This situation--all of it!--was utterly rediculus. People were twisting words and jumping to conclusions, and misinformation was spreading like wildfire. Larea seemed quite troubled by all of this, and the moral implications were certainly unpleasant. But... If he had a knight by his side... Well, it would be safer, wouldn't it? On the other hand, this monotonous tone coming out of the knight's mouth could be the result of terrible acting, and she was waiting for a bit of evidence to arrest the potential slavers. Ahmaht seemed to be one of those utterly against slavery. Perhaps he'd had personal experience. Also, the very reason Riu might desire a knight could be avoided if he just kept hidden, while such a person could draw unwanted attention his way. In the first place, he was already being too quick to trust strangers. Maybe it was already too late for him...<br/><br/>No, dammit! He wouldn't roll over without a fight. In a situation like this, a small gamble seemed justified. And so, as it usually went in his life, morals and personal desires were contorted by politics.<br/><br/>"Larea and I aren't slaves," he started, for the sake of the woman in question who had desperately prompted him. She was very nice. He hoped this wouldn't hurt her opinion of him. "We aren't slavers either. Ahmaht, sir, please relax. This strange knight came proposing this on her own. However, Miss Elistrea, if you're offering to be my slave, I'll accept the offer." Even if it was a ploy to drag them to jail, something seemed off about that. First, the proposed charge was too far out of left field. And there was something about this knight that seemed... was stupid too rude to say? Anyway, Riu was hoping for the small chance that this strange knight was really offering herself as a slave. If that was her personality, then... Insurance would be good. So, he would tie things off with a test.<br/><br/>The boy reached into his bag and took out the charcoal from earlier. "For this sort of situation, I'll issue the proper ceremony." The boy shot a look to the foreigner that he should just watch for a moment. Then, he drew a strange insignia on the knight's breastplate. "This is the seal that binds you as my slave. Of course, wiping the seal away won't mean your freedom. There is a different ritual for that. Now then, Sigrun Elistrea of the 24th division of the 4th Heiarchy of the Holy Guard, you are now the loyal slave of your master, Riu. Any attempts to end your master's life are prohibited, and you are expected to defend your master's life and property before your own. You will not be paid for your efforts. You can be sold, abandoned, or killed at your master's discretion. You may keep your former position, I'll allow it, as long as you understand that I am your highest authority. Now then, slave, go back to your previous activity." Now to see how well his idea had worked.