<div class="floatright">(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8073552/velvet%20os.jpg)</div><br/>(Viola's Character Sheet: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8073552/Viola%20Jhafae%20%28Sabre%27s%20Game%29.html (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8073552/Viola%20Jhafae%20%28Sabre%27s%20Game%29.html))<br/><br/>The faint<em>clink</em>of chains...the heat and dust of the day...the sound of the bazaar...<br/><br/>All things considered, today was taking a turn for the better.<br/><br/>A soft sigh purred from Viola Jhafae's (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8073552/janna2.jpg) silky throat - Her full lips curving in a pout, as she tested her bonds...the crimson silk of her midriff-baring costume caressing her creamy skin, as she shifted her stance. Chained to the post as she was, her vision obscured by the flaps of the tent, it was all she could do to watch the world go by...A parade of shuffling feet, as much as she strained to make out anything - or<em>anyone</em>.<br/><br/>Her shackles rattled, as Viola gave a futile but heartfelt tug - the golden ornaments (stars and crescent moons) hung in her honey-blonde hair chiming as she shook her head. Black lace fringed the cap that pinned her golden tresses back from her lovely features, her brow furrowing ever-so-slightly in thought...<br/><br/>She shouldn't have taken that job for the Aspis Consortium. She'd been suspicious, from the start - But they'd needed a mage, and were willing to pay in gold for one. Against her better judgement, she'd taken the offer...After all, Viola had reasoned,<em>anything</em>was better than languishing in some tavern somewhere, trying to make ends meet-<br/><br/>And now she was here.<em>Shariz, City of Delights,</em>they called this place...But Viola hadn't had the chance to see much of it! Ever since her 'expedition' - looters, really - had been brought down by the bandit attack, she'd spent most of her time blindfolded, or hog-tied over a horse...When the bandits hadn't taken the opportunity to amuse themselves with her! (With surprising rarity, she had to admit - Even shackled and unarmed, a foreign witch was still someone to be feared...And for most of the bandits, they'd been pragmatic enough not to risk it!)<br/><br/>The half-elven beauty's pout turned a trifle more pronounced - they'd taken everything. Her gold, her scrolls, the wand she'd concealed in her boot...Her<em>spellbook!</em>They'd even killed her ferret...And<em>that</em>, more than anything else, made her *fume*. She really could have used a friend right now...Though far from home like this, friends were the last thing she'd expected.<br/><br/>But they'd been holding off for a<em>reason</em>. When they'd reached their destination, coin had changed hands...And she'd been fed, cleaned - thoroughly, in fact - and eased into the outfit she now wore...A costume, Viola had to admit, looked<em>good</em>on her! Her lissome legs, folded beneath her, crossed and uncrossed with a supple scrape of lacy black stockings...Her slippers scuffing lightly against the tent's floor, as - not for the first time - she tried to figure out how she'd get herself out of this...<br/><br/>-No magic. No weapons. Even if she somehow<em>escaped</em>...Where would she go? Viola knew what they did to fugitives, here...And it wasn't like she didn't stand out! Her breath caught - Her full bosom rising and falling against her bodice top, as she drew a shivery breath...the heavy chain draped on her lap, with<em>just</em>enough give for her to kneel...<br/><br/>The one bright spot - the tiny glimmer of light at the end of a long, dark tunnel - was that she spoke the language. The lovely half-elf had feigned only a basic understanding...But she knew what the slaver who'd purchased her planned to do - sell her at a profit. She could hear him shouting, describing Viola in distinctly flattering terms...the wizardess managing to clasp her hands together, despite her heavy shackles!<br/><br/>Her fate was<em>really</em>in the hands of the Gods, now. She just had to hope that whoever<em>bought</em>her - and Viola had no doubt it'd be soon - wouldn't be *too* bad...Or the voluptuous half-elf would soon know *exactly* how much worse things could get!