<em>“I was off to the least auspicious of starts,” Rain confided to her audience in the softest of stage whispers, a mischievous smile playing at her lips. “Not even an hour in and I'd gone from a nice little party to all alone with a wolf watching and wringing my hands as my favorite inn, a place that was like a home to me, was torn to shambles. Then again, I'm sure some of you know The Den. That's not entirely uncommon.” She paused as a small ripple of laughter passed through members of the crowd that knew the understatement that was. She used that moment to walk to the front and center of the stage, and sit on it's lip hands in her lap. <br/><br/>“Just as suddenly as that fight had broken out, it was over. The ruffians on the floor, and my wolf, or so I'd somehow started to think of him, running off at what sounded distinctly like a howl from the woods around town. I was alone, bereft, and not at all sure how I was going to manage. What I didn't know then was that I was about to meet the most stalwart of companions. The very Dwarf that was responsible for the shambles that The Fiddler's Den had become. His name, is Belark, I learned this, as I was helping him put the mess that he'd made to rights...”</em><br/><br/><br/>It was over almost before she'd had a chance to move, and now there was nothing she could do but stare at the shambles that the common room had become. Very little was actually broken, which was a boon, but things were turned askew and there were bits of broken pottery and splashes of ale over everything. Harlan, the innkeeper, was in the process of ejecting the men that had started the fighting, and the few of his regulars that had used that fight as an excuse to settle old scores. That left only her wolf attached quite painfully to the posterior of the Dwarf, but before she could so much as take a step in that direction, a howl rang out from the woods, and her wolf ran off after it.<br/><br/>Cherry amber eyes brightened with tears that Rain refused to shed. Things had seemed to be going so well. What had become of those that had met her after her performance? What was she to do now? Her conflicting emotions nearly eclipsed the pain that was hanging in the air around her. It was all shaping up to make for a less than grand day.<br/><br/>“Usually you bring such luck to me bar lass,” Harlan called out good naturedly. “Must be this talk of going to places best left alone that's ruining it fer ye.” The man walked behind the bar and pulled out his trusty old mop, then thrustt it towards the Dwarf. It was only then that Rain realized they were the only people left in the common room. “Ye made the mess lad, ye'll be cleaning it up, though the damages I'll be taking out of them that attacked ye, one way or another.” He held a clean rag up towards her, “Help me clean up? Fer old time's sake?”<br/><br/>“Anything for you da,” She said with a smile, snatching the rag from his hands and starting on the bar as he moved to right tables. “I'm called Rain,” She called to the Dwarf as she set about her work with a skill and speed that was entirely at odds with her rich clothing. “Do you have name?”<br/><br/><br/><em>“As I was cleaning up the pride and joy of a man as dear to me as my own flesh and blood could ever have been, and getting to know Belark, Daemion was doing what he did best, chatting up a pretty girl.” Rain cast a flippant smile out upon her audience. “This time however, he was up to something nefarious. Now what I am about to tell you comes to me second hand, so it is possible that my account is not as accurate as I would like. This is however, the was I was lead to believe that encounter went...”</em><br/><br/><br/>“Who are you?”<br/><br/>That was not the question that Daemion had been expecting, not the first one anyway. He only smiled. “My name is Daemion Nevandel,” There was no harm in granting that much, few knew the name outside of Faerie. “I am the Duke of Mist Haven's right hand, an envoy for all dealing with Ceres, and the appointed protector of his intended bride. Not that she has the least interest in accepting his suit. To him, she is a most treasured possession.” Daemion allowed his face and voice to sour as he spoke the last word. “I also happen to be the mans who can ensure that all your dreams come true.” He leaned forward over the and caught her eye. “I'm sure you realize by now that I'm a very powerful man. I could open doors for you.”<br/><br/>Just like that, he leaned back into his chair, relaxing into an indolent pose. “I don't want Rain going to Todesfalle. Yet I fear I can not stop her. If she is to go on with this scheme of hers without ending up in the Duke's dungeon until she sees reason, I'll be needed here, playing diversion. At least until she's most way out of the country. I'll need someone I can trust to look after her. Protect her. Someone to keep me apprised of whatever may happen along the way. To be my eyes and ears where I can not be. I'd be willing to reward that person handsomely.” His voice trailed off suggestively as he tilted his head, one eyebrow quirked in invitation.