Contest of Hearts

Festive music and a feast for kings set a cheerful atmosphere at the grand assembly area outside the Gold Palace. The Pharaoh sat from a balcony overlooking the celebration as dancing and singing filled the open courtyard below. Everyone looking to participate in the Contest of Hearts had gathered and many people were practicing their planned form of entertainment before it was their turn.

The first contestant was a pale skinned beauty with long dark hair that was adorned with bits of sparkling material to give her locks an appearance not unlike that of the night sky. The young woman performed a powerful dance for the audience to a local song usually played after funerals which celebrated both life and death. The girl's petite body interpreted what would have been the lyrics through movements that suggested birth, life, death, and rebirth.

When she was done, everyone was silent for a moment but it was the Pharaoh whom clapped first showing his appreciation for the display. A roar of cheers and applause would follow and celebratory confetti was tossed onto the stage. The girl bowed her head deeply in thanks and took her leave from the stage. It was a fine start to the contest, but the day was young and things had only just gotten started. Who will be the one to steal everyone's hearts?

Lexiara watched the graceful dancer with wide eyes. How could she expect to compete with that? But no, she would not allow herself to become discouraged. She turned to look at the gaggle of orphans she had “borrowed” from the Matron, all of them looking around with bright eyes of wonder, and smiled at them brightly. She hoped the presence of the children would endear her to the crowd and also help lighten the load of trying to set out the feast she had prepared. Though it was not enough to feed everyone assembled outside of the Gold Palace, it was still a great deal of food. She had left her pack with her bow and other possessions with the Matron, the only thing she had brought with her was the copious amounts of food and anything she needed to add final touches to the dishes.

She had carefully planned the menu, wanting to provide a variety through the courses. She had finally decided on making flatbreads made from wheat and cheese for an appetizer, and she had managed to find some leafy greens and other fresh vegetables to make a light salad with, topped in a cheese she had made herself. The feast area had wines from all areas of the world and she had managed to snag a few bottles from Balbadd that was known for its sweet, delicate flavor. To be served with the wine, she had meticulously selected a mix of figs and chestnuts, designed to offset the wine pleasantly and to provide a palate cleanser between dishes. The main dish would be roasted fowl; she would have preferred pheasant, but it was nearly impossible to find pheasant in this part of the world without a hefty fee. For dessert, she had planned fruit pastries, bite-sized sweet bread with berries in the middle.

It was not exactly a perfect representation of her home cuisine, but she had been forced to adapt to what was available in this area. She was confident the fine cuisine would at least bring a smile to the faces of those attending the contest. She softly inquired to a guard about obtaining a large table for her feast and nodded to him in thanks when he motioned to two servants to bring one out for her. Once it had been set up, the orphans immediately set about helping her set up the dishes they had carried, each of them doing a wonderful job of remembering which order to put the foods in.  

She took note of the smiles several people in the crowd gave her as she gave gentle encouragement to the children, rushing over to dry the tears of a little boy when he accidentally spilled some of the salad on himself. Once she was satisfied with the presentation, she ushered the children behind the table with her, the smaller ones standing on the boxes they had used to haul their precious cargo, the older children trying to use their fingers to brush their disorderly hair into place. She helped one boy smooth down a stubborn cowlick and helped a little girl straighten her dress, all of them trying to look their best. Some were hoping that if they showed the crowd they could be helpful and look nice, they may find new homes. She smiled proudly at them and then watched the crowd for any that wanted to try her feast.

The Pharaoh watched with a complacent smile as the events went on below. There were multiple stages with many people competing at once and while the audience seemed captivated by the dancer's performance, such displays were rather common among Heliohaptan festivities. He clapped lightly in appreciation of the dancer's efforts but did not look very moved or touched by her routine. The concepts of life, death, and rebirth were part of daily culture in this country so for all its beauty it was somewhat boring for the Pharaoh whom had already seen more folk dances than he could bother to count.

The audience seemed excited enough by the display and cheered the girl off stage only to quiet down as the next competitor approached. There was a wave of whispers throughout the crowd as the contestant seemed to be a young girl with animalistic traits. The Pharaoh sat forward in his seat finding the unique features to be of interest, but one could not win this contest with exotic looks alone. Everyone wondered what means of touching hearts this girl would choose and surprise was the general atmosphere as she stepped onto the stage accompanied by a group of small children.

It was an adorable effort on the orphan's behalf and the motherly tending of each one by the contestant brought warmth to anyone with even the slightest shred of empathy. Many felt confused at how they set out to begin preparing food, but as the task went on, the antics of the children and then gentleness of the girl seemed to reach out to those who were watching. By the time the small feast was ready for tasting, many people had left their seats in the audience to come sample the food. One by one citizens of Heliohapt tried the dishes that had been made with love. Their reactions were varied as some did not like the taste where as others were brought nearly to tears by the way Lexi's food had caressed their taste buds.

The food was almost consumed in it's entirety when another wave of whispers moved through the crowd as the Pharaoh approached the table. Many had noticed that he left his balcony but none had predicted it was to descend the stairs of the Golden Palace to try out the girl's cuisine himself. Escorted by an entourage of guards, the Ruler of Heliohapt approached the table and smiled at the orphans before reaching down and taking a bite from what was left of the food. There was a long pause as he closed his eyes and gave no hints as to whether he enjoyed it or not. The Pharaoh simply chewed his food and savored the taste until at last he opened his eyes and turned to look at the cook of the meal.

"Did you learn to make this from someone?" There was still no indication of what the man thought, but he wasn't making a revolted expression or gagging which was a good sign.

Lexiara looked on in awe as her feast was devoured, a tiny smile crossing her face at some of the negative reactions. She knew that some people simply did not enjoy the particular food choices in her home areas and it did not bother her too much. The orphans continued to be on the best behavior but were beginning to fidget more and one of the smaller girls tugged on her skirt and rubbed her eyes. She heft the girl to her hip with a smile and snuck her one of the small pastries. She looked up when she noticed a hush of whispers in the crowd and all of the orphans seemed to almost turn to stone in their effort to be still. It was not until the Pharaoh came into view that she understood and her heart skipped a beat. When the Pharaoh tried some of her food, her heart stopped completely for several moments and she blushed lightly as she watched for a reaction to her delicacies.

She could not tell if he enjoyed it, but he at least was not spitting the food out at her, so she smiled and tried to calm the flush of her cheeks. She almost missed his question in her excitement of someone so important eating her food and she stumbled over her words for a moment.

“I... my… I learned from my mother, your grace… Pharaoh… sir.” She mentally cursed herself for not knowing the correct terminology for this part of the world. “My mother taught me most of the basic things and the rest I picked up from cooks in Balbadd, Mister Pharaoh, sir. I hope you enjoy!”

The girl on her hip tried to hide behind her hair, sucking her thumb into her mouth as Lexiara tried not to fidget with items on the table. Her feast was nearly completely gone, only a few bits and pieces remained. She was proud that so many people had partaken of her delicacies and stood a bit straighter knowing that at least she had prepared something a large number of people enjoyed. But it was up to the Pharaoh to decide the worthiness of the edibles on display.

Descendant of the Gods, Pharaoh Ramses was the man's full title and it was proper to simply refer to him as, "Pharaoh" in situations as this. When Lexiara stumbled over her etiquette the ruler seemed a bit amused, but his eyes had already moved from her and had turned to the orphans. The gaze he gave them was a long one and bore with it a heavy silence as if the man never really cared about the young anthropomorphic girl's reply in the first place. "I see..." The Pharoah finally spoke but his words were dull as if something else were on his mind as his strong green eyes scanned the young faces with a neutral expression.

"...and the children? Are they all yours?"

The question would come suddenly with a hint of interest in the man's demeanor as he raised his eye brows and finally looked back to Lexiara. Should the youthful girl reveal that they were all orphans, a smile would overcome the man's expression as his eyes narrowed as if he were examining any reactions to his words with curiosity. "Tell me. If I offered to purchase these children as slaves and told you that I would give them all education and training they could never afford on their own. Would you sell me these children's freedom? Don't worry about the orphanage they came from, any parties involved would be compensated."

The Pharaoh spread his hands and looked to each boy and girl one by one until at last falling upon the girl hiding behind Lexiara. "I, Descendant of the Gods Pharaoh Ramses Massri VII, give each of you children a choice. Will you devote yourselves to your ruler on the promise of more knowledge and experience than anywhere else in this world?" It was the offer of a lifetime but the option to refuse remained where as usually the Pharaoh could simply command things of his people.

In this case Ramses was testing both the children and their guardian for the day. Their response would show the true nature of their "Heart" in this competition.

Lexi titled her head to the side at the question of if the orphans were her children and shook her head, her voice soft. “No, Pharoah. They are all orphans from the city.” She ruffled the hair of the young girl in her arms with a smile, the girl now sleepily sucking her thumb while tangled in Lexi’s hair. Lexi froze as the Pharaoh uttered his offer and she had to choke the initial cry of outrage, unsure of what he had asked. When he again stated the offer to purchase the children, even allowing each of them the choice, she could not stop the flush of heated anger reaching her cheeks. Her voice was hard, but quiet, and she tried with everything she had to remain respectful, but the topic was a sensitive one for her.

“With all due respect, Pharaoh… Humans are not property to be bought or sold. Punish me if you will, but that is my firm belief. They are living, thriving creatures with feelings, intelligence. If you are asking me personally? I could never condone or consent to such a decision.”

She took a deep breath in through her nose before releasing it through her mouth, her voice not quavering, though the rest of her body was. The children all remained silent, many not understanding the concept of being purchased as slaves. Some stood with wide eyes of wonder at the offer, education and training more than most of them had dared hope for. Others were attempting to use the table to hide or creeping behind her. They had never seen someone speak in such a way to the almighty Pharaoh and they feared that at any moment she would be smote and they had come to enjoy her company. She continued speaking, hoping the Pharaoh would allow her to get all of her words out.

“But with that same idea, it is up to the children to make that choice for themselves, the ones old enough to understand the offer. I am not their parent or their master, and your offer appears to be a generous one. But at the risk of your wrath, why could you not make that same effort into providing them with an education and training without purchasing them like cattle? They would grow up, knowing and loving you for providing for them when they had lost their parents and family. It would inspire loyalty and dedication that slavery would never give you.”


She stood with a tense body. She may not fully grasp that this man was like a God to these people, but she understood that angering powerful people often had harsh and immediate consequences.

The Pharaoh remained unphased as the girl's response sparked a wave of appalled gasps and cries of hatred from the audience. His entourage of guards moved to aim their spears for her throat before she could get more than few words out, however Ramses anticipated the actions of his protectors and rose a hand to stay their blades before any real aggressive action could be taken. The guards dared not defy their holy lord and stood by with caution as Lexiara's defiance was allowed to continue. Patience showed in spades in the Pharaoh's demeanor as he waited for the girl to take a breath and did not interrupt her before she continued. The suggestion the animal eared female had ended with was reasonable and as she finished the reaction from the audience died down to mere whispers.

When it was clear Lexiara had no more words to speak on the matter, the Pharaoh finally revealed his own take on her response and to put it bluntly...he was not amused. "You stand in Heliohapt. A city where the worlds largest slave auction is taking place not even a few moment's walk away from this very spot in which you stand. This is not the place to be advocating freedom, girl." The Pharaoh sighed in disappointment as he took a step back and looked over the children once again, "Your naivety has cost these children a future far brighter than they could ever imagine. What makes you think they would not receive the same treatment simply because they are 'slaves'? That status would not make them any less human, nor would it garner any less of my trust or affections."

There was a silence over the assembly area as Pharaoh Ramses turned and began walking back to the Gold Palace to return to the balcony where he had been seated earlier. As the God in man's clothing left he gave parting words to the contestant. "Your heart is pure, but blinded by pre-conceptions about words made by "man" who has never had the wisdom to make himself worthy of language despite having crudely wielded the tool for centuries. In addition, the hearts of the children were divided between my offer and a sense of safety you provided." He stopped momentarily and turned to look at Lexiara one last time, "It's a pity you don't understand how the world works yet. Otherwise you might have won this contest...come back in a few years when you've seen all the sides slavery has to offer. Your time here in Heliohapt should be a good first lesson."

Lexi stood there in total silence, relieved to still have her body parts intact, but shaken by the Pharaoh’s words. Was her view of the world really so narrow? When she had seen the slave auctions, she had been filled with disgust and hatred at the dejected, lifeless looks on the slaves faces. But as she looked around the gathering area, she took a more in-depth look. She had not noticed the slaves attending to festivities, a shame she took hard. On closer examination, she noticed the slaves were well cared for and seemed to have more privilege than any slave she had met before.

One of the older orphans that had looked on the Pharaoh in awe at his offer tugged on her sleeve, his face serious. “Miss Lexi, don’t be mad at his most gracious offer! Royal slaves have nice lives. They don’t have to worry about where they will eat… or sleep… or if they will ever have a home.” The boy’s face became sad, he knew he was too old to hope for a family, and soon would not be allowed in the orphanage any longer, either. He was nearly of an age that he could work and would have to support himself. The other orphans nodded in agreement with him, even the ones that had hid behind her. The young girl that had been sucking her thumb even piped up quietly, "I could wear pretty clothes!" It seemed the Pharaoh was correct, they had not hid from his offer, but to stay close to the perceived safety she offered.

Lexi’s face was still filled with shock and at the orphan’s words, her heart fell. What had she just denied these wonderful children? Would she really condemn them to a life of poverty just to avoid using a word like slave with them? The Pharaoh’s words echoed in her head for another instant and she remembered her tour of the Black Temple, about how the country was founded. These people saw the Pharaoh as a direct lineage to the Gods themselves. And she had not heard of any harshness this “God” had performed upon his people. She was so… young. Young and stupid. He was offering more than she could ever give to them. She struggled to put her naïve opinions aside to hopefully correct the damage she had done, she could not let the children suffer due to her preconceptions.

She fell to her hands and knees, eyes on the ground as she called out softly, hoping to gain the Pharaoh’s attention. “Please, Pharaoh. Might I apologize for my ignorance? I… I would hate for my stupidity to be the reason these children are denied.”

The pharaoh did not show any signs of hesitation in leaving as the children pleaded with Lexiara and implored her to reconsider the offer. But it would not be until the girl spoke up herself and asked for another chance to sell the orphans into the Pharaoh's hands. The man would turn only half way but was smiling as he rose one open hand and gestured to all of the children. "Very well, then I hereby adopt these children into my palace as slaves. You all have one day to say goodbye to your lives as common people. Enjoy the rest of the festival and report to the palace gates at dawn tomorrow to begin your new lives. You will be compensated well for this exchange." Another gesture would wave in a pair of servants carrying a small chest full of gold to Lexiara.


The Pharaoh's entourage would then return to escorting him into the palace where he would return to the balcony and announce that the contest was not yet over and encouraged more participants to step forward and attempt to win the hearts of Heliohapt.

Lexi stared at the ground and did not look up until after the Pharaoh had spoken. She was stunned when the gold was set before her and the orphans began whispering excitedly when the Pharaoh moved back to his balcony. They all seemed excited by their upcoming life changes. The boy that had spoken out to her tackled her in a hug, whispering a multitude of thanks into her ear, tears of happiness creeping down his cheeks, completely oblivious to how difficult the decision had been for her to make.

She had such a deep hatred for slavery and yet she just sold these children into that very thing. Regardless of how much they had wanted it, she still worried about whether it had been the right thing to do. She sincerely hoped that she had not just doomed these children to what she feared had happened to her own family. But she would put aside her worries for this moment of celebration and join the children in their overwhelming happiness. She finally stood, the orphans all taking turns hugging her legs. Her eyes turned to the small chest of gold and she hummed as she tried to think of what to do.

She had hoped that she could curry enough favor to obtain assistance in locating her family, but she felt she had pushed her luck with the Pharaoh quite far enough for their short encounter. Her mind floated back to his mention of the slave auction being held and slowly, an idea formed in her mind. If her family could be stolen away, perhaps she could simply buy them back. Or pay for information on how to locate them. The attendees of the contest seemed to have turned their attention towards whoever the next contestant was, leaving her in a circle of hyper, happy children. She knew where at least a portion of her money would go.

“Well, I see you are all quite happy. What do you say, for your last day as ‘common folk,’ we go and gather the rest of the kids, grab something sweet from the market and go play in the fountain, hmmm? Treats on me, as there is little I would rather spend my money on than you wonderful helpers! You all did so good helping me out today!”

The children giggled and danced around excitedly, their conversations going from ideas of what their new life would be like to how fun helping Lexi out had been and who had managed to sneak small bits of the feast while setting up the array of foods. Lexi tried to clear her mind of her worries about her decision and focused on gathering the children and picking up the remainder of the supplies and boxes so they could all go out and enjoy their last night of freedom.

When the Pharaoh finally returned to his seat on the balcony of the Golden Palace, he would look over the assembly plaza with a discontented frown. It seemed that everyone's attention had been taken by the event that had occurred and the festivities had yet to recover from the heavy atmosphere that had settled around everyone. Some were still giving Lexiara dirty looks out of spite for how she had talked back to a living god at risk of incurring divine punishment upon everyone present. This would not do as the Pharaoh had spared no expense towards making this a day everyone could enjoy. Ramses would stand and spread his arms to his people as he declared, "The contest is not yet over! Come, let us see who else has a heart deep and profound enough to move us all and claim the grand prize!" There was a round of cheers in response and slowly but surely, the contest picked back up into full gear as more contestants stepped forward to try their luck.

As Lexiara escorted her gaggle of orphans away a large man would approach her and bow deeply. There was a collar around his neck demarking him as a slave, but there were no chains at his wrists or ankles. "Miss, you are forgetting your reward money. Might I offer to carry it for you?" The man did not look up from the floor but close inspection would reveal a bald head, small beady eyes, and a face with jowls that would make a bloodhound jealous. The stranger was far too fat to be anything other than well fed despite his seemingly low social status, but the way he behaved was that of a classic servant who lived only to serve others. There wasn't any attempt to actually look Lexiara or the children in the eyes or acknowledge them in any way other than listening to the response to the question he'd asked.

After getting a reply, be it affirming or a polite decline, the man dressed as a slave would add in, "Ah, and if you are looking for sweets, I know an excellent vendor that is only open for the festival. I would be happy to take you to it."

Lexi turned a curious eye to the man speaking, her eyes drawn to the collar around his neck. At his offer, she was startled to realize that she had, indeed, left her prize to the side. She noticed that he seemed like he was well cared for, not suffering any of the signs of abuse she had seen at the slave auction or when her family had been stolen. He certainly was not starved, there was no doubt of that. It made her feel slightly better about the agreement she had made, but only slightly. She was still quite uneasy with the decision to offer the children into slavery.

She smiled at the man and her tone was cheerful and respectful. He may be a slave, but he was still a person and she did not wish to offend him. “Please, sir, do not bow on my account. I am just a simple girl. I am most thankful for your offer. But only if I can share some of this prize with you. It would not be right to accept help without offering something in return.” When he mentioned the special vendor available only during the festivities, her face brightened. “I would love to try this vendor you mention. I am sure the children would appreciate the chance at a special treat only available during the festival.”

At the mention of special treats, the children all cheered loudly and hurried to finish packing, the older children lugging the empty crates to the side before swinging the younger children up, some carrying them on top of their shoulders, others hefting a toddler to their hip. They were far too excited to trudge about as the littler ones tried to keep up, so they opted to carry them. Once all of the little ones had been assigned to an older orphan, Lexi picked up the last girl and settled her on a hip before turning back to the slave.

“If you would be so kind, sir, please do lead the way!”

The large slave bowed a bit deeper making it seem as though he would be unable to stand back up with all his extra weight, but surprisingly he then stood tall and moved to secure Lexiara's reward by hoisting the chest full of gold up onto his back using a pair of straps that were attached to it. With the gold in tow, the servant would introduce himself as Morahm and then lead the group out of the great assembly area and down a street to the south. "Sure was surprising to see you turn the Pharaoh's offer down at first miss. Are you not from around here?" He would ask before posing a couple more questions. He would appear to be passing the time and making polite conversation while they traversed several streets. Each turn down a road seemed to be followed by a question,

"Where did you meet all these children?"

"Do you have any friends or family in the city?'

"Your ears and tail are something I've never seen before, pardon me for asking, but can you feel with them?"

"We're almost there now. Do you like sweets too? Or is this just for the children?"

At last, they would arrive at a plaza where several stalls were set up for the Festival of the Broken Sun. He brought them all to one in particular which was selling Kahk. A sweet sort of shortbread covered in a sugared icing and stuffed with roasted nuts.

Lexi smiled as she followed the older slave, shaking her head at his inquiry about where she was from. With each question she offered a cheerful reply.

“No, I am from the Great Plains, north of Balbadd.”

“I help out at the orphanage sometimes, and they help me get around the city, since I am not completely familiar yet.”

“Oh, these? Well, I have some sensation in them, yes. If I sit on my tail wrong, it certainly hurts. But I don’t really ‘hear’ with the cat ears. They pick up minor vibrations, sometimes, and I can move them, but for the most part, they are just there.”

“I love sweets, and I love sharing with the kids, they don’t get treats very often.”

With each question, her mind shifted more and more. While he could simply be friendly, she had never heard a slave ask so many questions. Most rarely spoke, from what she had seen. She brushed off the minor suspicion and clapped happily when they arrived at the vendor, the treat called Kahk looking very interesting and delicious. She approached the vendor cheerfully and ordered enough for all of the children and for Morahm and herself. As she waited for the vendor to scramble over the rather large order, she turned to Morahm with a curious look.

“So, how long have you been… a… a slave? Is it… harsh? Will the children be treated well?”

Morahm smiled as he listened to each reply finding the information to be interesting if nothing else. Once the children and Lexiara obtained the sweets from the vendor he held up a hand and politely refused when he was offered a share. "Thank you, but I have already eaten my fill. Even slaves are allowed to partake of the Pharaoh's feast and I have certainly taken more than my fair share of grilled fish!" he then bellowed a loud and overly stated laugh whilst patting his belly which was prominent even under his loose clothing. The man was content to simply be of service as a guide and pack mule and made no efforts to share in their spoils opting to merely watch from the side lines instead.

There was visible surprise on Morahm's face when Lexiara approached him with a question about his status as a slave. His beady eyes looked away as if he did not really feel comfortable and repeatedly glanced upwards and to the side as words left his lips, "Ah...er...a long...time? I guess. I mean, it's been many many years. I do not remember what life was like before I was a slave." Morahm turned his body away from Lexiara so she would not be able to see his face as he went on to answer the second part of her question. "Many slaves end up being treated poorly. But I do not think the pharaoh's slaves suffer or want for much." His composure seemed much more solid when talking about this subject and there was no hints that he himself had gone through much suffering during his time as a shackled man.

"You shouldn't worry about the children, they will be in no danger in the palace although it is likely they wont be allowed to leave freely..." The large slave turned his attention towards the orphans and addressed them in an exciting voice to grasp their attention, "Say, would you kids like to see one of the cities greatest secrets while you're still able to move around outside the Golden Palace? It's a once in a life time chance, I promise!"

Lexi made a worried face at his initial answer, though relief swept through her at his mention that the children would not be mistreated. Though she was unhappy that they would not be allowed freedom to leave the palace, she argued to herself that it was no different than if it were the job of a servant. They may not be paid in a traditional sense, but they would receive food, a roof over their heads, an education and training.

“I appreciate your words of comfort, Morahm. It has eased my mind somewhat. My family was taken by slavers, and it was not a kind thing. It was cruel and harsh and everything I have seen since then of slaves gave me great cause to worry about the children.”

When the slave man asked the children if they wanted to see a great secret, most of the orphans began cheering and encouraging him immediately. She noticed the younger of the gaggle were intrigued but were also showing signs of being weary. The girl on her hip was yawning and already half asleep.

“Morahm, would it be okay if we dropped the younger ones off first, they are practically asleep on their feet, even with the sugary treats.” The younger of the orphans pouted but did not even have the energy to object too loudly. The older orphans insisted they wanted to continue, eager to take advantage of their last day of freedom, many already knew what it was to work and they saw this last night as a chance to embrace their childhood for everything they could. “Don’t worry, we can still go, kids. But the littler ones are practically zombies they are so tired. So would that be okay, Morahm? Plus, we could leave my prize with the orphanage until we return.”

The man would assure Lexiara that the children would be fine as slaves of the Pharaoh as there could be few greater honors in Heliohapt. "Slavery is a widespread practice and its shades are as vast as the sea. I know that you have seen its darker sides, but there are many good things about being a slave. It would be one thing to serve a sadistic master or as a meat shield on a battlefield. However, being the slave of a benevolent and noble ruler such as Pharaoh Ramses is a very different kind of role. You can let your worries for these children lay to rest." Morahm's words were meant to be comforting, but he tried not to speak too much on the issue as it was clear that slavery as a whole was a somewhat sensitive subject.

When it was suggested that they stop by the orphanage to drop some of the younger kids off, Morahm froze briefly in place as though he had been petrified into stone. His head whipped around to face Lexiara and began prostrating himself before her, forehead kissing the dirty ground as he implored her to reconsider. "It isn't far from here, please allow the younger ones to join us. It is not likely they will be allowed to leave the palace again after tomorrow and this might be their last chance to see the best view in all of Heliohapt! I beg of you, do not steal this chance from them!" The large man's chubby folds were still wobbling from the sudden force of his movement to bow down.

The gold in the chest to his back clanged as it shifted from his movements as Morahm sat up from his bow and waited for a reply. There was something desperate about his actions and a slight hint of fear would be in his expression making the sense of urgency feel all the more sincere.

Lexi frowned at the man's tone, worry suffusing her features. What was the slave up to? Did he intend to harm the children? Kidnap them? Was he trying to save them from their fates as slaves? Or did he just really want to show them this amazing view? The questions flooded her mind and she did not know what to do. She contemplated calling for the guards or telling the children to run. Her thoughts ran to the slave auction and her fears were intensified. What if he intended to take the children for the slave auction?

The hint of fear about his expression made her face harden. What would inspire fear in a slave that had never seemed to have been treated badly in his life? She subtly nudged one of the older children and used her eyes to indicate where guards stood nearby. If anything went wrong, she wanted to make sure someone was able to fetch help or her bow for her. She turned a stony look to him, her voice solid and hinting at anger and worry.

"Sir, I must question your motives. Your actions tell me there is more to this than you are saying and I will not allow these children to come to harm. If it is gold you want, take the chest and leave, I do not care. If you seek to harm these children, I can guarantee you will hurt worse. If your motives are pure, I suggest you explain yourself, else I will call for the guards to end this charade."

Her body was tensed as she waited for Morahm's response, ready to keep the children out of harms way.

Morahm paled at Lexiara's line of questioning, freezing in place. The slave was obviously frightened, and her having called him out laid bare that fear. The last question in particular seemed to have a visible effect on the man. The situation suddenly became tense, the gravity of something great baring down upon the group that it was almost palpable. Morahm's forehead still to the ground, he whispered to himself in frantic tones. If Lexiara strained to hear the slave, she would be able to tell what he was saying. "No. No. No. They're going to be needed where they are..." There were strange noises that the man was making between the first three 'no's that he made. Almost as if he were quietly sobbing.

Sucking in a breath, the fat man shivered momentarily. He looked up from the ground and to the children. There was not only signs of fear in Morahm's face, but also signs of grief and some sort of internal struggle. His sights lingered on the children momentarily, and that fear, grief and struggle were replaced by that of a firm resolve.

There was a saying that Morahm had heard from some travelers in the past. That every man in his life experienced at least one moment of greatness. Morahm believed that this was his. He looked to Lexiara and spoke. Fear was certainly still being felt by the slave, but it seemed his words were being driven by a stronger purpose.

"The view from the obelisk is truly breathtaking..." The man paused, taking in another deep breath. "But I would be lying if I said that that was the only reason." The slave was being quite bold, looking directly at Lexiara and speaking in such a frank and straightforward manner. The man had to fight his slave nature so as to not downcast his eyes to the ground once more. "I am willing to tell you the other reason, but the children must not hear it at all." He would only speak further if Lexiara would come close enough to where he could whisper something to her that the children couldn't hear.

Lexi scrutinized the slave man with watchful eyes, the fear passing across his face making her worry more before he mentioned the view from the obelisk. At the mention of the tall structure, even the smallest of the children began clamoring to be allowed to go. Apparently, it was a rare sight to see and they had not yet had the opportunity to go. But when Morahm mentioned the secret, she frowned again. Handing the small girl on her hip off to an older child, she pulled Morahm to the side and arched an eyebrow at him, her tail flickering anxiously under her skirt. “What is this big secret… will the children be harmed?”

The large man followed Lexiara slowly. She seemed very suspicious of the large man, though he supposed she had every right to be suspicious. He did not want to seem intimidating to the woman. When he was pulled to the side, he began to speak to her. He leaned forward to his left, somewhat close to Lexiara's ear while keeping his body facing forward. "No, no. It is the opposite." The man hesitated, still worried. He looked over his shoulder, as if feeling somebody watching him. He made sure to whisper, while speaking. "I can't say much. He's watching. He's been watching everything. The city is in danger, and the only safe place is the obelisk." The slave looked pained, as if unsure of himself. He was beginning to waver, but he fought the fear back.

The festive nature of the entire day was still full on about the place, and the cheerful nature of the entire thing was at odd ends with what Morahm was saying. There were plenty of soldiers out and about, many on duty though some off duty and some rotating.

"Please. Adults can take care of themselves, but children... No one should have to die that fast... It hurts my heart thinking about it. They deserve a chance to live." The slave seemed to be on the verge of tears, almost begging Lexiara to believe him.

The slave’s words drove a stake of worry deep into Lexiara’s chest and she looked at the children in fear that something had happened in the small time she had stepped away. She looked about the festive grounds and was unable to imagine what type of danger they could possibly be in. Whatever the danger, it did not seem immediate and she began to suspect Morahm again until she saw he was near tears. Whatever it was he was warning her about, it seemed real enough to him.

She teetered on the edge of uncertainty, but eventually, the very real fear and concern on Morahm’s face convinced her. She was naturally trusting, but even with that, her voice was stern. “We will go with you, but I swear if you try to hurt these children, I will kill you with my own hands.” She would then return to where the children were, her face brightening with excitement. “Let’s go have a look-see, shall we? Before we get you kids back to the orphanage.”

A large sense of relief washed over the slave's face and features. "Of course. Now please, we must hurry." The slave still carried the gold from Lexiara's exchange with the Pharoh, and began moving towards the obelisk he had spoken of earlier. He noted that the children were smiling and excited, and he did his best to put on a good mood as well.

With his worries assayed, they would make decent time to the obelisk. While walking, Morahm made up embellished stories of heroes and the like, entertaining them so that they didn't become bored while they got there. As they got closer, the building's size began to become more and more clear. The thing towered over all of them, and Morahm looked to Lexiara, bowing his head shortly.

The slave led the group into the building and up the flight of stairs. After much sweat from the slave who was definitely not used to physical labor, and what seemed like a long time of walking while attempting to placate any unruly children, Morahm got to a door that he opened and entered. "This is it. One of the best views in Heliohapt." The man's voice came from within the room, which awaited the group's arrival.

OOC:

Making a new thread: The Fate of Heliohapt. You may make an exit post in this thread and then enter into The Fate of Heliohapt thread once it has been created.

Lexiara followed the hefty slave, concern driving her, though she kept a smiling face as they meandered through the streets. The children were hyper and practically danced along, torturing the slave for more stories of adventure, oblivious to the worry of their caretaker. As the Obelisk came into view, several of the children let out gasps of awe and she was tempted to join them in their wonder. It was, by far, the tallest structure she had ever seen and she felt a sense of excitement starting to overcome the concern she felt.

The children hurried to follow Morahm up the stairs, eager to see the view from such a high area. She followed somewhat more sedately but still easily keeping up with the gaggle of orphans and the slave. As they approached the top, her worry returned and she wondered if she would be able to see the danger Morahm had spoken of. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she followed the children through the door at the top of the stairs.


[exit]