"I sure do hope that the arrival of you lot is meaningful. To request that I come so close to the Senate whilst I have my right to bear a sash on hold." I explain to the members of the investigation team as I look over the menu of this modest establishment I happened to have been walking by when they found me.
"We would not if it wasn't, Lord Burspharosa, it is regarding The Lady Bosphama."
"The Lady-Heir, specifically." another adds on and I raise a brow as this is an odd thing for them to come to me about. They...?
"You ran into her at some point in your journey?" I question, lowering the menu and sharply raising my hand at the waitress that was going to approach. A shame, really, what is on offer had otherwise piqued my interests but my appetite will have to wait, it seems.
"Right as we were heading down the main road away from the keep." one man explains and I lean back into my chair, going upright as my brow sets. My eyes seemingly aimless in where they are looking as my mind comes to life with all kinds of warnings and concerns. Any question about the resources she might have at her disposal are now answered. Whatever The Lady Bosphama had prepared, the Lady-Heir now has access to them.
Every coin, every armed man.
"Her state?" I ask, the painting so vibrant in my mind. The man who painted it is reliable and he can be trusted, quite so, but, to hear it from the words of a senator under my sway. I almost feel as if I need to prepare for poetry that only waxes and never wanes. However, their eyes do not communicate such a sentiment, they are worried to the core.
"She had been attacked, she and her companion had been struck in the night by assassins. Or so Senator Caetusi passed on openly. They nearly took her life, though, she was only blinded in the affair." one tells me and I slowly nod as it is easy to see why he would be so willing to speak up about it. What better way to stop my efforts than to spread a rumour of the Lady-Heir's life being at stake? And who better to centre it all on than on me...
I have ordered no attack, such a sly, barbarous thing I swore off to all who know of my plans. The need for such things is beneath me and I will not taint my name with it.
Yet, there is something curious about this as well, with how powerful her portrait would otherwise set her up to be, how was she attacked? More importantly, I suppose, who found the courage to go after such a person as her?
"Has there been any talk as to who did it?" I ask, putting the menu down completely, leaning forward slightly as to encourage a quieter tone from the senators.
"The Lady-Heir's guard, a foreigner from far north, beyond the sea, he complained a lot about spears. His armour had otherwise been punctured and his body on top of it all."
I clench a fist tight as an image of an individual comes to mind, I glance towards the building we find ourselves seated outside of, "Partahinobi."
"You didn't...?"
"No! Cease such runnings of the mind right now if you wish to continue to see further support from me! I shall not be associated with such creatures!" I hiss with a lack of control as a firm finger finds its way to the face of the foolish boy sitting across from me.
I sit back, straightening my clothes out as my bitter temper calms only slightly.
"Who could've possibly brought them into this?"
"Senator Lepiaciai..." I nearly spit were it not for our public presence.
"I understand he leads those who stand against you, but, to take things this far!" a member of the investigation goes as The Lady Bosphama comes to mind.
"The Lady-Heir left the country for more reasons than just me and the sake of ensuring Bosphama power through her lack of ability to testify in a senatorial court." I clarify as I begin to recall a lone letter I sent to The Lady Bosphama some time before the Lady-Heir's disappearance reached the Senate. I advised her to consider keeping the Lady-Heir out of the eyes of everyone, more so for my own sake than hers. But, I also told The Lady Bosphama about her daughter's return, so, maybe there is more to me than I am willing to admit.
"I would've thought a man so brazen and open to defending his honour in duels would be more... Upfront. There has been no talk of an unlawful army moving with a criminal senator at its head." one of them mutters and I can't help but nod in my head before a form of despair takes me over. I can foresee such a sight, but, not Senator Lepiaciai or any of those under him, but me. Marching against the cover of which the Partahinobi choose to hide behind.
For the sake of my own threatened honour and good word... I may have to. I will take the orders and the bloody money he paid the assassins and present them to a lawful body. I shall drag that man in with it and accept my punishment once the right, vengeful time arrives for me in turn.
"It is easy to forget, young senator, but, life in the army can be just as cutthroat as a life in politics. In fact, more so, or are you all lacking in historical schooling?"
"A mere mistake in secretarial work saw the death of the Man who Held up The World." one of the senators laments earnestly, the prominent historical figure coming to mind likely for all of us. Though, some find it cause to act like children and their eyes roll.
"A perfect example, really. That man, so beloved in the histories of our people was slain not by an assassin that nearly took the Lady-Heir's life, but a royal guard. His family still lives on, in the same palace I hope to find myself in. But, we should never forget that just because Senator Lepiaciai and his like are from hard-formed infantry of a rigid disposition that, that means they are incapable of considering the silence of night." I go on in length to the men present.
"Lord Burspharosa, if I may, how are we to handle this? The Lady-Heir has returned home, only, it has created a situation far worse than we could've expected and through no fault of her own."
"As far as the rest of you are concerned, you do not handle it. I alone shall take these matters into my own hands and I wish for you lot to spread the word of that to all that you know to trust." I explain to them as I turn partially towards the direction of the Senate building.
"The Lady-Heir is going to be quick to blame you... Everyone will."
"Let me worry about that, Young Senator. Now, I must take my leave. Help yourselves to some rest and a meal on my behalf. Have the bill directed to my estate, but, the imperative for me to move is here and I cannot ignore the horns." I explain as the sky opens up with the power of our most honoured god. Its power reminds me.
"Yes, Lord Burspharosa, you are lingering?" one asks as my continued presence keeps their eyes on me.
"With how powerful she is, how did she come to you wounded?" I question.
"Powerful? Her hair is... Well, copper, she's filthy but her paleness strikes out quite a bit." he answers and I nod, walking away without a word.
Copper?
"No... No that cannot be right." I mutter under my breath as the painting comes back to mind. Her skin, her hair, it's all finer than even what the royal family has coursing through their veins. The skies themselves would bow at such a beauty, how can her hair be copper? Either there are more concerns I need to involve myself with or something else has happened out of my sight. Neither option bodes well.
Returning to my private coach, I do not wait for a servant to open the door and my knuckle quickly alerts the driver to get moving. Leaning into one of my finer, cushioned chairs, I start to slump down as my mind wanders over all that I know and have been forced to put into question. A thumb braces itself below my chin and the rest of the hand finds my lips and nose. Swiftly, I slip the hand away, briefly abrasing my face against it.
"I suppose I should take these new potential circumstances as a gift. If the Lady-Heir has lost that which has had me so worried up until now then... I can focus. Senator Lepiaciai or whomever ordered that attack will be put beneath my sword and they shall bleed unto death itself. With copper hair and pale skin, she cannot rally anyone to her cause, much less so blinded." I mutter to myself.
The slot to the driver opens up from their end.
"Where to, Lord Burspharosa?"
"As quick as you can to my closest estate."
"Of course, My Lord." he answers before sliding the slot closed again.
My eyes narrow as I recall what I have available at my closest place of residence and how far it is from what I can muster. I will need to bring it all together beyond the lines of note and then move in quickly from there. The assassins think they are well-hidden, but, only to those not in on the secret behind The Finest Cut's methods of cooking. Such fame for succulent, weekend carvery is not misplaced, but, to know where it has come, what honed those skills.
"I will need to also muster what I can at my most secure estate, rally family and soldiery alike." I comment, a finger twitching at the thought of a retaliatory strike against the family I have done so much for. If the Partahinobi are able to track down the Lady-Heir so quickly, they will have no trouble finding my family. Though, I suppose, if I can keep my incursion bloodless, wounding only their pride with the presence of my knife to one of their throats then they should be fine. But, I have not gotten so far on optimism.
If someone from Senator Lepiaciai's faction wishes to see this done to me or even the veteran himself, then I shall find them all wanting. No one shall make such a move against me and be free of the threat I possess so eloquently in my hands. Hm, even more so, should The Lady Bosphama have it be proven to her that I am not the one responsible. I might even find myself allied with her, if only for a tense moment.
"Such is the way in the jar of venomous serpents." I utter quietly as I reach forwards to pull on a handle. Sliding it open, glass rattles and I move my hand into the container, pulling out a finely locked book before closing it. Withdrawing a quill from one of the unsuspecting feathery decorations in my coach, I begin to write down my thoughts. Something I immediately start off with by quoting this disappointment I seem to have at the prospect of copper hair.
The Lady-Heir's return has been building up to something otherwise divine and almost prophetic, yet, I now receive words that defantisize the whole affair. I want them to be true as much as wrong, having seen such beauty and being enthralled as well and intimidated by it in equal measure. Such a sight would ruin me, yet, I would feel so much younger for having done so. Troubling times indeed, such troubling times indeed and I can glance out even just the window of my coach and see peace in the streets.
"What sort of omens have you brought with you, Lady-Heir, Einervaene Bosphama?" I ask the gods so that they might be able to relay this message.