(@Sheb: Naturally! Either you found her-not hard since she tends to travel in the city listening for rumors-or she found *you*, on purpose. Watch out for Pasha. He'll shove something of yours into something else of yours.
Also, it's 'Tala Alanis')
Tala was shopping for something that day-a little something to celebrate her birthday with, her real birthday that was. She was wondering what Pasha would bring her...and then she saw him.
Her first thought upon seeing the young man-not a boy in any sense of the word-was that he was lost, and needed help-her help. He seemed out of place...it was the subtle things, that marked him as not quite being a city dweller. His clothes for one-not silk or fur, but durable cotton, a cloth more native to her homeland-they were well worn, slightly richer in tone from the unnumbered summers he, or his father might had spent in them. She knew if-for example-she was to press her head against his chest, she would smell rich, suntouched cloth, intoxicating and refreshing. The feather in his cap, pheasant-not peacock, or something even more exotic. She supposed he might have killed the bird himself. Even his boots looked to be be tough, scuffed leather-well used, and well oiled and polished often, with no ornate buckles or frills.
These were, from what she understood, the marks of low born noble. But...he was handsome. Given a few years, those boyish good looks would harden into a manly physique, much like Pasha had.
He approached her, took a knee and began speaking...she had to admit, he had the voice of a one man choir-even and polite in tone, yet with the energy that could only be produced by someone who was profoundly confident in themselves.
She was impressed. He was surely a land owner, with money in his belt. Was he seeking court favors? Lands? Noblehood? The spy inside of her told her to play to his deeper wishes-tempt, entice, flatter...he likes to talk, let him talk.
"Let me guess-If I am angel, then Heaven is surely a poorer place without me, right? I suppose you might have had that line socked away for later?"
Tala couldn't conceal a smile and a polite laugh. He had a hungry look in his eyes, but it was unfocused. What did he really want?
"Do not think I mock you overmuch-I have had many men offer me many lines-for my beauty is a rare gift that few enjoy more than in passing-, but few of them were in such speech as sweet and humble as yours."She put her right hand on her hip, and offered him her left hand to stand up.
"You may rise to your feet, sir, unless you are so momentarily dazzled you, that I must send someone to fetch the smelling salts.
...For, You have made a friend of the Tala Alanis, and that is me. We are most well met. I do know an Inn-best in the city, clean, well stocked...and discreet."She let the last word linger, allowing him to think whatever he wanted. Tala smiled brightly, leaning forward to brush a few snowflakes off his coat in an intimate, almost motherly gesture.
"So, who do I have pleasure of meeting today?"Tala hoped Pasha wasn't around-he was so very protective of her...he might get the wrong idea. Then again, they had long ago came to an accord, that sometimes Tala has to act in a certain way to do her job well...but, she knew how much it hurt him to watch her do it. And, his pain was her pain. She really hoped he wasn't around today.