For now

When you reach the square in front of Lady Relia's estate you get a look at the size of the mansion behind its high walls. Damn! You had no idea.

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 Relia and Vitaliya to your side and stroke their naked flanks possessively to remind them both of their new status. Relia seems perfectly content to let you be in charge, the young widow is less accepting but at least her chubby-cheeked son 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.

"Your Ladyship!" The balding man in his late fifties who opens the door is probably not expecting to see his mistress naked and in your arms. However, he bows to you in greeting - the precise distance due to a Rider, but not a hair more. "We've been informed to expect your arrival, Sir." He hesitates for an instant before adding, "We were not expecting the young one. Perhaps ..." Lady Relia's former 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, "Lady Relia here can give us a tour of her house and then perhaps Vitaliya can be shown to her quarters, and she can see to getting this handsome young devil settled down."

"Very well, Sir." The man replies without emotion, and you wonder how Relia's household will feel about having a baby in the 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 follow Relia into the vestibule. A serving girl scurries up out of nowhere and presses a house robe into her mistresses' hands. Technically, as your property, Relia should not be wearing clothing without your permission, but if you are going to run this household, you need the servants to be on your side.

The newly clothed Relia leads you through a 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 were two or three other ledges only slightly lower that could be used if more than one Rider was here at the same time.

By the time you had recover from your surprise at the size and wealth of Relia's estate, you had crossed the central gardens and were approaching the southern atrium where you are joined by Vitaliya still carrying her now resting babe in her arms. Relia in her expensive silks turns to meet your gaze and lifts her eyes to meet yours.

"Do you like it, Korban." Relia asks shyly as she places her soft hand against your chest. "Do you think you could be the lord and master of this estate with me and this pretty High Rider's young widow, to use as you please?"

"Lady Relia." Vitaliya bows very low in a sign of obedience - she clearly does not believe that Relia could be a common **** in her own estate, she should have fallen to her knees, - before slowly straightening again presenting her new mistress with the boy in her arms. "Rider Korban 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."