<em>The merchant gave a soft chuckle and leaned forward for a better look as the drow elf stood up speaking what was undoubtably venomous words to him. He couldn't understand it but he could at least sense the hostility in her. If she could, she'd probably never do this willing and yet here this elf was. Now being made to present herself to a surface dweller. The merchant imagined a great many things. Such as how much humiliation she must suffer, how cathartic it was for the like of him. He savored the shame of the slave girl to be unclasping her buckles and revealing a rather supple pair of breasts before the man. He grins and watched more as she continued to speak. Finally a thought occurred to him.</em><strong>"So I trust that those bindings of hers are magical in nature. She seems completely aware of everything but cannot control her body?"</strong><br/><br/><em>The merchant prince smiled with a pleased look in his eyes. He was a touch envious of the noble before him and would have loved this one as a toy. It did prove he was to so above it all but had not the stones for such a purchase, illegal as it was in Edenia. No it was not wise to cross the Inquisition of Vaathsol and be ruined and flogged and possibly beheaded as a result. None the less those woes were far behind him as they had crossed the border some time ago.</em><strong>"Oh ho ho. I do imagine that she is a true joy to merely humiliate in this fashion. She must utterly hate being the one to submit. Just from her words alone."</strong><em>His eyes watched with a pleased look as she began to bend over and slowly reveal her lower body to him. Tantalizingly so, her hips almost seemed to roll in trying to pull her garments off her legs... against her wishes no doubt. That was just fine with him though. <br/><br/>She was quite the fetching morsel and her plum looked amazingly ripe. Yet her fruit was never touched, the merchant had quite the amount of discipline and wisdom to not be so bold with another mans property. Alas the show ended and the magical chains forced her back onto her knees with her mouth gagged properly to silence her. He gave a deep cleansing sigh as he allowed the silence of her voice to slake his lusts.</em><strong>"I trust that you have yet to properly break her in. She seems quite willful."</strong>He muses for a moment about it.<strong>"Well, speaking of slaves, you should know of what awaits you at Kingshearth concerning the laws of it."</strong><em>He took a moment to take a sip of wine and then spoke up on the matter at hand.</em><strong>"Kingshearth isn't a large kingdom with one governing state of laws, but a union of several towns, hamlets and villages, all seeking protection from the wildlife in the Evergreens. During their fifty years of settling and raising, that doesn't leave much time for nuances such as the legality of owning such a tempting morsel. Some might scoff at it, some might see it as justice. But I don't know if anyone will shed tears over a dark elf. Still I'd urge you to be cautious and use your wits. Point is, they may have larger problems than you walking around with her."</strong><br/><br/><em>However, before the conversation could carry on further the wagons and the carriages stopped. Puzzled the merchant prince turned about curious as to the why of it. He peered out the curtain of the window and saw a dwarf talking with another of his kind. Both were armored in chain mail and armed with battle-axes. One of the dwarves came forward with a small rap at the door</em><strong>"Yes"</strong><strong>"Eh, we got a bit of trouble on the road ahead. Stopping the wagons and letting the scouting party take a look. You lot sit tight..."</strong><em> He leaves without further word as several other men were roaming about now getting into positions at the flanks as was the usual drills... </em><br/><br/><hr/><br/><em>Meanwhile within the wagons the adventurers continued to talk amongst themselves and try and sort out what was going to happen once they get to Kingshearth. It was not typical of course to head so far into the backwater hamlets, but a place like the Tal'both Ruins could mean a dramatic change for them. Be it of monetary or spiritual sources. This venture should promise good fruit if nothing else. However that al came to an end when all the wagons stopped at once. They could not hear what was said to make them stop but they definitely could hear a number of men moving about now. Soon a sharp tap of metal upon wood rattles those still asleep or distracted from their respite. Seems that the rogue was right and that they wouldn't be allowed to rest on their laurels. Not anymore at least. The dwarf climbs up onto the step and then speaks to them.</em><strong>"Alright, you lot. Get up and out of the wagon like yer asses were on fire. You're needed."</strong><em>He steps down and waits right there for them to climb out.</em>