Sola entered an inn, barely noticing that it was called the 'Leaky Mug', and saw her client waiting for her at one of the tables farthest from the door. He, she suspected, didn't want their encounter to be noticed. The usual type she chuckled. She headed towards his table, stopping to order some purpleberry wine.
Getting closer, she noticed a bit of a gold-treaded red coat peeking out from under his hooded cloak.
"What's the matter," she asked. "Don't want a pretty lady seeing your ugly mug? Or do ya got sumthin to hide?"
"Please madam, keep it down!" the gentleman said, glancing nervously at the group of thugs that had just entered the inn and was heading to a table at the far side of the room. A gentleman he definately was, she made it her business to notice things like this and it put her immediately on her guard.
'He'd better not be one of my father's men...'she thought.
"Well, what's it ye want, m'lord, or did ye just come here to taunt me with your money and fancy clothes?"
The man choked. "How did you know?!"
"For one thing, it's that ridiculous way of talkin' ye got an' another thing, ye didn't do a very good job o' *cough* of hiding yer castle clothes underneath yer cloak. Besides, no self respecting nogooder would show up in a joint like this. So what kind of stuff does the palace want done that they need hidden from knowin eyes?"
"Wuh--Well, we need you to take on a job as guide on a special mission. It's very important, and we are prepared to pay you well," he added, sliding some coins across the table.
"Hmmm... Now just what are the details o' this 'mission' that I be supposed to undertake?"
"All I can tell you for now, madam, is that it's mainly an escort job. I can only give you further details after you've accepted," he said, cringing in fear of her reaction.
"Ye got me piqued," she said with a grin, completely taking the man by surprise. "I'll be doing it!"
"You- you will?!" he gasped.
"Didna ye hear me the first time? Now, what am I to be doing?"
The nobleman explained the details of what had happened at the council meeting during the afternoon. Sola listened with interest, though made a point of seeming to give him only half her attention, letting her eyes wander around the room.
As he was nearing the end of his story, Sola came to one conclusion: this mission would be dangerous, and that made it interesting. 'I wonder if I'll be needing any back up...'
"Well, I'd better be going," the man said, preparing to leave and hoping that he wasn't insulting her. "I have very important business to attend -"
Just then he was interrupted by the thugs at the end of the room who had started to cause a large commotion.
