Persea was sitting on her gilded chair, but even upon her perch, she remained heads taller than the rest as her chair was positioned at the top of a series of pyramidal steps. Her head remained raised, her very visage- immaculate, as she rose her chin up just high enough when her guests approached that she took on the most regal of appearances.
Perfection was key, and as those green eyes remained fixed upon each of them as they entered, she was inwardly stunned to see the one slave still wearing his helmet. And it sent her blood seering. She found her finger nails gripping into the painted wood of her chair before she finally snapped her gaze back to the pair of merchant lords before her.
"Lord Rassan, Lord Darzi, I believe you both know why you are here." And she paused here only briefly before continuing, "Such actions of defiance can not be allowed. Not in Essyrn. Not in the Moraki. Not any where under my ruling." Her gaze turned sharper as she peered across these men, those who looked more like pigs than princes as she fought to curl her lip at them, but it was evident in her eyes how much she was angered. Turning towards her High Priest, just briefly enough to regain her confidence on the matter, she then returned her attention to those before her once again.
"Be it man, slave or beast, none will go without proper punishment for defying the Shah, the avatar of Hakeshna, the ruler of all Essyrn. But in the eyes of Hakeshna, I fear it is not the slave I can punish here today- but those men too ignorant to train them." ANd as she saw the looks in the men, she placed up a hand to order silence before she continued on.
"These slaves, whom you have done poorly to train, will be given mercy. At Hakeshna's own will, they will be sold to competent men." ANd seeing how the pair were trying to talk again, her eyes narrowed into angered slits as she glared at them, and back into silence the merchants had gone.
"But you, the pair of you who would dare own such property.." And here her voice rose in anger, like a whip, striking across the room. "It is you I have decided needs punished." And as she spoke, she rose from her chair and glared down at them. "These slaves can not know what they do, but you are men," A nd she pointed down at each of them. "And you are the ones who make their mold- and for this- I have already decided on your fate."
She waited a moment, the weight in the air, she could see, was causing both men to sweat like dogs.
"Lord Darzi, you will be marked and disgraced, and exiled from my lands. All of them." And her eyes flared like wild, green fire. "Any titles and ownerships here are forfeit. But you will keep your life. And you will forever live with this shame."
But just as she noticed Lord Rassan moving uncomfortably before her, her eyes snapped his way and her gaze turned venomous. She turned to him, moving smoothly, like a viper.
"And you," she went on, eyes narrowing. "For having the most ignorant and arrogant of all slaves, you sir, you will lose your head. Now.." Without so much as a second thought, she gestured to her guards. "Take them all away. The slaves to the barracks, the men to their cells. At dawn, his Lord Rassan's head will roll- and after that, Lord Darzi will be escorted out of Essyrn for good."