After some hesitation

You find both women just where you left them resting on the great bed where you had so recently enjoyed yourself. Neither of the women had anticipated that you might be returning with company and when Antonios stepped into the room immediately after you he gets to see for himself what had been keeping you so thoroughly entertained while he had been investing Lord Attrenotis's papers. Lady Sophia was wearing the robe you had taken from the closet with the belt only loosely tied around her waist and Adriana was sitting completely naked on the bed with only a sheet draped over her thighs.

"Captain Caderos!" Gasps Adriana as she clutches the sheet to her neck, "you should have warned us."

"Now why-ever would I have done that?" You chuckle "We would have missed out on this lovely sight." You consider for just a heartbeat having both these captives come kneel before you and your man wearing nothing but the blush of shame on their pale skin, but if you are going to find Rastus you will need their cooperation so that lovely idea is shelved for later. "Ladies Sophia and Adriana Atrenotis," you introduce them "this is my man Antonios, he has uncovered a few interesting documents that we were hoping you could help us with."

"Please Captain," Sophia quiets her daughter with a quick touch on her bare shoulder, "I'm not adverse to helping you and your handsome companion with those papers, but I'd like to know what's in it for us?"

"Your husband, Lady Sophia," began Atonios in the urbane tone you've come to learn is really how he speaks and not some affectation, "kept very careful records of many of the women in this city. For example, " He hands her the flyer advertising Amara's sale and the note that she was purchased by Rastus, "he appears to have acquired information that Rastus son of Minos purchased Amara of Heliopolis in a private sale only a little more than a month ago."

"Are you sure?" Sophia looks genuinely surprised as she scans the parchment. "Rastus is well known for his preference for boys, why would he spend -" her eyes drop for a beat to the note "- 500 gold talons for a beautiful young woman?"

"Perhaps as an investment?" As Antonios makes this suggests your eyes flicker back and forth between the two; they are well matched, pale skin, perfectly styled dark hair, and the air of culture and sophistication that you could never match. Sophia glances at you perhaps sensing the intensity of your attention and when her eyes meet yours she blushes and lowers her gaze. No, you may never be as suave as Antonios, but there is little doubt that you've made an impression on the Lady of the house and her eager daughter. With more confidence you throw out your hypothesis.

"Or perhaps Rastus hoped to keep her as an insurance policy in the event that the city did fall to the United Armies."

"But why did my father care about any of this?" Asked Adriana becoming a little annoyed at the mystery. You decide it's time to let Sophia know why her husband was so interested in these matters.

"We believe he intended to open his own **** market and school." Both Adriana and her mother stare at you in surprise.

"What could he have been thinking?" Asks Adriana, "surely the armies of Heliopolis will put an end to the raiding of other cities and the capture of cheap slaves." Antonios gives you the stack of papers he had been holding and you flip through them selecting three or four of the most damning.

You pass the pair on the bed several lists of names "Do any of these names look familiar?"

"I know her, she's gorgeous ... and her too... these are friends of mine," Adriana notes "I know almost all of these names, although most are a few years younger." Meanwhile Sophia has found over a dozen names that she recognizes as well. It takes the women a few moments to realize that the names on the sheets were detailed lists of the most beautiful women of Athenapolis' highest classes. The sheet that had one been held high on Adriana's neck hiding her lovely charms slips to her waist, but she doesn't seem to notice as she looks to you to confirm what she's just deduced.

"Yes," You nod. "We believe your father had a different source in mind for raw slaves." In fact, we believe that he had reached an understanding with Har'Amaden, and that you two were part of the price he was offering for Amaden's support.

"I'll help you Captain." Sophia's face is white and her lips are pale but you can see the determination in her eyes. "I'll do whatever I must to make sure my daughter and I never have to live with that retched man."