“So, any idea what this is all about?” Mal asked, sipping from his mug of coffee. Breakfast was over, but Inara had caught him before he could leave the galley.

“She wouldn’t say. Just that it was important to me.”

“About the Guild?”

“I imagine so. I doubt we’ve got anything else in common other than that.”

“Thought she was one of your best friends.”

“We are.” Inara bit her lip. “It’s just … sometimes Sheydra worries me.”

“Worries?”

“She’s so ambitious. She always wanted the best clothes, the highest ranking clients … I'm surprised she didn't go back.”

“Simon said it was a good House.”

“Wealthy, yes. Persephone is almost Core, without all the rules and regulations.” Inara still looked perturbed. “I just wish she hadn’t made it out to be such a mystery.”

“Well, we’ll be there tomorrow, and you can find out for yourself. You want someone to come with you? I'm sure Jayne –“ He stopped, realising what he’d just said.

“I know,” Inara said softly. “I keep thinking the big ape is going to waltz in here any second.”

“Frey says he’s working for Badger, though I can’t quite figure out how she knows that.”

“Badger?”

The look on Inara’s face made Mal smile. “Yeah, does kinda freeze the blood. Imagine what that pair could do if they put a mind to it.”

“Surely not even Jayne would stoop so low.”

“Certainly makes me wonder.”

Inara shook her head. “And anyway I don’t think that would have been a good idea. I can’t imagine what he might do in a Guild House. They wouldn’t know what hit them.”

“Could be fun to see.”

“It might at that. But I’ll be fine - probably just give her a piece of my mind.”

Mal hid a smile. “You do that, ‘Nara. You do that.”

---

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Mal asked, watching next morning as Simon packed a small bag. “I don’t like the idea of you going in alone.”

“I won’t be. River’s coming with me.”

“River?”

“I think it might be a good idea for her to get away from Jethro for a few hours,” the young d