<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="bbc_u"><strong>Patrocles Standing in the hallway off the balcony – searching the villa</strong></span></span><br/><br/><br/><strong>"I am Cariad O'r Nant, I have come from Wales. I was sent here to relieve the Head House Slave of her duties. I do not know the layout of the house I am afraid."</strong><br/><br/>Patrocles stopped and looked again at Cariad.  She looked afraid, or overly cautious for some reason… tentative as she spoke in that thick northern accent.<strong><em>So beautiful... and cunning… I am starting to like her.  Her only mistake is to assume that I am as simple as most base born gladiators.</em></strong><br/><br/><strong>Cariad O’r Nant… well now.  And the replacement for that simpering bastard, Galo was it?  He looked softly upon her and continued, Please Cariad, do you take me for a stupid man?  It is true; I am a gladiator and a slave.  I am not, however, simple.  In fact, it is my ability to take stock of any situation and to notice everything, small or large, which has kept me alive for as long as I have.  So please explain to me why I should believe your claim to be brought here, specifically to replace the head of house slave?  Is it the broken Latin, thick with the winters of the north, which could assure that you would likely offend or certainly misconstrue some message to or from some high lord come to the villa to speak with Domina?  Perhaps, it is the rough spun that you wear?  Perhaps even, it is because you are so well mannered that you would never require discipline, as evidenced by the welts that mark a fresh beating on your back.  I think those three things are adequate for me to know that you tell me false and assume I am a stupid cretin simply because I am good with a sword and spear.</strong><br/><br/>He paused, watching her reaction to look for any additional clues in her face or body movement that would further convince him of her motivation or plans before continuing.<br/><br/><strong>Still, I respect your mind for being willing to try such a ploy with the new Domina.  She has no knowledge of who you are, or why you are here, and it would be very easy for you to greatly improve you lot in life.  Bravo for the attempt.  But alas, I am not as simple as you hoped, and neither is Domina.  And yet, there is certainly a place for you in the household, I am sure.  As to your additional question, yes.  Carias, the bitch, attends to Domina even now.  A warning, she is also of moderate intelligence at least and it will not serve you to play her false with your words.  She is a bitch, I tell you true, and she will love you not at all you can be assured of that, still she is effective and keeps Domina happy with her effort.</strong><br/><br/>Patrocles thought as he spoke of Carias,<em><strong>Still, some changes around here could be interesting.  It would not displease him at all to see Carias knocked from her high and lofty perch, the one she sat so high that she thought she could down on him.  Could this Cariad by the very sling stone he needed to knock the little bird from her seat?   <br/></strong></em>[/b]<br/><strong>Come now Cariad, and think not of such things for the now.  What you need now is an advocate, dare I say even a friend.  Someone who has Domina’s ear and would be so <em>incented</em> to plead your case and push to have you installed in a choice position.</strong>Giving her a knowing glance with a twinkle in his eye he asked,<strong>I wonder where you might find one such as this.  Think on that as we go to the bed chambers… as you suggested.<br/></strong>