Heruin. It was a desolate place by many accounts, one with a rather dark reputation. The land of the Eternal Sun where it was always summer, the continent baking beneath the heat of the sun and Tempesturo's rule. It was no wonder to anyone that it was the land given to the God of Chaos and Summer to rule over and the crest of the continent itself was a red sun. Much of Heruin remains unexplored. Separated by two rivers, the Claudelle and the Gael rivers respectively, the eastern side of the continent plays host to the few settlements that have managed to survive while the western portion of Heruin is devoid of any permanent settlements of any kind. Referred to as the Scorched Lands the western portion of Heruin is where only the most adventurous, or foolhardy depending on one's point of view, of explorers dare to travel. Many who venture to the Scorched Lands do not return and those who do are forever changed by the experience and not always for the better.

Of all the settlements on the east side of Heruin Drybrush is the largest and the only proper “city” among them. Located on the south east coast of Heruin it is the closest thing to civilization one is likely to find, the majority of the buildings and houses boasting stone foundations and walls made of white washed plaster formed from the sand; a design intended to deflect the unrelenting sun that constantly burns overhead. Architecture in Drybrush tends to favor high ceilings and arched windows and door ways with shaded courtyards in the center of the structure (for those rich enough to boast such elaborate structures) designed to maximize on any breeze that may blow in from the ocean and keep the occupants as cool as possible.

In the center of Drybrush was the largest structure in the city; a manse of the same white plaster, high arched, design only far grander in appearance. It boasts a vast tiled inner court yard with fountain and lush landscaping that allows one to forget for a time that they reside in a barren desert. It is here that the magister, or magistra as the case may be, of Drybrush resides. It is from here that the Magister presides over those under their protection and where the citizens of Drybrush bring their concerns and requests for aide.

In the square across from the Magister/Magistra's manor one will find Marrakesh Market. What began as a small General Store in a single two story building had grown over time into more of an open air market. The General Store is still it's heart, however, and it is here that patrons go to buy food, supplies, tools, and even clothing. The open air stalls that occupy the square alongside the General Store are mostly stalls belonging to traders that have come from other portions of Heruin as well as the other continents of Aleris though there is the occasional stall set up by the enterprising citizen of Drybrush. On any given day one could find exotic foods, exquisite fabrics, spices, herbs, weapons, or potions. There is no telling what one might find in the Marrakesh Market as the trader stalls can change from day to day.

Not far from the center of town but far enough that the noise does not carry down to the Magister/Magistra's manor sits The Caravanserai Inn and Tavern. It is the only business of it's like on the entire continent of Heruin. The Tavern portion boasts the standard bar room but through a set of doors in the back one will find an open air courtyard in the center with several tables, palm fronds overhead protecting those beneath from the sun. On the other side of the courtyard is the back entrance to the Inn which boasts a vast walled courtyard in front of it for those travelers who might arrive with their own caravan in tow and are simply looking for a safe place to pass the evening, something that is very common among desert nomads. There are several rather nice rooms, as well, for those who require more traditional lodgings.

The most interesting place in Drybrush is considered by some to be The Zenana. It began as a desert oasis and spa; a place where one could find respite, a healing bath, a relaxing massage, and a chance to lounge in splendor while enjoying a drink and a hookah with a friend. It has grown into something more, over time, as most things do. For the right price the men and women of the spa can be negotiated with for more erotic services and while such things as smoking tobacco and even opium had been available now more exotic drugs had been introduced for the more unusual clientele that might visit the establishment. Given the nature of the business it does, and the need for discretion, The Zenana is located on the outskirts of the city.

And it was all under her dominion, now. Before falling from grace, as some called it, Verial had done one thing right; he'd put her in charge of Heruin. In turn she'd naturally appointed Valorius it's Lord Commander in charge of Heruin's forces, a position she'd titled the Bel Telal. His experience as the Commander of the Protectorate in Eternelle Lune made him more than qualified for the job, far more than she, really, as she'd more often than not preferred a good brawl to a military exercise. With the far finally over it was time for all the continents to begin the process of rebuilding. Heruin had escaped any damage from this last battle but the one before it had done a fair amount and the population of Heruin was at an all time low, even for them. It was time to take stock of what they still had and decide what was needed to go forward and thrive.

The largest city on Heruin was Drybrush so it made sense to start there, not to mention the fact that it was on the coast across from the island she resided on so it made the perfect starting point. Walking the city streets she was the subject of several curious looks as those who might have seen her before no longer recognized her. She'd began her life as the Padishah of Heruin practically a different person and where once white hair had hung down her back now dark red locks hung in it's place. Most notably, perhaps, was the absence of the mask. The had never seen her face before. She didn't exactly look like a ruler but then, she never had. Black jeans and tank top did not exactly scream that she was a Princess but she'd never given a damn about that before and wasn't going to start now. Besides all that, she traveled alone, something she wagered not many of the rulers did around here.

Those who weren't curious were wary as she also carried her talons strapped to her hips. It is possible no one would have believed she was who she said she was if not for the official crest of Heruin about her neck, the medallion that nestled on the swell of her breasts formed of obsidian stone with a blazing red tribal sun emblazoned atop it. It wasn't something she wore often, only when she needed to make sure people knew she was who she said she was.

In time they began to figure out who she was and whispers followed her into the square that housed the Marrakesh Market. Browsing the stalls she silently took in everything she saw, those who were dressed in tatters, or those who appeared to be suffering from malnutrition or even starvation. She took note of the buildings and structures that needed repair, as well, as there had not been time between wars to see to such things. Stopping into the General Store one of the employees noticed her arrival and, upon sighting the medallion, promptly bowed low to her, excitement bubbling over in his speech.

”Padishah! Welcome to the General Store of the Marrakesh Market! I am Selim and it is an honor to serve you today.”

Her standard half smile curved her lips as she gestured for the young man to right himself. Glancing around the store she noticed that many of the shelves were bare and he seemed to be the only one there to run the business as well as help oversee the outside vendors.

”Are you the only one who works here Selim?”

The young man nodded quickly in response to her question, a sad glance sent around the store itself as he spoke. ”Yes Padishah. The manager was killed in the first war. I don't know what fate befell the others.”

After several minutes of speaking with Selim she discovered that trade between the other continents had tapered off to a drizzle during the war and much of what they sold was imported from other continents, the clothing the only thing typically made on Heruin as only they would know what clothing worked best in their climate. Selim also detailed the damages sustained during the first war though luckily they were minimal. Clapping Selim on the shoulder in thanks she moved as if to leave, pausing at the door briefly to turn back and give Selim a full smile.

”You did good here, cher. I'll remember that.”

Turning to leave she left behind her a boy beaming with the praise given him for it was praise, however unconventionally it was given. Strolling back into open portion of the Market gold eyes surveyed the city until they came to rest upon the Magister's manse. There was no Magister or Magistra of Drybrush at the moment, not of any of the cities or camps actually, and the manor looked to be in a state of disrepair. Strolling towards the manse she could feel eyes upon her as she neared it and knocked heavily on the door. When finally it opened and elderly woman peered out through a crack, refusing to open the door further until she caught a glimpse of the medallion Ameerah wore and then it was thrown open with great fanfare as she attempted to execute a similar bow in the same manner as the boy from the market.

“Padishani! Forgive me, I did not realize you were...who you are. I am Lucinda, my lady.”

Stopping the elderly woman before she could execute her bow and possibly harm herself Ameerah helped her get upright again with a hand on her arm.”It's alright Lucinda, I don't require much formality most the time.”

Smiling to assure the woman that she was serious and took no offense to her earlier recalcitrance she let herself take a long look at the city seat of Drybrush and dwelling of the future Magister or Magistra. It was dirty, to say the least, and in need of some basic structural repairs. Lucinda had a similar tail to tell as Selim; those who had been employed in the Magister's home had either died or vanished during the strife, leaving only Lucinda to see to the care of the place; something that was far beyond the woman's task. The sorrow in her voice as she spoke of how the manor had deteriorated revealed she had been the main housekeeper there for some time and she obviously loved the place.

”It's alright, Lucinda. We'll get it fixed up. Hopefully there will be a new Magister soon and we can't have him or her plunking their lofty ass in a dirty house, now can we?”

Grinning her half smile at the shocked gasp and subsequent laughter from Lucinda she thanked the woman for her time and departed leaving an effusively grateful Lucinda behind. Again taking to the streets she strolled through them at her leisure, becoming accustomed to the city streets of her city, her continent. So far she'd made it to the Marrakesh Market and the Magister/Magistra's future home. That left The Caravanserai and The Zenana. Hmm....where to visit first.

It was the proximity of the Caravanserai Tavern & Inn that prompted her to visit that particular establishment first, The Zenana being on the outskirts of town. It would have been easy enough to poof herself there but she rarely used that gifted ability unless she needed to get a long way in a hurry. The walk itself was amusing as word had spread that the Padishah of Heruin was walking around Drybrush. People were coming to windows, standing on balconies, and even stopping on the street to stair at the crimson-haired woman that strolled down the street with a predatory grace that belied the casual pace she kept.

The Caravanserai was in sight when she faltered in her step, stumbling ever so slightly as several sensations chose that moment to assault her. First and foremost was the sudden absence of Valorius. She could no longer ~feel~ him and that meant one of two things; he was dead which she would have felt or he was in the Nexus Chamber. With Sharay. Anger surged and her golden amber gaze burned with a fiery orange tinge as she let her malevolent thoughts linger on the would be conqueror of Aleris. She hadn't been lying or posturing when she'd threatened the godly essence contained within her husband. The second that bitch had a body she had every intention of stomping a mud puddle in her sorry ass. Whatever was happening in that Chamber she would be unaware of it until Valorius returned and told her and that bothered her more than anything. He had skills, she knew that, but it didn't stop the wolf in her from wanting to protect it's mate. This was something he had to do alone, though, so rather than take off to Eternelle Lune and barge in she pushed the anger aside...mostly.

Realizing there were eyes upon her she straightened up, her head rising as she tossed the layers of deep red hair behind her. It wouldn't do to show any weakness so soon into her rule of Heruin and fixing her still gleaming gaze on those who had stopped to watch her she stared at each of them until they looked away, some almost fearful of the intensity in her eyes. A small smile revealed the tips of elongated canines, another “tell” that she had nearly lost her cool. Her steps continued, her pace a bit more brisk than it had been before as she closed in on The Caravanserai.

It wasn't just the situation with Valorius bugging her though. Beneath the anger and the turmoil she sensed something else. She sensed...pack. She'd known there were pack members in Aleris, Seterios at the very least, though this didn't feel like him. There were others, more than one perhaps, but she couldn't quite put her finger on who or where they were. It was to be expected, this disorientation, with the pack bonds being newly re-established but she had never struggled like this to pinpoint the location and identify of a member of her pack. All this combined served to put her in an ornery mood so it was almost with some glee that she observed the almost hostile stares of the locals as she entered the Tavern.

She paused at the entrance, her eyes panning over the tavern as she assessed their current state, the medallion of the ruler of Heruin tucked conveniently inside the black tank top she wore. It seemed the Tavern had suffered fewer problems than the other businesses she had visited that day. People could always seem to find money to drink. There was a clear division among the patrons; those who were older or were with families preferred the shaded courtyard while the single people, or those looking to get drunk or into a fight, preferred the inside of the Tavern itself. Good, that suited her mood just fine.

It didn't take long for every eye to fix on her. They didn't get a lot of women in there, to be honest, the population of Heruin being what it was and she had always given off a certain...air. Valorius called it attitude. Six of one half dozen of another. Later she would introduce herself to the employees that worked there but for now she moved deeper into the Tavern, every line of her body screaming that she was a predator. She received plenty of stares, some of the occupants becoming wary while others bristled, sensing she would be able to challenge them. Still others took on a more lustful gaze as they let their eyes move over her figure, her clothing little to the imagination as far as her shape went. The fact that she was armed didn't seem to deter them. Good.

Deliberately threading her way through the tables it didn't take long for the first idiot to make a mistake. She had just passed by a table occupied by a single drunken man of a good height and a moderately muscular build, the kind of guy who was used to getting his way by intimidating those around him with his sheer size. No doubt he thought that would give him the freedom to do whatever he wished with the “little lady” and reaching out he landed a resounding smack on her ass. The sound resonated throughout the Tavern and the other occupants all froze, heads rising as if sensing imminent danger on the wind, everyone’s eyes fixed on them as they waited to see what she would do.

She didn't leave them waiting for long. There was no hesitation on her part, no thought, only instinct. Spinning on the heel of her left heel she lashed out with her right foot, a front kick that connected solidly with the man's chest, knocking the wind from him at the very least and sending him flying backwards until he collided with a hard thud against the floor. It wasn't a strike intended to finish him, not yet, that would take all the fun out of it. Stalking forward she stood over the man, a half smirk curving her lips as she watched him scramble back, trying to find his feet amidst the fallen chairs and toppled tables his considerable girth had taken down with him.

”Go ahead, tubby. Get on your feet so I can at least pretend I'm kicking a real man's ass.”

Scrambling to his feet the man glared at her, embarrassed to have been taken down with a single kick and by a chick no less. Obviously he blustered about, trying to save face, the words that spewed from his mouth only serving to bury himself with the woman he now squared off with.

”Don't come in here unless you want the attention you gonna get, girlie. You don't shake your ass like that unless you want someone to grab it, you bitch.”

What a surprise. He managed to bust out the “she was asking for it” argument in the first sentence. Impressive. She didn't bother with her talons, realizing she would have no need for such weaponry with this one besides, she rather enjoyed getting her hands dirty. Rather than come back with something witty or clever or biting she simply backed up slightly, her arms spreading a bit to her side, her mocking smirk still firmly in place.

”Do somethin' about it.”

The man might have thought better about his next actions had not every man in there been watching the scene unfold before them so intently. Now it was a matter of his pride, of saving face in front of the men he routinely tried to bully. If he got his ass beat by a chick he'd never live it down. So with more bravado than brains he rushed at her, his hands raised though there was no technique to his attack. He clearly thought his size would win the day and no doubt intended to simply steam roll over her. The second he moved so did she, shifting her position into a more traditional fighting stance, her feet braced, hands raised. Valorius had had years of training and possessed excellent battle and military skills. She, on the other hand, was a street trained brawler and as her smile widened it would become clear she was about to enjoy herself immensely.

The man was slow, slower than her, and as he neared her she moved to the side, her right foot lashing out to connect with the man's knee which caused him to again hit the ground, another kick to his back sending him crashing into the table in front of him where two men had sat watching with barely concealed interest. The table was destroyed, their drinks now on their clothing rather than in their glasses, and that was enough to cause them to stand up and face her, clearly choosing to join in the fray.

They advanced together, stalking her, one of them attempting to circle around behind her. She recognized the pattern; she was the Alpha of a wolf pack, it wasn't as if she was unfamiliar with a group attack. Angling her body so that the second man in the pair would have to go around or over several overturned chairs and tables to get to her she faced the more dominant of the pair. This man did not rush at her and she could tell instantly he had been in a scrap or two in his time. Good, because tubby over there had been a gross disappointment.

Once he drew close enough the man began to swing on her, practiced throws that would have easily landed on anyone else and likely have done some damage, one aimed at her chin, her temple, a jab at her throat. Nothing landed, though, her arms rising to block each attack with seemingly little effort until he began to become frustrated. Either they were drunk or incredibly dense (probably both) but it seemed none of them had figured out she was something other than human. The man attempting to get behind her had made some headway with the obstacles in his path and her awareness became split between them, enough so that the man in front of her managed to land a blow, his fist connecting with her jaw and splitting her lips so that crimson streaked down her chin.

Wiping the blood from her chin she smiled at the shocked expression on the face of her combatant who could not, for the life of him, figure out why she had not hit the ground when almost any woman and most men would have. Human women, anyway. Their tactic worked, for about a minute, as the man behind her took the opportunity to attack, swinging at her with a chair that broke over her back. That was enough to cause her to stumble forward and into the man who had just struck her. Shoving her back he took another swing, emboldened by his friends success, but she was ready for him this time and moving with preternatural speed she snatched his fist and twisted it to the side, causing his body to go with it as she overextended his arm. He was bent over in her grip, afraid to stand up lest his arm break, and not wanting to keep him waiting she followed it up with a palm strike to his elbow. The entire room was able to hear the sound of the bone snapping even with the screaming that began pouring from the mans mouth.

He wasn't going to be a threat unless it was to throw up on her shoes so she turned and faced the man behind her, the one who had just struck her with the chair. By then other citizens of Drybrush had begun to trickle into the Tavern having followed her there out of curiosity and whispers were flying among those not engaged in the fight. It was out; they knew she was the Padishah of Heruin and as misfortune would have it the third man had heard the whispers as well and was frozen to his spot.

With a sigh she realized the entertainment was over and she shrugged, her hands falling as her posture relaxed. Eying the terrified man in front of her she knew he feared official retribution but instead she slid her fingers into the pocket of her pants and withdrew several gold coins.

”Get your friends to a healer. It's a clean break, he'll be alright.”

Turning to face the bar where everyone had huddled to watch the spectacle she picked out the forms of the few employees still working for The Caravanserai and headed for them, the medallion slipping from her shirt to reveal she was what the others had claimed she was, their new ruler. Just like that play time was over and she'd only broken one bone. Pussies.

The small bar fight had provided somewhat of the release she had been seeking but not nearly enough to fully assuage the angst still roiling within her. It was something of a feat but she had worked for years to learn how to control the urges of the wolf when she absolutely must to see to the handling of state business. It didn't always work, mind you, but typically her control only failed when the circumstances were truly chaotic. So like, 90% of the time. Given how much there was to distract her she was silently amazed that she managed to turn her attention to the needs of the Caravanserai.

Yet, she did, and for the next hour or so she focused her attention (sorta) on the small staff at the Caravanserai Inn and Tavern and their needs. Though they had not suffered the same level of damage as the Marrakesh Market and the Magister's Manor they did require some repairs and were severely understaffed for the size of the establishment. There was no manager and only a skeleton crew managing the needs of both the Tavern and the Inn. Sitting at the bar while the curious onlookers crowded the Tavern (likely the most business the place had seen in a while) one of the few staff members still showing up for work regularly poured her a cold beer while listing all of the things he felt they needed.

It was valuable information, no doubt about that, and was stuff she would need to know for the sake of rebuilding Heruin but she still found it difficult to focus. Too much was crowding her senses; the lack of Valorius' presence in her thoughts was definitely the most distracting factor but there was more to it. The pack bonds she had felt earlier had only grown stronger but it didn't make sense. Seterios was the only pack member she knew for certain was in Aleris but she knew instinctively it wasn't him she sensed. He was on Eiler, as far as she knew, and besides it just didn't ~feel~ like him and she could typically ascertain the energy signature of one of her pack. So who the fuck was it? And why the fuck couldn't she pinpoint their location? She should be able to track down any member of her pack regardless of location, dimension, or time period.

Finishing off the beer she left behind a small pile of gold coins to cover any damages caused by her need to blow off steam as well as to pay for her drink. She'd gotten all she needed from the staff there and with similar promises to provide the necessary repairs and hire additional staff, especially a manager, she slid from her chair at the bar and began to weave her way through the Tavern, a half smile quirking her lips at the whispered rumors that followed her. She had just moved through the door to the Tavern when she paused, the overwhelming sense of her pack nearby actually forcing her body to stop in its tracks. Canting her head to the side she raised her face to the air around her and inhaled deeply, seeking the source of the sensation but just when she thought she had caught a whiff of who she was sensing it vanished, as if something had quickly dampened it, hiding it from her senses, both physical and metaphysical.

She heard the faint growl of an aggravated wolf and realized it was coming from her. There were few things that prompted the ire of her wolf the way keeping a member of her pack from her did. If there was a stray unknown wolf out there she was going to eat the heart of whoever had kept her from them. Straightening herself she cast another glance around as if to ensure there was no one lurking in the shadows, observing her reactions, and seeing no one she continued on her way. It was enough that she knew the other pack members were out there, whoever they were, and she would find them.

There was only one other place of business in Drybrush she had not yet visited; The Zenana. It was on the outskirts of the small desert town but she still chose to walk, using the time to collect her thoughts and her riotous emotions. She was actually looking forward to checking out this particular business given the nature of the services it provided. A spa, slash drug den, slash whore house. Kind of reminded her of the Dragon's Den she used to run in Eternelle Lune with her former lover and pack mate Alidia. In other words, it was right up her ally.

There were no further odd experiences during her walk to The Zenana though she kept her senses alert for anything. When the desert oasis appeared in the distance she put the unusual events of the day on the back burner and focused on the business at hand. The Zenana itself was a two story structure in the same desert style as most of the other buildings, the white plaster made of sand reflecting the sun off of the establishment's walls and roof. Stepping through the door brought immediate relief from the unrelenting sun and within seconds a trio of attendants, two female and one male, had descended upon her, all smiles and requests to serve her.

Unsurprisingly the staff of The Zenana were far more educated on the goings-on of Heruin and recognized her almost instantly. That didn't really surprise her to be honest; throughout the centuries the a society’s courtesans were typically the most educated as far as women were concerned and courtesans and concubines had always gotten the gossip before anyone else, even the servants and they were notorious for getting the gossip. As with every other place she'd been there was no manager. Instead a young woman calling herself Fatima (a name she no doubt wore as part of her work persona) gave her a tour of the popular oasis turned spa.

The baths reminded her very much of the baths they had enjoyed in the seraglio of the Ottoman Empire and when she lingered Fatima offered to assist her with a mineral bath and massage. Eying the cute girl she was tempted to take her up on the offer but decided instead to keep her head on business rather than relaxation. Well, mostly anyway, if one didn't count the bar fight. Taking a rain check she had Fatima escort her through the spa section of the oasis and into the salon where the floor was covered with thick turkish carpets and large pillows were clustered around low round wooden tables polished to a high mahogany shine. Atop some of the round tables were tall glass hookah's with fragrant smoke wafting from the small brazier atop them while the people clustered about the table inhaled the smoke through the serpentine tubes that ended in small mouthpieces. There were several seating areas towards the back of the salon that were concealed by sheer hanging drapes; opaque enough to offer some privacy while still being sheer enough to see the outline of the people within it.

It was to one of these private seating areas that she eventually retired with Fatima, her questions coming quickly as she ascertained the full nature of the business. Fatima showed no reticence in explaining that yes, they were also available to provide erotic services for the right fee. The upper level of the building was dedicated to rooms specifically earmarked for pleasure as well as the offices and rooms belonging to the Manager. Sniffing the air it was easy enough to tell that the various plumes of smoke tinging the air were not all just smoking tobacco and she could identify the majority of the “drugs” being smoked instead. They were all of the variety best suited to mortals, however, and that alone was enough to awaken the criminal businesswoman in her.

”Where do you get the drugs you serve here?”

The question seemed to take Fatima off guard though she recovered quickly enough and serving Ameerah gracefully from a tray that was brought to them bearing tea she handed the cup to Ameerah before answering.

”There are men, Princess. Men who come every few weeks with the bags of smoking blends we serve.

Something in the girl's tone indicated she did not particularly care for the men who delivered their “smoking blends”. Narrowing her amber gold eyes on the girl she sipped at the tea before setting it down and leaning forward, her legs crossed in front of her on the pillow she perched on as if she had grown up in such a harem style setting.

”Why Fatima? What do these men do?”

As it turned out the former Madame of The Zenana had made a bargain with their suppliers. She bartered the flesh of her employees in return for the drugs sold there and she, herself, had been keeping as profit the money not being spent on the recreational smoking blends. As it turned out the men and women taken as part of the bargain did not especially enjoy the attention of the suppliers and were forced to accept them as lovers against their will. As if her anger needed another spark she felt it flare to life within her though there was no one immediately available to take it out on as the Madame was long gone having gathered up what valuables and money she had and fleeing in the face of the first war to rage through Aleris.

”Well consider your deal with these men officially terminated. I will supply The Zenana from now on. My shit is better quality and more diverse. You will be able to supply the supernatural clients who come in here with something better than wine and pot. When is the next delivery supposed scheduled to be made?”

The gratitude on Fatima's face was heartbreaking and she vowed she would damage her former Madame if she ever showed her face on Heruin's sandy shores again. It was obvious that Fatima had been one of the chosen “payments” and was only too eager to inform Ameerah that the men who supplied them were supposed to arrive that very night for the latest shipment. Smiling she leaned back against the pile of pillows, the tea glass again in her hand as she sipped the liquid that could, quite frankly, use a jigger or two of whiskey..just saying. The men would be there that night and she would be the one to greet them.

Sunset took it's time in Heruin so she spent the afternoon lingering in the salon of the Zenana, observing how the business worked and getting to know the employees that had been brave enough to remain in spite of the troubles that had plagued their world as of late. Rumor quickly spread among those working there that she would be ending their agreement with their supplier that night and several women and men both had stopped by her table to thank her. If nothing else she had established a loyal stronghold in The Zenana and given the delicate nature of the business they did she would be very circumspect in choosing their new manager.

When nigh finally fell she rose from her comfortable nest of pillows and made her way through the salon, the hopeful faces of the workers who had been subjected to the forced sexual attentions of these men only adding fuel to the fire already raging within her, as if it needed the help. Pausing at the entrance to the Zenana she surveyed the still desert evening and the courtyard where she would await the appearance of the suppliers. Though the lush oasis provided more cover than anywhere else she could have awaited them it didn't suit her and turning she eyed the side of the building critically before bending her knees slightly and launching herself from the ground. Her right hand caught at a balcony on the second level, her body dangling from that one hand hold before pulling herself up so that she could brace her feet on the edge before climbing up on the railing. Stretching to her full height she gripped the edge of the roof overhead and pulled herself up the rest of the way. Her agile ascent up the side of the building had taken all of five seconds and she was out of sight from any on the ground unless she wished to be seen.

The new rooftop position also provided her with an unfettered view of the desert in all directions as well as the sky overhead. The moon was nearly full and turning her face up to the sky she let her eyes fall closed as she breathed in the power of the full moon. It was easier for her to take energy from nature than it was Valorius, though he was certainly capable of it, and she always found great strength and power in the moon as any good wolf would do though she was far from the average loup garou. With the moon so nearly full she could feel the urge to change, to run, nearly over take her. It had been months since she'd shifted let alone taken on the wolf form during the full moon and she felt a pang that the pack would not be there with her when it was time.

Such melancholy thoughts had to be put aside for the moment as she sensed the approach of what she assumed were the thugs she was waiting for. The energy signature of several men was growing closer and soon the scent of their unwashed bodies was reaching her sensitive sense of smell. Gag me, no wonder they hated attending to these fuckers. Standing on the edge of the roof she lowered herself into a crouch as she waited for them to approach. They were visible from a good distance off which was part of why she'd chosen this vantage point. Four of them, it looked like, all of them seeming in boisterous good spirits as they approached. Well she was about to put a serious damper on their good time.

Deciding she was beyond stealth (which had never been her strong suit anyway) she rose to her full height at the edge of the roof, the fullness of the moon silhouetting her in a luminous aura. It didn't take long for the ruffians to notice her, all of them stumbling to a halt as they stared, unsure if what they saw was truly there or just an mirage brought on by the heat. Smirking at their dumbstruck faces she decided she didn't wish to play with them as she had at the bar. This time she just wanted blood and wasn't going to waste time getting it. Taking a single step off the roof she dropped the distance to the ground below, her knees bending only the slightest bit with the impact. Hands on her hips she glared at the men, her amber gaze taking on an unholy reddish orange tinge.

”Your contract with The Zenana has been terminated.”

That was all she said. She didn't dissemble, didn't make some sarcastic comment, and definitely did not give them the chance to respond. Before her words had even faded from the air she had drawn both Talons from the sheaths and her side and in a blur of specially forged steel they went winging through the air to find a target in the chests of two of the men, the thud of the blades imbedding in their flesh loud in the otherwise still night. They dropped to the ground, the hilt of the blades glowing as they absorbed the soul energy from the two men. She paid it no heed as she was well aware of the capabilities of her weaponry, her attention instead fixed on the two remaining men.

They advanced on her, naturally. What self respecting thug would just stand there when she'd just taken out two of their number. Stalking towards the two hulking brutes her hands rose to reveal that each palm had begun to glow a dark red. Energy; it was pure energy amassing in her palms. Why then, one might ask, was it not green as it often was with Valorius? Simply put she rarely dealt in pure soul energy as he did. She fed on energy just like him such as the souls of other beings or the “soul” of nature but it was not as pure within her as it was within him. She was born of a physical shell and the soul energy she took in became part of her physical body which then channeled the energy into the power she displayed now. Yeah, it's confusing, try living with it.

She and the two remaining men collided, her palms slamming into their chests right over their hearts. As she did so a blast of pure energy tore through them, stopping their hearts and sucking any life energy they had remaining right out of them. They stood in her grip, thrashing as if trying to get away though she had no physical grip on them. They couldn't manage to break the hold the power burst had put on them and when they finally dropped they looked like little more than emaciated shells.

Dusting her hands off as if removing the taint of them from her skin she held her hands out, palms up, and the blades that had been sunk into the chests of the other two dead men slid from their flesh and returned to her palms as if having been thrown by unseen hands. That's right, Thor and his damn hammer had nothing on her. The blades were remarkably clean having absorbed any flesh or blood they had come into contact with and she sheathed them, leaving the energy they'd taken within the blades for now. Sensing a presence behind her she turned her head to see Fatima at the head of a group of the Zenana's employees, joy mingled with wonder at what she had just done written on their faces.

”A man named Parker will be arriving tomorrow with a new supply. I will find a manager as soon as I can. In the meantime send word to my island if you need anything.”

Another flash of her half smile and she was turning away, strolling away into the night as if she hadn't just killed four men. All in day's work, really.

Members of her crew began showing up on the streets of Drybrush the day after her visit to the city. The needs she'd noted were being addressed such as repairs on the businesses as well as on the Magister/Magistra's manor. She would need to see to staffing for the businesses in Drybrush as well, each one current without a manager and staff at the bare minimum. Even with the assistance of her personal crew these things were not going to happen overnight but plans were already getting under way, a fact that was not lost on the citizens of Drybrush.

Parker himself was sent to The Zenana with the promised supply of recreational goodies including several vials of Soul Ease. Distribution of the “drug” had dropped off on Eiler with the war, naturally, but now that things were on the mend the need for the relief Soul Ease could provide would be even higher. It would be Parker, her most trusted man, who kept an eye on The Zenana until an appropriate manager could be found.

It was good she had something to focus her mind on. She'd killed some time in the Tavern that first night halfheartedly attempting to corrupt the demon girl Zalika's will from her mother but the distraction had not lasted for long. Eventually she had returned to her island where she again had to confront the fact that Valorius still in the Nexus Chamber. She'd gone passed concerned, though worry was always there, and was heading right on into pissed-ville. Anger was her usual reaction to any upsetting emotion though. Fear, grief, panic; all could be solved by punching something. And lots of liquor.

Assured that Drybrush was being taken care of it was time for the next stop on her tour of Heruin. After Drybrush the closest city was little more than a settlement by all accounts. Al'Sir Camp, the infamous demon infested camp of Heruin. Of course she'd heard the rumors and was curious to see if the rumors were at all true and she had to remind herself she wasn't going there to look for demons, or trouble for that matter. She arrived on the edge of the “city” around mid-day just as the sun was reaching it's peak. Even with the bleaching effect the sun had on the land she could see the run-down nature of the majority of the structures, something she doubted was exclusively due to the recent war. Al'Sir had the air of a place that had not known prosperity in some time.

The dwellings were a mixture of clay huts and tents, the tents appearing to be an upgrade from the huts as they were far more luxurious and comfortable in appearance. There were no official businesses in Al'Sir as there were in Drybrush, the people who called the camp their home having set up something of a barter system amongst themselves, most of the supplies coming from larger towns or the few traders that dared to venture into the camp.

There was no wind as she began her stroll into the camp, no sound at all really. No children laughing or playing, no sounds of women or men working, it was as still as if it were deserted yet she knew it was not. She could sense the life forces inhabiting the camp; they were there they just did not wish to be seen, yet. The weight of dozens of invisible eyes followed her as she moved deeper into the camp, the air growing heavier the further she ventured in. Pausing towards the center of the camp her head canting to the side slightly as she inhaled. Their was a scent lingering on the still air, a scent not unlike sulfur. That wasn't the only sign that the rumors could possibly be true. She'd passed several huts displaying telltale scorch marks, the black kind of burn marks she'd seen left behind before once a demon who controlled fire rolled through. Hell, she'd caused such scorch marks on more than one occasion herself.

Realizing she would be standing there all day having a grand time with some huts and sand if she didn't do something to incite them out of hiding. Crossing her arms loosely in front of her she shifted her weight to her left hip and called out, her voice loud enough to be heard by anyone in the vicinity.

”I am Princess Ameerah Sultan, Padishah of Heruin. I now rule and protect this land on behalf of King Elias. I am here to assess any needs your community might have.”

It was a bit more formal than she would normally bother with but given the circumstances and the wariness of the people she was dealing with it seemed appropriate. She could practically feel the hum of energy ratchet up a notch or two as the hiding residents began to excitedly discuss what she'd said. In time a figure appeared from behind the largest, most elaborate, tent in the entire camp. The tent was clearly meant to house a family and was quite grand as far as dwellings in Al'Sir seemed to go. The man who approached was older, nearly his sixties, though his age did not take away from his hardened demeanor. As he neared the scent of sulfur grew stronger and her eyes narrowed slightly as she examined him, searching for the signs of a mage, one who specialized in demon summoning.

When he reached her he bowed at the waist, her glowing amber eyes watching from behind the mask she'd chosen to wear that day. As he'd grown closer her own posture had straightened, her arms falling to her side as her posture took on that slight “ready for anything” tension.

”Welcome to Al`Sir Camp, Padishah. I am Cavorn. I have been acting as the Headman of this village since the Magister vanished some months ago. Please, join me in my tent and take refreshment with my family. I will answer any questions you have about Al'Sir.”

Mmm the Magister went missing, did he? Something told her that good old Cavorn here had something to do with the Magister's untimely disappearance. Around them others had dared to venture out, women and children crowding close to the entrances of their dwellings, their eyes moving from Cavorn to herself and back again. She couldn't help but notice the uncertainty in their faces as they let their eyes touch upon their “Headman”. She didn't believe for a second that his hospitality was genuine; she knew she could not trust him in the slightest. With that thought foremost in her mind she inclined her head slightly, her half smile touching to her lips.

”I'd love to Cavorn. Let's go have a nice long chat.”

She was quickly ensconced in Cavorn's tent, seated with her legs folded beneath her at a low, round, table with pillows piled around it in the center of the tent's “common room”. A young woman who looked to have aged beyond her years bustled as quietly as she could around the table they sat at serving them chilled drinks, her eyes downcast, her movements tense and wary as if afraid of angering someone. To the casual observer it appeared nothing more than a friendly meeting but the wolf could smell the malintent coming off of her host, his personal energy crackling with the tension he expertly hid from the eye.

A glance was given to the glass as the young woman set it before her, her amber yellow eyes rising to rest on her server. No way was she going to drink this shit but it was on the tip of her tongue to at least thank the girl only when she looked her way it was to see that the girl had already shifted her own gaze in an effort to make eye contact with Ameerah. Once she had the slightest shift of her eyes towards one of the tents “walls” across the room was all she could convey before being ushered into another part of the tent. As Cavorn began to extol the many virtues of living in Al'Sir Camp, especially now that he was the camp's Headman. She offered nothing in reply at first, allowing him to become comfortable with the sound of his own voice as she surreptitiously eyed the tapestry wall the girl had indicated earlier. There was no light coming from beneath the fabric so it did not open to the outside but something behind it was causing it to occasionally flutter ever so slightly. Not so much that you would notice it if you weren't looking for something fishy but she'd been tipped off and, quite frankly, she was always looking for something fishy.

”So exactly who made you the Headman here, Cavorn? Did the King send anyone to investigate the disappearance of the former Magister?”

Her voice had cut Cavorn off, ending his “look how awesome I am” diatribe and earning her a glare from the man in question. He recovered quickly, he was a pro that Cavorn, and his glare eased into an overly magnanimous smile as he tried to subvert her obvious train of thought.

”No Padishah, no one was sent to search for him. It was during the first war when so many vanished, it seemed pointless to search for one man when so many were missing.”

”Or..possibly no one told the King he was even missing to begin with?”

Diplomacy had never been her strong suit and it was obvious this guy was full of shit. She'd given him enough time show her the type of man he was, she was fully ready to call him out on his bullshit. She'd struck a mark with her words, that was obvious in the way his smile fell completely away and his eyes narrowed on her face as if seeking some clue about the thoughts going on behind the mask. Bored with the game she pushed to her feet and moved around the table, her intentions apparent as she headed for the tent wall the girl had indicated earlier. Behind her Cavorn was rising to his feet, shouting after her, but she had already reached the tapestry and pulled it aside.

What she found was not entirely what she'd expected. Behind the tapestry was a metal cage, a blackened summoning circle erected in the center, the scent of sulfur nearly overpowering now. That wasn't all she found, however. Chained to the far side of the cage was what appeared to have been another young girl once upon a time only now her bare flesh seemed to be rotting away, her eyes reddened with a demonic energy she was not meant to contain, a demonic energy that was eating her alive. She was on the verge of turning to confront Cavorn when she was hit suddenly with...awareness. Valorius was out of the Nexus Chamber and whether he had returned to Aleris or not awareness of him was sizzling through her consciousness. It proved to be enough of a distraction that she missed noticing Cavorn creep up behind her, a heavy wooden club held in his hand. That is, until, he swung at her and cracked her in the side of the fucking head with it.

She didn't go down as he had no doubt expected she would though the blow was hard enough to disorient her which meant it would have killed a normal person. Through the ringing in her ears she was vaguely aware of the sound of the cage being opened before hands at her back shoved her ruthlessly into the cage, hard enough that she stumbled and went down to her knees with the force. The door slammed behind her and she heard the sound of the door locking. Across from her the demon-infected girl began to go crazy, howling and snarling at her, lunging against the restraints that held her in a frenzy to attack this new presence. And, as luck would have it, Cavorn had already moved around to the back of the cage and was unlocking the creatures restraints.

Breathing deeply she knew she only had a moment or two to get her shit together and her fingers dug into the sand beneath her as she reached out to the life force of Heruin itself and connected with the “soul” energy of the land, the ley line that ran through Al'Sir responding to her summons. It was weak, though, the ley line that had supported Al'Sir having been poisoned with demonic magic. She could absorb demonic energy but she could not heal the ley line enough to give her more so she took all she could as her own rage took care of the rest. This wasn't like the tavern where she'd just been looking to let off a little steam. This was pure rage and there would be no putting a lid on it now.

Her head snapped up as the howling demon infested girl became free of her chains and charged at her. In the next instant the air was knocked from her lungs as the demon girl tackled her back into the side, clawed hands raking at Ameerah's face. The mask protected her from most of the damage but several scratches appeared on her right cheek, welling with blood to join the blood now flowing from the wound on her head. Without warning a feral growl filled the tent, a wolf's growl, and it soon became apparent it was coming from her.

Hands shot up, palms glowing with energy that burned white it was so hot, and she gripped the demon girls head. A vicious twist, the sound of crunching bone, and the girl was falling to the side dead. Though her ears still rung from the whacking rage was quickly clearing her mind and her eyes turned to fix on Cavorn, eyes that had darkened from their typical amber to burn with an unholy orange light.

”You really screwed the pooch on this one, chief.”

Cavorn, by that time, had figured out he had not made the best decision he could have made but it was already too late. Cage or not, he wasn't getting away. She moved to the cage, hands rising to grip the bars. They weren't silver, that was good. She couldn't be killed or seriously harmed by silver like most wolves would, but it would burn and could slow her down. That wasn't going to be a problem in this case, though, as Cavorn hadn't bothered with anything more than standard steel and steel, if hot enough, melted. Already it was glowing with the white hot energy being forced from her palms, the bars soon pliable in her hands as she ripped them free, rendering the cage useless.

She was free, her predatory glare fixed on Cavorn as she began to stalk towards him until movement caught her eye. It was the girl who'd warned her as well as several other women cowering in the corner of the tent. Jerking her head towards the entrance she shouted over the roaring in her ears.

”Get out of here, now!”

They didn't need to be told twice and clutching to one another the girls stumbled from the tent just as Ameerah turned to again fix her eyes on Cavorn. He ran, then, bolting towards one of the tent walls only he didn't make it, her right hand rising to send a bolt of white hot energy to collide with the fabric of the tent wall setting it instantly aflame. He tried again, fleeing for another wall, only to see another ball of energy turn it into a roman candle. Slowly she stalked him, predator and prey, the energy from her hands coiling out from her palms like flames, licking at anything around her that was flammable.

It wasn't fire in the true elemental sense of the word but the energy itself was a result of the soul energy she fed from and many considered the soul to be the flame of human existence and she, herself, had once commanded the Black Flame (killing Gods has a way of granting someone abilities they might not have otherwise) so it was only natural her personal energy would take the shape of fire. And it did, flames soon engulfing every wall as the tent became an inferno. And still she stalked him until he could go no further. She said nothing as she advanced upon him, her lips curling back to reveal elongated canines as another growl rumbled from her throat.

At first one might have assumed she would go for the Talons strapped to her thighs but she was beyond weapons at this point. Cavorn cowered, dropping to his knees as his appropriated tent began to rain charred embers down upon them. Disgust was written in her furious gaze as she watched him snivel at her feet, cowering for his life, and finally having had enough she reached down and gripped his head, her palms still glowing with the same white hot energy.

Instantly his screams began to fill the air until his throat cracked and blood began to pour from the corners of his mouth from the force of them. Beneath her hands his skin began to melt, his eyes bulging from his head as she sent the energy coursing through him, burning him alive from the inside out. Though he thrashed she would not release him, her fingers digging into his melting flesh as if to ensure he felt every second of the sensation of being cooked alive. When she finally let go he fell to her feet, a smoking dried out husk, his parted lips cracked and bloodied on the now silenced screams, his eyes having burst from the intensity to drain down the blackened flesh of his face, the rest of him twisted and gnarled as smoke and the scent of burnt flesh rose into the air.

When she emerged from the tent, now fully engulfed in flames, she found the rest of the citizens of Al'Sir waiting for her. At the sight of her a subdued cheer went up, the people still wary though grateful to be rid of the man that had forced his rule on them until now. Her gaze panned over the crowd as slowly they began to ease in intensity, the orange light that burned behind the mask subsiding back into amber. She needed to address them, to say something about what had happened.

”Cavorn is dead. No one else will be appointing themselves the Headman of this camp. I will be appointing a Magistrate as soon as I find the right person. In the meantime a few members of my crew will arrive tomorrow to get rid of this mess and to keep an eye on the camp until I do. Know this, people...I don't really give a shit if you summon demons. You wanna summon demons fine, it's up to you to make sure you do it right so they don't rip your fucking face off. But I will not tolerate turning people into human demon vials. If you want to see what I will do if this shit happens again go have a look at Cavorn once the fire dies down.

Tell my crew if there is anything this camp requires. For now...I'm gonna go get a fucking drink.”

“Liddie.”

The name drifted through her unconscious mind, a familiar voice which slowly draws her more closely to awareness. But the wispy fingers of a dream pulls her back once more. A dream in which her eyes are turned up to a full, glorious moon, and strong hands slide up her bare upper arms.

“Do you feel it, my dear Ali? Does it hum inside your very skin?” A male voice asks against her ear. She tilts her head towards his warm breath and smiles.

“I think you hope so.” She replies lightly. Those strong hands grip her arms and jerk her small frame back against the solid male body behind her. She lets out an appreciative sigh and tilts her head back to look upward at the moon again. “I always feel it.”

Hands, lips, hot breath mingle. But her green eyes maintain contact with the full, luscious moon.

“Liddie.”
___

Her eyes snap open. The dream lingered on in the corners of her mind for a few wild seconds.

“Meerah.” She says the name into the dark.

“Mmm, what babe?” A male voice asks beside her, startling her. She glances over at the bare chested man whose eyes remained closed.

“Just a dream,” she replies. “Go back to sleep.” But his breathing has already evened back out.

She silently slips out of the bed and walks over to the window closest to the bed, reaching up and pushing the curtain aside and lifting her gaze to the moon above her. As in the dream, she does feel a certain, exhilaration, on these nights that are ruled by the full moon. But tonight there is something different. Like, a call to return home.

She turns and looks back at the male form in the bed. Derek… Derek? Or David? A frown creases her brow as she tries to remember. She finally shrugs and shakes her head. It didn’t matter. She sweeps on a silk flower patterned robe and slips out of the room.

The small, private house boasts a couple of staff members. Her Morlis wouldn’t have left her without some small comforts. Her housekeeper approaches as she walks through the house.

“Lady Alidia, I didn’t realize you were still awake. Can I get you anything?”

Ali smiles at her, “You are up late yourself, Emmie. And actually, I will be leaving for a while in the morning…” she trails off, then nods again. “Yes, I will be going. I will need to ask of you to pack my things to be sent to me when I send you word.”

“Of course,” Emmie replies.

Ali steps up and wraps her arms around her in a quick hug. “Thank you.” She steps back again and Emmie gives her a surprised, but affectionate smile.
___

The years had not left much of a mark on Alidia’s appearance; the face that once long ago stepped out of her late parent’s household to join her brother in lands afar is much the same as the one that leaves her small villa now. Other parts of her had changed, most definitely. Motivations, desires… However, some parts of Alidia will never change, evidence given by the attractive man she left sleeping in her bed. The sex was not something that she necessarily needed to exist anymore, but the halfling succubus could feel the benefits of “feeding” off of that energy.
She was stronger from it, her mind more settled. It is the other side of her that drives her to move on right now. The gift given by one that she loved. It is the loup garu blood that lifts her viridian gaze time and time again to the silver lit sky.

And perhaps more. When she as a young girl set out to find her brother Dominic, it was because she was looking for family. It many ways she had found that. A marriage to a charming vampire blessed her with two children. But the twins had long since matured in the quick way vampiric children will, and they felt more in common with their vampire father. She loved for them, she truly did, but Ali was not exactly the classic motherly type.

Her life had definitely been filled with people to love… Morlis would always hold a large place in her heart. He was like her in many ways and not only understood the way that Ali works, but loved her because of it. But neither of them were suited for an exclusive relationship, and she never would have dreamed of asking it of him. Then there had been the extensive deSade family, the ones with whom she had practically grown up in front of. In that family had been many that had been loved by her. (Emotionally as well as physically.) Akuma and Ameerah had become family, one that she missed more and more. Akuma was special, and whether it was weird or not, he had become a brother figure, save for the fact that Ali would always find him appealing. But

Meerah… Meerah was something different altogether.

Her affection for the drug dealing pirate didn’t even begin to make sense. They didn’t fit together really, Ali always so feminine and averse to physical confrontation and Meerah so strong and ready, willing and perfectly able to kick anyone’s ass. Frankly, Meerah should’ve shrugged Ali off at the very moment they met as being a useless girly girl.

But Meerah, much like Morlis, had understood Ali. And Ali liked to think that the love she held for her pack master was returned.

At least, she thought as she took her first step onto the sunbaked ground of Heruin, she strongly hoped that affection was returned. Because she could finally tell that she was getting close to fulfilling that nagging yearning that had driven her to the one that had breathed the loup garu life into her. To reunite with Meerah.

And so, Alidia walked into Drybrush. Her blonde hair swept back off of her shoulders in the wind, appearing even lighter in the sunlight. Nude colored high heels crunched the dry ground under her. A coral colored strapless dress complimented her tan complexion. She glances around in her aviator style sunglasses…. And scrunches her nose. This dried up city was not exactly posh. But a couple mentions of Ameerah’s name from people that she had passed in the streets confirmed that she was in the correct place and that Ameerah had made an impression here.
And she knew that Ameerah would know that she was there. She walked into what would seem to be the city square.

She finds a bench, sits and crosses one leg elegantly over the other. And waits.

The Padishah of Heruin was more than ready to get back to work the day following the Masked Ball in Arthuran. It wasn't that the ball hadn't been fun, it was just that...no..no it wasn't fun. At least not for them. Formal events had never been her cup of tea though she was well aware of the need to attend such functions and had been taught how to behave, social graces and all that crap, she just preferred not to need them. Besides, it was obvious there were deeper undercurrents running through Northsea but mostly she'd just been bored.

Now that the social affairs of state had been handled and they had returned to their own continent where the sun shone and the sand was warm beneath the feet it was time to get back on track. Valorius had his own duties with the Protectorate and she with the management of Heruin itself. She had not been back to the Caravanserai but was kept informed by her crew about the comings and goings and/or potential needs of both Zalika and Seterios. She really did need to sit down and figure out a more permanent solution for them both but for now, this morning, she had other matters to attend to.

She had toured every city and camp on Heruin save for that of Sarheed. The trip had been planned but had been derailed by Zalika's appearance. Though that matter wasn't fully settled it was handled as much as it could be for now. It was time to go to Sarheed. It was early in the day when she left her island but the sun was already blazing overhead. Sarheed was the camp the furthest from Drybrush and rather than stepping through a rift she chose to travel there under her own power which still had her arriving just before mid day.

The people of Sarheed were wary of her at first, having heard of the body count that had been involved with her assessments of both Al'Sir and Drybrush, but as luck would have it she found nothing unusual in Sarheed and they eventually relaxed when she didn't start foaming at the mouth or anything. Unlike Al'Sir there were few to none of the canvas tents used for dwellings, Sarheed was built primarily of the mud or sand built structures like what was found in Drybrush. There was no market but the people had set up a sort of informal goods trading system amongst them and the traveling merchants made up for what the people could not provide for themselves.

She found no sex criminals nor inept demon summoners and no one did anything to warrant a right good kicking. All in all it wasn't a bad day. Like the others Sarheed had no Magister to see to their needs but the community had banded together in the absence and no problems had arisen as a result. She met with the Elder's of the community who had taken over unofficial leadership of the Camp until the new ruler was appointed. Like everywhere else in the world of Aleris Sarheed Camp had needs. They had sustained damages and suffered losses just like everyone else. There needs were not much different than the other two, living structures needed repairs, some needed to be rebuilt, and help was needed to replace the goods and manpower lost.

With no unusual occurrences as with the other cities of Heruin the assessment of Sarheed did not take nearly as long. Lists were made of which structures required repair and/or reinforcement and which ones should just be torn down and rebuilt entirely. She departed Sarheed after assuring the Elders of the Camp that members of her crew would be arriving in a few days time to get started on the repairs they had discussed as well as the supplies the Camp needed to not only sustain itself, but to thrive.

She was back in Drybrush by mid-afternoon though there was no rush to return to her island. Valorius was still at his tasks so she meandered through the city, getting a first hand look at the repairs that had already been made as well as those that were still a work in progress. The people didn't seem to mind that things were not already completed, they were so happy that someone had taken notice of their needs had had kept their promise to them that how long it took didn't seem to matter. Which was good since she was stretching her crew between all three cities and camps, now.

In the Marrakesh Market she paused at the main store where there was a stack of papers from The Chronicle for sale. Dropping a coin on the counter top she took one of the papers and continued on her way, smiling and waving automatically at those people who were brave enough to call out greetings as she passed them by. Skimming the Editorial she rolled her eyes slightly at the news of a new faction threatening the continent of Eiler with war.

”Fuckin' figures,” she muttered to herself. Blah blah blah, boring. Shuffling through the paper she finally settled on the gossip column, that should provide a bit more entertainment she figured, and lo and behold she was the top story. The body count that had become a part of her tour of Heruin was mentioned and she couldn't help but snicker quietly to herself. Wait til Soul Ease made it back onto the market. She needed to be clever about it, though, now that she was also the Padishah of Heruin which was why she hadn't started pushing it publicly yet though it was wildly popular at The Zenana already.

Naturally Reid had felt the need to bring up Zalika and she couldn't stop the loud laughter that erupted as she continued to read, most especially the mention of Discord. Reid must have met her, at some point to be able to describe her so accurately. She knew Zalika would likely read that, though, and she would have to deal with the aftermath which was a thought that had her laughter dying away. Fucking Reid, she could strangle that little chick-dude right now. It was still funny, though. Damn, alright, time to nut up she thought and let her steps gradually turn in the direction of the Caravanserai Tavern & Inn. It was about time she'd checked on the unruly duo she had staying there, anyway.

She'd gone maybe 20 feet when she was hit with a sudden...sensation. Not the typical tingle of awareness she got when she sensed her pack in close proximity...no. This hit her like a ton of bricks, so much so that she actually gasped aloud. Liddie? She was here? A tilt of her head sent her nose into the air and she inhaled deeply until she caught it, the faint scent of perfume she hadn't smelled in....ages. Not since she'd turned Alidia so long ago. (OOC: the shit with Natani and Akuma was retconned).

A breeze wafted by from the left and she turned her head into it, knowing instinctively that Alidia would be found near the city square. She wasn't far from there, just a few blocks really, and without thought or hesitation she turned from her present course and started for the Square. Rounding the corner of one of the buildings that made up the Square's boundaries she paused, letting her glowing amber-yellow gaze pass over those milling about the area until they fell unerringly upon the figure of a seated woman. From the way she sat with such careless elegance to the sunglasses that most in Aleris would decry as some form of sorcery, she knew the woman was Alidia. She should recognize her considering they'd been lovers once upon a time.

Sauntering up behind her she paused, the paper having been dropped somewhere and utterly forgotten. Blonde, she was still blonde, she'd always thought the color suited her though. Cocking a hip she crossed her arms, her half smile forming over her lips as she made her presence known.

”You just gonna sit there on that tight lil ass of yours, Liddie? That's no way to greet your alpha!”