Hrig and Stone stepped out of the carriage first, having already donned the servants' attire Kyren had requested of Duke Wyther. I exited next and took Kyren’s hand to lead her gently out to the front of the main house. There were two servants waiting along with two men in regal attire. I expected them to actually look evil with foppish overstated attire, sneering smiles, and sallow complexions, but instead they looked much like Kyren. Slightly pointed ears, dark hair, and quiet smiles, though theirs ended before they touched their eyes. One was taller than the other, but neither had the appearance of being in charge.

“Sister, it’s so good to see you,” said the taller of the two.

“Yes, welcome home,” said the shorter one.

She was wearing an incredibly empty-headed smile. “Thank you Byren,” she nodded at the taller of them, “Percy,” this time at the shorter.

Stone and Hrig had already begun unloading the luggage from the carriage and speaking with the household servants to organize where they’d be going. They moved like they’d been servants their entire life. I was impressed.

“Would you care to join us for tea? At least while your servants and,” Byren gave me a once over, “fellow adventurer, get settled.”

“He’s my fiance actually.” The brothers hid a brief moment of surprise quickly and exchanged a quick glance.

“Sevald Senturius, son of Gavain and Magda Senturius.” I gave a slight bow, not so deep as to admit any inferiority in rank, but deep enough to acknowledge Byren and Percy as hosts.

“Ah, I’ve heard of your family. Richer in title and deed than anything else,” said Percy with a warm smile that somehow veered on a sneer.

“Better than the opposite, I’d think.” The backhanded compliment would’ve rattled Sevald, but I took such things much less personally.

“Well, you’ll join us for tea then as well. After you remove your armor of course.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that. I’ve made an oath to Dur not to remove my armor until certain conditions are met.”

Percy squinted, “And those conditions would be?”

“Between me and Dur. Though I’d like to join you for tea, as long as you don’t mind hearing a bit more clanking than usual.”

“Of course they wouldn’t mind, they understand the importance of faith, right?” she smiled up at them sweetly.

Byren gave another smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Of course, please join us.”

We separated from Hrig and Stone who would be ensuring that the rooms were secure in their capacity as our ‘servants’. Percy led us into the house and to a tea room. The interior had a much more modern sensibility than the exterior. Portraits lined the walls, rich red rugs ran along the floor and notes of the Wyrwind’s signature green were spread liberally throughout the halls. The tea room itself was an intimate space with a small fireplace and a half dozen chairs upholstered with floral patterns.

As we sat a servant came and began pouring tea and serving it. I gave Kyren’s hand two firm squeezes to indicate that it wasn't poisoned. I’d told her my parents were paranoid and had taught me how to smell common poisons, but truthfully Syven had experimented with the flavors she could create when she introduced small amounts of poison to her dishes and in the process had developed quite the understanding of dangerous flora.

“So sister, I’m guessing you’re wondering why we’ve asked you here.”

“I just assumed you missed me?” she asked with a warm smile.

“Of course that is the main reason, but there was something else we were concerned about. You’ve heard of our grandmother’s passing I presume?”

“Yes, I’m still mourning her.” That was the first honest statement of this conversation.

“Of course, I know she favored you,” said Percy, a touch of malice in his tone.

Byren spoke up, “Well aside from seeing you, we also wanted to discuss her estate. We know that in spite of your wishes, she has left you the entirety of her holdings. We were thinking we’d take over management of that property for you, so that you can continue your less earthly pursuits.”

Kyren took a steady sip of tea, then another, a guileless smile on her face. “How kind of you to offer,” she said, not letting a hint of displeasure touch her tone like it had her brothers. “While I’d like to have an answer for you now, this really seems like something I should discuss with my soon to be husband.”

I nodded, letting her play the part of the hapless girl.

“Come now sister, you know we only have your best interests at heart,” said Percy, impatience bleeding through.

“Of course you do, dear brother, but it’s just too big of an issue. It would be improper for me to make the decision without Sevy’s say so.”

“Well, ‘Sevy’, what’re your thoughts?” asked Byren, taking over as Percy started to grow red in the face.

“My thoughts are that it’s impolite to discuss such things over tea, especially after your sister has had such a long journey.”

“Ah… of course. Please retire to your rooms and get some rest. We’ll put out a dinner call later, I hope to see you there.”

“Of course Byren, what’s the point of me visiting if I don’t get to spend time with you? Come now, Sevy, I’ll show you to the room.”

We exited the tea room to find Hrig and Stone waiting outside the door, blending in as well as they could with their surroundings.

“The room is ready, at least as ready as it can be,” said Stone with a bow.

“Thank you, Geode, please lead the way,” I said, falling in behind him and Hrig as we made our way deeper into the estate to our suite.

The suite itself was even more ornately decorated than the halls. Hrig and Stone closed the doors behind us as we entered. We exchanged nonchalant pleasantries about the age of the house and the state of the garden until Stone gave the all clear to note that there were no longer any servants listening nearby.

I turned to Kyren. “That was very well done. I didn’t think you could play dumb so expertly.”

“Thank you. I was just playing the role that they expect of me.”

“They really know so little of you?” asked Hrig.

“My grandmother insisted on having a larger hand in raising me after she had a visit from my brothers and found them… unsatisfactory. She was a bit controlling when it came to the family's future.”

“Any poison with the tea?” asked Stone.

“No, I think they were testing to see if they could use a silk glove rather than an iron gauntlet. The good thing is now they think I need Sevald to make decisions for me. They’ll either try to convince you to support their interests or have you removed thinking that they can control me better without you.”

“Well, that’s certainly a positive. I’m more equipped to deal with iron gauntlets. Mine are steel after all.”

“How about you, learn anything from the servants?” asked Kyren.

“Only that they’re scared. Apparently your brothers fired the majordomo and the mercenaries have been putting everyone on edge. One interesting thing I noticed though is that there are at least four different mercenary groups represented here,” said Stone.

“Which means either my brothers just hired as many as they could get on short notice, or there are four different interests represented here.”

“There are definitely some things that need to be untangled. You sure you don’t want to just kill them?” asked Hrig.

“Still sure, though I reserve my right to change my mind. The next thing we’ll have to get through is dinner, but before that I’d like to take you all on a tour.”

“To help us have a mental map in case things go wrong?” I asked.

“That, and I want to show my friends my family home. No reason we can’t do both.”

...

After getting back into the roles of ingenue, stern, but smitten betrothed, and competent proper servants, Kyren started leading us through the Wyrwind estate. We began by going through the main house where Kyren showed us the various historical artifacts of her family and the rooms she used as a child, always with the caveat that she spent most of her time at her grandmother’s house a fair distance from the main part of the Wyrwind holdings. She spoke of things with a kind of constant inane rambling that played well into the character of the thoughtless priestess she was playing. I just responded with a lot of quiet nods and by saying “interesting,” or “I didn’t know that.” It was the role I’d been born to play. All the while Hrig and Stone quietly absorbed everything of value regarding the grounds, counted the number of mercenaries while figuring out who worked for which outfit, and kept an eye out for any potential assasination attempts.

When the sun began to set we headed back to the rooms to prepare for dinner. Stone gave us the all clear sign when he was certain no servants were eavesdropping and Hrig did a quick search of the rooms to make sure no one was lying in wait.

“Things may be more dire than I thought,” said Kyren once Hrig finished her search. “I noticed several heirlooms are missing. My guess is that my brothers sold them.”

“Why would they do that?”

“I’m not sure. The estate produces a good amount of money and we’ve never had any financial difficulties.”

“Could it be gambling?” asked Stone. “It would explain the different merc groups.”

“No, my brothers have their vices, but they usually revolve around hoarding money and artifacts, not losing them. There’s something else going on, something that could motivate them to go without comforts, which is not an easy thing for them.”

“After dinner Stone and I will see what we can learn from the mercenaries. I’ve always had good rapport with those types," said Hrig.

“Aye, and if I can learn who they work for I may get lucky and know a few of their higher ups.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll knock on the table if I think anything we’re served for dinner tonight is poisoned,” I said.

“Alright, a servant should be here in a few moments to inform us it’s time to join Percy and Byren.”

A few minutes later one such servant arrived and we were escorted to the main dining hall. Hrig and Stone helped us into our seats and stood at attention against the walls nearest to us. Kyren loudly dragged her chair to be seated more closely to me in a masterful display of feigned stupidity.

“How did you enjoy the tour, Sevald?” asked Byren, “Some of the servants told us our sister was nice enough to escort you around the grounds.”

“It was lovely,” I responded simply.

“Any questions about our history or lands that you’d like to know?” asked Percy.

“None, thank you.” Percy and Byren were looking for a read on me and I wanted to make it as frustrating for them as possible.

After a few more questions that I did my best to answer just with a yes or no they decided to fill the conversation with the sound of their opinions on everything, from the food to the weather and all the exciting things in between. This was a talent I knew from Sevald’s memories was common among the nobility.

“If you’re finished, Sevald, would you care to join Percy and I for a brandy?”

“Alone?” I asked.

“Of course, we’d like to get to know the man our sister wants to marry a bit better.”

“Go ahead, Sevy, we’ll catch up later,” said Kyren. Hrig had to turn a snort into a cough at the name ‘Sevy’.

With that I followed Percy and Byren back into the tea room we’d first met in when we’d arrived. They each poured a glass and then poured me one. I could immediately tell that the glass itself had been laced heavily with poison. It was rathas root, which was more deadly to those who became excited after ingesting it. It could also add a fantastic kick to eggs if the quantity was severely limited.

“So, how long have you known our sister?” asked Byren.

“Not long enough,” I said, tilting my helmet away and draining half the cup of poisoned brandy, feigning swallowing sounds. I decided to store the poison liquid rather than destroy it. I may need to poison someone or something at some point and this seemed a convenient time to have some ready.

“You seem quite taken with her,” said Percy.

“I am.”

“It’s a bit surprising then that your family didn’t know you were betrothed.”

I paused, the brandy glass halfway to my faceplate. “I haven’t had a chance to tell them.”

“Well, no worries. We made an inquiry to their staff this morning and they noted they’d not received a message from you in quite some time, though they were sure to mention that wasn’t uncommon.”

“So you informed them of the engagement?” I asked. Sevald wasn’t on good or bad terms with his parents, but he’d lived his life doing his best to meet their expectations of him. Becoming engaged and not telling them was very out of character, though that might be mitigated by the engagement being to someone of a prominent family like the Wyrwinds.

“Well, we didn't directly inform them, but the questions in the message we sent may have allowed them to infer something.”

“Hmm.” I finished the brandy and placed the glass gently on a nearby table. Percy and Byren were eyeing me expectantly. I leaned hard on the table for a moment and watched the hunger in their eyes grow, before standing back up straight. “I think I’ll return to my room. Thank you for the drink gentlemen, it had a very unique flavor.” That got me two pairs of bulging eyeballs as I steadily walked out of the tea room. Before I could round a corner I heard Percy behind me.

“Would you care to join us on a hunt tomorrow?”

“Sure.” I walked the rest of the way to the suite wondering what they’d try next.