Chapter Two

The day had dawned dark and cold despite the deep pink that streaked across the skies as she made her way to the spring.  The gods must be pleased this morning.  Alexia smiled as she picked herbs to place in her medicines.  The girls will have good business then...makes the men happy.  She paused as she thought of the potions she would need to make for the evening to come.  Anything that could aide her girls, and keep them working, would be beneficial to her.  As she approached the clear water of the pool before her, she sat at the edge and peered into the water.

A small cough broke her thoughts, then the small cry that followed brought her to her feet.  As her hand slipped into her cloak, she began to move slowly over to the bushes where the noises were coming from.  Pushing the branches back, she gasped at the sight that was before her.  It was a halfling babe.  Reaching down, she picked up the child and pulled her closer to her, scrutinizing her for any imperfections.  hm...Good enough for a slave.  Looks like everything is in good shape. 

The girl's hand reached up and grasped her fingers as they trailed over her cheek, and the woman smiled slowly.  Perhaps more than a slave... 

Alexis' search for herbs forgotten, she wrapped the child up in her cloak and turned, leaving the pond as quickly as she had appeared.

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Alexis returned to the harem as the afternoon sun beamed down upon the streets of Aldron.  Slipping inside, she moved quickly through the kitchens to her quarters in the back of the building. 

"Alexis.  Child, where have you been?"

She stopped and turned, glaring at the woman who stood before her.  Mikado was beautiful, but wasteful.  The money she brought in was barely enough to pay for her face creams, much less benefit the harem.  "First, Mikado, I am not a child.  Second, that is none of your concern."  Her arms tightened around the child as the woman approached her.

"What do you have there?  Why, it's a babe!  Are you going to keep her?"

Alexis nodded, gazing back down as the child opened her large green eyes and crinkled her nose at the other woman.  "Yes.  If she is beautiful, then she will join your ranks.  If not, she will make a handy slave."

Mikado nodded, reaching out and tickling the child's shock of pink hair.  "Where ever did you find her?  Are you going to name her?"

"Of course."  Snatching the child from Mikado's reach, she glared once more.  "I found her in the woods, abandoned.  She will be called Cyanna Grayce.  Now, don't you have preparations to make for tonight?  Your customers should be arriving within the hour." 

Mikado sniffed and turned, pushing through the double doors that led to the woman's quarters.  Alexis sighed softly, shaking her head at the babe in her arms.  "She is trouble, child.  I do hope that you turn out to be a better investment than she was."  Turning, she moved quickly to her quarters to prepare the child's place and to begin the medicines she had so suddenly discarded that morning.