, turning the battery on, knowing it would have recharged fully by now. He then looked to see his cloak and smiled, picking it up and flicking it over his shoulders casually. “Well, I’m ready,” he spoke to himself in a whisper.

 [1:43]  Charlotte Milev restrains the movement of her hand, instead turning busily to the package, she unfolds it and picks up several outermost jackets, frowning unconsciously at the coarse material, fingering it resignedly and accepting that, yes, it looks like something fitting her soon-to-be persona ‘Darla’. She hears a murmur from behind the screen, figuring he is growingly awake and hastens to re-fold the package, she heads to the small side board and pulls from it a pitcher of juice and two mugs… she pauses, wondering if Cor -she has to remind herself to think his name- would prefer something stronger in the morning… This thought stumps her…

 [1:45]  Trenzos Dyrssen rubbed his eyes as he walked out, bending on his staff characteristically. He looked up to see the woman and raised his eyebrows, before nodding to her in acknowledgement. “Lady,” he greeted, somewhat formally, which was curious. He looked at her intently and tilts his head to the side. “Hmm, you’re not so bad, but well, I’ve seen better.”

 [1:51]  Charlotte Milev flushes a bit at the semi-compliment, having not been seen by a man since… well since before her father died, and does that count given that she was only 10? She feels bare. She is keenly aware that every grimace, every smile is there for the notice. Her eyes close, she swallows, she licks her lower lip and asks, voice still quiet and scratchy from little use this morning: Would you care for some juice? or perhaps something stronger? I’m unaware of what men drink in the morning… 

[1:55]  Trenzos Dyrssen does not falter his gaze from her, as though he appraised her with the main intention of studying her as a woman. It was simply something he was curious over, for he had never seen her face. He nodded his head towards the juice in his silent manner, too thoughtful in his own mind to utter a reply in words. After a while, he turned away and looked around the settings before him. “There is much that we must prepare for. Have you set things in order?” He turned, looking at her again. However, though he tried his best to hide his own emotions, he was not only curious about how he had gotten into this situation but that his illusion of not being with a woman was broken. Even if fraudulent, he was companioned to her and he realised he not only needed to take care of her security, but wanted to do so.

 [2:01]  Charlotte Milev turns her head away, unconsciously mimicking the position a slave is put to when told to display. She sets the tray of juice down, pushing the bundle of clothing further along the chest, and pours two drinks. She is conscious of not asking Cor to stand too long, as his hunched figure is a great reminder it causes him pain and stiffness after too long a time. “I will not be able to find anyone to purchase my compartment in so short a time. But I have sent word to a slaver to come pick up several of my house slaves, I will keep only two, unless you think we need more. I thought the less to track down the better… I have sent one I trust to purchase clothing for myself, and will have them make new livery for themselves as well…. “ 

[2:05]  Trenzos Dyrssen listened aptly, taking in all her words and he nodded slightly. His gloved hands pressed against the staff and as he simply pondered over her words, he reassessed the situation, knowing that the trail would grow cold soon. He eyed the juice, feeling a sudden sense of thirst assault him. Well, he had just woken up and he felt like his energy was waning. However, he simply turned back to Charlotte. “I see. How long will it take for the slaver to return with the girls? I need to travel to Aisha’s place. There might be a girl there that I can acquire for my own…..uses, so to speak.”

 [2:10]  Charlotte Milev nods, she mentally calculates the addition of a slave to the household, and as she speaks, trying to maintain a casual and professional, conversational tone, she heads to the benches and cushions, planning to settle herself down so that Cor will also. “The slaver said he would come mid-morning, and I wont haggle over prices much, so he will leave with them within half an ahn. Oh. I will send one of the remaining two to purchase the ingredients, separately, for hair dye. I will make it myself and then well… I thought that I would perhaps not be afforded the luxury of so many concealment robes, and that my hair might stand out… I have been trying to send them in a manner they wont be tracked down. But I am not accustomed to acting so… cautiously.

 [2:15]  Trenzos Dyrssen followed her as he moved along the room, then allowed his staff to lean upon the cushion as he settled upon the cushion itself as comfortably as he could. He nodded his head at the moments he thought would be appropriate. “I suppose it’s something you simply learn as you go. For now, just act normal. Any spies watching you must not know you are up to something. Furthermore, I have secured the contract with me, so it’s in safe hands for now. Once we’re ready, I might have to travel back to a land known as Parsit’s Landing…but…well, it might not be profitable. Do you know any other cities close to that destination?” 

[2:21]  Trenzos Dyrssen narrowed his eyebrows at that. He had hoped she had had a semblance of information pertaining to that small area. Shaking his head in disappointment, he realised he should have expected this. “Well, it’s a small outpost within the northern forests and the last place Sacha was seen. But he’s become a secondary priority to me. Lamya, I believe, has the ring, or at least I think so and she is the one I seek. And yet, no one knows where she is at all.” 

[2:24]  Charlotte Milev see’s the disappointed response and wonders aloud: The northern forest stretches from north of here to the Thassa… Do you not know any more details? Is it around Ar?

 [2:28]  Trenzos Dyrssen shrugged his shoulders at first, just wondering where Lamya would be. However, as he concentrated upon the question by Charlotte, he realised something. “Hmm there is one other major city, one that perhaps nearly all travellers go through if they take the eastern line…if Parsit’s Landing is a coastal outpost, then yes…Laura might be where she should have been and surely someone would have seen her or even Sacha?” 

[2:29]  Charlotte Milev: oh near Laura? 

[2:29]  Trenzos Dyrssen nodded, “I suppose so, though I’ve never travelled to Laura for a long time.”

 [2:34]  Charlotte Milev ponders thoughtfully “well, that’s sort of the opposite end of the world from here… Why don’t we travel down the Onli by boat, trek it across to the Fortress of Saphronicus, then to Tarna and then follow the new west road? That would eventually take us to Rovere where we could travel to Lydius…? Or if we wanted to remain more incognito… travel to Rive de Bois and then along the Laurius River towns….?”

 [2:37]  Trenzos Dyrssen pursed his lips carefully and then closed his eyes, mapping out all those names into his head and figuring it into place within his memory. He then slowly parted his lips. “We could take the Rive de Bois route, but it’s far too dangerous as I am sure outlaws rule those roads. No, our best way, as you said might be through Saphronicus…but Tarna? Where’s that? I have not heard of it before.” 

[2:38]  Charlotte Milev: “oh! I meant Tharna, I’m sorry. I think I had something stuck in my throat” At this, she takes a drink of her juice… 

[2:40]  Trenzos Dyrssen raised an eyebrow at that, but he smoothly accepted her mistake, finally realising the juice before him. He picked it up and took a slow sip, before he proceeded to reply. “Well in that case, yes that might be a more suitable option. So there we have it. Our path from Ti is clear and now we must render ourselves useless in this city, to smoothly follow along away from here.” 

[2:41]  Charlotte Milev coughs a bit, the juice going down the wrong way: indeed, companion. Then shall you head out to purchase that slave, and I dress to wait for the slaver to purchase mine?

 [2:43]  Trenzos Dyrssen looked at her with an even regard, perhaps because she had referred to him as companion. Well, it was true. “I suppose that might be the only thing that I can think of. All in all, it seems we now wait.”

 [2:47]  Charlotte Milev nods, simply and matter-of-factly. She sets her empty goblet down on the floor and rises, heading to stow away the bundle of clothing and to take out more veils to conceal herself with when the slaver arrives, she asks, over her shoulder, “Would it be better that you were not here when the slaver arrives?”

 [2:48]  Charlotte Milev watches as the man silently leaves and heads out the still badly creaking gate. She smiles at the small world, that the man he seeks is the one who was meant to build her a new gate, veils herself and then goes to remove the second goblet of juice….

This would be, I guess, the prologue to the Rp which is upcoming Gor-wide. 

[4:18]  Trenzos Dyrssen leaned forwards on his staff, seeing a place that he was signalled to when he enquired about the physician. Lifting the end of his staff, he tapped it against the gates. “Ho there!”

[4:19]  Charlotte Milev steps from the arched doorway curiously, her shoulders sag as she sees a strange man in players clothing, she steels herself visibly and asks, with voice only slightly quavering: What do you want?

[4:20]  Trenzos Dyrssen narrowed his eyebrows and then waved his free hand. “Come now, Charlotte. It’s me; don’t you recognise me even a bit?” He looked at her as he approached her somewhat closer.

[4:21]  Charlotte Milev tilts her head to the side, many layers of still-worn outer veils rippling, she juts her head forward, eyes creased in … concentration? memory? “Trenzos of the Scribes?!”

[4:21] Charlotte Milev: but what are you doing dressed as a player? I thought it was just a costume you’d put on…!

[4:22]  Trenzos Dyrssen chuckled and it transformed into a grin upon his countenance. “Yes, well. Things have changed a lot for me these past few moons. And how are you? You don’t seem different at all.”

[4:24]  Charlotte Milev tries for a smile, but as it doesn’t reach her eyes, there’s no outward response to your words, instead she says, in a somewhat jaded voice: little changes for good. I didn’t expect to ever see you again!

[4:25]  Trenzos Dyrssen noticed something odd, perhaps it was in her stance, but it managed to crease a frown upon his face. “Well, that’s true, but I just came back to Ti and well, when I hear you lived here, I suppose it would be extremely rude of me without visiting you.”

[4:26]  Charlotte Milev relaxes her posture minimally. And when has Trenzos ever been rude? Never, surely?

[4:27]  Charlotte Milev gestures to the table to your right and the empty goblets and bottles of wine, “Please, share a drink with me!”

[4:27]  Trenzos Dyrssen inclined his head slightly and smiled in his smooth manner. “Assuredly, assuredly. And we can catch up from where we left off. How have you been these days, eh?” He asked as he moved along to the table.

[4:28]  Trenzos Dyrssen set his staff, allowing it to lean on the table, as he bent his knees to settle upon the cushion, feeling himself relived from standing for so long.

[4:30]  Charlotte Milev follows and waits for her guest to seat himself first, replying, cautiously, but hoping its a general enough reply, as she speaks she notes the man’s ill-ease in movement, a physicians attention, a studying gaze: I’ve had some trouble, of late, the city has welcomed several… unfriendlies…

[4:31]  Trenzos Dyrssen lifted an eyebrow at that, his green eyes following her movements. He parted his lips and then replied, “Oh I see…that’s interesting. I’ve been seeking the former blacksmith, Sacha and well, seems he’s just disappeared.”

[4:33]  Charlotte Milev settles down on the opposite cushion, reaches for a bottle of ta wine, she displays the label momentarily, proclaiming it to be one of the better quality Cosian wines, before peeling away the wax seal and pouring two goblets for each, she tips her head in acknowledgement at Sacha’s leaving, “Yes, I intended to engage his services for a new entry gate, as you can see my current one is a bit weak, but my slave told me he was not there, his shop was deserted…”

[4:37]  Trenzos Dyrssen allowed a small curl of a smile as his gaze registered the label and he chuckled, inclining his head even more to Charlotte. As he watched her pour it, he then took the goblet sipping it as his own regal manners kicked in. “Ah yes, I suppose there’s some fishy work in that, no doubt. Anyhow, what about yourself? You seem to be doing well for yourself, I take it?”

[4:39]  Charlotte Milev reaches for her own goblet, she half brings it towards her, but her eyes slide off to the side of the table, up-close, it is easy to see around them is puffed and red, with darkish bags beneath them. She isn’t sure how to respond, eyebrows crease together slightly as she continues to stare at the edge of the table, finally she speaks, bitterly, almost thickly, more than just an emotional woman: I have had better days.

[4:41]  Trenzos Dyrssen lifted his eyebrows in concern, his rows of wrinkle on his forehead well apparent to the woman. What was it that she was feeling? “What’s wrong, Charlotte? We’ve known each other for some time now and I hope we can be regarded as friends.”

[4:45]  Charlotte Milev frowns deeper, her gaze turns to you for a moment before slipping away again, she slips her spare hand to her veils, flipping them out with an, of course, well practiced move, the drink slips in and she takes a rather un-demure gulp, steeling herself. She is desperate to talk, that much is clear in the tension of her body, “Recently, I have heard … things… about my father, things which other  are aware of…”

[4:48]  Trenzos Dyrssen studied her face, or well as much as he could see of it. His gaze narrowed and he nodded his head slowly, maintaining his eye contact to allow her the comfort of being noticed and listened to. As he did so, he suitably sipped the wine, reminiscing how he did this during his more glorious days as a rather rich man. Then he moved his one hand, flicking his wrist. “I see…well, no I don’t. Please, go on.”

[4:52]  Charlotte Milev locks her gaze with yours, she almost whimpers, the barest of sounds of desperation, clearing her throat she asks simply: Trenzos, can I trust you? even if I tell you something which you don’t believe, or which you believe and can use against me, will you swear to keep it to yourself? I – I wouldn’t ask, I wouldn’t even *dare* tell anyone, but I’ve no one to tell! I cannot go to my Caste lest I get them involved, and I can’t risk that, and you know I’ve no living family..

[4:55]  Trenzos Dyrssen was somewhat intrigued now. In fact, he was terribly intrigued because he had never seen the woman like this before. They had argued, fought, and been friends, but never had she stared at him in such a way. He knew there was something that ached in her terribly and well, he was a man to be trusted, after all they had shared home stone, not once, but twice together. He slowly nodded his head in confirmation to her question. “There are many things you can trust with me, Charlotte. Life for me is now terribly forlorn. I’m known simply as Cor these days and that’s alright with me, but as you can see, I’m different mainly because I needed to change. What’s wrong? Tell me. You have my word as the scribe and regent I once was that your secret will not falter from my lips.”

[4:58]  Charlotte Milev is at that point where most women turn into blubbering heaps, her eyebrows now almost join, but something in your words calms her, she smiles briefly, this time it reaches her eyes and the muscles relax… but as she begins to speak, the dread of her situation creeps into her face and voice, which is quiet, which is slow, which is fearful: What do you know of the kurii?

[5:00]  Trenzos Dyrssen winced openly, bluntly at the word which he feared perhaps more than anything in the world. His eyes jolted in a round of surprise while his mouth opened up, parted and then closed again, however, he did not falter his gaze from the physician. Closing his eyes, he took in a long deep breath and when he spoke, he simply seemed to whisper in a loud voice. “I know…some things of them….why do you ask?” He raised one eyebrow this time, expressing his curiosity which was taking over him from his initial surprise.

[5:04]  Charlotte Milev slumps with relief, an elbow finding the table she leans forward, at once exhausted and exhilarated, finally someone she can trust and who seems to be able understand, at least it shows in the fervour of his response, the seriousness of her situation. Her other elbow joins the first and her head falls forward until her face is buried in her palms, as if she is hiding from what she is about to say, as if hiding would make the situation disappear ‘They want me. They seek and hunt me. They have threatened, and told me to prepare my things… I am… requested,” she adds this word thick with bitterness, “to work for them.”

[5:09]  Trenzos Dyrssen’s frown was evident upon his facial features. His dark hair, strands of it brushed against his forehead, but his eyes had the old characteristic glint of green fire in it, something which had never been seen for almost too long. He shook his head and felt that bitter taste of defeat in his mouth, recalling the torture he had gone through in the hands of those kurii agents…Jupiter…it was still too close for comfort and yet even now, he was set on it. Yet, could he trust this woman who seemed to have trusted him? He knew then just how dangerous the situation had become and he cursed himself for somehow not preparing for it…Allowing another intake of breath, a long silence filtered between them, but he continued to study Charlotte, maintaining his studies as a scribe to correspond with the art of lying. Pursing his lips, he finally managed to respond. “I see,” was what managed to come from his lips. He lifted his gloved hand to rub the temple of his forehead. “This is…well…Charlotte, you’re in (c)

[5:10]  Trenzos Dyrssen: (c) complete danger, something I never would have thought possible. You have to flee, runaway, go into the shadows where they can’t find you! This is…I never expected this, but well I have a lot of experience, old friend and trust me when I say, these enemies are not to be trifled with alone.” He shook his head and sighed. Could he even trust her with his own information?

[5:16]  Charlotte Milev doesn’t lift her head as you speak, each sentence, each word hitting her like a hammer. She had known, in her gut, instantly, the moment the agent first stepped foot in her home, known she had been thrown into a situation which was well beyond her control. But she’d tricked herself, lied to herself that it wasn’t so big a deal. And now, the simple, un-artistic truth of what Trenzos was saying terrified and somehow steeled her at the same time. He was right, she knew it. She lifts her head, settles her arms back down, a mask of composure settling on her features, no matter what happens now, the worst had been confirmed and, now she couldn’t change what is, she knew she had to control what could be.

[5:17]  Charlotte Milev: What do I do?

[5:20]  Trenzos Dyrssen felt his own shoulders slump and he settled down, taking in a sip of the wine to compose himself. “It’s good wine, I haven’t tasted this for a long time.” He chuckled to himself to simply waver away the self doubt in his own mind. But as he cleared his throats, he managed to form his own thoughts. “Well, you hide, you runaway and camouflage with he crowd as a new person. Do you know why I am who I am now? No longer am I that famous Trenzos, Regent of Tyros. No, I am simply Cor the Player. Now, I bow down and settle into the crowd an anonymous figure. But yes, it’s about sacrifice and survival.”

[5:25]  Charlotte Milev fingers the goblet of wine, no longer interested in the drink, she was never much a fan of drinking. “I had considered… selling myself into slavery, or going out onto one of the Cylinder bridges… but aside of the degradation, I thought, they’d tracked me down here, it wouldn’t be too hard to track me down as a slave… “She chuckles shortly, “you affect the character well, Cor. I noticed your limp. Its a very real looking one.”

[5:28]  Trenzos Dyrssen grimaced at her last comment as he set the goblet back on the table. He lowered his eyes, glancing to his own flanks and sighed, knowing that of course it was real looking. He found it almost humorous and a short point of laughter came out unwarranted. “I’m sorry, but…that limp of mine is all too true, I’m afraid. But no matter, we were discussing your options. The whole point of you moving away from all this is so that you hide. Hide from society as a whole, you take up a new persona. It’s not easy, Charlotte. Especially ones who love the high arts like these, but it’s necessary for survival. Look at me, you know who I once was and now I am the unknown storyteller. You need to somehow do the same thing.”

[5:32]  Charlotte Milev still fingers her goblet, her eyes unfocus as she looks down into the wine, her brows crease and uncrease slightly, clearly she is thinking very hard, calculating thoughts, dismissing them sometimes with a short jerked shake of the head, “Tren-uh-Cor. Do you travel alone, or within a troupe? We had Carnival here recently; there were so many troupes…”

[5:34]  Trenzos Dyrssen found the change in subject to be interesting. Certainly, in regards to his occupation, it had much to be interested in. Yet, he knew from what way she had asked that there was some manner….some plan in her mind that related to it. Looking at her curiously, with one narrowed eye and another as clear and round as normality dictated, he then proceeded to reply. “Well, no. I can’t say I belong to any troupe. I’m not really an official entertainer, just a player. But anyhow, well I travel alone, since no other troupes have allowed me into their own. Why are you asking this?”

5:40]  Charlotte Milev speaks slowly, the plan still formulating in her mind, she almost doesn’t speak, concerned, shy that he might laugh at what she is about to suggest “Cor you are injured, I am a Physician, perhaps I can help you. You are also in need of money, you dress well for a player, but I can see the places where your cloth has worn thin. and I am in need of protection, of a… disguise… and in my mind dance the masked costumed figures of the entertainers…” She trails off, now not sure at all if what she’s implying will be scoffed at by you.

[5:43]  Trenzos Dyrssen looked at her most oddly, reassessing her over all the time he had known her. His lips curl only very slightly as he then realised just what she was thinking. If she was to hide, then why not hide with him? He narrowed his eyebrows at the thought of being healed again, of being able to walk without those fits. “You mean…..you can cure this? Cure me of this fragile and weak body I wear as my own now?” He raised both of his eyebrows at that, while his eyes had that familiar light of green to it. “Indeed…what you’re saying, if I think it is what you’re saying could actually help. But I need to know everything, Charlotte. How is it that you are part of all this? I will make a deal, if you trust me then I will trust you and tell you of my own problems with the….the enemy.”

 [5:46]  Charlotte Milev falters, warmed by your willingness to trust, to not disregard her ideas as foolish women-think: I do not know if I *can* repair you, but I can try, and will try to the best of my abilities… And trust you? I have already said so much, to stop now would be foolish. Shall I refill your drink?

5:50]  Trenzos Dyrssen could hardly refuse her. He had not had any wine for far too long and so picked up his goblet, lifting it towards her. “Certainly that would be appreciated.” Then his face suddenly sobered and his gaze was intent upon her, riddled with a sense of certainty. “The Kurii plan to invade our world, Charlotte. They want nothing else but to rule it. They’re very advanced in regards to technology, very powerful. One aspect of their technology came here in the form of five shield rings. Only one is left now and that is lost, but it was I who found it, years ago during my days in my initial homeland Ianda. With this shield ring, the Kurii could invisibly rule and overpower us humans. Of course, the Priest Kings had their own battled, but I digress.” He took a deep breath in and then ploughed on. “What you have to understand is my life…it’s terribly intertwined with this fate…my father was an agent for the priest kings, as was I….but…well, my grandfather, my maternal grandfather mind you, had his own (c)

[5:52]  Trenzos Dyrssen: (c) ideas. He was an agent for the enemy and he sought to kill my father, which he did. My mother well…she disappeared after that incident and now here I am, following my father’s footsteps. I once had the ring, but the kurii agents took it from me, and now the ring is well, it was lost. I am under the impression though it can be found on the neck of one Lamya, a clothes woman of some sort and if the kurii get that, it’s all over. I suppose that’s why they want you. You know her, don’t you?”

[5:52]  Charlotte Milev picks up the bottle again, her own goblet set down and forgotten, she pours more of the sweet red drink into Trenzos’ raised goblet, listening, intently, hiding her alarm, as he speaks of things she could never have imagined.

[5:53]  Charlotte Milev: Lamya! Yes, I know, her, she was my seamstress.

[5:53]  Charlotte Milev: but…

[5:54]  Trenzos Dyrssen nodded his head, taking his break by settling the tip of the goblet upon the crevice between his two lips, tilting it to allow the sweet wine to enter and comfort him. “But what?”

[5:58]  Charlotte Milev tries to gather her scattered thoughts, she wants to answer his question of ‘why they want you’ as best she can, wants to not miss anything out… “Trenzos, I am not of physician blood. You might have noticed I am a fully active Physician but have not produced two children for the Caste -most don’t notice this, somehow. My father died, when I was little over 10. He and my mother were …” She pauses, the story of her families death causes less pain than it used to, she is not a child these days, she has lived for over a century. “My parents were killed, and I was sent to my fool of an aunt who had to lower Caste because she was er… well see, the Builder caste of my parents home would not accept me. They did not want … they did not like my father. I never knew why. But I do now.” She sighs, resigned to the fact that the man she had idolised in her mind for so long, presumed to be an innocent victim, was perhaps, not. “He, so this agent who came to me says, helped these Kurii develop.. something… I was never told what.”

[6:04]  Charlotte Milev: The agent came to me, told me little other than facts. I was, by gift of my family, indebted to the Kurii and needed to finish this project.. Which, I cannot have the skills for as I never learnt anything as a Builder! He said he would return for me in two hands, until then I was given time to settle my affairs and tell people I was purchasing a villa out near Vonda…

[6:05]  Trenzos Dyrssen rubbed his chin, now truly engaged deeply into this. If it was true the agents were on the brink of some new exploit, then it would be something the Priest Kings would be interested in about. However, there was a matter of safety first. “Well, at the moment it would seem your life is about to change, Charlotte and you have to, whether you are ready for it or not. The plan of you joining me as some kind of entertainer…it’s suitable, but the name Charlotte Milev of the Physicians is no longer safe. Two hands….hmm we can do this easily enough within the given timeframe, but knowing them they have spies around. Get only the slaves you trust with you, and you and I must head away from here. But…there is one thing to this. If you join me, you’re going to be in similar danger. I’m not giving up my task to secure the ring and if you do join me, you’ll have to assist me.”

[6:11]  Charlotte Milev does not quail, does not shy from the intensity of Trenzos’s words. She only nods, once, her eyes filled with a kind of angry passion. She would do what was needed, not only for her own personal safety, nor only for fear of what would happen to her if she did, or could not achieve what the Kurii wanted of her. She pauses, as solemn in her attitude now as the day she took her Caste Oath. Aware that, though she was escaping one danger, she was certainly walking into the chance of many more. Some small part of her rejoiced, regardless of the severity of the situation, of the epic change her words were about to wreak on her life, life, stagnant and repetitive for so many years now, was about to get interesting: I will do, Trenzos, Cor, whatever is needed of me. I swear on the honour of my Caste.

[6:15]  Trenzos Dyrssen pressed his lips together and wondered if he had done the right thing. ALready he had suffered all too much for his own endeavours, indeed becoming an orphan because of his own family. Yet, there was hope in the sense that he would find some kind of friendship with a person, that we would not be alone. He shook his head to relive himself of those thoughts and then looked evenly at Charlotte, realising just how much of her words she put behind it. “Very well. Then we must proceed swiftly and cunningly to waver away from the sigh of the agents. You need to abandon those high robes and perhaps…hmm…you could be my agent, I suppose, as a storyteller I would need a publicist of sorts and too, you could also simply be my companion. That would make things much easier to explain away why you and I travel together. I don’t suppose me escorting you would do at all.” He simpered at the thought of that and chuckled. “And your name, you need to change your name. Make it short, like a low caste. Indeed, that is (c)

[6:16]  Trenzos Dyrssen: (c) what you will become. I know it’s hard, but we must do this immediately, Charlotte. And forget that name Trenzos. It’s a much dangerous name as well to be said out in public these days. They’re still out to get me.” He sipped his wine again to clear his throat and then ploughed on. “Furthermore, we need to plan out how to find Lamya. It’s imperative that we do this as soon as possible, but we also need to manage to shy away from the sight of the agents hmm.” He hmmed.

[6:26]  Charlotte Milev’s head bobs, noting and whirling at each word spoken, she had *never* expected to become someone’s companion in this manner. indeed, being so independent, and without family made her often wonder if she ever need become someone’s companion. She stomped on that thought. In this one conversation, in this past week, her world had changed beyond reckoning, and she expected it would change more, rapidly. “As I said, Cor,” -she was cautious to use that name now. “I will do whatever it takes. I will sell my properties, and put my money into objects, items… ” She almost finds herself grinning, and cannot letting the smallest of laughs out, regardless of how it ill fit the situation.

[6:31]  Trenzos Dyrssen sensed how hopelessly hilarious this whole situation had become. Shaking his head, he quickly then looked about, then, knowing that his own scribe utensils were locked on his belt, he took out his quill and a blank scroll. Then a very small jar of ink powder, before, picking up a jug of water nearby and mixing it with the powder, mixing it t make it thick into ink. “I better start writing this up so we have our papers in order. Your name, what will your name be?” he demanded.

[6:33]  Charlotte Milev laughs and looks around, scanning the room for any indication of a name. She comes across a painting of a vart and starts sounding things out, “Vartie, Varlie, Varla, …. Darla! That sounds suitably lower-caste, I should hope?”

[6:34]  Trenzos Dyrssen raised an eyebrow, suitably baffled by the name, but he shrugged his shoulders. “Yes, it does, so go for that one. Hmm Darla.” He leaned forwards and began to scribble his quill upon the scroll professionally.

[6:35]  Charlotte Milev: I presume I can keep at least a few slaves? Make them actresses to go with your stories?

[6:36]  Trenzos Dyrssen mulled over that idea and nodded, “Well, this contract is simply to afford the people out there to be satisfied with our story. Between us, it means nothing.”

[6:36]  Charlotte Milev says only: Ah, I see

[6:45]  Charlotte Milev watches patiently as her, she fights not to hiccup with almost panicked laughter at the speed of all of this, very-soon-to-be-companion forges the papers

[6:48]  Trenzos Dyrssen finished writing up the scroll and his fingers hurt oddly, registering how long it had been since he had written so strenuously. He narrowed his eyebrows at that and conceded he needed to practice more in that regards. Then he passed the scroll to the woman, after blowing on it to allow the ink to settle, while he began to pack his quill and place the used ink in a small vial.

[6:49]  Charlotte Milev pulls your goblet towards her, she refills both and sets them in the centre of the table….. She takes the scroll, holding it carefully for the still damp ink and reads it, a bewildered smirk in her eyes.

[6:51]  Trenzos Dyrssen allowed himself to settle down, relaxing his trained fingers and then he nodded. “Well there you have it, my companion. Now, you best dress into something more appropriate and we should head out now, under the cover of darkness.”

[6:54]  Charlotte Milev hmms and furls the scroll up. She takes up her own wine, lifting the veils slightly, still hiding her face, “And you never saw my face! You are either very brave, very foolish or very set on being healed, my companion.” I shall begin to sell my things.

[6:54]  Charlotte Milev: and buy some clothing fitting my ever-so-modest Caste…

[6:54]  Charlotte Milev: but what of my accent? oh never mind, I will work it out

[6:55]  Trenzos Dyrssen cracked a grin at her and he then waved his hand, “Now, I’ll sleep here and then perhaps tomorrow we can travel away.” Unceremoniously, he lifted his goblet and took a long sip of the wine. “I never thought I would be companioned ever again…well…fate is truly a terrible mistress.”

[6:56]  Charlotte Milev: better fate than a real one.

[6:57]  Charlotte Milev rises from the cushion and heads off to the main room to organise a place for her companion to sleep. She seems calm, even happy, but her hands shake as she moves….

[6:57]  Trenzos Dyrssen nodded his head and sighed, knowing that one obstacle was overcome. There would be many more….and yet, it was to his life he loved to leap over.