Prisoner of Lies

[.::W:I:T:H:E:R:E:D::.]

Satazian, master of soil, pulled himself from his own contemplative thoughts to address this new scene. Here before him, lay a woman whom he did not know, nor personally understand. The accusations against her had no physical proof beyond the word of a stranger Sata had never before seen. Sage was not a soldier he knew, nor a man whom the great lord had personally initiated into his services. He didn't know if the words of Sage could be trusted, but neither could he forsake them.

He sighed, waiting for the unbeknown Jinx to fully wake from her temporary slumber. He knew he had nothing to vouch on, save words... and he truly wanted nothing more than to find some undisputable lie lurking beneath someone's story, that Sata could then exploit and dismiss their case. If the women before him, alleged of crimes against the nation, was truly the antagonist of this story... Sata would have no choice accept to realize that Wind was further along in their developements than he'd recently assumed. He now had two problems on his hands. Fire and Wind.

A Dark confidence filtered into the supresses of his conscious. He was not afraid for his title or his nation. The other lords certainly had their gods on their side, but Sata had time and experience on his. He felt no doubt that he could protect his nation especially in an individual's war. Should sides and alliances start to develope, he might have a more complicated problem. But for now that was presently not the case. And truthfally, Sata only wanted the truth of both matters--the one from the Shephard's fields concerning the young girl and ethida, and the now present one before him concerning the woman of wind.

She was now awake, and Sata heard her feeble words without expression as he watched her from his standing position. He moved from the barred cage and sat back on a stone tarrapace that served as a bench. It lay across the isle, directly in front of her enclosure. His cold silver eyes were observing, judging, but did not hold that absolute callous that was known to linger within a feit's eyes. It also held a humanized warmth, that existed only because he forced it to. The dark lord that he was, was a hind point that sat back in the dark corners of his mind. It was an ancient evil that lurked and waited to rise, but was constantly supressed by the sheer will of the man who was it's counterpart. Sata knew it was there, but was not always acutely aware of the times when it did manage to squeeze back minutely into his personality--the times when his stern demeenor took on a more callous proportion that was hard... almost dangerous. It was always a minimal change, but under stressful times and when other challanges his authority and pushed his limits, it was obvious to those who knew him closely. Such people were few and far between... no one knew his secret... save two.

When she was finished, he noted how cold her words were... but he took no offense. She either truly didn't know or was playing coy--either way he did not expect any pleasantries. Prisoners were never really pleasant, no matter the circumstance. She didn't know who he was...? He supposed he couldn't expect her to. He didn't venture very openly outside of his own domain, too many matters here at home to wander pointlessly about the world.

He leaned foward in his seat, resting his elbows upon his knees as his eyes gazed down towards the stone breifly, hiding the ironic smile that was displaying itself meekly across his face. It had been awhile since he had met someone who did not know him. Soon enough he looked up, and his face was once again as stone, looking at her with serious eyes that were intent on finding out who she was, and what her purpose was in his nation. He was a man that projected a certain dominance about him. The way he moved, the way he looked... he was strong in body and in mind--possessing a tactical cunning that served him well.

"I am Satazian, Master of Soil, and I would rather you tell me why you are here." he stated bluntly. As she may rightly know, the dungeons weren't a place for formalities. Sata was here to gain a truth and deal a judgement. "I'm not use to having strangers thrust into my hands with such serious crimes placed upon their heads."

He looked at her, awaiting an answer. Though his eyes were hard, there was a human aspect to them that offered an escape if she wished to take it. The underlying truth of the matter was on her side, but perhaps irony had chosen to favor a different player. Time would tell.
Speaking of which, he curiously pondered when the messanger would attain their goal. Likewise when he had sent for the healer, he had also departed a messanger to find and retrieve one of his most trusted agents... and friends. He had asked that he too come to observe this woman and give his own opinion of her story--whatever the story might turn out to be.

[hellsdaughter]

Jinx was indeed shocked to learn that the man before her was the Lord of the Earth nation, but she would not allow her shock to break to the surface. Years and years had trained her enough to lose control of her features. Yet, the master of Soil… here. Her thoughts were in a ramble. Nothing she could ever have thought of in her head could of possibly prepared her for such a situation. It was by far a stretch from what she thought her captor would have done to her. Had her mission from her commander really led her far from home? So far from home to be in front of the eyes of a judge of her innocence or guilt, a judge of extreme power. It even confounded her at the thought of the Earth people’s lord had such a dark aurora to him. To all the thought of earth people being the kind and tender healers, or the ones with peace and love in their essence, the common thought that seemed to come to her mind when thinking of the earth nation, fell as she was looking into their Lord’s eyes. She’d never dare to speak those words out loud here. This Lord was now what would decide if she would go free, if she would lay to her death here, or hang a first light. There was a slight pause to let her thoughts continue to go about their reaction to his title. Letting the shock of his title disappear, another shock came. Serious crimes! Ha! My crimes are nothing to the earth nation. My travels have not led me in this nation in many a years. The shock soon let off to annoyance. All she wanted to do was shout out in anger, but she forced the anger down.
Now was not the time to have a shouting fest. Tilting her head to the side she breathed in from her nose and let out the air through a small crack in her mouth. Never letting her eyes waver from his she almost got angry again at how still he was, how sure of his power he had. Letting the ticking in head come to a slow stop she tried to prepare her reply to him. One way she could tell the truth and have him see she had done a crime, but not to his nation. That unfortunately had the possibility of him turning her over to the lord of fire to possibly seek his own gain. She mentally grimaced at that thought. Their prison haunted her nightmares. The second thought she had was telling a complete lie. That never… EVER… worked; some how some one finds a way to bring evidence that your lying and it just got ugly. Jinx learned from that mistake many a years ago. Her last idea what to tell a part truth or a truth that just left out finer details. To stay so close to the truth that you couldn’t find any way of knowing the truth or suspecting a lie. That was the safest route. Idea number two was a flat out bad. Idea number three would have the strongest possibility of keeping her head on her shoulders. Idea number one though… idea number one was the idea that would get her possibly what she wanted and a means to end her mission. If she was turned over to the fire lord, there would be progress and possibly a safe way out too. Jinx had to think. Would she really risk her life for her nation? For her nation? There was always a possibility of a different out come. Closing her eyes for a moment Jinx had to think. This would also betray her commander’s intentions. It would show the relationship between the two nations. Would she be willing to risk this? Jinx sighed. Opening her eyes, Jinx smiled and tossed her head back. Oh the position, Great Master of Soil, you have put me in. Bringing her head down, she looked back at the Lord. Her decision was made. Life I guess is about the risk your willing to take… and the ones your not. Now it was just up to Jinx to decide where she was to start.
“Since my captor was kind enough to tell you he caught me on the boarders of your land, I see I’m in great trouble.” She paused. “Big trouble since the boards of your territory is now in Brennendes Ödland.” She couldn’t help the cocky reply, “Or the fact that a woman from your eastern villages is a woman of fire.” Throwing her hands in the air, “I have to admit though that I can rest easy knowing that I’m still at lest a woman of wind.” Resting her hands again at her side she threw the best defiant glare at him possible. “I have a feeling that Sage has been a close reliable soldier for many years. He would never take down a soldier of wind and carelessly leave her on your hands and let you deal with it and never take responsibility for how her commanders would like that. Then leave you with most likely a fake name to reach him at. Or even better; leaving you to take away the fire lord’s responsibility.” Jinx couldn’t settle with opening one can of worms; no she needed to open ten. Not just a push, a shove. Stick it to him. This way she hoped to get the desired results and keep enough info and give enough.

[.::W:I:T:H:E:R:E:D::.]

He watched her carefully, reading her face, her eyes, her body language. Scrutinizing every aspect of her demeenor as she seemed to take a few moments to ponder her situation. Satazian wondered if she were concocting lies or if she honestly need to consider her true innocence.

He should have sent Kahdahj down here first. The man had a smooth easy demeenor that would have readily worn down her initially brisk attitude. It amazed him how many came to him in the same manner as she, and how rebellious and hard they were. He could understand their emotion, no doubt, he never blamed them for feeling angry at being confined or acused, but did they really think that their impertinence would really benefit their case?

Calmly he listened as she started to speak, his eyes continuing to evalute her every guesture as his ears soaked in her every impudent word. He could hear the defiant and cocky tone in her syllables and he could see it in her yellow eyes. A strange color, no less. Yet no less strange than his own cold silver. The dragging edge of her explanation seemed to hit a general chord within his construction, as she tested his limits by straining his competance as a ruler.
It had occured to him that Sage could not be trusted, that is why he had taken the opportunity to give her a chance to explain herself. The darkness around him seemed to flare as did his patience, but it was merely a flicker to any eye that did not know where to look--hardly noticable as the Lord of Earth stood to speak. She'd given her testament, Sata was not going to satisfy her and listen any further. If she wanted to be rude, she could talk to the cold blank wall behind him.

He approached the barred wall of her cell and stood there about a foot from the black steel. His face did not waver, his eyes remained hard. His voice was cold, colder than it had been--an obvious sign that he had not approved of her tone, though it may have been the only sign.
"Indeed, such apprehensions had crossed my mind. Why else would I give you the opportunity to speak your peace? If I had no doubts, you surely wouldn't have seen me here or now." he paused meaningfully before continuing, "Enjoy your accomodations. Until this situation is sorted out, these dark walls will be your only company."
A wry smile mimicked her earlier tone. Her impudence had gotten her no where.

A war was a brewing, not only from the hills of fire, but now from the tremors of Wind. Whether they had previously involved him or not. This woman of wind's problems had trespassed into his domain, and now they were his troubles. And while tension and war began to rile, they also began to arouse Satazian's seriousness. Many knew him as a firm man, but a man nonetheless--a man who was not devoid of mercy and kindness. If Sata started fighting a war, perhaps they would see something new.

Leaving her with his words, he turned on his heels and headed for the stairwell. He offered no more condolences and though he was thinking over plans of his next actions, he would not allow her to know of his descisions until the moment came. He was heavily considering contacting Kaji, but it would be inconvenient with the meeting's convergence fast approaching. Plus, if Kaji was responcible for the attack on Ethida and the girl, Satazian really had no desire to aid him in his justices. For now, if her story proved true, and she was innocent of crimes against the earthen nation, undoubtably Sata saw himself returning her to Aeolian. Though the leader was new, recently chosen by the goddess, Airos. Sata was in no position to do anything less.

Satazian wasn't heartless, and honestly did not want to see the unknown Jinx punished for crimes against earth if there were no such commitments.

All these thoughts converged upon him as he reached the landing at the top of the stairs. He realized the healer was still awaiting his release back home, but Satazian did not want to abandon the dungeons just yet before Kahdahj arrived. Sata wanted to be here, to relay what had just transpired downstairs with his agent. Kahdahj would be the man to help Sata affirm her story. Multiple tails were common among prisoners that had everything to lose.

So, at the top of the landing her bore to the left, entering the hallway that led to dungeon office and guards barracks. He moved into the lounge area and was greeted by stiff backs and several whispered "Sir." and "Lord."--the common greetings. He released them from their respectful statures and orders four guards be sent down to watch Jinx. Two of the brute soldiers at her cell, two of the mage infantry at the door. They moved with an obedient haste, and soon Jinx was once again in the company of the earthen military. The men were some of Sata's best, trained to ignore the persistings of sly or begging prisoners. They were not even allowed to bring or administer food, water, or medical necessities. They were placed down there to guard her, and guard her they would.

Secondly, once Sata had seen the four guards off he turned to a rough, experienced, and seasoned man that had been one of his leading officials for several years now. The lieutenant, Lt. Peidt, was then ordered to assemble a small party of three men to find Sage. They were to escort--not arrest--and bring him back here. Sata wanted to exchanged his tail with Jinx. And he wanted them both here, if things turned out to be that Sage and... officer Juris... were falsely accusing--an act that Sata assumed was meant to sabatoge Earth's competance. Sata would have none of it.

Once Peidt was off, Sata settled into the office, where he placed himself liezurely at the desk to wait for Kahahj. However, as time ticked slowly on, he felt he could not leave Sir Kaid stuck back at the house for long. It was unbefitting of Sata to punish his kindness. So, sitting up in his long backed chair, Satazian set to work and furnished a reletively breif letter that he then sent away with a summoned messanger. The young boy was soon speeding away to deliver it to master Kaid, while Sata was now left in silence to ponder this new troublesome aspect of his rule.

[[-censored-]]

^{Two blocks from Ygdrasil Inn, Kahdahj pulled the sealed piece of parchment from his jacket pocket. His eyes glamed over the WF in the upper corner before apt hands removed the call to duty. The message was short and simple in its professionally quilled request:}

Meet where the shadows can always be found.
While the note would have meant little to anyone that didn't understands the secrets of Kahdahj's life, it revealed a great deal to the tall well-dressed blonde.

Without a second thought, he replaced the letter in his pocket, over his heart for safest keeping, and pulled his jacket tighter. Hands disappeared into pockets and Kahdahj sneezed off to the side. Righting himself, he made a quick left, nose twitching, the familiar weight of his raiper bumping his leg.


- - - - -


"You raaang?"
An overly deep voice echoed from the hall before the doorknob turned and a blonde man stepped into the office of the Master of Soil, waving a small bit of paper. He stolled into the room deftly closing the door behind him as he crumpled the note and tossed it at the reclining man sitting behind the desk. Chocolate brown eyes rolled toward the ceiling as he crossed the room.
"Please, dont get up. I'd hate to interrupt all of your hard work."

Kahdahj smiled wryly at Satazain and replaced both hands in the pockets of his brown slacks. It had been --how long had it been since Sata last summoned him by message like this? Sometimes Kahdahj wondered if he sent letters just to keep the messengers busy. Still, the cause must be rather immediate should it required leaving messages like that. Then again, Kahdahj resigned to thinking the situation was not as dire as it could be. The two did have more... instantaneous means of contact should they require it.

Kahdahj made himself comfortable on the corner of Sata's desk, one leg proped, the other dangling to the floor. Shifting idly throught he papers on the corner of Sata's desk, Kahdahj looked as if he were the one running the show. Kahdahj was just being his nosey self; Snooping around was his job after all, and it wasn't as though the two men kept may secrets from one another.

Still playing Lord, Kahdahj looked up with only his eyes and raised his brows, a fake warning since the wry smile still hadn't left the edges of his complexion.
"This better be worth leaving Naivar, Zian."
Even though the look and comment were meant a joke, Kahdahj didn't bother hiding the edge to his voice. Naivar was a sore spot for Kahdahj and if anyone could understand the depths of that situation, it would be the other man occupying the room.

Kahdahj, however, wasn't the type of person to dwell for too long on one problem. He could just as easily shove one trouble aside to take up another as he could find himself a woman to keep him company for a night. The problem with that meant a constant emptiness and a knack for never returning to the problems shoved aside. Naivar would have to be put aside or the moment.
"What mess has been dumped upon your shoulders this time?"
[/center][/sup]

[hellsdaughter]

O.O.C.- hey Withered, you go ahead and post.

[.::W:I:T:H:E:R:E:D::.]

Satazian was reveling inside his own head, when the welcomed sound of Kahdahj arrival aroused him from his contemplative state. Sata smiled, but it was made dry by the impending situation that he had found himself in. In what seemed like mere hours, he'd had an attack on Ethida and Kyoko, a healer summoned from another district, and now this--a strange story involving a free-lance soldier from the outer rim and a beraggled young woman of wind. Still, he was glad to see his friend. Kahdahj had long since proven his loyalty and allegiance, and Sata did not doubt his agent's sincerity. Even now, Kahdahj was truly the only one who could pull off such arrogant behavior in Satazian's presence.

Indeed, Dahj's confident demeenor and comfortable presence did ease the tension that had begun to lay hold of Sata's tired body. Yet the Lord's resilience still left him formidable even in situations that would otherwise crumble a nation's foundation.

Sitting up within his chair, the old springs and rustic joints squeeled unpleasantly as Sata pulled himself up the desk, moving a majority of his papers away from Kahdahj's location to keep the nosy young man from rumaging. Sata did not do it out of privacy--he had few secrets that Kahdahj didn't know, his dark demeenor being one of them--if anything he merely did it to more wholy obtain the blonde's attention.

Grumbling in false irritation, Sata talked while he rearanged his "mess" on the other side of his desk. "I would think so. Afterall, we do not often get unwelcomed guests from Wind bumbling about our borders."
He then lifted his eyes meeting Kahdahj's gaze with a wry smile of his own. He had decided not to comment or insist that this was by far important enough to leave Naivar, for Sata still remembered the day when Kahdahj--in an infuriated state--had come to collect a personal pardon to release Naivar from her unfair fate. He had thought so then, and he still believed it now, but he felt it safe to say that Naivar, in some way, was a sore spot for his friend. So there were more often times than not that the Master of Soil did not bother or bring up the subject.

There was a moment of silence before Kahdahj inquired of the situation, and Sata's face relaxed into a comfortable smile that evolved to show a sudden tiredness and wishful thinking--a wish that Wind had stayed where Wind belonged.

"Earlier today, not to long ago, a free-lance soldier by the name of 'Sage'..." he stressed the name, inclining that he was not entirely sure it was a truthfall calling, ... summoned me here, to the dungeons, to address a problem of national security. Apparently, an 'airos blessed' woman was apprehended on the outer rim of our borders. Sage insisted that she had assaulted the people of one of the villages. Yet her story seems to be slightly different."

He paused gathering a breath as he leaned back in his chair, "She admitted to playing a possible foul within Kaji's domain, but doesn't appear to have any knowledge of any earthen guilt she aught to have. So I'm left at a crossroads, looking for a second opinion."

He finished his sentence and let a silence descend as his story was shared, yet he wasn't completely done. Adding one last note, "I've sent out Lt. Peidt to find and retreive the said Sage, to re-examine his story and cross-examine it once again with hers. There's a lie hidden in hear somewhere, and I want to know what it is."
An otherwise neutral tone had suddenly changed as a sort of vengeance and frustration leaked out in his last few words. Whatever lie there was, it didn't bode well for his nation either way. If Jinx was in the right, than there was a vagrant by the name of Sage plotting to do Earth some harm. Afterall, there would have to be some reason for his deception and false accusation. Meanwhile, if Sage was the truthful one, then that left the question as to why Jinx would provide acclaimed guilt in fire, while preceeding within the earthen realm. It was a simple situation that had complicated ties linking it to a million different results. If a decision could not be made Sata had one other option. It was not entirely pleasant and could give him future headaches, but at least it may prolong the fragility of this tattered peace.

[[-censored-]]

<sup>At the mention of a Wind agent "bumbling" around their borders, Kahdahj sat upright, curiosity piqued. He had taken the previous the cue --Sata's desk rearranging-- and ceased the wanderings of sticky fingers which left Kahdahj with nothing more to do than listen to his friend's tale.

It seemed as though a ...forgetful member of their military single-handedly apprehended someone from Wind's corner of the globe under the pretext that she'd attacked Earth villagers. Kahdahj frowned at Sata with a look that asked if he really believed that, but Sata wasn't quite finished with his story. Airos's girl had proffered an alibi: foul play with fire.

In the pause Kahdahj stood. No longer did he play Lord --that was a job for the Blessed-- but his expression had grown more serious. The matter didn't revolve simply around two men, but of hundreds. Sata's choices --Kahdahj's choices-- would undoubtedly leak back to the very people the choices were made for. Whether they be good or bad, the consequences would be the fault of the Lord and with a story like that, no wonder Sata had called Kahdahj out of hiding.
Dahj continued to listen for the time being as Satazian laid out the small battle plan he already set into play; Lt. Peidt had been charged with the retrieval of this mysterious soldier.</sup>

"...Sage, huh? I dont like it."
Straight to the point, as always, Kahdahj stood shaking his head, arms crossed over his chest. The bit of dialogue spoke aloud here was mostly Kahdhaj talking to himself. The words came out without thought really; he need not worry about secrecy within these walls.
"Does this Sage really expect us to believe he apprehended a Wind girl of his own accord?"
Kahdahj scratched his head as if he were still trying to puzzle out if the guy was really that dense.
"Liar liar, someone's pants are on fire...

"Here's how I see it."
The playful air drifted off like fog being met with the morning's sun as Kahdahj dropped himself into one of the two seats facing Sata's desk. And the converstaion turned to the matter presenting itself to the duo.
"The girl first --she must be some sort of spy, else a freelance renegade with diluded beliefs that she can make some sort of assasination attempt on Kaji."
Kahdahj reclined fully and allowed himself a chuckle of amusement. As if anyone could take out Kaji so simply... It really was a funny notion for anyone to attempt with no resources...

"A spy, however..."
Kahdahj closed his eyes so his thoughts could gather themselves.
"I say spy because Wind has been in no position to do much else with their Lady missing. Until recently I dare say spying to have been their only option --keep a close eye on their enemies to be sure no one had an evil streak and sought to take advantage of their weakness."
He waited, pressing an idle finger to his lips as a curled hand held up his head; a bent elbow propped him up against the armrest. Thoughts silently poured out of Dahj's eyes as he regarded the man across from him.
"A spy would mean we've just stuck our noses where they dont belong... and if I think my nose doesnt belong there, then well, you know we have a problem."

A silly grin of sorts accompanied his final comment. It was Kahdahj's small attempt to play the role he prided himself the most on: Satazian's friend. With Sata spending all his days deciding this or that for Earth, Kahdahj came to notice how few smiles or laughs passed over the man's visage. The man didn't seem to catch any breaks where he could let down some walls. Sata had given Kahdahj access to this place of trust, the least Kahdahj could do was offer friendship in return, the truest form of loyalty in Kahdahj's books.
The gaiety would be short lived. It always was.

"But what to do with her evidently remains your decision, my liege."
The tacked-on-title held no real merit when Kahdahj used it; he did it more for mocking kicks than anything.
"And that all seems to hinge on this Sage character..."
Kahdahj chewed his lip a bit before speaking up again, curiosity sparkling in his brown eyes.
"What do you think of him? This Sage."

[-ooc: ENDING ADDITION-- Looking back I didn't like how I left this off so I added the last small bit. Hope that didn't mess you up Sata-]

[/sup][/center]

[.::W:I:T:H:E:R:E:D::.]

"We—didn't stick our noses anywhere." Sata replied shortly with some brisk emphasis. For most all of Kahdahj’s opinions and comments, Sata remained quiet, listening, comprehending, contemplating… but that one sentence had hit him hard as it was an idea that was all too vivid inside his mind. He wasn’t irritated, truly he wasn’t… Kahdahj was his friend, his ally, and lastly… his agent. Honestly, it did bring a brief smile to Sata’s face thereafter. Jokingly, Sata silently agreed that indeed… if Dahj believed he was being nosy, truly there was a problem.
Truthfully, the younger man could do nearly anything in Sata’s presence without irking his patience. Dahj was one of the few—if not the only one—who could. However, the situation was difficult and left him with only a few options that balanced on stories. Sata didn’t care much for stories—too much unpredictability, and it irritated him that he could not make an easy judgment. He still had the meeting with Kaji to worry over and plan… this troublesome woman of wind was of great annoyance and could not have been delivered to him at a worse time.

Silently he scratched that last mental note, as he was sure there were worse situations out there or soon to come, at which time this little predicament could have fallen.
With a tired sigh, he leaned back in his chair, hearing every last of Kahdahj’s words. He let the silence descend, trying to relax his mind. The tense expression in his face laxed, the stern, brutal fire in his eyes waned, and for a moment Satazian—the great master of soil, the man who saw war then peace, the seven hundred year old, Borran-favored, feit crossbreed—seemed almost human, a tired general… but the look disappeared and the stone returned as Sata brought his chair back up to the table—aroused by Dahj’s inquisitive questions about Sage. Only Kahdahj would now that this seeming hard, stony visage was merely an anecdote of a deep seriousness—far from malicious callousness.

He looked down at his desk, meeting Kahdahj gaze but once before doing so. He pondered his answer, ignoring the doted title as it meant little coming from the lips of Dahj.
He studied the grooves of the smoothed wood—oak—he guessed. All the while, he viewed his options. Kahdahj had brought up a valiant point. It was likely that she was a spy, not an assassin—if her story was to be trusted. In which case, Sata only truly saw one option. She had no crime to earth; fire’s business was not his, and though espionage was a traitorous felony—it was not against him. He saw no reason to keep her in this case. But Sage…? It would appear that Kahdahj did not trust him; Sata did not fully trust him either. It was suspicious behavior—that of the supposed “freelancer”.

Satazian opened his mouth and shared his thoughts.
“I agree; it seems most likely—if her story bodes truthful—that she is a spy. In which case, her banishment from earth is the most we can rightfully do.” He paused gathering his breath, and kicking himself for not demanding Sage’s presence until the conclusion of the situation. “As for Sage, I know not what to think of him. He had another’s word to represent him—a soldier… Juris. A stupid one, believable in his words… but even he seemed strange in himself…” Sata faded out yet again, as he brought Officer Juris’s image back into his mind. The image seemed to float there as real as it had seemed then, but still something did not seem right—like the wrong piece of a puzzle. He discarded it; perhaps he was merely over thinking things. He returned to the conversation—whatever vacant expression might have sifted in while he pondered evaporated immediately and he looked to Dahj. “I have never associated with Sage before and if he does not return willingly with Lt. Peidt I will assume his tales are false. The woman will go free then, and I will be rid of this annoyance.”

He leaned back in his chair, fixing his steel grey eyes on his friend. Kahdahj was a loyal comrade; Sata hated sending him out under guise… a shifting job full of unpredictable circumstances. But someone had to do it, and Sata would rather it be a friend, than a stranger. “This is where I need you. I’d like your opinion on the matter. The woman is down in her cell, question her as you would. See if there are any changes in her story. If not we shall hope for her innocence, as that is the easy way of things.” he smiled briefly, then continued, “if Sage does not appear with Lt. Peidt I want you to go out and find him. Use an alias; supposedly he’s from the outer rim if he even lives within the borders. Follow him watch him, get close if you can. If he’s traitorous, I want to know, and I want to end the problem as soon as possible.”

There was a touch of malice in Satazian’s voice. If there was one thing that Sata would never tolerate it was false alliance and treason. It was blatantly clear what his intentions would be if Sage turned out to bring serious falsehoods against the wind girl—and they were far from pleasant.

There was a tension briefly suspended in the air, before Sata relaxed and leaned back into his chair. He sighed; feeling the stress leak from his body… it was strange how he felt more often than not. It no longer seemed to take much to rile his sense, and inwardly he worried over his inner shadow. It had been years since it had poked its ugly face and even longer still since it had seriously taken control. A flash of memory leaked into the confines of his restricted consciousness, and he felt a tinge of pain wrack the balance of his strong, weathered heart. Callously he threw it away, and ignored its nagging remembrance. That life was no longer his—it was dead to him… just a dream now… a dream even Kahdahj didn’t know. Sata never spoke of it, because even he himself had forgotten it. Funny thing—Satazian. As much as he hated the unpredictability of certain situations… he himself was unpredictable.

Wryly he smiled, lavishing the irony in his thoughts.

[[-censored-]]

<sup>Kahdahj listened as his Lord and Master spoke. No, really, Kahdahj truly listened, with whatever mock seriousness he could gather upon his complextion he allowed the mischevious glint in his eye to follow each word as they dropped from Satazian's mouth. Khadahj found himself hanging on Sata's words not to know the truth --for Sata always told him the truth-- but to find where this hardened man stood on the issue. Once Kahdahj knew that, he could play all he wanted.

Truth and trust... forever the ends the two men grappled to find and keep. Truth came and went, curled and twisted on the tongues of malintent. Everyone had their own truths, dictated by experience and circumstance, and it all boiled down to Taz's decision: which truth would benefit the nation the most? No wonder the Lord of Soil had eyes harder than diamonds. Kahdahj tried his best, though, to discern fact from fiction, to read into hearts clouded by revenge or naiiveté, to capture and share only the truth with his Lord. Hopefully to ease that Atlas burden.
Kahdahj, himself, could trust only a few outside of this room, and those he trusted with only half of the truth. Satazian, Kahdahj could only surmise, trusted none with the full truth. He could not allow false truths to fester in his own mind; there could be no way Sata would share all 700years worth of secrets with him. But Kahdahj hoped, or longed to believe, that Sata trusted him above the rest.

So as Sata spoke of Sage, Kahdahj's mind already spun trying to discern the man's motives for such an awful ruse should he prove the false one in this whole tale. Neither of the two seemed to trust this Sage; both wanted to trust the story of the wind girl. But then the Lord of Soil made mention of another soldier, one previously left out of the story, and Kahdahj's expression turned sour.
"… Juris. A stupid one, believable in his words… but even he seemed strange in himself…"
Kahdahj closed his eyes in a long blink. Juris... The name rang no bells, but the Earthen militia was by no means small. Any soldier could go undetected if they played their cards right. The riddle could easily be solved by setting a secretary to finding their files. But without a file...

"This is where I need you..."
Kahdahj swiveled his brown eyes from whence they wandered along the wall behind Sata to pin down the Lord's expression. Dahj quirked an eyebrow as if to say, 'Oh really? You need me? How quaint.'
Really, was there ever a way to dampen this guy's almost inappropriate sense of humor?

Then came the "list of demands":
Question the girl in the cell.
See if there are any changes to her story.
If Sage does not return, find him.
Follow him, discern his game.
Do it quick.

"Well well well!"
Kahdahj jumped in as Sata unwound in his chair, filling the air with nigh useless commentary and waving his hands in an idle congenial manner.
"That's a rather long list of things to do. And to have it done fast..."
The blonde man sighed, full of dramatics for his woeful position --which was by no means woeful compared to his comany's-- and inclined himself to sit up properly while he regarded his ever failthful companion.

Now, Kahdahj never missed his mark, especially when his attention could be focused on a single person, so he caught caught the remains of fear and reminiscence on Sata's face. Right then, Dahj's Lord and friend looked much more human than anything else and it jarred the whimsical sleuth to see such a broken side to the man. Kahdahj knew not what eddied within the Borran chosen's mind; it could have been one of so many things...
Letting what he did not know slide by with only the note to Sata's demeanor, Kahdahj stood with flourishy direction, dusting his backside from the chair and straightening his lapels. The jovial air still hung, but storm clouds dampened the theatrical display.
"To the lower-levels it is then."
Kahdahj looked toward the door and let a disapproving angle fall over his lips. He stalled the departure for a final word.
"Consider this mess cleaned, Tazi, so dont forget to breathe."
With that, Kahdahj gave a short respectful nod and allowed a smile to find a place in the silence before turning for the door.</sup>

[hellsdaughter]

O.O.C.- Hey guys... umm is it my turn and I don't know it or what???

[hellsdaughter]

The lord had left her down here alone a while ago. She did not care to have company or not in this place. Its cold dark mask was not nightmare enough to scare her. She had spent much longer times in places far more grisly than this, not to mention that back in that time there was a fire lord that had been one of the few males to make her skin ach with just his eyes set on her. Those eyes she’d never forget. The day he sentenced her to the darkest prison in all the fire regions; for life. She’d never forget how his eyes flickered with delight at her distress. The pure hateful lust he had for her anguish. How he had made sure that the guards made her life so miserable that she almost gave up her soul to suffering. It only made her hold on harder to the life that she once had. It had bottled up her hate, her pain, and above all the acid of her fury. It made Jinx smile to remember how she had made such a dent in their number of guards as she made her grand exit. It wasn’t exactly the repayment she had wanted to give them, but it had to do.

Done with thinking of the past she started to wonder around the cell. It was dark and she couldn’t see much unless some one would come down with a torch, but hopefully her eyes would get to adjust. There wasn’t much for her to do while stuck in here but sleep, do simple exercises, and pace. None seemed to particularly hold any interest to her.
She leaned up against the far wall from the bars and placed her cheek against the cold stone. Letting the cold seep back into her skin she started to hum a tune. It was soft at first and seemed to grow with every second. The melody was soft and calming. It made all the pain, hate, and fury start to slip from her iron grasp she held it in. The tune started to slowly clear her thoughts like a soothing river flowing over her mind.

“Time… stand still here for me…. Time is mine to hold… for age I not… so hold me here if you choose…. But know my soul can’t be caged… my will be done by other liked mind… hold me like a villain if you so choose… but I will give you no clue…for what you hold is not your worry… it is what you don’t have that is what is to fear… so hold me by my body if you choose… but my will and soul have no hold… not by you… not by any body”

She sang some lines and skipped others from the demented lullaby her mother had sung to her before sleeping. The words held no particular meaning to her at all. As she repeated to tune for awhile she missed the distant sound of boot moving closer to the door that lead bellow to her cell.

“… so hold me here if you choose…”

She stood there, cheek against the cold stone, repeating like a broken record.

[[-censored-]]

<sup>The door shut with a purposeful click, fully separating Kahdahj from his superior and friend. He lingered there for stretched minutes while bodies passed him in the busy hall. The official, uniformed men and women gave the blonde outrageously unfitted form unbecoming sideways glances as he stood statuesque with his hand on the doorknob to the most important doorway of the entire region. For all of Kahdahj's connections to the Lord of Soil he visited central command as infrequently as possible.
Imperceptible emotions came and went as Kahdahj stood there. His job, his relationships, his influence, all weighing on his shoulders.
"Right..."
He breathed after some time to no one in particular and all at once the brooding air drifted off and Kahdahj walked off, carefree among a crowd of tightwads.

- - - - -

Kahdahj stopped at the entrance to the prison. The last time his steps had descended the staircase at his feet, he'd come incredibly unprepared to a most unwelcome sight. Although he knew Naivar was currently free and well, the sting was still too new for him to not feel at the sight of the stairs. So he paused and gathered himself behind a stoic face, deciding more how to handle himself than to handle the Wind captive below. She didn't worry him as much as his own emotions did.
As he stood above ground, a melody floated to him, soft and sweet like bells in a breeze. The guards witnessed the stoicism appeared to be replaced by a rather odd expression. At first glance he looked like his normal self --cheerfully surprised, with an eyebrow quirking in amusement-- but if the guards so chose to inspect his demeanor, a layer of confusion could be seen in that arched brow and a twinge of distaste curled in his pulled half-smirk.
"...But know my soul can’t be caged..."
The prisoner's song grew louder as Kahdahj passed from the day's sunlight to the shadows of the cell. He snatched a torch from the side holster while his free hand disappeared into his pockets and he seemed to wander down the corridor. Upon reaching his destination he lit a second, mounted brazier before replacing his cargo in the empty metal holder a little further down the hall.
His clean, white and blonde self looked incredibly out of place and incredibly alarming and official. There was no chance he could sneak up on the singer dressed as he was, so he contented himself with simply walking before claiming the seat on the bench the Lord of Soil had only recently vacated. Kahdahj looked a strange replacement, bright and light to Satazian's brooding bark and dark.

“… so hold me here if you choose…”
Across from Kahdahj stood the barred cell holding the accused captive windling. While she sang the repeating line, cheek pressed to the cold stone wall, Kahdahj appraised his challenger for he knew she had no reason to treat him kindly. She looked broken --no, not broken. Tired. Tired in heart, as if she had seen this place for too long even though only a few hours had passed since the Borran's chosen had left her presence. Other than that, her shape looked fit, athleticly built, and otherwise no-nonsensical.
He waited a time for Jynx to notice her audience leaned against the stone wall, lazily watching her and listening. After a few repeats of the line, however, she didnt seem to want to take notice. Kahdahj resigned to speaking, interrupting her song.
"Who taught you that song?"</sup>

[.::W:I:T:H:E:R:E:D::.]

ooc: my departing post, sry if it doesn't seem like much. 'twas a little hasty when I wrote it.

bic:

Satazian nodded appreciatively as Dahj took his leave. As soon as the door had closed, Satazian succumbed to his own thoughts. A heavy sigh escaped tired lips as his head fell into his hands—elbows resting upon the desk before him. It was a desk littered with papers and problems. There was always a problem. For 700 years there had been problems—some greater than others.

He’d stopped the ball when it had been rolling some 600 years ago… and now it was starting all over again. Except this time, there were players that Satazian did not know. He’d developed strategies to counter the pride of dragons, to rely on their dependability. He’d figured ways to usurp prideful elves, and he’d managed to avoid the searching eyes of flying dragons. But now there were enemies within the hides of humans—how easily they slipped now through his nets.

Granted, he had no prejudice against humanoid magic bearers, but he was annoyed by the principle. Back long ago, miscreants stayed out of the war when they were not dragged into it by their leaders. It had been easy to discern where one allied themselves. Now, one could only find the truth by searching through a misty cloud.

Ah when it had been easy to see ones enemies, and find ones friends.

Those days were over.

He had new rules to set. He was no tyrant, and he would never rule with malice. But perimeters had to be set. If Kaji and the others were not intentionally trying to test Sata’s patience, then he would teach those beneath their names that he was not to be prodded and provoked like a caged wolf.

If enemy renegades would take advantage of Sata’s open borders, then he would close them.

But first, he still had Healer Kaid to attend to, plus he needed to speak with Rigel. She governed the only nation that had not yet troubled him. And if he’d heard the right rumors… they were on common ground with the issue that had trespassed with the Shepherd’s Fields.

Standing from his chair, he made to leave. Kahdahj would give him his opinions and then Sata would determine a verdict. Sata believed Jynx hard sarcasm. It annoyed him, but he believed it. That left “Sage”—whose motive, Sata now questioned. How could he have let him go! He’d become too trusting over these 500 years…

Satazian abandoned the small office, a note clutched within a clenched hand. The slamming of a door, the only hint to his frustrations

[hellsdaughter]

A fool she was not; Jinx was well aware of the male’s presences. She knew the second he opened the door above and his first breath in the room had been taken. She could pick up the tiniest of movements in currents, feeling the air. Her eyes were not opened but she could see the room in a sense. As a child she linked types of currents to color. If the current was fast the color would be more solid and if it was weak it was in strands barely viewable in her mind. The currents also changed depending on the temperature. Temper varied not only from intense fires or ice storms, but from living beings. Depending on their race anger heated their air currents or chilled it with sadness or despair. Jinx saw such a range of colors behind her lids. The average spectrum went from dark blackish red to dark blackish blue. Dark blood red meant heat at an intense level and its opposite, ice cold as death was blackish blue. The fire-beings were the darkest of the normal reds. Coming next from needing warm blood to withstand the upper-atmospheres cold were the air-beings (that is the dragon beings). At mid point is yellow reserved for humans of all races, certain races being a warmer yellow and others cooler. Dipping into the greens and blues went the earth’s races and finally the creatures of water. The talent has saved her troubles of weather conditions and has kept her aware, although never fully able to identify what race, of other beings presence.

In her map of color this being ran a nicer color than most, an orange-ish color and moderately strong in solidity. There was strength in his currents that most, save warriors and high races, had not. So he of decent standing, a warrior maybe, most definitely a soldier though. At first she chose to ignore his presence and force his hand to make the first move. “Who taught you that song?” Jinx kept singing for a bit and when she finally stopped she opened her eyes and looked over her shoulder at the soldier. She noted his height, size, muscle size, his attire, etc. She quickly realized he was definitely not the normal soldier. Giving off her sarcastic smile she stood full height carefully pushing off the cold wall. Putting her hands gracefully on her hips she started to drift toward her visitor. “Why earth male? Care to learn if for yourself?” Reaching the edge of the cell Jinx eyes never left his face as her hands left her hips and wrapped around the bars bracing her body leaning in. Her fiery yellow eyes set on his eyes. He was younger than what she thought the previous man was going to throw at her. Odd, either this male is unique in his own or the last male didn’t quiet understand what he was truly dealing with. The first of the two seem more reasonable. The last male was something and that something was definitely not stupid or naive.

The little entertainment from the inquiry of his question seeped out of her in seconds. Jinx had no intention of having jokes passed around. Taking her eyes off the male she closed her eyes and placed the side of her head against the bars. “I’ll go off on a limb and take a good bet you’re not near the age of forty years, maybe not even mid thirties.” Taking a pause to judge his reaction and then continuing. “I would not however care to assume that you know what if remotely feels to be on this side of the bars.” Flexing her muscles all over her body, not only to break the stiffness but to see how her strength was returning, she did not care if the male saw. “I would say that you know people who have been in my place.” Looking up at the male, she looked him straight in the eyes, her powers boiling in their depths coming to the surface. “And of those people… without assuming, but with solid knowing fact… I know I can say I’m positive they were never the same and never will be. So where is it I learned that song young male…” her soul made her next words come to life making the room cold and still, “… I learned it from all the souls in this world held captive, from all the beings in past, present, and future. It is not a prison’s song… it is a song from all the souls that burn from never being able to be what they once were. It is a song that makes those like me know that the will of our broken souls continue in others still free.” Standing still for a moment letting her words sink in then standing up again.

Crossing her arms around her chest she tilted her head to the side and nipped at the male. “So have you come down here to trade songs and melodies, or is there a real purpose he chose to send you to speak with me?” It was now after recounting the memories of the past and reciting the meaning of the song that Jinx became all business. Up until this time she had been ignoring the odd coloring around his current. The color scheme see saw with normal beings, including those of the major nations such as the dragons, she would only see from blue to red. It was the exception to her talent’s trade to see the color purple. Purple, after the hundreds of years she lived was a mystery to her. It didn’t even follow the normal format of the flow of the color. When she saw purple it teased along the separate color that was defined by strength and temperature. This being had something… for around the orange-ish color tagged the light purple of mystery. He was an exception… and break in normality. I will have to keep my eyes on you. Her eyes never left the male since crossing her arms.

[[-censored-]]

<sup>She was standing, walking more like strolling, and curling fingers around the bars. Daji quirked a brow and smirked. This could be interesting. The smirk turned to a broad grin at her question. She was watching him, testing him, poking and prodding to see if how much she could get away with. "Possibly. Does it really matter? After all," He leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees so he could get a better look at her. "You probably wouldn't teach me even if I asked."

And just like that, the interest snuffed out of her eyes and she ventured forth to try and figure him out. Let the fun begin. Apparently he wasn't forty, or thirty, and he's never been behind bars. He knew someone, or a lot of someones, that had been in her place though and they were never the same afterward. Then the monologue circled back around, as she stretched her muscles and eyed him, to the song she'd been singing earlier and that was that, she knew he had other reasons for being down there than to chat about songs. Supposedly she knew.

The smile had slowly faded from the blonde's face as she spoke, but the twinkle of curiosity never really left his eyes. She was intersting, interrogations usually were since the other always had this innate, defensive need to repel him as completely as they could, but he was never really as... solid as they expected. "Well then," He sat up, smacked his hands onto his bent knees, and tossed the blonde hair out of his face. If she wanted a challenge by the means of introductions, she would get one.

"Since you seem to know so much about me," he stood with a spring and paced a fews steps between his seat and her bars, "why dont you tell me why I'm here?" Hands disappeared into pockets. "Can't a guy be curious?" He rocked from his toes to his heels. "Its really not a secret, you know. Why your here." He eyed her up and down watching muscles ripple along her body only to let his eyes lock with hers. She was stuck behind those bars regardless of what she said, did, or wanted to do. She had to know that. So she really had nothing to lose. But she really had everything to gain.

Before she could cook up a witty response, Kahdahj blew air noisily between his lips, an odd gesture considering how odd he must have looked with his lips flapping so haphazardly. A child's gesture. "You are right though." His eyes dipped to the floor. "I have been sent here to talk to you, other than that..." His shoulders rose and fell, and he eyed her curiously through the bars. "That dark guy before," He flicked a couple of wagging fingers back toward the entrace and twirled them next to his head, "the one that was all deep and broody and no fun at all-- yeah that guy, well, he only sorta kinda failed to mention what exactly we should talk about, so if you want to teach me about that song, I really dont mind. We have... a long time." Kahdahj didn't bother hiding the grin.</sup>

[hellsdaughter]

“Well, seeing as you say it will be a long time for my departure from here I guess we can talk,” Jinx did not care for the interrogation she was about to undergo nor did she care the questions that she would be asked. She never did and generally she answered truthfully but was never believed. When given the truth most minds cannot grasp the severity so they label it a lie and move on. Pity, I have not a choice generally but to be forced to waste my time on impudent beings.Regardless, she always answered. Maybe in some thread hair of a chance some one would be able to understand. If I am stuck here though… “But dry lips can’t speak nor can empty bellies work the mind.” Giving an honest smile and a soft sparkle in her eyes, “would you mind to have something summoned to have me fed. I am ample to pay for it if needed. My captor host didn’t see fit to tend to that need before he dumped me here.” Taking one hand off her hip, leaning onto one leg as the other raised to bend at the knee and ankle meet her mid calf, the part in her dress fell to show her thigh and a fabric purse tied to her leg. “I am just famished friend.” Untying the purse, and holding it in her hands she quickly pulled two silver coins from its depths. She placed the two between her lips as she balanced tying the purse on her knee than returning it to her thigh. Lowering her leg, she took the coins from her lips. “It is not much, but I’m not asking fine dining.” The smile still on her face. “Just something to hold you guest healthy.” And to replenish my strengths.

“If you just ask the guard nearest, I’m sure he’ll run and you can start to ask the questions you like.” Tossing the two coins to him, both flying effortlessly right to him, then stepping away from the bars. Half turning away from the male as if to show the honesty in the next words she spoke, “ though until I hear food is sent to be brought to me I will not speak a word and will be going back to sitting down in the back of my cell, singing my song”. The fire and fight sparking in her eyes. I cannot choose the fighting ground, I cannot choose my weapons, and I sure as hell cannot easily win this battle, but I shall not give them what they want right off the bat. You will have to work for it a bit my friend. A smirk graced her lips. “So what is it going to be?”

O.O.C.- sorry its not much but I used this post to give you the choice to pick the topic of their discussion. So after your response it will be longer and better