Mercutio took in a sharp breath of air, eyes idly following the coterie of ladies just to have something to focus on.<span style="font-style: italic">Did</span>they need Jhoran? The man had never faltered on his payment before, after the job was done. That did not mean much of anything, though; up until now, Mercutio had only ever been paid to kidnap and ransom ladies of court and lesser lordlings. People that did not require such a handsome fee to get back, and people who wouldn't be missed if they didn't come back at all.<br/><br/>Who was this woman, then? Who was she, to be so important that Jhoran would go out of his way to not give them information? He wasn't the type of man to hire someone with the risk of that man getting caught. He wouldn't risk that man getting caught and naming the man that hired him. Jhoran wasn't that risky. So who was the lady of Aershire, then?<br/><br/>Letting out the breath that he hadn't realized he'd been holding, Merc turned his attention back on his companion. "For Jhoran to do this, to set us up like this, she has to be important," he explained slowly, more or less to understand his own words rather than for Halam. "Any house of importance would be willing to buy her back, to ransom again at inflation or even to return her and solidify an alliance."<br/><br/>He crossed his arms over his chest, fingers tapping an idle rhythm on the opposite arm, mulling the thought over in his head. After a minute of consideration, he dropped his arms abruptly and grinned at Halam, clapping the other on the shoulder. "We should see if we even make it that far before taking these things into consideration. If this job has taught me anything, it is to never get ahead of yourself. Now," he said, his voice raising jovially. "We're in Aershire, friend. There are women, drinks, and beds to be had, don't you think?"