Ulasim rode fast to reach Corus before the Great City Gates were closed for the night. He didn't want to spend the night in an inn. He had wanted his visit to remain a secret but with Octavia's new friend, the prince of thieves, that would be difficult. To add to that it was Beltane, the festival where couples jump over the fires to ensure a good harvest. The crowds were hard to negotiate through. He dropped his horse off at the Wernlake townhouse Vitorcine directed him to a small, out of the way inn where he could find Octavia.
He was stopped at the door to the Dancing dove by two giants of men. They asked him his business and reluctantly he told them that he was there to see the Baroness Octavia.
"Ye best not use her title 'round here, she hates it. And I would sooner crow a dragon than that one when she be angry." One of the guards warned him.
"I'll keep that in mind." He replied as they let him into the alehouse. His heart pounded harder as he spotted Octavia. She was nestled into the far corner of the room, laughing merrily as a tall gentleman with Scaran heritage whispered in her ear. Yoyox sat nearby, playing dice with thieves loyal to the Rouge. Ulasim watched her for a while, unsure whether to approach or not. During this time the people around Ulaim became suspicion of him presence. One man slipped behind the stranger and snaked a knife up to the raka's throat.
"I wouldn't be getting any funny ideas if I was ye. The lady with his highness is a powerful mage; could kill you with her eyes." He whispered in a hoarse voice. Ulasim let the man drag him over to Octavia and Adrian. Octavia cried with delight as she say the stranger that one of Adrian's men hand brought over. She jumped up and hugged Ulasim. The knife around his neck disappeared and Ulasim was treated like an honoured guest.
After Octavia and Ulasim left Adrian retired to his room. Octavia had acted so differently when Ulasim arrived. The fire that she had in her eyes was diminished. She turned from a wild jaguar into a tame little kitten. Adrian wasn't sure that he liked this new side of her. He definitely did not like Ulasim. They competed for Octavia's love; of course they couldn't be best friends. But Adrian had a plan to make Octavia his forever.
