Oberym of house Valeth. She knew that name, Valeth, so perhaps his calm was deserved, and not just the hapless bluster of one who didn't know any better. She'd met a few from his house. All decidedly older than him, but Rain had found each and everyone one wise enough to know when to leave well enough alone. So it was that she bit her tongue against warning him against Daemion any more than she already had. After all, she'd never seen him fight with anything other than his blade, but then, would she have? For just a moment, her mind replayed Daemion's words. There was something in all of this that she had missed. A large pair of glaring cat eyes pulled her attention away from her musings.<br/><br/>"I thank you for your kind words," She murmured, smiling slightly, "And of course you are most welcome to join us. Who is your companion there?" The words had only just left her mouth when another woman approached them. Her bearing and apparel marked her a fighter of some kind, a mercenary most likely. So her attention turned for a moment. The woman's manner was rather abrupt, curt. Perhaps she didn't spend a great deal of time around people in a social capacity.<br/><br/>"Of course, your skills could be of great use," Rain gave her a friendly smile. She doubted the woman had meant to burst into a conversation in quite the manner she had. Even if she had, they would all be traveling together for several weeks at the very least, and likely fighting side by side. It would be best to start on the best footing possible. "I thank you for your kind words, and you are most welcome Mistress Stormchaser." Her tone was warm and welcoming, and she kept the smile on her face even as Lryera began to speak of nobles and her family.<br/><br/>It quickly became clear that there was something that she needed to clear up. "In no way did I mean to imply that I was above the law, or punishment in any way." There was a sadness to her eyes as she spoke of punishment, though it would have taken someone extremely perceptive to have seen it, and it was all she could do to keep the smile on her face without flinching. Still, years of watching the Court, being amongst them, and manipulating them as needed to keep the peace had taught her how to keep a smile through nearly anything. "It is only that I know how to handle these people."<br/><br/><em>So you do, but they do not, and you should not let them follow you without knowing what they may face.</em>The thought was fleeting, but so very true. "You must all know, right now, that if what I am attempting does not work, you may never be able to come back here again. Not if your association with me is known. The Duke is not a sane nor kind man, though few know it as I did. I'm trying to change that. I have known him longer than he has worn the cornet, he was not always as he is now." She'd said too much, she knew it, but they did need to know. "You can save your jewels for enchanting," She told Lryera gently. "I have sufficient funds to see us all well away from here. I have not been away from the Court for so very long, and my purse is still full." She was about to say more, when a semi-familiar voice called out her name.<br/><br/>She turned towards the voice, and couldn't help the delighted expression that lit up her face, though she did manage not to clap her hands in glee. She'd certainly not expected<strong>him</strong>to be here. "Indeed it has Sir Allistair," She replied holding out her hands towards perhaps her favorite knight in the entire realm, even if their acquaintance was little more than just that. There was something about his cocky attitude and generally cheerful manner that calmed her greatly. "Though I really do wish you would treat Hans better than that." It was an old argument, one that came up whenever they met. "As for the long faces, well..."<br/><br/>They'd reached a tricky area now. Allistair was a knight, and of noble birth. Even given that his loyalty was often for hire, what she was planning was something akin to treason. "I have perhaps finally gone insane. I'm planning an expedition into Todesfalle, to the Shadow Gate. These wonderful people are going to come with me. Perhaps I could talk you into it as well?" It was a risky move, if he chose to ask her about permission and all those other things that one who did not traffic with the upper classes would not think to ask of, she would be found out. Daemion wouldn't tell on her. She was certain of that, but Sir Allistair. "You know I've the coin to pay you handsomely, and if we find anything worth keeping along the way you'd be entitled to your share of that as well..."<br/><br/>She turned then to the others, giving him a moment to think. "Go about whatever preparations you need make. We'll meet in the Den," She nodded to the inn behind her. "This evening. If you've nothing to put to rights, Hector knows of the plans that I have, and will see that whatever you have need of is provided you, and I will be there as soon as I have tied up all of my loose ends."