<div class="floatleft">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/29/c3/03/29c30390626091530ea9ed28f8d6bed1.jpg)</div>The negotiations began to move in earnest, Yula/Frais speaking of ancient books that her village has, Malrefesh requesting those books be presented before she committed to any magic.  This was bandied about for a time, the skeleton eventually bringing twin wine-glasses with an almost sickly sweet berry taste.  Discussion continued and ranged on until finally a deal was made.<br/><br/>"Your village, which resides on these lands," Malrefesh declared, drawing a little circle on the map with her finger, "Are in need of better crops to survive.  I can make this happen, but it will take a week or so of work.  Until such a time as the spell is completed, you will remain here as my guest with warding to inform me of your location.  You will, however, be free to explore the city or the palace as you wish.  You will have access to my libraries and servants for entertainment, or may go out into the city if you wish for coarser things or music.  At the end of the week, my Pleasure Guard will escort you to your village to acquire the books and bring them back.  We have an accord?"<br/><br/>After the accord was made and saluted in appropriate fashion, Malrefesh draws up to Yula/Frais.  This close there is a feeling of magnetism, a sort of buzzing in the air that draws up the hair and gives an almost metallic taste in the mouth.  One hand grasps Yula's while the other traces along her face, a momentary light forming a spider's web along her cheek all laced with flowers.  The mask covers much of this, but the web can clearly be seen below and around her left eye.  "When our business is concluded, I will remove this," Malrefesh purrs out with a warm smile on her face, "But until we do, I shall be able to find you in case you should decide to be... unwilling to part with your books.  I think it is a fair arrangement.  Berra will show you to your rooms and then you are free to do as you wish in the city."<br/><br/>With this, she makes a vague gesture and moves to her desk calling out to the skeleton, "Fetch me all of my books on hortimancy.  This will be an interesting spell.  Oh, and Fellow?  My orb."  The skeleton gives a shuddering nod and begins to go about the business of gathering the books, leaving the orb for last.<br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://img02.deviantart.net/dc82/i/2012/352/9/7/xunae_portrait_by_angevere-d5oe8dd.jpg)</div>Berra, one of Malrefesh's Pleasure Guard, gives a respectful nod to Yula/Frais and in her husky, charming voice murmers out, "Dignitary Frais, if you would come with me."<br/><br/>She leads along out of the room and back down the stairs, hips swinging, four hands gently tracing the walls of the corridors as she goes appearing almost spiderlike in those movements.  Down one flight of stairs, through a hallway, and past a dining room set with one long table she goes, "You will dine here at the sixteenth hour tonight and in the morning when you rise.  Simply come here as well if you require additional food during the day."  In the room are several servants bustling around in similar costumes (and with similar magical additions) to those seen upstairs.  Berra leads to a hallway off of the dining room which has several open doors with small apartments inside.<br/><br/>The one she leads Yula to has a gas lamp that she lights upon entering in addition to the purple stone that is favored here.  The bed is sized for two people comfortably with silk sheets, likewise a silk cover is over the table and the dresser.  The room is decorated in blues and silvers, with a chair for reading and a small shelf.  "You may request any books you require," suggests Berra as she gestures to a rope which disappears into the wall, "Or call for servants for other needs.  Your bathing room includes a bath which water can be fetched for.  If you require nothing more of me, I will return to my Great Lady?"<br/><br/>Berra watches with calculating, weighing eyes as she waits for a response to this.