Ebony and Ivory are "twin" entertainers that travel the lands performing for mainly royalty and high officials. They do acrobatics and contortionist acts, often barely clad, and their acts have a strong mature theme to them. They have come to the Black Citadel and have asked to stay for an extended time. For their room and board they offered to do a nightly performance for the Emperor and his entourage. Everyone is entertained by their performances save one. Vogar has his suspicions. He has noticed the rose tattoo they both posses. Being on top of any dangerous factions he may have to contend with, he believes they are or were members of the Thorns of the Rose, an obscure group of female assassins. He suspects they are here to eliminate someone, possible the Emperor or the Empress themselves.