Chapter 326 — A Secret Gathering

He returned to the parlor and saw that many had already risen and left, though some still sat where they were. Cohen swept his gaze around and saw that in one corner someone already wore a brooch pinned to his clothes.

So I'm not the only one after all...

Cohen's heart eased, and he pinned the brooch to his own breast.

Another dozen minutes or so passed, and a senior attendant appeared, announcing that the gathering was over, that the guests' particulars had all been recorded, and bidding the visitors leave as they pleased.

At that, several more rose and departed, but Cohen saw that some still sat unmoving—and on them all were brooches.

Serving men in red vests and maids in black-and-white livery entered the hall and began clearing away the plates and cups the guests had left behind. Cohen sat back down in his seat with some unease. A serving man passed before him, and his gaze plainly lingered a moment on the brooch at Cohen's breast; then the man nodded in salute, did not bid him leave, and instead brought him a cup of sorrel water to clear the head and dispel the effects of wine.

Only then did Cohen set his heart fully at ease.

After a while longer, Cohen saw some new visitors step into the parlor. These visitors still carried the chill of the outdoors on them, and the first thing they did upon entering was rub their hands and make for the fireplace—clearly they had only just arrived.

Were these "respondents" who had come earlier in the day, making a special second trip to attend the evening gathering?

The gathering Santis meant to hold this time was no small affair... Truly worthy of a man who could spend a noble's money.

Cohen's thoughts wandered on, and gradually he noticed something unusual:

Many of those who came to the gathering were familiar faces. That in itself was no wonder—the mage circles were limited in number—but among them there was not a single member from a noble house or a mage faction!

After all, even the down-and-out Santis ought to know one or two members of some house or faction... At the very least, he should have the acquaintance of fellow students from the same mage tower, should he not?

Had the omission been deliberate? Or was this gathering truly so extraordinary that every member of the great houses and every faction member had been excluded?

Cohen's heart stirred, and he could not help sharpening his attention.

By instinct he felt that tonight's so-called "second gathering" would be anything but simple...

And in the midst of these thoughts, the first bell of the royal capital began to toll.

Ding-dong, ding-dong, the bells rang out, summoning the faithful in every church to pray and praise the Lord. Amid that tolling, Cohen noticed the attendants slipping out of the hall one by one, while soldiers clad in Cecil standard-issue armor took their places at every entrance and exit; the sound of bolts being drawn shut came from the direction of the main doors as well.

A ripple of unease passed through those present, but soon the side door of the hall swung open, and Santis, robed in a black mage's gown, entered the hall escorted by Jipuli and Pierce.

Santis swept his gaze slowly around the room, and found that when the moment truly came, he was calmer than he had expected.

Then he spoke:

"Ladies and gentlemen, is anyone here interested in the magical arts of ancient Gondor and the knowledge of the lost realms?"

In the South, within the castle of Count Horsman, Count Karlov Horsman—clad in the gold-and-crimson finery of his house, his gaze sharp as a blade—stood in the banquet hall, a golden goblet brimming with Kalna wine in his hand, and smiled as he surveyed the assembled guests.

Above the sweet music of lyre and tambourine, the count raised his voice: "Ladies and gentlemen, is anyone here interested in the 'Magic Web' technology from the Cecil territory?

"I have good news for you all: through the efforts of several wise magical advisors and scholars of the Horsman family, I have cracked its secrets!"