The Lounge

[The Forgotten God]

Alec chuckled. “I’ve got plenty more to do than worry about you like a mother hen,” he promised. “There’s still business and Ive still got a ship to outfit for a future endeavor, but if your friends are so appalling I must confess to some interest. But,” he rose and kissed her hand like a true gentleman, “if you need to find me I guess I’m not going to be too strenuous to look for,” he concluded.

[Justine-Juliette de Vair]

“Good. I’ve got enough to worry about already!” She stood with him and let him kiss her hand. It almost as if nothing had changed, but of course it all had. “Do stop in when you have time. It really has been a pleasure to meet you. Maybe I’ll call on you in the next few days. Always good to have a few more friends in the city.”

With that, she let him leave and retired to her room upstairs (avoiding mirrors all the way...for some reason they were everywhere here).

[Silvia Raizer]

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A few days after their last discussion, Silvia arrived and asked for Ceutinde.

[Ceutinde]

Silvia was shown to a comfortable couch near a fireplace and brought a drink. After a few minutes, Ceutinde swept into the lounge.

"You see dear, you can just turn up and I'll be ready at a moment's notice." She bent down to kiss the bard on the cheek and took a seat on another couch opposite, crossing her legs and leaning forward attentively. "Tell me about this new connection. Is it romantic in nature? Did you seduce him and wring out all his secrets? Is he now a slave to your feminine wiles?"

[Silvia Raizer]

Silvia smiled. "Something like that. I reckon I gave him the best sex he'd ever had. I wasn't planning to have sex with him but we both enjoyed it and I got him to do what I wanted. The connection with Distennian was an unexpected bonus, but I think it's worth following up. If we can sow discord between Master Canelo and Distennian, it will surely go some way towards achieving our aims. Canelo is too ambitious to put his money where it could get him into trouble, I'm certain of it. The thing I'm not certain of - and it was too risky to ask - was whether he knows what Distennian is actually doing."

[Ceutinde]

Ceutinde raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "I'm sorry, who's Canelo? Besides a good lay."

[Silvia Raizer]

"A merchant, he sells herbs and minerals, things for wizards, and presumably alchemists too. His speciality is Mistroses and he seems to be very successful. I saw some letters while I was at his house - he's in business with Distennian. He's using the scoundrel's ships to move his goods. If we give him reason to believe Distennian's in trouble, he'll surely switch to another fleet."

[Ceutinde]

"Ah! Lovely. Should be some whispers growing in volume as we speak, and hopefully this Canelo will hear tell of them." She leaned forward even further and said in a whisper, "But how was it for you, dear? Did he move your goods, if you take my meaning?"

[Silvia Raizer]

"He did." She smiled secretively and drank a little wine, enjoying the moment. "He was much better than I anticipated. I wanted to hate him, you know, but I rather liked him, and I believe I was able to help him become a better person. Maybe a better lover, too." She smirked.

"So the rumours are already in motion then? That's good."

[Ceutinde]

"They should be. These things take some time." Ceutinde replied, vaguely waving her hand. "I try not to get too involved in all the details." A waiter delivered a glass to her and she held it out to clink with Silvia's. "But here's to your successful seduction. I can offer a pallette-cleanser if you like. Or several."

[Silvia Raizer]

"I appreciate the offer, but I'm not looking for sex at the moment. I'm well satisfied in that respect and I've got a few things to deal with. One day, perhaps, if I'm inclined to learn something new. I bet your people could teach me a few things."

She stopped a moment then fished in her bag and handed over a small purse. "Here, a donation to the house."

[Ceutinde]

Ceutinde raised an eyebrow, but took the purse. "Thank you, Silvia. Should I ask where it came from?"

[Silvia Raizer]

"From the expedition payment, of course." Silvia smiled earnestly. "I mean, I can always sing some more songs to make more money, and you do valuable work here. Besides, I'm hoping to go on some more expeditions after my trip to Edysse. I'm going to be more selective about the jobs I take, in the future."

The incident after her last jaunt as Johanna had shocked her, and though she couldn't tell Ceutinde about that, she thought it was time for a change in her circumstances.

"Oh," she said suddenly.  "I almost forgot.  Canelo and Distennian are apparently meeting at Anselmo's restaurant today.  I thought that would be worth investigating.  I can't go myself, of course, but Canelo will recognise me, but if there's someone you can send, we might learn something useful."

[Ceutinde]

She smiled at the news. "At Anselmo's? Very exclusive. And I haven't been in some time. I'm thinking I might just see about getting a table nearby, myself. You're sure you can't? Even if dinner's on me?"

[Silvia Raizer]

Silvia sighed. "I wish I could, but, don't forget, Robert Canelo saw me naked - there's no way he'd fail to recognise my face. Even a wig and makeup would probably be too risky, in the circumstances. I can't give him reason to suspect I know about the letters, or he might fail to honour a personal agreement we made. Besides, my sister is lodging in a room there, and if she spotted me, awkward questions might be asked."

She frowned, puzzling it over. "Unless...Ceutinde, you know much more about sorcery than I do, but I've heard there's a branch of magic in which a person can change their form. If you know of a way I can temporarily change my appearance through magic, I'd be happy to go with you."