All afternoon, the Emir has been showing Demes Oresta and his trusty companions around his mining operations – the refining plants, the Temple of the Mysteries of the Earth where priests perform strange rites on samples of ore, the Dhabian basin where the mines are located… Huge tunnels thousands of years old are propped up by mighty wooden beams, with *almost* no threatening creaks; these, the Emir's advisor, Wasir Rukhim explains, were played out centuries ago and have produced nothing worthwhile in years.

As evening falls, while Demes and the others prepare to return to the city for a feast at the Emir's feasting hall, Prince Salahin, a white Persian Khatta, offers his gloved hand to Chiri. "Milady," he says in a bow. "Would you care to see some of the *new* workings? They are quite interesting, I assure you." He smirks.

Two of the Khattas nearby to hear his words and invitation to a 'behind the scenes' tour are both cougar-colored by some odd chance of fate: one is Josef, Demes's most experienced and trusted guide, and the other was introduced off-handedly by Wasir Rukhim as Sasta, a former privateer now earning her way in the Emir's pay until some of his new ships can be constructed.

Chiri smiles, well… actually it looks more like a forced grimace. "Er… new workings?" she accepts the hand, amazingly with as little physical contact as can possibly be managed.

Josef hmmms, and pads closer to the persian and the rat, "Perhaps you wouldn't mind if I tagged along as well?"

Wasir Rukhim also overhears the conversation, and decides someone should make sure the Prince observes proper etiquette… and doesn't get killed.

"Of course," Prince Salahin says. "Did you think these old tunnels had suddenly striked a vein worth pursuing? No, it was only thanks to divine providence – the will of the First Ones, I dare say… " He leans close to the rat, pressing his hand around hers. "That we have discovered new metal workings so bountiful as to make Rephidim jealous!"

Wasir Rukhim clears his throat, "Now now, my Prince, one should not speak of making our honored allies jealous of our good fortune."

The Skreek makes a smal choking sound in her nose as she feels thr hand close around her own. Although the prospect of seeing something of value like that is intriguing. "Er… how very nice. Will of the first ones, yes indeed." ( Dagh… my hand is going numb! )

The Emir's party begins to ride up the trail that has been hacked into the side of the Dhabian basin, one switchback after another. Demes looks back seeing Chiri and Josef detained by the Prince, then up to the Emir. Hmm. they seem to be in good hands, and the Emir doesn't seem to be worried. He calls, "I'll see you at dinner tonight then, eh?" and waves to them.

Josef waves back to his master, then turns back to the Prince, with a small smile on his face.

The nearby vanderats snuffle, as yet tied to the mounting posts near the tunnel entrance. Salahin beams. "Of course, Rukhim. It was merely a figure of speech… " His tailtip flickers as he readies a vanderat for himself and for Chiri. "Shall we be off then?"

Sasta, the other cougar patterned Khatta, moves to stand beside the prince. She has the look and demeanor of an experienced raider turned good. Effective and rough.

Rukhim sighs inwardly at the Prince's tastes, and hopes to be far enough away when they eventually embarrass the Emir. A Skreek, this time… of all things!

Salahin's left ear tilts downward a bit as he notices Sasta. "Well? Are you not going to join my father, … ?" He gestures, trying to remember her name, then nods. "Sasta, wasn't it?"

Josef saddles his vanderat as well, moving it over to the others. He stares nonchalantly at the prince, waiting to be off and see for himself if the rumors are true.

Chiri grimace/smiles again. "Er… do I get my own riding animal or do I… " she does NOT want to finish that sentence.

Sasta moves to mount a steed, looking back at prince Salahin with her one good eye, and an expression as friendly as the vanderat she's mounting. "No ah? Gots nake surre no trrouble gets you, orr you gets into trroubles."

"Quite so," agrees the Wasir. "There are many hidden dangers that must be avoided."

Salahin's other ear starts to droop. This is hardly the quiet, intimately cozy ride he had planned. Then he perks his ears up. "It would be my honor to provide you conveyance of course, milady Chiri," the Prince suggests. "You would be as light as the cool wind off of the mountaintop, the zephyr upon a bird's back. No, no inconvenience at all, of course." He glances over to Wasir Rukhim with an 'oh no, not him too' look and then offers his hand to lift Chiri to the back of a vanderat.

The vanderat snorts and high-steps. This one is spotted in red and brown, its cheeks accented with black streaks.

Sasta smiles to the rat, "Be k'rreful, they bites."

Josef looks over to Chiri with an expression on his face that suggests the comment 'is this guy for real?'

The Skreek reaches out and takes the hand yet again, her face has a nice 'help me!' expression plastered to it.

Chiri says, "They bite? Oh… I'll have to watch out for that. Wouldn't want anyone to get horribly mauled or anything like that."

Josef just chuckles.

The Emir's son lifts Chiri to the back of the vanderat. Which whuffles, and then… takes off at high speed with a shrieking rat clinging to its neck!

Salahin yelps. "Catch her!" he orders.

Chiri says, "AIEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!"

Sasta gouges her claws into the sides of her vanderat and crouches forward, "Go!" She snarls, taking off after the runaway beast.

Wasir Rukhim remains quiet atop his own mount, wondering how to get the prince to dinner on time without causing undo damage to his own career. Hopefully, the ex-raider will be able to recover the runaway vanderat without too much effort…

Sasta's vanderat bolts off at high speed as well, neck and tail held out straight and legs pounding the ground. It heads straight down the Dhabian basin after Chiri…

Josef sighs, and starts his vanderat off as well towards the runaway rat.

The Prince leaps to the back of another vanderat and rides. "After her! A golden shekel to the one who stops her vanderat – but gently, do you hear me? Gently!"

The cougar Khatta spurs her beast on, chasing down the basin, guiding her beast down the centre and avoiding the trees and boulders on either side. She focuses on the reins of the beast ahead of her.

Chiri's vanderat streaks straight down the Dhabian basin, which drops steadily into the ground so that the walls rise on both sides. Far away, workers peer at the racers from their scaffolds.

Chiri blinkblinks? A gold? "WOAAAH BOY! WOAH THERE!" she grabs at the reigns and clumsily tugs, kicks, and all in all pleads with the beast to get it to stop.

"Wait, Your Highness!!" Rukhim calls out as he goads his own beast to follow… at a less breakneck speed.

Sasta growls quietly as she leans into her vanderat's pace, "Oh yaa, I k'tch yourr rrat forr you."

Josef kicks his vanderat to go faster, trying to keep the rat and her mount in sight less he lose her in the valley.

"Listen… if you stop, I'll find someone really fat and let you eat their hand. How does that sound?" Chiri pleads with her mount.

The vanderat zigzags at Chiri's clumsy handling, but never slackens its pace. A hundred feet ahead of Sasta's, two hundred's ahead of Josef's… The dry, loose earth fumes into a cloud behind her passage.

Josef coughs at the kicked-up dust, but continues to follow, spurring his mount to go yet faster.

Prince Salahin yells ahead, "Cut her off at the bowl! There's nowhere for it to go beyond that but around the curve."

Sasta's vanderat rumbles healthily and leaps over a green, spiky sort of plant as it leans into the chase.

Chiri continues to try and slow her beast, looking for a soft spot to jump off.

Josef veers to the curve in the pass, and heads for the turn attempting to stop Chiri's travels short.

{ If they run into the restricted area, it'll be my head! } O o Rukhim worries. The dust kicked up by the others makes it difficult for the Khatta to keep track of the other riders.

Sasta scrapes her claws along her vanderat's sides again, squinting into the dust, racing it faster than a speed suitable for her damaged vision, trying to catch the runaway.

Chiri shouts, "Will somebody stop this Dagh forsaken beast already!!!"

The chase progresses into the wide, shallow bowl of the Dhabian basin – the walls must be a mile high on all sides, sloping down into the flat valley floor. Far ahead, near the very end of the valley, some armored and spear-carrying soldiers peer at the approaching vanderats.

Once he reaches the turn, Josef stops his beast. He waits for the rat to come near so he can hopefully stop her vanderat from running further.

Sasta shouts ahead, "Pull BACKS to slow!" the contempt for the cityborn rider showing in her voice.

Josef's beast carries him to the side, and Sasta's creature leaps after Chiri's vanderat with a will, blood ripping off of its side and into the wind. Prince Salahin curses as a spatter marks his sleeve. Only twenty feet away from grabbing that tempting vanderat tail now, Sasta is…

Josef notes that Sasta's vanderat prolly won't be very happy with her ;)

"Get outta the way! Mad lizard! Mad lizard!" Chiri yells to the soldiers. She blinks at Sasta's words, grabs the reigns and pulls back as hard as she can.

*SQUEEEEE!* The vanderat leans up threatening to topple Chiri, its tail held straight back for balance as its massive legs dig great gouts into the ground. A cloud of dust whips back into Sasta's face as her vanderat charges forward. Ten feet – eight, seven, six, five…

Chiri lets out a *SQUEEEEEEE!* of her own!

Bringing up the rear, Wasir Rukhim prays, "Please don't kill them… Please don't kill them… until I get there!"

Josef cringes, he hopes those soldiers don't decide to stop Chiri with their pikes.

Sasta pushes the vanderat, snarling "Fasterr, fasterr" into its ears as she leans close down behind it's head, watching the tail of the one in front come closer. She moves with her beasts pace, surging forward with it, grining into the chase.

*SPLAT!*

Between one vanderat braking desperately and the other accelerating even harder, Chiri goes flying! As does Sasta a moment later, all disappearing into a veritable stormhead of a dustcloud.

Vanderats squeal and scream as they tumble against the ground.

Rather farther behind, Prince Salahin groans as he sees the flying figures…

Josef looks at the sight with a small wince of empathetic pain, then sighs and rides over to see if the two are all right.

Sasta loses her mount, flying off into the dustcloud, going limp as she feels herself flung, and readying to roll in some manner, when she finally hits the ground.

Rukhim makes a mental note to talk to the Prince about his tastes in vanderats as well…

The Skreek, seeing that she's flying towards the ground headfirst, suddenly flips around in midair. she tries to land as gently and as graceful as she can. The former being more important than the latter.

Chiri hits the ground and rolls as she loses the velocity of her plummet. She slowly pulls herself up from the ground, dirty, but unharmed.

Josef skids his mount to a halt as he approaches the fallen Skreek, "You okay?" he asks aloud.

Chiri brushes herself off. "Fine… what about Sasta?" She clutches her medical bag, just might need it.

Sasta hits hard with a roll and a slide, finishing up on her back. She lies still for moment just looking up at the procession, then stands with a scowl.

The Wasir finally clears the dust cloud, and gestures to the soldiers to hold back!

Sasta says, "I fine, she fine, we all fine ah?""

Josef shakes his head, "Don't know, will see." He rides over to the other cougar.

And the dustcloud slowly clears away as Prince Salahin rides up. "Ah! May snakes infest my bed," he moans as he jumps to the ground to approach Chiri, looking solicitous. "May sand get in my morning sorbet, may the sun heat my ears until they boil away in steam, for the harm that I have accidentally gotten you into, milady. Are you all right? Speak to me!"

Sasta shakes out her shoulders, watching Josef approach.

Salahin looks over at Sasta, his ears a bit guilty.

Josef halts once again, "You alrights?" He asks the other cougar.

( Mental note. Vanderats are for betting on, not riding. ) the Skreek thinks to herself. "Er, I'm fine your highness. Although next time I think I'll walk."

Sasta smiles back at the prince, "Shoule have lets herr rriee with you ah?"

Soldiers ride down from the protected, fenced-in area near the very end of the basin, dressed in the black and silver of the Emir's elite guard, a sword crossing the outline of the Emirate. "Sirs!" they call, more to Wasir Rukhim than the others. The lieutenant yells, "I'm afraid you'll have to leave. This area is closed by the orders of the Emir!"

Sasta grins up at the mounted cougar-khatta, "Fine by norrning. Was gooe rrace, bae eeneing though."

Josef nods, taking that comment as a yes. He rides back over to Chiri, dismounts, and goes over to make sure she's completely all right.

Salahin grumps. "That was entirely my intention, effendi." He gives Chiri a hand up, and tries to give her his best sympathy-winning sad kitten look.

Chiri allows herself to be pulled up to her feet, then quickly loses herself in brushing all the dust off. "I'll have to change when we get back, I guess."

Sasta spares a glance on the approaching guards, picks up her weapons which scattered in the fall and walks towards the two tripped vanderats.

Prince Salahin sneezes at the dust hanging in the air. "This is terrible," he mutters. "Not at all… "

Josef's ears wiggle, "I'll have to tell the master of your superb riding ability. He'll be ecstatic." he signs, with a small grin.

The bruised Khatta says, "They wants us to go" as she passes the prince.

Wasir Rukhim finally rides up, wondering how to salvage the situation…

The Skreek scowls at Josef. "Breathe one word of this and I'll put Gooshurms in your bed every night… and you know I can do it too!"

Chiri glances at Sasta. "do the vanderats need any medical attention? I'm used to healing people… but if they need me… "

Josef chuckles, and walks back over to remount his vanderat.

Prince Salahin speaks to the guards. "Don't be silly! I am the Emir's son. I've promised these special guests of his a tour of the workings here." He pastes on a brilliant smile.

"Your Highness, I humbly beg that we return now to the Palace, so that you and our guests may have time to change into cleaner clothing for dinner… " the Wasir begins.

A vanderat bellows mournfully some distance away as the cougar Sasta looks over its injuries. Its shaggy hide has been scraped rather rudely and is now mostly encrusted with sand and dirt on the side that hit the ground.

Sasta looks up from the two downed beasts, "They okaay enough. Shook up, rribs brroke. Shoule heal fine if they just no rriee forr a few eays."

Salahin lifts his chin. "Didn't Father always say that if one set out to do something, one should finish it?" He glances over toward Chiri. Assuming of course, that his intended companion of the night is still tempted by secret things. Assuming that he chose the right bait.

Chiri winces. "I'm terribly sorry for the injury of your animals, prince Salahin."

The soldiers fidget. The Emir's son? The lieutenant on duty rubs his chin.

Josef hmms with a grimace, this prince reminds him of Farsek alot.

Chiri looks towards the guarded gate. It's always interesting to learn things you're not supposed to know. She halfsmiles at the prince, her eyes narrowing just a bit.

Rukhim casts an 'I'll make it worth your while' look to Chiri, hoping she'll ask to return to the Palace…

Prinec Salahin waves a hand dismissively. "The stablekeepers will see to their injuries. Soon enough they will be quite fit to ride again." He offers Chiri a hand. "But I shall speak to my father of your touching concern, milady."

The cougar cleans the scrapes, working out any rocks embedded in its hide. When she finishes she wipes her hands on a cloth by her belt. She looks on at Chiri and the prince.

"It's not… dangerous in there, is it?" Chiri squeaks as she accepts the prince's hand yet again.

Josef looks to the fenced area as well, and his curiousity gets the better of him. He rides closer to Chiri, then signs to her, "I've heard that they've found an abundance of new metals there, and I've also heard that they've found something else, but won't tell what it is."

"Of course not," Salahin says with a smirk. "And even if there were any little demons of the earth crawling about, waiting to shake loose something, all these ferocious soldiers of my father's would quickly put them in their places."

The lieutenant gulps. He makes a 'help?' look at Wasir Rukhim.

Chiri's inquisitiveness gets the better of her sexism. "Then by all means, your highness… please lead the way." ( I can always blow him off when we're done, after all )

The Wasir looks hopelessly to the lieutenant. "They will require an escort through the area, to ensure their safety, Lieutenant… "

Prince Salahin looks triumphant. "Well! Then let us go on."

Josef dismounts his vanderat, eager to go inside and see what all the rumors are about.

Sasta goes to her vanderat and unstraps the two segments of her staff. She screws them together as she catches up with Prince Salahin and Chiri, her more deadly blades bouncing on her hips as she jogs.

Chiri looks to Sasta. "Is she out escort?"

The Lieutenant and his men fall into place around Salahin and Chiri as they trek up the side of the valley. Here, it appears that the earth has swollen up around some point in the back of the Dhabian basin, gouging a notch into the wall. Josef and Sasta flank them.

Wasir Rukhim picks a few of the soldiers to accompany the group… making sure they're big enough to overpower Josef and Chiri if necessary…

Sasta nods to Chiri, then slides her eyepatch back into its proper place.

Rukhim also takes a place in the little tour group. After all, they can only behead him once…

Josef eyes the soldiers, it seems a pretty imposing way to make your guests feel 'welcome'.

The Skreek looks around quietly. Her tail flicks idly from side to side.

It looks almost as if some massive crossbow bolt had struck the earth, then been removed to let the dirt fall in behind it, and indeed, most of the workings here seem to deal with the removal of fallen earth. Panting Savanite slaves carry bucket after bucket out of the notch.

Josef's ears flatten angrily at the sight of the Savanites, but he then eyes the floor and follows the rest of the group silently.

Sasta watches the working slaves, then spits out some of the roadust in front of one.

Salahin says to Chiri, "Now, here we have a rather remarkable find. It was a month ago when we saw swords cross the night… " He notices her apparent confusion at the phrase and then explains, "It is a poetic conceit we Abu Dhabians have – when a shooting star is seen, we say that a great warrior of the Procession has fallen. Indeed, some have said that the entire Dhabian basin is where a mighty spirit-king fell once… But his loss was our gain, for we have always found sufficient metals there to keep our city prosperous."

"Was there a cave in here recently?" Chiri asks the prince.

Josef lifts his gaze to view the prince. He momentarily forgets his anger and listens intently.

"By no means," Salahin says. "But you will see! Come, we're almost there." He grins brightly, despite the scowls and dark looks from the Lieutenant and his picked men to the Wasir Rukhim.

Josef glares at the other cougar, but remains intent on the conversation.

Sasta follows, equally interested in seeing a warrior fallen from the procession.

"A month ago then, we saw swords cross the night, of an unusual color… " Salahin snatches up one of Sasta's scimitars and sweeps it over his head as if to demonstrate how it flew overhead.

Chiri DUCKS!

Wasir Rukhim sucks in his breath. It wouldn't do to have the Prince accidentally behead HIMSELF…

Salahin beams. "But not all of them simply vanished into the sky. One… " And he stabs with the sword, nearly missing a Savanite slave whose ears flatten as he ducks. "Struck the ground here! Surely it is a sign from the First Ones themselves!"

Josef dodges quickly, although there is probably little threat.

Sasta waits patiently as the prince handles her weapon, smiling at the commotion.

Josef tenses at the near miss of the slave.

And there – from the workings far ahead, where the roof beams support the earth which has become far too heavy to work – is a glint of metal, basking in the glow of lanterns.

Chiri rubs the top of her head to make sure it's intact. "Er… how big is this… thing."

Josef peers ahead, wide eyed at the amount of metal pieces.

The other cougar Khatta eyes the gleam with greed as well, more metal beyond her dreams.

As Salahin's party descends down some rough-cut stairs, its true size becomes apparent. Most of it is still being unearthed, but tunnels lead over it and along the side – it must be perhaps fifty feet long, twenty feet in diameter. Twisted bits of metal and some long strangely shaped vanes have been carefully placed near the side where robed priests study them fascinatedly.

Bits of minerals glint here and there, like crystals but worked in a style quite strange to these visitors from Rephidim.

"A shooting star," Salahin proclaims. "The new blessing of the Emirate!"

Chiri looks awestruck at the meteor. "It's more metal than I've ever seen in my life!"

Gazing all around, Josef is fascinated. This is more metal than he's ever seen in one place. Probably his whole life.

Sasta just purrrs to herself, staring at it all.

The earth floor ends just at the bottom of the stairs, turning to slick glass over which some prudent priest has no doubt scattered sand to improve traction.

The lieutenant whispers to Wasir Rukhim. "Please," he hisses. "You must make sure that they do not… ah, take away souvenirs. It could be worth my career!"

Josef looks to the prince, "What priests do? Bless mine?"

Chiri feels very very very tempted to try and snitch a piece. Although those spears are a bit of a hinderance.

A thin dust pervades the air, raised from all of the loosened earth nearby. Savanite slaves continue to dig into the ground, their chitin shovels biting deep into the dirt, lifting up heaps of earth, and pouring them into waiting buckets.

The Wasir nods, having decided the same thing earlier…

The prince sneezes. "What? Ah. Yes, of course. Something like that. Such a find as this, you understand, may hold new truths to the nature of the Procession. Or some such thing. I don't understand it of course; I leave it to the priests. After all, this *is* a fallen warrior. Don't you give your soldiers last rites when they die?"

Chiri looks at the hunk of metal. "If this was the loser, I'd hate to meet up with the winner."

Josef nods, "Yes, but we no chain them up and force work." He hides a scowl.

Salahin looks at Josef askance, then dismisses that utterance as mere trivia. "So, milady Chiri, what do you think? Is this not truly a sight well worth seeing?" He presses his arm around her waist, as if to underline the unstated 'in my noble company'.

Wasir Rukhim clears his throat, and whispers to the group, "You must be careful not to touch the metal, as it has… err… not been properly cleansed yet by our inestimable mages."

Chiri goes stiff. She seems to be having a bit of trouble speaking.

A Naga slithers up the glassy floor of the cavern, thrashing his length back and borth to get enough traction against the dirt. "Thiss iss a mosst dreadful placsse in which to work," he complains to the Wasir. "Thiss glassss floor musst have been invented ass ssome ssort of deterrent to we Nagai."

Josef shakes his head with a sigh, and wanders off to look at the cavern, making sure to keep a respectful distance.

The Skreek nervously itches at the back of her head. "S-s-so… how long h-h-have you known about this p-p-place?"

Savanites sign back and forth to each other as they work. ( The snake is irritable. Again. ) ( I hope he does not take it out on us today. Don't drop that thing. ) One carries a strange looking metallic-glass rod and presents it to the Naga, who urges him to put it to the side with the rest of the extraneous items.

"Ahh… " Rukhim begins… momentarily at a loss.

Salahin beams. . o O ( Ah! She has been struck voiceless by the magnificence of our Sword. )

( I was better off with the vanderats. ) Chiri thinks.

Josef hmms, catching some of the signing. He makes sure that none of the rest of the party is watching, and sneaks over closer to a few of the slaves.

The other cougar Khatta examines the fallen warrior with a lot of interest.

The Prince says, "Well, of course I knew about it right away, as soon as they had found it." He glances over to the Naga. "But we've only recently started to invite in allies from neighboring nations to chronicle the find. Only our most trusted friends, of course."

"I will see what can be done about the floor… " Rukhim sputters.

The Naga wears a fixed smile. "Of coursse, Wassir Rukhim. You are mosst thoughtful." He then nods to the Prince. "An exsstraordinary find, Princsse Ssalahin. It confirmss the ssecret theoriess that we Nagai have had about the Processssion, of course… "

The Prince nods knowingly. "Just so. I'm sure you're turning up all sorts of fascinating things."

Sasta listens to the prince and the Naga, before her curiousity overcomes her, "Whats you fine?"

Taking one final glance to make sure he isn't being watched, Josef turns to one of the slaves. "What have they found here? Is is really part of the procession?" he signs.

Chiri grimaces yet again. "How nice. I'm going to become a giant chunk of metal when I die." ( Maybe I can try and land on someone I don't like, I can think of several people to aim for right off the bat. )

The Skreek folds her hands tightly behind her and acts as if she's fascinated by the rock. She takes a small step forward hoping to squirm out of the prince's grasp.

"It iss reminisscent of old ruinss well known to our people," Shesseth hisses to Sasta. "Thiss find, it convincssess me. The Processssion musst have oncsse been Nagai territory! One can only imagine what terrorrisst act musst have taken placsse to drive uss from our home."

Prince Salahin looks somewhat surprised at the Naga's claims… Enough so to let Chiri escape to study the rocks.

{ They WILL behead me twice, somehow. I'm sure of it… } Rukhim is more nervous now than before, if possible.

A Savanite slave looks at Josef's signing with surprise, then signs, ( Something big and heavy fell from sky. Hit here. This perhaps it. ) He finishes this with the traditional slave epithet, ( I am only simple Savanite. They do not tell me. )

Sasta nods back to the Naga, "Yaa? Hnnn… " She nods, confused, trying to imagine such events far earlier than her existence, then goes back to looking at the fallen warrior.

Josef sighs, he should have guessed as much ( They can't even sign well, how sad. )

The cougar Khatta's gaze focuses on Josef, standing off to the side, "Hey, stops waving at the slaves, they gots worrk to finish."

Perhaps this device here is some sort of coffin for the fallen warrior… It has the right proportion, if not necessarily the prismatic shape – but if so, then not enough of the earth has yet been removed to allow any lid, if one is found, to be removed.

Chiri keeps her ears pricked for any interesting whispers as she 'studies' the rock.

The metal glints white at Chiri's eyes…

Chiri blinkblinkblinks!

Josef jolts at the sudden comment, and nods, "Yes, work… " He pads back over near Chiri.

Chastened by Sasta's words, the slaves hurry to their work. One darts Josef a thoughtful look. ( Who is he? ) he signs to another Savanite. ( Perhaps he can carry message to others… )

Chiri looks at the coffin shape intently. "Hey prince! when is that part going to be dug out free enough to study?" she gestures to the odd shape in the metal.

On his way back to the Skreek, Josef catches the sign 'message'. He looks back, but then continues, waiting for the other cougar's attention to be diverted before he returns.

The ex-privateer turned bodyguard goes back to watching out for the prince, and staring at the metal.

Prince Salahin notices his arm is Chiri-free. He strolls casually over toward her. "So, perhaps you would like some unimportant part as a souvenir?" he suggests. Shesseth stands stiffly upright as he catches the words. "There's so much here that I can't imagine that the Emir… " His hand reaches for hers again.

Josef, noticing that he once again is unwatched, casually strolls back to the slaves, making it seems as though he is just wandering.

Shesseth hisses to Wasir Rukhim, "Thiss find iss of tremendouss importancsse! Not a bit of it can be let go until it hass all been meticuloussly sstudied."

The Skreek keeps her hands clapsed tightly behind her back, pretending to not notice the prince's advances. "Very very generous of you, your highness." She says. "But I wouldn't want to cause any trouble." She thinks on this again. Metal… maybe enough to buy that life mage healing she's been saving up for for so long…

Wasir Rukhim's ears shoot up at that whisper, and he claps his hands loudly! "While I am certain you would all enjoy spending more time with our Gift from the First Ones, a sumptuous banquet is being prepared at this very moment, and it would behoove us to be punctual so as not to show disrespect for your gracious host, the exalted Emir!"

Sasta says, "It belongs to the Emirr, it no forr givings away." A hint of jealousy in her voice. If she can't have a piece, no one else is going to be getting one tonight either.

The Savanite slaves pretend to work while one of them catches Josef's attention. He signs, ( They came, took us in middle of night to work on this thing. We have been working all month. They do not let us go home to speak to our family. ) He wrings his hands. ( If you could tell them we are all right… )

Chiri inwardly screams with all of her might. But on the outside, she flashes a pretty smile at the prince. "Although I would be most… grateful… by such a gift."

Josef stops near the signing Savanite, and watches him out of the corner of his eye. "Message? I will deliver whatever you ask me to, brother." he signs at his side, trying to seem unnoticable.

Salahin almost visibly pouts. But no, a Prince would never do any such unmanly thing, would he? Then brightens at Chiri's suggestion, and looks over to Shesseth. "Well! You have heard the lady," he says. "Is there perhaps some studied bit that we might be able to part with, so that she will… " He squeezes her hand again. "Remember this moment fondly?"

Shesseth throws his hands up. "Thiss find iss irreplacsseable, Princsse Ssalahin! Gold would be lessss valuable than even the leasst part of thiss relic of our ancesstral homeland."

"Very fondly… " the Skreek says softly. ( Ack! I can't feel my hand! )

The Savanite slave signs to Josef, ( It is enough they know we are alive, doing our work. Tell them… ) He pauses. ( Give them our love. )

Another Naga assistant near Josef and the slaves calls out, "Back to work, you lazy sslavess!" He eyes Josef challengingly.

Josef nods, although not looking directly at the slave, "Where can I find them?"

"Ahh… " Rukhim waffles, "Perhaps something more… personal… would be in order, Your Highness. One of your rings, for example… "

Josef glares at the snake, a small growl escaping his throat at the stare.

Chiri peers at the prince's rings.

Shesseth bows in a courtly manner and then says mockingly, "Perhapss, if you come back nexsst year… What iss your name, milady? We might have ssouvenirss for tourisstss then."

Salahin sets his jaw at this near-insult.

The slave signs, ( In the Emir's compound – ) and is interrupted with the lashing of the Naga assistant's tail. He hurries to his work.

Josef catches the last signing, and responds with a simple nod. He makes his way back to the group, 'accidentally' smacking the challenging Naga in the face with his tail.

Chiri leans against the Prince's side, looking hurt. "I'm a woman of the air, your highness. After I am… done with things here… you may never see me again."

Shesseth chokes. He gives Wasir Rukhim the 'Do you believe this?' look.

Sasta looks at the prince, "You fatherr no will apprrove of this ah? He surre to no likes you being so generrous to yourr… frrienes."

Rukhim makes an exaggerated sigh for Shesseth's benefit…

Chiri makes a soft sign herself. More on the pitiful side though.

Salahin hmfs. "Well, as the son of the Emir… " He reaches down, hand moving across the rows of 'extra bits'. Then stands again, ears going back at Sasta's words. She will be gone and then he will still have his father to deal with. But what will he look like, in front of her, hesitating like this?

The Naga assistant looks at Josef angrily and hisses, showing his fangs. Non-venomous; he must no be of the poisonous Naga tribes.

Josef goes to stand next to Chiri, "Well, having any luck with your 'special friend' here?" he signs with an ear wiggle.

Sasta says, "The fallen warrrriorr belongs to the Emirr ane the Abu'habians. It will nakes us rricherr, ane strrongerr, ane wiserr. Is no to be given away."

Josef just shrugs at the Naga, with a small smile.

Chiri dusts a bit more of the dirt her clothing collected during her little ride. She winces a bit, adding to the pitiful air. After all, she was put in danger just a little bit earlier.

Salahin looks at Sasta… Then back at Chiri. His ears go back and he gives the Wasir the 'Please?' look.

Bigsadkitteneyes.

The cougar Khatta looks to the prince, rubbing across her muzzle, then continuing, "The lovely laey will wants a norre perrsonal rrenenberring of you, no sonething thats fall frron sky. She interrestee in you, no its, Prrince Salahin."

Wasir Rukhim slinks up behind the Prince, and whispers in his ear, "With all of the measurements the Naga have made, it would be possible to have a small replica of the Sword made, would it not? Surely, a much more impressive token of your magnificence than a mere broken shard of metal… "

Salahin brightens at Sasta's words, then at the Wasir's. "Of course! That is an excellent notion, dear Wasir." He claps his hands. "As a special remembrance of our days together… " A smile toward Chiri here. "I shall ask our artisans to have some pretty little silver thing shaped like the Sword made for you. Perhaps an earring?" He reaches up to touch her ear. "It would dangle, oh so prettily here."

( Oh Dagh… maybe it's good that I have no sence of taste… ) she leans over and kisses the prince on the cheek. "I just want a little pretty thing to remember you by when I'm all alone, miles up in the sky." she says in the prince's ear, her voice almost a purr.

Wasir Rukhim blinks at the purring Skreek…

The prince melts. "Of course, you will have it, milady. My word upon that." He beams and then gestures toward the other. "Shall we go to dinner then?"

Josef's ears wiggle, this reminds him of one of the plays back in rephidim that the soap sellers put on.

"By all means, Your Highness!" the Wasir exclaims, and begins ushering people towards the entrance.

Chiri sighs… well, you take what you can get. "Dinner, indeed. Are you fond of Wasshu, your highness?"

"Their flesh is delightful," Prince Salahin says, though the wrinkling of his nose suggests that they might be just a teensy bit spicy for his tastes.

The other Khatta just watches romance that is a little too soft for her tastes. Then looks away and focuses on Josef instead, smiling and rolling her eye.

Josef follows the others out, forgetting his mirth and giving a last glance at the slaves.

And the lanterns illuminating the fallen Sword fade into the distance, becoming only eyes in the darkness. Shesseth's gaze follows Chiri hatefully, invisible down her back.

Sasta says to Josef as she follows him and the other two back, "You know, if you rreally so interrestee in the slaves, we k'n arrange forr you to joins then."

Chiri thinks, . o O ( Well, maybe I can make Gwyneth jealous with my new bit of jewelry. And they taught me to never turn down a free meal… )

The lieutenant whispers to Wasir Rukhim, "The Emir will be most displeased, long may he live… Can you please explain to him, there was nothing we could do without… " He looks uncomfortably toward the Prince, who is obliviously chatting with Chiri about the imagined cultural glories of wasshu and other rather exotic foods.

Josef gives a narrow eyed glare at Sasta, but refrains from retorting. ( And we can arrange for the rest of your body to rejoin your lost eye… )

Chiri casually scratches the back of her head. Her hand looks to be formed in the semblance of a lewd gesture, aimed at the Naga. She quickly withdraws her hand before the prince notices, flashing him another sweet smile.

Sasta smiles back at the other Khatta, the smile never quite reaching her eyes, and her thoughts inscrutably her own.

The Wasir makes quiet assurances to the soldier.

"So, your highness. Do you really think that you have a Naga artifact on your hands?" The rat says.

"Hardly," Prince Salahin says with a laugh. "They would claim that Abu Dhabi was once a Naga city if they thought they could get away with it… "

Dinner … is for the most part, gloriously full of rich and wonderful dishes for the Emir and his court, and Demes Oresta and his companions and assistants to enjoy. Dancing Khattas sway their tails before the Emir's own table where Demes sits next to Gwyneth and the Savanite slave X waits in the background, mysterious with the crossed scars over his face. Josef is seated to the side with the other retainers, near Sasta who continues to give him sleek mysterious looks, and…

Over to the table immediately on the left of the Emir's, the Prince tries to manfully chew another helping of washuu-gooshurm dumplings. He gives Chiri a look, as if wondering 'Is this *really* your favorite food?'

Perhaps he's reconsidering his choice of an evening companion.

Chiri shovels in the dumpling, completely unaware of her companion's distress. "Oh sure… ever since the accident I have a hard time tasting anything. But I have the neatest scar from it… wanna see?"

Prince Salahin's ears go *poit*.