The Caravan Master sighed, shrugged, and nodded.<br/><br/>"Very well.  We will not be here, since we're on a schedule, but...I shall do my best to convince someone to come and wait.  There is a unit of the Sultan's army at our next stop.  If you catch up with us there, I'll even remember to pay you."<br/><br/>There is a nervous ripple of laughter among the others, and the group disperses.  The old man pulls Faridah aside and presents her with some supplies, then points her in the general direction of the legendary tower.<br/><br/>****<br/><br/>Some days later, Faridah finds that the legends are only too true.  The Dark Tower juts up from a craggy hillside, surrounded by a veritable labyrinth of twisted, thorny gullies cut through the jagged volcanic rocks.  The approach will be difficult enough, even without guards keeping a sharp lookout.  The only bright side is that so far, she hasn't seen any.<br/><br/>Which is not the same thing as saying there are none, of course.<br/><br/>****<br/><br/>Mellisande pauses in her appreciation of the entertainment before her as the ever-faithful minion brings forth a crystal sphere covered by a blue silk cloth.<br/><br/><strong>"Yes?"</strong><br/><br/>"Security just picked up an intruder, Boss.  Looks like a tomboy with a sword."<br/><br/><strong>"And she's come to rescue my playthings!  Now that <em>is</em> an unusual departure from stereotype.  This should be fun."</strong><br/><br/>"Shall I release the hounds?"<br/><br/><strong>"Not just yet.  Let's let her come a little closer.  The Stones deserve a chance to play, don't you think?"</strong><br/><br/>The minion chuckles softly and offers the sphere again.  "You want a look?"<br/><br/><strong>"In a little while.  I'm enjoying myself."</strong><br/><br/>"Okay, Boss.  You're the boss."  The minion retreats again, and Mellisande lies back again with a smile.  The dusky maidens of this land are such a wonderful novelty, and they're so much more demure!  The thrill of watching them broken and used for her pleasure is so much greater.  A pity she might have to let a few of them go, just to ensure her own legend grows appropriately.