It was all very strange, being swept along in the flow of vaguely familiar faces in this mostly unfamiliar locale. Tiberius saw as many Umbra guardsmen as not, and wondered at it briefly. Was this the typical state of things at House Verax? Or were they militarizing with purpose? Curious. Probably Ursus would know. Tiberius was not inclined to voice his question and shatter the illusion of a severe Lord in a severe hurry – which so far was working quite well for them.
He did not think the older Houses would be so easy to bull themselves through. Ah, well.
They were soon in the Verax library, where the young woman and an older male officer were speaking in hushed tones. They had moments before some form of authority would catch on. It would be an act of war to force a spell on the lady – but as far as the soldier was concerned, Tiberius felt a one for one trade could only be fair. Stepping forward and raising one hand, he wove a spell that would lay the officer’s thoughts bare. He trusted Ursus to keep his body safe while his mind was occupied.
The day’s whole sordid tale was there. Orders from the patriarch – follow Hegemone, murder her unsuitable associate. See the girl home safe and into seclusion. It was so … Matter of fact. Good soldiers followed orders, didn’t they? Stinging, to think he’d want the same kind of loyalty from his own men, crowded close and confused. Tiberius shook his head, coming out of the daze.
“Captain Varinius. You will walk to the nearest magistrate’s office and confess immediately to the murder of Konstance Adamo, sworn armsman of House Umbra.” Tiberius put a compulsion behind his words, trying to ignore the young lady fallen to weeping until the captain was out of sight. Worse, the anger of Lycaeus and Dorcan, sudden and oppressive, who must have known their fellow well. Then he turned to Hegemone with a sigh.
“Lady, I do not know you. But if you need a place to shelter for the next, oh, six to nine months? My House is open to you, and these two men will escort you there.”
Assuming they weren’t all about to be thrown out.
He did not think the older Houses would be so easy to bull themselves through. Ah, well.
They were soon in the Verax library, where the young woman and an older male officer were speaking in hushed tones. They had moments before some form of authority would catch on. It would be an act of war to force a spell on the lady – but as far as the soldier was concerned, Tiberius felt a one for one trade could only be fair. Stepping forward and raising one hand, he wove a spell that would lay the officer’s thoughts bare. He trusted Ursus to keep his body safe while his mind was occupied.
The day’s whole sordid tale was there. Orders from the patriarch – follow Hegemone, murder her unsuitable associate. See the girl home safe and into seclusion. It was so … Matter of fact. Good soldiers followed orders, didn’t they? Stinging, to think he’d want the same kind of loyalty from his own men, crowded close and confused. Tiberius shook his head, coming out of the daze.
“Captain Varinius. You will walk to the nearest magistrate’s office and confess immediately to the murder of Konstance Adamo, sworn armsman of House Umbra.” Tiberius put a compulsion behind his words, trying to ignore the young lady fallen to weeping until the captain was out of sight. Worse, the anger of Lycaeus and Dorcan, sudden and oppressive, who must have known their fellow well. Then he turned to Hegemone with a sigh.
“Lady, I do not know you. But if you need a place to shelter for the next, oh, six to nine months? My House is open to you, and these two men will escort you there.”
Assuming they weren’t all about to be thrown out.
03-25-2025, 10:08 PM
