Jasper followed silently, head down and ears lowered slightly. As he was ushered into the room, he took a moment to glance at the new surroundings before returning his gaze to the floor, awaiting orders. With the closing of the door and Lord Lyons statement, Jasper grew nervous but did as he was told.<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">Lyons led Jasper to a room off the great room to the left. The room is like gentleman's drawing room.There was a fireplace, large round table the right, two leather, captains chairs face the roaring fire. Comfortable, less ornate, room. "Walk to the table. Remove your clothes down to your undergarments."</span><br/>-----<br/>Following the man, Jasper heard what he was to do. Pausing momentarily he approached the table and removed his outer clothing. If he were still in Malora's possession, he would be receiving a beating, or perhaps a whipping at this point. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath he tried to prepare for whatever Lord Lyon had in mind.<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">Lyons removed his sword hung it on the mantle; as Jasper undressed, the Lord, removed his cloak, and uniformed overcoat and winter accessories. Lyons, glanced at the la,d obeying with out question, undressing; he could tell the lad was uncomfortable by the was his ear lay.<br/><br/>Lyons look at the bandaged, scared, freshly bruised, body before him. "Come stand by the fire. Let me take look at you."</span><br/>-----<br/>To say he was unprepared for this would be an understatement. It wasn't a physical beating, but he could still be insulted, torn apart by words. Shaking a little worse than before, Jasper stood by the fire, his cat eyes glowing in the light.<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">The man overlooks the Jasper's form and takes a deep breath, "Turn around."<br/>He spoke in a calm voice. He sees Jasper is shaking. He knows the lad is terrified. In unknown setting, thinking the absolute worst. Lyons been doing this for years. Confronted by scared young men, just out of their teens; forced to kill.</span><br/>-----<br/>Surprised by the calm tone of the Lord's voice, Jasper tries to identify what might happen. The Lord didn't sound angry, or even upset, but from what he knew, the man had been doing this for a long time and knew how to conceal these sorts of things from view. Turning around as instructed, Jasper looked to the floor, willing his heart to stop racing.<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">Lyons saw what he expected a back so scared with lash lines, battle weapons, and marred at the years of battle and torture, "Kate did fine work patching you up." The man swallows hard and takes his left pinky to his right eye, he winces upon seeing the battle axe wound. "You have the ability to self heal? That gash on your back and left leg should take over a week. You were fighting in the Low Country, weren't you, you are called in the underground circuit as 'Hell Cat'. You have 15 kills, 16 mercy's, quite a record. There is no need to take you before Mastermage Allen. You may dress and sit in the left chair."</span><br/>-----<br/>Jasper remained silent as Lord Lyons looked over his scars and wounds, years of abuse and battles piled one on top of the other. Upon being asked if he could self heal, he nodded. It only really worked when he had the strength, and to a lesser extent health for it, as such, nothing had really healed very much. Jasper listened to the Lord listing his record in the circuit. He wasn't proud of it, but he had done what was necessary, to survive. He let out a long breath when he was allowed to dress, but paused after doing so. Looking to the Lord, he questioned the decision to sit in the chair.<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">Lyons slowly walked toward the right chair, "They have well trained. I have many questions for you. It was necessary to test you. In my position, I had to know, how well. You from this day forward may speak freely unless the situation does not call for it. There is no need to test you skill. I know how well you fight. I have eyes and ears everywhere. Tell me your full name.'</span><br/>-----<br/>Just as he had been with Kate, Jasper was skeptical of being able to speak freely. It wasn't something he had been encouraged to do before, in fact, he had been punished for it. He wasn't surprised though that the Lord had information on him though, having eyes and ears everywhere was necessary in his position. He froze though at being asked his full name.<br/><br/>"I...I don't know master. I know only my first name." He admitted.<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">Lyons quickly raises and lowers his head. <br/><br/>Lyons picks up a long tavern pipe off the mantel, tampers a flavorful herb for smoking, then lights a long kenneling from the fire; he draws in a breath and blows a smoke ring. He takes a seat and looks at the young man, "Who were your parents?"</span><br/>-----<br/>The question was one Jasper had asked himself many times before but the answer was always the same. He didn't know, or at least didn't remember. Racking his mind for anything he found nothing. Shaking his head he closed his eyes and sighed.<br/><br/>"I don't remember master. I wish I did."<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">The Lord understood,"Many babies born into slavery,do not have a name, your parents were hand picked to sire you. You are a race horse. Your father was many in the pits. What kind of cat are you?"</span><br/>-----<br/>"Savannah." He answered automatically, finally having a full answer for once.<br/><br/>His thoughts were elsewhere though. He wondered what else Lord Lyons knew about his parents, or even about himself, but didn't dare ask. It wasn't his place to do so. Learning that his parents had been hand picked fit with what Kate had said about him being bred for her, but it didn't make it hurt any less. Physical wounds he had endured before, but this was different.<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">Lyons pondered with his pipe in his teeth; he leans toward the fire,"A moment...a Savannah... Good to know. Ever fight in you cat form?"</span><br/>-----<br/>He wondered why Lord Lyons was asking these questions but answered nonetheless.<br/><br/>"Many times master, shifting forms does give an advantage in some fights." In many fights Jasper had switched from his cat form, to human, and back again. Dodging a blow, or simply to deliver a better hit.<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">Lyons made a mental note, looked toward the fireplace; he pulled a drag and let out his breath of smoke. Then faced the fighter next to him, "Your fighting styles who taught you; who was your master trainer?"</span><br/>-----<br/>He couldn't remember ever receiving any formal training, what he had learned he had picked up from watching other fighters, adjusting some things to work for him. Other than that he had taught himself, if one could call doing anything that might mean surviving, teaching.<br/><br/>"I am self taught mostly, picking things up here and there." As he thought about it he remembered one fighter whom he had admired, watching the man fight whenever he could and hoping it wouldn't be his last. That man had been like a hero to Jasper, someone to look up to, someone who hadn't let the beatings change who he was. Of course he had never met the man, and had idea who he was. After years of marveling over him, he had gone missing. Some said he had escaped, others that Lord Draco had had him put to death for rebelling against his orders.<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">Lyons would put his skills and observation as a plus. The lad was showing promise that he was no slacker in learning from the pro's. Lyons looked at Jasper with a bit of smirk,"The old man, was he 'Fighting Joe'. A crusty old man that was a famous champion. Hard to beat, make you see stars. He got distracted by purpose. most likely was put out of commission to fight. Due to his age, the pit bosses allowed him to hand out weapons; shout pointers to both alive and dead fighters; and oh gahh he'd curse. He sure swore. I have not thought of him...since..."</span><br/>-----<br/>Seeing the smirk, Jasper tilts his head to the side slightly, curious as to what the man was thinking. At first the name didn't ring any bells but the description sure did. Jasper could remember many times when the man in question would curse at him after nearly every round, telling him everything he had done wrong. That couldn't be the same man he had watched years before dominating his opponents, could it?<br/><br/>"How did you...I'm sorry master." Jasper apologized for speaking out in such a manner but he was finding it odd how the Lord seemed to know so much about the pits, as well as to what he was referring to by having not thought of the man since...something.<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">Lyons slowly set his pipe down, "You asked me a question. You need a name. I cannot address you without a name? You do know you have been speaking freely to me. I have allowed it Lad. You may tell me a name you would like to be called."</span><br/>-----<br/>At first Jasper thought he was in trouble. Immediately his back tensed and he bit his lip, preparing to apologize, but stopped when Lord Lyons asked him for his name.<br/><br/>"My name is Jasper." He said, keeping his eyes cast downward still, trying to understand how different the Lyons were from what he had thought all high class people were.<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">Lyons sat back in his chair and thought as he rubbed his beardless chin, "Hmm, Jasper. Yes that's a good name. Would you like a middle name?"</span><br/>-----<br/>He had been called many things before, not all of them nice, but never had he been given, or even offered an actual name before. Titles, insults, and pet names sure, but this was different.<br/><br/>"I...yes master, I would." He answered softly.<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">His lordship looked at Jasper and smiled, "Would you like to the freedom to choose? Think on this. Carefully. You making a choice is a very huge leap. Are you ready to take on all challenges I present to you? Jasper you enter my household, not a slave, but as a freeman. This means education, protocols, and all responsibilities as ward of a Noble House. Do want some time to think about this?"</span><br/>-----<br/>Jasper was shocked, lifting his head quickly he searched Lord Lyon's face for any sign that said he was lying. Not finding anything, the next thing Jasper thought was that he had heard wrong. But that didn't seem right either. He had heard correctly, the question now was how he would answer it.<br/><br/>"I don't...I can't..." He felt his breathing increase as he tried to rationalize this. He didn't know how not to be a slave and suddenly this Lord was telling him he wasn't one anymore? It didn't make sense. It couldn't make sense. Jasper could feel the panic rising, he had to give an answer, had to follow orders. Either way if he accepted or denied he was trapped!<br/><br/>His hands, balled into fists, came to press at his temples as he closed his eyes and shook his head, his ears down, whispering over and over to himself that he couldn't do it.<br/>-----<br/><span style="color: #4080FF">Lyons stood and faced the young man, "All in good time, Jasper, come, lets go home. I will free you when you are strong enough to ask. In the mean time, you will wear this ring symbolizing you belong to to me." Lyons places on his left index hand, the ring is plain copper. "This is your slave ring, you well wear no collar. You may not go anywhere without a family member. You will address me as master."<br/><br/>Lyons stands, removes a clean handkerchief from his right sleeve; gently places his right hand on Jasper's chin, and wipes his tears, "Let go home. You will serve me and the family well. Jasper, you will be taught all you need. I will never punnish you physically. I will give you extra duty."<br/><br/>He motions for Jasper to stand; wraps his left arm around his shoulder, and walks with him to get his warm clothes. "Get dressed, let't go. Ann should have supper ready. You may wear your sword. You are the family guardian."</span><br/>-----<br/>Jasper felt Lord Lyons slipping the ring onto his finger, listening to the rules as they were given, remembering them as quickly as he could. Forcing himself to remain still as the Lord wiped away his tears, Jasper scolded himself for his behavior yet again. He was slipping from where Malora had brought him, becoming weak. When Lord Lyons said he would never punish him physically, he was surprised, but also grateful. He would still be punished, in a different way yes, but it would still be a consequence.<br/><br/>Standing, Jasper pulled away slightly when Lord Lyons wrapped an arm around his shoulder, the act of physical touch outside of punishment still a foreign concept. Putting on his cloak, and sword, Jasper once more lowered his gaze and followed his master.