Hare and Hatter

Part Three

Chapter Thirty-six

Liam found the House of Fianna quite easily, since he'd been there once before, but he was surprised on arrival to find out from one of the staff members that not only Lord Zai was there but Lord Nightray was also visiting. There were also a dozen Pandora agents, who, he discovered after he spoke with them, had been requested by both Lords from Pandora. They were as baffled as he was to find themselves in Sablier, they could only speculate the Lords were expecting trouble.

It only took a little conversation with those agents to get himself shown into the room where the Lords were conversing, papers in hand. Sometimes it helped to be known on sight as helpful but harmless.

When his presence was announced by one of the staff and he entered Lord Nightray sat back in his chair, raising an eyebrow. "What could the servant of Lord Barma wish to speak to us about? Has something of note happened at the headquarters?"

"Only a small matter, for Lord Vessalius, sir." Liam replied, his voice carefully polite and neutral. He indicated the papers he held. "One that should only take a moment."

"And what is this matter exactly?" Lord Vessalius asked, his cold eyes fixed on Liam.

"That of Lord Oz's coming of age ceremony." Liam said. There was no point in dancing around the subject, he might as well come right out with it and gauge the man's reaction. Since the admission did nothing but make Lord Vessalius nod -though Lord Nightray darted a glance at his fellow noble- Liam went on, "I am here to extend Pandora's offer to host a ceremony for Lord Oz. They recognize that you are a busy man, Lord Vessalius, and wish to take this burden from you."

There was no detectable reaction from the Lord, thought Lord Nightray had yet to take his eyes off his face. Finally Lord Zai said, "And why exactly should I do this? It might just happen to be a very convent method to keep that from mischief."

Which had been exactly what Liam feared he would say, Lord Zai's habit of referring to his son as 'that' ignored for the moment, he'd spent some time on the train ride formulating a response to that. "Because, with all due respect, it has not kept him from mischief. Lord Oz has been quite active despite the fact that he has not be presented to society. Pandora simply wishes to keep his actions from being a discredit the the Vessalius Dukedom."

The gentleman fixed him with a long hard stare and then, just when Liam had to squelch the urge to fidget he held out a hand. "I take it there is something I am to sign?"

"Yes, sir." Liam handed him the sheaf of papers, knowing that it was unlikely Lord Zai was going to read through the papers at all, which was why he had placed the one that needed signing on top.

He was proved right when the man just glanced through the papers before holding out a hand for a pen. Liam produced one and gave it to him.

After making a quick signature Lord Vessalius handed pen and the papers back. "I trust that I will not have to bother myself with the preparations."

"Not at all, sir." Liam said. "Pandora will take care of everything."

"I see it has its uses." murmured Lord Zai.

Liam made no comment to that, though Lord Nightray chuckled.

"I'm sure you have much to attend to now." Lord Vessalius said to Liam, who caught the dismissal and excused himself. As he was heading back down the hall one of the agents hurried past him, his expression tense.

Since he was looking for Break and Break tended to be where trouble was -often because he caused it- Liam headed for the room he had last seen the other Pandora agents in to see if he could find out what was going on. He found them in the midst of checking weapons and gathering gear.

"What happened?" he asked the nearest agent, a slim young man he knew as Mister Alan.

"One of the children just told Mister Gregory there," the agent nodded at another, even younger man, "That the Nightray boy and his servant went into the crater. Apparently he was following that Oz Vessalius in."

"One way or another we're going to have to go in there and get them out." Mister Gregory called over, having heard their conversation. He drifted over, bullets in one hand and a Pandora pistol in the other. "We're just waiting to see if one of the lords want to come with us before we head in to retrieve them."

"Vessalius and Nightray making mischief together." another agent snorted. "I never thought I'd see the day."

"By the way, what brings you here, Mister Liam?" Mister Alan asked. "I didn't think you often came out for fieldwork."

"It is rare." he agreed, folding the papers and tucking them into a jacket pocket. "But it happens."

"You're not intending to come with us!" Though it was Mister Alan who said it both he and Mister Gregory shared the same surprised look.

"I am." Liam said evenly. No doubt Break would have caught up with Lord Oz's group inside the crater. He would have to find them and see what use he could make himself.

"But you're not even a contractor- ouch!" Mister Alan broke off as Mister Gregory trod on his foot.

The look the man aimed at Mister Alan suggested he had just said something quite rude and Mister Alan had the grace to look embarrassed. He might have been a year senior but he had yet to learn that some things were best not to say out loud. In a way Liam was somewhat relieved, after being around Break and Sharon it was good to know there were actually members of Pandora who hadn't managed to find out the secret he was supposed to be keeping.

As if to make up for his fellow agent's lapse in manners Mister Gregory offered the gun he was carrying to him, "It'll be dangerous in there, sir, best go armed. This is a spare."

Taking it Liam thanked him, neglecting to mention he already had a derringer on his person (who in their right mind went to Sablier unarmed?). An extra gun, especially one which could carry more ammunition, never went amiss.

An older agent who Liam couldn't recall the name of poked his head into the room. "Lord Vessalius is coming with us. We're heading out."

"Well, this is bound to be interesting." Mister Alan muttered before Mister Gregory reached over and cuffed him on the back of the head.

He was right.

TBC