“What are you doing out here in the rain, Vallerian?” Crysilla asked in that slow accented tone of hers. The clipped T's with long hissing S's gave her voice a serpentine sound characteristic of the Theremya. But the breathiness was all her. Vallerian couldn't help but feel getting into this carriage was a mistake.

“Marchioness Xestheran.” Vallerian began, slipping into the cushioned seat across from her. She held out her white gloved hand, and Vallerian brought it to his lips. She grabbed his jaw with clenched nails as he pulled away from the greeting.

“You couldn’t have been avoiding me, could you? My dear son-in-law?” Her voice dripped that poison her people were so fond of. Vallerian felt tense, his face held in an uncomfortable position leaning forward as he was.

“Of course not, Your Ladyship.” He managed to squeeze out through clenched teeth. “I’ve been working my best at pursuing your goals.”

She tapped the side of his cheek with one of her fingers, the others holding him tight. Her ruby eyes seemed to burrow into his soul, tearing out any lies he may have buried within. With a light breath, she released him. Vallerian fell back into his seat. With a moment to breathe, he studied the inside of the carriage. He had never had the misfortune of riding in it before.

A small oil lantern hanging from the centre of the ceiling dimly lit the small space. Oily lacquered wood made up the walls. Under the flickering light it gave the sensation that thick midnight liquid seeped around him. The lacquered wood was impressive though, made with a technique only known by the Sherya in the far east.

“So then, how fairs our little enterprise?” Crysilla eventually inquired. Vallerian brought his attention back to her. She sat across from him, a lustrous sable-fur wrapping her shoulders atop a shimmering gossamer gown that showed enough to make him blush. She shared the same slender figure as her daughter, a strong litheness that Vallerian had to admire.

“It appears to be an ongoing endeavour.” Vallerian responded. He had no intention of letting on how bad things had just gotten.

“How… disappointing.” The words seeped from her lips like blood from a wound. “So, how do you plan to expedite this… endeavour of yours?” She measured him up with those cold gem eyes of hers, and he felt wanting. Vallerian gulped and grasped desperately for a response. He had made a mess of the whole thing and Celeste had dismissed him from her service. How to get back into her good graces, that was what he needed. How could he…

“She has a friend, some fellow street urchin from what I could muster.” Vallerian quickly responded. She had mentioned that friend more than once, some vague memory from her past. If he could find them…

“Does this friend have a name?” Crysilla pushed, tapping her gloved finger on her own cheek now. The carriage jostled away on the uneven road, yet somehow she remained perfectly still as he jumbled about. As though the carriage was the world, and she sat at the centre of it all.

“Not as of yet, but I’m sure…”

“So, you are slowly losing your grasp on a clueless girl and your only plan to get close is some friend of hers from a decade ago whose name you do not know? Is that right?” Her stare didn’t waiver. Vallerian licked his lips nervously. When she put it like that it did seem pretty unimpressive.

“I’m sure if I ask around I can find where she grew up, from there I would simply have to poke around a bit.” Vallerian tried to force an air of relaxed confidence. “It shouldn’t be hard at all.” A tense silence lingered over them after that. Vallerian tried to match her gaze, but in moments found himself studying the floor.

“The Red Curtains is where you’ll need to go then.” Crysilla eventually cut the silence. Vallerian looked to her. The Red Curtains? He didn’t make a habit of visiting Southshore’s pleasure district. Had Celeste really grown up there? “That is where he found her after all.” Crysilla slid her hand down onto one of her arm rests, tapping a slow beat upon the cushioned arms.

“I’ll head there first thing in the morning then.” Vallerian said, striking the roof of the carriage with his fist signalling the driver to halt. The carriage rolled on. He struck again, harder.

“Did I dismiss you?” Crysilla asked. Tapping her fingers to a steady, increasing rhythm. “My eyes lost sight of you earlier.” She stared, those ruby eyes beating down on him. “What happened in that tower?” Crysilla asked, folding her hands on her lap.

Vallerian nearly choked. So she was having him followed. He could have guessed at that, though he wasn’t sure if the confirmation was unnerving or comforting. But even the Theremya couldn’t get into that shamble tower? It seemed that Tabitha kept a tight ship indeed.

Under the imperturbable gaze, he spilled everything. Every offer, every detail that Tabitha had let slip. He informed Crysilla of it all, better to give everything than risk her discovering he held something back.

“...Then we left the tower and we began walking...” Vallerian finished up the story before being cut off.

“And that's when the child dismissed you?” Crysilla clicked her tongue. How in Chaos had she known that? She truly did have eyes everywhere. “What a promising opportunity though, this Tabitha girl.” She stated.

“The woman seemed a little full of herself to me.” Vallerian responded.

“She isn't.” Crysilla said, an actual air of appreciation in her tone. Did Crysilla actually respect this Tabitha? Vallerian wasn’t sure Crysilla respected anyone, least of all an upstart slum lord. “You will ensure that this Tabitha is brought into the fold. You may consider it your penance.” Vallerian nodded, an opportunity to get back into her good graces would be much appreciated.

“I’ll find a way to reach out to her, unfortunately though it seems the woman has a lingering bitterness towards men. It might make it hard to get close to her.” Vallerian still felt odd at that. A woman that truly hated men? Why? Crysilla made a short sound Vallerian could have sworn was a scoff.

“Imagine that. A woman disliking men in this world.” She whispered, just barely loud enough for him to hear. “Find Her Radiance's friend, and gain the trust of this Tabitha, Vallerian. Perhaps now you won’t waste our time?” She asked with that venomous grin. Vallerian slowly nodded.

Crysilla languidly lifted a finger. The carriage slowed.

“I will not disappoint you, Your Ladyship.” Vallerian pulled himself from the seat as the carriage came to a stop. As he did so, she grabbed him around his neck, pointed nails digging in through silk gloves.

“It would be a shame if you were to continue this disappointing pace. Would you not agree?” She leaned in as she spoke, her breath like cold ice, flowing from her thick pouting lips. Vallerian gulped, the swelling of his throat pressing against her strong hand. “Until next time, my dear son-in-law.” She let go, and Vallerian stumbled out into the rainy streets.

The moment his foot touched wet cobblestone, the carriage began to roll away. He blessed every clip and every clop that took that woman farther from him. Rubbing at his throat, Vallerian cursed under his breath. He couldn’t fail again. He yawned as the rain soaked into his hair. Looking around, he groaned. Where in the Chaos was he? It was late though, and he didn’t particularly feel like going home.

“Looks like a room at an inn tonight.” He moaned and began searching for a place to sleep. Tomorrow, he had whores to speak with.