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Savage Lands -Mari-

"A dancing boy..." Mercielle repeated, not against the idea at all He had the grace of a dancer, and they could always use some more entertainment. She had a few ideas of how they could dress him up. They had a few outfits from trade and pillaging. Fine silks that would look good against his tanned skin.

Esmerada, sitting on Julian's lap, cheered as Hasani plunged the sword into the man's neck, bloodthirst clear in her expression. She would have been worse, she would have played with him like a mouse and ripped him apart just for the fun of it. Still, the former Prince did as her sister said and, looking at Mercielle, she was pleased with the outcome.

"You have killed an innocent man to save yourself. Good. You will be mine. Put him back in the cage" Mercielle told the Ravens and Hasani. Asta would have one, Esmerada would have one, and then Mercielle as Cheifess would claim the two. One for his strength and one for his grace.

"Aw, is the fighting over?" Esmerada asked, huffing as she watched the dead man's body be dragged away to feed the hounds.

"For now. Put your boy away and we'll take them out later for dinner" Mercielle said, watching as Esmerada pouted but, ultimately, followed her sisters orders. She returned Julian back to his cage and blew a kiss.

"I'll be back. Don't miss me too much!"
 
"It might be fun. And didn't you say yourself a while ago we could use more entertainment?" Asta teased, seeing that Mercielle seemed like she was giving her idea some serious thought. The bloody show that played before them however was over, much to Esmerada's disappointment. "Esmerada, if we kill all our slaves..we'll have none left. And don't just say then we'll find more." Asta sighed, looking back at Aedan though she never said anything. She simply walked away when Mercielle ordered Hasani and Julian to be caged again.

Hasani on the other hand, knew it was him or them; and so he had to choose to save himself. But he couldn't help but feel wrong. These savages made him slaughter two people who likely did not deserve to die. The only thing that gave him solace was believing that they weren't entirely innocent and that the barbarians were just bluffing about them being innocent. As he was caged, he'd be made to look at the pit that sat across from the cages; the bloodstains from the fight still fresh.

He looked to the side for a second, seeing how Julian was faring and suffice to say, Julian was not doing well at all. Scared witless by the threat that Esmerada would return shortly. "I'm sorry you all had to see that." Hasani sighed.

"Save it, you did what you had to." Theodric broke his silence to speak up. "If you hesitated you likely would have ended up like the poor bastards you were forced to kill."
 
Esmerada just waved off Asta's concerns. She could kill who she wanted, and yes they would just find more. It was all they did. This was just a more interesting fight. She wanted to see Hasani kill more.

The woman all left and the men were left to go over what had happened. Clearly, Hasani was taking it hard and Julian was just a mess. The scariest of them had chosen him. She was scary because she wasn't predictable. She could get bored and just decide that he was going to on the end of her axe.

"Theodric is right. You did what was needed" Aedan agreed, leaning back against the bars of his cage. "She ordered you to kill, to end it. Disobeying would have lead to something far worse for you, and probably them as well for not pleasing them" The hounds likely, or maybe something else if they were feeling spicy.
 
"They wanted blood, they got it. Let's just hope they're satisfied but somehow I doubt it." Theodric said. Out of the four, if there was anyone that might have been the luckiest; it was Aedan. Honestly it was enough to make someone jealous. Asta seemed like the most reasonable of the barbarians though that wasn't saying much, while Julian was saddled with someone who would be jovial one minute and violently flaying someone alive the next. Though from what they understood, it seemed like even her sister was a little disturbed at the outright glee Esmerada took in bloodshed.

Depending on what one thought of their situation, the next few moments would be fortunate or unfortunate for them as there was a small amount of activity at the gates of the fort, revealing what looked to be some scantily clad women following behind some Blue Raven guards as they were led inside. The women themselves seemed to be dressed in animal hide with what little they wore; and they were led by a an equally charismatic figure with long, braided blond hair. The women the boys were looking at was another barbarian clan that hailed from the forestlands in this region of the world. The Brave Sisters.

Of course, like all other barbarians they were violent; but they were uncharacteristically reasonable with a slight pacifist streak. They also seemed to be quote unquote friendly terms with the Blue Ravens; as friendly as one could be anyway. But despite their preference for diplomacy, push them far enough and one would learn exactly why these ladies were known for their berserkers.

The blond haired woman who led them went by the name Alamea. She both had the look of someone untamed and wild but yet a beauty. Her usual attire was a bikini top and bottoms in a white leopard print. Blue shoulder-pads with horns on each, along with an orange ribbon belt. Her gloves and boots seemed to resemble the paws of a leopard. A sabre toothed necklace finished off her ensemble and a hatchet hung from the right side of her belt. One look at her and it was easy to see why she was the clans leader, and it seemed like she was on her way to see Mercielle.

A fact made evident when she outright ignored the boys to head inside the forts main building.
 
Of course they weren't satisfied. Nothing would ever quench their thirst and the boys would have to understand that if they were going to survive this. Aedan had certainly gotten lucky in this situation, being the one that Asta had chosen. Of course, she would likely have her own sides that he'd have to navigate and they were all somewhat screwed if they didn't please the women.

Suddenly, there was some commotion and a new clan walked in. They were dressed differently gave off a different aura. Aedan watched as they came past with interest and recognised them from his research. The Brave Sisters. They weren't...the worst of the clans. They were more neutral and gave off the energy of being pacifists, as much as a barbarian clan could be a pacifist.

Aedan was glad when they ignored them though. The last thing they needed was another clan getting interested in the pretty boys in cages.

Mercielle was waiting for Alamea, sitting on her bone throne with one leg propped up, her elbow resting on her knee and leaning her head on her fist. "You're late. The excitement has ended. If you were earlier you'd have gotten to see our new boys in action" She said, watching as her Ravens lead the Sisters towards her throne.
 
None of them, save for Aedan seemed to know just who these new ladies were; though none of them were willing to chance it either. Staying quiet and letting them be ignored before one of the boys, predictably Theodric would speak up. Looking at Aedan as he seemed to recognise them.

"Who were they?"

Elsewhere, inside the fortress. Alamea would address Mercielle as she seemed to laze on her throne. Typical, she thought. Mercielle was content to see to her own desires and ignore the state of the Northlands that were beyond her auspices. Did she not realise that the largest and most threatening of the clans had struck an accord of their own with the Empire that the boys from earlier told her about? Not that Alamea would have knowledge the boys had warned her already.

"It's fitting of you to play while the Northlands burn, Mercielle." She didn't mean literally, of course. "Yes, we noticed you had brought some new prisoners in. What a waste they'll be serving the Blue Ravens."

"You. Be mindful of where you are and who you speak to!" Asta raised her voice to Amalea, who seemed to just smirk.

"You really need to keep your girls muzzled more, Little Merci~"
 
"The Brave Sisters" Aedan said with a sigh as he was asked. It seemed he was the only one who knew anything about the Northlands. "They are...different to the other clans. They live in the forests and are more diplomatic. They could even be called pacifists, as far as barbarians can go as a pacifist. They have a good relationship with the Blue Ravens, well. Good is a strong word" He said all he knew about them in one breath, leaning back against the bars of his cage.

Mercielle smiled when Asta spoke, letting her speak for her. "Asta needs no muzzle. Esmerada on the other hand..." She trailed off, glancing to her sister who was grinning savagely, her hand resting on her axe.

"Why have you come, Amalea?" Esmerada asked, taking a couple of steps forward, only stopping when Mercielle stood herself.

"I believe they bring news of the Northlands, not that we need a newsgirl to keep us updated" Mercielle said with a sigh, walking down the steps that lead to her throne to stand eye to eye with Amalea. "But do share your business"
 
"I wouldn't have taken these savages to have a diplomatic side." Theodric said, crossing his arms which ended up resulting in a retort from Hasani; who seemed to clap back at him quite aggressively.

"Clearly you need to live a little more then."

"Says a spoiled Prince who likely would have been used to people kissing his arse."

------

Asta meanwhile, promptly went silent when Mercielle spoke up. Though, the latter was right, Esmerada likely would have needed a muzzle with how bloodthirsty she was. This didn't bother Amalea however, who was straight to business as she spoke. "You're not concerned that the largest and most feared clan in these lands now has the backing of a woman that is ruling the lands beyond with an iron fist?"

"Turns out the boys were right." Asta said.

"You mean to tell me your Chief was informed yet chose to ignore it?" Amalea sighed. "Either way, we've managed to; so far at least keep them out of the forests but we don't know how much longer we can continue to hold the line. I wouldn't bet against them setting fires to weed us out. A cowardly move."
 
"Can we not argue?" Aedan hissed, looking between Hasani and Theodric. "I don't want to sit here in this cage and listen to you both bicker. Yes, they're savages, yes they have a diplomatic side. It's not mutually exclusive" He took a breath, almost regretting snapping at the two but he couldn't be in this situation and have it made worse by the two arguing over stupid nonsense.

---

Mercielle listened to the news that Amalea brought. Of course, it was something she already knew as their new captives had shared some information. However, she hadn't exactly had the time nor energy to plan for anything. To be honest, she didn't care much about this all. She would be secure. So what if they had the backing? They wouldn't branch out further than they could reach. Why would the Empress care for the Northlands anyway?

"It would be a cowardly move" Mercielle agreed, sighing as she looked at the other leader. "I don't believe you have come here just to share news. Were you here to ask for aid?"
 
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