Amongst the Natives (for Monique_Minx)

Vincent Schnider sat in the opulent accomidations of the First Class cabin on the train and flipped through the paper in his hands, waiting for the ride to finish at long last. Vincent's family was a wealthy one, wealthy enough that they had quite expansive holdings in the colonies, many of them plantations growing everything from cotton to tea...even mines bringing the minieral wealth from the savage uncivilized lands to the shores of home. Vincent had been one to benefit from the wealth, spending his time enjoying the time at university and savoring the lifestyle that a ready supply of money could provide.

Though this lifestyle was not to last. His uncle Xavier had been the chief administrator of their family's holdings, and he had died a month before, leaving their lands leaderless. It was met with more concern with a loss of income than the loss of a family member. Someone had to be sent to take control of their lands, and unforunately enough for Vincent, he was eldest, and he was most tallented with finances. Which meant he had spent the last month on a steamer traveling from the Capital across rough seas and storms before arriving at the main port for this section of the colonies. Though it was nothing compared to even the most meager cities of his homeland, the city was the largest in the land, port, railhead and encampment, even the seat of the local Governor-General. But Vincent had not bothered to dally in the City, instead he boarded a first class train and spent almost two days aboard, traveling into the hinterlands.

THe slowing of the train let him know that they were finally reaching the end of the long journey that had started a month before. Lowering the paper he cast his silver eyes to the window and looked out. The surrounding lands were a mixture of lush plains cut by well cultivated farmlands and forests, off in the distance snow capped mountains were visible. closer to the rails a small town had grown, the shapes of workers barracks and wearhouses were laid out in neat order. As the train shuddered to a halt, Vincent folded the paper and stood. His posesions and been sent ahead long ago and moved into his Uncle's former mansion, so there was nothing for him to carry. He walked out of the carrige and onto the stone platform. It was clear that the railyard was more for freight than for passnegers, crates filled with ingots and bales of cotton lay, waiting to be loaded for shipment.

In the sunlight, Vincet was a handsome man, dressed in a white linnen suit, light enough for the warm weather, he adjusted the white hat he wore over his blonde hair. He was tall, strong, and athletic, he'd been a sportsman at university, something that he had taken great pride in when he thought back to the weak child he had been the last time he had visited this place so long ago. He looked out of the village that was filled with what had become his laborers and workers, he looked at the small rise in the village that his uncle had decided to put his mansion on. It was built in the standard sweeping style of the time, though instead of built with wood, it was built of gleaming limestone, more like a castle than a home...and something like a castle was quite nessecary...since the village had to be ringed with barbed wire and guarded by soldiers and mercenaries with rifles and sandbagged machine-gun emplacements. Even his mansion was defended, the sight of men with rifles pacing the roof and the few scars of battle marring it's majestic exterior, marks that would not have been out of place during the Dark Ages.

It stood like a sentenel over the village, giving complete creedence to the fact that for all intents and purposes, Vincent had become a feudal ruler...a man with almost absolute power over those within his realm. He held total sway, and such power could be intoxicating....The few attendants that met him gave several prefunctory greetings before leading him up towards his new home, with each step, Vincent filled with the feeling that he would never see his homeland again.

"The train! The train's coming Cat!" Children called, a dozen of them running toward the station through a small forest of trees; none of them younger than five or older than ten.

A young woman laughed "Okay! Okay! I'm coming!"

The young woman allowed her students to run ahead as she gripped a tree branch and swung up into it. The children affectionately referred to her as Cat or Tanga but she was better known as Catanga. She walked along the branches with balanced ease; occasionally swinging or leaping into the next tree and watching over her charges with a constant, protective eye.

Catanga was a proud woman, her glowing crimson hair was loose and wild, her body; athletic and toned but perhaps her most noticeable feature was the birthmark across her stomach beneath her ample breasts. It was bright red and circled her belly button; it twined up and around her stomach like vines towards her breasts. It looked more like a tattoo than a birthmark but to her people it was a symbol of her royal heritage.

Catanga was a princess of her tribe; the princess to be more precise as she was an only child. By choice she taught the young children of her tribe (The Kamaski's) to explore, tell poisonous plants from edible ones and so on; rather than be cooped up with the normal duties of a princess which were in her opinion; extremely dull.

Cat swung down into the clearing where the children stopped to watch the train arrive, her feet landed firmly on the ground. She wore red to symbolize her royalty, her skirt was tied at her hips, the spread between the ties allowed for easy mobility as did the length; only coming down to her mid thigh. The skirt was see-through mesh but under it Catanga wore crude red underwear that she herself fashioned. Her breasts were covered by a thick band of red fabric that was also tied in the back.

The children found the train to be a novelty so it was a monthly excursion they made to see it arrive; however today was a special trip because it was not a freight train to take cargo but a passenger train.

Catanga watched a man in a white suit emerge, he was young and quite handsome, she watched him greet people and instantly knew he must be the heir to the plantation. While her tribe did not begrudge these people the right to farm and give work to locals; there were others who were not so forgiving, they believed these people were only here to steal land. So these unforgiving people had become vicious bandits and as the months passed they had become less and less picky about who they robbed so more than once Catanga's tribe had been forced to defend themselves.

Catanga let the children swing from her arms as she watched the man in white studiously. She wondered if he would keep peace with her tribe as his uncle had. Cat's parents had already sent word that they would like to send a 'representative' to meet with the heir at his convenience to discuss continued peace. Unfortunately Catanga was the chosen 'representative', her father claimed it was another of her lessons, she must learn 'political discipline' in this ever-changing world. Cat accepted immediately, she was not happy about it but knew it was one of her duties if she ever hoped to become leader of the tribe.

That said, Catanga didn't care much for becoming leader of the tribe at all but her parents would not live forever and she was their only child. They were still attempting to organize a marriage for her with a neighbouring tribe but they were less than enthusiastic at marrying into a 'treacherous' family that would be at peace with these land invaders. Politics! Catanga thought to herself, the whole idea was just stupid but she supposed she would have to learn this so-called art of diplomacy her father spoke of so often.

Vincent walked along the packed stone road that led throgh the town, avoiding wagon loads of materials being moved to join up with the train for shipment back to the port. There was little pomp in the moment, Vincent did not expect servile bows and fawning adoration from the workers, but he was reciving nods and semi salutes from the workers that he passed, and curtsies from the women, if only because he was so well dressed. Here and there men wearing Khaki's and holding rifles or shotguns watched things, either as constables or soldiers barracked at the town. All of them eschewed salutes, but their grim nods were enough to let him know that he was in-charge.

The sight of so many loyal men with guns made him re-consider his own decision to not arm himself, things were clearly of more concern than his family had been led to believe. Perhaps he would need to set some things right with his own family back home, let them know that this was no easy duty...

As he passed through the tall wrought iron gates that led to his new home, the guards did salute him and he was joined by the attendant who had been filling in for his Uncle sicne his death. Vincent listened to his greetings and lengthy explanations of the local...afairs, something that he had spent quite a bit of time reading up on. While not particualrly loved, quite a few tribes had begun to get rather restless attacking isolated outposts owned by the family...sometimes trying to raid this very settlement...

But they were not all hostile, some were on reasonable terms with his Uncle. Leading this list was the Kamaski tribe, and the administrator told him as much, even telling him of the offer made by the tribe to meet with him. While Vincent was fatigued by his journey, he decided on a whim to accept the offer, it would not do to make the closest group of natives wait for his invitation.

"Invite their representative for dinner this evening. I trust that they will recognize the importance that I hold their friendship." Vincent said, continuing to walk up the crushed stone pathway to the mansion.

"Alright, that's it children. We need to be heading back!" Catanga said smiling at their frowns and sad faces.

"Aww do we have to?" A seven year old girl named Maja asked.

"Yes we have to but I'll tell you what, you can race back." Cat always liked to make up fun games for the children which is why returning home was not a popular idea.

Their faces brightened at the prospect of a race and one of the older boys piped up "what does the winner get?"

Catanga grinned and wandered over to a hollow in the tree she had leapt down from. She reached into the hole and pulled out a beautifully carved walking stick and a clay bowl filled with blueberries.

The children gasped over the prizes, blueberries were difficult to come by and the ornate walking stick had been carved by Catanga herself. It beared the twelve smiling faces of each of her students.

"Now first prize gets the walking stick and second place gets the berries." Catanga drew a line in the dirt with the stick as a young man dropped out of a tree behind Catanga.

He wore a tattered grey shirt and brown pants over his muscular form, his hair was brown and roughly cut as though by a knife. He held a finger to his lips to tell the children to be quiet as he snuck up behind Catanga.

"If you even try it Domo I'll hit you with this stick." Catanga said; holding up the stick.

The man named Domo groaned as the children burst into fits of laughter, Cat cracked a smile.

"How do you do that?" Domo asked Cat even though he knew he would only get the standard answer.

"It's a gift." Catanga replied.

The children ceased their laughter when Catanga held up her hand in a stop motion. Cat handed the bowl and stick to Domo and pointed towards the Kawaski village.

"Domo is going to make himself useful and take the prizes to the finish line." Said Catanga causing another groan to escape the young man but he hurried off home to do as she bid.

Catanga swung up into the tree as the children readied themselves and stood at the line in the dirt.

"Ready! Go!" Catanga yelled and the children bolted from the starting line.

Catanga moved through the trees at phenominal speed to keep up with her students; having more obstacles than they did, Maja and the older boy maintained the lead. Cat spied the finish line, it was only twenty metres away now so she raced ahead of her pupils and jumped from the tree to land next to Domo just as to Catanga's surprise Maja crossed the finish line closely followed by Injuit; the oldest boy.

When the children all arrived and caught their breath; Domo handed out the prizes and they both waved goodbye as the exhausted children headed to their huts. Domo and Catanga headed over to the centre of their tribe - the village well. There was a great discussion taking place, Domo and Cat exchanged confused looks, shrugged and joined the other adults.

"Father? What's happened?" Catanga asked.

The old chief turned to his daughter with a piece of paper in his hand "we've received word from the heir of the plantation, he is eager to speak with us tonight but some of the elders are not pleased to discuss peace with this new man."

Catanga nodded, some of the elders found change difficult to accept "I will go father."

The chief smiled proudly "I knew you would daughter, take a blade with you on your travels. I cannot send a guard with you, we risk a bandit attack if there are too many of us together."

Catanga nodded again and took the belt with a scabarded knife her father offered her, she wrapped it around her waist and pulled it tight; securing it. She kissed her father's cheek and headed off immediately knowing how important this peace treaty was to her tribe. As she walked she took one of the gold strings that was tied around her arm and wrapped it in a braided fashion on one side of her hair to keep it from her face.

Vincent's arrival at the manor was auspicious, the entire domestic staff was lined up in the large, imposing main entry hall. Fully three stories tall, the room was like a massive stone cavern that cut through the center, dividing the building in half. The setting sun blazed through the third floor windows far across the chamber, the first and second floor windows had been built narrow to keep out intruders. It was an almost cathederal like room, making him feel like some kind of noble striding in across the marble floor past the household staff and guards. He gave smiles and nods, taking in the respectful posture of his staff. It was suprising at the odd mix of locals and home-landers who had made the long journey.

It was short, Vincent didn't like the thought of being some ruling noble, he was here to be an administrator, as much as it galled him...the thought of ruling over others was worse. He was rich, but no lord...

Walking up the sweeping first floor staircase, the staff was dismissed back to their duties and he took the next staircase to the thrid floor landing and looked back down towards the immense wrought iron and heavy wooden doors set into the stone that led back to the outside world. It was a fortress...but it was his.

"Mr. Schnider? Sir, we've recived word back from the Kamaski tribe. They've sent their representative to speak to you this evening." His administrator said to him, standing on the second to last stair to look up at him. Vincent looked down at the man and nodded, taking the white fedora off his head and running a hand through his blonde hair.

"Very good, perhaps we could sert up in one of the smaller rooms for a meal?" Vincent asked.

"Of course sir, we'll arrange one of the small sitting rooms to be set up at once." The man said and turned to inform the staff. Nodding, Vincent headed for the main dressing room next to his bedchamber to change for dinner and to meet the representative of the Kamaski.

Catanga knew the area like the back of her hand, she kept away from the larger roads and chose to travel by the trees where she could, the last thing she wanted was to come into contact with any bandits. She could've changed into a dress or something but it would have limited her movement more than she could afford, she had to make good time and a long dress would have slowed her down immensely. She simply hoped she wouldn't offend the heir; this Mr Schnider.

Catanga finally reached the village, she sighed in relief at having made it out of the forest without incident. She reached the gate and drew quizzical looks from the guard as though they were trying to figure her out; friend or foe?

"Excuse me? I'm from the Kamaski's, I was invited for dinner." Cat said politely to the men at the gate.

They sighed their relief at having her figured out and admitted her, she nodded in appreciation and made her way up to Mr Schnider's large Manor. She looked up in shock, she'd never seen it this close before; it was huge!

She slowly knocked on the door, a maid answered and she repeated the she was sent by the Kamaski's, the maid gave her outfit a reproving glance but admitted her and told her to wait while she fetched the Master of the household.

Catanga nodded and stood in the great hall, she looked around in awe at the sheer size of the place; barely noticing that everyone who passed her did little to hide their stares. She was keenly aware of the fact that she wore less clothing than any other woman but as a Princess of her tribe she could also get away with less, she was a warrior after all. Even if her parents were yet to allow her to fight; they knew she could handle herself and keep clear of danger.

Vincent had changed into a more reserved black suit, black silk under shirt and red tie as evening wear, and was making the finishing touches on his attire when one of the house attendants announced that the envoy from the Kamaski clan had arrived and entered the house. He nodded as he ran an ivory comb through his hair and checked his appearance in the mirror before turning and walking through the house to the entry hall. He strode along, confident and controled, letting his thoughts wander to think about just what person the Kamaski clan would send, a learned elder? Or perhaps a talented elder son maybe. While he was no acomplished diplomat, he knew that the words spoken over a meal and wine could be more permenant and long lasting than those droned about in a stuffy treaty negotiaion. This was perhaps the most important step, best to be taken first.

As he rounded the stone balustrade of the staircase to walk down to the entry hall, his silver eyes looking down at the woman...no, girl standing there in so few clothes that even he...the wild youth of his family was shocked at the scandalous display. Though he banished the thought from his mind, instead focusing on the simple fact that she was the envoy who had been sent to meet with him, so he should treat her as such.

"Welcome to the Schnider mannor." He said, calmly and politely as he made his way down the marble stairs, his feet tapping with each stride, a smile on his face...hopefuly one of greeting. His silver eyes took some force to keep them focused on her face and not examine the ample flesh and form on clear display.

"My name is Vincent Schnider, and I welcome you in peace and friendship." He said, walking forward and offering to take her hand.

Catanga looked up at the man descending the staircase and bowed her head to him in respect. She gave her hand to him uncertain of what to expect, she remembered something her father had shown her - shaking hands. Catanga shook the man's hand like her father had shown her and smiled demurely.

"It's kind of you to invite me Sir, I'm Princess Catanga of The Kamaski." She released his hand "Your home is beautiful Sir, I've never seen it so close before."

Catanga realized her was staring at her outfit and a guilty expression flitted across her face.

"Please excuse my attire Sir" Cat spoke with the best diplomatic tone she could muster "I had to be careful, bandits are everywhere." She gestured to the blade still hanging from her waist "A dress would have slowed me down."

She smoothed her skirt and tugged at it self consciously, the gold braid framing her face beautifully was now tucked behind her ear and she had wrapped another gold band around her ankle before she arrived. Her feet were adorned by brown leather sandals that she'd thankfully already been wearing, usually she was barefoot.

"We're eager to keep the peace between us and of course my tribe sends their regards for your uncle as do I. He was a wonderful man." Catanga finished solemnly; keen to both change the subject and get the words she needed to say out.

It was clear that she had never done anything like this before and she was extremely nervous. Nothing like a run-of-the-mill princess or at least not one Vincent Schnider would ever have come across before.

Vincent smiled as Catanga took his hand and shook it. His eyebrows inched up in suprise. He hadn't expected such a masculine...or western greeting. His action had been on reflex. He shook it and released, examining the princess eith a respectful eye he finally locked back onto her eyes as she noted that he was examining her.

"I apreciate the compliment, but it was my Uncle's home. I guess I must admit that it is mine now, unfortunately." He finsihed, the final word simply hanging in the air after he had said it.

"He was a good man, I suppose. I never really had the chance to know him, he had been here since before I was born. He did his job well, and I have a very difficult position to fill." Vincent said, not commenting on her attire, he was not about to complain about it. Western women did not dare dress in such a revealing manner, the sight of an exposed ankle would be enough to draw shocked stares back home. Dressed as she was...well, she would probably be arrested as a prostitute. But this land was not his, so he could not place his own standards of judgement on her attire.

"But let us not discuss the depressing pass, but the bright future." Vincent said with a warm smile, gesturing up the stairs to the sitting room that had been set up.

"Your people are those closest to my family's company, so we are very intent on a closer relationship with your clan. Far too many have taken great exception to our industry in your lands." He said seriously.

Catanga nodded at his words about his uncle but was quickly confused by his knowledge of the English language, while she could speak it fluently some of his words made little sense to her when they came together. Her tribe had their own ancient language but Catanga was a royal and while every child learnt English; she had a better understanding of it than the other's. Apparently it was still not good enough!

Catanga followed him up the stairs; still in awe of his grand home and looking around every chance she could without being rude. She had swung through trees before but stairs were a new experience to her, she made her way up gracefully but marvelled at their design. Her father had told her many things about these foreign people but seeing it for herself was another thing altogether.

"A closer relationship Sir?" She understood his statement but didn't understand the 'closer' part of it, peace wasn't enough?

Cat felt very much out of her depth, maybe I should have insisted that father take care of this? She knew she had to learn but she didn't want it to go horribly wrong because she had no idea what she was doing! Catanga hid her fears well enough; her warrior instincts were to hide them, she didn't want him to know how very concerned she was.

"How would we go about this closer relationship?" She asked curiously, industry was an unfamiliar word to her, she knew it was in her vocabulary but could not remember it's meaning so she avoided it altogether.

Vincent sensed the small degree of confusion as he spoke to Catanga, and reproached himself for worrying her. She was a friend, and a guest, her people were the closest of the tribes, and it was exceptionally bad form for him to worry her. As he considered what to say, he noticed that she was also rather overwhelmed by the manor.

"Do not worry I speak...poeticaly. Your people are valued friends of my family, my Uncle let my family know as much as he comunicated to us. I do not wish to concern you, I apologize." Vincent said, sounding humble.

"I hope that your people would be willing to work closer with mine, not as mere friends, but as trusted allies and partners. I have heard that your people suffer for your friendship, I belive that it would benefit both of us to work closer together." Vincent said as they walked through the corridors, finally arriving at the apointed room, and he opened the door for her into one of the many sitting rooms. The house administrator had chosen well, the walls were covered with rare and ancient bladed weapons of all calibers and designs, from ancient coper blades to broadswords, Katanas, Gladiuses and claymores. It was an intriguing choice, demonstraiting the weapons that Catanga and her people would know best.

Sitting in the center of the room was a round table set with places for two and lit by candles. Had he not known better, he would have thought that the household administrator had set the room up for someone who was courting a woman. Vincent smiled, and walked in calmly, stepping to the table and pouring a glass of champaign for Catanaga, holding the sparkling glass forward to her, not yet sitting down.

"But perhaps it is premature to discuss such matters, tell me of your people as you know them Catanga."

Catanga smiled at his apology "It's quite alright, I was not expecting to be sent here alone...as the only child, the tribe will be mine to care for after my parents are gone so I must learn everything I can to prepare."

The small sitting room amazed Catanga, she looked at the weapons on the walls with delighted intrigue and sighed as her eyes landed on the few blades she had not been allowed to touch. Women were not allowed to touch. A man should be the one to defend, women only do what they have to; her father had told her this when she had asked why she was forbidden to learn how to use any large weapon other than a glaive; a smaller blade than a scythe and much lighter to carry.

Catanga took the champagne glass offered to her and eyed it warily, she trusted her host not to poison her but the liquid looked strange. She didn't sip any of it as he asked her to describe her people.

"Proud Sir. We're proud people. We do suffer some...ill will from our neighbours for befriending you but my father says change is important and I also believe that for if we do not change with the times we become reptiles and eventually we will die out. My own chance at marriage has become...unfavourable, the neighbouring tribes do not want to marry the daughter of a traitor but I am not worried about it, I welcome the idea that our tribe should have an unwed queen. The elders do not. This presents a problem as the elders are our council, they decide the fate of the village on any matter...similar to that of your government. My government is against me at the moment. We hunt and gather, we work just as any of your plantations but more as a family, everyone does their fair share. I; myself take care of the younger children and teach them everything I was taught at their age, what is safe to eat and what is not, what animals will hurt them and which won't and so on. But what of you Sir? Your life must have been very different before you came here..."

Catanga felt a little bad for rabbitting on but she wasn't sure what he wanted to know about her people so she spelt out the basics and what was likely to happen in the future. If she could not sway the elders or marry before her parents' death it was likely that she would be overthrown and exiled or worse murdered. Cat was not worried for herself however, like her father she worried for her people and what their lives would become without an open mind on the throne.

Vincent was gratified to see Catanga relax at last and speak freely about her people. As he listened, he studied her as her eyes drifted over the weapons on the walls of the sitting room. It was one of his Uncle's intriguing hobbies, collecting weapons. But it seemed to serve a purpose as Catanga studied them hungrily. He smirked slightly, then covered the motion with a sip of his champaign. He watched Catanga and listened to the explanation of her people.

"Your people are interesting, I would dearly love to see your tribe at some point." Vincent said quietly, walking around the table to examine the weapon she was studying.

"Please, handle it if you so wish, I was never a man for blades." Vincent said, gesturing to the sword.

"My family is wealthy, in no small part due to the wealth of your lands that we administer. I was a student at university, a great place of learning and education. I was quite good, though I did enjoy the life that wealth brought, luxury and leasure. I was chosen to come here becaue I was the most knowledgeable and talented in matters of...buisness." Vincent said, sipping his champaign once more.

"My survival skills are better suited for dealing with the intrigues and troubles of my homeland than surviving in the wilds of your lands." He said with a small chuckle, looking over at Catanga, and glancing down at her lythe form with a curious eye, wondering how she got away with wearing such scant clothing.

Catanga whirled around at his words, her back to the broadsword she'd been studying and she smiled at him; shaking her head.

"Please, handle it if you so wish, I was never a man for blades."

"No Sir, for a woman to handle it would bring such a weapon bad luck." Cat sipped the champagne after she watched him do it, she coughed a little as the bubbles raised to her nose.

"My survival skills are better suited for dealing with the intrigues and troubles of my homeland than surviving in the wilds of your lands."

"The wilds of my lands are limited Sir, the animals - boars and such used to be our only concern but now our concerns are the human ones, the bandits that raid all over the land. We've never had to guard our village before, the bandits sneak in at night and attack us, they kill the men and try to rape the women. So far we have been successful in ensuring that neither of these things have happened to us but I fear it soon will as the bandits increase in number."

Catanga watched his eyes travel over her form; a slight blush rose in her cheeks, she had never had a man stare at her so. The men from the village were accustomed to her clothing and paid no attention, all except for Domo who had been her protector since they were young and though he thought his intentions were hidden; everyone in the village knew.

"I wear them for mobility" Catanga answered his unasked question "I need to be able to move swiftly, protect the children I care for and get out of harms way quickly wherever possible. I'm a princess Sir, in your world princesses are proper and sit on thrones, in mine they must learn to hunt, defend and pay no mind to your world's sensibilities." Catanga smiled so he would know she was not trying to insult his customs.

Vincent's curiosity was blunted by Catanga's rather pointed and unapologetic explanation of what her people were dealing with. Such organized lawlessness was unheardof back home, one obeyed the law. Even a free democracy had a very grim view of law bereakers. But this far into the interior, law and order that came from the army and the governor was hard to come by. Law usually resided in the private guards hired by the land-owners thouhg private soldiers tended to be too busy to enforce the law. He looked at Catanga as she commented on his examination of her clothing, he blushed slightly and looked away.

"My country dosen't have Princesses or nobles. We're much more liberal than that. But I digress. You are quite different from the average woman in my culture. They're not so...powerful." Vincent said, with a smile, still looking at the weapons and drinking more of his champaign. He practiacaly drained the glass, hoping to steady himself slightly. Finishing the glass, he turned to look to Catanga, his air serious.

"Perhaps I can help your people defend yourselves from this possible outrage. I could hire guards to assist your people, perhaps even provide you with weapons to help you defend yourselves. As I said before, your people are friends, and I would like to help." Vincent said, thinking about what might await Catanga if her family and tribe fell victim to the bandits.

Catanga smiled at his words of her being powerful, she had never considered herself powerful at least no more than any other woman.

"You flatter me Sir but no I am no more or less than any woman were she in my position and you need not look away." Catanga grinned at him.

"Perhaps I can help your people defend yourselves from this possible outrage. I could hire guards to assist your people, perhaps even provide you with weapons to help you defend yourselves. As I said before, your people are friends, and I would like to help."

"While your offer is admirable, the elders of my village are still unsure of you. Your uncle had to gain their trust and I must admit; they despise change. They were very much against my coming here but my father knows that it is important so we don't, as I said before; die out."

Catanga sipped her glass of champagne, now that she was used to the tickling sensation in her nose; she found the beverage quite enjoyable. Never having tasted alcohol before except for over fermented berries, she liked this a decent bit more.

Catanga turned away from the weapons at last, she had studied them all with a sigh in her heart knowing she could never touch one. Sometimes being born a woman did have terrible disadvantages. She faced Vincent completely now and gave him her undivided attention.

Vincent looked at Catanga as she turned to him, glad that she was not going to admonish him for apreciating her form. He retrived the chapaign bottle and poured himself another measure, topping off Catanga's glass without being asked. Setting down the bottle, he looked at the weapons and finally focused on Catanga.

"So your elders are expediant, not pandering to my government and company. Glad to hear it." Vincent said simling, the friendship of someone independent meant more than the fawning loyalty of a sycophant. He smiled at her, hopefully not acting like a condescending elitist.

"I much prefer a noble friend than a bottom crawler. Perhaps we should be frank with each other?" He said with a shurug. His words seemed to be a different tone, blunt and direct...not some spoiled member of the aristocracy, but someone who knew how to negotiate.

"What do I need to do to prove to you that I am sincere in my wish to bring our people closer." He asked.

Catanga allowed him to fill her glass and sipped more of the delightful liquid as she listened to him speak, praising her people for not conforming like dogs licking his feet.

"What do I need to do to prove to you that I am sincere in my wish to bring our people closer?"

Catanga smiled at his direct dive into this question, he no longer pussy footed around but came straight to his point.

"Quick fixes are difficult to come by this far inland Sir, short of a marriage only time will tell if the elders will embrace or deny you. At the very least my father has intervened in order to give you the chance."

Catanga finally sat down, she crossed her legs so she would not be 'presenting' everything to this man and took another sip from her glass.

"But there is plenty of time yet to speak of politics Sir, personally I have little interest in them and you don't seem to either. So here we are thrust together for family duty, doing the things we hate for the ones we love. Isn't that an interesting concept?" Cat mused, she really did hate politics and as they had the whole night she didn't want it to be completely wasted on dull conversation.

Vincent smiled, he hand't recived a true answer to his question, though he had recived several answers that he could use, and filed them away. He sipepd his champaign and nodded.

"Very true. Duty is the most sublime word in the English language...as a general once said." He explained.

"We both have a duty to our families, and I guess that we should both do our best for them. But with your words...well, I belive that we've handled everything we need for our first meeting." Vincent replied, and gestured to the table with it's glittering silver, he took a short stride and pulled the heavy, well carved chair out and offered that she should sit...some western manners on display.

"So have your parents decided on everything in your life? Or do they allow you some...leeway?" He asked waiting for her to sit.

Catanga wandered over and took the seat he offered her, she was starting to feel her tension wash away and wondered if it was because of Vincent or because of the champagne.

"They allow me a certain amount of freedom, I am quite willful but I know when to set the fun aside. Not many duties are delightful ones unfortunately. My parents don't have much decided for me Sir, no man will marry a traitor and it is the main duty of the parent to organise such a union. Other than that I have learned my place as a woman though my standing is uneasy even in my own tribe."

She shrugged slightly, there wasn't much to it really so she decided to move off the parent and duty issue.

"I much prefer teaching the children and running through the trees, balancing on branches and seeing how far I can leap each time. My faithful shadow Domascus is always trying to keep up, he's my childhood friend and thinks of himself as my protector." Catanga smiled at the thought.

"What of your personal pleasures Sir? Surely you have a marriage awaiting you somewhere? Or else a love?" Catanga asked curiously, she had never been in love but found it an intriguing concept that she wished to learn more about.

Vincent listened, nodding as Catanga elaborated. He knew much about arranged marriges, and more than likely had he not been sent here, he would have had a wife prepared for a wedding that would have enhanced the prestige of his family. More politics, more trouble, more heartache. Things were strangely similar.

"My personal pleasures? Oh, I have many pleasures, but I suppose you're asking about women." Vincent said with a smile, looking at Catanga.

"Yes, I am rather, worldly, but there is a much wider selection of possible partners where I come from instead of simply the head of a tribe. The daughters of tycoons, major land owners, political leaders...all of those have the possiblity of becoming my wife. But fate sent me here and far from all that. Although marrige for love may prove difficult." He said with a sigh.

"There are precious few western women about for me to romance."

"There are precious few western women about for me to romance."

Catanga cocked a brow at this, not out of insult as many of her fellow tribeswomen might have been at such a statement but out of intrigue.

"I have never met any of your women, though your uncle enjoyed a few pleasures of his own; he was rather partial to my dear friend Annika who still grieves for him though they were not married. What are your women like?"

She smiled, an expression of sheer curiousity shone on her face. Her father had not been able to tell her everything of the western world and this world interested her greatly. Tycoon? She searched her vocabulary and could not find this word so she said nothing in reference to his previous statements.

Cat sipped her champagne again and surpressed a giggle at the bubbly tingle in her nose. She eyed the yellow liquid and wondered what fruit it came from and why she had not seen it before.

Vincent looked across the table, not at all suprised that his uncle had enjoyed female company during his time here...though he was more than a little proud of his uncle for bedding such a young woman, if Catanga's friend were as old as she. He nodded solemnly, and couldn't help but nocie Catanga's face twich slightly in the candle-light, he wondered if she was supressing a smile.

"The women of my culture are an endless series of variety. Some are submissive and acomidating, others are fierce and independent. Intelligent, foolish, cunning, or oblivious, there is an almost endless variety of possible personalities." Vincent said, his voice turning whistful and his thoughts drifting towards home.

"I wasn't engaged, or courting, so I was spared the ignimony of having to pay attention to a woman who my family decided I should be betrothed too. Have your parents any one in mind for you?" He asked as the first course was brought in by a servant and palced before each of them, some local fish that had been prepared.

Catanga shook her head watching the servant place the food on the table. Her eyes lit up with recognition, she was obviously relieved at not having to eat some exotic other-worldly food that she might hate.

"No Sir, no other tribe is interested in siding with traitors. They have considered me, my beauty is renowned" Catanga blushed at having said this but it was necessary for him to understand all the reasons. "We still have one tribe debating, they're not sure it is worth making their loyalties to us but at the same time the son of the Gebaultics is very interested in me, there is much conflict in this matter."

She took a deep whiff of the fish, the aroma was beautiful and she wondered what spices they had added to it to give it such a delightful smell.

"I do not think much of him" She tried to surpress a grin but it was as plain as day "He's something of a weasel, my parents are not happy with the prospect either as they had hoped I would end up married to a great warrior but as he is the only suitor outside of my own tribe; I may have no other choice."

Catanga finished solemnly, she clearly despised the idea of marrying this Gebaultic and was saddened at the outlook it cast on her life.

Vincent was gratified that Catanga seemed to be quite comfortable with the dish. He raised his knife and sliced off some of the fish, tasting it as she spoke. He chuckled as she said that her beauty was renowed in their lands, he would not argue with that statement. It was interesting enough that the wishes of the betrothed were considered, such actions were not taken back home. A decision was made, and that was that.

"Why would you not be sought after? Your tribe is comfortably placed, and you are quite a vision, I would think that you would have many choices...or has politics clouded this issue?" Vincent said, suprised that already he could examine things through a political lense. He took another bite of fish.

"I'm curious, why is your tribe so willing to work with my family? Surely it would be much easier to side with your own people against the outsiders and enjoy the benefits of an animosity, rather than the trials of friendship."