[Tiki Time]

Marister

It seemed only a moment after she stepped off the caravan that she heard the cawing of a raven. Good gods, it's like they're psychic and stalking me. She glanced up to see the raven swooping down towards her, and like last time she stuck out her arm to retrieve the letter.

This time the letter was sealed with wax, a Unicorn Head and Chauntea Symbol. Marister...She sighed softly and broke the seal. What does he have to say now? He never writes me unless he's upset.

Amalia, you were quite shaken up when we last spoke in Tyra. I am sorry I disappointed you in not being your lover but my life is a bit complicated.

She raised her brow. Disappointed? I wasn't disappointed. It wasn't that big of a deal, I didn't even want to be lovers, I was disappointed you didn't want to know me better...

You are quite an attractive woman. However, despite any warnings, certain actions of yours have cast shadows and on me.

What do any of my actions have to do with you?

Even "siblings" talk to each other. I will be in Tyra. I request we meet to talk.

I haven't had time to talk to you. I'm busy dealing with a mess Max and Tyrael created and trying to protect Alyisse from the damage of it all.

She sighed heavily and scribbled a response. She found his words rather presumptuous and selfish. Why would she have time to speak with him when she was so busy trying to mitigate the damages of Max's impulses. The lives of Max, Tyrael, and Alyisse were far more important than having a "chat" about it all with Marister. If he needed to speak with her, he could seek her out, but she had no time to seek him~ out.

After "shipping off" her letter by raven, Tyrael arrived behind her. She felt arms wrap around her and give her a comforting squeeze. She couldn't help but smile as she turned to look at him. He recognized her frustration and quickly asked what was going on. Instead of trying to explain, she simply handed over the letter for Tyrael to read.

"I would like to be there when you have a conversation with Marister. Whatever he has to say to you, he can whisper in my presence." He'd said once he finished reading the letter.

"He isn't going to hurt me, Tyrael. You don't have anything to worry about."

"Even still, I'd like to be there just in case...and if he refuses, that's suspicious, don't you think?"

She saw the logic in his words and reluctantly conceded, nodding. She knew Marister would not be happy about it, but she also knew that anything Marister had to say...she'd likely tell Tyrael anyway.

It was only a day or so later that Amalia ran into Marister in the market at Bezanthur. Luckily, Tyrael was there as well. As expected, Marister attempted to pull Amalia off by herself and Tyrael quickly protested, "You can speak to her under my supervision."

"No offense, but no." Marister had responded. Great, they're going to fight, aren't they?

Amalia sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of her nose, allowing the two to argue a bit before stepping in. "What's the big deal, Marister? You said yourself that it's a public place, so Tyrael has every right to be there. You can just whisper to me, can't you?"

Marister was still resistant, which made Tyrael even more suspicious of Marister's intentions. Tyrael was obviously worried over Amalia, but she did not feel threatened in the slightest. She knew that Marister had no intention of hurting her, but she was curious why he was so insistent that they be in private. Marister finally conceded to speaking with Amalia just outside of the Market, in front of the Temple of Umberlee with Tyrael watching intently from afar.

The moment they got out of earshot, Marister's tone took a sharp twist as he murmured to her, "Are you happy with yourself? You ruined two lives. You jealousy of Alyisse, Max cares for you and would have been of rank soon enough. But I see you're with Tyrael now, you just could not wait, could you?"

Amalia was taken aback by this. Me? I didn't do this. This was Max's fault. And...jealousy, what did I have to be jealous over? Max would have done anything I asked him to, Alyisse did not threaten me in the slightest. "I~ ruined two lives? What Max did was on him. I did not tell him to attack~ Tyrael, in fact, I tried to calm him down. As for Alyisse? I'm not jealous of her, I'm trying to protect~ her".

She felt insulted at his accusations, Amalia was genuinely trying to protect the elven girl from her fate. She thought back to the night Alyisse came to her room, the night Amalia tried her best to save~ both Max and the girl....

Alyisse had entered Amalia's room and the two had spoken nearly as equals. This was something abnormal for Amalia, to treat a slave with such respect, but she was giving her the chance to explain her recent actions. Amalia allowed the elf to speak plainly and did not grow angry if the woman spoke out of turn or said something with slight disrespect. This was an opportunity for the two to come to an understanding.

"Max broke his word to me, for you. He took the one thing that I owned, the one thing I had left, my name. He promised he would not, and then he did, because of you."

Amalia genuinely felt a bit of pity for the elf but at the same time, she knew it was her own fault. "Alyisse, dear, it never would have happened if you had not threatened my life. If you want to own something, you need to own up to your actions. I was nothing but kind to you but you were nothing but disobedient. You were pushing your boundaries on purpose and you know it."

The elf refused to admit that her punishment was her own fault, and Amalia understood that pride. She pressed the issue only minimally until the elf spoke up once more, "Can I ask you a favor, Mistress Amalia?"

"I suppose, dear. What is it?" Amalia was curious, she wasn't certain if she would fulfill the elf's request but she was willing to listen.

"I don't feel like I can trust my Master anymore...I...I wish to be sold to someone else."

This took Amalia by surprise, her jaw opened slightly. Max is one of the kindest masters this girl could ever hope for. He does not force himself upon her and he treats her very well unless she truly~ steps out of line. Why would she wish to be sold? "Alyisse, dear...you are his first and only slave, I do not believe convincing him to release you will be easy. He will be very reluctant, even if it's my request....and if he did, I cannot guarantee that you will be bought by a kinder Master. You'll be putting your fate up to chance and could end up in a much worse situation. I could try to purchase you myself but...I haven't the gold to do so. Are you sure this is what you want?"

The elf seemed to ponder for but a moment, but then nodded, "Yes, this is what I want."

Amalia sighed softly and nodded, "I'll do what I can."

She knew that Max had recently gotten himself into an enormous amount of trouble by attacking a Captain out of impulsive rage. Tyrael, the Captain, had intended to press charges against him for it and Amalia knew that there was a good chance Max would be punished severely. Max may end up a slave himself...she pondered until she came up with what she thought was the best~ chance to save Max and~ give Alyisse her wish.

Tyrael had arrived that same night and entered the room to speak with Amalia while Alyisse was present. Amalia wanted Alyisse to know that she meant to truly help her, so she allowed the elf to stay and listen to the conversation. It took much convincing but finally Amalia was able to get Tyrael to agree to a compromise.

"I wish for you to approach Max and offer him a deal. Tell him that you will not press charges, so long as he agrees to sell Alyisse." Max won't be punished severely, and Alyisse will get what she wants...I can save them both.

At first, Tyrael refused, saying that Max deserved whatever he got because this was not the first time Max had done something rash and aggressive. Amalia knew this was true, but she wanted to protect him anyway.

As her mind wandered to the memories of those nights, Marister continued to scold her. "Yes, well, you chose Tyrael over Max. I am trying to protect Alyisse too."

Amalia blinked back to the present and frowned, "I chose Tyrael because Tyrael isn't insane. Max is wild, even you~ told me to stay away from him."

But Marister was talking over her, "and have been [trying to protect Alyisse]. Yes, but you did not stay away from him."

"He is my friend~ Marister. Max had no idea about my feelings for Tyrael because I knew they already~ hated each other and I didn't want to add fuel to the fire."

"You should have told him upfront. Never taken Max's key." I just said I didn't want to make things worse between the two. Telling him would have made things worse. Max would have attacked Tyrael sooner, he would have never stopped trying to kill Tyrael to win my heart. I did what I thought was best, "He and Tyrael were already~ fighting, Marister! It would have caused more~ issues."

"No," was his only reply. No, what do you mean no? Of course it would have.

"I took Max's key long before Tyrael-"

Marister had cut her off, "This could have been prevented. You should have told Max outright and returned his key first." That wouldn't have prevented anything. Don't you see, Marister? It only would have sped up the process. This was going to happen either way. Max's hatred towards Tyrael isn't about me, but my feelings for Tyrael would have simply made him snap sooner. Why can't you see it?

"I can't see the damned future, Marister. Max is a good friend, I took his key because he is my friend~."

"And your lover? But he was not as high in society as Tyrael." Max was never my lover. Never. I cared for him as my friend, but I never, ever slept with him. He knew we weren't together, he knew we were not lovers. How dare~ you accuse me of such things, you have no idea Marister.

She was enraged but managed to keep calm, "Max was not my lover." She stated simply.

"And is this why you distance yourself from me?" What? No. I just haven't had time for you. Amalia was becoming defensive, she folded her arms over her chest and furrowed her brows. Her words were quick and somewhat angry, "Max attacked Tyrael because we had a failed mission. It had nothing to do with me. "

Marister had interrupted her yet again, "I will still be a friend if you need me". Friends don't accuse other friends of lying, I've never lied to you Marister.

She continued to plead her case, "I tried to convince Tyrael to drop the charges."

"True, but you did not tell him you loved Tyrael", Marister was speaking of Max again, ignoring her last point. I didn't know i love Tyrael until long after the mess exploded...I didn't know i loved him until so recently...I still don't know if I love him. I do, but...do I? Yes, of course I do. Gods, Marister, you have no idea what you're talking about, do you?

Marister continued, "Yes, by sacrificing Alyisse" I was doing what she asked~!

She attempted to explain once more, although she felt more and more as if her attempts were useless. "Alyisse begged~ me to be sold!"

"I have heard differently." ...Then she's lying to you Marister. She is lying to you, I'm not. Why are you choosing to believe her over me, you should know me better than this. I don't lie, Marister. Lying isn't what I do.

"She said she couldn't trust Max anymore and she wanted to be sold. She asked me to convince him to sell her and I told her it would be difficult!" Her thoughts returned to that night... Was Alyisse setting me up this whole time? I was trying to help her, and she was setting me up? I wasn't the jealous one, Marister. She was. She hates me because Max loves me more than her. "I came up with the compromise of Max releasing Alyisse and Tyrael dropping the charges. I was trying to save them both~".

"You failed, didn't you." His words were harsh, so harsh it enraged Amalia even more. Marister was clearly blinded by Alyisse's lies. He refused to listen to the truth.

As the debate continued, Amalia's thoughts kept going back to the same thing. Why would Alyisse do this? Why is she lying to Marister? Why is she setting me up? Why can't Marister realize that I'm telling him the truth and she's the one lying to him?

Despite her attempts to open his eyes to the truth, Marister continued to deny Amalia's words and treating her as if the entire situation was her fault. The more he denied it, the angrier she became, and the angrier she became, the more she believed that Alyisse deserves whatever fate she gets. If she'll betray someone who was genuinely trying to help her...I hope her next Master abuses her until she comes crawling for forgiveness.