Have Sophia write back

"I think you should write to him as yourself." You start slowly "Tell him Lord Attenotis is missing, but that you read his last counter offer." Moving to the desk in the corner of the master bedroom Sophia looks through several small boxes and lifts out a small square of parchment that has been scraped so thin it is translucent.

"Whatever I write needs to fit on this sheet." She says holding it up for you all to see.

"And we should assume that her husband is already with Har'Amaden" adds Attenotis, so she must not deviate too far from the truth." Turning to Sophia he asks her. Imagine we had not captured this estate today, imagine this afternoon you hear the news that the walls have been breached and that you searched your husband's office and found this." He says handing back Poteculus' letter? "What would you say?"

"I'd call him a BASTARD." Sophia replies immediately.

"Good" says Antonios as he gently pushes her into the seat and opens a small jar of ink. "Start with that."

It takes nearly twenty minutes suggestions from all four of you and three different sheets of the thin parchment but you are happy with the words that are written in Sophia's neat lettering.

             You BASTARD!  How dare you even think that my husband 
             would include me in this deal.  I am the mother of his SON!
             It disgusts me to deal with you, but I have no other hope if
            I am to save this family.  Cleon has failed to return from our
            vineyards, so he no longer needs your protection.  

              I will bring you Adriana as you wish, if you SWEAR by the 
             gods that my son and I will be safe in the citadel.  

               Be nice to me I may let you sample some of what you
               tried to buy - BUT I WILL NOT BE A ****.  
               Send word quickly.  It is dangerous to stay here.

Sophia's hands were shaking with emotion by the time the message was finished and it was Antonios who folded the parchment into three and skillfully rolled it into a tight tube. Clearly this was a procedure he was familiar with.

"Where are the birds?" He asks and after a brief pause for the women to dress all four of you headed to the roof. A coop with several sleepy pigeons sat in the shelter of a tower that extended one more floor above you. Most of the birds could come and go as they liked, but in a separate part of the coop, three of the pigeons sat completely penned in. Carefully pulling one of the birds from the cell Antonios slid the parchment roll into the tube on its leg.

"It is best if birds are released at dawn" he says as he holds the pigeon up to the wind, but if this little one only has to get to the Citadel he may make the short flight tonight."

"Now what?" Asks Adriana.

The long day has taken its toll, but you have not forgotten about Anatole's secret apartment or that Amara is somewhere in the city. Placing you hands gently on the two women's waists you guide them back into the house towards your chambers. As you approach the dark double doors that lead to your room Sophia hesitates and then slowly steps towards her chambers.

Sensing her **** to part you catch her hand in yours and draw her gently back to your side. You can see the doubt in her eyes as she glances at you, then Adriana and then back at you again, but after only this slight hesitation she lowers her eyes and both she and her daughter head to the large bed.

"Get some sleep Antonios" you tell your scout "we have a busy day tomorrow."

"You too Captain" he replies with a smirk as he turns down the hallway.

As you admire the two beautiful women climbing onto the bed you wonder if you should take any precautions before you fall asleep. You could easily chain their delicate wrists to the rings on the massive bed; not only would you be safe from late night betrayal, but the sight that would meet your eyes when you awake would be spectacular.