"Please excuse me sir," the butler on his left said.

Aeson looked up from the overstuffed velvet-covered reading chair where he was currently reading a book on hyrdaulic metaphysics. "Yes?"

"You have a caller, sir," the butler stated.

"No card?"

"None sir. It is a young lady with a most diskempt appelation who gave her name as Tiana, sir."

Aeson ruminated. "I do not know anyone by that name. I suppose I should see to it." He slapped the book closed as he rose, then handed it to the butler. "Would you be so kind as to reshelve that?"

"Very good, sir."

Aeson strode to the saloon of the Tiger Club, and into reception area.

There waited what at first took Aeson as a waif, but on closer inspection was something else entire. A dusky skinned wood-elf, in the tanned leathern garments of such people, her green hair bound in a long pony-tail, with a short short at either hip, and entirely unshod.

Aeson approached her. "You would be Tiana?"

"I am. Are you the man known as Aeson the Traveller?"

"It is a name I answer to," he replied. "How may I help you?"

"I am student of Nondora the Red," she explained, "and I fear something terrible has happened to her. She said that in the event of any danger, I should feel free to call upon you."

Aeson nodded. "Please explain the particulars of your fear."