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Post by Ringulf on Jun 12, 2011 17:08:08 GMT -5
The two outspoken men continued to stare at her, leering grins on their faces, one even making suggestive gestures toward her. Lea pretended to ignore them as she marked where they stood and the precise amount of force needed to drive a knife into specific points of their anatomy as she waited for Omen to help her to her feet.
As Omen bent down to seemingly offer a hand in helping her to her feet, he grabbed the hilt of the sword as Lea held fast to the scabbard.
Close to three foot of scalpel sharp serpentine silver flashed out of it's sheath and Lea felt the wind move one of her curly locks as it whipped past her face in a wide upward arch.
In less than a heartbeat Omensinger closed the distance between his surprised companion and the two immediate sailors.
With a blinding flash, a scream and a small splop, a small fleshy disk skidded across the deck, The first sailor cupped a hand to where his left ear once was and the Second was staring at the point of a sword pressing lightly but firmly into the center of his bulbous nose.
"If you were not needed for the handling of this vessel your worthless carcases would be feeding the fish right now! I am sure that the Baron would be immensely pleased at the behavior of his select crew as concerns an honored guest and a noble woman! I almost have a mind to tell him, though that would rob me of the pleasure of killing you myself if the opportunity was to arise again, Sa Va?"
"...Ah oui Monsieur we are sorry...we meant it all in sport...our humble apologies My Lord." He said as he bowed low and dragged his compatriot away to the focsle as the man picked up and dropped his missing ear and finally retrieved it.
Omensinger turned back to Lea, the naked blade still glistening in his hand.
He offered her his other hand and with an evil smirk he said,
"My Lady it seems I require a place to sheath my sword, if you have had enough air, perhaps we should retire once more to our cabin."
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 16, 2011 11:21:32 GMT -5
Lea nodded her head and let him help her stand, then stared after the man who was carrying his ear and gaped with her mouth hanging open as she let Omen lead her back down below decks.
Once out of sight she smacked his shoulder, “You spoiled my fun!” She exclaimed in mock anger, and then burst out laughing. “Oh but that was sweet to watch! I almost cheered before I remembered I was supposed to be a little rich bubble head.” She gave him a big kiss and then her look turned all sultry, “thanks for defending my virtue!” She breathed in his ear and chuckled deep in her throat as they stumbled back into their cabin.
It was going to be a glorious voyage and Lea knew she was going to be very sad when it was over. Maybe, if they were lucky, they would run into very calm weather and it would take weeks to get to Gallica.
___
Unfortunately she did not get her wish. The weather was perfect and they made record time across the sea. They had spent the majority of the trip in the cabin except for brief sojourns to the deck for some fresh air and to ensure the Captain and crew that they were alive and well.
It was the happiest time of Lea’s life and she was very sad when a knock came on the cabin door and the Captain announced they would be making port within the hour. Lea clung to Omen, snuggling close as the clenching grip of anxiety, fear and excitement grabbed hold of her heart in anticipation of their dangerous road ahead of them. She wasn’t afraid for herself so much as she was afraid for Omensinger. For the second time in her life she had someone that she cared about more than herself. The first time had not ended well and she prayed this would not be a repeat performance. She couldn’t bear it if something happened to Omen.
“I don’t want this to end, Omen. If not for His Majesty being in dire peril, I would convince this captain to take us to a bustling port where we could catch another ship to our own private island. I think I could be quite happy stranded somewhere with you!” She smiled at him. “But I suppose duty calls.” She sighed and rolled off him, reaching for her undergarments.
Lea sorted through her wardrobe, “I have never had so many clothes to choose from before. I need to pick just the right outfit if we are going to meet this Baron guy. I want to make the right first impression, if you know what I mean!” She winked at Omen and then selected a deep, dark blood red riding dress with matching jacket all trimmed in black. It went well with her hip high pirate boots and had many places for concealing knives and other weapons on her person. The under dress was white with tight fitting sleeves and a very low scooped neckline. It fit tightly around her waist and breasts and flowed loosely from her hips. She donned the veil and wimple, making sure the veil fell over the back of her head and not in her face. She wondered how noble women could stand such restrictions between the wimple under her chin and the corset around her waist. She could hardly breathe.
She looked at Omen and attempted to take a deep breath, but failed. “Well, I suppose we should get on deck. I am ready when you are, my Love!”
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 20, 2011 22:38:33 GMT -5
“Well, I suppose we should get on deck. I am ready when you are, my Love!”
"Yes let's go...Lea, no matter what happens up there in that Chateau, I want you to know...I love you and a private Island would please me just fine. Be careful but know that I am as confident in your abilities as I am in my own. We have both been trained extensively, we are clever, competent and creative. We will rescue Duncan and return him to his throne. Of this I have no doubt."
He caught her up and gave her one last passionate kiss before standing aside to let her ascend to the deck.
He had donned a basket woven leather doublet of dark reddish brown leather and wore beneath it a blue tunic with baggy sleeves. His weapon belt circled his thin waist and the strapping for his scabbards hung upon each hip. He wore tight fitting black pants with his hard leather boots coming up to his knees, rolled down and closely matching his doublet. He wore a Gualican Fleur around his neck on a gold chain and the stolen ring of the man whose identity he had assumed flashed upon his finger.
He bowed to the captain of the Blackbird and thanked him for a swift and pleasant voyage and also for spilling a bit of wind from the sails a bit to allow him his recreation.
"I know you could have gone much faster Mon Ami, I am thankful that you didn't!" He said with a wink and a sly smile as he watched his paramour climb the stairs to the gangplank, accepting the hands of a sailor and the Baron's Seneschal to disembark.
"Monsieur I hope you and the Lady have had a pleasant journey, I am sure you are weary from so many days at sea I will show you to your rooms immediately."
"Tres Bon Monsieur, mais...Ou e Le Baron?"
"The Baron Monsieur? He is expected shortly, he too, is completing a small sea voyage and should be with us for feast this evening.
"Tres bien Monsieur Senaschal, Merci Beucoup a fare. Apres vous, Je suis et tres fatigue."
A quick look at Lea made Omen realize that she was curious as to what he had said so in a rather patronizing tone he played the instructor to his make believe bubble-headed lady.
"Ah my darling," He said with his impeccable Gualican accent, "I forgot you do not speak our language fluently yet, I merely told the good Seneschal that I was curious as to where our host was and when he kindly answered in your language, I said thank you and to lead on, because I was very tired. I will endeavor to speak Araluen so that you do not feel as if we are keeping secrets from your lovely ears, Ca va? This is alright with you?"
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 22, 2011 21:21:28 GMT -5
"Yes let's go...Lea, no matter what happens up there in that Chateau, I want you to know...I love you and a private Island would please me just fine. Be careful but know that I am as confident in your abilities as I am in my own. We have both been trained extensively; we are clever, competent and creative. We will rescue Duncan and return him to his throne. Of this I have no doubt."
He caught her up and gave her one last passionate kiss before standing aside to let her ascend to the deck.
Leah nearly swooned when he set her back on her feet. She wasn’t sure if it was from the corset or the kiss, but it took a moment for her to collect herself. She reached up and ran her hand over his cheek. “I believe that also, but I hope the cost is not going to be too great.” She said seriously as she studied his face and features intently, burning them into her mind, then she ascended the stairs, “I must say, Monsieur, You are one fine looking man, especially in that outfit.” She wished she were walking behind him so she could get a good look at his tight fitting black pants.
On deck she saw the Captain of the L'ioseux Noir and Omen steered her over to him. “Thank you, Captain for a most pleasant journey. May the wind ever fill your sails!” She smiled at him and then made her way to the gangplank as Omen said his goodbyes. Leah looked around the ship one last time, thinking she would always remember it fondly and she wanted to fix the image in her mind, especially of Omen standing there in the middle of the deck in his finery. Then she stepped down the gangplank, with the help of a couple of gentlemen and shortly thereafter Omen was once more at her side.
"Monsieur I hope you and the Lady have had a pleasant journey, I am sure you are weary from so many days at sea I will show you to your rooms immediately."
Omen and the Baron’s Seneschal exchanged some words in Gallican, but Leah only caught the gist of about half of what was said. She glanced from Omen to the Seneschal with a perplexed look on her face.
"Ah my darling," He said with his impeccable Gualican accent, "I forgot you do not speak our language fluently yet, I merely told the good Seneschal that I was curious as to where our host was and when he kindly answered in your language, I said thank you and to lead on, because I was very tired. I will endeavor to speak Araluen so that you do not feel as if we are keeping secrets from your lovely ears, Ca va? This is alright with you?"
Her face transformed from confusion to understanding and she smiled at him, gripping his arm and snuggling up next to him. “Umm, oui Monsieur.” She said haltingly in a terrible Araluen accent and then giggled. “Of course it is, although I do love to hear you speak your language. It is so- so- romantic and beautiful.” Leah answered sincerely. “I do wish I could understand it, but I have only picked up a couple of words. It seems so complicated.” She laughed and then waved her hand ahead of them, “But I am quite exhausted from our…voyage, Monsieur. Do we have far to go?” She asked the Seneschal.
Leah looked around the cavern in amazement, taking in every detail that could be seen in the dim light. It seemed as if they were rather isolated here and having been in their room for most of the voyage, she couldn't even say exactly where they had landed on the coast of Gallica. For all she knew, they might not be in Gallica at all.
She followed the Seneschal, clinging to Omen's arm and resisted the urge to see if the servants were bringing up her trunks of clothing. No noblewoman would give that a second thought as it was natural to them to be waited on. Although she had gone through some minimal training in disguising herself as a noble woman, Lea had learned most of what she knew simply from observing how the nobles behaved. It wasn't quite as easy as they made it look, to treat another human as if they were a bug on a dunghill.
She followed Omen's lead and found it was easy to play the shrinking violet, scared of her own shadow, for this place made her hair stand on edge and sent a shiver down her spine.
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Post by Ringulf on Sept 21, 2012 16:55:54 GMT -5
The winding stairway gave way to a large but comfortably appointed sitting room were guests could freshen up and make themselves ready for life in the Chateau. The Chatelaine came in and led Lea and Omensinger Through many rooms including galleries dining halls ballrooms and then on up into the private suites. Theirs was rather opulent and was centered around a gigantic oak four posted bed. Omen looked over at Lea and gave her a lascivious sneer and a raised eyebrow.
The chatelaine gave them, (mostly for Lea's benefit) instructions as to who to call to fill their needs. And then with a wink he left the room.
Alright my delicate flower...we are in, and we now have work to do. It seems as though we may have gotten here before our friend the Baron returned from his "sea cruise", one can only wonder what he has been up to, so that gives us a little bit of time, we must case this entire castle and the grounds if at all possible.
We may have to split up to cover more ground. what areas do you feel most comfortable with? I think I should make for the outdoors, the stables and out buildings and parameter, I might see if I can take a horse to quicken things.
I should think that the Baron may have much more underground here then we first saw, you might want to see if you can find something there, who knows what prisoners might be here. Do you have all you need?
We can meet back here to prepare for dinner, I am sure that that will mark the beginning of a very interesting time as there will be some here I am sure who will know I am not who I say I am so be prepared.
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Post by Brandwyn on Sept 24, 2012 8:22:47 GMT -5
Leah memorized every inch of their trip to their rooms, realizing that once the ship sailed away, they were going to be quiet isolated from the rest of the world as far as she could tell from what they had seen so far. She did not hear any sounds of a bustling city outside the Chateau’s walls and wondered just exactly where they were.
“I should think that the Baron may have much more underground here then we first saw, you might want to see if you can find something there, who knows what prisoners might be here. Do you have all you need?”
“If the King is here, wouldn’t he be in a secure room in the Chateau rather than in the dungeon? I mean, he is the King and this Baron guy probably would treat him as such. I do agree though that I think there is something to be discovered in the lower levels. We passed a couple doors and I would bet there are a few things hiding down there.” Leah answered as she freshened up. She would have to be careful for she didn’t want to mess up her new dress since she had picked this outfit out specifically to make a lasting impression on the Baron. Besides not messing the dress up she was going to have to be very careful for she still was having difficulty breathing with the corset all laced up tight.
“Okay, to the dungeons it is.” She said breathlessly. “Please be careful, Love!” Leah reached up and caressed his cheek, filled with longing and wishing they could put their duty aside for a few minutes, but there wasn’t time for that. The Baron could arrive at any moment and they only had a limited amount of time to find out whatever there was the Baron was keeping secret in his “comfy little tower”.
Leah opened their door and poked her head out. No one was in the hallway. “Here goes…meet you back here in a little bit.” She took one last look at Omen and then retraced their steps back to the spiral staircase.
She purposefully made her way down to the landing she had noticed first at the lowest level and went through the locked iron door. Settling her lock picking tools back into the secret pocket she had made in the jacket’s lining, she cautiously continued down the dimly lit corridor. There were no sounds coming from the passageway ahead and she had to carry a torch to light her way since there had been no other torches besides the one just inside the door that were lit.
After several feet she noticed regularly spaced doors on each side of the passage. The first few were unlocked and filled with supplies of the usual type needed to run a large household. A quick perusal showed little of interest so she quickly made her way deeper and passed by any unlocked doors until she came to another one that was locked. This one had a heavy padlock and deadbolt securing it and it took Lea a couple of minutes to gain access. She scowled at her lack of skill, “I think I might be losing my touch,” she muttered under her breath.
This room, however, was worth the struggle. Inside were crates upon crates of weapons and armor. They all carried the same symbol she had seen on the crates in Araluen at the hospital. “So our good Baron is in the business of supplying arms it would seem…interesting,” she breathed and quickly locked the room back up and went to the next door, the last one on the end, opposite side of the passageway and picked that lock.
Inside were more crates, filled with packing straw and wood shavings. The crates looked very familiar to Lea and upon closer inspection she saw they were filled with the same clay pots that she had seen the day before they left for Gallica when Omen had taken on the role of Valentine. “Explosives too…I wonder how he has gotten his hands on so many of these things.” Leah questioned as she carefully threaded her way between the crates confirming their contents. “My gosh, if these should ignite, it will blow the whole chateau to Kingdom Come!”
Having seen what this level had to offer, she quickly made her way back to the spiral staircase, leaving everything as she had found it with hopefully no one the wiser for all her snooping. Ascending the stairs to the next level she thought she could hear faint sounds in the mooring far below but she wasn’t sure. Perhaps the Baron’s ship had now arrived. The sense of urgency increased and she made quick work of the locked door on this middle level.
This seemed to be the actual dungeon since she could hear some moaning and sniffling and the stench was nearly unbearable. There was a guardroom just off the passageway, but it appeared to be empty. Leah snuck past and flitted down the passage, peeking into cell doors through the tiny barred windows. Most were dark and she couldn’t tell if they were occupied or not. She came upon one cell, however, that was lit and in it contained two women who probably had once been very beautiful. They were beaten, bruised and bleeding, huddling together to keep their naked bodies warm. One clearly had a broken wrist and both had marks of being bound at wrists ankles and neck.
They saw her peeking in and the one with the broken wrist said, “Ah, so you are our replacement. Good…it won’t be long now, my dear,” she said to her companion. “The Baron has another pet and soon he will put us out of our misery.” The other woman sobbed and groped at the speaker who just stared at Lea with dead eyes.
“If you can, get out now or you will soon be sitting here like us. Go, there is no one of consequence here.” She turned away from Lea and stroked the matted hair of the other woman.
Leah stared at her with a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, having an inkling of what they must have endured. She glanced down the hall and since it seemed no one was guarding them, she quickly picked the lock on the cell. “When you get the chance, go down the spiral stairs to the bottom, there is a harbor there in the cave, maybe you can steal away on a ship. That’s all I can do for the moment, but if I can, I will help you later.”
The other woman shook her head, “To attempt escape only brings on more pain. There are only two ways out of this place as you will soon find out. Either the Baron lets you go, or death takes you. You should never have come here.”
Leah knew the woman was filled with despair so she didn’t answer but left the door unlocked and quickly checked the rest of the cells. Having not found the King, she made her way back to the staircase. So far as she was concerned there was always hope as long as one drew breath. She doubted she would ever get to that point of just giving up like that woman was, no matter what she was forced to endure.
The next level, however, tested that resolve when she opened the door into a very large room that was comfortably decorated, warm and brightly lit. The focus of the room as a very large bed with four solid wood posts and a heavy framed canopy upon which hung a variety of trinkets, toys and instruments in addition to chains and manacles. A quick look and Leah could tell that many of the items were designed to inflict pain. Around the walls of the room were also various devices, many of which Leah could only guess at their function. She had no desire to find out what they were for. It appeared that the rumors she’d heard about the Baron’s taste in ‘lovemaking’ were quite true and perhaps even not as audacious as the reality.
Leah shuddered and turned back to the door, having seen enough as terror gripped her heart. She couldn’t get out of the room fast enough.
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Post by Ringulf on Dec 7, 2013 20:37:23 GMT -5
Omansinger put on some of his more comfortable clothing mostly some dark riding leathers and cowled hood of black suede. He wanted to look the part of a gentleman going for a ride in the country and he belted back on his sword and main gauche as well as slipping his boot knives into place. A small leather pouch held various tools and equipment looking on the outside like any other pouch but having some clever fastenings that allowed it to fold down several times to expose hidden pockets of all types when revealed.
He left their quarters just after Lia and turned to find stairs leading upwards to the main level of the Chataue. When he reached the main floor it was very easy to find the main entryway and from there noticed the servants entrance to the kitchens through the master banquet room. As he entered the kitchen he saw a few chefs and other servants milling about and put on an aire of vexed confusion.
"Si vous ples bon homme, ou et le stable?" He said in a curt fashion.
One of the surprised servants just pointed to a far door with a look of utter loss upon his face.
"Bon, Merci!" Was Omen's quick respose and he turned on his heel and headed briskly but no chelantly to the door and exited.
Outside he spotted the stables across a busy kitchen coutyard and vegtable garden. his nose told him the rest as he followed the distinct fragrance of hay and manure to the riding stable. He found two light horses already saddled and waiting and the groomsman barely noticed his mounting until he was astride the black horse speckled in white and kicked him to a canter.
"Interesting," he thought to himself, "these horses are of the same breed as those of the man I replaced back in Araluen, though this one is lighter and bred more for the hunt."
"Monsuer, monsuer arette...!" but to no avail, he was gone down the lane feigning arrogant dismissal of the groom. Without casting a glance backwards he just waved a hand dismisively in the air and rode off.
He jumped a fence and galloped off across a feild when he was out of site of the stables and then took it in turn to circle as much of the estate as he could trying to get a map in his mind of the property and buildings. With a practiced eye and a knowledge of the way most of these estates were set up he soon had a very detailed understanding of the entire property and he reigned in his mout to stand beneath some chestnut trees in a copse a quarter of a mile or so away from the Chataue.
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Post by Brandwyn on Dec 7, 2013 22:32:32 GMT -5
As Lea continued her ascent back up the stairs she could hear the occassional gruff voice echoing up from far below. She thought it could be someone grunting out orders, but she could not make out specific words. She lifted her skirts high and started taking the steps two at a time until she reached the floor that was one level above her guest room.
This seemed to be the main level of the Chateau, and was bustiling with activity. Definate smells of cooking came from one direction - the same direction that most of the noise was coming from. She turned the opposite way and lightly slipped down the hallway looking for a likely place where a King might be stashed away.
The hallway turned sharply around what Lea suspected might be a corner turret room because the wall of the hallway was curved in the opposite direction of the turn in the hallway suggesting there was a cicular room behind the wall. She listened for a moment at the door and when she didn't hear anything, she slowly turned the doorknob.
It was locked. With a glance down the hallway in both directions, she pulled two long straight pins out of her hair and inserted them into the lock. She wiggled them around but the mechanism was not moving. 'Strange,' she thought, 'it's been years since I have come across a door I couldn't unlock.' Suddenly the hair stood up on the back of her neck and she slipped the lockpicks back into her hair, schooling her face into a look of concentration as she stared up at a brightly colored stained glass window that she had just passed in the hallway.
A group of men were coming down the hallway, servants from the sound of them Lea thought though she dared not look away from the glass. One of the men shouted something to her in Gaulic and Lea ignored him. The group approached and the man in the lead once again spoke to her in the foreign language. By his tone of voice Lea could tell he was becoming agitated.
"Soooo pretty!" sighed Lea, staring at the different panes of glass with her hands clasped reverently over her tummy. The man lay a hand on her shoulder and Lea jumped and screamed. "Aaaaaaiiiiiiiii!" Then she looked straight at the man, recovering from her 'fright' she glared at him angrily. Tossing her head with her nose in the air she shrieked, "how dare you touch me? Get your hands off, Villain!" She wriggled her shoulder out of his grasp and began swatting at him. "Get away! get away!" she punctuated each yell with a pummelling of her fists on his chest.
The servant was surprised and confused and kept trying to tell her to stop, but he was still speaking Gaulic and although Lea was acting, she really didn't understand a word he was saying. The man threw his hands up and attempted to grab her wrists as he continued to yell at her. She suspected he was telling her to calm down, but she had no intention of cooperating. She noticed the other four men were carrying luggage and were trying to hide smirks on their faces.
Then down the hallway strode a man with such a commanding demeanor that Lea was sure he had to be the Baron. A look at his face confirmed her memory of him. He said something sharply to the man holding her wrists and the servant immediately let her go as his face flushed red and he stepped back and bowed to the Baron. Lea, still keeping up the act of an airhead noble woman, looked at the Baron and met his eyes. She let tears well up in her eyes and she rushed toward the Baron as if releived to see him.
"Ijustcamelooking forabathhouse and this- this man stopped me," she said in a rush as she flung herself against the Baron. "Isawtheglass andstoppedtolook," she sobbed. "Thenhewas yellingatmeee." She buried her face in Rathbone's chest, hoping he was buying her shrinking violet routine.
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Post by Ringulf on Jun 11, 2014 21:02:20 GMT -5
"Ijustcamelooking forabathhouse and this- this man stopped me," she said in a rush as she flung herself against the Baron. "Isawtheglass andstoppedtolook," she sobbed. "Thenhewas yellingatmeee." She buried her face in Rathbone's chest, hoping he was buying her shrinking violet routine.
"Well well, if you are not just the most delicate of flowers..." The Baron said as he tenderly soothed and comforted the petite spy. There is no need to be frightened...I am not a drama critic...nor am I a fool!" and with that he slipped a huge arm around her neck with lightning swiftness and spun her suddenly so that her back was to him. He was nearly lifting her off the ground and the tightness of his choke hold was unbreakable by one as light and small as Lea.
His bicept and forarm closed down on her jugular viens and started to restrict the blood flow to her head, had she any leverage at all, she may have been able to try to throw him or roll him, but the Baron's ever tightening grip was chocking her into unconsciousness. It never really got far enough for Lea to consider her next step as she felt a sudden sharp jab in her buttock. The room went red, then it faded to black and her muscles went entirely limp. Before unconsciousness she heard female laughter....then nothing.
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Post by Brandwyn on Apr 20, 2016 22:00:18 GMT -5
Lea abruptly regained conciousness, but years of training kicked in and she pretended she was still unconcious until she could recall what happened. She heard someone moving around beside her.
What had happened? Where was she? Why was she lying down and why did she feel like her arms and legs were made of lead? The questions zoomed through her mind in a second and then she recalled the sharp pain in her backside as the Baron had her in a chokehold and everything going black. For a moment fear gripped her. He must have known she was a pretender from the moment he saw her. And where was Omensinger? Had he been captured? What would the Baron do to her now?
With an effort she calmed herself, but not before her change in breathing had given her away. She realized the sounds next to her had stopped and someone was standing over her, studying her. Lea opened her eyes and blinked a couple of times and then tried to sit up.
The woman watching her laughed, "My Lord, your 'Delicate Flower' has opened her petals and seems to be no worse for the wear."
Lea was tied of course. There was a strap across her stomach and her arms and legs were pulled snug to the hard table beneath her. She'd gotten herself into a fine pickle. Her only hope was to talk her way out of it. Obviously the Baron was onto her, so she dropped the bubble-headed noble routine. She lay back and craned her head around to take in as much of the room as possible while she slowly tested each rope binding her to the table.
She studied the woman who was studying her, with much the same look on her face. They were both trying to figure out what made the other tick. Lea didn't say anything however. She was going to let woman make the first move.
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