Doryn, as was his tendency, happily enjoyed the comforts offered. Some wine, a pipe of fine tobacco, some of the aforementioned tidbits. He didn't exactly "calm down," of course, the Northerner's distrust of magic and especially of those who worked with such unstable energies was particularly widespread. Even so, if the Arch-Mage expected that the Knight-Captain would be "off his game", then he would find himself very much wrong in that particular and as Qullian talked the Knight-Captain soaked up much of what was said...<br/><br/>...and, of course, what<em>wasn't</em>said..<br/><br/>He'd put together some time ago that Hani was more than a simple thief, that she had some higher-level contact in Court that was assisting her in various ways-- and giving her various targets,-- and when he'd considered just who could be this secretive Patron... he'd had no small number of candidates.. amongst whom was the Arch-Mage himself. More than a few of his various candidates, he'd long since crossed off his list or ruled out, but Qullian was still very much a possibility and the more that Doryn listened to the task that was set out for him the better and better he seemed to think of the position. He wasn't sure how the two had first crossed paths, but he was beginning to seriously consider the possibility that Hani was so engaged.<br/><br/>Really, as far as patron's go, the Arch-Mage was one of the better possibilities. If she was involved with someone too dangerous, after all, that could have put Doryn in an uncomfortable position but if Hani was working with the Arch-Mage then she was probably... in one fashion or another.. an ally of his own goals. Which-- well, it wasn't a solid reason to believe one way or the other, but it certainly made him want to be right.<br/><br/>Once the task is fully laid out, of course,--<br/>"Hmm, yes, of course I will endeavor to investigate the matter. I've actually already been looking into the slave-trade in and out of the city,-- I had a bit of a brush with being a slave myself, and wiping out said filth is very important to me for many reasons,- but if you're right about this gang and that it has a 'rogue' Mage helping them.. that is quite serious!"<br/><br/>Scratching at his chin, Doryn is already pondering this matter.<br/><br/>Who to assign to the case, the resources to give them, and so on,--<br/><br/>"Though, to be fair, I'm not entirely sure how well the City-Guard can deal with a Rogue Mage," Doryn admits, idly. "Friedrich and Lai,-- our Elf,-- are probably the best experienced at such things. Myself, as well, though the Duke keeps reminding me that now that I'm a Noble I have to be more circumspect about putting myself in the line of fire. 'You are a noble now, Doryn, not an adventurer...'"<br/><br/>He smiles a bit, having a sip of his wine.<br/><br/>"...as for your problem with the other issue, the Noble? I can only imagine," he says, lightly. "I know 'House Aelland' is something of a laughing stock, for now, but I'm beginning to get a decent feel for the politics of the city and there are certainly no small number of factions... I'd never imagined how dangerous the fights at the upper crust of society were, and how easy it is to find yourself in a compromised position, and of course some of the players are far more ambitious than others.."<br/><br/>He ponders, shrugging a bit.<br/><br/>It's a subtle thing, really, reading someone,--<br/><br/>"It doesn't surprise me that one of them has taken 'ambitious' to the level of 'treason'," he notes, idly. "I take it Hani wasn't able to get you enough to use against him? Or is it simply that you cannot rely on the word of a Thief and an Innkeeper's Daughter in order to crucify him in High Society? I take it that's what this mission of mine is intended as, at least in part, a test of my loyalties? Wise, honestly, especially given the traditional Northern view of those who use magic. Plus, apparently, Hani has<em>no idea</em>how I feel about her..."<br/><br/>--but Doryn was fairly good at it, honestly, and why he wasn't sure of the details... he was<em>very</em>sure that he'd balanced the equation correctly in his mind.<br/><br/>Hani worked for the Arch-Mage.<br/><br/>"..This Rogue Mage? I'm guessing he plays into the larger scheme in some fashion? Is there anything else you can tell me?"