Leaving the dwarven merchant, Toran turned his attention toward the other victim of the Red Plumes’ “tax”, approaching the fiery-haired young beauty, who he had noticed sending a nearly endless stream of rakes moping away in rejection. “Fair evening lady Amblecrown,” he greeted in a warm tone, a sly smile turning his lips as he appraised her beauty from a closer perspective... and found himself quite pleased with what he saw. “Let me save you the effort,” she growled without even looking up from her drink. “I’m not in the mood for company... so go back to getting drunk with your dwarven friend.” “I’ll wager I can brighten your mood,” he smirked. He wasn’t much of a gambling man, but knew that the deck was stacked in his favor, so to speak. “That’s a bet you’re bound to lose,” she remarked, looking up at him for the first time. She had to admit he was a handsome rogue, and his pseudodragon companion marked him as a remarkable individual. But even that wasn’t enough to dispel her depression. “I’ll take my chances,” he countered, slipping onto the stool beside her and placing the purse of gold coins he recovered before her. “I believe some Red Plumes took these from you about a week past. They will not be “taxing” anyone else... at least not in this life!” Peeking inside the purse, she turned back to him with a stunned expression which quickly melted into a capricious grin that gave Toran the impression of a predatory cat, as she admitted; “I stand corrected. You win the wager... but it seems I take the pot!” “It’s rightly yours... I’m just returning it to you,” he professed with a roguish grin, amused by her rapid change in attitude. “Do you make a habit of avenging the wrongs done to strangers?” she inquired in a seductive purr. She had heard that normally reclusive pseudodragons only rarely chose to accompany people of good nature, so the tiny dragon’s presence marked him as the type of man who would indeed seek justice against the Hillsfarian thugs who had accosted her. “I’m afraid the circumstances weren’t so altruistic,” he confessed in a modest tone. “They had an elf-maid in a rather compromised position when I happened upon them. I was just intervening on her behalf.” “A lovely young thing I’m sure,” she taunted with a mischievous sneer. “But I would still call that very altruistic. Considering their reputation with elves, and my encounter with them, I can imagine what they would have done to her.” “You must have been quite persuasive to get away with just the cost of some gold,” he declared. “I wish that was all it cost me,” she bemoaned, the look in her eyes implying that the price was much higher. ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** Additional Credits: From DAZ3d.com * Victoria 4.2 by DAZ * Helen by DAZ Originals & Val3dart * Mystic Hallow by LaurieS * Sojourner V4 by Mada & Thorne