She asks you to meet her later

Arethousa turns to look at you, and smiles... but it is not an entirely comforting smile. There is almost something predatory about the look in her eyes.

It strikes you, not for the first time of course, what an extraordinarily beautiful woman Arethousa is. She has told you before that her ancestry is mixed; although she has a full record of her maternal line going back over two thousand years, the names of the men in her long family history are lost. As the women who preceded her were all worshipers of Aphrodite - the ancient Greek goddess of Love - they tended to be free and open when it came to sexual relations, so that in many cases it was never clear who the father of a child might be. There is definitely some of the far east in her eyes and skin, while other features seem to be reminiscent of the Anglicans or the Saxons. In a very real way, she represents exactly what Elyssia is all about: the blending of many peoples and cultures into something even finer than the sum of its parts.

"Your Majesty," she says to you, using the more formal title which she hardly ever does, "as it happens, there is something I would ask of you, but it is not something I could discuss here; and in any event, I see that the Sultan of Al-Mansoura is approaching. Perhaps you would be willing to meet me tonight at my rooms above the pools? The festivities of the evening would likely push such a meeting well toward the midnight hour, and so I understand if it is not possible, but tonight really would be best - if I may be so bold."

"Tonight would be -" you begin to say, but then she interrupts.

"And, Sire, I would greatly prefer that the Kingsguard remain at the outer door."

You can't help but be somewhat taken aback. Arethousa has never spoken so presumptuously to you; not even within the walls of the bathing pools, where she does have more authority. Further conversation is interrupted by the Sultan, who comes up to you in his typically loud and boisterous manner, giving you a hug that might have cracked ribs if not for your ceremonial breastplate. He then kisses Arethousa upon both cheeks, and she gives you a look which clearly says, "We'll have to talk about this later."

"Later" takes a while to happen. One of the unfortunate things about being King is that you rarely get to simply enjoy a party; there are people to meet and greet, there is flattery to endure, there are complex names to remember and customs to keep in mind, and you cannot appear to be spending too much time with any one person, or jealousies will inevitably erupt. Added to this is the fact that you've missed a large part of the reception due to the unpleasantness with Yuri and the others, and there's simply too much going on to give Arethousa a spare moment - and there's also the fact that she is very much in demand herself at events like these!

During that time, however, you are able to mull over what she has said... and a very unpleasant thought occurs to you. It does not seem to be in her character, but the events of the day have made you more paranoid than usual. It is possible, however unlikely, that Arethousa herself may have set up the situation with the maids in the bathing pool. She would certainly have connections to brothels and could easily arrange for the hiring of several whores, setting them up in her bathhouse to greet you and lure you into what in retrospect was a fairly obvious trap. She then "rescued" you at a very opportune moment, and it was then necessary to make use of her private rooms, thus further indebting you to her. You certainly don't have any proof that Lord Bertrand was behind this - and come to think of it, Yuri came up to speak with you right after your confrontation with Bertrand. Might that have been a fortuitous bit of timing that Yuri was told to take advantage of? It certainly kept Bertrand on your mind as a possible suspect! And as a result of all this, you now owe Arethousa a debt of gratitude, which she knows you would not ignore... and she has asked you to repay it by showing up in her private rooms, alone, in the middle of the night.

"Step into my parlor," said the spider to the fly.

If it is a trap, it would be unprecedented; Arethousa has never behaved so deviously. But Duncan once told you, and you have found it to be true, that a King must beware his allies as much as his enemies, if not more so.

"Sire?" her voice comes from behind you. You turn, and see her standing there, as lovely as ever. "It seems we are about to be called to dinner, and I do not think we will have the chance to speak afterward. I believe I will retire to my rooms at the close of the evening's activities." She bows her head slightly, but does not lower her eyes, and leaves before you can give an answer. Clearly, your answer will be a matter of showing up... or not.