Pylaemenes sighed blithely; taking his "ease" would not be an easy thing to accomplish at all... He genuinely liked Nadira well enough, but the way she had been looking at him was unnerving. Her gaze had been filled with a knowledge that was distinctly alien to him. However, considering her profession, it should not have surprised him. Furthermore, he was not at all an unpleasant looking man. He could indeed be considered rather handsome, if a touch too delicate, in fact.

He leaned back against the cool wall, bringing his head back to rest upon the firm surface, his eyes closed. What was he to expect from this meeting with the duenna? He knew not what to make of recent events. Things had passed by too quickly for his tastes. However, he always favored a subdued pace for everything that he did. As secretary to his infeebled master, he had grown accustomed to it. Now that he was on his own, however, everything had changed.

He waited, and began to grow somewhat tired. It had been a most exhausting day, lugging about the vast amount of merchandise that Nadira had purchased at the market. He felt as though he could have dozed off right then and there, and might well have done so had he not suddenly become aware of Nadira's presence in the room. He opened his eyes to see her looking down at him, the ghost of a smile playing on her lips.

"Morga isn't in, it seems," she said, simply.

"No?" he asked. "Oh dear. How unfortunate. Well, I suppose she'll have a clerk or something running about the place, wouldn't she?"

"Oh, I'd expect so. But nobody is in besides ourselves...and Shani, of course. The place appears to have been abandoned to us."

"Right..." Pylaemenes said, squirming uncomfortably in his chair. "Well, then..."

"Worry not, Pylaemenes, I have everything perfectly under control," she said. "I have concocted a plan, you see. We shall head to the kitchen, prepare a lunch, and go out."

"Sounds marvelous, but..." began Pylaemenes, rather sheepishly. "But I..." He knew not what to say. He genuinely enjoyed her company and he was not wholly opposed to the idea of becoming much more familiar with her in future. However, he was somewhat jarred by her unfamiliar interest in him. He had never experienced such a thing, and he was unsure of himself and of his surroundings. "Well..."

"But what? I can scarcely imagine that you would actually have anything more interesting to do as this hour of the day, being unemployed and penniless as you are, correct?" she exclaimed, eyeing him mischeviously.

"Well, yes, but..."

"Besides, how better to cultivate our friendship, Pylaemenes?"

"Of course..."

"And so it is settled. We shall prepare a lunch and head for the baths."

Pylaemenes sat up, his face paling once again at the thought of winding up picnicing in the baths with this most questionable companion. "The baths? But why the baths? Don't you think it would be better to find some more pleasant, less crowded spot, or something?"

"Don't be silly, Pylaemenes! The baths aren't crowded at all at this time of day. Besides, we're both new here and it would be best to become familiar with our surroundings. And to add to that is the fact that you are in need of some relaxation. You're so overwrought. It's not good for your health. You need to relax, otherwise you'll have a weak heart and you'll die young or something to that effect. So come along."

"Oh," responded Pylaemenes, standing and following meekly. "Well, I suppose you have a point. Um, we're only planning on eating at the baths, I trust. Then, we shall return to speak with Morga..."

Nadira merely smiled.

"Nothing else, I think... Correct?"

No response was forthcoming. She had already departed for the kitchen.

"Come along, Pylaemenes! You can't expect me to do all of the work! Give me a hand in here, will you?"

Preparations commenced. After fetching a good bottle of wine and preparing some snacks - too many of them, in Pylaemenes's opinion - they departed. The Greek, of course, carried everything. Nadira merely pointed out the bathouse. The expedition, though brief, ended quite satisfactorily when they arrived in the structure itself and began to find a cozy place to sit.