Search and rescue

“Now,” Redmond began, having savoured the taste of the meat and the wine for a few moments, “I’m certain that the way in which I have approached you, and the atmosphere in which we have been conversing thus far has made it quite clear to you that discretion is the prime quality being asked from in regards to what I am to tell you?”

“But of course, I’m not a fool, and you wouldn’t be here if you had reached a differing conclusion.” Riolta replied, she too then enjoying a small quantity of the wine in her glass.

“Undoubtedly so,” Redmond admitted, with a smile, “and since that is the case, I will now speak plainly to you.”

Finally, Riolta thought to herself. There was something about this Redmond character which left her unsettled as well as intrigued, the older man seeming quite pleased with producing the image of him as a man totally wrapped in a state of laidback nonchalance in relations to the his interaction with her. But at the same time, the discrete gazes with which he would scrutinize the room at regular intervals, and the barely noticeable shifting of his body each time that their waiter reappeared at their secluded table told Riolta that this was a man who retained his vigilance at all times.

Or maybe not at all times, she added and allowed herself a faint smile, expecting that the vision of her sitting across the table from him, clad in her sheer black dress which only seemed to further highlight her enticingly fit and spectacularly nubile physical charms would at least have caused some blood to flow down from his head to cock.

And to think that all she had to do to find out would be to lift up her leg and gently rub her foot against his lap.

Still, that could wait, she concluded, as Redmond seemed as though he was about to continue.

“Certainly, it is no great surprise to a woman that has seen as much of the world as you that the lands directly to the north of Tharros are fractured into virtually hundreds of small fiefs, tribes, clans and lawless, disorganized areas?”

“It is not.” Riolta replied, suppressing a smirk at the last category of government that Redmond had mentioned. That was how nobles described those towns and shires which’s populace felt no need to have an uptight arse tell them what to do in return for him or her taking a tenth or so of what they earned with their sweat and blood.

“And in such an area, it is sadly often the case that a brutal, savage individual can seize power in one area and then set out to subject those around him.”
Merely by admitting that some nobles could be selfish and brutish, Redmond had improved himself in Riolta’s eyes.

“Such is the way things sometimes are, I’m afraid.” Riolta replied coolly, once again downing a small trickle of wine.

“One such individual has done more than so, however. This character of which I’m now speaking has come up with the perverse idea that he can kidnap the High Regent’s niece and hold her for ransom. And it goes without saying that such arrogance must be handled with both **** and subtleness.”

“I sense that this is the part of your tale where little me comes waltzing in.” Riolta remarked, and was pleased to see Redmond responding with a dry smile before carrying on.

“Indeed. Naturally, this hostage crisis puts Dacca in dangerous circumstances. Should he relent, and pay what the kidnapper demands in return for his niece’s safe return, he would appear weak in the eyes of many of Tharros’ higher circles.
On the other hand, should he allow his niece to be murdered by the kidnapper, he would risk being perceived as impotent or callous instead.”

“I was under the impression that callousness was generally seen as an admirable trait in someone involved in politics.”

“In concerns to your loyal subjects, particularly the commoners, then certainly. But stoically allowing your own flesh and blood to be murdered is generally considered as taking that trait a tad too far.” There was an underlying current in Redmond’s voice, Riolta thought, anger perhaps?

“And you want me to save Dacca’s young niece, I’d imagine?”

“Yes.” Redmond answered, spinning his now empty wine glass in his grip, “But there’s another thing to it. Riolta, his niece was taken here, in the city, from her own quarters no less. I find it highly unlikely that an unwashed, semi-barbarian warlord would be able to pull something like that off without some powerful sponsors.”

“Ah, so you want me to save the girl and expose whoever it is that is acting the role of the grey cardinal?”

“Yes.”

“I see. Does she have a forename, this young Miss Dacca?”

“Kaelyn.”

“Well then,” Riolta said, leaning forwards over the table so that Redmond could get a closer look at her angelic face and the impressive contours of her ripe, full breasts,
“I shall soon set out to save Kaelyn.”

“Doing it on your own might prove a bit much, some assistance might be needed.” Redmond’s eyes seemed to sparkle with lust for a brief moment as he watched Riolta lean her supple frame forwards.

“Do you have any suggestions?” Riolta asked him.