Very well!

The two seasoned hoplites that stood outside the Lord Marshall's tent give the collared Relia an appreciative once-over as you approach; they seem less impressed with you as they check for hidden blades.

Inside the tent is a field camp more richly appointed than any apartment you've ever lived in. The floors and walls were covered with thick rugs, and a full-sized table that must have weighed as much as a small drake was covered with maps, diagrams and fine golden flat-ware.

"OK, Free-Rider Korban," A tall, grey-haired man roughly twice your age greats you as soon as the introductions have been made. "Just what is it you know that convinced my men to grant you a few minutes of my time in the middle of a somewhat tense moment of my siege?" Without a word you pass the message Lady Relia had been carrying to one of his aides who after a summary inspection passes it along to the Lord Marshall. The general reads the message twice, pausing to take a closer look at Lady Relia as he gets to the end of the first pass and without a word he passes it to the two other officers who were standing by the table.

"How did you come by this inflammatory bit of parchment?" The Lord Marshal asks as his junior officers read the message with obvious interest.

"I found it as I made a thorough search of the Lady Relia here, my Lord." You tell Lord Raxius plainly; and then, when you see the skepticism in his face, you explain how the message had been hidden in the wrapping paper of the original banal greeting. A brief demonstration with a candle goes a long way towards corroborating your story and after questioning both you and Relia for a few more minutes the Lord Marshal is at least convinced enough to investigate further.

"I want to speak with Lord Rider Palle, Lord Vadik, Captain Bahador..." there is a pause as his glances at the others "who else can we trust without question in the Apollonian camp?" After some discussion in which four other names are thrown out and two agreed upon the Lord Marshal finished. "I want to see them today before Prince Anochises arrives." He cautions the aides before they leave, "Make these summons look routine and mix in some other officers from other cities so it doesn't look like we are focusing on the Apollo contingent. Better yet, make some of them chance meetings between me and a few of my officers."

"You, Rider," his attention shifts suddenly to you. "My aides will assign you a tent nearby. I might need to double check this information, and I want to know just where to find you if it turns out that this is a clever hoax." He turns to an aide who slaps his breastplate in salute and then adds with a fierce smile.

"Your captive will be sent to the interrogation tents." Relia looks up at you in sudden panic when she hears her fate. Perhaps sensing your concern, the Lord Marshall reassures you. "Don't worry, my men are very skilled at extracting the information we need without damaging the subject. I guaranty you'll get your full share from her sale." You see Relia wisely stifle any protests she may have once issued, instead lowering her head in defeat when she is reminded of her final fate. "Do you want her sent back to you when they are done, or kept with the other captives in the pens?"

Although it makes sense to have this lovely courier thoroughly questioned, you are not happy to lose her services as a bedwarmer. Lady Relia was becoming much more responsive to your touch and you are beginning to think that with a little more training she might earn you a fair bit of coin when she is finally sold. Besides, you are definitely enjoying those **** gasps of pleasure she gives as you make her squirm in ways that she could only imagine in her most private moments until you took her.

The Lord Marshall must be able to read your mind, because he laughs boisterously and says something quietly to the young aide-de-camp who was in charge of arranging your housing.

"I told young Theo here to take you by the officer's holding pens so you can pick out a replacement for your tent until Lady Relia here can be returned." The other officers in the tent laugh as well and you look down at the pretty **** at your feet wondering if any of the captives in the holding pens would be as appealing as her. The Lord Marshall had said you'd get to make your selection from the officer's holding pens so there might very well be some other fine young captives to pick from.

"Well, Free-Rider Korban?" The commander of the United Armies asks impatiently, "Will this satisfy your lustful Rider needs?" The assembled officers chuckle at the Lord Raxius' jest, but the Lord Marshall waves them silent and asks you again. "Do you want to borrow one of our captives while you wait for this beautiful agent of Athenapolis to be returned to you for further training?"