“Fuck.”

Marcella was inclined to agree with the quiet exclamation, though not even a hint of disquiet showed on her face. Their journey to the Teppin estate was short and uneventful, a stark contrast to what awaited them. She knew it would be bad when she saw the broken fence that surrounded the property, evidence that Lou’s visit had involved some degree of force. She had underestimated exactly how forceful the noblewoman was.

The closer they got to the large house in the distance, the worse the sights became. The normally manicured grass was burned and overturned, small craters spread throughout the area. Hanging out of them and haphazardly scattered about were dozens of bodies. Knights, Marcella guessed, from their armor and her knowledge of the Teppin forces. They weren’t the strongest force in the city of magic and adventure, that would be a tough ask, but the lord had enough wealth to keep competent people on retainer.

She knew of one in particular that had escaped the Company’s recruitment, a hunter by the name of Deckard. She could confidently say that the Teppin’s order, the Hounds, were no pushovers and anyone that thought to assault the lord would find themselves up against stiff resistance.

Yet, that is not what the scene suggested. Marcella didn’t have much experience with skirmishes, but even she could draw certain conclusions from the grim details. The many casualties, the knights with wounds in their backs, the eerie silence, and the fact that Lou had called for a meeting on the same day as the battle. Her observations suggested that Lou and whatever force she’d brought with her hadn’t simply won. They’d dominated the poor knights, so much so that the hardened fighters had tried to turn tail and run. The act of cowardly self-preservation hadn’t been enough to save them. Worse, Lou’s forces had done decimated them while taking so little damage in return that the noblewoman was sure enough to invite hostile forces to a poorly secured location.

“I don’t want to tell you how to conduct business girl, but I’d feel like an ass if I didn’t at least say this. If things go bad in there, you need to get out of this city. This madwoman is bad enough on her own. I don’t want to see what will happen with her leading an army of Moons and Stars.”

“Moon and Stars?”

“Northern knights, the hardest of the bunch. Pray you never meet them, especially not on the battlefield.”

If Marcella didn’t already have a idea of how serious the destruction surrounding her was, her escorts, guards employed by the Company, advising her to turn around would have enlightened her. They didn’t argue when she rejected their advice, but they weren’t happy and each of the four kept a hand on a weapon. The hunter led the way to the house with stiff shoulders and confident steps but paused before the door. “Hey. You know this Tome woman?”

“…we are acquaintances at best.”

“Any idea what we are about to walk into?”

“None.” Something that irked the merchant. Not just because she hated surprises but because, for the first time since dealing with Lou, Marcella felt she might be in danger. Vaguely, she knew if Lou wanted to cause her harm, her guards wouldn’t provide much challenge to an elven master caster with a pure affinity but now that certainty was being thrust in her face.

She almost wished her sister was with her. Maxine had yet to return from her mysterious business trip, the details of with Marcella had yet to puzzle out despite raiding her room at the hotel. They were competitors but she would gladly share a little glory in exchange for what could be crucial insight into the Tome family.

She suspected Maxine knew something so some importance. Her timing in escaping the city was simply too good, though it was a mystery how her sister managed to discover something before Marcella’s informants.

“No point in stalling.”

“Ah.” Marcella’s hand caught the hunter’s shoulder as he prepared to knock. “Perhaps it would be best if I take the lead?” As unsettling as the situation was, she would not allow her presence to be in vain. Technically, she had no cause to be at these negotiations so, if she wanted a voice, she had to craft a place for herself.

The hunter, probably as unsettled as she was, didn’t hesitate to step aside. A hand idly combed through Marcella’s dark hair as she faced the imposing door. A lesser woman would have retreated but she hadn’t gotten where she was by letting fear rule her. Steeling her nerves, she raised a hand to grab the knocker on the door, but before she had the chance to use it, the door swung open.

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“Coo!”

The merchant’s gaze moved downwards to find the imp that had summoned her. Bell, she thought the creature was called. She didn’t think much of Lou’s elementals, as they were simply extensions of the summoner, no matter how competent.

“Your mistress is expecting us.”

The imp opened the door and moved backwards, watching them intently with its four scarlet eyes until Marcella took her first step over the threshold of the door. Then it turned, swinging tail guiding them deeper into the house. The merchant was relieved that the house didn’t show as much damage. Or any damage that she could see. That meant Lou wasn’t violent for the sake of it and perhaps boded well for the lord’s family.

The creature led them to a sitting room that was a surprisingly mundane sight. Marcella didn’t know what she expected. Given her reaction, probably to find the Teppin family bleeding out, their guts stuck to the ceiling.

Instead, she found every member of the family in the room, whole and healthy, though in strange positions. Serving positions. The youngest daughter, Leeona the merchant recalled as she’d had information gathered about the family before coming to the city, stood beside a woman Marcella would guess to be her mother, making her Layla Teppin, the matriarch of the family, and Lou’s thrall at a serving cart. They were even dressed as servants, including plain brown dresses, aprons, and simple shoes.

Another young woman, the older daughter Villarey the merchant suspected, was also dressed in the guise of a servant and in the midst of serving tea, including two extra cups for Marcella and the hunter. She didn’t look happy doing the work, but she went about it with care and efficiency.

There was a son, the oldest child, but Marcella’s information said he was out of the city, in Rosentheim on some business or other. That only left the lord himself. He also hadn’t been spared the indignity of being made to serve. Nor the change of dress. The man was dressed exactly the same as the women of the family, dress and all, and wielded a duster, cleaning the windows of the room while pointedly hiding his face.

It was a ridiculous sight. One Marcella might have laughed at if the tension in the room wasn’t so thick. Not that one would know it looking at Lou. The noblewoman sat in the middle of one of the two couches in the room, legs crossed and arms extended over the back of the cushions.

On her right was Kierra, the elf similarly relaxed as she leaned into her wife, idly playing with a knife. On her left, Umphrieltalia, retired dorm mother of the Grand Hall and the would-be successor of Lord Remmings, who leaned into Lou’s side like a lovesick girl, though her expression remained stoic. Another interesting addition to Lou’s house, mainly as it was going to cause ripples in the capital. Internal instability in a group like the interrogators was bound to make people nervous. So far, it wasn’t common knowledge and there were plenty other things to focus on, but it wouldn’t be long before the matter of Remmings’ successor had to be addressed.

Beside the mental caster were the James sisters. Yulianna was seated at the end of the couch, trying hard not to appear sour but Marcella’s trained eyes could see through such a weak facade. The merchant was curious what had upset the woman, especially as it was something that she was desperately attempting to keep inside.

Alana stood at the end of the couch, undoubtedly the tensest person in the room. While the others seemed untouched by the carnage outside, she still bore traces of combat. Namely the blood splattered across her pants and boots. Marcella thought her chest would have been covered too but she most likely had worn a breastplate and wasn’t wearing any armor. Given that she’d had time to remove it, she also had plenty of time to clean up. That made the blood-stained clothes an intimidation tactic. As well as the sword on her hip. Something that was hardly needed but added a gravitas to the ridiculous situation the merchant appreciated.

“Marcella!” Lou called out happily, tone full of energetic amusement. “You’re right on time. I can’t speak to the quality of dinner, the Teppin ladies aren’t accustomed to housework, but I don’t believe they can fail terribly with my thrall guiding them. Come, have a seat. And introduce your friend.”

“Thank you.” Marcella didn’t let the strangeness of the situation give her pause. Thankfully, the hunter was the same, taking the seat on the opposite couch beside her without pause. “This is Mr. Slaid, the hunter sent to negotiate on behalf of the guilds.”

“Just Slaid is fine,” the hunter grunted out. His eyes flicked to Lord Teppin, who still hadn’t looked up, before returning to Lou. “I’m no one important enough to be called mister.”

“Yet they sent you to me.” Lou’s smile gained a bit of an edge.

“Probably because I won’t be missed if things go north. Which suits me fine. I don’t care why I’m here, only that I am. The last thing this city, no, this kingdom needs is another Emberton making things worse.”

“…fair. Oh, please have a drink. Rey worked hard on it.”

The lord’s daughter flinched when her name was spoken but said nothing. Slaid huffed at the sight. “Should I ask why the Teppin family is playing at being servants?”

“Well, they insisted on staying despite me giving them the opportunity to leave while I commandeered their home so I thought they might as well make themselves useful. But forget them. They’re not important.”

And Marcella understood. They weren’t important. That was why Lou had them on display. She wanted to show Slaid, and the guilds he represented, that hostility would result in overwhelming defeat and acute embarrassment. The summoner was using the entire family to make a point. Marcella was glad the family had survived the assault, as if they hadn’t the crown would have surely intervened, but she doubted the lord’s reputation would ever recover.

“Let’s talk about how we’re going to keep the kingdom from tearing itself apart.”