Anara nodded her head and gestured to the rack of practice weapons that held swords of various types.  They all seemed to be well crafted and held some internal weights that seemed to give them the proper weight.  Though their edges were beyond blunt, and the wood likely wouldn't break skin or do more than raise a nasty welt or bruise.  She couldn't find a sword that was exactly what she was used to, nor one that was the exact right length, though there were a few that were obviously fashioned after the northern style she was comfortable with.  Choosing one of these, she hefted it and found it a bit longer than she'd have liked and a bit heavier then what she was used to, but feeling it was a good choice over the more prevalent curved blades.<br/><br/>Anara didn't even bother to don armor, though she did remove her veil and jewelry.  Somehow she seemed even more fierce divested of the rainments of a pleasure slave.  Somehow standing in the ring swinging a quarterstaff, she seemed more powerful then she had a moment before.  Her nudity didn't make her seem vulnerable, in fact it let Tialyn see the ripple and play of muscles beneath the slave's skin.  Just as she was about to step into the ring Tialyn heard a soft hiss.  Turning to the side she saw Ebony sitting in the shaded area against the wall.  A wooden stool was a simple seat, yet somehow Ebony managed to sit upon it like it was a throne.  Tialyn couldn't help but notice that the drow had found a length of dark brown cloth, and tied it over her eyes like a blindfold.  No doubt it would let her see just well enough through the weave of the cloth to watch, hampered, but not pained by the bright sunlight that filled the courtyard.  Ebony smiled and said,<strong> "Do not go easy risita, Anara will not respect restraint."</strong><br/><br/>Anara laughed and swung the quarterstaff around her body in slow lazy circles as she dropped into a defensive fighting stance,<strong> "Ebony is correct.  Come Mistress Tialyn, show me what a free woman, a paladin, of the north can do!"</strong><br/><br/><hr/><br/>Tialyn did surprisingly well, and no doubt it was due to the magical strength coursing through her body.  Had she attempted combat without Ebony, and Ah'mie's, divine blessing, she likely would have been too weak from months in a prison to even beat Anara's strength to a draw.  But in their opening spar, she managed to not only hold her own, but beat back the muscular amazon till she had a foot forced out of the ring.  After that, Anara called for a short break so they could properly warm up and stretch.  Tialyn found out that Anara was quite vigorous about her excercise and keeping up with the woman as she went through stretching motions and then ran five hundred laps around the courtyard just to 'warm up' was far tougher than the mock combat had been.  Tialyn was sweating in the morning's sunlight, as the day grew warmer.  But Anara would allow for no rest.<br/><br/>The leather of her outfit clung to her skin where it covered, and Tialyn was grateful she'd chosen such a revealing outfit now as it would be intolerable to be covered up fully in such heat.  Anara's body glistened and gleamed in the light, the sun reflecting off the sweat even as it evaporated into the dry air.  There was a certain wisdom in sparring nude in this heat.  Thankfully late in the morning Anara called for a break and water buckets and two servants, lacking collars so likely not slaves, rushed out carrying a heavy bucket between them.  Inside a deep ladle and crystal clear water.  Anara gestured to Tialyn to use the bucket first before turning to the servants and saying,<strong>"Our guest has fair skin, we should limit the amount of time it spends crisping in the sun.  Raise the shades over the courtyard walls, then go fetch the sun oils, so that her skin does not burn."</strong><br/><br/>The two servants both nodded their heads and ran off at speed.  It was an interesting dynamic.  Anara was obviously a slave, and so therefore should be below social ranking of the servants, yet the way she commanded them, the way they snapped to her orders, it made Tialyn curious and she had to inquire after taking a long drink from the ladle of clean cool water.  Anara took the offered ladle and dumped one scoop over her neck and back before dipping and drinking from a second ladle-full of water.<strong> "True, they are freemen.  But I will be a slave for only sixteen more full moons.  Then I am entitled to the payment afforded me by my contract.  Master Sabin has no right to extend my period of slavery, as that was carefully negotiated.  Once I am free, I shall have enough coin to buy a small home, and open my own dojo.  Or if I wish, I can re-neogiate for another slave contract and extend the amount that will be given when I am free.  For I find this life rather pleasing.  Master Sabin rarely sends me to the pits any longer, finding me far more useful in training his guards and whatever pet he comes across at the time." </strong>She glanced at Tialyn and quickly added,<strong>"No offense intent mistress.  I only mean to say that the restrictions of being a slave in this home are not terribly heinous to me.  Certainly I don't love being treated as a pleasure toy.  But it is not the most unpleasant job a woman could have, and the perks are very nice.  Few slaves in the city eat or rest as well as I do, and many free women too I imagine."</strong><br/><br/>She shrugged her shoulders, taking another sip and passing the ladle back to Tialyn,<strong>"But the servants know that when I am free, I shall be far wealthier than they, with a reputation and influence as well.  These are things that no amount of money can buy.  My reputation, hard earned in the pit, makes me powerful." </strong>She leaned in and said softly,<strong>"Power that you can claim yourself mistress.  If you win, or if you lose with style, the name Tialyn whispered among the proper circles can be a powerful thing to have."</strong><br/><br/>Tialyn heard a strange sound above her and looked up.  Along the high walls several servants and guards were attaching poles to the insides of walls, and as she watched larged flapping canvas with rings sewn into it was threaded along the poles.  Ropes pulled the canvas from the walls towards the center until only a ten foot gap remained in the center, causing a shaft of bright sunlight to illuminate the courtyard, leaving the rest of it in shade.  Still bright enough to see by of course, as the canvas itself was lit up brightly, but it was nice that the sun was no longer beating down directly on Tialyn's fair skin.<br/><br/>The pair rested for a few minutes more before Anara gestured back to the ring,<strong>"Warmups are now complete.  It is time to train in earnest."</strong><br/><br/><hr/><br/>For hours the pair practiced, and many of Tialyn's muscles began to remember the movements and feel of a sword, even a practice sword, in her hands.  Anara was good, very good, though she lacked some of the fineese and training that Tialyn had, the woman made up for it with raw strength.  However some time after mid day, Tialyn could feel the blessing of Ah'mie fading from her muscles.  They began to burn from all the exercise, hurt, ache, and the weight of the sword felt too much.  Over the next several moments it was all she could do to not take a beating from Anara's quarterstaff.  She was unable to mount a counterattack as she readjusted to her new, weakened, muscles.  But Anara was relentless, striking Tialyn repeatedly and overpowering her parries till Tialyn fell to her backside, out of the ring, bruised and aching.<br/><br/><strong>"Stop!"</strong>a commanding voice called.  Everyone looked to see the elderly and decrepit master Sabin sitting in a high backed wooden chair, flanked by a pair of nude, collared, and chained harem girls.  He sat just inside one of the archways that led inside the compound.  Despite his chair being framed by the arch, it was an area that had been cast in shadow and as focused as Tialyn had been on training, she hadn't seen him there until he spoke.  When he had arrived Tialyn had not noticed, how long he'd been watching she couldn't say.  Though certainly he'd just seen her fall.<strong> "Three hours and still she falls so easily Anara?" </strong>He asked, his voice carrying across the sandy courtyard so softly Tialyn could barely hear it over her own panting breath.<br/><br/>Anara dropped to one knee and pressed her forehead to the sand,<strong>"Pardon master, she is improving, she needs but more time.  The muscles that have...Hrrrrrrrrrrkkkkkk"</strong><br/><br/>Her response was cut off with a choke and her hands went to her neck, clutching the collar there as her quarterstaff hit the sand beside her.  Master Sabin addressed Tialyn now then,<strong>"Maybe you just need the proper motivation then?  Fair enough, one round, fight your best.  If you lose, you will come service me.  It has been a while since I've felt the tight ring of an elven ass clenching my rod.  Win however and I shall let you retire early tonight, and instead let Anara take your place on my lap.  Does that sound fair?"</strong><br/><br/>Beside her Anara drew in a deep breath, and gasped, obviously able to draw breath again past the magical collar for the first time, tears in the corners of her eyes she gasped out,<strong> "Very fair master, thank you."  </strong>Then her eyes shifted to Tialyn, a look of fear in those eyes.  Something Tialyn hadn't seen in the amazon before.  Was she scared that Tialyn who was technically a free woman wouldn't agree?  Was she afraid that she would lose to Tialyn?  Tialyn knew that Anara didn't care to be used as a pleasure slave, but the look in her eyes said it might be more than just that.  Tialyn's response would likely mean very much in the next few moments.<br/><br/>Ebony's advice echoed in Tialyn's mind,<em> "Do not go easy risita, Anara will not respect restraint."</em>Anara's own confirmation just afterwards had been<em>"Ebony is correct.  Come Mistress Tialyn, show me what a free woman, a paladin, of the north can do!"</em>But even if Tialyn was trying her hardest, even if she wanted to beat Anara, could she?  She felt so tired, so weak, she had pushed herself so hard this morning, and now the strength of the blessing was gone, it was so hard.<br/><br/><em>"You could have that strength again, for a few brief moments, if you really wanted it." </em>A thought flit through her head.  Where had that thought come from?  What did it mean?<em> "You know how to summon that strength again if you wish it.  Primal energy and a prayer to Ah'mie."</em>Was that her own thought?  No one else was speaking.  Only a few heartbeats had passed since Anara had spoken.  Master Sabin was leaning forwards, looking at Tialyn and his face was drawing down into a frown as he awaited her response.  She had to respond, had to think, now!<br/>