I let the stiletto I had produced from my sleeve into my belt, as it would have been impractical and indecent to attempt to resheath it fully dressed. I was very glad to have avoided a street fight as I was far from dressed in my street fighting clothes. I had donned cream and gold quilted vest over a loose white shirt and a divided skirt of a slightly more cream hue stitched with soft golden flowers. In deference to my greater knowledge of Remas' streets it didn't quite reach the ground though the few inches of exposed black leather boots were unlikely to be seen by all but the most dedicated Peeping Tomaz or the occasional beggar. 

"I knew I should have brought a handbag," I complained, producing a silk kerchief from a pocket and wrapping the weapon before hanging it from the belt of woven leather strands that depended from my right hip. I frowned at the fleeing and unconscious men. It was possible that De Pounce was in league with Telli, it was possible Telli even summoned De Pounce and made him aware of Kian's jocular insult, but that was moving very fast by the standards of Reman politics. Kian wasn't even the Ambassador, tangling him up in intrigue wasn't going to be a great coup, other than perhaps as a source of gossip on the Imperial delegation. Even then, what was that gossip likely to be? They had completed their task, would eat and drink on the people of Remas for a week or two then go back to their sausage scented homes.

I put the problem from my mind, I wasn't in Remas to sus out gossip or play political games, other than as required by my need to live comfortably and eat and drink well. Though I had to admit not getting brutalized by street gangs was also a priority. We headed out onto one of the cities many Piazzas in time to see men at arms shoving their way though the gathering evening crowd. Reman's were a proud bunch and they responded by jostling and hurling insults and occasional fruit at the column of mailed soldiers. They wore the red and Gold of Luccini and carried a great standard with the emblem of that city. There were perhaps a hundred of them formed up around a palanquin carried by some impressively muscled bearers.

"Who are they?" Kian asked and I turned to glance at him.

"Luccinians, come to broker the peace with Trantio," I explained. He probably knew their nationality, his Tilean being as good as it was, but he might not know that delegates were assembling to end the costly war. Probably a few villages no one had ever heard of would change allegiances and everybody would be happy except for the Condottieri who would immediately begin fomenting another war to keep themselves paid.

"The Reman's do not appear pleased to see them," he observed as a ripe tomato burst against the side of the palanquin, sliding slowly down the paintwork to leave a long red orange streak.

"Nobody like Luccini," I snickered, "and the Reman's dont like to bow and scrape." The soldiers were most of the way across the square now and I led the way down into a small courtyard walled with knee high stone. A dozen tables stood beneath colorful umbrellas, surrounded by neatly tended flowers and shrubs.

"Ciao!" the proprietor called. I hadn't met him but Giovanni Caprese was well known by reputation, a short squat man with enormous mustaches. He hurried over to our table as we took a seat.

"What can I do for you tonight!" he enthused.