Markus was content to sit back upon the large, pillowed duvet as the women continued to sway closer and closer. There was something about a woman's hips that mesmerized him when they moved just a certain way, and he could feel his desire stirring as he indulged on the wine. But he understood the prudence his first mate had wisely chosen, and after a small session of simply allowing himself to eat and enjoy the entertainment, he took his leave and tossed a coin onto the ground with a mere flick of his thumb. As soon as it was tossed, he turned, and he could hear the girls scrambling for the pittance. 

Cyrus the Leopard lazily looked up at Markus, but did not pursue. The beast was still chewing on the bone, its powerful jaws already making great cracks in the hard material. As it gave a satisfied growl, the women suddenly realized the leopard was still there, and they hastily made their exit out the side of the small living area. Markus paid no heed. He simply wished to go out to the courtyard for a bit. 

As the sun lowered on the horizon, Markus placed a palm over the smooth marble of a column that overlooked the vast gardens. He made it his business to feel every nook and imperfection of the architecture, knowing that each was in fact an addition to the whole, made by tireless craftsmen dozens if not hundreds of years ago. And as he turned, he saw the blazing sun and it warmed his breast as he simply enjoyed it, wondering by all accounts if any God or eldritch power gazed upon him at that moment. There had to be some reason he had survived so many times in his youth, and had done so again just yesterday. He wished the could practice his swordplay here. He always could think better as he did so. But he needed to tread carefully. Any misstep, and even a hero could have his execution called in such a place. 

Hours later, Markus was within his domed chamber. Candles and torches lined the walls, though the light was still dim. He had never felt such soft fabric, or a mattress that fit his form so well as this. But unlike Calliope, he could find no sleep this night. Instead he simply allowed himself to think, pondering what he could gain from playing along in this political game in such a foreign land. After a long length of time, his eyes grew heavy, and he realized the hour would be growing late sooner or later. 

He began to douse each torch and candle, knowing the closed curtains and the covers would keep him comfortable while the heat of the fire lingered in the room, at least until morning. With an audible sigh, the Captain slipped into his bed and placed his hands behind his head and drifted off into a light sleep... 

Until he grabbed the dagger that he had concealed under his pillow and placed it upon the throat of the intruder in one swift movement, causing a frightened gasp from what was clearly a beautiful woman. In the dark it was hard to see, though through the moonlight he could see the raven hair, shapely figure, and the copper skin of the woman. His mind immediately went to Calliope, and his sleep addled state of thoughts did not linger far from the mark when she placed a finger upon the knife and moved it slowly from her neck. 

"We must not tell the Prince..." she whispered, placing a finger on his lips. Before he could say anything, she kissed him hungrily. Markus usually had his wits about him, but the fogginess of his mind and the wine that still held sway over what was still awake, as well as the stirrings he felt, he did not halt her. Idly, he stripped off the vest he had been given, allowing her hands to run over his bare chest. He took control, his hands gripping her waist and flipping her over, as his left hand run up her back while they enjoyed one another's bodies. 

Their groans of rising pleasure could be heard from just outside, by the silent assailant that approached the chambers. Silently, the curtains were pulled back, and a dagger glinted in the light of the moon as the two were just about to begin. The woman giggled and turned Markus to give herself a better position to grab ahold of his- 

The dagger embedded into the woman's back, taking her breath, as well as her life from her body. Her fingers lost all purchase on him, and it took Markus a moment to realize just what had happened, rising up from the bed and seeing the shadowy figure in the doorway. [i]Gods damn it[/i]! Without a word, the assassin unsheathed a yatagan. Markus couldn't exactly pull his trousers up. They wouldn't go past his 'readied' state comfortably even if he had the time. 

As the man charged, Markus ripped the dagger out of the Praelian's corpse and cut the sheet he was under, using it as a fanning shield to disorient his opponent while the man stabbed forward. Markus had simply let go of the sheet the second he brought it to bear, lowering his body and driving the dagger forward as the yagatan thrust over his head. Markus stabbed into the man's stomach, but kept the knife there to keep the blood from seeping out too much. 

The weakened assassin gasped, and using his adrenaline, Markus disarmed him and flipped him over the bed to land atop the woman's corpse, stabbing into his neck to silence any croaks that might forthcome. Without hesitating, he pulled the dead man off the woman and checked her pulse, but even as he discovered her dead, he finally got a good look at her face to reveal her as... the princess? "What?" he mouthed, realizing his mistake. 

As the identity of the woman dawned on him, Calliope would walk into the chambers having heard a disturbance, to find a dead cloaked man, a dead princess, blood on the sheets, and her Captain with a notable hard on. 
[@Penny]