Old Power drains, New Power fills.

[Shayna]

Shayna tried to keep her dread in check, the lump in her stomach growing the longer he held her trapped against him. He didn't seem to be in too much of a hurry to release her, his question might have been serious but was quite rude toward her Mistress. Her mouth rounds just slightly but she thought better of a hurried retort, "She didn't send me to bother the Magistrate..just to ..see if I could hear information." This was very much the truth, Katherine sent her to find out what had happened, not at all to interact with the Magistrate. This season's Magistrate was a Konrath..male..which means he was an Akalak, huge and not someone Shayna wanted to have much truck with.

For a tick his arm loosened but before she could step back her feet cleared the ground, and before she could even realize what had happened she was suddenly eye level with him. Her own eyes widened and her lips part in surprise, her hands fell to his wrists. Her fingers tighten against his wrists as his hands tighten around her hips, a gasp was uttered as the pressure increased. She was tiny, she knew that but it shocked her that he was able to pick her up with such little effort, and apply enough pressure to her hips to make them ache. "I don't know anything.." Flashes from when she uttered the same thing beneath the whip, that had left the thin scars across her back and the two scars on her arm where the one with the whip had missed. "I don't know what you want to know.." She quickly corrected herself, as she tried to keep her legs still so that she didn't accidentally kick him or harm him though whenever his grip moved one leg or the other invariably twitched forward.

Surely he didn't want to know about the affair that she caught Adair Askara in with Katherine's brother, or that Katherine loses her temper and flies into a rage occasionally. These were trinkets, nothing important. Yet suspended up in the air, their noses almost touching so close does he hold her, Shayna had no doubt that if she didn't provide something then something worse then aching hips was in store. "I know quite a bit of gossip, rumors do you really want me to list the rumors that a slave hears? That will take all day.." Her voice was not quite steady, but it was perhaps steadier then one might expect from an overly short slave being held in a man that was much larger above the ground.

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[Kalesserimamoru]

Mamoru didn't speak as he looked at her, nor did he even blink. This excuse that she knew nothing wasn't fooling him at all. She claimed not to know what he wanted to know, but he hadn't asked for anything pacific, only to hear about the people in the city, and of course of this mistress that she spoke of. Perhaps it didn't seem important to her, but to him any and all information could be useful. The trickster had many tools that he applied during work and one of the things that helped was knowing as much as he could about everyone around him.

It was an interesting scene however, a large male standing in the middle of the street with a small girl lifted into the air as if she were a child, and no one said a thing. He found it all amusing, but not for a moment did he crack a smile. He stared into her eyes unblinking, and he could feel her warmth through his hands and that of her breath against his cheeks. He was ready to stand there with her suspended in the air and slowly squeeze her tighter until she spoke. Slowly squeezing their prey until they popped was a constrictor favorite, but it turned out that he wouldn't need too because the girl finally spoke.

"All day, and here you just said you had nothing to tell." She wasn't heavy at all, no where near the heaviest thing that he'd ever lifted, and to this point, his arms weren't the least bit tired. "Tell me about your mistress then, and her family. I'm sure you've seen things, heard things too?" Finally he decided to put her back down and refolded his arms across his chest. "So get started, I have somewhere I need to be." Mamoru had never chased a slave before, but if this one tried to run, he'd make it a first.

[Shayna]

She tried not to shiver, tried not to tremble as he held her aloft, she didn't try not to blink but her eyes were so transfixed by his that they remained opened and wide. His hands on her hips were incredibly strong, stronger then she thought a mere man's could be. Keeping a person aloft who had no experience in being lifted so was not helping hold her own weight at all was impressive. For a long moment Shayna feared he would keep her aloft, and while she didn't want to stay suspended in the air she also did not want the punishment that came with striking a freeborn. It wasn't quite death but it was unpleasant.

Finally he lowered her, and she stumbles just a little when he let go of her hips as casually as if he had sat down a child who was being wayward. Her hands fell to her hips to rub at the spots his hands had held her, she couldn't see of course but if she had anything to bet she would bet that there would be finger shaped bruises tonight when she was washing herself and her clothing. She didn't quite meet his eyes, not trusting herself when looking into them for some reason she wasn't sure why though. She was tempted to run, but he had legs that were far longer then her own and she had no doubt that he would chase her down.

"Her name is Katherine Morealis..I believe her mother was connect to the house Lynint. She is the niece of the head of house Morealis." Her words were spoken slowly, quietly though her chin never dropped. Her hands finally stopped rubbing the areas on her hips, though if she thought about them she could still feel his hands there, tightening. She feared she would have nightmares of him squeezing tighter and tighter until her hips crushed, though that was silly. Men didn't have the strength in their hands to crush hip bones.

"She owns Black Diamond Cosmetics..and is frighteningly obsessed with beauty." Shayna's eyes did slide away from him now, her head ducking enough so that her hair fell over her shoulders to shadow her face. Mistress Katherine had commented enough on her ugliness for Shayna to know just how shallow she really was. "I didn't have much contact with them, I am not allowed within the shop with her. I have only been her slave for a season." She hoped that what she had told him was enough, there were just some things that she had been ordered directly to not talk about.

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[Kalesserimamoru]

Mamoru listened closely to what she said, nothing of note was spoken, but he hadn't expected much. Some people allowed more to slip when they spoke, but this one was more tight lipped. It was a good thing for her masters, but not anyone looking for information. She was standing on her own now, but her scent was still in his nose, and it was making his stomach grumble. The trickster could always eat, but after such a long trip, he was hungrier than normal. He rubbed his chin as she continued and filed the information away in case he needed it another day.

Once she finished talking, he didn't push further. She was a talker, but she kept her secrets hidden well, as a slave should do. He had gotten enough he thought, and one of the reasons he had bothered her to start with was because she spoke out to him, asking so many questions. Now they were on to the next issue...punishment. Over the course of the last few chimes, she had struck him more than once and even spoken rudely. In truth, Mamoru was used to such insolence from whelps, but he had to think like the others now.

If she had done this to a member of the dynasty, what would they have done, or even other freeborns like himself...punishment. During his time as a guard in the nest, the trickster had beaten and tortured more than a few Myrians, and even a Dhani or two when needed. Was that the order of things? Was the slave girl's crime worth such harshness?

Mamoru uttered a grunting noise as he lowered his arms and slapped his hands together. "I guess that's enough if you don't know more. But that leaves the issue of you girl. You have been rude, openly and you even struck me. This can't go unpunished." Beating her seemed like the easiest thing to do, and torture was a process that he enjoyed. However, it wasn't like him to not think of something more crafty. "So," he said while popping his knuckles. "What should I do with you?"

[Shayna]

Shayna quietly watched him, trying to judge his reactions to her words, trying to make out if she had pleased him enough or if he was displeased. She couldn't speak of some things, mostly because her Mistress had forbade her, but a little for shame. Also for now she was tied to her Mistress, what helped her Mistress, helped her in the long run., what hurt her Mistress hurt her as well. When he lowered his arms and clapped, she was startled but she simply stood straighter to hide the light jump.

She nods when he spoke of her not knowing more, but the nod froze when he spoke of her rudeness, and even claimed she had struck him. Abject terror flooded her heart, her mind going over the last few chimes, trying to pinpoint when she had struck him. Perhaps she had been a little less polite then she would have if he had been Dynasty, but to strike him? Slaves were never allowed to strike freeborn, and if she managed with a light beating for doing so she would be counted lucky.

Her first instinct was to flee, and in fact she even took several steps backwards before she stopped herself. Fleeing would do nothing, he knew who her Mistress was, and the brand on her face would have given him ample clue as to where to find her. Best to just suck it up and take what he wanted to give, but she wasn't going to simply accept his version of what happened. "Forgive me sir, if I was rude." Her words are soft, and she couldn't keep the quiet tremble from her voice. "I will accept any punishment you deem fair for a freeborn to give a slave on the basis of rudeness. I will watch my words much more in the future..but I never struck you. Not intentionally, a slave does not strike out at her betters." She tried to pour humility into her words as much as she could, even though she stood taller, stretching herself upward without even realizing she was doing so. A poor attempt at boosting her courage, and confidence.

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[Kalesserimamoru]

Mamoru was curious about this girl, in fact he was almost giggly with questions. The women in the nest, even the young had a strong personality and were bold beyond belief. They ruled the nest and it was the males who had to bite their tongues. For him to meet a female that was the exact opposite of this was a wonder. She still had defiance in her eyes, a boldness that spoke of a soul unbroken. Other than that, she was as pliable as they came, and it gave him a tingle.

He wondered if she were lying about not knowing more, but he didn't have all day to stand there and question this girl and he didn't want to try and hypnotize her in a public place that he was so new too. Mamoru looked around again, noticing the people that were well dressed and those that weren't. The Dhani could probably get more information if one of them were to ask her, but then he'd have to answer to them as well. This was one of the reasons he didn't like rules, and tried to find away around them whenever he could.

Unless there was a secret that he didn't know about, he was sure that he held more power than any one of them, but what they had was political power and numbers to back it. He would have to learn their ways and make his stake in this new world through a slow, painful climb to the top. But the trickster had vision and was as patient as Dhani came..he would have his time. "Going somewhere?" he asked when the girl stepped back.

The trickster was ever the predator, and always on the hunt, no matter where he was or what form he took. Mamoru crossed the distance through long strides, placing himself back in front of her, and placing her within arms reach. He expected her to try and run and if she did, the chase would be on. However, the girl thought better of it and stayed which did disappoint him just a bit. "I think it's up to me to decide if I were struck or not, and I think I was. You almost knocked me over." he lied. A grin spread across his lips as she excepted her punishment and Mamoru lifted a hand to his chin in thought.

"I want you to show me around. Tell me what you know about the houses, everything, even the people who walk past us."

[Shayna]

The moment he crossed the distance between them Shayna's green eyes close slowly. It wasn't a cringe, it wasn't a flinch, it was simply acceptance of what was to come. She expected a blow of some sort, possibly a cuff upside the head, if he was particularly annoyed or simply cruel it might be several blows. She prepared herself for the physicality of her punishment in the only way she could, taking a deep breath and just ..expected to feel pain.

When it didn't come she did start to stiffen, only because the longer it took then the more likely it was that he would be choosing. It was a sign of someone who enjoyed punishing rather then did so for the express purpose of teaching. Yet he speaks, and his words drove her eyes open, surprise in her eyes. "I don't think I can do that. My Mistress expects me to be at the river waiting for her when Syna falls. If I am not there then she will punish me, ..her wishes supersede yours.." The last is said apologetically, no trace of insincerity in her tones. One hand raised to brush her midnight strands of unruly hair behind her ear, trying to decide what she could tell him without breaking her orders from her Mistress, and that would be quick.

"It is mostly just about looking, and watching. For example look, don't look so openly, just glance.." She nodded her head toward the opposite side of the street, where two men stood apparently talking. "That guy is a minor cousin in the house Draer, Draer are Svefra so if they those eyes you probably have a Draer. The other is a freeborn, see the mark? But watch...one of them just touched the other's arm. The other didn't draw back the arm..they are most likely a couple." She turned back to look at him, still forcing herself to look at his eyes.

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[Kalesserimamoru]

Mamoru gave a hardy laugh at the girl's words. He should have expected she had places to be and things to do. From what he knew of slaves they were supposed to be kept busy and working. This little flower on the other hand must have had a comfy position that allowed her to wander about so. "Tell me what you can then, and be off on your way."

They had been standing there talking for several chimes, but he hadn't noticed. Not until others around them started to gather again, eavesdropping, as if they expected a show of some kind. This was really going to take getting used too. Dhani in the nest weren't nearly as jumpy or nosy when it came to others, and heated exchanges happened so often to the point where it was a normal everyday thing. Mamoru followed her gaze, flashing his eyes towards the people that she spoke of when she mentioned them.

It wasn't exactly what he was looking for, and the girl seemed to always be slightly off the mark. He had a feeling that she knew exactly what he wanted to know, but wouldn't say it. She had secrets, he could tell, but the girl seemed afraid to speak of any. He didn't push further, and as he looked around a last time, a thought crossed his mind. "That's enough, and I have a better idea. Take me to meet with your mistress..and she can answer my questions herself." He brought both hands to his hips and cocked his head to the side.

"If she is really worried about the missing girl. I'm sure that she will agree to see me and besides...you seem to ask for trouble. It's better that I see your safe return before you anger anyone else."

[Shayna]

He was infuriatingly hard to read for Shayna, who usually prided herself on being able to watch people to ascertain their moods to adjust her own words and attitude. It helped to know shortly after meeting someone if they preferred slaves to be quiet, seen but not heard, or if they preferred slaves with a little bit of an opinion. With him she could gather none of this, and in a real sense she was flying blind.

She knew he wanted to know important secrets, perhaps even secrets of the Rujaro. She didn't have those secrets, at least not that she knew anyway. Her secrets were Mistress Katherine's...and the Askara's, surely not Rujaro related. When he suggested she take him to Mistress Katherine she was visibly relieved, for a split tick until it occurred to her that her Mistress probably would not be happy for her to bring him to question her. However, he was freeborn, she was Dynasty, she would put him in his place surely. Though she was not eager to be the recipient if her Mistress flew into one of her secret rages that Shayna was not suppose to speak of, it might be better then displeasing this one.

"Of course, if you do not mind walking to the river, where I am to meet my Mistress." Shayna spoke without hesitation, though her eyes finally dropped with almost relief. She turned quietly on her heel, not waiting to see if he was going to follow before she started moving down the street, habitually moving into the streets whenever she crossed the path of Dynasty or freeborn.

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[Kalesserimamoru]

The trickster nodded and followed the girl, in a way he was surprised that she had agreed. She held her mistress close and whether for fear or loyalty, she wouldn't breath a secret even if he flattened her body in the process. At least now they were getting somewhere, and he would be able to find information from one of the sources. The woman would probably take offense, they normally did, but it had been she who sent her slave to the Magistrate's office to find information for her.

He didn't mind the walk, he had walked much further in the jungle an did so more as the years passed. Mamoru rolled his neck as he looked around and watched the girl in front of him. She darted about, trying to make sure that she didn't bump into anyone as she had just done to him. He made mental notes when he crossed places with names listed on the outside just in case he needed to go there himself.

He was sure he wouldn't see much of this girl again, but if he could speak with her mistress perhaps he could save the Magistrate from having to do it himself, if he were able to answer her questions or at least put her mind at ease.