Time to dance

[Roll: 14]

Runa and Patience sat in the noble's carriage, parked in a line behind several other carriages in front of Count Hines' mansion. One by one, other nobles stepped out of their carriages as Runa waited impatiently. "Calm yourself," Patience warned. "You do not want to stand out, it will only draw more problems."

"That's easy for you to say, you're already calm," Runa protested.

"Me? Calm?" Patience asked. She sighed. "Yes, that is the impression I try to give off. But who would be calm when they are bringing a thief to the home of a powerful noble? I am complicit in your crime and could face the same punishments as you, but in spite of my fear I maintain a calm facade. Because showing how nervous I am would only make our efforts more difficult."

Runa took in the other woman's words, and especially the look in her eye. "I'm sorry. You're right. Thank you for taking such a risk for me. I promise, I'll do my best to make sure this succeeds." With that, Runa steeled her features.

Patience seemed relieved, and their carriage pulled forward a bit as one of the ones ahead rode off after letting off its passengers.

The plan was simple: Runa was attending this party at Count Hines' mansion as Patience's attendant. She would use the opportunity to get a lay of the land, learn about the security, and potentially make a move to steal the gavel (if that seemed feasible.) The plan was simple because it needed to be flexible. After all, most of it depended on information that could not be gained without going to the mansion and circumstances that would be unique to the night of the party.

Finally, the carriage that the pair rode in reached the front of the line, and a servant opened the doors for them. Runa stepped out first, then held a hand out to support Patience as she stepped out. Patience then began walking down the long carpet set across the path leading into the mansion's main entry, with Runa a bit to the right and a couple steps behind.

A pair of large and ornate doors were held open by servants, and Patience and Runa stepped through. Just inside, a tall man who was around 30 was greeting the noble who'd come in before them, and he turned and immediately recognized Patience. "Ah, Lady Calmwell, I am glad you could attend tonight. It relieves me to know that that unfortunate business with your father hasn't soured your opinion of me."

Runa's eyes widened slightly, but she was mostly able to keep her expression calm. This was Count Hines, the Minister of Justice who the pair had come to rob. Not only that, he'd made a comment about Patience's father, who'd been recently imprisoned due to the Count himself.

But there wasn't a hint of animosity in Patience's words as she spoke up. "It is good to see you, Count Hines. What happened to my father is unfortunate, but he left you no choice so I do not hold anything against you. Were I in your position, I would have done the same."

Rather than relief, the reaction of a sincere person, the only emotion Runa could read on the man was arrogance. "Yes, it's a shame he was a fool. But there's no need to worry about him anymore. Please, come in and enjoy yourself. I must greet the next guests, but I do hope to have the chance to speak with you longer at a later time."

Patience curtsied, with Runa following suit, and they entered the main hall. Buffet tables had been set up, and doors leading to other parts of the mansion were open, and nobles and their attendants were scattered about.

Once they were out of earshot of the Count, Runa leaned in and whispered, "You feeling alright?"

Patience simply nodded. "Men like him love to hear you agree with them, he couldn't care less about my feelings on the matter outside of that. So it was easier to simply say what he wanted to hear." A hint of emotion, a mix of anger and grief, entered her voice as she said, "We must simply do what we need to. That will show him."

Runa nodded, and the two women considered what the best move to make would be now that they had arrived at the party and could wander.