The rest of the visit was filled with malicious gossip; the truth of Lady Heerundly finally aired out by the magnanimous hostess herself.

'Of course, I didn't want to believe someone of our rank dared to fool us,' Lady Kremijs told us with a generous smile that would've been much more effective if her eyes didn't expose her mischief. We were flocked around her imposing armchair, each one of us allotted to a place slightly lower than the ruler herself – a regular seating arrangement during the gatherings.

I tried to keep my mind on the details the Vry'a was providing us, but all the words spoken were filtered by the lingering unease caused by what I had just experienced. 'It was a ploy,' Lady Kremijs explained, 'to get into our circle and use our power. To turn us against each other, and to make us dependent on her for confidence. Her ultimate goal was to usurp my position.' She made a pause for a dramatic effect and as if commanded, we all let out a collective gasp of outrage. 'The Lords accompanying her all made us believe she really was a ruler from Hiseath, but they all lied. She is but a daughter of a small and insignificant landowner… So we must beware!' Her emphasis on the latter word held more of a threat than advice and I wondered if Lady Heerundly hadn't been the only one rising to power through lies. To further prove my wariness, I wasn't the only one who had read between the lines, as countless Ladies eyed suspiciously around. 'Of course, all those found guilty have been punished, as you just saw… however, it seems that it's rather too easy to infiltrate our midst,' another pause was made, as her calculating eyes bore into each attending and I willed myself to keep my thoughts unsubstantial, 'be it a Lady or, worse, a Lord.'

A shard of suspicion further cut through the already existing divide between Ladies and Lords, as each of the present took the Vry'a's words to heart. Which Lord was also feigning? Which Lady were they supporting? How much power did the Lords have? Were we, the Ladies, in danger?

Soon, the Ladies started whispering names of the Lords they found unpleasant, though remarkably not mentioning Lady Kremijs' son once. Lord Kremijs was the most unpleasant of the lot, but his relation to the Vry'a gave him immunity for any type of punishment, even the deserved. And did he deserve it. As I had gathered, he was the most offending, giving no regard to the consequences of his actions. More than once, I heard whispers of his mistreatment of the whores he employed; some didn't survive his attentions. Even worse, he consorted quite tightly with Lord Imharve, whose appetites included minors. It was the latter's liaison with Lord Kremijs that allowed such behaviour and so they dallied unpunished, while leaving a trail of destruction behind.

A name that everyone present also mentioned was that of Lord Swangard; him being tied to Lady Heerundly being outmost suspicious. So much so that Lady Kremijs herself used his name to call attention to herself once more. 'Lord Swangard is very guarded,' she simply stated, affecting a condescending air. Looking closer however, I couldn't help but notice the gleam of interest in her eyes. 'But enough talk of the Lords,' she told us, speaking the world Lords as one says flies, 'we have important matters to attend to.'

Her hand rose magnanimously, mentioning me to come forward. 'Child,' her voice sickly sweet, a foul honey dripping from the word, 'come here.' Her hand touched the stool next to her, purposedly always left empty for such occasions when she called one of us forward.

'Lady Kremijs,' I bowed reverently before her, ere I took my appointed place. I knew what was expected of me, but the script dictated that I was asked before I spoke.

'So tell me, child,' she continued in the same tone, 'is there anything else you remember?'

I had already told her about Shira, not the whole truth, only that Lord Yerdoth was guarding here for some reason. Lady Kremijs drew her own wicked conclusions and so it was soon spread the gossip that Lord Yerdoth had a child whore, some even went as far as to believe that Shira was but another child protected by the Lord before he devoured her. My failing memory didn't allow me to contradict nor confirm the lies circulating about them, but it did suit me that the real information was not in their grasp.

Another information I shared involved the existence of Gergowns, the tribe believed to be extinct. Lady Kremijs didn't seem troubled about this morsel of knowledge, since she thought to have eradicated the majority of them.

I also told them about the wild animals circulating around Lord Yerdoth's estate, but I didn't divulge the fact that there was active communication between man and animal. I was sure they would've believed me at the time anyway.

'I'm afraid that after the shock I just experienced not much comes to mind,' I started, causing the held breath of the ladies to deflate. 'I remember dreaming about three pairs of golden eyes. I don't know who they belong to. But they were there: the three pairs.' I first looked at the assembly of the high Ladies, then slowly turned my gaze to Lady Kremijs. The former couldn't understand the meaning behind my word, but the Vry'a had fear written in her eyes. She knew what it meant: Father and Sons were together and that was more than a threat, it was almost a death sentence ready to be pronounced.

Stupidly, to not draw attention to the fact that I was aware of her distress, I told Lady Kremijs, 'I'm sorry.'

Impressively swiftly, the Vry'a composed herself. 'It's quite alright, child.' Her smile was putrid. 'We did have quite an exciting gathering.' A smug tinge drew the corners of her painted lips up.

The Ladies acquiesced; indeed, it had been an exciting event. We knew what was to come, Lady Kremijs was to dismiss us, and she did, only she told Lady Jossean, Lady Bettreas and me to allow her the pleasure of speaking a few more words with us.

I kept my confusion to myself, as the appointed group watched the other Ladies leave the room, surely gossiping about whatever the Vry'a would want to speak with us. I was a strange addition to the usual triad of power; both Lady Jossean and Lady Bettreas were known favourites of Lady Kremijs. I, however, was a newcomer, a young woman yet to be married and dangling on the thin line between both poles of antagonism. It was the pureness of the character I had assumed during my stay at the capital that made the current match even more unlike and, to be fair, suspicious.

'Lady Jossean, did you have any luck?' The Vry'a asked the moment the door closed behind the last lady out.

Offering a slight reverence, the lady in question answered. 'Unfortunately, no, Lady Kremijs. Lord Swangard is a hard man to entice.'

With her lips pursed into a displeased line, Lady Kremijs turned to Lady Bettreas. Before the former could pose the same question to the latter, she replied. 'I'm afraid to report the same. Besides a trip to Serdath, my people haven't found any more about him. It is as if he is a well-mannered ghost, barely there but does nothing out of line. We need more, if we are to catch him.'

The Vry'a barely recognised the words spoken, as she was intent on staring at me. A fierce displeasure but decisiveness coloured her features, as if she was about do something necessary that somehow irked her. 'Miss Sephir,' she finally spoke, after moments of deafening silence. 'Is it true that you spoke with Lord Swangard at Lady Heerundly's ball?'

'Just briefly,' I told her. 'We just exchanged few words when getting refreshments.'

Her mien barely changed and I felt my words weren't acknowledged. 'He was the one to seek you out, correct?'

'Yes.'

'Lady Bettreas will host a soirée in five days' time,' the Vry'a stated, surprising everyone present. There was no soirée planned for later in the week. 'You will converse with Lord Swangard. Have him escort you to the ball at my estate in two weeks. In the meantime, try to find out as much as you can about him.' My expression filled with panic and unwillingness. If I was to follow her orders, I would jeopardise my unique position in society and thus also the job I was here to fulfil. Sensing my hesitation, Lady Kremijs added in a tingling sweet sotto-voce, 'I'm sure your sister wouldn't want to be found and have her wedding annulled.'

'I understand,' and I did. There was a thick web tying us all, but each one of us had a loose string; Lady Kremijs was threatening mine and I had yet to find hers. I bowed down deeply, 'I will do as you command.'

In her eyes shone no joy, but rather an irked bemusement. With a slight tilt of her head, she turned to Lady Bettreas. 'Knight Grenyans would be a great entertainment.'

Lady Kremijs was referring to the acclaimed baritone, knighted for his voice – and his beauty. There wasn't a lady in Franciesse that didn't harbour a fantasy about the famed chansonnier, but there were few that had been able to live it out. Some speculated the only the Vry'a had had the pleasure – and that that was the reason for his knighthood.

The lady who had been addressed acquiesced. 'Certainly, I will contact him immediately and have invitations sent out before the fall of night.'

One last order was issued. 'Lady Jossean please ready Miss Sephir for the event. I'm sure you know what needs to be done.'