<div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/Pz1QL9U.jpg)</div><br/>Vii seemed to be pleased that Miyuki hooked her arm around his.  It was a strange thing, this 'forged' man.  He wasn't truly a man, but he was at the same time.  His face showed no expression, ever a solid mask of metal, yet somehow his emotions were clear to Miyuki.  She couldn't tell how she knew he was pleased by her action, but she could tell he was.  He began leading the way and Miyuki couldn't help but notice the appreciative glances her now more exposed body got.  A few appraising and critical looks too when she passed by a brothel from the working girls.  It appeared that there were more than a few in this city, and they were out in the open, not hiding what they were.  There was something of carnality in this place, something that simply accepted sex, lust, the naked and raw.  Maybe it was living on the fronteir, with potential death nearby in the jungles, and even danger just outside the walls?  That was how Jax had injured himself, working in the fields just outside the walls.  When death was close, even with so many people in such a large city, maybe the people of Laelith simply had no time for strong morality, and chose to live?  There certainly was an air of life, vitality, to this place.  Impossible to put a finger on, but it felt vibrant, alive, awake.<br/><br/>Vii spoke softly about some of the things as they passed before asking Miyuki about her meeting with Ylene.  He expressed a minor note of regret that it hadn't gone better for her, but in his tinny voice said that things might go better with Velma Thunderaxe.  They had traveled part of the way back down the city, from what Miyuki learned was the 'mage district' where Ylene lived back towards the docks but stopped in the 'craftsmen's row' when they finally arrived at the "The Split Pig."  The sign on the front showing a very cartoonish pig, sliced down the middle by a comical looking battle axe.  The silly looking pig on the sign had a look of confusion on it's face, even though it was split right down the middle and separated into two parts.  The building itself reminded her of the Seven Hells tavern, with a broad open front that had low walls and high arches designed to let out as much heat as possible once the temperature cooled off.  While it was obviously a tavern, it did not seem anywhere near as rowdy or bawdy as the seven hells.  In fact were it not for the bar that made up the back wall, Miyuki could almost think this was a restaurant and not a tavern.  For there were several people here sitting at tables inside conversing and eating what smelled like amazing food.  Oh there were those who sat with nothing but mugs of ale, but even they seemed sedate.  There were no drinking songs here, no wild riots of movement.  This tavern had a more relaxed atmosphere.  Still there was that same sense of comradarie as she saw one table call to another on the other side of the room, taunting them about something and receiving a rude hand gesture and a smile in return.<br/><br/>Vii leaned in and lowered his voice as he said,<strong> "Dwalin 'greybeard' Thunderaxe is old, even by dwarven standards.  Or so they tell me, I have not ever had the nerve to ask.  He is highly respected as one of the original members that opened Laelith some thirty years ago.  But he does not move with the greatest of grace and agility, but you must not treat him like he is frail, for it will anger him.  Also, be warned, he will be crude and lecherous, but it is an act, everyone knows this.  He has never taken advantage of a woman that anyone knows of, he just likes an eyefull and maybe a hug or soft squeeze of a woman's body.  His daughter on the other hand... she'll take much more if you let her."</strong><br/><br/>Vii gently pushed Miyuki in the direction of the tavern, a cool metal hand on her elbow as if telling her that she needed to jump in.  Miyuki noticed that there were a few, maybe as many as four, who were dressed scandolously in the Split Pig, as she was.  But it seemed a bit more reserved.  Still as she entered a human girl of her early twenties approached.  Wearing a light linen robe that closed from her neck to around her thigh, but was sleeveless and showed off lithe smooth arms, she also bore a pair of crystal spectacles on her nose.<strong>"Welcome to The Split Pig miss, we've a freshly tapped keg of Crackrock bitter from Ar'kanton if you're thirsty and several tasty dishes tonight if you're hungry.  Will you be dining alone or will Vii be joining you?"</strong><br/><br/>Vii waved his hands as if to say he wasn't coming in, as he moved to lean against the low wall at the front of the building and look into the tavern, observing.<strong>"Table or bar then miss?"</strong>the woman asked.