The Legislature of the Empire is actually broken into two houses. The one everyone cares about and that actually makes any decisions (though still perilously few) is the House of Parliament. The other house, the House of Lords, mainly serves as yet another way for the old nobility to remind us that they were still around and important.

Lavin Teralt was a member of parliament, which was both good and bad. Good because MPs were technically required to meet with the public, unlike members of the other house, but bad because MPs did all they could to avoid meeting the public that elected them.

So as Parliament let out, I was waiting outside Lavin Teralt’s office. I heard her coming down the hall, swarmed by aides, other politicians, and members of the press, all talking over each other. Right before they turned the corner, I popped my collar up and hid my Hunter’s Mark. As the crowd and Lavin reached her office, she went inside, slamming the door behind her. The crowd of people made a fuss for a minute, but then quickly dispersed.

I waited a bit and then knocked. Lavin opened her door, her eyes wild and angry, but quickly calmed when she saw me.

A mask of professionalism slipped onto her face and she said, “Well, hello. What can I do to help you today?”

“I’m a concerned constituent here to talk about the issues,” I said.

Lavin looked at me for a moment, the mask never faltering, but I could tell she was debating if she should just kick me to the curb.

Ultimately, she must have decided not to, because she said, “Come on in.”

Lavin’s office was cramped, filled with bookcases that overflowed with legal textbooks and other tomes I’d never even dream of picking up. Her desk wasn’t much better, covered with papers, folders, and a single typewriter and inkwell. On the wall, there were a few paintings of family, and a rifle hung, collecting dust.

Lavin herself was a stark contrast to her office. She looked immaculately constructed. A woman of average height in her late thirties, she cut an impressive and intimidating figure. Her brown hair, partially graying, was done up into a tight bun. Her eyes, partially hidden behind small glasses, were cool and calculating, always watching. Her skin was pristine, probably the result of some cosmetic magics, or maybe just good genetics. She wore a plain suit, unmarked and unblemished. It looked as if it had just been pressed an hour ago.

She tapped the desk with her pointer finger, in what was clearly a habit. Her nails were partially stained with ink. Her fingers themselves were calloused like a writer’s.

“You’re not a constituent of mine,” she said plainly.

I shook my head.

“No.”

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“So who are you?” Lavin asked, before adding, “And be quick about answering, or I’ll scream and my security team storm in here will kill you.”

I smiled and flipped my collar down. Lavin’s face immediately drained of its color.

“Don’t worry,” I said, “I’m not a Guild enforcer. I’m just working some leads on a case.”

A bit of life returned to Lavin’s face and she forced a smile.

“Well, anything I can do to help the Guild.”

I leaned forward in my chair and asked, “Your brother is dead, did you know that?”

Lavin flinched and muttered, “Gerry’s dead?”

“Yes,” I said. “Do you know of anyone who might have wanted to hurt you or your brother?”

Lavin blinked a few times and I could tell she was overwhelmed.

She took a deep breath and said, “We shouldn’t talk about this here. The walls have ears and the floors have eyes. My security team can escort us to my house.”

“Are any of your security team ex-military or currently serving?” I asked.

She nodded.

“Most of them are, why?”

I grimaced and said, “It might be better if they don’t escort us then.”

Her eyes widened and she nodded.

“How can I be sure I can trust you, though?”

I shrugged and said, “You can’t. But I’ll just say I took these from the people that killed your brother.”

I threw the dog tags on the desk. Technically, I wasn’t sure that the Kurtadams I’d killed had been the ones to kill Gerry, but she didn’t need to know that. I was reasonably sure it was either them or their friends. Lavin picked them up for just a second and shivered. She gave them back to me.

“Alright,” she said, quietly. She stood up and walked to the door. She cracked it open and said a few words to someone outside. “I told them I wouldn’t be needing them and that they should wait for my call. But if I can’t trust my security, we’ve got a few more problems.”

“I’m guessing your home isn’t secure?” I said.

She shook her head.

“No, but luckily paranoia runs in the family. I have somewhere we can stay, it’s not too far from here.”

“We?” I asked, cocking an eyebrow at Lavin.

She looked at me, a bit confused.

“Yes,” she said. “We. If I can’t trust my security team, you’ll be the one protecting me.”

I groaned and thought about protesting but she was right.

“Fine,” I said. “Just for now.”

“No,” Lavin said. “Until you know I’m safe. Not for now.”

God, I hate politicians.

“Yes, yes, that’s what I meant.”

“Good,” Lavin said, “because there’s a banquet tomorrow I absolutely cannot miss.”

Did I mention I hate politicians?