Small talk at lunch

You decide to get to know your new assistants and try to calm them down. So you have Galeon clear your tent and order your cooks to bring some food for lunch; while waiting you go over to your swords inspecting the out of habit giving Alexia time and space to approach the twins. Hopefully, they will feel more comfortable about their new positions dealing with a young woman their age than you. As you wait for the food to arrive you silently listen to their gossip as Sara and Mara thinking that whispering to Alexia would keep you from hearing.

"Is it true that Kalion has no slaves?" Mara asks followed quickly by Sara's "Is King Bruce really the son of Athena and Ares?" Allowing Alexia to handle the girls is definitely the right move, and you pretend to ignore the trio as your spymaster answers the young ladies' multiple questions.

"Yes, Mara, slavery was outlawed about 30 years ago under King Achilles reign, and yes to your question too, Sara," she continues, "I believe he is a god himself, but he's only officially recognized as one in Kalion, The Free Tribes east of Kalion, Coreli, and Biessoi." Alexia qualifies her answer.

"If he is not the child of the King or Queen of Kalion how did he become the King?" asks Mara with some doubt." Alexia has doubtlessly answered this question many times in her dealings, and you sit quietly and listen to her recount the now legendary tale.

"About twenty-five years ago, Ladies, the people of Kalion were growing restless at the lack of a crown prince for their city." Alexia explains in the soft clear voice that you've grown to trust, "King Achilles and Queen Karissa tried for years to have children but all were still born so they prayed every night in the Temple of Olympus in Kalion for an heir. Then one cloudless night, a lightning bolt struck the roof of the Temple the people rushed to it thinking there to be a fire but were shocked to find Zeus himself standing in the center of the great hall of worship holding a baby in his hands." The twins are captivated by the account, apparently forgetting all about your presence as Alexia continues. "The great Zeus demanded that the King and Queen become the foster parents of the baby, and raise him to be a good man which they accepted graciously. Before Zeus disappeared, he foretold that the child would be fiercely bold like his father and wise and cunning as his mother, and become a great warrior and leader."

"Wait," asks Sara with surprise, "You're saying that Zeus himself personally handed over King Kalion when he was just a babe?" You hear the cooks bringing the food so you put the swords down and decide to answer the last questions yourself.

"Yes, Lady Sara, my grand father wanted me to be raised away from the bickering of the Gods there is but one Temple in Kalion that represents all of the Gods/Goddess." The girls blush sweetly realizing that you had overheard everything they said, but Alexia laughs easily lightening the moment.

"Come." You direct the pair to the folding chairs you use while campaigning, "The food is almost here. Let's talk about you two for a while." As soon as all are seated, the platters of flatbread, olives and sliced meats are spread out before you, filling a plate you lean back. "So, I know you're from a noble house," you begin gently, "and, judging by how much your father worried, you two must of had a decent upbringing." They nod happily and you smile easily turning on as much charm as you can. "Is there anything you like to do?"

"I like to dance and my sister is a wonderful singer ... " Mara blushes fiercely and her eyes drop to her dainty feet in elegant sandals; in spite of all your assurances, does she think you'll have her dance for you like the half-naked slavegirls that dance at the parties of her city. Before you can reassure her, Alexia abruptly changes the topic.

"So any young men you fancy, boyfriends, suitors ... lovers?" You give your spymaster a sharp look, asking were she's going with this. The twins peer up through their thick lashes in surprise, but shake their heads giving you a glance out of the corners of their green eyes.
"No one?" She teases girlishly, pointedly ignoring your frown. "There must be someone you have your eye on, a wealthy merchant, handsome warrior, or powerful nobleman?" Again the sisters shake their heads and Sara gives a barely perceptible shudder.

"Not one of those noblemen, and certainly not one of the fat merchant lords." Alexia is too good at reading people to let them get away without further questions. She gives you a wink as she probes further. "I don't blame you, but what kind of young men do you hope will come courting?"

The twins look at each other then answer at the same time "Well, there's a certain Rider that we've heard about." Nara is the one to go on for both of them. "There's one we've heard about who's supposed to be really attractive and the stories we heard about him always makes us blush." You shouldn't be surprised; you've discovered that sheltered daughters of protective families in particular dream of the freedom that Riders represent. You are however stunned by what comes next.

"Oh, please tell me about him." Alexia giggles playfully and you remember with a start that the deadly woman that you think of as your level-headed spymaster is at most a year older than these pretty twins. "I love those stories!" Or maybe this is some interrogation strategy that her father taught her.

"Well, there are a few about a wandering Rider flying on a great drake who saves young noblewomen from being **** by wicked bandits, and some of him fighting off slavers intent on **** young ladies from their homes." Mara's eyes are sparkling with excitement "There's the one where he lands his gleaming silver drake right in the middle of an auction and stops the illegal sale of princess of Thebes." Their stories sound like bard's tales based on your adventures, and you have to ask.

"Where did you hear of this Rider?"

"Mostly from a bard at Lady Sabella's, Coming of Age party." Mara confirms your suspicions and Sara jumps in with more information. "He was a little creepy and I saw him grab at some of the girls, but his stories were soooo good, I wonder what happened to him?"

"Who cares about that greasy minstrel," Mara interrupts, "I want to know what happened to Lady Sabella." It takes a few more minutes of persistent questioning to learn the whole story. As far as the sisters know, Regent's only daughter snuck away from the Citadel the day before the walls were breached, and that her father has his men searching everywhere for her ever since.

"I have a picture of her, Sire." Alexia rummages around in a small trunk and surprisingly quickly hands you a small portrait in a heavy gold frame.

Before you can even ask, your spymaster reminds you that you've seen this portrait before about two years ago when an embassy from Athenapolis approached you about a marriage proposal. At the time you made it perfectly clear that you would have nothing to do with a city-state that made so much of its wealth from the sale of human chattel. As you study the small picture again you have to concede that if the artist accurately made the image, that the regent's daughter was indeed as pretty as everyone claims.

Of course, that beauty will only make her fate that much more difficult if she is discovered. The stupid twit should have stayed in the citadel with all the other cowards.