Lanik held the exhausted elf, grabbing her on the sides of her shoulders and propping her up as best he could. Reaching over his own shoulder he unclipped one side of his cape, then the other, then swung the light blue drape over her form. It was the best he could do to salvage whatever dignity she had left among the Imperials gathered around, still yelling and cursing, though Lanik could not help but feel a few of their eyes upon them. It was well known fact that his father had long before iterated the idea that his Rangers could not own slaves. An idea based solely on function, the rangers were created to be self sufficient, and having a slave was counterproductive to that idea. Lanik met Erudessa's gaze, pushing stray locks of silver hair behind her pointed ears and pulling over her hood. She would stand out in a city full of Imperials, and it would be in his best interest to keep her ambiguous (her hair did not help in the slightest). At least until he figured out what the hell he was going to do next. [i]Anywhere than here,[/i] he thought.

"Shh," he spoke softly, but sternly, "Keep your head down, don't look anyone in the eyes,"

He grabbed her by her wrist and led them away through the crowd. Despite Lanik's disguise he knew she would stand out. He moved quickly even though he knew she was barely composed to move at such speed. The sedative the slavers used were much akin to the ones he tipped his arrows with during his military campaigning in the Southern part of the Empire. It was extremely potent stuff with enough kick to fell even the most powerful of beasts. How she managed to even keep her eyes open was beyond him. It must be something related to elven biology that he knew nothing about.

The duo were soon standing outside the auction house. There were several whistles and cheers from officer passersby, a common occurrence when any officer lands a particularly good find at the auction. He helped her saddle first, then himself.

"Hold on," he said, and with a [i]HYAH![/i] the mount was off. 

Lanik made his way through the maze of twists and turns of the Imperial capital. It was hustle and bustle all around, vendors and beggars calling out their pleas into the air as gypsies danced about to a foreign tune. There was a culture here, one a person could only find if they looked past all the violence and slaving and murder and bloodshed. It was instilled in Lanik to believe the society around someone does not force them into being a bad person. Being here, seeing the common Imperial folk only bolstered that regard.

"You're lucky I arrived when I did," he said over his shoulder, "Captain Moor is skilled at what he does, however sick you may think it is,"

He listened to her response, if there was one.

The decided destination was the small and quaint Wintergate estate located just on the outskirts of the city wall. It was a small house, given to Gregoir by the King after deciding Lord Wintergate would have a place in Midhaven politics. It screamed of continental design. White, square and boxy with a large pergola beckoning visitors into the front door from the pathway. Cedar lattice accented the front of the house, with green vines sprawling all over the grid. Lanik dismounted, helping Erudessa off and leading her into the house. They walked in the front-entry, an open area with old antique furniture sleeping here and there throughout the room. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the bedroom, motioning her to sit on the bed.

"Rest here while I.. . decide on what to do with you," he rubbed his face, scratching his head while moving to the corner of the room where a dresser sat. His voice betrayed something.. . regret? Hesitation? Lanik was uncertain. After rummaging through for a moment he grabbed one of his old shirts and a pair of pants. He tossed it towards her when he heard a knock on the front door.

[i]Shit.[/i]

Lanik looked back to Erudessa, "Get dressed," he said before attending to the visitor. He approached, turning the knob with a creak and cracking the door open.

"Brother," Darian grinned, "Word spreads quickly y'know. I thought Rangers couldn't own slaves?" there was a menace in his voice Lanik had never heard before.


[center]✱ ✲ ✳ ✴ ✵[/center]

When Erudessa would awake she would be greeted by a young girl. Ten by the looks of it? She sat on the edge of the bed, poking, pulling and prodding at her pointed ears with a childish curiosity observed through bright emerald eyes. She was a very pretty girl dressed in a blue and white dress, with raven hair and a shade of skin between pale and foreign. Freckles dotted her face innocently around her petite nose. The girls gaze widened in amazement, as if she were a scientist discovering a new formula or solution to an equation that had long been bogging the mind.

"You're an elf! You're a real elf!" she tugged at Erudessa's ear one more time. A sunny smile engulfed her face, then almost in the same instant turned into a suspicious frown.

"But.. . you couldn't be. Uncle Darian told me that.. ." she puffed out her chest, placing her hands at her side and expanding her cheeks as if to emulate a particular someone. She spoke with the lowest tone of voice as she possibly could.

[i]You nasty elves are stinks with horns and claws.[/i]

She let out a childish laugh then sat on the floor looking for breath. That impression must have taken a bit out of her. Sitting up with legs stretched out in front of her, she tilted her head and eyed Erudessa very closely.

"But.. . you're definitely not that. You're very pretty. You're a very pretty elf," she lowered her voice to a whisper.

"Don't tell father I said that," she paused for a moment, looking up at the ceiling and suddenly snapping back her attention to the elf as if suddenly remembering something.

[i]My name is Marië. Do you want to see me do a magic trick?[/i]