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"The blood was from an ogre." Warhammer said without thinking, "He wanted something that was bonded to its soul through dark magics." He merrly shruged. "He could have thought it was pretty, he could have thought of some strange use of the object, or a way to disrupt the signal, or some other deed or either good or ill nature."

Dagger smiled softly, "How will you get there? We have no ships, and the tunnels are long, dark, and very dangerous." The woman looked at the food, "Did you know that the servents were only allowed to eat scraps?" She said somewhat retorically. "We would change that, but we have to keep up appearances for the nobles... Those foolish self serving imbred braggerds who know nothing of communal survival. They would be surprised to know that many slaves wish for freedom." The former owner of a brothel smirked, "I used to own a fair number of concubines."

Eliot almost coughed.

"Concubines! Were you in chagrge of the Harem here? Not only are you forced into a cage but do be foreced into something that is supposed to be beautiful and loveing. Shared with only the perfect mate. Most people wouldn't belive it but our mates were chosen from love, not strength. You must have seen such longing for freedom, or fear of it."

Eliot glanced to her father. How would she feel if she had been captured, and forced into such work/ would she truly have chosen death ten as well?

"Was there much death among these women?" She wondereing if they chose a life of hope, longing, misory, or release.

Eliot laughed. She knew the truth of that.

"If only all were like that and did not control our hearts. Life may be a bigt easier." She sighed heavily. She looked to Morelle who had been waiting patiently by her elbow and handed him a chunk of left over bread

"But fisrt I have a promis to keep. This little fellow helped me to find my father, i promised to help him find somone he has lost as well. I will be back though, I would like to tlak to some of the slaves, I do not want to force them into anything they do not want to do."

Her father smiled at her. "My father needs to heal before we do anythign drastic. He would be better in the woods, but the shrub here will have to do."

She stared at the table for a long time. before she added, "I will admit i don't know exactly how to go about freeing slaves, or giving them pay, findign them homes, even teaching them how to live on their own. I would appricitae anything you could teach me."

Her father made a sound in his throat, giving his approvel on the matter.

"People adapt to live the lot that is forced upon them, and often find some solice in that life. You could take the wolf out of the forest, and breed him to live in the city. That does not mean that the wolf does not seek the forest, or that he could live in it anymore. What has happened to the slaves was almost unavoidable. When a culture requires more territroy, they often have to take it from someone else. In the exchange, they take prisoners. They cannot let the prisoners go, because they will try to reclaim the land, much like the Dwarf Elite in the ruined city. So, they send them away from their homes, into foriegn lands and distant kingdoms, to places they do not know." That should make perfect sense and logic, though Dagger knew that this woman would disagree. "We need the land, you had it, we took it, you lost it, you were moved, and now, you are free, but cannot go home, because you do not know where it is, you will adapt, and pray to return home, but I doubt that you will ever find it. You were defeated and enslaved, and now regained freedom. You have no where to go, and nothing to do. You submit. You live a new life, you mingle with the population, you make this land your new home, eventually, your decendants will be the same people you hate, the ones who conquer a territory for the land they need."

"That it would, but I do not think that the Captain would think that they are so needing of their home. It is just rocks and soil, Malik and Piper probably could live better lives without it, and safer. I think, for the moment, he has a plot he wishes to try, a waltz with fire." Warhammer answered Tanundra's question.

"I am worried that he will take the duty of protecting them to heart." Warhammer replied, "But perhaps this has been enough thought on this matter. The Captain will return, he will be alive, and probably the same as always." Internally miserable.

Eliot looked at her quickily.

"I understand what your saying...but I never told you I was captured. I wasn't. I know exactly where my home is and how to get back. You didn't NEED more land you wanted it. Your people need to learn how to cultivate their land properly and they wouldn't run into problems. They need to give back what they take and then they woudln't have this concieved notion of need. If someone truly wants there freedom they will not forget the skills they had, they may have to re-adapt yes, bu tthey will always remmeber, and even practice these skills in their new home."

She looked to Morelle, tugging on her sleeve. She smiled even though inside she was angry. She didn't like the constant undermining from this woman. She acted as if Eliot were an idiot. But she was far from it.

"If you will excuse us now, thank you for the rfood but I have a promis to keep." She motioned to Morelle to lead the way.

What in the world was irrigation? Thought Eliot. she did not turn anround but said a curt "Thank you" and proceeded to walk away with Morelle and her father.

'The land is not yours to take," she called out, "Sooner or later she will cripple those who have lived by greed on her soils."

She did not like this woman and wanted to be away from her. "where to Morelle? you have taked me silly about these Vah, time i met them I think. She used her native, Morelle would understand that she needed to be close to home.