Chapter 365 (2/2)

Sulla glowered at the cohtly "There will be no need for that, Highlord Denoir I aing him He is here with me now, as a matter of fact, to discuss how best to deal with this situation"

"Oh," Corbett said, his noblefor just an instant "Very well then I've heard good things about your fairness and wisdom, and it seems these rumors are not unfounded Grey, h Street in two hours Good day then"

"Good day, Highlord…" Sulla said, his expression caught somewhere between frustration and relief

When the artifact dimmed, his attention turned back to h places…"

"A recent acquaintance," I said with a shrug "So, Professor Graeme…"

Sulla winced "Like I said—"

"Oh, don't worry I won't kill hi look "Am I free to leave?"

"For the moment, yes," he said with a humorless smile "But this situation will need to be dealt with, Grey"

I nodded, a certain drunk uncle coet in contact with someone forbriskly along High Street, hohbloods

Various scenarios whirled in ht about what I had learned If what Professor Graeed everything

My thoughts were interrupted as I was forced to step out of the way for a pair of young highbloods walking side by side down the middle of the path, but before I could spare theht of the place I was supposed to be hblood cafe na looked more like a temple than a cafe Gold-capped allery at the front of the building and around one side, and the carved entablatures that rested atop the pillars glea the roof glitter like a crown Multi-colored flaiving the place a distinctoff a mixture of sweet scents that made my mouth water and stomach rumble

Several sets of eyes followed me as I entered the cafe, likely because my attire was not up to the standards at Goldberry's Inside, the warm aroma of coffee and freshly baked bread nes and perfumes to make the air uncomfortably heavy

Abehind a short bar carved of some kind of opaque crystal She dipped at her waist into a respectful bow as I approached, her expression flawlessly masked aside from the quick twitch of her eyes as she scanned hlord Denoir," I said, feeling the attention of a handful of the cafe's patrons turn in my direction "Has he arrived yet?"

The wohlord Denoir's private room is located around the corner there, third door"

I nodded and turnedit as the patrons— at my back only a second before—looked away and pretended to mind their own business

The indicated door was cracked, and swung slowly open when I knocked lightly on it Corbett looked up fro "Close the door behind you," he said as he stashed the journal

I did, and a series of wards that ran along the edge of the door lit up briefly "Sound proofing?" I s Goldberry's is not successful with the highbloods si to a seat across fro gave it a sense of grandeur A low table raved with a realistic depiction of the Basilisk Fang Mountains took up the center, with a wraparound couch on one side and two lounge chairs on the other I sat in one of these, sinking into the soft cushi+oning

A low fire burned in a small fireplace in the corner behind ht behind Corbett I frowned at the , unsure why it seemed so out of place, then realized there couldn't be ain this roo walls Looking ht artifact that acted as a faux

"Nice place," I co a conversation that should not be overheard," he said fully "Were you able to locate Professor Graeh I can't say the sanity," I answered nonchalantly "But that's beside the point"

The highlord nodded "I figured as much, which is why I wished for us to meet here"

"I need to knohat kind of retaliation I can get aith," I said without preao after the Granbehls?"

He eyedhis words "Well, if you were a highblood—or even a named blood equal to the Granbehls in stature—you would be entirely within your right to strike back" He put on a knowing smile "But as an unblooded, you are without recourse outside of the court, and you already knoell how just the halls of justice truly are"

A 'feature' ihbloods like yourself, I wanted to say

"The Granbehls understand and hblood," he continued "They have launched an all out assault on several rival named bloods, but so far have not crossed any lines that would see them stripped of their titles or executed—at least not in broad daylight Their enemies seem to die under suspicious and convenient circu a recent fire that killed both the lord and lady of Named Blood Rothkeller"

"Why do you think these rivals haven't struck back?"

Corbett tapped the side of his nose "That is the question, isn't it? But not every question comes with an answer In this case, I have only speculation based on rumor However, it appears that they have soe of a powerful benefactor, someone whose protection has allowed them to maneuver more or less uninhibited"

When a person like Corbett Denoir called someone powerful, it really shortened the list of suspects Only another ranking highblood could offer that kind of protection—or even someone above the normal constructs of Alacryan society, like a Scythe

"That doesn't change what I need to do," I replied, my expression hidden from Corbett

"Do you have some plan in mind, then?" he asked His hand moved to the couch cushi+on beside hi that was half hidden in his shadow

My lips twitched "Yes, but it's not very subtle"

"I thought asinside it He pulled out a metal emblem and set it on the table between us

The black metal was stained, and when I bent down over it I realized it had been scorched by fire The e sun, once brightly colored but now blackened and robbed of the small details

"Named Blood Rothkeller?" I asked

Corbett nodded "If one of the few reht retribution for the burning of their estate—"

"No one would bat an eye," I finished, lifting the e it over in my hand Witha cracked and faded red coloring "Would the Rothkeller blood be likely to deny it?"

Corbetts eyes gleamed with cold calculation "If their ee of their enemy's estate? What would you do in their place?"

"Fair point," I conceded before putting the emblem back down on the table "My only question is why are you willing to do all of this fors went poorly with the Denoirs, I couldn't exactly kill the Corbett to have such a dangerous secret was certainly a probleainst ue?" Corbett mused "You're a man with many layers, Grey And these circumstances allow me to uncover some of them"

"Well, whatever I choose to do, I wouldn't have been able to do it without your help," I said, holding the e bond built frohlord sat up a little straighter, but a suarded demeanor "Of course After all, there is still this mysterious benefactor to be concerned about"

My thoughts cycled through everything Professor Grae else with Corbett Instead, I asked, "Is it possible whoever is backing the Granbehls would go after the re Rothkellers?"

He nodded, his expression unchanged "Entirely, but even if they die, they would do so with pride knowing that their blood has been avenged You offer their blood redeal or otherwise"

I didn't agree with the highblood view on pride over life, but e wasn't hard In the face of Gods as rulers, so left in their control

With a plan in place and all of the pieces in ether, I bid hih Street

A frigid sed at the corners of et back here It's time for a little reunion with the Granbehls

1