Whatever Rohaan had in mind for his day, this was not ever in his wildest dreams. The whole thing was truly bizarre, and he was still trying to piece together how this had all come to be, and why. He waved a dismissive hand at the captain. "Save it for someone who cares. I serve no banner, no man, no law. Also, this language isn't my first one. Can't say I'm familiar with er...prostrate or whatever it is you said I ought to be. Not to mention Son of the [I]Great Restorer,[/I]" Rohaan spat viciously beside him, "Is in no way a convincing argument for the likes of me. Remember who you speak to, Ca-mm." The way he abbreviated 'captain' was odd. It was close to the more common 'cap'n', except the p was lost and the rest was overly pronounced. It was a habit from childhood that still stuck with him; back then, he struggled with the 'p' sound, as his language didn't have it. 

Rohaan turned his attention back to the Emperor. "Your father, not to mention some of you and yours, slaughtered my people. Women. Children. Good people who wanted nothing more than to care for their livestock and see their children grow. How is it, do you think, that I came to be so good at what I do? I'll admit, it's good fun, but it's not like there were other options left to me. I'm a capable hunter and a better fisherman than you'd ever hope to be--it's a lot easier when you're actually [I]in[/I] the water. But you of all people know I can't take my catch to market. At best, I'd be chased out. At worst, I'd be attacked. An honest living was never an option, Valdemar. Save your preaching about morality to someone who has the time for it. I don't. Though I will remember the deliciousness of the irony of you admitting to being equals, here in this moment. I'm going to savor that for a long time."

Rohaan listened to Karl's explanation of the crown, and the careful trap laid just for him. Interesting. So this hadn't been a chance opportunity, but something this man had been planning and scheming for a while now. Rohaan had an idea of who might have given him away, which particular cutthroat (or rather a handful of them) he was referring to. Rohaan noted that he'd pay them a visit soon, and show them how dangerous it was to cross Rohaan Ja'aisen. But the blonde barked a laugh. "You faked my death! Ha! That's a good one. That's new. I hope he was a rapist, or something equally sinister. It wouldn't do to kill an innocent man on behalf of such a wicked one as myself. But I've got to say, that will do wonders for my reputation. Rohaan Ja'aisen, the silver blood who can't die! That ruse won't last you long, and at some point the truth will come out that I'm still alive. But if you're going to spin a story at that point, at least make it good. Tell them I did whatever unnatural thing you like. A wise man once told me words were powerful weapons." 

A table was brought out, laden with all kinds of goods, and Rohaan laughed. "I was about to say that it's bad form to torture a man and drag him out to the woods and then try to negotiate with him--I assume that's what you want--but you're doing much better now." He swept the loose, stray curls that had been matted to his face with sweat back with one hand, then took a seat and helped himself like the table had been set specifically for him. Unlike most street rats and vagabonds, he neither ate with the fervency of a man starved, nor did he chew with his mouth open like some kind of drunken slob. Someone somewhere had taught him manners, to a degree. He helped himself to a healthy portion of ale, some chicken, a chunk of cheese, and plucked at a few fruits. Meats, he could get easily and often. Fruits and cheeses, however, were slightly harder to obtain.

Rohaan didn't answer right away, he just studied the man sitting across from him. There were a lot of assumptions being made, though he supposed he couldn't expect anything else from a man like this. Someone who was used to getting what he wanted just by asking for it. Rohaan had never known that life. "My services? What makes you think they're for hire? Bold for you to assume anything I do is a service to anyone. I'm a thief, a murderer, a traitor to the empire, formerly a pirate, and if you listen to any of the stories about me, there's a whole list of unsavory things people like to call me. Only some of those are true. But nowhere in that list is 'mercenary'." 

He took a long draw from his cup, though not without appreciating its quality. "Don't be coy, Valdemar. There are a thousand men who could do the job you want, and all of them with a lot less risk and without so much effort to get them. You wanted me specifically. You set the bait, you set the trap, and you made sure your men were trained to deal with me. You know I can do the job, I don't have to sell you on that. The real question is, what is it that you have that you think I'd actually want? I've got no use for money, seeing as I can't spend it, not reliably. Your father made sure of that. I haven't been starving since I was a child, and I have no use for fancy clothes, clumsy steel weapons, or even horses. Animals hate me--they can sense the predator within. Even if I wanted it, you couldn't give me power, either. Sure, you could grant me land and a fancy title. But no one in the world would respect that, if you didn't have an outright riot on your hands for the heresy of it." 

Rohaan leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "But there is one thing...Granted, I'll need to know much more about this situation and your motives and what I'm in for. But even I can be bought, though you'll have to ask yourself if it's a price you're willing to pay. I'm no common thief." His expression turned hard. "Ban the slave trade. All of it. Shifters, humans, elves--any and all of them. Current slaves must be set free and compensated. Put to death anyone who does not honor the ban." There was a fire, a fierceness in his gaze that suggested he wasn't being wholly altruistic, that at some point or another this matter had once been personal. It was ambitious, Rohaan knew, but given his situation he had to at least try for it. It wasn't every day the emperor of Man wanted to buy a favor, much less from a man like him.