Xerxes
- In the Duggins -
I am King. And I need answer to no one.
Posts: 53
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Post by Xerxes on Jan 27, 2009 0:32:54 GMT -5
*Silently, the king turned, catching the eye of an attending eunuch. With the barest crook of his finger, the man rushed to kneel at his feet.*
"Her name?" *he inquired in a low voice.*
"Esmerelda, my lord."
"Have her brought to my chambers this evening. Ready her after the evening meal," *commanded Xerxes, casting a final glance in her direction before he left as quietly as he had entered.*
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Post by Anastasia on Jan 27, 2009 13:26:27 GMT -5
At last, done with her scouting, Anastasia made her way back discreetly. As she easily slid back into the audience that was transfixed by Esmeralda's dancing, she wore a smile on her face. They had a way. They could do this.
Little did she know that unwanted attention had been brought to her newfound friend.
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Post by Esmeralda on Jan 27, 2009 13:39:33 GMT -5
Esmeralda had even less of a notion, if that were possible. She merely danced--she took no credit, notice, or fear of what that dancing lit in others.
She came to a stop, glowing from exertion and joy and nerves rather than the tepid applause, and tripped back to seat herself near Anastasia.
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Post by Anastasia on Jan 27, 2009 13:46:21 GMT -5
Anastasia was all smiles as Esmeralda sat down.
"That was wonderful! Absolutely perfect."
She lowered her voice, so that only her companion could hear.
"There is a way for Djali."
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Post by Esmeralda on Jan 27, 2009 13:59:53 GMT -5
"Thank you," Esmeralda said, ducking her head slightly and blushing. "And I'm glad. We must write a note--Djali is clever, but not that clever. He'll have to have something attached to him."
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Post by Anastasia on Jan 27, 2009 14:30:56 GMT -5
"You're welcome. Not just because of the distraction, but you are a good dancer, from what I saw."
She nodded at the note idea.
"Yes. A short message, maybe."
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Post by Esmeralda on Jan 27, 2009 14:47:53 GMT -5
Esmeralda blushed again.
"Djali can lead them back, but what if he can't tell anyone why they must come?" Why she believed he was capable of one but not the other was a mystery. "But you will have to write it."
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Post by Anastasia on Jan 27, 2009 16:06:06 GMT -5
"I think I could fit what someone would need into the message. I'll...I should write it in French. I don't think anyone around here could read Russian."
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Post by Esmeralda on Jan 27, 2009 16:46:48 GMT -5
Esmeralda, who could barely write her name, nodded. She was glad she'd found someone like Anastasia who knew such things. "Many people speak French," she agreed with the certainty of one who had been raised there. "Then it's a plan. Perhaps I can get permission to walk Djali, and... and lose him."
She grew silent, thinking about her only friend, and what might happen to him out there.
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Post by Anastasia on Jan 27, 2009 17:34:57 GMT -5
"That should work. And..."
She placed a sisterly hand on Esmeralda's arm.
"I'm sure Djali will be just fine. He's made it this far, hasn't he?"
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Post by Esmeralda on Jan 27, 2009 17:44:02 GMT -5
Esmeralda smiled up at Anastasia gratefully.
"Yes. Yes, you're right. And it was my idea. He'll be fine."
The little goat had followed them, and now butted against Esmeralda's arm. She let him onto her lap.
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Post by Anastasia on Jan 27, 2009 18:59:24 GMT -5
Anastasia reached out to pat the goat on the head.
"All three of us will make it out of here."
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Post by Esmeralda on Jan 27, 2009 19:07:53 GMT -5
Djali pressed against Anastasia's hand trustingly, and Esmeralda patted him absently. They would.
((Assuming we can skip a bit here, and get Esmeralda to Xerxeseses.))
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Post by Anastasia on Jan 27, 2009 19:25:14 GMT -5
The rest of the day went much as the previous days had--if anyone suspecting anything of what Anastasia and Esmeralda had planned, they never said anything or gave any other indication of it. And so it was that dinner rolled around, and like all the dinners before it, went rather peacefully.
The change came when dining was winding down...subtly, at first, several eunuch guards had started to gather. Anastasia watched them out of the corner of the eye, trying to hide her nervousness. What was going on?
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Post by Esmeralda on Jan 28, 2009 11:00:15 GMT -5
One of the head women had come to Esmeralda with new, finer clothes, gauzy and revealing. Another had appeared with more make up, and a third to dress her hair.
"What's going on?" Esmeralda asked, but they did not speak French, and merely smiled at her with eyes that said that whatever it was, it was a mixed blessing at best.
Finally a eunuch presented himself, and she was ordered to follow. She cast a desperate glance at Anastasia, motioned for Djali to stay with her, and was taken away. There was no way to resist it.
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