Of Silk and Steel
αяѕυѕ shook his head. “I haven’t been to Selnar in a long time. The last thing I know is that a storm swept across Selnar and flooded parts of the city. My slave was there at the time,” he replied. “I must ask her what she saw there. “Do you still have contacts in Selnar?” he asked. He noticed Crow’s searching gaze over the area, surely looking for unwanted eavesdroppers. Then he turned to the warrior. “We don’t have much at the moment. We need to gather more information first.”
Crow (melchior.wardell) nodded. Crow had a network of spies that pretty much was shattered all over Gor. “Oh I am sure.” he replied to Arsus. “but one wonders why a man of the scarlet would find us with this information ? Is he fearful for war ? What is the issue underneath this … does it concern is woman ?” he asks Arsus. Crow unaware of their relationship or what was discussed previously.
αяѕυѕ: “I don’t have any more information at the moment. He fears a war and asked me for my opinion on the matter. That’s all I know so far, and this list.” Arsus took the paper and handed it to Crow. “As he said, Selnar is planning a war against several cities, including Holmesk.”
KeDjA (lilli.breda) strolls quietly out of the court, humming softly, her feet splashing gently in the water as she walks through the gentle waves and pushes past the plants that cover the entrance to the court. Two familiar silhouettes catch her eye and she stops humming before smiling slightly. Her movements become more cat-like as she pushes past the railing and shakes her feet briefly to get rid of the water between the soles of her sandals and her feet. She blinks back and forth between the two men before coming to a quiet stop. During a pause in the conversation, she interjects a brief ‘Tal Masters’.
Crow (melchior.wardell) listens and nods “If he fears war he is smarter then most warriors to find us.” he replied to Arsus. When Kedja arrived his eyes would be drawn to her. As a moth to a flame. He noted the purple silk draped over her shoulders. Had she remembered? For a moment he paused as to truly drink her in. “Selnar seems to have an appetite for war.” he replied. “If I think of it I wonder if there is any city that hasn’t yet had issues with them.” he pondered the prize on the head of the Ubar of Selnar. Or was it just the people in general that were hungry for power.
[03:36] αяѕυѕ: “And thats not all, he spoke about Selnar and few other nothers regions planning a war” he then added. “Not sure, if its true but if its true, may there will be a way to avoid it, on a diplomatic way perhaps. If this fails, maybe other ways more practical. But first, it is important to find out why they are planning a war. Perhaps it is only one or two individuals who are hungry for power, which could result in damaging the balance between the cities. That would be a reason to prevent it, if possible.” said it and looked for moment to Kedja.
KeDjA (lilli.breda) casually pushes a strand of hair over her right shoulder. Of course, this movement was not as casual as it seemed; that was rarely the case. Most of what she did was well thought out and planned. At the same moment, she pushes her shoulders back, improving her posture, before sliding the purple silk scarf on her left upper arm down a little. The cool silk leaves a slight goose bump on her skin as she tries to organise the content of the men’s conversation in her head. As always. Quiet and attentive, but not appearing curious. Her head tilted slightly to the right as she looked at Crow. It had been a while since she had seen him and, as always, she checked his appearance for changes, injuries or other signs that might indicate how he was doing.
Crow (melchior.wardell) was for that moment captivated. The strand of hair that casually felt from her shoulder. The silk. It showed in a way promise. He always enjoyed the girls antics but also her beauty. Never had he the pleasure of her use, but it wasn’t as if he hadn’t fantasized about it. For a flicker there was that lustful gaze he gave her. A present – of a man so often in control – to her owner and herself. She was well trained. Perhaps even better then she was aware of. “I think it would be wise to keep some things between us. Not yet make it a caste operation if you know what I mean ?” Crow had seen some of the men busy in training and wasn’t very taken by it for now. He didn’t think he was the best, but Arsus and him didn’t think in quantity but in quality. In time to engage and not study from books on a shelve. “There is a spot you can visit if you ever wish to meet others. Ever heard of the loom?” he asks.
αяѕυѕ smiled to himself when he noticed how Crow was looking at Kedja, but he didn’t say anything. He agreed that they should keep the matter to themselves for the time being, so he nodded. “Until we have more information, it’s not important to inform the caste. Maybe it’s just a passing fancy, and we don’t want to scare the Kaiilas away prematurely.” It was a phrase he had heard somewhere before and found meaningful. When Crow mentioned Loom, he knew what it was, but he didn’t know the location yet. “I’ve heard of Loom, but I didn’t know there was a place to meet. Do you know where this place is?”
Only now did Arsus have time to greet Kedja. “Tal, Kedja,” he said with a smile. There was no one else around, so he could calmly show how happy he was to see her. Had she made herself look extra pretty for Crow, he wondered, when he noticed the purple scarf.
Crow (melchior.wardell) perked a brow at the mentioning of Kaiila’s. The animals useful in the desert and as a lover of animals the four and two legged once he had owned several. There were others too but with a tarn, tharlarion and sleens to feed. It would become a little much. “True and they are easily scared.” he mused – if it was in humor or serious – was anyones guess. “I have been there. I met up with a woman … a phsyician. She is on a little mission of mine. So I will see how she does.” he informed his friend. “Here .. this is a short map.” as he quickly drew a way to get there. “I was able to fly there by tarn.” he stated. “I am sure Shriek would love to meet up with your Shadow once more.” he winked towards Kedja.
KeDjA (lilli.breda) bites her lower lip when Crow’s gaze meets hers. For a brief moment, perhaps the blink of an eye, she keeps her eyes fixed on his before lowering her head. Almost as if she were shy, which – if you know her – would be a completely idiotic thought. If the topic of conversation weren’t so serious, at least to her at that moment, she probably wouldn’t have looked away, but would have moved closer to this man, whom many were surely afraid of, and enjoyed a nice flirt. For whatever reason, she had always been attracted to danger. Presumably, this carefree attitude had allowed her to live to such an old age. She didn’t worry about the fact that her life could end at any moment with these men, even though she was well aware of it. Her hands clasped behind her back, a habit she always had when she had nothing to do. Her head lifts again slightly when Arsus speaks, and she watches her owner closely to gauge how serious the situation might be from his facial expressions. She briefly tensed her muscles when Arsus looked at her, but then smiled when he returned her greeting. Now it was time to move, and she slipped between the two men and positioned herself to Arsus’ left. She purses her lips slightly, but her eyes sparkle with amusement when Crow mentions the two Tarns. ‘But this time without any chicks afterwards, please, Master,’ she says to him. As if he could prevent the animals’ natural instincts.
Crow (melchior.wardell) knew life upon Gor was serious. It always was rough, dangerous, filled with twist and turns. It shook life, people, castes and slaves alike in a way that was thrilling and yet at times stale. But sometimes there were these true gems. As in friends, moments, girls, weapons, encounters that made him feel alive and very much in place. He too had become old by looking danger right in the eyes. As if he taunted it as to get him. Catch him. And for now they always had the other end of the stick. “Well I can clear a room with my mere presence. I can silence an Ubar with only a gaze and yet …. I would fail miserably when it comes to the urges of a more primal nature of Tarns.” he admitted. His voice held no humor and yet – everyone knew he was jesting.
αяѕυѕ: “They’re easily frightened,” Arsus mused quietly to himself. He didn’t reveal whether he was referring to the Kaiilas or some of the caste. There was some truth in both. “You mean you have a physican in Selnar,” Arsus looked at Crow, “somehow I have the feeling you have a bride in every port,” and laughed, even though the subject was very serious at the moment, but lightening the mood never hurts. Shriek, yes, there was something else. Arsus’ flying skills with his tarn were legendary, probably not in a positive sense. He took the map Crow had drawn and looked at it, nodded a few times, and then said, “With the tarn, it’s possible to fail once again with my flying skills,” he muttered to himself.
KeDjA (lilli.breda) laughs softly at the words of both men. Addressing Crow first, she lets her voice sound gentle and flattering, ‘Oh, you’re selling yourself short, Master.’ She is convinced that he could convince anything and anyone, whether with fear or charm. She is also convinced that every woman, whether slave or free, would throw herself at his feet. Accordingly, she also assumes that he could control his Tarn when the going gets tough. She has already noticed that most of the black men’s informants are women. That could not be denied. Her face turns to the right towards Arsus as he takes the map. ‘Do I have to fly with you?’ Her mouth twists again. It is well known that she is not particularly fond of Arsus’ flying skills.
Crow (melchior.wardell) shook his head “No this physician lives in the forest near the outpost of the loom.” he stated. “She serves the caste in way. Or well that is what I got from it. I think my brother Sirius knows more about this.” he added. As to the phrase of easily frightened they were in complete agreement. “As to my contacts … yes I have many … but I fear my cock hasn’t seen a cunt in ages. I fear in a few hands I will take the old baker between her dough.” he jested “Seems many killers do not like to share their beasts.” as his eyes would look over Kedja once more. As the conversation turned to flying. “Oh for the Priest Kings sake .. one moment in time he will learn – won’t he ?”
αяѕυѕ: Crow had apparently taken a liking to Kedja, as many others had before him. However, many were concerned that I might be upset if Kedja were to engage in intimate relations. She is a slave, and it would be difficult to give her greater pleasure. She is certainly not shy in this regard. He looked at Kedja and noticed her joyful expression when she asked if she could fly with me. “Of course you can fly with me,” I said, glancing at Crow, “I’ve almost always arrived safely so far,” I added with a smile. Then he returned to the topic at hand, “How do we proceed? My suggestion would be for you to activate your contacts in Selnar, while I track down Onyx and see where she gets her information from and whether she can recount parts of the conversations to me.”
KeDjA (lilli.breda) snorts lightly when Arsus, of course, misunderstands her again and books her a flight with him and Schatten. Her eyes roll slightly, but a loving smile still appears on her lips before she turns her face back to Crow as he continues speaking, and her expression changes to one of disbelief. Him? No woman? For ages? Hard to imagine. That would be like saying that the priest kings are now knitting jumpers so that the Kurii don’t freeze in winter. She shakes her head slightly and, in her boundless openness, asks bluntly, ‘But why? Are you injured?’ Her gaze slides shamelessly, but with concern, to the centre of his body, as if she wants to check whether she overlooked something during her visual examination earlier. Her head shakes as Crow continues talking and brings up the matter of Arsus, the Tarn and learning. ‘I’m afraid not, Master,’ she murmurs in reply.
Crow (melchior.wardell) knew of the offer of Arsus when it came to his girl and his generosity. But Crow would never take advantage for such. As he turned to the conversation at hand. He nodded thoughtfully “I will do so. Let us keep in touch of what we learn. It wouldn’t hurt to have some ears there regardless.” he stated. “I need to check a few things for now.” at the gaze of Kedja he would move closer to her tap her nose “Perhaps your owner allows me to have you bath me soon.” he stated. “Nothing better then to overhear conversations in a bath house with a bond.” he winked there. “I need to be going. I see you both soon – and I will keep in touch.” with that the air stirred as Shriek presented himself to take him on another flight.
Crows Murder 
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