<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #40BF80"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Gregorio Pescari</span><br/><span style="font-size: 120%; line-height: 116%;">The Lord of Euganea</span></span></span></div><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o793/Galvin_Fugazi/53cd9d89-d20b-452d-91a2-9d91f5ba5abc_zps00e843d7.jpg">[ img ]</a></div><br/><br/><div style="text-align: justify;">Gregorio waited for Marina to recover. The girl was trembling in his arms and it took some time until she was back to normal. Half way normal would suit it better. As expected she had no idea why anybody attacked her, which was just how Gregorio liked it. He decided to give her a tidbit of the background.<br/><br/>"If you allow me to say that, your clothes are a little bit provocative. Maybe one of the whores on this tournament ground mistook you for a rival and decided to teach you a lesson. But at least for those two here it didn't pay out. You are save now."<br/><br/>When she finally was back on her feet, smoothing her skirt and giving him a warm smile, she introduced herself. Greg gave a soft laugh. <br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">“Well, I am not surprised that you don't remember me, Lady Marina. We met only one time five years ago, when your father was still alive and you had been a young girl at that time, although already a very beautiful one. But you blossomed into a gorgeous young lady.”</span><br/><br/>Gregorio gave her a well practiced bow. Even brutes like him knew about etiquette.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">“In principle we are neighbours, Mylady. Sir Gregorio Pescari from Euganea, at your service.”</span> He could see how she flinched by the name. Yes, she knew about the ambitions of her neighbours and Gregorio saw no reason to play it down. <span style="color: #FF8000">“Yeah, yeah, I know that you don't think well of me. And you have some good reason for it. You're not in the best situation since your father died and your mother fell ill. Your people love you, but you lack strength and experience. All your neighbours have an eye on Tosisi. I don't deny that I look there too. But I am not here in Ipale to rob you off your lands. Maybe we should leave those things in Argenshire. Anyway, I will bring you back to the stands now, into a more safe place there and then I have to return to the tournament area. Maybe we meet again later.”</span><br/><br/>Gregorio had well rehearsed how to act and where to stop. It made no sense to lie about his intentions. She would always suspect them. But at the same time he wanted to keep her at the long leash, pulling her slowly in. For now she saw her savior in him and an opponent. He wanted to leave it like that, which would probably confuse her. Why would he not try to woo her, if he was interested in Tosisi? But that was exactly his strategy. By looking not interested he would make her more curious on him, than by trying to woo her openly.</div>