The Fool was quite distressed to be divorced of her precious bells, she spoke of trust and then a bit of genuine emotion slipped her tongue. She was being traded to the Aserit, granted as a gift to the visiting conquerors. Sanguine felt bad for mutilating her outfit, as she rhymed her heartfelt rebuke. She was a peasant... no a slave. Only alive for as long as she was amusing to those who owned her. Her mind was sharper than her role, and it was nearly a crime.<br/><br/>“I never asked trust from you, I merely made introduction. I see now that I’ve stepped into a den of vipers and I shall kindly take my leave.” Sanguine began, starting to bow until the second woman spoke.<br/><br/>This woman smelled of lacquered wood and gentle summer sweat. There were perfumes and tonics over her true scent, but Eyes had taught him to smell in layers. She was a soldier, or at least a brawler. In the air between them, Sanguine could feel a sort of tension coming off of the girl. The odd shuffling sound that issued forth whenever San moved too quickly, bespoke of a battle trained warrior, constricted by unfamiliar clothes.<br/><br/>Right from the start, this ‘soldier-girl’ cut through what thin facade he’d been allowed to carry forth into this place. Yes, he wanted to play both sides against one another. It is true that it was better for business if war broke out and he was on good terms with both countries. Both things that might have been deciphered the moment he introduced himself as an assassin. But she had admitted that it might be more dangerous to avoid dealings with a man such as himself.<br/><br/>Then everything went to hell.<br/><br/>The Soldier-Girl summoned guards and ordered chains from the dungeon. So much for any hope Sanguine had of making a decent appearance before the Queen. He was to have his audience in chains, heaven only knew what she might think of him as a blind prisoner.<br/><br/>“You may lock me in chains, but you’ll never make me a slave.” Sanguine said, no longer maintaining his hospitable tone with the Soldier-Girl who called the guards. “Lady Fool. I apologize for what happened to your outfit, but I now see that those bells were little more than substitutes for the chains these people use to keep you in bondage. Know that no sum of gold or table of food is fair trade for your freedom.”<br/><br/>“And you others... Soldiers.” Sanguine muttered, still holding his wrists up to be chained, shaking with rage and disgust for those who lived up high, and cherished seeing others laid low. “I see now that cruelty knows no country. That injustice is not limited to one kingdom. It isn’t the first time I’ve been locked in chains. Might I at least know the names of you who would see me bound?”<br/><br/>The Guards were returning now, bringing the chains and manacles as instructed.<br/><br/>“Even now, if I had my sword, I could cut through the four of you, like carving a cake.” He spat at the guards, marching loudly in their heavy plate mail armor. “Go on then, lock me up tight. We’ll see what the Queen thinks of this. Not just yours, but the other as well.”<br/><br/>As he was forcibly dragged through the double doors into the throne room, Sanguine shook his chains gently.<br/><br/>“Not so different at all than your bells. Eh, Lady Fool?”