Pieter followed Hani, openly looking at her now that his intention was revealed anyway. It was a fine shape for an inn wench and a finer one for someone who plied their real trade on the rooftops and in the shadows. While their shared business so far had been relatively limited, he could literally not see a reason why it should not be extended in the future. But so far Pieter no more knew what she could offer in the commerce chamber than he knew what she could offer in the bed chamber. But a good merchant always looked for future opportunities.<br/><br/>As he entered the room, Doryn was already sitting pretty and Pieter pulled off his cap and offered a a flourishing bow that a nobleman would not be shy to copy. "A pleasure to meet you upon this merry evening, Sir Aelland." The guard was given a very quick look but no greeting, as was proper.<br/><br/>Corben had followed Pieter discreetly into the hallway, looked quickly into the private room, then at Pieter while nodding slightly toward the exit. Pietro looked casually at Doryn and his man, then nodded with a quick movement. Corben nodded and then left them to take a new position near the hallway's exit. It was an established pattern between them; the mercenary's job was to see trouble before it arrived and deal with it preferably before the dagger was at Pieter's throat.<br/><br/>Pieter gave Doryn a long look when the latter commented about his looks, then grinned. "Good. I would hate to be walking around giving people the right impression of me. It could be counterproductive to my merchant activities." He cast Hani a glance and wagged his eyebrows, then stage whispered to her. "What HAVE you been telling about me?!" Sitting down he poured himself a brandy, but refrained from the tobacco for now - he had other plans for his taste buds. What had appeared to be nerves was draining off as if it had never truly been there. Like a warrior finds his ease once battle commences, the merchant was now at home with the situation as negotiations were at last in progress.<br/><br/>"Be that as it may. I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Captain. And I shall attempt to favor using your name Doryn; you are too kind. I am indeed attentive to being called just Pieter myself. I understand that we have both traveled extensively over the years, and thought perhaps you might be ready to partake in a little gastronomical journey of remembrance. I am a merchant of the more exotic types of goods and have brought a few treats with me from my stores. Certainly not in order to suggest a purchase. Merely a friendly attempt to share a few delight with a fellow connossieur of foreign pleasure. Far from be it my intent to criticize the menu of the Dew Drop Inn though; these trifles are not to be found at any public dining and drinking place in our city." He gazed briefly at Doryn, smiling. "That they might be found at the private gatherings of some of the higher lords is a different thing."<br/><br/>From a hidden pocket in the loose pants de Gotha produced an intricate wooden box. Pressing at two innocuous places while whispering a certain word at the same time made it click open, to display a tray with a dozen lids of colored glass. Under the lids, which Pieter removed with a toggle and a flourish and put to the side, were a variety of substances. Powders, jellies, oils. Some were glittering like rubies of various colors. Others were faintly sparkling or shimmering with weak magic. To top it all off he reached into another secret pocket and produced a simple box of salt crackers, each so thin that they could almost be seen through. "Voila. A banquet of rarities, for discerning palates. Not for the hungry, and wasted on commoners, but I bid you sample them well and savor their... effects." He looked from Doryn to Hani and smiled again. "Ash of Helides, to give you a goblin's heart throb and sense of a wild beast for a minute." He bowed to Doryn. "Although I can see how that might not be required in your case. Here's jelly from the great leviathan's heart; it makes you hear a hundredfold for half a minute and I suggest you sample it lightly or every word from every mouth in this inn will thunder in your head until it subsides. Cream of the elves; everything you taste right after will be a sensation like none before. Elvish wine, the muse of every sylvan poet in their realm and the giver of visions that might come to pass if you stay on your course. Even a few drops will give you an idea of how the elves see the world. And here, obsidian spice of the desert's black rose - it only blooms ones per year, and -" The merchant chuckled. "But I am robbing you both of the delight of tasting new experiences, or or reacquainting yourself with old ones. Taste, taste!" Taking a wafer and dipping it delicately in the black rose powder he put it in his mouth, then said nothing at all while it melted on his tongue. Once he swallowed he gave one long ragged breath with closed eyes. "Perhaps it is for the best that it only blooms ones per year." He winked to Hani and unconsciously licked his lips. "Or seduction would become too easy. But you better have a taste for yourself. If slowly. And consider it fortunate that in these volumes, none of these substances' effects will will linger for long. Pity... because they are very pleasant." The way he was still looking her up and down let little doubt remain that the black substance was a powerful aphrodisiac.<br/><br/>His gaze went back to the Captain, a faint golden gleam still on his eyes and lips. "And you should taste well, taste as well my good man. Now tell me, Sir Aelland, how familiar are you with the trifles that our Elven neighbors favor? I understand you have been in their refined company in the past? It is a good while now since I last could bask in the tunes of an Elvish lute."