"Marchesi, eh? I'm going to imagine your name is Alta." Noah said as we were escorted down the street towards the City Lord's manor.

I didn't like the looks and stares people were giving us. I had no idea what level of subtlety they were going for with all this, but in my mind, they were failing. Failing because they were dragging me along. I really wanted no part of this.

"And why would you say that? I could be from any number of Marchesi families. It's not an uncommon name in Burgotova." I replied, failing utterly to keep my annoyance from my voice. It was such an obvious lie that I actually managed to feel ashamed of myself.

"Please. Marchesi is far from a common Burgotovan name. And I remember your description from the stories about your little duel with Cavendish. He deserved much worse. Touching a lady like that without permission is the act of scum." He tried to keep his tone conversational, but he had a slight snarl to that last part. It felt genuine. I was beginning to rethink my stance on this Noah Scarletti. I didn't trust him as far as I could throw a golem, but still.

"Cannot stand Obsidian Gauntlet knights. Full of themselves. Tyrants. Bullies." Adhara grunted as she walked beside us. Her head was on a swivel the entire time, her ears flicking one way and the other.

"Now now, Adhara. I don't like them either, but talking about other knightly orders, in public anyway, is not considered good form. In private, you can slag them all you care to. I'll probably join you." Noah clicked his tongue and tutted dramatically.

That raised an entire army's worth of red flags in my mind. Other knightly orders? Which meant they were knights too. I had enough bad experiences with Knights in general, and so had my companions. Plus, the news of the Knightly Orders and Mages getting involved in politics in Revenstahd and the Mortal Kingdom Alliance council, I began to worry I had accidentally landed face-first into a live viper's nest. I really did not care much for vipers.

"I'm going to go out on a limb here, and this is totally not helping your opinion of me, is it?" Noah said as if he was reading my mind.

"Not particularly, no. I don't care for Knights. Never have, and I doubt I ever will." I scowled at him. He shrugged.

"Never said we were Knights, but I won't bother lying at this point. But as for why we're here, it's best to hold off on that conversation for a bit." His seemingly permanent smile faded a bit as his eyes darted this way and that.

That did not help my growing paranoia at all. Even the bastetian seemed more tense as we got closer to the City Lord's manor. No doubt a variety of eyes were watching us. Revenstahd seemed thick with spy networks these days.

As we were escorted in by Farina, several of the Lord's maids came, took our cloaks, and even got us new footwear, which was nice and comfortable.

As Noah made small talk with the maids, mixed with some rather unsubtle flirting, much to Adhara's chagrin, if I read her body language, I pulled Farina aside.

"Farina, I need you to do me a favor," I whispered to her.

"I can't get you out of this, Alta, if that's what you're wanting out of me." She looked genuinely apologetic.

"No, no, no its not that. Could you get a message to my roommates, Cori Cadogan, Mithramanda Draevena, and Smitty...I have no idea if Smitty has a last name. Is that a thing Kobolds have? No, don't answer that. Also, a message to Eira Medwin. I just want them to know I'm ok and I'm just stuck in last-minute meetings. Don't come hunting for me or anything. I'm just sure they're worried after I didn't come home last night." I asked her.

She just nodded, pulled out a small book, and wrote down all the information.

"I'll get it taken care of. We definitely don't want that little crew of yours causing trouble trying to find you right now. And while we're having an aside, I might have more work for you, but I can't confirm anything right now. It all depends on how this meeting goes." She whispered with a frown on her face.

"Paying?"

"You mercenary little thing, of course it's paid." She actually cracked a smile at that.

"Oh, good! I was hoping you all at the school weren't getting the idea I did anything out of the goodness of my heart." I winked at her, patted her shoulder, and went back to join the other two knights, if anything, to spare the poor maids from any more of Noah's flirtations.

At the very least, and I'll give credit where credit is due, if they firmly told him that they weren't interested, he stopped immediately. I wish more nobles and knights took that sort of thing to heart. More men in general, really. It should be the bare minimum, but I have low hopes for that.

Farina cleared her throat in a highly subtle way, which elicited an embarrassed look from Noah, as well as a grateful one from Adhara. I got the feeling she was very used to his shenanigans.

I gave them both a once-over now that they weren't hidden beneath cloaks. They both wore rather nondescript clothing, nothing that would set them apart as envoys or other higher-ranking individuals, nor anything so worn to seem like they were commoners. Noah had nothing but a small dagger at his belt and a rather interesting leather bracer. Not so much interesting for its design or anything. It was incredibly plain. What was interesting was the fact that I couldn't help but notice the mana coming off it.

Which was something I noticed I could do now without concentrating. I was hoping it was a skill thing, and not some side effect of the dungeon core. I really needed to make an appointment with Calderon and Danica. I hadn't really taken the time since I got back from my little winter trip outside the debriefing.

Adhara was tall, even for a bastetian; she had two daggers and a short sword at her belt, and she had a very simple leather armor vest on. She kept a wary eye on everyone and everything. Even me. Especially me. Her tail whipped around impatiently, as if she was getting annoyed that no one was trying anything.

I noticed that they didn't insist on disarming themselves. Or me. In Burgotova, that was standard, but I never really thought about the more polite protocols of Revenstahd. I just figured it would never apply to me, and for the most part, I was correct about that. Something to file away in the future.

Farina motioned for us to follow her, and eventually she led us to a rather familiar hallway. At the entrance was Mewraz, the bastetian butler I had met during my last meeting with the City Lord.

"I welcome you, honored guests. And Miss Marchesi. I admit I had not expected you so soon, but I applaud your efficiency in answering our summons before they were even given. I am Mewraz, the City Lord's attendant." He smirked at me and bowed to us.

"A good dungeoneer is nothing if not proactive." I bowed in return.

"I thank you for your welcome, Mewraz. May your path be one of peace, clear water, and bountiful greenery." Noah said ritualistically and bowed.

Adhara said nothing. No bow or anything. Mewraz didn't seem offended or put off in the slightest. I wondered if this was a Bastetian thing that I knew nothing about. I really needed to learn more about the world outside bestiaries and dungeon maps. I was a former noble, for goodness sake. This was embarrassing. It's like I forgot every bit of etiquette I had ever learned. Which made sense. I didn't pay attention to those lessons at all. Well ok, a little bit.

I followed closely behind as Mewraz led us through the halls. Eventually, we came upon the office of the City Lord, and Mewraz ushered us inside. Waiting for us was the City Lord, massive despite being a dwarf, along with the scarred and cheerful Walther. Normally cheerful, that is. Today, he had the first real dour look I had ever seen on his face.

There was a third individual, an older goblin woman, with silver hair tied in a tight bun, and gold-framed glasses on her nose. She was wearing a grey robe with the symbol of a scale upon it. The Grey Balance, the semi-religious order of law keepers. I hadn't seen or heard much from them since the duel I had with Cavendish. In the corner was another individual that I almost missed altogether, for how still and quiet they were. Salandra Vesht. The captain of the guard.

Now I was very certain I was in a situation far over my head and pay grade. The head of the city, the guard, the dungeon school, and the law keepers, in one room to meet with two strangers from who knows where, and I got dragged in. Not incidentally, at that. They were going to drag me in one way or another, and that was an entirely separate thing that concerned me right now. I hated this so very, very much.

"Welcome. Mewraz, if you would please. We are not to be disturbed for any reason. Any. Reason." The City Lord said firmly. Mewraz bowed and closed the door behind him. I heard a series of sturdy locks latch. The goblin woman breathed deeply, and I could feel her draw mana in. She whispered something I couldn't make out, and I could feel the room suddenly subsumed in a cloak of some kind of magic.

"Shield of Silence has been activated. We are safe from prying eyes, scrys, and ears." The goblin woman said confidently, before taking a seat.

"Fair caution. Thank you. May I?" Noah asked, indicating a seat. The City Lord nodded. Seats were offered to Adhara and me. Adhara seemed hesitant at first, but scooted her seat closer to Noah. I took the furthest away seat. I knew this was going to involve me at some point, and I was not looking forward to it.

"I suppose we should get to introductions. I am, of course The City Lord; you may call me Lord. This is Gundrad Walther, Headmaster of Dungeon School. Kasckina Vect, the High Abjurationist of the Grey Balance. Salandra Vesht, the Captain of the Guard. And earlier than expected is Alta Marchesi, a frequently useful student of Dungeon School." Lord pointed at each of us in turn. I didn't care much for the term 'frequently useful,' but it was at least a positive descriptor.

"I thank and greet you all. My name is Noah Scarletti, and this is my companion and bodyguard, Adhara, no surname. We are both Inquisitives of the Knights of Everspring, representing Middenveldt." He said, his playful attitude up to this point disappearing behind an immediate and serious mask.

"Thank you for answering our summons so quickly. The incidents with the Harpies and the political operatives have gotten us deeply concerned, and we wanted to verify everything. I was, I confess, startled that you decided to answer our questions in person. The Seal of Urgency was another eye-opener, I admit. I haven't seen one in a great long time." Lord replied, furrowing his brow.

"It is because it is quite urgent. I know the vote for the inclusion of the Harpies as Mortals is deadlocked right now, and you've no doubt had representatives from far and wide trying to sway your vote. I came in person to tell you, in utmost secrecy, one important thing. Those claiming to represent the Knights of the Everspring are not authorized to do so. We are both here to find out what they're doing here and root it out. With prejudice." Noah's look darkened at those words, and I realized he was deadly serious.

And somehow I was to be involved in all of this? Oh, I hated this so much. So very intensely much. I could feel a headache coming on. I really did not need this today. Any day.