Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ilea's smile took on a happier note when he simply agreed to the guards without protest, a silent thrill moving through her that was as unfamiliar to her as it was pleasing. She didn't really know how to describe the sensation, though it was similar to the way she felt when he held her hand the way he did or when he traced his fingers or lips along the back of her neck.

She noted the look on his face and knew he was thinking, but only got vague bits and pieces of what he was thinking about. It was almost enough to make her worry until he spoke out loud and distracted her rather easily from his other preoccupation.

She considered alot of things before answering him, then simply spoke her thoughts out loud, "Darkness Abounds itself influences the residents and has since it was created, influencing primarily the darker side of people. Goh regularly moved through the village and collected individuals that caught his attention, though most of them never lived to describe their experiences. He allowed rumors to work for him and was known to spread a few of his own just to see how they came back around, usually for the worse. But if he needed a more pointed demonstration, he was known to do public tortures or other public demonstrations there. Once he raised dead that no one knew had been buried there in the town and had them rip apart a man that tried to set him up for death. That's what's worked in the past," she explained to him of her memories on how to handle the population of the village.

The main thing he'd have to deal with was the influence of the realm on the population. It was something that couldn't be escaped and would be there no matter what he did, so he'd have to take that into account in the future.

Keeping that point in mind, one had to remember that Ilea hadn't been born here, she'd been created here. There was a large difference between the two. Ilea had been created, fully formed as an adult. While the 'material source' had been Gypsy, Ilea's creation couldn't escape the influence of the realm Goh had created for himself.

Another moment of thought and she tilted her head to the side slightly, "A demonstration of some kind, I would think... Something ruthless, something that cannot be questioned later, something that will linger in the mind and psyche, something a little more graphic than what you used downstairs..." she mused softly then went quiet as she tried to search her memory for something that would be effective and useful for Shale.

In the end, she shook her head slightly, "I'll think on it. If I come up with something that would be effective, I'll let you know," she finally said with a small smile of humor. After all, he'd know it when she figured something workable out, so she wouldn't likely have to say anything out loud.

She shifted her hand where he held it so that she held his instead and pulled it gently to her lips to place a light teasing kiss to his knuckles, followed by a teasingly sharp n** and another kiss. She knew it would distract him enough to let her move away from him and head for the doorway. There, she paused to look back at him with a slightly teasing smile playing with her lips, "I should get back to checking on the servants. See if anyone needs shifting around or sending back to the village. I also want to check the wine cellar. Kirsa could have brought up a better bottle of wine for you than that one," she said softly.

While she wanted to stay here and practically roll herself in his presence and his touch, she was trying to do the right thing and get back to the job of securing the castle. But she still found herself hesitating in the doorway, wanting to go back to him and bury her face in his chest.

If he wanted her to stay, all he had to do was say so. But he was going to have to encourage her in one direction or the other. Otherwise she was going to be balancing on the edge of going or staying...

Shale's focus shifted through his staff to the Forge. He felt something that required a moment's attention. There was a chamber that seemed to be changing... without specific instructions. It felt like something was growing, something with power that differed from other sources. It didn't feel dangerous for now. But, it would require a closer examination... later.

For now, he refocused his attention on the world around him. Footsteps approached and he moved his eyes to the door as the servant, who had gained both Ilea's attention and his own, arrived with her new escorts.

He remained silent as she delivered her message with a bow. Her attitude seemed to have received a recent... adjustment. Ilea was indeed attentive to detail. Shale dismissed Kirsa with a movement of two fingers, his eyes never moving from her and showing no feeling at all until after she departed.

He had to maintain appearances. There were impressions to make. But, for now. It was... dinner time.

He stood and departed that room with his guards taking suitable formation around him.

((To Ilea's Suite))