Elspeth sat back with a satisfied smile on her face. She looked like a painting by some Tilean master, reclining on her chair and somehow holding court over all she surveyed.

"I know that you have given your word, to recover the scarab but it isn't the first time you have broken your word is it," she went on reasonably. Ricardo shook his head at first slowly and then more vigorously as he thought about the question.

"And you could certainly inform your patron of who stole the scarab and simply omit any mention of to whom he sold it could you not?" she crooned, caressing the words. Ricardo continued to nod like a composers metronome. Elspeth made a languid gesture and one of the servants moved gracefully to the table and sat down a silken bag upon the polished wood of the table. It clinked metallicaly and when Elsepth stirred the silk with a manicured hand gold coins slid forth onto the table top, shining brilliantly in the light of expensive wax candelabras. 

"I will of course, compensate you for your forgetfulness, perhaps even off you sanctuary here with us... or..." she trailed off thoughtfully. Her eyes seemed to size up the handsome Tilean.

"Perhaps we could send you back to Riario... with the right support you might be the Count one of these days." She laughed as if such an undertaking were an easy thing, then straightened to her feet beckoning to Camilla with a long finger crooked in imperious command.

"You boys talk it over, I'd like to have a word with your lovely companion for a moment, in private just us girls." She flashed a stunning smile and Camilla couldn't bring herself to raise an objection as Elspeth led her back through a panneled door. The pounding in her chest increased with a sort of juvenile excitment that she couldn't remember having felt even as a girl as Elspeth led her to a large bed chamber on which brilliant white silk sheets were laid out. Elspeth sat down upon it and patted a hand for Camilla to join her.

"What is it that you wan't Camilla," the woman asked her, her head turned slowly so that her blue eyes locked with Camilla's at once icy and smoldering. Thoughts of Cydric and their adventures together flashed through her head in a disorganized cascade.

"Oh I think we can arrange for plenty of excitment in your life... you can even keep the Ostlander," Elspeth purred, her smooth hand rising to touch Camilla's cheek. It was shockingly cold, almost like the touch of marble.

"Would you like to stay young and beautiful forever?" Elspeth teased and she drew Camilla towards her slowly, pressing their lips together in a kiss.

"DO you want power to make the world the way you wish it?" Elspeth went on her lips almost feverish hot compared to her icy touch. Somehow without knowing how Camilla was kissing her, needing her more than anything, her old concerns seemed foolish things now. Clearly Elspeth would never hurt her. The woman was kissing her neck now and pushing her back onto the silken sheet, her raven hair fanning out behind her as Elspeth climbed atop her with a grace which Camilla herself would have struggled to match. THe other woman leaned close trailing kisses down the side of her face till her lips kissing Camilla's neck hungrily.

"This will only hurt for a moment," she crooned ,"And you shall be reborn."

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