Valeria, Council Chambers Annex
Amelia's face darkened as Victoria continued speaking. Her face going from pleasant smile to passive, to granite blank stare, to eyes slightly wide with what could only be surprised as barely contained anger. Anger that Kolt had hidden this from the Elders, though Amelia was not sure if anything could be done by the time she would have arrived, odds are she would have died. Amelia's look could have shattered glass, made men cower, but she'd raised her Blood-Daughter to withstand Lycans without fear. Needless to say it would have been an insult to Amelia for Victoria to cower. But Victoria knew that a cord had been struck, one that would not easily be silenced, its would ripple.
Now there was truth to Victoria's words on Amelia's less zealous mind. She was much the middle ground of Vlad and Marcusz, for often those two would come to heated verbal exchanges over many issues, in the event all three Elders were awake. It took a solid minute for Amelia to speak, for her to regain her composure, to speak without worry of irritation tracing her syllables. "It is good that you bring this to my attention, daughter, but make no mistake that if you hope for a happy ending it will not be so." Raising her left hand she touched Victoria's cheek, feeling the softness of her flesh, cupping it in her hand. "Has she fed? If not then there is a sliver of a chance she will live. This must never leave this room. Should the other Elders find out it..." Amelia let her hand drop and turned away from Victoria. She did not finish the thought. Victoria knew what it would mean. The Von Wulfens would share a fate similar to those sentenced to death at Prague. Morhemia would be thrown into chaos as lords picked sides. But in the end the result would probably be similar. Overall not good for Nocturne in general.
Amelia made to leave, stopping on the threshold, "Send a dispatch to Kolt. Tell him whatever you wish, but we must keep this buried for as long as possible until I may see her. I must return to my duties now my child."
Amelia returned to the Council chambers. Where the Council had mostly began to depart for the rapid approach of evening. No doubt the usual fill of social engagements and politicking would continue long after dusk. But tonight, unbeknownst to Amelia, surprising circumstances would no doubt arise.
Five Hours Later
The Sun dipped below the Western horizon, casting the city of Valeria in the throngs of night, though even then certain parts of the city never truly slept at night. It's denizens, often Vampires, arising to begin their work. In a way it provided the advantage in that business was going on somewhere. Though, strict ordinances were observed, the hour of Midnight for example forbade business, so even the Vampires had to respect the silence. However, the night was once more disturbed, by the sound of jingling cuirass and tassets, the stamp of armored feet on the cobblestones. A wash maiden, attending to one of the captains of the guard, was frantic. Indeed the sight of the captains grisly murder and the note left bode ill. The guard doubled at the gates, and even the Death Dealers were out in force, some moving along the rooftops armed with bows. Sentries manned the walls facing inwards as well as outwards. Effectively enabling the city to be broken in grids and searched. Though such an endeavor would take days to check every single nook and cranny.
The Council Chambers had largely emptied out by now, most of the human councilors long since retiring to their homes, under guard of course. Many had their own bodyguards but the Valerian Guard escorted them all home anyways. Only a few bureaucrats and officials remained awake, mostly vampires, and of course the Death Dealers patrolling the halls and corridors. Amelia stood in the antechamber to her own personal apartments. A place she could receive officials and guests. It was a square room, enough to comfortably accommodate about twenty odd people, though she did not sit in any of the mahogany padded chairs. Their velvet cushions left alone. She stood reading the letter. Her face growing into a fierce snarl the more she read, until at the last sentence she barely resisted the urge to tear the paper into two.
Valeria, Eastern City Gate, "The Magyan Gate."
The Magyan Gate was flanked by a pair of statues, horsemen in the livery of scale armor, holding spears and the accoutrements of horse archers. The group of Guardsmen murmured Enthrangs name, indeed they had heard of his exploits, and he arrived after the murder had happened. Odds are he wasn't the killer, even then despite his threats, there was no way Enthrang could enter or leave without permission. He could try, many had tried, and so far the Guard had an excellent reputation for killing murderers within the confines of the city.
"Agh *spat*, Let the merc' pass. If Amelia will see him she'll set em' straight." The Sergeant of the Watch standing before the Gate let out a whistle. The portcullis yawned up to allow Enthrang through. The Guards parted and returned to their stations.
