<div class="floatleft">(http://68.media.tumblr.com/e7662fad12f269372b003682baf5ab51/tumblr_nqesr5mzRt1u5hdkbo1_500.jpg)</div>Cassia's eyes follow Mia as she leaves the common room of the seedy tavern, disappearing behind a flap of cloth with the leering innkeeper. The paladin scoffs, turning back to the man keeping her company. He beckons her back to his table and she, with a 'you can't fool me' look at him, decides she may as well follow.<br/><br/>She seats herself amongst the young men, her back straight in her chair and her hands folded together across her chest. The movement pushes her cleavage closer together, deepening the already magnificent crevasse between her breasts. But it seems that the intention is vaguely defensive rather than seductive; she's suspicious of their intentions. As she takes in her new acquaintances, Cassia notes the display that Ember and Valva are putting on for Drake... and their subsequent departure up the inn's stairs. She's alone amongst the patrons now.<br/><br/>Much to Cassia's surprise, the four men are decent to her. No groping, and only a few surreptitious glances across her body. Moreover, their answers to her question are genuine and helpful. Before long, the paladin is laughing, gambling with a deck of cards, and telling stories with them between swigs of her grog. It reminds her nostalgically of her better days in the Emperor's legion. She can feel the gentle buzz of the liquor tugging at her senses, but it's nothing to concern her.<br/><br/>A round of cards pass, then another. Cassia's luck is good, at first, but then it quickly takes a turn for the worse. She reaches back for her coin purse so that she can pay the victor and comes to a shocking discovery. Her purse is gone, stolen by some pickpocket. In a futile gesture, her eyes dart around the inn, searching for a guilty face... But the thief is either long gone or not making his trade obvious.<br/><br/>The men are looking at her, having noticed the sudden change in her mood. "I apologize, boys," the paladin says slowly, "but I'm afraid I've been robbed. I promise you that I will pay my debt once I earn some coin..." She cuts herself off as a thought occurs. No, she shouldn't. But why not, she counters in her mind. The others are all doing it. In Mia's case, she's doing something far more shameful. And it has been a long journey to Anfaigh... "Or," Cassia goes on, her voice dropping to a sultry hum, "we could come to some alternate arrangement. To the victor go the spoils. Isn't that right, boys?"<br/>