|
Post by Brandwyn on Feb 7, 2010 10:07:33 GMT -5
(OCC: * This thread is private for Lea and Omensinger)
Lea strolled down the pier in her light blue wenches’ peasant blouse with the low scooped neckline and low cut dark green bodice with a ankle length forest green skirt. Her black boots came up past her knees under the skirt and helped to keep her legs warm despite the cold winter wind blowing off the water. She pulled her slate gray cloak tighter around her and surveyed the ships anchored at the piers.
She hadn’t been sure the night the King had been kidnapped, but she thought she had seen Wesley boarding a ship with a squirming bundle in his arms. Her eyes had to have been playing tricks on her. Why would he risk imprisonment or hanging to leave the sanctuary of the Arena? It had to have been someone else. Still, she had been certain at the time it was him. By the time she had made it down to the docks, though, he had disappeared. A couple of men had remembered seeing a giant carrying a bundle board a ship called The Gray Lady.
She had spent the next day searching the piers and discretely pumping people for information and so far had only been able to find out that three ships had left that night just at the right time so the tide would be turning by the time they reached the mouth of the river. Lea had learned that those three ships were The Intrepid, The Stella Marris and The Gray Lady. Two of them she knew about and even knew the captains and some of the crew, but the third she had never heard of before and she found that a little strange. Not that she knew every ship that put in here at Araluen, but she was at least mildly acquainted with the regulars.
The thing most puzzling was that no else seemed to have heard of the Gray Lady either. Lea had only found out that the ship had taken on cargo from the Stella Marris, nearly all of that ship’s cargo except a wagon full of supplies. That wagon was currently sitting in the warehouse right behind her and Lea was waiting to see where that wagon was going and for an opportunity to find out what was in the crates it held.
The hour was early, just before dawn and the whole city was at its quietest time of the day. People were just beginning to stir, getting their breakfasts and preparing to open their shops. The smell of fish mingled with the smell of freshly brewing coffee and Lea’s stomach growled.
She glanced at the little tavern just on the other side of the warehouse and noticed that it was already open and several sailors were filing into it for breakfast. Her stomach growled again and she remembered that it had been hours and hours since she had last eaten. She stood up from the crate she had been huddling on and made her way to the tavern, mingling with the sailors that seemed to suddenly increase in volume as she approached the door.
She smiled at one of them as he held the door for her and nodded his head. “Thank you, kind sir!” She said and curtseyed before entering. That set the entire group of his mates to laughing as the sailor blushed and grinned back at her. Lea noticed that he was very, very young and she ducked her head to hide a smile of her own at his discomfiture.
She made her way to a small table near the fire and ordered her food after hanging her cloak on the back of her chair. Instead of sitting down immediately though, she went to the hearth and stood there warming her backside as she surveyed the crowd, taking note of who was in the tavern.
Mostly it was filled with sailors and dock workers, but there was one fellow that didn’t seem to quite fit in with that crowd and Lea’s eyes kept straying back to him. He seemed to be right around her age and was wearing tight gray breeches and a blue tunic trimmed in silver. The blue brought out the blue in his incredibly gorgeous eyes and Lea found his athletic build and hawk-like features devastatingly handsome. Her eyes scanned the crowd, but kept coming back to rest on him. Lea wasn’t sure if it was because he didn’t seem to be a sailor, or if it was because he just looked so good that she felt an urge to just sit and stare at him. She turned around to stare at the fire and warm her front side since her back side was starting to steam from the close proximity to the roaring fire on the hearth.
It was with her back to him that she realized there had been a harp case sitting on the table in front of him. ‘So he is a bard! That explains what he is doing here.’ She tilted her head slightly to look at him covertly over her shoulder out of the corner of her eye, unable to resist the urge to stare at him. Quickly she turned back and forced herself to stare at the flames licking around the wood as she held out her hands to the fire. Her peasant blouse shifted slightly and the fabric slid down off her left shoulder, exposing more of her cleavage as she warmed herself and waited for her breakfast. The smell of cooking bacon and fresh baked bread wafted out of the kitchen area and her stomach growled loudly in response. Lea placed her hand over it and told it sternly to behave in a barely audible whisper. She could hardly wait for the food to be ready. Her thoughts strayed back to the musician and she fought the urge to turn around and look at him again.
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on Feb 7, 2010 13:35:40 GMT -5
He sat alone in the corner of the tavern back to the wall eyes alert to the crowd, It had been a long night, the common room had been very receptive to his performance and he watched several of the sailors head back to there ships as he sat with his booted foot up on a chair. Omansinger's chair tilted back and balancing on the two back legs. His demeanor was casual but as always his mind was alert and soaked in everything around him.
The smells from the kitchen reminded him that his own large cup of coffee was nearly drained, He was about to get up to get another as a few of the sailors opened the door to leave when he noticed they seemed to hesitate before going through the door. In a moment he knew why. A woman had come in as the men were leaving and he saw them leer at her as she passed, taunting the young sailor who had just about tripped over himself to hold the door for her.
He could see why she may have had this effect on the young man, for as she entered Omansinger noted the easy grace of her movements and the confidence she exuded as she removed her cloak. As she did so he also realized that the woman was strikingly attractive, her movement, dress and demeanor was very alluring and he had to check himself before she saw his reaction.
She did not seem to notice him at first as she walked toward the fireplace. He took the opportunity while her eyes were adjusting to the dark interior of the tavern and the roaring fireplace before her, to look closely at her from toe up to head. he made careful note of the way she was dressed and also the rosy complexion she exhibited. "Hmm," he thought to himself, "She has been out in the cold for quite a bit of the night."
His suspicions were confirmed as she hung her cloak on her chair and proffered her shapely derriere to the fire to warm herself.
It was then that he noticed her scanning the room. Omansinger looked down at his mug just before their eyes made contact and tried to affect a casual air.
The beautiful woman turned and started to warm the front of her body and as she did her blouse dipped low and bared one lovely rounded shoulder. His eyes went directly to the porcelain flesh and he knew immediately that she had him, her head turned and her eyes met his.
"Wow" he said to himself admiringly, "She is good! No hiding it now, meet her gaze and see what she does." He forced himself not to look away in the surprise of being exposed, but followed through with his gaze and a warm inviting smile with a slight nod of his head.
"Alright my lovely, your move."
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Feb 7, 2010 23:34:09 GMT -5
Lea couldn’t help it, she glanced over her shoulder at him again and caught her breath as their eyes met. He looked startled, as if being caught with his hand in the candy jar, but didn’t look away. Instead he gave her a fetching smile and a nod with his head.
Lea’s heart raced and she smiled crookedly back at him and raised an eyebrow and then turned slowly back to the fire. So, she had his attention. Very interesting. The chase was on. She seemed to ignore him until her food arrived and she sat back down facing him to eat it. She seemingly ignored him for several minutes as she concentrated on eating. She ate the shepherd’s pie with gusto, scooping some onto the large piece of buttered bread and taking a big bite of it. She closed her eyes and just savored the taste. It had been a very long time since she’d had Shepherd’s pie. When they were out in the field with SWC they were lucky to have time for field rations. Dougal thought that was more than adequate, but Lea found the rations barely edible and often went without eating anything rather than eating them.
She opened her eyes and shoveled in two more spoonfuls and then glanced up at the bard to see if he was watching her. Her stomach full at last, she leaned back with a mug of hot spiced cider in her hand and propped her feet up on a chair, crossing her booted ankles. She took a swig of her cider and then smiled at the minstrel in the corner. He sure was nice to look at, she thought.
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on Feb 8, 2010 0:23:32 GMT -5
Omensinger caught her crooked smile and felt a little leap in his spirit. He also felt a slight flush as she turned back and started to eat.
He saw her eating voraciously and he mused to himself "Hmmm quite an appetite, I wonder if food is all it applies too?"
As she seemed to savor the taste of the dish she was eating, she tilted her head back and closed her eyes, lost in some reverie spurred by the flavor of the food. Omansinger knew that this was the time to make his move.
She opened her eyes and shoveled in two more spoonfuls and then glanced up at the bard to see if he was watching her. Her stomach full at last, she leaned back with a mug of hot spiced cider in her hand and propped her feet up on a chair, crossing her booted ankles. She took a swig of her cider and then smiled at the minstrel in the corner. He sure was nice to look at, she thought.
But as she looked to his seat he was no longer there. while her eyes were closed he had slipped away into the shadows of the common room.
As she looked at the seat he was formerly occupying, he suddenly spoke to her in a somewhat playful but sonorous voice from just behind her line of sight as he stood by the side of the large stone mantle piece,
"Normally I would have suggested a crisp white wine for lamb, however at this time of the morning I believe the cider is an excellent choice."
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Feb 8, 2010 6:46:21 GMT -5
Lea wondered where he had gone so suddenly and looked around the room, slightly disappointed that he had left. Suddenly a very pleasant voice from slightly behind her made her jump slightly.
"Normally I would have suggested a crisp white wine for lamb, however at this time of the morning I believe the cider is an excellent choice."
She turned her head and looked up into his handsome face and smiled as she studied him openly, suggestively. Her eyes twinkled and she nodded her head to the seat she had her feet propped up on as she lowered them to the floor and sat up straight. She artfully took a deep breath to draw his attention to her cleavage as she gestured toward the chair.
In her most seductive voice, she said, “Well, then by all means, join me.” She tilted her head and smiled at him sideways. Glancing at the bar she motioned for the barkeep to bring over another mug.
Aside from the obvious physical attraction she felt toward the man, she was wondering if he had heard anything about the Gray Lady. Bards were fonts of information. It just took some time to coax out of them exactly what you wanted. This particular bard looked to be as smooth an operator as they came.
She held out her hand to him, “My name is Lea.” The barkeep arrived and set the mug of spiced cider on the table before her and she handed him a copper piece with her other hand, never taking her eyes off the bard’s eyes. She didn’t want him disappearing on her just yet and was a little startled that he had gotten that close and she hadn’t heard him. She must be tired
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on Feb 8, 2010 9:43:31 GMT -5
Omensinger looked down at her lovely upturned face and he saw her eyes virtually drinking him in as she openly swept them up his form and rested at his face. The smile she gave him, mixed with the capricious look in her sparkling eyes, was intoxicating.
As she indicated the seat next to her and removed her graceful black booted foot, Omensinger noticed a rise in her bosom as she breathed and her sensuous breasts almost seemed to be in danger of "spilling over" her tight bodice like the head on a mug of fine ale.
“Well, then by all means, join me.” she said seductively to him and tilted her head with a smile.
He realized that this coquettish look had been an attempt to draw a masculine response and realizing that he was in great danger of giving her just what she was looking for, he smoothly glided into the chair she had offered him.
"Thank you Milady you are most kind." He said with a warm smile in his eyes that tugging slightly at the corner of his dark, well groomed mustache.
As she motioned to the barkeep to bring another mug of cider he took the opportunity to study her face closely, noting each tiny detail and he realized that she looked somewhat familiar to him.
"Not likely! you would have remembered this one had you ever met."
When she turned back again to engage him with her eyes, she offered him her hand and said,
“My name is Lea.”
"Lea," he repeated and let the word roll off his tongue with a musical lilt.
"What a beautiful name!" he said with a dreamy sincerity as he took her hand in his and raised it to his lips in a courtly kiss as is done in Gallica.
As he pressed his lips gently to her hand he felt the warmth of her skin inhaling slightly to receive her delicate scent.
As he slowly lowered her hand from his lips he intoned,
"I am called Omensinger, but in your presence Lady, I am called fortunate!" he said with another twinkling smile.
The barkeep came and put the mug on the table, in his peripheral vision Omensinger saw the character roll his eyes somewhat and stifle a chuckle at the bard, as he had seen this type of introduction before. Omensinger did not break the intent gaze in which he was engaged with the mesmerizing Lea. She handed the man a copper dismissively and he quickly scurried off.
The bard took the mug and raised it to her in a casual toast and said,
"Salute" in a fluent Gallic accent.
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Feb 9, 2010 10:24:16 GMT -5
Lea hadn’t missed the look the barkeep had shot Omensinger and she had no doubts that the handsome bard had played this roll hundreds of times before in his travels as a minstrel. He was confident and suave and though she giggled at his words, she inwardly scored him one point for flattery.
She raised her mug in answer to his toast and took another sip of the warm cider, watching him over the rim of the mug. He really did have the most amazing eyes. She found herself staring at them, the mug held to her lips but she had forgotten about it. After a few moments she realized she had been lost in his eyes and she sat the mug down and then sat up straight and waggled her shoulders to help clear her head.
“So did you entertain the patrons here all night? I see you have an instrument.” Her eyes dropped down to his belt and then back to his eyes and she winked at him, a teasing smile playing around the corners of her mouth.
The way he was devouring her with his eyes made Lea flush with warmth as she ran her eyes over his pleasant form in return. She hadn’t had this much fun flirting with a man in a long time.
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on Feb 9, 2010 18:16:27 GMT -5
“So did you entertain the patrons here all night? I see you have an instrument.” Her eyes dropped down to his belt and then back to his eyes and she winked at him, a teasing smile playing around the corners of her mouth.
Omesinger cocked an eyebrow at her innuendo and was amused by her boldness. However self-consciousness was not one of character flaws. As an entertainer he was used to the kind of attention that he was receiving and loved to play to an audience, even an audience of one.
"No Lea my instrument has not left its bag all evening, as when it does it is usually an all night affair." he said with a wry smile.
"I did however recite some poetry and told some stories, most of them not fit to repeat in the company of a lady, but you know how sailors are....you must give an audience what they want, while leaving them begging for more."
It was now his turn to drink in the shapely form of Lea's body until his eyes climbed up to hers and fixed her with a penetrating gaze.
"Business or pleasure?" he asked her abruptly. and sat waiting for her repost
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Feb 10, 2010 0:11:07 GMT -5
Lea grinned at his not so subtle play on words. He really was a rascal! She took another sip of her cider to keep from laughing in delight at his wit.
“…you must give an audience what they want, while leaving them begging for more." He said to her.
Lea nearly choked on her cider in her effort to keep from giggling like a school girl. She set the mug back onto the table, running a fingertip lightly around the rim, apparently absent-mindedly.
“Indeed!” She agreed with a mischievous glint in her eye. “A very sound policy.” So sound in fact, that she planned to employ that very same principle in her dealings with him. However she sensed that he would be a tricky one to reel in when she went fishing for information. Aware of his intent gaze upon her, Lea leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. Her skirt pulled up of it’s own accord, exposing her boots up to just below her knees.
"Business or pleasure?" he asked her abruptly. and sat waiting for her repost
Lea pursed her lips and looked thoughtful for a moment, considering all the possible inuendos of his question and to stall for time she took another sip of her cider and looked into the cup that was nearly empty now.
“Is there a difference?” She quipped finally. Then to throw him a bone, and fish for a little information she said, “Actually I was just watching the ships coming and going, up and down the river.” Her eyes gleamed as she gave him a smile.
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on Feb 10, 2010 9:26:00 GMT -5
“Is there a difference?” She quipped finally. Then to throw him a bone, and fish for a little information she said, “Actually I was just watching the ships coming and going, up and down the river.” Her eyes gleamed as she gave him a smile.
"I would imagine the only difference would be in the company you keep while engaged in it." Omensinger said his expression a bit more serious, his eyes still as intense.
She was intoxicating to him, and the repartee of their flirting stimulated his mind as well as his body. He watched her delicate finger tracing circles on the rim of her cider mug and felt a pang of jealousy. "That a mug should be so fortunate." He thought of those fingers and the pleasure they looked as though they could give, and his imagination started to develop pictures in his mind about the comely vixen in front of him.
"En guarde monsieur!" came a voice from within him.
He had heard it in the voice of many an enraged husband and lover but this time it was the voice of Jean-Emile his fencing master. He saw his stern face and long gray hair, his sharp goatee and flowing mustache, his eyes flashing as quickly as had his rapier.
"You must stay in the moment "ecosse" you must concentrate not upon the sword in the hand, but upon the poniard in the other! Battles can be finished by the blade but they are begun in the heart and fought in the mind do not drift or you will be run through!"
Omansinger snapped back to reality though all of this had transpired in an instant and was hopefully covered by the deep drought of cider he had just imbibed.
"So...I watch birds for their beauty and admire beauty in a woman, however I seldom watch ships unless I am interested in their cargo. 'Twas a fair cold night for such nautical admiration, what vessels did your lovely eyes detect through the veil of darkness Lea?"
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Feb 18, 2010 22:35:18 GMT -5
'Twas a fair cold night for such nautical admiration, what vessels did your lovely eyes detect through the veil of darkness Lea?"
Lea smiled and thought to herself, 'ah ha! He goes fishing himself.' She then studied him in detail as her training had prepared her, this time looking at him with a critical eye as to his really purpose. To all outward signs he seemed to be just a minstrel. Still she had the feeling that she should choose her words carefully.
"Actually there were three ships that set sail. Two I know of, but the third I have never heard of." She leaned forward, nearly touching his cheek with her nose and whispered, "tell me, have you heard anything about a ship named 'The Gray Lady'?" Lea breathed the name in his ear, intending to scramble his wits with her nearness. Perhaps, if she were lucky, he wouldn't be thinking so clearly and would not hide anything he knew from her.
Of course she had no reason to think he would hide something, but Dougal's paranoia tended to over shadow the training they received in the SWC so that by the time one graduated, they tended to be overly paranoid too. Lea was no exception. Besides, it was just pure fun to mess with Omensinger this way and it also gave her the chance to drink in his smell.
She pulled back just far enough to look him in the eyes as she waited for his answer.
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on Feb 28, 2010 0:03:24 GMT -5
"Actually there were three ships that set sail. Two I know of, but the third I have never heard of." She leaned forward, nearly touching his cheek with her nose and whispered, "tell me, have you heard anything about a ship named 'The Gray Lady'?" Lea breathed the name in his ear, intending to scramble his wits with her nearness."
Her nearness was a bit disconcerting but instead of having a confusing effect on Omensinger he felt his mind rush to full consciousness as though his veins all opened slightly allowing an extra flood of oxygenated blood to flow to his brain.
"Lea," He said as he turned his face toward the lips that were now so close to his ear that he could feel her warm breath, He locked his eyes upon her with a piercing gaze and bringing his lips within a few inches of her face said in a conspiratorial whisper,
"If you truly wish to find out there are several people I can think of that may be able to help you. You might try the harbormaster, though he is a bit difficult to ply for such information without a good bit of food and wine, or you might try Jumal the boss of the longshoreman as the ship may have been loaded by them, but for my money I would go to Preston the chandler. He is a friend of mine and I'm sure he would know something of this ship that may help you, or know someone who does."
He sat back a bit on his chair and drained his mug, never breaking the gaze he had engaged in with the curious woman.
"I would be delighted to introduce you to him, in fact he was here last night and said he would be getting in to the chandlery early this morning to complete some other business, so he left a bit earlier than usual. I would think he should be getting there about now. If you are sated by your breakfast I would enjoy a bit of fresh air and a stroll with a lovely young lady along the waterfront."
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Mar 12, 2010 23:01:00 GMT -5
"Lea," He said as he turned his face toward the lips that were now so close to his ear that he could feel her warm breath, He locked his eyes upon her with a piercing gaze and bringing his lips within a few inches of her face said in a conspiratorial whisper,...
Lea focused on his luscious lips for a moment, nearly missing what he was saying because she was so mesmerized by his nearness. She felt a warm flush at his breath on her face. Her tactic to disorient him was thwarted as his nearness affected her far more than it appeared she affected him. 'Gee, he is one smooth operator!' she thought and then focused on his words.
"...If you are sated by your breakfast I would enjoy a bit of fresh air and a stroll with a lovely young lady along the waterfront."
"A Chandler? What does a chandler do?" She was not at all familiar with nautical terms or anything having to do with ships, the sea or even fishing. "If you think he might know, I would welcome the introduction."
She motioned the barmaid over and ordered a few sweet cakes for the "road". "I would also welcome a stroll along the river with such a dashing escort!" She smiled at him, resting her chin on her hand as she waited for the maid to bring back the sweet rolls all wrapped up individually and placed carefully in a linen bundle. She paid the barmaid and then stood up. "I thought perhaps your friend might like a breakfast pastry." She winked at him, and said, "Very well, Omensinger. Let us go see this friend of yours and perhaps you can tell me all about what Chandler's do. I know so little about ships." Lea tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and walked as close to him as propriety would allow.
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on Apr 8, 2010 19:50:02 GMT -5
"Very well, Omensinger. Let us go see this friend of yours and perhaps you can tell me all about what Chandler's do. I know so little about ships." Lea tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and walked as close to him as propriety would allow.
They got up from the table and headed for the door, a few of the local patrons picked up their heads and gave winks or nudges to their comrades at the two of them sauntering off together but Omensinger paid them no heed.
He was in fact feeling rather good about the morning so far and was very happy to have such a beauty on his arm as he left the tavern.
Not only was she alluring physically, but she fascinated him on an intellectual level as well.
Who was she? What was she up too?
His curiosity was peaked and matched his general arousal equally.
He had dismissed the idea he had first had of her being an expensive streetwalker or even a courtesan, despite her saucy verbal fencing and the fact that she had spent the night out of doors.
She was much too focused to be a bored wife or courtly lady out for a dalliance.
There was something else, he could not quite put his finger on it yet but she seemed to be a professional, of that he had no doubt.
"So Lia, you are looking for a ship, but you are not experienced in the ways of shipping, I will therefore tell you what I know as I am not a total stranger to the waterfront, but am no sailor myself. A chandler like my friend Preston is one who provisions a ship and coordinates the services that a vessel may need while in port. So along with the goods he provides at a healthy profit, he also expedites and collects a fee for arranging things like carpentry, sail and canvas work, and other refitting and refurbishing a ship may need before putting out from port. If your mysterious vessel had anything done to it, or took on any goods or supplies Preston will most likely know of it as well as who performed the work. He is a good one for information, if there is something to know on the waterfront he most likely knows it or knows who does."
He looked at her to see what his explanation was eliciting in her and when he was satisfied that his information was received he said in a conspiratorial whisper:
"Preston is a bit younger than I and kind of looks up to me as a big brother type, but do not be fooled he is very bright if a bit naive regarding the fairer sex, so handle him gently and bolster his confidence without challenging his manhood. He inherited the entire operation from his father who was very savvy and sat at his feet to learn the trade from the time he was a young boy."
At that he strolled up a smaller side street and to a green clapboarded building and went up to the large back door opening it for Lia to walk through and pointed up the long flight of stairs that lead immediately from the door to the upper parts of the building.
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Apr 9, 2010 19:18:11 GMT -5
Lea didn't miss the looks and snickers as they left the tavern, but she chose to pretend she hadn't noticed them.
"So Lia, you are looking for a ship, but you are not experienced in the ways of shipping,..." Omensinger said and Lea smiled at his confusion and obvious baiting her for information. She knew he was trying to figure her out and she was having a great time keeping him guessing. She held her tongue and let him continue his explanation.
She had recalled hearing of a Chandler once, but really did not have any idea as to their duties. She listened with great interest as they made their way along the street.
"...If your mysterious vessel had anything done to it, or took on any goods or supplies Preston will most likely know of it as well as who performed the work. He is a good one for information, if there is something to know on the waterfront he most likely knows it or knows who does." Omensinger finished and looked at her to see if she understood.
Lea nodded thoughtfully and then smiled at him. "That is wonderful.. though it isn't 'my' ship you know." she teased. "Though I don't know much about sailing, I do like to watch the ships coming and going. Call it a hobby. ... I love to see what cargo they unload. Sometimes one can get a good deal on trinkets or goods at the time they are unloaded; saves the owner on storage and shipping." She winked at him. Maybe he would think she was a merchant or purchasing agent for someone.
"So I know most of the ships that put in here on a regular basis. Whenever an unknown ship pulls in, I find it terribly interesting. When they off-load a bunch of mysterious cargo in the cover of darkness and shuffle some of it onto another ship and then take on new cargo and immediately shove off to sea again... well, that is downright intriguing."
There, let him chew on that for a moment. "I hope your friend can shed some light on it." She smiled as he led her toward a green building. "Though I will admit to being surprised if he knows about it. The whole operation seemed to be rather - clandestine." She followed him to the back side of the building, wondering what he was thinking now. She had just dropped a nice tidbit of information for his benefit. Would that make him more curious, or did he know something about the Gray Lady? What if he knew and was taking her someplace to find out what she really knew? She shook her head mentally, no. Dougal's paranoia was definitely catching.
"Preston is a bit younger than I and kind of looks up to me as a big brother type, but do not be fooled he is very bright if a bit naive regarding the fairer sex, so handle him gently and bolster his confidence without challenging his manhood. He inherited the entire operation from his father who was very savvy and sat at his feet to learn the trade from the time he was a young boy." He whispered in her ear.
Lea winked at him, "I promise, I will be gentle." She caressed his arm under her fingertips and smiled suggestively. "There is always time for ... rough-housing once one gets to know each other." She looked up into his gorgeous eyes and was lost for a moment.
Suddenly she realized that they were at a back door to the building and she was facing up a stairway to the upper floor. She looked up the stairs and then back at him, her innate paranoia telling her to take a moment to examine the situation.
She looked at him sideways, her eyebrow raised. Though she was no stranger to the ways of street life, she had always thought twice about entering an upstairs room with a complete stranger. She listened for a moment as she studied his face. There were no clues in it. If he were up to something sinister, it didn't show.
Well, she had been in stickier situations on many an occasion. She was confident she could handle herself should he be leading her into some kind of trap. Why he would do so didn't even make sense. There was no motivation as far as she could tell. Well, she could think of a couple of things but it would have been far easier for him to just drug her drink if he wanted to kidnap her and sell her into slavery. And she had already been down that road before.
Wrenching her thoughts away from her brief stint at The Arena, she decided he was on the up-and-up and smiled at him. Hitching her skirt up nearly to her knees (so she wouldn't trip of course) with one hand, she clutched onto his arm with the other and started up the stairs. She kept her ears open, though, just in case there was someone waiting at the top that intended her harm. She doubted it, but one could never be too careful, especially around handsome men.
As she ascended the stairs, she thought about Omensinger and how she had not yet heard him sing. An unusual thing for a bard. Normally one could not keep them from singing, even at the most inopportune moments. Perhaps there was much more to him than being a bard.
He exuded confidence, but he also carried himself as if he were no stranger to fighting. Perhaps. She couldn't quite figure out what it was about him that made her think there was much more to him than met the eye. Only one thing she did know; she was going to have a great time finding out about him.
|
|