home on Von'hotten too much to leave.
"Dani, my dear," Karya said. "You made quite an impression on our guests last night! I understand that Lord Von'hot's people have been in touch with you?"
"Oh, that," Dani sighed, making a disgusted face. "Don't worry, I got rid of them. I know better than to poach on your turf, Guildmistress Karya."
Karya looked startled, then burst into laughter.
"You'll never get far in the Guild hierarchy with a blunt attitude like that, child," she said, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes. "I've heard you were straight-forward, but my goodness!"
Dani laughed with her.
"Well, that may be, but I've never had much interest in administration anyway," she replied lightly. "Besides, I've decided to retire, as you well know. I'm just running a few errands and traveling right now. When I find someplace I like, I plan to settle down, perhaps buy a little house and live off my pension."
Karya raised one eyebrow questioningly.
"I have trouble seeing you settled in 'a little house' as you call it," she said with a smile. “You seem to like going where the action is. I heard you broke hearts all over Saurellian space before you returned to the Empire. Don't tell me you'd be content for more than a week in some boring backwater, because I simply won't believe it."
"Well, believe what you like," Dani said, still smiling. "I'm ready to relax and enjoy life. Too much work makes me a dull girl, you know.”
"That's what I wanted to speak to you about, actually," Karya said, her smile fading. "I realize that you’ve stopped entertaining clients, something I completely understand because I've been retired myself for nearly 20 years. But our Lord Von'hot is apparently rather taken with you. It would be helpful to me if you would reconsider your decision to meet with him."
"Why is that?" Dani asked, startled. "It's totally against Guild protocol for me to meet with a client in your district, especially one like Lord Von'hot. Even if I wasn't retired, I know Guildmistresses who would have me thrown off planet for even considering it."
Karya chewed her lower lip gently, seemingly lost in thought for a second.
"May I come to your room, child?" she finally asked. "I'd feel more comfortable if we could discuss this in person. Do you mind?"
"Not at all," Dani said, truly confused. "Please, I would be happy to visit with you."
"Thank you," Karya said, smiling kindly. I'll be there in about half an hour."
Dani nodded, then switched off the terminal.
* * * * *
Karya swept into Dani's suite of rooms in a haze of perfume. A small, timid looking woman followed her, carrying a large package.
"Calanna, wait in here," Karya said to her assistant, waving toward the couch. "Dani, can we speak on your balcony? We're far less likely to be overheard out there," she added giving Dani a confidential smile. They walked together out on to the balcony. Karya turned to her, her expression grave.
"It's difficult to explain all of this, Dani," she said with a sigh. "Normally I wouldn't share this information at all, but under the circumstances it seems necessary. You'll need to keep this to yourself, of course. It isn't exactly public knowledge within the Guild," she added with a meaningful stare. There was power in that look and Dani had to stop herself from squirming like a chastened youngster. No wonder so many movers and shakers in the Guild feared this woman, she thought. She’d met Imperial commanders with less authoritative gazes.
"For some reason, Lord Von'hot has been less than cooperative toward the Guild since he inherited the title last year. He allows us to continue our work here, but he hasn't been very forthcoming about policing the unauthorized pleasure houses and brothels that are always springing up in the city. He’s also cut off several other sources of revenue, and we’ve recently discovered his people have been working against us on a number of business ventures. To be quite honest, it’s undermined
"Dani, my dear," Karya said. "You made quite an impression on our guests last night! I understand that Lord Von'hot's people have been in touch with you?"
"Oh, that," Dani sighed, making a disgusted face. "Don't worry, I got rid of them. I know better than to poach on your turf, Guildmistress Karya."
Karya looked startled, then burst into laughter.
"You'll never get far in the Guild hierarchy with a blunt attitude like that, child," she said, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes. "I've heard you were straight-forward, but my goodness!"
Dani laughed with her.
"Well, that may be, but I've never had much interest in administration anyway," she replied lightly. "Besides, I've decided to retire, as you well know. I'm just running a few errands and traveling right now. When I find someplace I like, I plan to settle down, perhaps buy a little house and live off my pension."
Karya raised one eyebrow questioningly.
"I have trouble seeing you settled in 'a little house' as you call it," she said with a smile. “You seem to like going where the action is. I heard you broke hearts all over Saurellian space before you returned to the Empire. Don't tell me you'd be content for more than a week in some boring backwater, because I simply won't believe it."
"Well, believe what you like," Dani said, still smiling. "I'm ready to relax and enjoy life. Too much work makes me a dull girl, you know.”
"That's what I wanted to speak to you about, actually," Karya said, her smile fading. "I realize that you’ve stopped entertaining clients, something I completely understand because I've been retired myself for nearly 20 years. But our Lord Von'hot is apparently rather taken with you. It would be helpful to me if you would reconsider your decision to meet with him."
"Why is that?" Dani asked, startled. "It's totally against Guild protocol for me to meet with a client in your district, especially one like Lord Von'hot. Even if I wasn't retired, I know Guildmistresses who would have me thrown off planet for even considering it."
Karya chewed her lower lip gently, seemingly lost in thought for a second.
"May I come to your room, child?" she finally asked. "I'd feel more comfortable if we could discuss this in person. Do you mind?"
"Not at all," Dani said, truly confused. "Please, I would be happy to visit with you."
"Thank you," Karya said, smiling kindly. I'll be there in about half an hour."
Dani nodded, then switched off the terminal.
* * * * *
Karya swept into Dani's suite of rooms in a haze of perfume. A small, timid looking woman followed her, carrying a large package.
"Calanna, wait in here," Karya said to her assistant, waving toward the couch. "Dani, can we speak on your balcony? We're far less likely to be overheard out there," she added giving Dani a confidential smile. They walked together out on to the balcony. Karya turned to her, her expression grave.
"It's difficult to explain all of this, Dani," she said with a sigh. "Normally I wouldn't share this information at all, but under the circumstances it seems necessary. You'll need to keep this to yourself, of course. It isn't exactly public knowledge within the Guild," she added with a meaningful stare. There was power in that look and Dani had to stop herself from squirming like a chastened youngster. No wonder so many movers and shakers in the Guild feared this woman, she thought. She’d met Imperial commanders with less authoritative gazes.
"For some reason, Lord Von'hot has been less than cooperative toward the Guild since he inherited the title last year. He allows us to continue our work here, but he hasn't been very forthcoming about policing the unauthorized pleasure houses and brothels that are always springing up in the city. He’s also cut off several other sources of revenue, and we’ve recently discovered his people have been working against us on a number of business ventures. To be quite honest, it’s undermined
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