<hr/><div align="center"><em>Autolycus and a random guard meet Sorcha and Ciarad</em></div><hr/><br/>The door swung to reveal a guard, on his way out after chaining up the Pictish woman. He was mumbling to himself about savages and their ways and what could possibly have possessed the master to buy that one, but monologue ended abruptly as he caught sight of the new slave. Still in the doorway, which he filled almost completely being a sturdy man, he looked Ciarad up and down appreciatively, noting the way her sweat made the remains of her clothing stick to her body in all the right places. His eyes roamed over her toned legs, followed the curve of her hips, halted for a moment on her firm breast and then, finally, came up to her face.<br/><br/>"Well hello there," he said, his lips spreading in what he probably thought was a winning smile.<br/><br/>--<br/><br/>Autolycus poured a drink for the young, red-haired slave. So quiet she, so well behaved. It almost made him smile, the way she contrasted with the feral Pictish woman. He turned to look at that one, regarding her dispassionately with his head tilted to one side. There was no disapproval there, no disgust at her wild ways, no anger, just a kind of calm curiosity. He watched her fight the guard, fight the chains that now held her to the wall, shooting fire from her eyes all the time. There was something admirable about that, the way she continued to struggle when she must know she didn't stand a chance... So wild and uncompromising, so full of energy and<em>anger</em>. Most of all anger.<br/><br/>He wondered what had happened to her. Wondered just what the master expected him to do with her. Oh he could see the appeal of her, her savageness and - yes - underneath it, not bad-looking... But what use would she have other than being put on display to demonstrate the savageness of the Northern tribes?<br/><br/>"Calm down," he said, waving his hand in the universal gesture, "At least save your strength," he suggested. She was only wasting it now, fighting against those chains.<br/><br/>He was distracted then, by the knock on the door, the guard.<br/><br/>"Who's there?" He called without taking his eyes off Sorcha.