"Is that because I am in the sex industry?" she almost bit the air in anger, teeth chomping down. "Because we are in very different areas, I tell you."

"I know," Stare nodded, keeping calm. "But there is comparison. You are not entirely legal, are you?"

She glanced over, black eyes piercing the dusk. Only the sound of the animals treading through the long grass was there for a while as they drifted their way across the vast farmlands outside of Radasanth.

"No ..." Philomel murmured, "And I have worked as less than legal that I am now."

"There," Stare shrugged, "Is your connection. He wants to allow you to build brothels in Beinost."

For a moment Philomel considered the words. Certainly the strange crescent-shaped city had always been out of her reach, so far. Yes, she had a stronghold in the other Raiaeran cities, but Beinost was such a sparse and strange place that she knew little of where to start. What people were like, she only knew because of their races, or their cousins, and that was it. Beinost as it stood had pockets of habitation, then stretches of abandoned homes to such an extent that Philomel did not want to face the challenge. Not at least from Corone, where she had her ship, her fortress, her army ...

"He says he will give you money, even, if you require it."

"I don't need it," Philomel shook her head. "I barely even need the buildings. Just pre-existing brothels." She paused, "So he is offering his help in the city?"

Stare nodded, "If you need it. And of course he will disallow anyone from taking your hired women."

Philomel breathed in slow. Certainly it would go some way into starting to protect them. "I will consider it," she said quietly. "Perhaps. But first ..."

She looked ahead, eyes narrowing, "Back to my daughter. She is held by this ... Mark, and he-"

"Puts out a broad advertisment every so often," Stare nodded, "Of his wares. And Vitruvion recognised the description of your daughter. There are few young fauns running around with a name such as 'Celandine'."

Philomel scowled. "And how does he know about her?"

"Because he knows Mr Mushi, the man who escorted you from Akashima to Erstfort island, when you gave birth to your daughter," Stare replied. "You were under a supposed name but that does not stop a clever man like my master."