Relia's very pleased

The massive wooden gate swings open slowly, and you have to resist the temptation to rest your hand on the hilt of your sword. Instead, you pull Vitaliya to your side and stroke her naked flank possessively to remind her of her new status. The young widow might be aware of how precarious her position could be, but her chubby-cheeked babe has no such fears. The boy's wandering gaze meets your eyes, and he gurgles happily as his small fist reaches out towards your unshaven face.

"Her Ladyship told me to expect you, Rider." A balding man in his late fifties bows the precise distance due to a Rider, but not a hair more. "She's expecting you in the southern atrium, Sir." He hesitates for an instant before adding, "she said you'd be bringing her a gift, but I don't think she is expecting the young one. Perhaps ..." Lady Relia's butler (for he could be no one else) hesitates when he sees how tightly Vitaliya is clutching the boy and the steely determination your captive has not to be separated from her son.

"It's alright." You attempt to defuse the tension, "We will all go meet Lady Relia and then perhaps Vitaliya can be shown to her quarters, and she can see to letting this handsome devil settled down."

"Very well, Sir." The man replies without emotion, and you wonder how Relia will feel about having a baby in her house, especially the baby of another woman. Before he has a chance to suggest taking your basket with its invaluable contents you gesture for him to proceed, and you tug on Vitaliya's rope lead to get her moving.

The butler leads you through an arched passageway into a large rectangular garden surrounded by three-story buildings on three sides and an open view of the river below on the fourth side. Relia's estate is built into a hill a few blocks from the river below, and you notice with immediate interest the drake tower that overlooks the waterway. From its highest drake ledge, Swiftwing could easily launch himself into flight even while carrying a maximum load; not only that, it looks like there is room for a pair of drakes if more than one Rider was here at the same time.

By the time you have recovered from your surprise at the size and wealth of Relia's estate you had crossed the central gardens and are approaching the southern atrium. As promised, you can see Relia lounging by a pool of water once again wearing the full-length house-robes of a noblewoman.

Any fears you might have had about your reception evaporate when Relia sees you approach and runs to meet you with a delighted squeal. Before you get a chance to be introduced, she throws herself into your arms and kisses you in a manner that would certainly shock many of her friends from just a week ago. By now, you realize with a satisfied grin, nearly all of those elegant women will have been stripped as naked as Vitaliya by their captors and most of them will have been plundered just as thoroughly as you have taken Relia.

"I thought you were going to bring me a servant, Korban." Relia laughs happily as she nestles snugly against your chest and turns her attention to Vitaliya. "Instead, you found a rare bird indeed. This is the High Rider's pretty young widow, isn't it?"

"Lady Relia." Vitaliya bows very low in a sign of obedience - technically as a **** before a wealthy Lady, she should have fallen to her knees; but clearly, she is trying - before slowly straightening again presenting her new mistress with the boy in her arms. "Your Rider has offered to raise my boy as his squire. Do with me as you will, but I beg of you: honor his pledge and I will serve as your obedient **** for as long as you will have me."