Zephyr's Residence: Raisa, Zhen, and others...

[Zhen nó La Valette]

We came toward my Master's residence, and I led them up to the front porch. I knocked on the door, feigning as if it was not my residence as well.

I turned toward those who were following me, "I am sure you will find the answers you need." I wanted to assure them that they had not made this trip for naught.

[Raisa Valois]

She led us to a nice looking residence, not one that seemed to belong to someone of poorer standing, and knocked on the door with familiarity. It seemed she came here often and I nodded at her words.

[Zephyr de La Valette]

"Zephyr," Tillonius's expression was grave, but the man's expression seldom changed when he was discussing business. "Zhen has arrived, with some unknowns."

I stroked my chin thoughtfully. "No, I trust Zhen knows enough to not bring hostile persons here. Bid them enter."

Tillonius nodded and went to admit Zhen and her guests, and I did not miss how his bronzed muscles fairly rippled when he walked. Ah, such skin! Not tanned, by no means, no, he had been born sun-kissed.

I smiled to myself, thinking of other kisses that had graced that skin, but that was for a different time. Now, I schooled my expression to something a little more neutral, then waited patiently for Zhen and the others to arrive.

[Zhen nó La Valette]

When we were allowed in, I followed the servant to the sitting room. As we entered, I spoke softly, "Good day, Lord Valette. I found some patrons who have a need for information. I suspect that you might be able to help them out."

I introduced the man and woman not too far from me, "This is Raisa and Erik."

[Raisa Valois]

We were shown into a room where a man sat, something slightly exotic about his appearance. Probably the green eyes. I gave a curtsey. "Lord Valette."

He did not look like one of the gentry, though he was well dressed. I did not know how these dealings went, so I waited to follow his lead.

[Zephyr de La Valette]

I rose as Zhen arrived with two visitors--Raisa and Erik--apparently, names that, while uncommon enough, were not to be found in the annals of my memory. New customers, then, such unfamiliarity could be exploited.

"Come in, my lady, my lord," I said solicitously, gesturing to the chairs arranged before my desk. "Thank you, Zhen, you may leave now, if you wish." I glanced towards the door, where Tillonius stood, silent as a statue. "Bring us some refreshments, if you please," I said in a pleasant tone of voice which silently communicated that he was not, under any circumstances, to order the refreshments tampered with in any way, poison was a messy business, even when dealing with enemies.

I sat down again, folded my hands and rested them upon my desk. "Now, let me guess why you are here. You are here because you require information, secrets, rumors, information, perhaps, of a delicate nature. However..." I idly twisted my mother's signet ring in my fingers, the same one which I had taken back from the former Lord of La Valette. "My services, as you can imagine, can be quite costly, and unless you are noble born wandering the streets in commoners' garb, that begs the question as to who would be so desperate as to seek the help of the Spider. Quite curious, from my perspective." I rested my hands against my desk again, a slow smile spreading across my lips. "Putting matters of expense aside for the moment: How may I help you this evening?"

[Raisa Valois]

He was an observant man, and observant men were dangerous. I had never heard of the Spider before, the name he gave to himself, but I suppose like the insect he had a far reaching network that could turn on us in a second. I was glad of Eric's presence nearby.

"Money is no object, but we do seek some information about a missing noblewoman, and a certain dubious character."

This Lord Valette seemed a self serving person and as long as his interests coincided with ours we were safe. I decided to be as vaguely honest to begin with as possible.

[Zephyr de La Valette]

I smiled. "There are many, many noblewomen in this city, and no doubt many are missing in these turbulent times, and even more characters of...dubious reputation..." I let my shoulders rise and fall in a slight shrug. "That is quite a lot of information to obtain, and would cost about the same as a queen's ransom, I expect." I cocked my head to the side, as if trying to recall a detail I had forgotten. "Last I heard, the queen is most certainly not missing, so I would imagine that I am to look for something more specific, specificity, you will find, is much less expensive."

I smiled, showing my perfectly white teeth, which I kept fastidiously clean. "'Tis not a problem, I assure you, I do consider myself to be quite the patient man."

[Zhen nó La Valette]

Zhen gave a curtsy and then left the room and left the residence. She had done her job and she hoped that it would turn into a tidy profit for him, putting her in his good graces. She made her way back down the street of Night's Doorstep.

[Raisa Valois]

I noticed Zhen slip out of the room from the corner of my eye, but all the while kept my attention focused on Valette. He reminded me somewhat of a siren, beautiful but deadly, as though he would play with us before tearing us to shreds. For all my consternation, I merely blinked and nodded.

"I shall narrow down the parameters for you then. We are looking for a Serinissiman noblewoman who disappeared at the time of the plague, and information on a man named Florence Danton," then, after a moment of hesitation, I threw in another name on pure instinct. "And another man by the name of Marat."

I looked at him directly then. "If you could provide us with substantial knowledge on any of those counts, we would be greatly in your debt."

[Zephyr de La Valette]

Ah, now here were some names I recognized, and suddenly the pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fall into place. The picture they revealed was an interesting one.

"Hm, interesting," I said, mulling over how much I wanted to reveal to the pair and deciding that it would be unwise to show my full hand. "Actually, quite interesting, from my perspective..." Such information had the potential to compromise certain business deals of mine, but I was not in the habit of feeling morally indebted to anyone.

Besides, if my guess was correct, there was the potential for substantial compensation in this endeavor.

"I might know something," I said at last. "However, such knowledge comes with a price, and that price, I'm afraid, will not be a small one. There are many threads to this web, after all, and a single tug on one thread disturbs the others." I held up a hand to halt any reply. "As well, I am not a man to depend upon another's good faith for compensation. I am certain you must understand that aspect of business. However, since I am also aware that you have no reason to trust me, I will give you this tidbit at no cost."

Tillonius returned at that moment bearing a flagon of good wine--not my best vintage, of course, but something suitable for guests. He poured me a generous portion, which I drank, if only to reassure my guests that it was not poisoned.

"Ah, thank you, Tillonius," I said, dismissing the Tiberian with a nod. "Do have a drink," I remarked to my guests, enjoying the last moment of leisure before I settled down to business.

"Now, before my servant interrupted us, I believe I had promised to tell you something about those persons of interest you seem so keen to find. Well, my dear, perhaps you will count yourself fortunate, a man named Marat darkened my threshold not a fortnight ago--on business unrelated to your plight, I assure you."

[Raisa Valois]

I nodded in thanks at the serving man, Tillonius, though I didn't drink anything. Mother said alcohol was an absolute sin and I would rather not have my senses compromised in this situation anyway. When he mentioned Marat I was hard put not to press for further information.

"My thanks," I inclined my head at the morsel of information he gave. "I would ask that in addition to the other information we requested, that you might tell us what sort of business he is involved in." Mightn't be related to us but it was always good to know something. "But I know that you need insurance."

In truth, I did not know how these deals were made, but I knew we wouldn't be hearing anything else of worth unless we had something to give him. "If you are willing, we can come back, with payment of course. Name your price."

[Zephyr de La Valette]

"No less than five hundred gold ducats," I replied smoothly. I knew I could have charged much, much more, but I had no desire to so blatantly antagonize certain affluent individuals, and I knew from experience that servants constantly yapped in their Master's ear like overeager puppies.

"I can wait while you fetch the necessary funds," I offered. "But I would suggest not taking longer than a few days to obtain them. Information, you see, is quite slippery, and I cannot guarantee that someone will not darken my doorstep looking for information regarding certain persons who were asking...delicate questions...about one Marat. Do you understand my meaning?" I took another sip of wine, watching the woman from over the rim of my cup.

[Raisa Valois]

I didn't blink when he mentioned his price, though that was more than anything I could ever envisage. Gil would probably think it nothing though, if it would help to find Cascata.

"I understand perfectly," I nodded, then, gently placing the cup back onto the table, I stood and curtsied. "You will appreciate then, that I must leave now, in order to make the necessary arrangements. I thank you for your hospitality and time."

Then with a glance at my companion, I made ready to leave.

[Zephyr de La Valette]

"Of course," I replied, inclining my head towards the door. "I have all the time in the world to wait, my dear. My clients, regrettably, are on a different schedule." Luckily for her, I had already decided to hold on to this little tidbit of information for awhile. It amused me, sometimes, to follow the threads to their conclusion.