Ithi'Ka leans against the table where Mary is combing through crystals, watching the woman with curiosity, studying her demeanor.  How is it that we grow so used to such things... even this woman who, unless appearances deceive, is still young in years, if not in mind?  "It is perhaps best, in most cases, to protect customers from embarrassment, but this event makes that moot.  I apologize."  Ithi'ka tilts her face in regard of the woman again, wondering what she sees.  "The Lady, Dam-rim-pal?"  She tries not to be embarrassed at her awkwardness in the phrasing, and leaves it behind.  "What does she come in for so regularly?  Exotic requests, side work, just the shows?  And is she a noble?  With whom is she aligned?"<br/><br/>At Nightshade's entrance, Ithi'ka scrutinizes her features for any hint of a lead.  She listens, nods in comprehension.  "This sounds like quite the challenge, to keep such company."  She watches Mary again, hoping for any other information, but partly because she's afraid to look at Nightshade, for fear the intuitive half-elf might know Ithi'ka's heart in a moment.  She isn't sure just how long it's been since she set foot in the door of Lady Nightshade's brothel this evening, but she hopes that she's not too late.  She would risk very, very much if she informed Saithe of her investigations.  Most likely, the Major would care less about the clerk than the upcoming mission, and she'd have Nightshade shut down within the day.<br/><br/>That, and she's begun a rather surreal fantasy in her mind... one that gives her a moment of renewed energy.  Fantasy's of Nightshade's affections and her form have been superseded by the vivid imaginings of standing over a dead pimp.  Roland, perhaps Magus... she has imagined them up faces, and screams, and very vivid deaths.  It doesn't really matter which is responsible for this.  They both wish Nightshade harm, so they'll both die.  Hopefully, one of them will be guilty for the crime, but she'll be sure that the watch are tipped off to one of them as the perpetrator of the crime.<br/><br/>One of them may not be the actual criminal, but they'll buy time.  "I have an idea to keep the watch off of you, Nightshade.  For now, your girls will wear these men out, but soon others will arrive, and I do not think that even your best girls can... incapacitate them all.  Please tell me where I can find Roland, or his people.  I have no other contacts in this quarter of the city."  She rubs her jaw.  "And Magus too."<br/><br/>She turns back to Mary, hoping for any last-minute information, then glances back to Nightshade.  Her mind momentarily wanders... imagines what Nightshade must have been like then, when she was young and innocent, to have grown to a woman of this beauty.  And what happened?  Roland.  Things went so badly she had to make a pact with a demon to get free.<br/><br/>That dark, malicious little beast in Ithi'Ka's heart was going to enjoy killing Roland.