Of course, coordinating a meeting between three major Houses of Soros was a tediously complicated affair. Farek spent a few weeks continuing his investigation of Lord Reeyan’s death—of which there seemed no leads save Lord Thrane’s supposed inside man in the Organization. During this time, he frequently patrolled the streets in his downtime. Without Silea around, his free time felt more oppressive than ever. His sham attendance of parties continued, but he found his days working in the financial division of the Bank to be dreary. Farek always felt he could be doing more.
When at last their schedules were forced to align, Farek sat in on the meeting of Mazaar Jannia, Lord Thrane, and Lord Mavagar. Jannia had decided to ask Paral before sharing his secrets; given their young allegiance, Farek could only agree with the choice. Thankfully, Paral had begrudgingly agreed, though ‘only as a sign of good faith.’
Wealthy lords were seated, drinks were poured, a rather dour party began.
Jannia spoke to Thrane first, the latter wearing his long white hair in a sort of knot behind his head and a long greyish blue tunic. “I understand you’ve worked with my brother, in the past. I didn’t realize the extent of it, so please excuse any distrust you feel I have shown you.”
“Too secretive for my own good,” Farek muttered.
Thrane smiled at the comment. “Secretive enough for mine, at least.” Then he lowered his weathered features to Jannia. “I’ve only ever worked for Soros, Mazaar. I hope this meeting only enables me to continue.”
“It is appreciated,” Farek said, with a pleasant expression.
Mavagar muttered beneath his breath as he lowered his whiskey glass. He spoke across the table toward Thrane. “I don’t see how knowing my darkest secrets would enable or prevent you from working for Soros, but I’m here nonetheless.” Finishing his glass with another down, he slid his cup onto the tabletop and muttered, “Keep it coming.”
Farek smiled and poured more from the bottle for good Lord Paral. “A wise choice,” he said.
Dorgan at least tried to offer an explanation. “If I spent all my time plotting against you, I would get nothing done at all.”
“Fair enough,” Paral muttered, his bad humour tempered briefly by Farek’s service of alcohol.
Lord Gallendris resumed his seat and put his hands on the tabletop. “Speaking of plotting, I do hope we can all gain a little insight on everyone’s good intentions here today.”
“I can agree to good intentions,” Thrane said.
“And I,” said Mavagar. “Besides, the Mazaar would have us both thrown behind bars if any conflict came of this.”
Jannia nodded. “Damn right, I would.” Farek chuckled.
Paral Mavagar finally offered up the information they were meeting today to share. He told Lord Thrane about his alliance with House Viotro, and their foiled plans to overthrow the Gallendris home in favour of a reformed Empire under Matriarch Belsara. Thrane whistled through his teeth. “You’ve been busy, Mavagar,” he leered.
Jannia turned on him. “So were you, targeting House Viotro without my permission. My point is, this could have all turned out otherwise but we’d be having the same conversation.”
Lord Thrane threw up his hand in defence. “I know,” said he. “I’m not angry yet, just intrigued. How have you redeemed yourself, Paral?”
The explanation was similar to Farek’s own question on the topic, when he returned from the Great Isle. Mavagar listed the names he had betrayed from Belsara’s traitorous network. He also explained the strange financial transactions and the coordinated fall of Sheld. Thrane asked a handful of questions about Lo Mallago—it was not yet public knowledge that the city belonged to the Empire of Noress.
Whenever Thrane made a tasteless comment, like his usual self, Jannia gave Farek a veiled smile or a dry glance. Farek returned the gesture with a look that said, ‘and you wonder why I never mentioned him?’
When Paral was finally done drawling his story, he continued drinking his whiskey and Thrane questioned, “So now what? Did you have reason to take out Lord Reeyan, because of all Paral’s secrets?”
“I would never have one of my lords assassinated,” Jannia said, shaking her head. “If I had reason to deal with Lord Reeyan, there would have been a trial.”
“Trials are more fun,” Farek piped.
Paral lowered his glass and drawled, “That’s the reason they don’t happen in this city more often.” He stood up and reached for the alcohol bottle again, but Farek instead slid a platter of cheese from the centre of the table toward the complaining lord. Paral, realizing he was cut off, nibbled a block of cheese reluctantly.
“So you lot were not behind Lord Reeyan,” Thrane repeated. “What else has been going on? Have we at least declared a shared goal?”
“To unite the lords of Soros, instead of bickering amidst ourselves,” Jannia said.
Thrane scoffed. “Unity? Pardon me, Jannia, but we’re bankers and competitors. We can work for Soros, but unity might be a slightly far-fetched sentiment.”
“Not a fan of group workings, Thrane?” Farek snidely asked.
“A group project with a goal can accomplish something far greater, but this group doesn’t have a goal. It has a world outlook,” Thrane critiqued. “I’ll agree to be your ally, but I’m not going to expend energy and resources for something as vague as ‘peace and harmony.’ A group of powerful lords like us—we could accomplish so much with an actual goal. As you have just informed me, the Matriarchs have still not chosen actual rulers for Lo Mallago yet. There’s a new fleet being built in Port Deylus, the admiral of which is still a point of discussion. There’s a new power growing overseas, the Grey Brethren. And there’s only two Matriarchs now. We could change any of these things.”
Farek could agree that ‘peace and harmony’ were not sound goals for an alliance. “Which would you change first then?”
“I want personal power,” Thrane said. “I’ve never lied about that, but I have also never crossed my Mazaar to achieve it, unlike the other man in the room who’s ambition seems to equal mine own.”
Mavagar sneered and opened his mouth, but could form no comeback. Instead he just ate another piece of cheese.
Jannia leaned forward. “I value the strength of our Empire and the safety of my House. I don’t like what you were implying by naming the Two Matriarchs as something that could change.” The Matriarchs had already agreed not to choose another. After all, the seat was hereditary and Belsara’s family now shared in the shame of their Matriarch’s treachery.
“Forget I mentioned it then,” Thrane said, head bowed.
Paral, more intrigued by this topic than the last one, asked, “What about Lo Mallago then? There’s a lot of potential there, both for the Empire and for personal power.”
“What sort of resources does Lo Mallago have to offer us?” Farek asked.
“For the Empire?” Thrane asked. “Last year, a major gold mine was discovered and fell into state property. Not to mention that Lo Mallago is a full-sized city, with a populace we could be, but are not currently, taxing.”
“I suspect the Matriarchs to already be profiting from the gold,” said Paral, “But we can’t tax a population that still doesn’t know we own their land.”
“And our stake in history,” Farek said, dryly. “The people still dream of the Old Empire, spanning the continent, now but an isle.” He took a sip of his own whiskey, well aware that Paral was watching every move he made with the glass.
“It might appetize your own sense of adventure,” Thrane said, “But there are a lot of people who share that dream. Myself included.”
Jannia nodded. “It will take a lot of work to determine what the Matriarchs plan for Lo Mallago, and more to affect it, but I think this is something that could bring unity to my own city and glory to our Empire.”
Fine by me, Farek thought, giving her a nod. He wasn’t going to be scheming for Lo Mallago himself, but he could respect a plot like this. He already had gauged the power hunger of the Lords of Soros.
Thrane and Mavagar nodded. “Agreed,” said Paral. “We’ll do some digging and reconvene next Moon.”
After a few more points of discussion to dissuade any severe competition between Jannia’s two underlings, the meeting was concluded. Farek tagged alongside Paral as they left, but brushed aside the latter’s shambling apology for drinking too much. Instead he told the other lord, “There is a group operating in Soros that still remains mysterious. They could quite possibly end everything we’ve built in a night. While you three continue your scheming for Lo Mallago, this will be my priority.”
“What group do you speak of?” Paral asked, as they stepped through the wide front door and left the Great Hall.
Of course, the other members of the alliance already knew. “The Organization,” Farek told Lord Mavagar. He looked at the other’s face to see his reaction.
Confused, Paral questioned, “It’s just called the Organization? What kind of name is that? And how did you learn about something like this?” They paused, standing near the gate of the Gallendris estate. The porter awkwardly held the door open, uncertain if they would actually leave.
“I’m sure the name fits their intentionally vague formation,” Farek told him. He would bring Lord Mavagar up to speed. “They are actually a group of deadly assassins…”