Placing another kiss on my lips, Fenkar smirked before she murmured "And hey, even though it might not be who you want to shake this ass for, just know that she never underdelivers... in any regard. Everyone I've known that's slept with her sing her praises, and that's because of her ability in bed as well as for her very loose purse."
"You think I want some trivial amount of Gold or something..? It won't ever make me 'happy' to do anything for the person responsible for what Rhefia had to go through..."
That just made her chuckle as she shrugged and replied "It doesn't need to make you happy... and I promise it isn't going to be just Gold. She knows that coin is of little importance to someone who is close to both of the Duchesses as well as a Magistrate, so her payment won't be typical, I promise you that."
I still just gave her an unimpressed look, yet all that did was make the Wolfkin jiggle my cheeks a few times before she kissed me and then let me go, gathering her clothes and adding "Seriously, don't take this too seriously and don't make this a big thing, alright? Keep the displeasure to yourself and try to smooth things over..."
When she noticed that made me narrow my eyes at her, she just chuckled again and pulled on her pants, deliberately doing so rather slowly so that she could have me looking at her for longer... and probably because she was wondering if I was going to pounce on her in retaliation.
"Obviously nowhere near as bad as you, but she's pissed me off before - many a time, actually - and I've come to realize that with her, the best way to go about things is to do it quietly and slowly. She's aware that she still owes you, that she needs to do more to keep things cordial, so she's going to be lenient and generous where she can going forwards.
One time she denied me the privilege of being the one ushering in a 'new age' for a group of villages that we brought into the fold. They were close to my territory and I wanted to have better access to the forests they bordered, but instead of giving it to me she gave it to a coalition of merchants that needed a 'place' in the Queendom.
Anyways, she never really 'told' me sorry, but the deals she made with me on a few of the businesses I had that work alongside the government weren't as strict as they should have been, and one day I found a few casks of really old, really delicious wine delivered to my door without any note... but they had a portion of the Royal Seal stamped onto them."
Giving me a smile and buttoning her shirt next, Fenkar made herself presentable before stepping back up to me, grabbing at me and pulling me in for a kiss before she murmured "So just be 'reasonable' and let her apologize in her own way. It isn't the best in the world, but it makes things easier for everyone..." right into my ear, her tone softening quite a bit as she 'pleaded' with me.
"I can try, but if she ticks me off I can't promise anything."
"I didn't hear anything... did you say something?"
That made me roll my eyes before I kissed her back hard when she 'silenced' me when I went to say something else, so I just kept quiet and watched as she departed a moment later, though at the door she turned and said "For me and for Kalliope, Astra, just be cordial..."
Hearing the name of our pup made me pout since that was unfair, and yet that just proved to me that Fenkar was completely serious about this since that was a rather 'low' route to take, something she knew too since she was quick to leave after that.
A few moments later Renna walked in, her cheeks a healthy red as always whilst her eyes seemed conflicted, though the moment she noticed my 'ravaged' body she blushed even more... and walked right into my arms.
"Fenkar gave me a brief rundown..."
That was all she needed to say to me, and seeing her wry smile made me sigh again - a tad dramatically - as I pulled her down onto the bed, demanding that she reimburse me with her tongue as I had her clean up the mess Fenkar made.
If I was to stomach everything that would come then this was what was going to need to be done for me daily... though just thinking back to the first time I had met the Queen I knew it wasn't going to be that bad, at least physically...
~~~
??? PoV
Tossing a heavy coin purse onto the table, I leaned back and stared right into the bespectacled eyes of the person who had the information I needed, and someone who was a rather prime candidate to help me with some of the other things I had planned.
"This would just be half of what I can give you for the information. Once you give it and I can verify it, I'll be back with the other half, just like I'm sure you'll 'remember' some additional details I wasn't aware of."
The Horsekin nodded and grabbed the purse, taking a look inside and estimating how much was there before she leaned back as well, studying me for a few moments; her refined and elegant appearance was what was to be expected of these overly rich and pampered Nobles, yet where she excelled was her competance.
She was a good businesswoman but an even better information broker and businesswoman for the 'Hidden Market' that was just beneath the veil of legality, and that was what made me like her enough to try and bring her onto this 'effort' to secure a few things.
"That does indeed sound correct. However, I must admit that this is not anywhere near enough for what you are asking of me... especially not when she is involved."
My lips twitched since I hadn't said anything about anyone particularly dangerous or influential - above what we had discussed, anyways - and yet Miss Hertanc was already demanding more... which was why she was as valuable as I knew her to be.
"Very well. Here, this as well."
Sliding over a smaller pouch, I said "This isn't an involved or hands on thing I am asking of you. No one will know you were there, and she certainly won't think anything of it. None of them will, I promise. I just need a way in, some information, and a guarantee that you'll keep some people away from them. That's it."
"Which is why I am upping my rate. You say she won't think anything of it, but you're asking me to potentially jeopardize a personal relationship for you. You double the coin and promise me you aren't going to harm her, and I'll do it."
The look in her eye and the weight of her words made my lips twitch again, but since I needed this and I wasn't planning anything stupid anyways...
"You have my guarantee that she won't be harmed, Miss Hertanc."