CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59 - BEFORE THE PRIEST

Adolf waited with his usual calm by the door as Morena walked out. She had already finished getting ready in formal wear, carrying only her dagger with her. It was the only thing small enough to be concealed.

"The carriage is ready."

"Who’s attending?"

"As far as I know: Brenle, Estholm, Carrow, Marset. A few minor houses."

"What do we know about each of them at this moment?"

Morena only knew information about the city nobles at a surface level. Previously, when she still held a passion to become the next head and trained, she had spent some time learning about them and their history, but after slipping and drinking her time away with Edric, she hadn’t kept up with them.

She could use a little refresher about their current actions and needs.

"Brenle needs coin. They’ll agree to almost anything if it looks like favor. Estholm hates church meddling but won’t say it openly. They’ve made many moves against them in secret, but are too cowardly to stand out. Carrow has a cousin in robes and a timber issue on the river; the house itself is split currently. Marset wants fewer inspections and more words about safety."

"That will do for now."

She kept her cloak plain and the pin small. She didn’t bother with a fancy outfit either, no rings, no fancy decorations, not even a decorative hairpin; just bound clean.

"When we reach there, I want you to stay within sight, but don’t linger too close."

She stated, as she moved towards the carriage, slowly boarding it with the man following.

They had decided that it would be wise for Adolf to tag along as well, after all, he had a lot more information about the city, the nobles within it, and the church’s activities than Morena had.

He was also much more experienced with how politics moved; he could handle the flow for her when she lacked experience. The man had agreed, shifting his orders to people temporarily while he left.

"Understood."

"Anything else?"

Adolf hesitated for a second, as if unsure he should speak, but decided to do so anyway.

"I believe that they called this meeting so late and so rushed, because they have an agenda. Rushed people make bad choices, my lady."

"Then I won’t be rushed."

Then they rode, the carriage off along the stone paths. The city was loud in small ways: barrels rolled, a peddler shouted, a drunk sang half a verse and stopped. White sashes moved in pairs. Handbills hung crooked.

The word at the bottom didn’t change, just the ink.

Heresy.

She let the curtain fall and stopped looking outside.

The location of the meeting was an estate, which was an old noble house with new owners. The banners were gone, but the place itself was still lavish enough to hold gatherings; that way, others could meet on ’natural’ grounds.

It took no longer than an hour to arrive outside the estate; the yard stretched with various carriages, all holding the banners of different houses.

Outside, attendants managed smiles and doorways.

Adolf stepped out first, then offered a hand she didn’t need. She took it anyway with a smile, and lowered herself to the ground; her eyes gazing around for a brief moment.

At the arch, a clerk checked a list and waved them through.

Inside, warmth and talk mixed together and greeted them. There were many groups, large and small, having formed between the various houses; their allies and their enemies.

No one dared to be loud or cause a scene, but the tension in the air was clear; after all, everyone here had played some part in the issues of another’s house. Tension would be expected.

Adolf drifted to a wall where he could be seen and not asked questions; many of the other attendants brought by guests did the same, yet none interacted with each other.

Morena herself crossed the hall to a table where she could get a cup and fill her hand so she didn’t look out of place. As she moved, she noticed some eyes shift to watch her.

It was not the curious eyes or welcoming eyes like the previous hunt. No, those nobles were from far away; many of them held no strong opinion of her, or her house, besides what had spread in the form of rumors.

These people were different. Everyone here held some sort of thought or opinion of her house, many of which were negative. Beyond that, many of them knew of her rumors, or rather, the facts of who she was in the past.

They all lived in the city, had eyes and ears in the city, and could learn of her actions and failures. They knew everything she had done in the past, so for her to appear here as the representative of the house, and for all the recent news about her.

There was a mixture of emotions and thoughts.

A middle-aged lord reached her first.

"Lady Morena."

"Greetings, Lord Carrow, I hope you have been in good health."

"Of course, and I do hope your father has been well too. Gate gave you trouble?"

"Thank you for your wishes, he’s doing much better now. I didn’t have any trouble with the gate."

"You’re fortunate. They went through my wagon as if I had brought a weapon. Such a hassle."

"How rude of them."

He laughed once and pretended they had been friendly, and soon enough, he moved on.

Two girls with braided hair and river bracelets took his place, with bright eyes and careful words.

"We heard about your father. Our condolences."

"Thank you."

Morena nodded slightly at the two girls, twins. They were the daughters of House Estholm. It was an oddity that had rarely happened in the past: twins born at the same time, both of whom are rightful heirs to the house.

Both of whom were also warriors, merely two years older than Morena.

She found them interesting, but their odd attitude and way of speaking at the same time, finishing each other’s sentences, made her keep a distance.

"Have the priests visited?"

"I’m guessing they did the same for you?"

Before the conversation could flow further, another person joined them.

A woman in a plain dress with an emerald pin stopped, hands together. She stood to the side, slightly taller than Morena, with a slim frame; her dress doing little favor in hiding her appearance below.

"Lady Morena."

"Lady Brenle."

"Strange hour for a gathering."

"They wanted the hour."

"Of course they did."

A small pause. Brenle’s eyes cut toward the far corner, then back.

"I heard they’ve been searching people for weapons, do you not find this odd?"

"When has the church done anything that hasn’t seemed odd?"

A corner of Brenle’s mouth lifted.

"You’re not wrong, Lady Morena. I had heard rumors that you had changed a lot recently. It seems like it’s true."

"Why thank you, Lady Brenle, you have changed as well. Growing more beautiful by the day."

Brenle giggled slightly, blocking her face with her hand as she did, while she gazed at Morena.

"My, my, what a silver tongue you have."

Most of the people in the room didn’t need to move their heads before they heard the sound of footsteps approaching, and then the doors swung open wide. The room changed in an instant—voices dipped, shoulders squared, cups set down.

It was a habit for many.

Two attendants in white walked out. Then the priest, a young man with just a peach fuzz for a beard, his hair still fresh with youth, yet he wore the cap and robes of a priest with pride.

He didn’t hurry; he didn’t need to, walking as if the conversation waited for him. Robe heavy, smile that didn’t show teeth.

He enjoyed rooms like this. Yet he wasn’t the only one to enter; another did as well.

Slightly behind him, a second figure followed.

They wore a hood and cloak that covered their entire body, the cloth plain. There was no crest or symbol that could show their loyalty; they just moved in quiet steps.

The priest took the middle and turned.

"Lords and ladies."

He began speaking, his voice carried without trying.

"Thank you for coming on short notice. We meet for the safety of the city."

No one believed that sentence, but no one said so.

"We’ve had... incidents. We’ll speak plainly tonight, and briefly. Your counsel and your loyalty both matter."

The nobles had many issues with the word of choice; after all, no one here could be called ’loyal’ to the church. However, no one would dare to stand out and say they opposed the church either, for the many houses that have in the past all ended the same.

He lifted a hand, motioning behind him.

"An advisor joins us."