Venomous Gaze - Chapter 11 - Savrahold  (Patreon)

I shuddered as I stepped through the portal’s shimmering surface. I’d always found the feeling unpleasant, like plunging into an ice-cold, electrified chemical bath. Passing through it only took a moment; the portal itself was little more than a paper-thin magical membrane, but the feeling always lingered. 

Fists clenched, I strode into the middle of the Savrahold grand square and slowly surveyed the area. Even at a casual glance, there were signs of the other house's influence everywhere. 

Around the square, there were dozens of intricate lanterns powered by magic straight from House Tarnin’s mines. They were Intricate, long-lasting, and almost impossible to refuel unless you had a connection to House Tarnin. While many of the other houses had been slow to adopt the convenient stone-based tech and give their rival more power, the citizens here in the middle of the empire had no such hang-ups. 

At the far end of the square, just in front of the council building, there was a smaller, more intricate-looking version of the steam engines which spanned the country. The intricate brass and steel vehicle, which had House Vigni’s sigil etched proudly on the side, seemed to be picking up and dropping off passengers along the main road. I had no doubt it was one of their newest inventions, and they were using the capital to show it off before asking the other houses to invest. 

Finally, behind the steam engine, on the steps of the council building, there were two groups. One was dressed in intricate, lightweight armour and was holding weapons that literally glowed with power. Across from them was a group in heavy winter longcoats, many of whom either had glowing talismans or spectral beasts sitting next to them. 

“I see House Castille and House Morewin beat us here,” Kathrine hissed.

“I don’t know if they’re trying to show some solidarity, or are in a jurisdictional pissing match with each other,” I muttered. “I have no doubt they’re both trying to make a good impression on the locals after what happened.”

Someone near us gasped, and a sudden murmur broke out across the square. Many of the people closest to the portal pushed back, giving us some room. Kathrine glanced back, just as Pierre, Monique and their squad of brethren stepped through the portal, all wearing their crow-nosed and full armour. 

“It’s one thing to make a good impression,” Kathrine said, letting a small smirk cross her lips. “It’s another to make a long-term one. We may not be seen as the good guys, but everyone knows who we are and gives us the proper respect.”

The two of us stood there a minute, making sure that everyone passed through the threshold properly. When they did, the portal flickered, the energy wavering, dissipating, and finally disappearing, revealing a row of modern brick storefronts lining the street behind it.

“You said you had an idea,” Katherine said. “What is it?”

“Well, since we’re here, I thought we should take a look at the site of the attack,” I said. “Not only will that allow us to announce our presence, but I might be able to find some of the poisonous residue to analyze. Although it will be degraded, having even the smallest sample will make my job easier.” 

“Makes sense,” Kathrine conceded. “And since both Morewin and Castille are already on site, I can make contact and figure out what our first steps are going to be, while you’re working.”

“You’re going to investigate the crime scene?” Monique asked. For a moment I wondered if she was on a sense booster just so she could listen in to our conversation, until I realized that she’d always been good at keeping track of the situation around her. It was a gift.

“That’s the plan,” Kathrine replied. “Want to come?” 

“We shouldn’t give away our presence,” Pierre replied. “We’re supposed to be operating out of sight.”

“You’re wearing your combat gear, which is already meant to blend in with the brethren team that’s escorting you. If you send away most of your team, and only keep three or four members, you could easily pass as our security detail. You could send the other half of your team back to the estate with our maids in order to set up a base of operation, and begin questioning the local staff to figure out what the situation is,” I said. “You don’t need to, but if I do find something in the council chambers, you’ll be there to see it, instead of hearing about it second hand.”

The pair stared for a moment before Pierre grunted. “I thought you weren’t good at social maneuvering and manipulation.”

“Not liking it, and not being good at it are two different things,” I replied. “So, are you coming?”

“Give us a moment to make some arrangements,” Monique said before turning back towards her guards. As soon as she did, I gestured for Anna and Scisily to step forward. “You two are going to the estate with half of the team,” I said before carefully placing the herbs I was carrying on the ground and taking my bag from Anna. 

Flipping open the top I quickly pulled out my hatchets, followed by my bandolier. I was about to put them on when I finally realized what I was wearing. “I wish I’d taken the time to change out of my formal clothes,” I muttered. “If I throw my weapons on over top of it, I’m going to get a lot of strange looks.”

“Leave it all inside your satchel, and bring the entire thing. You need your sampling tools anyway; it’ll look less suspicious that way,” Kathrine suggested. 

I thought for a moment before nodding and slipping everything back into my bag. “In that case, I’ll take this, and you girls can take the herbs. Be exceptionally careful with them, and once you get to the manor, take them right up to my room. Don’t let anyone take them from you, and don’t let them out of your sight,” I said, pulling out my dagger and holding it out. “If anyone tries to stop you, or question why you’re there, show them this. Everyone in the family has one, and even though it won’t get you into any secure areas, it should be enough to prove you’re our people, and keep people from bothering you until we get back.”

“We should contact our people and have them come down from Brighthome,” Kathrine said. “Although I doubt the locals will try anything while we’re here, I’d still like to have a couple of people that are loyal to us around, instead of my mother or uncle.”

“Are we going to be safe at the manor?” Sicily asked quietly. 

“Yes. Although my mother constantly pits the rest of the family against one another, most of us have an unspoken understanding that our feuds should be limited to immediate family members, and never followers or staff. If you want to do something, you do it yourself,” Kathrine explained. “If we got our loyalists involved, it could result in extensive internal conflict, which would cripple the family. No one will directly attack you, but they probably won’t accept you with open arms either.”

“Then what about…” Anna started.

“Dimitri is a coward and a failure,” I said, pushing myself to my feet. “He used to follow the rules of engagement, and the fact that he forced you to help him shows just how far he’s fallen. Let us worry about him; you two just worry about doing your jobs.”

“We’re ready,” Monique declared from nearby, causing Kathrine to turn towards her and nod. “Alright, you two, go with the brethren and take one of the carriages that was sent for us to the estate. We’ll be along in a couple of hours,” Kathrine declared without turning to look at the pair. 

I hefted my bag, slinging it over my shoulder, before moving to stand directly behind Kathrine. “So, how do you want to approach this?” I asked, eyeing up the Castille and Morewin enforcers across the square. Both squads had stopped eying each other up and were instead staring our way. That wasn’t a huge surprise; the civilians had made a huge fuss as soon as the Brethern stepped through the portal. I would have been even more impressed if they’d been too thick to notice. 

It did mean we’d lost whatever initiative we would have had from walking up out of the blue and introducing ourselves.

“There’s no point in beating around the bush,” Kathrine replied, standing up straight. “We head straight for the doors and introduce ourselves. Our objective is to get access to the council chamber, so hopefully everyone will be cordial and let us through without any problem.”

“And if they don’t?” Pierre asked. 

“Well then, we do what our family is known for,” Kathrine replied, adjusting the rapier on her hip. “Whatever’s necessary.”