Continued from S3-2-2: Caterina Dotta, Lady of Galeazzo (portrait). Blade, Rynard and Syn ascended the grand, marble stairs of House Dotta, causing the household servants they passed to cringe and recoil in horror. It was bad enough to have mercenaries in the house, especially one as blatant as the leather clad Dharijorian, but a Dragon Lord was more then they could bear. Like all of Galeazzo, House Dotta exuded a sense of faded elegance; like a place that had seen its greatest days generations ago and now slipped deeper and deeper into obscurity. Syn found it particularly unsettling, as it reminded him of the rotting decay at the heart of Melnibone. Yet there was a greater cloud here, a feeling of mourning, but under that a sense of tension and fear. Lead into a grand study by a young page who withdrew as if on winged feet, an older man, who seemed worn by the weight of responsibility, rose from his seat to the far end of large table to face them. “Welcome,” he greeted them in a formal tone. “I am Pieto Dotta, patriarch of House Dotta. Thank you for accepting my invitation.” Then he motioned to the chairs around the near end of the table as he sank back into his, and added; “Please make yourself comfortable.” “It’s a rare thing to have a Dragon Lord visit our city,” Pieto addressed Syn directly as he settled into the chair at the opposite end of the table, with Blade and Rynard at either side, “and word spread of your arrival quickly. But I’m afraid I haven’t asked you here for a social visit. Your reputation precedes you, lord Syn. Very few Melniboneans choose to leave Imrryr, and those that do usually have a specific purpose… but you, it is said, have denounced the Ruby Throne and turned mercenary.” Syn’s only response was to regard him with an inquisitive stare, which Pieto seemed to take as an affirmation and continued. “A terrible tragedy has befallen this House. My beautiful daughter Caterina,” he motioned to a large portrait of a stunning, young blonde woman hung prominently, “has been taken by a Mabden slaver, who threatens to sell her at the market in Hwamgaarl if I don’t pay a ransom for her safe return with in five days!” To be continued on S3-2-4: Pieto Dotta, Nobleman of Galeazzo (portrait). The patriarch of an Imioran noble family, Pieto’s grand plans to reclaim the former glory of his House in Galeazzo came crashing down upon him when his beloved daughter, Caterina, was kidnapped by the Mabden slaver Dregolath Xorn. Unable to pay the exorbitant ransom demanded, he traded an ancient grimoire for Daeron Syn and his companions’ aid to rescue her. But, although she was returned, House Dotta was left stained by the event when his dabbling in sorcery was made public. Caterina’s kidnapping was the catalyst for the adventure that first brought Dregolath Xorn and Daeron Syn into conflict; beginning a vendetta that would range across the whole of the Young Kingdoms… and beyond! The thrid installment in the second "book" of my Stormbringer characters' adventures. Thanks for looking... Hope you enjoy! Comments and suggestions always welcome and appriciated!