Ramas Kharbo's Story

She was going to do it. She was going to pitch herself from the tower. She wouldn't marry him, she couldn't.

Scarlet Stark stood at the window of her chambers, which sat high in the keep's many towers, overlooking the garden. She thought about running away, but they would find her, besides where would she go. She knew no one. Had no one. Her family she was only a coin. Nothing more. She was the second born daughter of a King and Queen. They a daughter, a rightful heir, but they'd been trying for a boy, what they got was her to make matters worse, she was sick most of the time. Most of her childhood was spent inside, coughing up blood, hardly breathing, sleep only possible with milk of poppy to ease the pain. When she finally got better, by some strange miracle. They thought it best to make her someone else's problem and thus why she stands, contemplating her death.

A tear slide down her cheek, as the wind whipped around her legs, tugging on the wedding gown she wore. She was to be married today. To a horrible man, who wanted nothing more then her body and her dowry.

Was this really all she was?

She couldn't live like this.

She rose a foot, dangling it over the window, the cold wind like an icy grip around her skin, she closed her eyes and decided.

Just as she was about to let go, and end it all, did the smell of smoke enter her nose. She opened her eyes, and saw the Kingdom in flames. Why hadn't she noticed this before, she wondered. She watched as the dull grey sky being to glow orange. She moved her foot back to the ledge and watched with an odd amount of curiosity.

Screaming then. All she heard was screaming....then the clashing of swords, then chaos erupted outside of her door. She turned her head, as men burst through her chambers. She stopped caring already, and didn't bother to fight for her life, instead she jumped, only for someone to catch her before she felt and yank her back into the room.

Night fell across the city of Whitecastle, and with it came more than the cold wind rolling from the mountains. Dark shadows swept through the city, flutters of black and grey in the night, leaving nothing but silence and the dead corpses of soldiers, guards, and any witnesses who spied their passing. No alarms were sounded, no fires ignited, the walls of the city as stern and silent as they had been, a lifeless corpse disguised as a vigilant guard. The shadows moved across rooftops, down alleyways and through any who barred their way, until at last, they came upon the gates of the great alabaster fortress that gave the city its name. Here the shadows paused, not hesitant, just observant. In the darkness of the sleeping city, they were invisible, darkened shadows in the night, but in the castle, their midnight cloaks would not hide them, once they entered the castle, the battle which had only one side was aware had begun would ignite into a furious war for victory.
Now was the time to sever the head of the snake before it even knew it was caught.
One of the hundred faceless shadows raised a bow and lifted a pitch soaked arrow to it. With the sparking flash of flint, the arrow ignited with a whoosh, its faint glow illuminating the armed and deadly Harrowers who stood like an army of ghosts at the gates of the castle. With a careful patience, the bow was raised, and with the flit of the bowstring, as one the army of phantoms moved like a shadow on Whitecastle. Disappearing through windows, doors, over walls and parapets, the ghosts infiltrated the fortress like wine into a cloth. As the burning arrow made its descent, torches were lit, spears were readied, swords drawn and horses spurred, as the army beyond the walls descended upon the helpless city, undefended, and unguarded, its gates open and flooding like the hearts of the men that guarded them.
The battle for Whitecastle over before it had begun.

Da'Karro led those Harrowers under his direct command through the portcullis of Whitecastle, its imposing metal lattice all but useless in the face of an opponent who could scale walls and open the gates from inside. As Da'Karro entered the central courtyard dozens of guards lay dead already, their throats slit or cries muzzled by gloved hands as blades pierced their spines. The only true resistance began when an alarm was sounded from one of the high towers. Guards poured out of the castle from various exits, disorganised and hurried, only to be cut down by the waiting Harrowers. The call to arms had been for the army approaching the cities walls, not the force already behind them. The Harrowers stormed the castle, midnight black cloaks and flashing steel against the ornamental plate and heavy shields of the palace guards. To their credit, once the immediate threat was recognised, the Soldiers reacted well, forming blockades and choke points in halls and passageways, slowing the progress of the hooded assailants, but they could only slow them down. The Harrowers had infiltrated through so many different points within the castle, that entrenched guards that would have easily repelled the lighter armed and armoured Harrowers were flanked and surrounded by more black shadows, leaving few places they could mount an effective defence. Da'Karro moved swiftly through the castle, avoiding the major battles between his men and the palace guards. They were not his mission prerogative. His fellow Harrowers would deal with them soon enough.
He rose higher and higher into the castle, those Harrowers with him slowly dwindling as they left his side to deal with the palace guards they encountered. He needed no bodyguards and they needed no orders.
He rounded a corner alone, the last of his men having left him long ago, and came face to face with a trio of armed sentries. They immediately formed a defensive cordon in the corridor, shields forming a heavy wall and spears levelled, refusing to budge an inch despite the screaming and sounds of battle that now echoed through out the castle.
Da'Karro barely slowed.
The centre guard, clearly the most senior, called for Da'Karro to halt , but it was too late for that. The leader of the Harrowers Curved Kukri flew clear of his scabbard and was flung with unnerving accuracy. Its heavy top end elicited a sickening crunch as it sawed through the centre guards face. The guard was blown back by the force of the blow, dead instantly, and leaving a wide gap in the guards shield wall. Distracted by their fallen comrade and faltering their defence, Da'Karro easily ducked by the guards long spears and entered into a vicious hand to hand assault. The guards immediately dropped their heavy spears and shields, drawing short, straight swords, engaging the seemingly unarmed assailant with renewed vigour. Da'Karro spun and struck, his gauntleted arm deflecting one sword as dodged the other. His leg kicking out and striking guard ones knee, eliciting a wet crack and a scream of pain. A vicious elbow with his gauntleted arm sent the second guard reeling with a broken nose. On the beck spin Da'Karro lashed out with his bladed gauntlet, eviscerating the first guards neck as he leaned against the wall to support his broken knee. The second guard returned, howling a vicious roar though blurred eyes and a bloodied face, but Da'Karro deftly diverted his sword hand and kicked his legs from under him. Still holding the Guards sword arm Da'Karro slammed an open palm onto the back of the guards elbow with a popping crunch, eliciting another howl of pain and causing the guard to drop his sword. With a single swift motion, Da'Karro collected the short blade and plunged it into the gap in the man's armour, between his cuirass and his helmet. The hall falling silent D'Karro collected his sword and continued on, sprinting to make up for the time wasted on the palace guards.

He was nearing his destination, he could tell from the way the corridors widened and the floors grew more luxuriously carpeted. Great paintings and statues sat on walls and plinths as Da'Karro neared his destination, only to be stopped short by the palace guards. Ten of them to be exact.
Da'Karros mission prerogatives were clear. Execute the King and Queen, and collect the royal children alive and unharmed.
He was lucky that his fellow Harrowers had mission Prerogatives as well.
There was gurgling cry as one of the guards had a long, broad dagger plunged into the gap between his pauldron and helmet, falling with a slump to reveal the veiled, midnight clad woman behind him, her dagger still firmly lodged a foot down in the mans torso. Just as the guards rounded on this new threat, a second sound, like a butchers cleaver through meat sounded, and the confused guard turned the other way to see a virtual giant standing before them, his skin as black as the cloak and armour he wore, and crimson blood still dripping from the viciously curved axe he had used to behead the unsuspecting guard. Both the woman and the giant leapt into the fray, with Da'Karro joining soon after, The veiled woman moving like a ghost, the various wrappings and cloaks fluttering about her, disguising her movements as her dagger flashed and pierced exposed flesh and armour joints. The Giant waded into the fray like a charging bull, blows from his massive buckler sending men flying and the heavy, sharp edge of his axe hacking through armour and limbs like they were wheat under the scythe. It was not long till all ten vigilant guards lay dead or dying.
"Good to see you my friend," The giant smiled, revealing his alabaster white teeth against the near pitch colour of his skin, "I was beginning to wonder if we would have to carry out our charge without you."
"Good to see you too Ramas." Da'Karro said curtly as he cleaned his blade on a fallen guard, he turned his head slightly and nodded to the woman, "Isabella."
She returned his nod but said nothing.
Da'Karro swiftly returned to the task at hand, "Ramas, get the two princesses, Isabella, keep watch and deal with any guards that come snooping, ill deal with the king and queen."
"Understood," Ramas said, all hint of his mirth gone in an instant, Isabella just nodded and walked back down the corridor the way Da'Karro had come.
Da'Karro turned and approached the door at the end of the hall, its ostentatious design and size easily denoting it as the king and queens bed chambers, where he hoped they would still be, ignorantly thinking that their guards could repel the invaders. Da'Karro kicked in the door and entered at a pace, revealing the gilded room within. In the corner, stood a man in fine robes, his sword in hand, and a woman similarly garbed behind him unarmed. It was only Da'Karros preternaturally instinctive reflexes that saved him from dying then and there. In the reflection of the gilded four poster bed, Da'Karro spied movement that was not his own, and dived as a razor-sharp blade flew over him and cut into the wooden door where his head had been but milliseconds previous. Da'Karrow rolled to a crouch and took in his assailant. The mans armour was of a much higher calibre than that of the other guards, more protective but more ornate as well, the stance of his legs and the way he held his long hand-and-a-half sword denoted a man used to single combat and skilled in swordplay. His place by the monarchs side would be due to his skill and loyalty, some champion or bodyguard to the King and Queen.
Da'Karro smiled with teeth like daggers, "Finally, someone worth killing."

Ramas Kicked in the bedchamber door and took in the dark room before him. A single large bed sat to his right as he entered, its sheets uncrumpled and unslept in. To his left was a large door to a adjoining room, no doubt a wardrobe of some kind, and beside it a vanity of obscenely ornate design, variously jewels and make-up items dotted the table, recently used. It was then he noticed the breeze rolling through the room. His eyes flitted to the window and the ethereal white figure standing within in. She had long flowing black hair stark against the bleached white of the wedding gown she wore. She seemed distracted by the unfolding chaos in the city below but turned slowly as he watched her, tears in her eyes and confusion written across her face. She began to fall backwards but Ramas moved faster than a man his size should be able to, and with a deft grab of hs meaty hand, took a hold of her forearm before she fell, yanking her small body back down into the room off the window and into his waiting arms.
"Careful little girl," He cautioned with his deep, baritone voice, "It is a long way down from here."

Da'Karro and the champion crossed blades again and again, their swords flashing the king and queen looked on. The champions sword was longer than Da'Karros and his length was keeping the Harrower at bay, while Da'Karros great speed and ferocity ensured that the Champion was kept on the defensive, unable to retaliate in any meaningful manner. The Champion was skilled but Da'Karro knew how to beat him.
He was going to use the mans duty against him.
Da'Karro manoeuvred his way around till he had his back to the cowering monarchs. He feinted a turn if to switch target and attack the king and queen, causing the champion to initiate a chase in defence of his charges, only to meet with Da'Karros mule kick to the gut, propelling him back in a stumble and openign up his otherwise faultless defence. A vicious flurry of strikes from Da'Karros Kukri ended in a slash that the champion was only just too slow to backstep, opening up his jugular vein and trachea. Blood spurted from the wound and over Da'Karros chest as the champion held a hand to his throat and gurgled out his last dying breaths. The champion sunk to the floor with a wet gasp and lay unmoving on the floor, his blood spreading and staining the plush floor in a spreading tide of crimson.
Da'Karro turned to the King and Queen.
They were dead before they had time to scream.

Scarlet looked up with sad eyes at the man, skin dark as night, but somehow, he had a kindness in his eyes she wasn't expecting.
"Careful little girl," He said, his voice deep, but warm in a way, she wasn't sure how to explain. "It's a long way down from here." He said and Scarlet looked up at him with a confused frown.

"I know...That's why I chose it." She said, and while she didn't want to be in this man's arms. It felt oddly safe, despite this, she looked at him and asked. "Aren't you going to kill me anyway....Just let me fall, It's what I want." She said, suddenly, bursting through the door, in came a man.

Him.

"Blackwood..."She peeped and she found herself holding on to the man who was clearly the true enemy, realizing this, she got to her feet, and moved to the wall again, while the dark man would be distracted, or at the very least, his attention was on Blackwood.

He pulled a straight sword from his hip and aimed it at the dark man.

"This one is mine, do what you want with the others here, this one is coming with me." He said, a dark look was cast her direction and Scarlet heard a whimper escape her throat.

"I'll die before I let you have me." She said, while their was sadness in the voice, there was strength in it as well, and resolve, She meant what she said, and started stepping back toward the window, with every intention on greeting the ground below.

"I know... that's why I chose it." The princess said, giving Ramas an odd look, surprisingly calm concerning the situation, "Aren't you going to kill me anyway....Just let me fall, It's what I want."
Ramas supposed he could understand her reasoning, for all she knew, she was about to be passed around the Modran army as their public whore, death would be no doubt preferable. He opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted as a fat, greasy man with wispy black hair barrelled into the room, and upon seeing Ramas, drew a long, thin sword.
"Blackwood..." The girl whimpered, for some reason more terrified of the portly fool than the giant assassin who held her. As if realising the folly of this, she pushed away from Ramas and he let her go. He could catch a little girl again, but it would be harder with a sword in his back.
"This one is mine, do what you want with the others here, this one is coming with me." the greasy man snarled, with a hungry look at the cowering girl, she whimpered as his gaze lingered over the nubile body.
"Ill die before I let you have me." The girl said, and edged towards the window with every intention of keeping her word.
Ramas thought he was starting the realise why the girl was really at the window. She wasn't afraid of the Modran army, she probably wasn't even aware of what was happening, but she was scared of this man, and the wedding dress she wore was all the evidence Ramas needed to understand why.
"I am afraid I cannot let you have her." Ramas said, turning towards the portly man and puffing his chest to show just how much larger he was than the snivelling little weasel. "As of this moment she is the property of, and protected by, King Decimus Madror, Monarch of Modra, and I follow his orders, not yours." Ramas drew his large heavy axe and sat it on his shoulder, his buckler still affixed to his arm. "I have no orders to kill you, but I will if you make me, surrender now and drop your weapon, and you may yet live, should his majesty be so gracious."
The weasel seemed to weigh up his options, glancing between Ramas and Scarlet who still lingered by the window, before dropping wis sword to the ground and raising his arms. "Very well you mongrel, I surrender." He spat at Ramas.
Ramas just smiled.
Before clubbing the man unconscious with his shield.
He turned back to the girl, "Come. You will take me to your sister. I have orders to collect her as well."

Scarlet watched as the dark man made Blackwood surrender. She wished he would have just killed him. The Dark man was large enough, strong enough--

As if hearing her thoughts, the dark man clubbed Blackwood in the head, rendering him unconscious. Her hand had gone to her mouth in surprise.

"Come. You will take me to your sister. I have orders to collect her as well."
Scarlet weighed her options again. Death still seemed like the best option, but the man would only catch her again, and she'd still be going with the him to see his king, to whom she was now the property of.

"You said I am property of your King...why shouldn't I just pitch myself from this tower now?" She questioned. "I'll be no better off then I was with him." She said, nodded toward the unconscious Blackwood. She didn't know why she was so bold with the dark man, when clearly all he had to do was throw her over his shoulder and walk out. Something about him though, made her feel like he might actually be listening to her. Someone no one ever did.

OOC: Sorry so short, Dr. appt. Had to make it quick

"You said I am property of your King...why shouldn't I just pitch myself from this tower now?" She questioned. "I'll be no better off then I was with him."
Ramas sighed, why was this girl so eager to die?
"The King is not a bad man," Ramas began, unsure of what to say, "And death, death is so final, so absolute, while life? Well, life has so many possibilities."
He smiled at her as he did his best to coax her away from the window. The common tongue was not his native dialect, and although he spoke it very well, he was unsure whether he had unintentionally implied some other meaning or threat.
"Look," He said, exasperated and slightly embarrassed that he could not perform such a simple task when there was a coup going on, "You can either come with me peacefully, and we can find your sister, and you will be safe while in my company. Or, I could grab you, hurt you, and take you anyway. Your choice."

Da'Karro rose from the bloodied corpses of the King and Queen, their heads severed and held in a pillow sheet Da'Karro had acquired from the nearby bed. Their blood soaked through the makeshift sack and stained the white cover crimson, dripping down onto the floor at his feet. He took one last brief glance around the room, ensuring that no chamber maid or royal child lay in hiding, hoping to go unseen, before walking out of the bed chamber, leaving a trail of vermilion drops behind him.
Outside he was met by the sight of Isabella walking back down the hall towards him, fresh blood flecking her face and dripping from her long dagger. She sauntered up to him in a way that was both sexual and at the same time cold. Like she knew exactly how to move her body to get attention, but was indifferent to the whole effect.
"Objective one is complete. I trust you encountered little trouble?" Da'Karro said to the mute woman.
She lazily looked down at the bloody sack Da'Karro held, holding it in her bored, lifeless eyes for a moment before lazily returning her gaze to him, shaking her head in response to his question.
"Excellent, go see what is taking Ramas so long, I will rendezvous with you in the throne room, We will hole up there till the battle outside is won and the king arrives. Understood?"
She nodded dully before turning and walking off in the direction Ramas had gone, while Da'Karro walked the other way, back down the winding castle corridors towards where the throne room sat at the heart of Whitecastle.

Isabella drifted through the door that had clearly been kicked in by the large, dark skinned warrior and observed the contents within. A girl in a white dress, probably the princess, was edging towards the window, and it appeared as if Ramas had just finished talking. He turned as she entered the room but said nothing, only watched her glide across the floor until she reached his side, where she looked up at the man that couldn't be more different than her, barely level with his chest, and poked him in the arm, gesturing towards the door with her head.
"Ah," he said, his eyes still on the petite woman, "I have gotten sidetracked talking again yes? And now we are late." He turned his gaze back to the princess by the window, "Come, come with me now, or Isabella will take you, and she is not as sociable as me." Ramas said in all serious till he touched on Isabellas muteness and broke into a broad grin.
Isabella only narrowed her eyes at him but maintained her silence.

"The King is not a bad man,"The dark man said, struggling it seemed to find the right words. Scarlet watched him. "And death, death is so final, so absolute, while life? Well, life has so many possibilities." He said and smiled at her. She took a breath She didn't want to die, not really, she was just so sick of being the victim. Death....atleast this would be the one thing she could chose for herself.

"Look," He said. "You can either come with me peacefully, and we can find your sister, and you will be safe while in my company. Or, I could grab you, hurt you, and take you anyway. Your choice." He said and she swallowed. Fear back in it's place.

It was in that moment that a scarved woman entered, gesturing to the door with her head. "Ah," he said, looking at the woman with the pretty eyes. "I have gotten sidetracked talking again yes? And now we are late." He said and looked back at Scarlet. "Come, come with me now, or Isabella will take you, and she is not as sociable as me."

She really didn't have a choice one way or the other. She took a step down and away from the window and passed the two foreigners.

"She is this way...." Scarlet said turning so they could hear her and then walked out the door.

Blood painted the walls, but Scarlet felt nothing. She locked her emotions anyway as best she could, so not to react as she moved through the halls like a ghost.

She pointed to the room.

"In there....With any luck, she won't be there." She told them, her voice as soft as a whisper.

It was then, her sister, Julia ran out and froze.

"Scarlet?!" She hissed, it wasn't the voice of a concerned older sister, it was the voice of someone who saw that their worst enemy yet lived.

Julia then looked at the two with her and seemed to put things together in her head.

"Traitor." She spat and Scarlet sighed.

"I'm not a traitor, they are collecting us both..." She said, her voice was dull but held a hint of impatience before looking at two. "You've found her..." She said and looked away.

She'll find a way to end this...She was so tired...she wanted to sleep.

"She is this way...." The girl said, leading Isabella and Ramas out of the opulent bedroom and down an adjoining corridor. She stopped and gestured to one of the doors and said, "In there....With any luck, she won't be there."
As if on cue, a young woman whose features clearly denoted her as the other princess came barrelling out of her room and looked as if she planned on running for it untill she saw the two cloaked figures and her sister.
"Scarlet?" the woman hissed, in a manner that Ramas found ill-fitting for the relation the two shared. The woman noticed her sister standing with two of the invaders and stared daggers at the younger girl, "Traitor!"
"I'm not a traitor, they are collecting us both..." The girl said exasperatedly, she turned to Ramas and seemed to deflate with exhaustion, "You've found her..."
"That we have," Ramas said, his cheery attitude contrasting sharply to the animosity between the two sisters, he then address the elder of the siblings, "And your sister speaks true, you are both my prisoners, and will be presented to the King upon his arrival. Now, you may either come peacefully, or I can drag you along by your hair, your choice." Ramas beamed with his big white teeth and Isabella just shook her head silently.

"That we have,"The dark man said, his female comrade saying nothing. Scarlet barely registered any of it. She wore a dull look in her amber eyes, though deep within, she wanted to fight it but she knew she could do nothing now.
But she was sick of doing nothing. As if hearing her thoughts, the dark man turned to Julia, who was seething but said nothing. "And your sister speaks true, you are both my prisoners, and will be presented to the King upon his arrival. Now, you may either come peacefully, or I can drag you along by your hair, your choice." He told her and Julia stiffened.

Scarlet couldn't help but wonder if she were more worried about her actual hair then the meeting with the Usurper King.

Julia opened her mouth to speak but Scarlet shook her head. "Don't bother, Julia, it's not worth it..."she said and Julia rose her head, not wanting to be outdone by her sister.

"Well, that's easy for you to say, you are the hier." She said way too proudly then what the situation called for. Scarlet rolled her eyes.

"Fine, then fight it, I really don't care." She said and Julia noticed -finally- that something wasn't right with her. Scarlet was never this submissive, in fact, she was the exact opposite, she fought everything, yet she wasn't now.

"This isn't like you? What has gotten into you, Odd Child"

"Everything..." Scarlet said and began walking, toward the two foreigners.

"Ready when you are?"

Ramas watched the exchange between the two sisters with a bemused smile, he had thought the people of Modra odd in their customs and interactions, but these two were outright bizarre. Eventually the younger princess turned back to Ramas, her eyes almost bored, "Ready when you are?"
Ramas slowly dropped his grin, the girl was slightly unnerving in just how nonchalant about the whole affair she was, "Yes, Isabella, watch the elder one, we are to make for the throne room."
The mute woman nodded and walked over softly to the elder princess, her beautifully dead green eyes boring into the girls with an implied threat, amplified by the long dagger Isabella drew from within the folds of her wrappings.
The threat was simple "Run, and I will catch you."
With that, the odd group made its way towards the throne room, now eerily aware of how silent the Castle had become.
The guards had been killed.
The castle was theirs.

Inside the throne room Da'Karro gave short, curt instructions to the Harrowers that ran around him. Corpses had to be moved, the dead amongst the Harrowers counted and identified, sentries posted, defences restored, etc, etc. Outside the castle wall, the battle for White castle still raged, but it wouldn't be long till someone realised that the castle had grown awfully silent. The Modran invasion force had every possible advantage, but war was never a certain thing. It was part of Da'Karros role as commander of the Harrowers to ensure that the castle remained in their control and left the defending forces nowhere to retreat to. Harrowers armed with bow and bolt lined the gate to the castle, disposing of anyone that came snooping, but it was only a matter of time till someone discovered what had happened and alerted the resisting Whitecastle forces.
"Tend to the wounded, use the supplies within the castle, torture a serf till you find out where their stores are." "No, we are not taking military prisoners, kill them." "Unless told otherwise, take all civilian hostages to the gaol." "Send some men to scout the lower levels, the last thing we need is a secret passage in or out of the castle we don't know about."
Da'Karro sent off the last of those hwo required immediate orders just as he spied the immense form of Ramas entering the throne room, side by side with the dwarfed Isabella. Walking in front of his comrades, were a pair of finely dressed women, obviously sisters, obviously royalty.
"Where in Ishkas name have you two been?" Da'Karro said, walking up to the group to greet them, "Ramas, go command the wall defences, you are relieved of your babysitting duty. Isabella, I am afraid that with such high profile hostages I cannot give this task to someone I dont trust, I need you to continue to watch these two, do not let them out of your sight. Tie them up if you must but ensure you leave no marks, the King will want his prizes undamaged."
Ramas simply nodded and with a wink at the younger of the two girls took off towards the gate with long, heavy strides. Isabella gave a single nod and raised her Dagger, herding the two girls towards the twin thrones.
Da'Karro had already gone onto other business.

The sisters were ushered into the throne room, where their parents were not present. THis would be where Scarlet would have gotten a sick feeling in her stomach, but right now she felt nothing. A fog had fallen over her and she was moving through the world in a haze. Soon. She told herself, soon it will all be over,and she could rest.

"Where in Ishkas name have you two been?" Said a man as he walked up to them. Clearly the leader of the group, his skin was pale, his grey eyes dark, and his hair was long and brown, and a simple as that was, something about his as a whole shot terror through Scarlet. "Ramas, go command the wall defenses, you are relieved of your babysitting duty. Isabella, I am afraid that with such high profile hostages I cannot give this task to someone I don't trust, I need you to continue to watch these two, do not let them out of your sight. Tie them up if you must but ensure you leave no marks, the King will want his prizes undamaged." He said and was off. Scarlet's eyes watched him leave. Something told her that was not the last time she'd see that man.

Ramas, as the man called him, was off and Isabella rose her dagger, ushering them toward the throne. If Scarlet was in the proper state of mind, she would have thought the name Isabella pretty, and would have chuckled at Ramas' grin, but instead, she felt nothing. She did as she was 'told' and took a seat in at the throne only for Julia to pull her by the arm.
"That's mine,"

"It's fathers..."Scarlet said in boredom. Julia glared at her. "Is father here?"

Scarlet didn't respond, she just moved, she couldn't be bothered with her sister's pettiness.

"Our parents are likely dead, you do realize," Scarlet told her, her eyes watching the scarved woman.

"Then it's for the best," Julia said, after a moment and Scarlet didn't say anything, she looked around, looking for a place to run. The throne room had large windows but no one them opened, they all had stained glass, and it would take much more than her tiny frame to break them.

"Perhaps the King means to...welcome us."

Scarlet cut her eyes at her foolish sister.

"To his bed, I'm sure..."

"It's not so bad, laying with a man." Julia said and Scarlet's lips twitched.

"You would know."

"It can be quite fun, with the right man..."Julia said, and it was clear to Scarlet the Julia was trying to make herself feel better.

"Then you do it, and leave me out of it. I want no part." Scarlet said and the two were silent from then on.

"Does this amuse you, Usurper?" The elder princess questioned pointedly at Isabella, whose green eyes narrowed at the petulant woman.
"Julia don't." The younger wisely cautioned but the elder sister was having none of it, clearly more pride than sense.
"Quiet!" she hissed at her younger sister before turning back to Isabella, "Do we amuse you? You haven't spoken a word since you've been, why is that, are you lame?"
"Julia, stop this, does she look friendly to you?" The younger, and clearly more intelligent sister, continued to caution, trying to save her sister from harm and Isabella from the attention.
The elder ignored her and continued, trying to degrade Isabella with her words, "You must be lame, as it is clear the men want nothing to do with you."
"You are going to get yourself killed, Julia..." The little one warned but otherwise did nothing to stop the foolish womans tirade.
Isabella said nothing, simply meeting the gaze of the spoiled brat and glaring her down with the assistance of her long dagger. There was the sound of horses and barking orders from outside, distracting the two hostages and giving Isabella a blessed reprieve from the princesses stinging remarks.
She would not give her the pleasure of knowing how deep her words cut.

Outside, the chaos of battle had finally died down to the crackling of fire and the bellow of orders, as the Modran army re-ordered itself and began the arduous task of regrouping, assessing the damage to the city and restoring order to the panicked population. Through it all rode the instigator of the invasion, the king of Modra and now, the conqueror of Whitecastle, King Decimus Madror, flanked by his personal guard. Decimus surveyed the chaos around him, his own ornate armour and weapons untarnished and unused. Decimus was no warrior, but he was a strategist. By spearing straight into the heart of Whitecastle, both through the country to the capital, and through the city to the castle, ensured that the head of his opponent was severed before the body even knew it was under attack.
The smell of burning hair, blood and smoke assaulted his senses and he wrinkled his nose in disgust. The smell was incredibly off putting, but He rose through none the less, surveying the destruction his actions had caused. A Modran Captain rose up her him, his armour dented and dirty, blood flecking his face and streaming from a cut on his brow.
"My lord, Captain Kalith of the 9th infanrty regiment, there are resistant military forces retreating to the south, Captain Regnald and the 4th mounted are in pursuit, otherwise, we have secured the city limits."
"Good to see your still alive Captain," Decimus said, reigning in his horse to speak with the officer, "Is the castle secure?"
"As far as we are aware, the Harrowers have delivered on their word and secured the castle. No reinforcements have moved out of the city and there are dead Whitecastle messengers piling up at the gate, all stuck with black arrows."
"Excellent, go tend to yourself and your men Captain, the battle is won, now we must consolidate. I will continue to the castle."

Ramas stood on the parapet above the castle gate, surveying the destruction in the city below. The Battle was all but won, burning buildings and the sound of organising military units had replaced the racket of clashing swords and screams. The Harrowers maintained their vigil though, ever watchful of any who approached the castle gate.
Modran and Whitecastle soldiers were easily distinguishable, but the Harrowers did not get their reputation from lax or half-assessed responses to orders.
Those wearing Whitecastle attire were shot on sight.
Modran soldiers were given a single warning.
A new group of individuals approached the gate, mounted on horseback and carrying the kings banner, their armour untarnished and pace unhurried. Ramas knew who it was who approached, but as said, Ramas followed his duty to the letter.
"Halt!" his voice boomed out over the gate and down to the grou below, "Who approuches Whitecastle?"
There was a temporary silence as the group came to a stop, before a single voice responded, "King Decimus Madror seeks audience with the leader of the Harrowers, Da'Karro Misantri, to celebrate their success in the taking of the castle and their part in the battle for Whitecastle."
Ramas was silent for a moment, listening intently to every word spoken by the young king.
"... Welcome King Decimus," Ramas boomed back, nodding at a nearby Harrower to open the gate, "The Castle is yours, and your twin prizes await you inside."
The gate opened with a grinding squeal of metal, and the group rode through, the Conqueror finally entering the castle of his enemy, as its possessor.

Da'Karro met the King as he rode into the castle, his armour still bloody and dirty, contrasting sharply to the kings immaculate ornamental plate.
"Your Majesty." Da'Karro said curtly, standing at attention with his hands behind his back.
"Misantri, I trust your infiltration of the castle went smoothly." Decimus said with a slight smile.
"Yes your Grace, minimal casualties received and maximum inflicted. The castle guard has been completely neutralised and both Princesses were captured without harm. They await you inside guarded by one of my best."
Decimus widened his smile and nodded, "Excellent, Come Misantri, this is your victory, not mine, I would like you to be by my side for this."
"As you wish, Your Majesty."

Isabella watched as the large doors of the throne room opened and in walked the now most powerful man in Whitecastle. King Decimus strode down the long hall side by side with Da'Karro, and flanked by his personal guard, his expression was cheerful and welcoming, as if he wasn't the man who had just lain a city to waste.
"Greetings! My name is King Decimus Madror," He said, stopping before the twin thrones and bowing a deep, mocking bow, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Scarlet watched as the woman turned her blade on Julia, her dark eyes glaring at her. Julia merely swallowed but held a look of pride. Scarlet shook her head. She just knew her parents were dead, she wasn't sure she wanted to see Julia meet the same fate.

Thankfully -as bizzare as it may seem- the door opened and Isabella moved away from her sister and all attention was drawn to group of men as they walked in. Scarlet did not move. She only watched him with darkness in her amber eyes, while Julia looked nervous, by the way she held her arms.

They both knew that this man was their new king, but only Scarlet saw him as her new slave master
"Greetings! My name is King Decimus Madror," said the King. Julia moved to sit in her seat. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Your Grace." Julia said civilly. Scarlet sat nothing as was swatted for it. "Say something fool girl."

Scarlet shot a glare her sister's way but said nothing. "So help me, Scarlet Stark, say something." She hissed at her again with another swat in the arm.
Scarlet's eyes narrowed.

"Fine, you want me to speak." She said and stood up, looked at the 'King'

"You are not my King, I will not treat you as such, and I will be damned before I become your body slave." She said with venom in her words.

"Don't be so dramatic, Sca-"

"Shut up, Julia...You asked me to speak so I did...." She said and looked around, her eyes found Ramas as she moved around the throne, and to the window ahead of them, nearest the window sat a candelabra on a table. She knew she couldn't throw herself threw into window but if she could just break it.

"I am property of no man..." She said and then in a swift motion, she grabbed the candleabra, smashed the window, took a peice of broken glass and began to drag it across her throat.

"Scarlet!?" Julia yelped, but that was all.

Scarlet was shaking, as blood trickled down her hand, and neck, she wanted to press harder but something seemed to be stopping her, the cut was deep, but not enough to kill her, atleast not right away...

Scarlet blinked back to reality, her arms around the man, clinging to him, shivering from her dream. "Easy little one, easy." Her breath coming to her, short and shallow. She looked at him, watching his eyes, focusing on the cool gray of an overcast sky. Those eyes then turned to someone else that was in the room. "You know she did not do that on purpose. Now help me." He said and Scarlet looked at him, until the other person came into view. It was the woman who held the knife to her throat. The sight of her made Scarlet swallow, and the look in the woman's eyes made her shiver.

She didn't like her.

She blinked a few more times, before her dream came back to her and looked up the man again. "Wha...Something grabbed me....I was drowning...."She said, though she didn't know why. "You were there but you wouldn't...."She stopped and looked down, noticing how she was near naked in his arms. A blush reddened her face.

"C-can you set me down...I think I'm alright now, thank you." She said, her voice no louder then a meow of a kitten.

Julia sat at her vanity, brushing her midnight locks, impatiently. The King's words dancing in her mind again. "Your easy submission to my rule is unexpected, but welcome. Perhaps there will be a place for your skills and pedigree in my plans." He said, after snatching his hand away. He then stabbed the throne with his sword, causing Julia to jump in surprise.
"Retire to your quarters, 'Lady' Julia. You will be busy tomorrow pacifying 'my' people. Ill not have your efforts be hampered by lack of rest." He said then and walked off. "My men will ensure you are safely escorted to your quarters. Goodnight."

He called her Lady...Not Queen as he had.

She would not let this stand, she would be Queen it was her birthright and she would not let him take that from her. Not when she was so close, all she had to do was charm him. She knew ways to a man's heart but she had to learn him first. She set down her brush, and turned to her 'Guard' and dark skin man with strange marks.

"You, Tell me about your King." She demanded, looking at him through the mirror, while she began to braid her hair. She would have typically had one of her ladies in waiting do this, but they've all gone or been killed, no matter, she knew how to do it. "What drives him?" She asked, whilst her nimble fingers dancing through her hair.

The girl blearily looked around mumbling some almost incoherent ramblings about her nightmare before resurfacing to reality and seeming to take stock of exactly how few clothes she had on, and how close she was holding herself to Da'Karro.
"C-can you set me down...I think I'm all right now, thank you." The girl stammered awkwardly, it only dawning on Da'Karro now that this was probably the closest she had ever been to a man with next to no clothes on. He quickly set the girl back down into her bed, unsure of the parameters of his guard duty suddenly. Should he have done that? Should he touch her at all aside from so protect her? Was what he just did appropriate?
He had no idea. It didn't matter.
He turned to Isabella, sighing exasperated, "I need to sleep, she is yours for the next few hours. If she wishes to leave her chambers, fine, but she cannot leave the castle grounds and you must accompany her at all times. Oh, and um, make sure she wears something suitable." He finished his instructions and Isabella responded with a pair of rolled eyes and and a nod.
Good enough.
He wearily bid farewell to the still recovering princess, and left the room, making his way to where he assumed the guest rooms must be. Finding a suitable room he quickly stripped his armour and collapsed into the soft bed, blessed sleep claiming him the moment his head hit the pillow.

Ramas was unsure who drew the shorter straw, him dealing with the vain, indignant elder sister, or Da'Karro and Isabella dealing with the suicidal younger one. He stood quietly near the door, having taken over from the man who had watched her throughout the night. She sat by her vanity, having only woken recently herself, and she didn't look like she was taking the Modran occupation quite as well this morning as she had the night before.
"You, Tell me about your King." The woman demanded suddenly, stirring Ramas from his reverie, "What drives him?"
Ramas was slightly taken aback by the question and for a moment was unsure of how to answer, "He is... Not my King, for starters, I am part of the Mercenary force know as the Harrowers. But as to his own temperament? I cannot say I would know the man enough to make an accurate summary of his personality." He adjusted the buckler on his left arm habitually, before running a hand over his shaven head, the first few bristles of hair beginning to sprout along his scalp. "On the one time I met him at the strategy meeting, he seemed... Intelligent, incredibly intelligent, and ruthless. He cared not for civility or etiquette, he was pragmatic in the extreme, and clearly inspired utter loyalty in his men." He cleared his voice and looked the woman in the eye, "He is one of the most strong willed men I have ever seen, and is possibly one of the greatest military and political strategists alive."

The man sat her down on her bed, and Scarlet scrambled for sheets. Why she wasn't sure, he'd already seen her...held her.
It didn't help that the man didn't look very sure himself at the moment. Of what, she couldn't say. He then turned back to the woman, Isabella. "I need to sleep, she is yours for the next few hours. If she wishes to leave her chambers, fine, but she cannot leave the castle grounds and you must accompany her at all times. Oh, and um, make sure she wears something suitable. He said and Scarlet felt small. She didn't plan on leaving her chambers...not yet anyway. It was the last thing she wanted.

It was then that the man bid her farewell and was off, leaving Scarlet confused. She didn't want him to leave. She blinked and remembered. He killed her parents, and probably countless others. She should want him gone and yet....


Scarlet abandoned the confusing thoughts and curled back into bed. "I don't plan on going anywhere, so no need to worry." She told the veiled woman, looking the woman in the eyes. She wondered why she covered her face, she had beautiful eyes. She remembered the man saying something about Scarlet doing something but it wasn't on purpose.

"I'm sorry...I don't know what I did to you, but I am sorry if I upset you." She said tugging the sheets over her shoulders. "And for what my sister said, granted, you did occupy my families castle, help kill my men, held a knife to my throat, call me pathetic and weak...."Scarlet stopped herself. Why was she always so nice to people, she should hate them, she did hate them...or at very least wanted to...maybe she was weak.

"Ignore her...is what I'm trying to say, she says horrible things about everyone..." She told her before laying back down, and curling up in the blankets.

"He is... Not my King, for starters, I am part of the Mercenary force know as the Harrowers. But as to his own temperament? I cannot say I would know the man enough to make an accurate summary of his personality." the dark man said and Julia rolled her eyes. "On the one time I met him at the strategy meeting, he seemed... Intelligent, incredibly intelligent, and ruthless. He cared not for civility or etiquette, he was pragmatic in the extreme, and clearly inspired utter loyalty in his men." He cleared his throat. "He is one of the most strong willed men I have ever seen, and is possibly one of the greatest military and political strategists alive."

Julia huffed. "That was completely useless...." She said. "I don't care what type of King he is, I want to know what type of man he is...." She said and stood up. "I'll ask someone who actually knows." She said, with a wave of her hand, brushing him off but then a thought occurred to her. He was a mercenary, and probably low on the food chain...but the one looking after Scarlet, that one, Misantri, he would probably know something,

"Your Leader, Misantri, was it, he would probably know something, yes?" She asked him. She had to learn more about this King. She had to get close, make him need her...but she had to get to know him first, and this fool knew nothing, she had to talk to someone who does.

"I don't plan on going anywhere, so no need to worry." The girl said once Da'Karro had left, Isabella, true to form, said nothing, merely moving over to where Da'Karro had sat and, once having brushed away the small pile of wood shavings, seated herself stiffly. The girl continued to talk, despite the fact that Isabella could clearly not care less, "I'm sorry...I don't know what I did to you, but I am sorry if I upset you, and for what my sister said, granted, you did occupy my families castle, help kill my men, held a knife to my throat, call me pathetic and weak...." The girl trailed off as she seemed to realise that she was berating an armed assassin who had already taken a dislike to the young princess, "Ignore her...is what I'm trying to say, she says horrible things about everyone..."
Ignore her, as if she gave a shit what some spoilt brat said as Isabella and her comrades took everything from her. Nothing she could have said would be anything as bas as what she had heard before. She had heard every derogatory slur under the sun, and she was no longer phased by them. She was far too jaded to care what some high borne whore thought of her.
She nodded, if for no other reason than just the vain hope it would shut the girl up. Despite the soft bed and rest she had received before, Isabella had a short fuse at the best of times and was still tired from the long night before. At least Da'Karro had been able to deal with the girl while she slept, and Isabella could only look mournfully forward to a long day of awkward, one sided conversation, at best feeble attempts at civility, and at worst veiled threats and insults.
Unable to get comfortable on the seat she rose and walked over to the window, pulling back the drapes to observe the city below through the glass. The fires that had burned the night before had petered out, only the faintest wisps of smoke still curling into the clear sky. It would be hard to see that any battle had occurred had she not been a part of it the night before and knew what to look for. The walls still stood proud and unmolested, having been bypassed by the elusive Harrowers the night before. King Decimus had wanted to take Whitecastle with as little damage to the cities infrastructure as possible. What damage had been done was already being seen to by the veritable legion of builders, craftsmen and ministers that had followed in the wake of the invasion force. The king may have taken the city by force, but he was a intelligent leader, and knew the best way to pacify the masses was to improve their standard of living past what it had been prior to the invasion. Already homes were being rebuilt, compensations were being paid, and the wounded cared for by physicians and healers. Isabella thought that it would not be long until the citizens of Whitecastle and the surrounding countryside accepted Decimus as not only their king, but as a better ruler than the one they had had previously. If the strategy meeting had been any indication, this invasion had been only the first in a series of conquests Decimus planned. the great wealth of Modra would ensure that conquered populations remained pacified and productive. If Decimus planned on maintaining the momentum of his crusade, he would need to get the workforce of Whitecastle swiftly back into functioning ad loyal shape to fuel his armies and military forces.
She turned back to the small, diminutive girl in the bed. She probably thought she was so important, so unique, her and her sister, that they were some great important cornerstone of their kingdom. Decimus's kingdom. They were nothing but pawns, coins and tools to be used and employed to their greatest affect. Even Isabella and Da'Karro, Ramas and all the other Harrowers, were simply tools to be used by the Modran king, fuel for his limitless ambition. Isabella knew her place, as did all the Harrowers. She doubted the princess had any notion of how unimportant she really was.

"That was completely useless..." The woman said petulantly, clearly displeased with what she had heard, Ramas could only shrug, he knew the king in a professional sense, not a personal one. Though he suspected the man was as every bit pragmatic and ruthless in his personal life as he was in his political one. "I don't care what type of King he is, I want to know what type of man he is...." She said standing up purposefully and walking towards the door, "I'll ask someone who actually knows." she seemed to pause at the door as a thought occurred to her, and she turned to Ramas, his huge frame dwarfing her petite one, but she met his eye none the less. Clearly defiant of the gap in power between them, "Your Leader, Misantri, was it, he would probably know something, yes?" She stated, clearly having already made her mind up about the matter.
"Da'Karro? He may have some greater insight into the kings character, he met with the king several times in the lead up to... our employment." He said, choosing his words carefully. Though he had no reason to be kind or civil with the virulent woman, in Ramas' experience, well chosen words and positive dialogue tended to ensure better outcomes than threats and veiled malice. "However, to my knowledge he watched over your sister during the night, and has since retired to his quarters after handing over your sisters protection to Isabella. If you require him, you will have to wait until he awakes, and even then, he is under no obligation to acquiesce to meet with you. We may be employed to guard you, but have no doubts about it, we are not yours to command, you will follow our orders, and though I would rather we maintain a cordial relationship, I am not beyond confining you to your rooms." He ended the sentence with a slight growl. He would work with the princess as best he could, but he knew that he must maintain who exactly was in charge here. She did not command his actions, he allowed hers.

Scarlet watched the woman with a small amount of discomfort. She could almost sense her hatred for her. She curled up under the blankets. Sleep becoming a fleeting friend. Her mind conjuring up the worst of scenarios. The woman seemed to be a voluntary mute, so while she clearly could speak, she simply wouldn't, and probably didn't want to hear anything Scarlet had to say.

She wondered about her. Where she came from, how she got to be here, with this people. Scarlet wished she was as strong. She'd probably admire her if she didn't scare her to her very core.

Unable to stop herself, Scarlet opened her mouth, "You seem strong....I wish I was as strong as you." She was honestly just thinking aloud. That was her problem, she was never a good lady, in the way that, she spoke her mind all too often, she was well behaved beyond that. "I'm sorry, I know you don't want to talk to me, it is clear you don't even like me,I suppose for a woman as strong as you, seeing a girl as weak as me, probably makes you hate me, I understand...I just..."Scarlet stopped herself from more word vomit, and turned in the bed, closing her eyes once more. Trying hard to get some form of sleep before the day began.

"Da'Karro? He may have some greater insight into the kings character, he met with the king several times in the lead up to... our employment." He said, "However, to my knowledge he watched over your sister during the night, and has since retired to his quarters after handing over your sisters protection to Isabella. If you require him, you will have to wait until he awakes, and even then, he is under no obligation to acquiesce to meet with you. We may be employed to guard you, but have no doubts about it, we are not yours to command, you will follow our orders, and though I would rather we maintain a cordial relationship, I am not beyond confining you to your rooms."
Julia clicked her teeth impatiently. "You will watch how you speak to me..." She told him emphatically, her hands on her hips. Being confined in here would not be a good idea. She needed someone on her side.

With that, something came to mind. Julia simply smiled to herself and walked over to her wardrobe, searching for something to wear. She was, by no means, flirting with the dark skinned man, he was below her, was the rest of his ilk, but that was beyond the point, flirting would only get her so far...with the King. Her people however. She could start a rebellion, makes sure that they are loyal to her, and only her, despite how she would need Scarlet's help for that, Scarlet was always good with making friends, Julia didn't need friends, she needed allies. Scarlet could convince her people to stay secretly loyal to Julia, while following along while she played the good little lady to the King, until she amassed such a following that she could crush whatever he may want with so much as a word. What is a King without people? He would have to cater to them for a while, or kill them all, which wasn't likely given that he would have done it by now.

From then on, she ignored the dark skin man and began shifting through her dresses.

"You seem strong....I wish I was as strong as you." The girl said, piquing Isabellas interest. Oh, if only this girl knew how weak she had once been, you did not just become strong, you had to make yourself strong, work for it and fight. Only then could you have the power to control your own life.
"I'm sorry, I know you don't want to talk to me, it is clear you don't even like me,I suppose for a woman as strong as you, seeing a girl as weak as me, probably makes you hate me, I understand...I just..." The girl trailed off, unsure perhaps of how to continue. She rolled over in her bed, apparently trying to find some solace in the oblivion of sleep. Isabella padded over quietly to the girls wardrobe, opening it and sifting through the various fine dresses and beautiful gowns that populated its depths. Finally she came across something suitable, and removed it from the closet. Onto the girls bed she threw a pair of fine tights, the shortest, loosest dress she could find and a ribbon which the girl could tie her hair back with. A brief foray to the table Da'Karro had already crippled gave her two slender shafts of wood, nearly half a metre long each. She walked back to the girl on the bed and tossed her one of the pieces of wood. Then with a single slender hand, motioned for the girl to dress and get out of bed.
Da'Karro carved wood to pass the time, Isabella would instruct this girl on the value of strength.

"You will watch how you speak to me..." Julia spat vehemently at Ramas, who only grinned, how odd it must be to possess so much power, and in the space of a night, lose it all and be left the prisoner of someone whome you had seen as so far below you as to be not worth the time of day. Julia glared at him for a second longer before a slight, cruel smile curled around her lips, and she moved away to her dresser, which she began to sift through in earnest. Ramas watched her carefully, though she had lost much, the woman was clearly no fool, and was no doubt plotting some way to turn the situation to her advantage, or enact some revenge upon her oppressors.
"Lady Julia, if I may offer up my humblest advice, do not plot against King Decimus. You will not be able to fool or outsmart him, and he is only keeping you alive because he believes you may be useful. The moment you become a hinderance," Ramas paused, partially because he was a dramatist, and partially for Julias benefit, to add weight to the importance of the situation, "He will not hesitate to kill you."

Scarlet turned at the sound of movement coming from Isabella's way. More out of curiosity then anything else, she sat up only to find Isabella going through her clothes. Scarlet cocked her head like a confused puppy. Isabella turned to her, with clothes and of the table legs in her hands. She tossed one of them on the bed along with the clothes. More curious still, the woman then motioned for her to dress and get out of bed. There was a certain amount of excitement bloomed within Scarlet then as she began to pull on her clothing. The wood piece made her think that perhaps the woman would teach her, help her escape this life. This would all be much easier if she spoke. She heard the way the woman spoke before, and while it was angry and full of malice, there was something about it, that made it seem like speaking was difficult.

Moving her mind to the situation at hand, Scarlet grabbed the ribbon and tied back her midnight locks. She turned to the woman, with probably the worst attempt at hiding a smile she could ever muster, which is saying quite a bit, since she hadn't smiled in earnest in months, long before they showed up.

She grabbed the wooden stick. Unsure what to do with it but brandish it slightly, while looking at the veiled woman with the eager eyes of a student.

"Lady Julia, if I may offer up my humblest advice, do not plot against King Decimus. You will not be able to fool or outsmart him, and he is only keeping you alive because he believes you may be useful. The moment you become a hinderance," The dark man spoke while Julia pulled a dress out and held it to her chest. She turned up her nose before putting it back and searching again. "He will not hesitate to kill you." He urged and Julia turned to him, tilted her head and smiled. "The wise man can play the fool, but the fool can not play the wise man..." She said, before dropping her hands from the wardrobe and walking up to him. "I am no fool," She told him. "I will be very useful, in fact, may very well rely on me." She said and smiled before turning back to her previous mission.

In Julia's mind, she was reminded of what her mother had once told her, "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die."

And she had no plans on dying this day or any other.

"Now, What are the colors of his people, do you know?" She said pleasantly. " I wish to make impression."