"Thane Erikur was found murdered"
"I heard it was Firebeard"
"I heard it was-"
"What utter foolishness" Sybille Stentor would speak "If you have time for such inane diatribe, perhaps you should seek out new tasks, or perhaps you'd care to join me in my experiments" The woman's gaze pierced the two maids, once caught up in the rumor and now shaking in their shoes.
They quickly rushed away, stammering out an excuse.
Sybille would shake her head. "How worthless, and wasteful at that"
"A waste to you, but the cost of him holding that position was a bit much, no?" She didn't jump at the voice even as she failed to notice the man, the troublemaker who'd taken to spending a great deal of time within the walls of the blue palace, even if many of the inhabitants didn't realize it. She turned to face him, her withering gaze not seeming to disturb the light smile held upon his lips.
"Though I suppose it's a matter of perspective and whose plans are seen as more valuable. Hello Stentor, you're as lovely as ever" He'd give a light bow after his greeting.
She'd frown and shake her head "I do hope there is a reason you've chosen to step out from the shadows in which you hide other than needless flattery"
"And cutting as well. I'm satiating my curiosity for the time being as well as doing some house cleaning around Solitude. Hopefully our respective projects don't run into each other too much" He'd turn to leave, only to stop. "Oh, and don't mention that I was around to Eli. No need to have her even more distracted in the final stages of setting up for the moot"
He'd vanish a moment later, only the faintest whisper of dragon tongue heard even to her as he does. She'd frown as she quietly reaches into a pocket and withdrawls a letter scrawled in the familiar curves of his writing.
I left a present for you in your quarter's, hidden in the false panel in your desk.
The ashes of the note hit the floor only a moment later