The triplicate timbres of and particular set of voices issued a reply, not from the vicinity of the guards, but from behind the barrister. It was one of the more unnerving, at times blood curdling, habits of the fiend-kin Arch-magus of Wraithspire Chateau. "My apologies, friend "Bob", though I must regretfully inform ye of the Ancient's inability to receive ye this day. She is, in a manner of speaking, "a bit tied up at the moment"." The ennui of his voice declared aloud his disdain for the creature to whom the "Black Wizard" spoke.

Veighnnulz's leonine stride circumnavigated the barrister's frame, coming swiftly to be in the Barrister's right periphery. That bothersome "mark" starting to flare up and enflame once more " a minor discomfort, at present at least. The Sorcerer, it seems, had eschewed his voluminous robes for brocade riding trews, fashionable knee-high leather boots with spur-spikes, and an overcoat of black suede, straight-cuffed long-sleeved tunic of silver-gray tarsi silk, a green and black tooled-leather doublet stretched over a black studded-leather cuirass, and a vicious looking dagger and sword at his waist. In his gloved hands, he wielded a riding crop " evidence that he had been out riding recently, what manner a beast was left to the imagination. "Perhaps I might assist ye, what is it ye seek the Lady Belial for, and at this early hour. Surly this is not a social call."

One of the guards fidgeted at the nearness and presence of the noble, monarch, and Paragon of the Arte Arcane. He extended his hand, and thus the riding crop, as the flat loop of leather edged closer Lucien's chest.

"Is it about mineself, this urgent need that has possessed ye to seek out the Blood Elder" Do tell" I am, after all, a lover of grand and wondrous tales. Or, perhaps it is now, now that I have caught ye unawares " an unexpected audience " ye wish to tell me why it was that ye were seen in the company of that waifish female priestess. Ye failed to answer my question that night we, Cieara and I, happened across ye and ye companion." Veighnnulz's blazing crimson orbs " no pupils, no irises " narrowed with a lowering of lash and minute tracery of gold-hued scales . "I would hate to come under the impression that ye were trying to avoid me, Lucien."

Veighn glanced down to the man's tattooed arm; the inking " it seemed " remained obscured by clothing. He could sense it shifting, like a dragon trapped beneath the skin, not yet trying to claw its way free. "Come, I was just heading to the Keep. Let us leave these men to continue their vigil." The wizard offered his left arm, extending the elbow akimbo, as though Lucien were in a subordinate position and needed protection and the direction of a lead. "Do not fear, Lucien. I'll not lead ye to harm' " spoken as though he were reading the man's body language. ?" I'll leave ye to do that well enough on ye own; ye expertise in the field is quite astounding, have I ever failed to mention' By and by, that was a compliment."

"It matters little, Lucien. I'll make sure to inform the Lady Belial of ye wish to treat with her." He made a turn toward the manor, passing between the guardsmen as he did so. "Ye really are a bore, Lucien?" his voice trailing as the distance between them grew" "I'd have expected more from a learn'd man such as yeself." He guffawed, "I, for one, still reserve for myself the best portions of the Blood's hospitality." He glanced to the departing barrister over his shoulder.

"Do give Taneth a kiss for us, would ye, "Bob," when ye see her next of course." With that, he directed the two guards at the door to open the path for him, and he disappeared beneath the archway and into the grand foyer as the large oaken doors shut behind him with a deep and resounding boom.

—

"Worm!" He spat as he moved toward the grand staircase, making his way toward his room. His features twisted in a snarl of disdain. "That sour little man needs to learn a thing or two about manners." He cast aside the parallel pertaining to him without notice as his hand trailed the banister. "At least that meddlesome witch is gone from mine hair for the time being. Let the man believe what he will; tis nae like he doesn't know what I'm capable of, to some extent."

He turned down a series of corridors, leading him toward the direction of the library. "Now, let us see what concrete evidence I can dig up on this troublesome "Mab' entity that has the Bloods so up in arms. Perhaps she is worth some notice, afterall." His riding-coat's tails billowed with a crip snap of fabric as he stopped abruptly, his stoic face distorting in rage.

"Zeb! Stop firing the parchment, I need that for notes! Look at this splendid mess ye've made of things! I told ye once before to stop eating the crow quill pens." He glared from the doorway as the fanged little red devil held a stack of flaiming parchment over his head, ready to hurl it at one of the book shelves.

Veighn made a gesture with his hand, dismissive and demanding expedition of his given direction. "Fetch more paper, quills, and ink. Do not dally!" He paused a moment as the imp put the flaming pile of ash and smoldering paper down on the desk. "...And no more fires!" The last demand bought a tantrum-like response from the imp as he kicked the ruin of parchment, sending ash into the air. He then took flight, circling the room before heading out of the library, narrowly missing his master's head - the whole time muttering in infernal.

"Speaking of fire, that reminds me. Where has my favorite, pudgy, beady-eyed target of a lawyer gotten off to these days, hmm?" He smirked at the irony of his words. He'd just chased off, for lack of a better word, one barrister and now he's turned his attention to another. "Let us see if we can find any reference to where they might catalogue the compiled orbs and documents on the DCH firm. Those three baffoons need some looking into while I'm at it. Can't have them mucking up mine plans. Furthermore, I set them on the path of this "Mab (censored), and I'll keep them all busy whilst mine machinations unfold."

Donning a look of self-satisfaction, he pulled a few volumes from the shelf, along with a copy of the most recent Blood Ledgers. "Belial is the last loose end I'll need to tie up - that term again!" Snickering. With that, he set himself to the task of collecting the most interesting volumes of the information he could find at first glance, adding some memory orbs to the material compiled, and went to work.