The reeds and the drums were droning, now blaring, now crashing to a thunder of rolling beats. Syrenna never missed a step. Though her body ached and her feet were numb and her arms thought they would simply drop from the weight of the silks now soaked with sweat and stuck to her steaming skin. She glared at her keepers, as they laughed and placed bets on who would give up first - the drummers or the dancer. Win or lose, she would make someone unhappy. She could only hope that her Khalif had bet on her to win. Because that was what was going to happen. The skin on both soles had already blistered, the toes slipping in sweat and blood. But, Syrenna would die before losing face to these pigs. Suddenly, the drums faltered and finally, stopped. Syrenna whirled, catching the dropped beat and stomping her foot down on the carpet with defiant finality. "And now," she demanded, "You will fulfill your promise and grant my freedom." "Insolent bitch!" screamed one of the losers - a fat man holding a large knife. He made as if to come down from his pile of cushions and kill the girl. But, the Khalif held up a hand and just chuckled. "Do not be such a sore loser, Aram. By her own blood, this little flower has won her freedom. And, what am i if not a man of my word?" He motioned to the open doorway of the large tent. "There you are, Syrenna. Your freedom awaits. Take it if you will. The desert extends many miles in all directions." He sat back smugly and laughed. To his surprise, Syrenna calmly grabbed her small pack of her few belonging from beside the cushions. And without a word more, walked proudly from the tent in the direction of the setting sun, leaving bloody footprints on the carpet and sand. - So, here is Syrenna out of the mermaid guise. She looked Persian to me after the switch, so the new setting (Shaded Sanctuary) seemed appropriate. Other than rebuilding her as a human with no fish parts, Syrenna now sports the really awesome Firebride outfit. This is one of the best looking loose cloth type outfits that I've seen. Anyway....dancer outfit, hence the storyline. Thanks!