To Friendship!
Thankfully someone had thought of putting benches into the storeroom of the Tel`tak this time around and so the trip from Zipacna`s residence back to our district was less awkward then the initial travel: all of us could sit and at least I could immerse myself into the reports of the legion of the Dazai plains I was getting attached to and by this evade looking at any of the other passengers. Lateus was still insistent on standing next to one of the columns that decorated and supported the interior, while Var`tac was sitting on a bench next to me, holding to a small bag in his lap, which was filled up to the brim with little dry cakes for the travel: the sign of Apophis stamped into their top. Compared to the more ornate and formal uses I had seen the symbol in so far, it was even quite funny to look at and my lips quirked upwards a little every time I saw at the little cakes…stamped with the sign of a System lord. Maybe I was simply trying to avoid thinking of other things, just like I was avoiding to look at Lateus and he was simply doing things the same as usual…as if nothing was going to change. Without me noticing my fingernails were pressing into the heel of my hands and my eyes were closing as I tried to banish the reality of the small room the Tel`tak offered us: still, cool and immobile – you didn`t even get to feel the motion: with the dampeners build into the ship, you would have felt more movement in a regular elevator. It was…stifling, the silence, the glances that were not exchanged and even Var`tac seemed to have gotten the mood, as he was silent and sitting still, totally unlike the first fly, on which he couldn`t stop scratching his formal clothes.
I couldn`t take it anymore: but did I have to? I knew I was not a Goddess; I knew that I wasn`t even human…but did they? No: The Jaffa worshiped me, the other Goa'uld looked at me as one of their own -which did at least mean that I was worth being taken care of in one way or another- and humans, should I ever meet them, would look at me just as awed as the Jaffa and without the proud warrior culture stiffening their backs. I wouldn`t go so far as to call it a revelation, but right now the façade of normalness that I had crafted for myself was being torn down and I could see the last weeks and months as what they had truly been: a way of hiding from my situation. I had only done the things that were expected of me, sated my own curiosity when it came to small questions of crafts and customs, pulled back into my house otherwise and evaded all contact that was offered to me from my "colleagues" outside of their request for my papers and documents. All in all: I had simply tried to life my life as "normal" as possible, even if nothing in my circumstances was particular normal. From an outside perspective this behaviour might have been weird, even more so from the perspective of my fellow -here I truly had to start thinking like this, no matter how distasteful their very beings were to me-, to whom socializing was just another way of showing their own superiority, most often by putting others into their place. Did I want to mingle with my "peers"? No. Did I have to? A clear yes was my own answer to my question.
My name was now Anai, I was a Goa'uld, around three months old and was not going to leave the planet I was born on…well at least the last part was something to look forward too: if I did already leave Chulak in my life, then it was at a point I did neither see nor notice anything in the pouch of a Jaffa. Now I was going to travel through the Galaxy, see new places and help to subjugate the local population…well the last part was a downer once more.
Without looking at the other three passengers, I stood up from my seat on the bench and walked forward, pulling back my hood and opened the door as I stepped into the cockpit to the surprise of the pilot.
"Jaffa, Kree."
I thundered with glowing eyes and echoing voice, my throat itching at the sound, but it wasn`t too distracting and the pilot wide eyes and quick half bow he tried to perform while seated, did at least show that it got the needed results. Taking a step forward with the door closing behind me automatically, I stared at the pilot and then pulled out a little scroll, that had been given to me by a servant this morning. Holding it out for him, I asked:
"Do you know where the "Lords fiery Ascend" is anchoring?"
The Jaffa looked at the words for a moment and then towards the red crystal eyepiece that covered his right eye, before nodding quickly:
"Yes, Lady Anai."
His shoulders betrayed some nervousness at my request: trembling ever so softly – most likely had he flown other gods dozens, maybe even hundreds of times and the number of them, who went into the cockpit and even spoke with him, might be measured with the fingers of one hand. Giving him another gaze, ordered:
"Set course for it, I shall take the Rings to arrive there, afterwards you are to deliver my servants to my home, where they will load in my belongings and then you will return it to me: understood?"
Nodding quickly, his hands go back to the orb that is used to control the ship and quickly pulled its dull nose upwards. The Tel`tak dove upwards into the orbit of Chulak, the communication system coming to live and terse voices interviewing the pilot, why he changed course and an even terse man quickly replied and with a glance backwards confirmed the decision in my name.
With this done I headed back into the cargo section of the vessel and regarded my three companions for a moment as they looked back at me, having no indication of what I had just ordered. Moving towards the rings I stand down on the circular spot between them and first of all looked at Lateus:
"I`m going to travel to the "Lords fiery Ascend" with the rings. I expect you to return home and get the belongings from my room, before sending them up to me. Your presence won`t be required any further. Your services are acknowledged and you have served well."
The elderly Jaffa sinks down to one knee and puts aside his crutches for this movement, bowing his head and intoning reverently:
"Then I`m released from your service and do so contently and with the hope of your approval. I live to serve and know no greater honour but to do so well."
The sad part as I looked down at him was…he really did mean this words. If you would put him into a ship and send him off towards another system and only tell him to return in a few years….well he would fit in just as well as Rip Van Winkle did after his sleep and proclaiming himself a loyal subject of the King…shaking off this heads, I looked back down at the scarred and wrinkle filled face, nodding lightly:
"Do this last service to me and you shall be released to serve my successor just as well as you have me. Go then Lateus the Scribe, bring Var`tac to where he belongs and send my items to the Ship."
It was…fortunate that the pilot chooses this moment to inform us, that our ship had reached appropriate distance and position in comparison to the "Lords fiery Ascend" -or Lofas as I grew to call it later- and the rings under me started to light up. The Tel`tak aligned with the Ha`tak far above us and our rings were routed towards one of the free entrance points to the ship. As they rose from the floor I could see Var`tacs astonished face and the awed expression of the guard: the rings were another proof of their gods might and power and before their eyes I was bathed in light. To be honest, that was a rather weird experience, not because I felt anything: except from the light and a small tingling all over me, the energy I was bathed in seemed harmless enough, but because I knew what was going to happen: that I would be disassembled and then exchanged with the space between the rings on the ship, at which point I would be…
"…reassembled.", I mutter out surprised as the cargo hold of the Tel`tak dissolves in white light and the next thing I know, is that I`m looking at far larger and more imposing walls: seemingly covered in gold and a multitude of signs and hieroglyphs…small pictograms set into frames that litter the wall. As the rings descend into the floor once more I looked around and find myself alone, the air cool and no guard in sight…the Ship is sleeping: It`s crew spread out inside of it or enjoying a last few days on a hospitable planet: why bother to set up guards outside of the Pel'tak above one of Apophis primary holdings? Stepping forward I reach out and let my hands trace over the gold of the wall, my eyes taking in the signs and reading them fluently: after all it was my mother tongue in some way.
"Thus our Lords ship was commissioned, ascending towards the stars it should travel in a fiery column, that turned the night into day and bleached the houses of the workers, even as they shied from the light..."
The songs came from my lips fluently and I quickly slipped into an appropriate hexameter, the measure of epics and their stories. As my eyes roamed over the wall, taking in what was the story of this vessel, starting with its commission…the expeditions it was part of…the roles the different captains and officers played on it….two thousand years of history looked back at me: just of a single vessel in a navy that had dozens of it, in a galaxy filled with thousands of them. What did I really want to do? When I had the sudden insight of what I had done…or rather: had not done, in the past few months, everything seemed more clear. But after the first rush was over I once more found myself alone, in a world that wasn`t my own, a body that didn`t belong to me and with the fate of a whole galaxy, depicted in my head. As I wandered out of the Ring-room and through the golden halls of the Ha'tak my eyes traced the signs that noted past victories, glorious conquest and the personal bravery of the commanders this vessel had…but my mind was at future battles, those that I had seen in my last life and which might now become reality.
Would Apophis really attack Earth with only two Ha'tak? Was there really a shadowy half-ascended Goa'uld lying in wait: plotting his return to Power? Where there really three other galaxies? One filled with little grey man and van Neumann machines, while the other was culled by Space Vampires and the last one dedicated to worshiping the worse kind of self-proclaimed gods…those which had not only the belief in themselves but also the power to back it up?
By all means I should be frightened, should be scared out of my wits and searching desperately for a way to ignore this mess even better than before. But to do so, would be to show weakness. You might say what you want above my species: but no Goa'uld would easily show fear: then to show it, would be to acknowledge it before your enemies and to do so, would be giving up.
You could see it every few feet if you moved through the ship and watched its history unfold: from the oldest events, that were chronicled around the rings and other edges of the Ships inner structure, to the current captain's deeds were immortalized on the walls of the Pel'tak: there were flat tablets set into the walls, made out of marble or bronze, with the Chevrons of a Stargate address, a date and a small description: each of them standing for a planet this ship had helped to subjugate. It was one more reminder of what the Goa'uld were and what they had become, after arising from the waters of their homeworld as lifeform, that would have been nearly unable to survive on its own without taking a host or preying on itself. Were the other Goa'uld more delusional for thinking that the body they were in, is really their own, compared to me who didn`t think of the face she saw in the mirror as her own?
"Who is the girl I see? Staring right back at me…why is my reflection someone I don`t know?"
I guess…my personal lows make me go back to the thing of easier times…better days. But what was my initial thought had been more clear…more easier to grab out of the clouds and bring down to my personal use: Goa'ulds don`t show fear. They are ruthless conquerors, strategists, that know all the little dirty tricks that you would regal others with at the table – to say it plainer: they had a racial identity of being victors. Even if the individual faiths might end otherwise…hadn`t they conquered a galaxy? Weren`t their ships flying through the void of space from one end of the milky way to the other? A Goa'uld might lose, but not The Goa'uld: it was a belief they shared together as species and which was mirrored by the individuals to some degree: you could endure and accept a defeat, but if you were cunning enough and survived for long enough, then you could still see your rival torn down and humiliated by defeat.
One thing that I had to come to term with and that had to accept was quite simple: I wasn`t a human any longer, no matter how hard I tried to think of myself otherwise and being a Goa'uld was influencing me quite worse than I had admitted to myself: or why else wasn`t I feeling the fear that I should have, not shaking in my shoes at the prospect of multiple threats that could destroy every living being in this galaxy? Why was I feeling this…excitement at the prospect?
"A little early to wander through the ship."
A voice suddenly proclaimed from behind me and my human lips were already opening to let out a gasp -totally not a scream- of surprise, but I was able to clamp down on it just in time to keep silent and straight as I schooled my face into a neutral expression, my eyes glowing slightly as I turned around and took a look at, who had sneaked up on me.
Another Goa'uld but…I wasn`t sure how to describe it more nicely, but he looked old and had a bit too much fat on his body: he didn`t seem bloated or sluggish, but compared to the rail thin boss of mine and the muscular and tanned Zipacna, he was…well at least a bit fatter. His outfit consisted out of bright and glittering robes made out of an orange fabric that tightened a little over his stomach, but elsewise fell down on his sides quite elegantly: even if it did look, like he did have it made at a prior point, before gaining all that additional weight…which actually was a feat for itself with being a Goa'uld: after all a fat Goa'uld might just end up as a slow and by this dead Goa'uld. Even more surprising was the greying hair over his temples and the wrinkles around his eyes that did not only show that was he laughing much, but also that he was letting age and decay show on his own exterior, something just as surprising in a species that ruled as "divine" and "eternal" gods.
Maybe it was that moment of hesitation that steel blue eyes noticed and he then came closer with a relaxed sway, his steps slow and steady, trying to imitate age and …gravitas? I wasn`t sure how to describe it, but I could only stare as he walked up to me and took my hand, bowing lightly and giving its back a kiss, before letting go and straightening again:
"Well, you are surprised. You are wandering around the ship fascinated and you haven`t yet tried to shout or shot me. You must be one of the freshly embodied once…but not so young that you are trying to stab me just for coming close. Let me guess…you are the scribe for the third of these legions we have to ferry around."
Pulling my hand back quickly and letting it slip down to the dagger in my belt, I looked at him crossly for a moment, listening before his lips quirked up in a crooked smile and I only gave a small cautious nod: showing fear was a taboo, but showing caution only showed your intelligence…
"Quartermaster Anai, attached to the Dazai Plains Legion, with eight maniples."
I answered more secure and my hand held up the scroll and Lord Apophis seal, which were proof of my new position. The other Goa'ulds look was more bemused as he looked down at it and then nodded more to himself than to me, crossing both arms before his chests and performing a half mocking bow:
"I`m honoured to make your acquaintance then: Naval-Quartermaster Fark Natas, of the "Lords fiery Ascend" and constant annoyance to our most vaunted Triarchus At'tak the Rock."
I stiffened a little and slowly imitated the bow he made, just much more serious: even if he was my equal in official authority on this ship, he was still the one, who regulated all of the ships requests and supplies and then gave them out to us: a rule simply done to save the scribes on planets and stations from dealing with the constantly changing faces of the scribes that accompany the legions. Or to put it more plainly: if that man decided to only give us dried bread and water for the rest of the travel, we couldn`t do much against it…except spacing him.
Chuckling softly as he saw me stiffen, Natas easily took the lead again as he stepped a bit too the side and ran his hands over a small gem set into the wall, laughing a little as she told with a whimsical tone:
"This is the inscription for when I came to this ship: more than two-hundred years ago…"
Just the time when Europe was busy fighting the coalition wars between the revolutionary France and…kinda everyone else that neighboured on them.
"…and what can I say: This ship was involved in sixty-eight campaign in that time and: I`m still here.",
He exclaimed with a laugh and patted himself on his own stomach, grinning from ear to ear, as I indulged him with a small smile and he reached out, offering me an arm:
"I`m quite sad to say that except from us, no one else of the command crew has arrived yet: so if you would indulge me in taking dinner with me, my sadness would be quickly lifted from me."
On one hand I was worry and no matter how charming or harmless he tried to appear: I knew better. Wasn`t this a good enough reason to take the invitation? After all I ended up on here because of me shying away from social events and if we truly were the only ones up here, this might at least proof more useful than sitting in my cabin alone for the whole evening and sighing to myself. With care I took the offered arm and nodded lightly as he aligned himself with me and we started to walk through the hallways of the ship, with him leading the way:
"You must have stepped on quite some toes to end up here."
Nearly stumbling I pressed our: "Pardon?", Natas simply waved one hand, as if it was nothing and give me another of those confident smiles:
"Well you are nearly a new-born from what I have seen: when did you get your host?" ,
Without even waiting for me to reply, he continued:
"And then you get trust out and into your first campaign right out of a comfortable job on the capital world? Usually it takes a few more months for the scribes on those posts to get restless and try to move on to more "glorious" tasks: so I would take an educated guess and presume that this transfer didn`t happen one your wish."
Saying the truth might weaken my position even more towards him, if he presumed that I had no one in a higher position backing me, as such I could only shrug noncommitting and say:
"I can`t say that this didn`t came as a surprise, but I did good work in my district and this might simply be another chance to use my talents to serve our Lord Apophis."
His loud laughter at my words, most likely showed how serious he took them, tugging lightly on my arm as he gasped out between laughs:
"If you truly believe that Anai…then you are one of the strangest newly embodied that I meet in the last decade or two."
Before I could reply to that…or ask why he was only talking of the last decade, we arrived at a room and if my guess was right, then we were on the back -orientated from the Pel'tak- and close to the cargo bays on the sides of the ships inner structure: it did made sense to have him close by to his work. As we stepped towards the door, it opened on its own and we stepped into a comfortably wide office: with a heavy chair set in the middle and book shelves, not unlike my own covering the walls except for another door. To this one, we were heading and as it opened I stepped into a luxurious cabin: one corner was holding a wide bed, covered in furs and silk, while the rest of the room was filled with a low table and a dozen vibrantly coloured pillows…which were already partly occupied.
Rising up to meet us were two women, whose clothes was quite…scantly: at least by the standards of the societies the Goa'uld choose their hosts from. Smiling broadly as he let go of my arm and walked towards this two beauties, Natas reaching out and grasping one hand in each of his own as he leaned in and gave both girls a kiss.
The one on his left was taller and more muscular, her skin glistening dark, like a vision of Vergils Andromeda, her hair was curly and her clothes airy and made out of fine silk, with jewels in all sizes and crafts, adorning her ears, neck, wrist and ankles…the lighter skinned brunette on the Goa'ulds other side was dressed similar, but in a vest and a tight set of pants that were just as emphasizing as the other woman's outfit.
"If I may introduce you to my two lovely muses that fill my life and cabin with light: Erato…"
The darker skinned woman -who might not have looked out of place on Chulak, except for her lack of a tattoo- bowed towards me with a respectful:
"It`s an honour to meet you mistress, we welcome you as our masters guest."
Said master let out a little chuckled and reached down to pat her back, allowing himself another smile as he continued:
"She has a clear strong voice and her verses help me to overcome the nights in which I can`t find any sleep: her play on the Cithara is just as precise as the measures of her poetry."
The woman smiled quite proudly at the praise and inclined her head, while the tanned brunette stepped forward to his other side and was also caressed by him in turn as he chuckled nearly ruefully and said:
"Yes…and my dear Euterpe: her voice is lovely and tender where it needs to be: her songs and verses filling me with warmth and letting me enjoy the sights of the past and the hopes of the future."
The second girl bowed deeply, each movement accompanied by the jingle of jewellery that adorned her legs and arms as she smiled at me and simple slipped back into the embrace of the other Goa'uld. The Naval Quartermaster in turn, simply kissed each of them on the cheek, before sending them along into the neighbouring room:
"Preparing something for the two of us to eat and bring in an Amphora of the sweet red wine we have gotten this week: no reason to save up on my new friend. Come one Anai: take a seat and don`t be worried, the girls are good at what they do: you should try out their almond cakes…I will tell you when we have the ingredients for them again."
As he continued to gesture for the pillows with that big smile of his, on his lips, I finally gave in and lowered myself onto one of them…and promptly sunk into its welcoming softness: the material truly leaving nothing to wish for as I sat up a bit straighter, still too wary to let my guard down completely around Natas, even as he heavily sat down opposite of me and simply continued to smile.
With a small glance at the door leading out of this room too and behind which the two human woman had disappeared, I turn back to face him and move my face into a pleasant smile as I say:
"Charming those two…at least it shows me that you did not invite me simply because of my looks or for the joy of having my presence. If so Naval Quartermaster Natas: what could I possibly help you with?"
His face bloomed up in a look of astonishment, and he quickly proclaimed, with his hand gestured around wildly to deny my guess:
"Help me with? Why my dear: expect to help you!"
Raising an eyebrow, I looked at him with the doubt quite visible in my eyes: after all you didn`t help another Goa'uld without gaining something yourself.
"Don`t look at me this doubtingly, I already have our route planned out and approved by the Triarchus. Our third stop before our target, while be a human world, where we will pick up the slaves needed to form a work force for us…don`t you tell me you wouldn`t wish to have my help with choosing, who to take with you."
I wasn`t sure if this was questioning my competence -somehow this being my first thought when talking about me taking part in enslaving humans, did worry me-but I quickly tried to gasp out:
"Why do you think I would…"
The Emphasis lied on "tried", as he interrupted me and made small shooing gestures with his hands, while his voice took on a slightly more patronizing tone as he looked down at me:
"Ohhh yes yes: you youngsters always think you already know everything. But honestly? How many types of human illnesses can you tell apart? Can you judge the dynamics of a village and more in the few days that the Triarchus will give you to choose your slaves? Well I do and I can get the Triarchius of your back for a few days longer".
That was…sounding helpful and might make my job easier…the other question would be, how much that would cost me when compared to what I get…and the consequences?
"How exactly do you plan to do that?",
At my suspicion filled question, he only laughed and dared to wink at me:
"Those are my trade secrets, maybe I will tell you after a few more campaigns together."
His voice had once more returned to its lightness, but I wasn`t going to agree to anything this easily: especially as he still had to name his price:
"Fine and Good…but something tells me, you wouldn`t do this out of the goodness of your heart."
Natas only smiled in reply with a "sincerely" surprised: "Truly?"
"Truly.", I replied with a firm nod and did keep my eyes on him, even as the two woman entered with each carrying a silver carafe filled with wine and a small plate with little sweets. Taking his time to take one of them and devour it with great pleasure as he wasn`t shy to show with praise for those two and a pat on his belly, he only then continued:
"Then I simply want to trade favours with you Anai: I shall help you with your duties and you shall help me with a hobby of mine."
I did not expect…the wording of this request and as such voiced (blurted) my confusion (out) quite quickly:
"A hobby?"
Nodding at my question, Natar reached upwards with both hands and pulled the two woman down on the pillows next to him, where they relaxed and allowed him to pet their hands lightly, before his hands slipped down to their wrists and began to explain:
"Yes, you see: my host was a jeweller at one point in his live and…"
…lifting up Euterpes wrist, he showcased the golden bracelet that was wrapped around it, with a large green gem set into it and smaller ones forming the image of a flower around the central piece…
"…upon taking him, I discovered my own love for jewellery: wonderfully cut gems and elegantly crafted jewellery."
My eyes went from the jewellery to him…then to the two woman…to him again…and I blinked once more as I had to admit, that I did not expect this. From his annoyed expression at least Natar seemed to have guessed the direction of my thoughts and:
"Ohhh yes: the youth, thinking that all pleasures are simply and bodily: I digress, in my age I love my companions for offering me meaningful conversation, for lightening my heart with their verses and soothing my poor belly with their snacks: Thank you.",
The thanks were accompanied by found pats as another of the snacks disappeared in his mouth and were chewed down slow and with much noises. Trying to get the conversation back on track -as watching him stuffing himself full didn`t really seem like a nice evening- I asked more directly:
"Impressive…but how can I help with this?"
Taking one of the cups and bringing it to his lips, he once more let me wait as he washed the rest of the cakes down his throat with wine and then grinned once more:
"Quite easy, I want you to get some of the jewels I will choose from the loot we will gather in this campaign for yourself and then give it to me."
Now this was…strange: wouldn`t he have first choices on everything anyway? It might not have been the best idea, but I did indeed ask it:
"Why don`t you take it on your own?"
His face was wrenched in pain and he dramatically sat up straighter in his pillow, his hands crossing over his chest, as he exclaimed with a distressed voice, that might have fit better into a operetta than any serious context:
"Because I have a terrible weakness: and that are my two muses, if the others would know how much I adore them and with what presents I cover them…."
Looking dryly at the theatre I simply said:
"That is not all."
His hands relaxed slightly, even as one of them remained on his chest: clutching the left side of his garment he explained patiently:
"You are a woman: the others won`t take twice if you take certain jewellery, while I could never wear them anyway and people might ask themselves what I have done with it otherwise."
Now…that would mean the other Goa'uld on-board wouldn`t know about how he dressed up two human slaves, as if they were fellow gods…more than that: gathering jewellery from all over the world and simply loving them and their company…with a sinking feeling I slowly said:
"So you don't usually show…"
My gesture towards the two muses was taken with a nod and the reply:
"Of course not, those simpletons presume I`m just as barbaric as them when it comes to my pleasures."
So…after getting more or less called stupid, I did at least now not count towards the "other simpletons": at least in the mind of someone, whose hobby it was to…how to compare it…to gift his hotel maids with designer jewellery and heirlooms.
"And you showed me…"
My question once more brought that smile on his lips to its fullest extend:
"Because you are different: you did read the verses, not only story didn`t you? You enjoyed them and not only the history of our victories?"
That was…wasn`t really sounding sound:
"Still: isn`t that a risk – me knowing about your two muses?"
He simply looked at me with a smile and replied with a calm and clear:
"No."
"How can you be so sure?"
My Question was fuelled more by the fear of me being this…transparent to others, but the weird glint in his eyes and the small movement of his hand should have told me everything:
"Because my two muses are my one and all, I would do anything to keep them safe…anything."
Looking down, I saw the hand device he had been hiding under his robes: clutched at his dramatic posing and now slipped onto his hand: aiming straight for me:
"I see…"
…there wasn`t much else to say and I forced a smile on my face, as I didn`t fancy ending up as a red stain on the wall behind me…
"…I agree and in regards to your weakness: I see no evil, I hear no evil and I speak no evil. "
As quickly as it had appeared the device disappeared in his robes once more and instead he lifted up his cup, forcing mine into my hands and pushing them against another:
"Wonderful! A toast: To friendship."
My smile was weaker and I might have been a bit pale: but it was better not to anger the madman with the alien killing device on his hand:
"To friendship."
Mirroring him I brought the cup up and tasted from the sweet wine…in fact a lovely vintage and as I once more relaxed in the evening the hours that followed, I once did ask him, where he did get it from. To my mortification he confessed that it was a present for the Tetriarchus from another Ship…only that it was destroyed a week ago and no one except from him, knew about the wine they had send. With a wink he said that he would trust me not to tell the Tetriarchus – knowing full well that I also had drunk from it and that the Ships captain might not be that merciful to some low ranking scribe….so I simply donned my smile once more and took another cup.
Why was I having this sinking feeling that this was typical for him?
To my Readers/Reviewers:
Accursius: Glad you liked the little snippet, my first reader said it was a bit cut out of the flow from the story, but thankfully my guess that people might find it interesting did work out~
OBSERVER01: Thank you~