Emily hurried off to the nearby servant rooms, still grinning to herself. Once they entered the main room where guests were greeted, Lydia stood at Drake’s side as Valentia opened the door. Two people stood outside, both dressed in heavy robes that obscured their sex. One was slim, however, and the other obviously much bigger.
“I am a courtesan from Lark House here at the request of Lord Gloomwood,” the slim woman said quietly. Her soft, breathy voice was absolutely lovely. “I have no intent to harm him, and I have come to offer the services requested by his steward. May I come in?”
Valentia gave her a once over and nodded.
The man repeated the same words, though he was from “Fox House”. Their words removed any chance they were assassins sent to get massacred by Drake’s battle maids. As the woman entered she pulled back her heavy hood, and Drake was struck by just how much she looked like Lydia. The resemblance was remarkable.
Her nose was a bit more narrow, and her bust might be a bit bigger, but otherwise, she was practically Lydia’s twin. She was also rather gorgeous. Not to say that Lydia wasn’t also gorgeous, but she was Lydia. This woman was available. Drake reminded himself he had no time for distractions today.
Once the man entered, he walked up to stand by the woman and pulled back his hood. His similarity to Samuel was not nearly as close—he lacked a beard, as it would be impossible to grow one overnight—but his build was similar enough he could pass wearing a hooded cloak. They could use some charcoal to darken his chin to give the appearance of a beard.
Once they were both inside and the door was closed, both courtesans bowed low and waited for him to acknowledge them. He allowed that. He didn’t want to freak them out.
“Rise,” Drake said. “We’ll speak again once you’re properly attired for today’s business.” He glanced at Valentia. “Take these two to the servant’s quarters so they can get changed for today.”
“At once, lord,” Valentia said.
After Valentia had led off two people who were dead ringers for his blood thralls, Drake glanced at Lydia. “How long did you have to look to find these two?”
“Not very long. As I said, all courtesans in the city are registered, and this information includes their height, weight, and proportions, as well as the services they offer.”
“Right.” Drake worked very hard not to think about those services. “Well, again, great job.”
They stood for as long as it took Emily to return wearing a veil, just as Lydia had ordered. While Emily currently had her veil lifted up over her head, he could see that it would easily obscure her facial features once lowered. It would be perfect for their courtesans.
“May I leave you with Emily?” Lydia asked. “I need to prepare for today’s outing.”
He nodded. “Just don’t forget sunblock.”
“What is that, lord?”
He hoped she didn’t get too terribly sunburned. “Never mind.”
As Lydia moved off, Emily sidled up beside him. “So who will you have guarding you at today’s cabal, lord?”
He glanced her way. “You, of course.”
The amount of pleasure on Emily’s face was slightly terrifying.
“As I mentioned, Lady Skybreak will be with us as well,” Drake continued. “As will Val. Nicole volunteered to guard our chambers, which I think just means she doesn’t want to go.”
Nicole would also spend today whipping Robin, Gaby, and Carl into shape as warriors, which he suspected she would enjoy immensely. He just hoped she wouldn’t literally “play with the puppies”. He at least trusted she wouldn’t actually harm them.
Emily’s smile dampened a little. “So you’re inviting everyone but Lydia and Nicole.”
“Yes, but you’re going to be my guardian.”
Her face lit up again. “No one will get past me, lord!”
From what he’d read about cabals, a manor lord could bring up to six thralls with them during the meeting, but could only designate one as his guardian. That person was the only thrall allowed to have a weapon in the council chamber (other than the manor lords themselves) and would be entrusted with the defense of the entire party.
Valentia didn’t need a weapon to destroy people, and Emily could slice through souls with her spectral battle axe. Between them, he’d have significant threats at both range and up close. And since a manor lord was allowed to bring his own weapon, he was bringing Magnum.
He knew from his reading that most manor lords went with smaller personal weapons at cabals, such as enchanted knives or magical swords, but Drake didn’t have any of those. Besides, he’d always been more of a “go big or go home” guy, and he’d simply feel better with his four-shot repeating crossbow in his personal manor lord box. Fuck fighting anyone up close.
Not long after, Valentia emerged from the back room, also wearing a veil, followed by “Lydia” and “Samuel”. As Drake looked the female courtesan over, he was impressed. Dressed in a replica battle maid outfit with her veil obscuring her features, her height, figure, and dark hair almost made him wonder if Lydia was pulling a fast one on him.
“Samuel” was slightly less convincing—from up close, anyone could tell his beard wasn’t real—but Drake knew the boxes that separated the manor lords to be distant enough from each other that no one could tell unless they entered his box. He didn’t wear a veil, but he did wear a fine cloak with a hood that would shadow his features. It would have to work.
Once the thralls arrived, “Lydia” bowed, then rose. “Do we please you, lord?”
That was a question Drake was going to answer as platonically as possible. “You look just as I hoped. However, no bowing from this point on. My thralls don’t do that.”
“Of course, lord,” Lydia said calmly.
She even sounded like Lydia. Could she do voices?
“Samuel” cleared his throat. “Do I meet your approval, lord?”
The man’s voice was a silky baritone that Drake suspected would be supremely popular with just about anyone who liked men, however, he spoke more crisply than Samuel. Drake couldn’t completely pin down the difference, but if he had to guess, he’d say Samuel sounded a bit more folksy. This guy sounded more like a nobleman.
“You look fine,” Drake said. “However, I won’t need you to speak today, so I’d like you both to remain silent unless you’re unclear about your duties or I ask you a question.”
Both courtesans nodded. Neither answered his question with speech. They were quick on the uptake, but he imagined people who made their living catering to rich folks had to be.
“Now, how should I address you today?” He didn’t ask what are your names because that question, coming from a manor lord, would demand information they might not be comfortable giving him. Names had power in this world.
“I would be pleased if you would refer to me as Lark, lord,” the woman said.
“And you may call me Fox, lord,” the man added.
So they were named for their courtesan houses. That must be how they commonly addressed each other unless ordered to do so in some other manner. It would work just fine.
“Has my steward explained your responsibilities for today?”
“Only that we are yours for the day and are to obey your every command, lord,” Lark said. Fox nodded to agree with her.
“Good.” Lydia hadn’t mentioned the specifics of what they’d talked about so news couldn’t spread. “For now, my commands are simple. We’re going to all relax here until the second bell rings, at which point we’ll leave this room and head to the cabal.”
Neither courtesan spoke, but Fox visibly stiffened in a way that suggested he was freaked out. Drake wondered if either of these people had ever been to a manor lord cabal. He doubted it, but he also suspected they handled more harrowing situations every day.
Drake pointed to his Emily, who waved. “Lark, when we leave, you will walk ahead of me and directly beside Emily here. Don’t worry if you don’t know where we’re going. Just keep an eye on her and follow her lead. Also, if anyone asks you any questions, don’t answer. You can tell them I ordered you not to speak if they insist, but nothing other than that.”
Lark inclined her head to show she understood.
“Fox, you’ll walk just a bit behind me,” Drake said. “Keep your hood up and your face down, but not in a subservient manner. More like you’re watching the floor for traps.”
Fox again nodded his understanding.
“Same orders for you. No talking other than to tell people I said you can’t talk. When we get to the cabal, Lark, you’ll sit to my left, and Fox, you’ll sit behind me and to the left. Finally, during the cabal, I may lean over and speak to either of you quietly. Simply nod or respond as you see fit. It doesn’t really matter what we say to each other, only that we do it quietly.”
Both courtesans nodded to show they understood.
“Now, you are both free to relax until second bell tolls. There should be a cool pitcher of wine in the kitchen. You’re welcome to have a cup if it’ll take the nerves off, but don’t step out on the balcony or anywhere anyone can see you.”
Fox inclined his head and immediately headed for the kitchen. News that he was heading to a cabal full of ruthless manor lords must have unnerved him a little, which was an understandable reaction. Lark, however, remained where she was.
“You can relax,” Drake assured her. “It’s not a trick. I’m fine if you have a glass of wine.”
“I understand, lord,” she said quietly. “But if you will forgive my presumption, I have a matter I hoped to discuss with you before we leave.”
Emily leaned in with a visible frown. “What’s all this about?”
Drake raised a hand to stop his murdermaid from doing something violent. Lark had been unfailingly polite and made it clear she wouldn’t harm him. He also suspected asking to speak to a manor lord required a significant amount of bravery, given how dickish most were.
“We have a few minutes before second bell,” Drake said. “What did you want to talk about?”
Lark gratefully inclined her head. “It concerns my brother Darion, lord. His rarity allows him to mend flesh. If you seek a healer for your manor, I would beg you consider him.”
A rarity to mend flesh sounded extremely useful. It also sounded like a rarity one of the other manor lords would have snapped up already if they could. There had to be a reason this guy wasn’t already with another manor, but Drake was curious enough to want to learn more.
“Why ask me?”
He expected the question to throw her, so was surprised when Lark answered immediately and as confidently as if she’d expected him to ask.
“Courtesans of Lark House speak often with those who work in the temple. Those who work in the temple speak with those who work with manor lords, including your own thralls. To a one, your thralls have spoken of how different you are from prior lords they’ve served.”
That immediately worried him. “Different how?”
“They say you are fair to your thralls,” Lark said. “That you reward loyalty and do not torture or execute those who displease you. It is also said you have held memorials for fallen thralls. That is unheard of among most manor lords.”
So his people weren’t telling others he’d removed the compulsion of the blood pact, only talking him and his manor up in generic terms. Drake was pleased his efforts to change how his people perceived him were already bearing fruit. He might not even need to recruit new people to join his manor because his people would recruit for him.
Just like with companies back in his world, employees talked about the boss and culture with one another... and whether the boss was an asshole. If he’d behaved like Lord Crow since he arrived, he likely never would have gotten the chance to recruit this “Darion”.
Lark continued. “My brother is now nineteen and has, thus far, managed to avoid being conscripted into a manor by remaining here in the capital. However, Lord Redbow is now aggressively pursuing him. The lord has given him a week to agree to join Redbow Manor before he escalates to firmer measures.”
Drake knew exactly what that meant. “So Darion would like to work for me instead.”
“Yes, lord.” Lark bowed her head. “If you would simply agree to interview him, I’m certain you would find his rarity has value.”
This was a no-brainer. Drake could get a second healer for his manor, help out Lark, and fuck over Lord Redbow by stealing his talent. It was a win/win/win. “Have him report to my chambers tomorrow morning. I’ll interview him. If I like him, he’s in.”
Lark’s gasp of delight actually made him tingle. This woman was definitely a talented courtesan. “Thank you, lord!” She looked as if she’d expected to drown and ended up getting a warm bath instead. “Now, if you’ll permit me, I think I’ll have some of that wine.”
Drake motioned with one hand. “You’re dismissed.”
Soon after Lark left, the second bell tolled. It was time to head out to the cabal. If all went well tomorrow, Drake might have another healer for his manor.
But he still had to get through today without losing his title as manor lord.
Emily hurried off to the nearby servant rooms, still grinning to herself. Once they entered the main room where guests were greeted, Lydia stood at Drake’s side as Valentia opened the door. Two people stood outside, both dressed in heavy robes that obscured their sex. One was slim, however, and the other obviously much bigger.
“I am a courtesan from Lark House here at the request of Lord Gloomwood,” the slim woman said quietly. Her soft, breathy voice was absolutely lovely. “I have no intent to harm him, and I have come to offer the services requested by his steward. May I come in?”
Valentia gave her a once over and nodded.
The man repeated the same words, though he was from “Fox House”. Their words removed any chance they were assassins sent to get massacred by Drake’s battle maids. As the woman entered she pulled back her heavy hood, and Drake was struck by just how much she looked like Lydia. The resemblance was remarkable.
Her nose was a bit more narrow, and her bust might be a bit bigger, but otherwise, she was practically Lydia’s twin. She was also rather gorgeous. Not to say that Lydia wasn’t also gorgeous, but she was Lydia. This woman was available. Drake reminded himself he had no time for distractions today.
Once the man entered, he walked up to stand by the woman and pulled back his hood. His similarity to Samuel was not nearly as close—he lacked a beard, as it would be impossible to grow one overnight—but his build was similar enough he could pass wearing a hooded cloak. They could use some charcoal to darken his chin to give the appearance of a beard.
Once they were both inside and the door was closed, both courtesans bowed low and waited for him to acknowledge them. He allowed that. He didn’t want to freak them out.
“Rise,” Drake said. “We’ll speak again once you’re properly attired for today’s business.” He glanced at Valentia. “Take these two to the servant’s quarters so they can get changed for today.”
“At once, lord,” Valentia said.
After Valentia had led off two people who were dead ringers for his blood thralls, Drake glanced at Lydia. “How long did you have to look to find these two?”
“Not very long. As I said, all courtesans in the city are registered, and this information includes their height, weight, and proportions, as well as the services they offer.”
“Right.” Drake worked very hard not to think about those services. “Well, again, great job.”
They stood for as long as it took Emily to return wearing a veil, just as Lydia had ordered. While Emily currently had her veil lifted up over her head, he could see that it would easily obscure her facial features once lowered. It would be perfect for their courtesans.
“May I leave you with Emily?” Lydia asked. “I need to prepare for today’s outing.”
He nodded. “Just don’t forget sunblock.”
“What is that, lord?”
He hoped she didn’t get too terribly sunburned. “Never mind.”
As Lydia moved off, Emily sidled up beside him. “So who will you have guarding you at today’s cabal, lord?”
He glanced her way. “You, of course.”
The amount of pleasure on Emily’s face was slightly terrifying.
“As I mentioned, Lady Skybreak will be with us as well,” Drake continued. “As will Val. Nicole volunteered to guard our chambers, which I think just means she doesn’t want to go.”
Nicole would also spend today whipping Robin, Gaby, and Carl into shape as warriors, which he suspected she would enjoy immensely. He just hoped she wouldn’t literally “play with the puppies”. He at least trusted she wouldn’t actually harm them.
Emily’s smile dampened a little. “So you’re inviting everyone but Lydia and Nicole.”
“Yes, but you’re going to be my guardian.”
Her face lit up again. “No one will get past me, lord!”
From what he’d read about cabals, a manor lord could bring up to six thralls with them during the meeting, but could only designate one as his guardian. That person was the only thrall allowed to have a weapon in the council chamber (other than the manor lords themselves) and would be entrusted with the defense of the entire party.
Valentia didn’t need a weapon to destroy people, and Emily could slice through souls with her spectral battle axe. Between them, he’d have significant threats at both range and up close. And since a manor lord was allowed to bring his own weapon, he was bringing Magnum.
He knew from his reading that most manor lords went with smaller personal weapons at cabals, such as enchanted knives or magical swords, but Drake didn’t have any of those. Besides, he’d always been more of a “go big or go home” guy, and he’d simply feel better with his four-shot repeating crossbow in his personal manor lord box. Fuck fighting anyone up close.
Not long after, Valentia emerged from the back room, also wearing a veil, followed by “Lydia” and “Samuel”. As Drake looked the female courtesan over, he was impressed. Dressed in a replica battle maid outfit with her veil obscuring her features, her height, figure, and dark hair almost made him wonder if Lydia was pulling a fast one on him.
“Samuel” was slightly less convincing—from up close, anyone could tell his beard wasn’t real—but Drake knew the boxes that separated the manor lords to be distant enough from each other that no one could tell unless they entered his box. He didn’t wear a veil, but he did wear a fine cloak with a hood that would shadow his features. It would have to work.
Once the thralls arrived, “Lydia” bowed, then rose. “Do we please you, lord?”
That was a question Drake was going to answer as platonically as possible. “You look just as I hoped. However, no bowing from this point on. My thralls don’t do that.”
“Of course, lord,” Lydia said calmly.
She even sounded like Lydia. Could she do voices?
“Samuel” cleared his throat. “Do I meet your approval, lord?”
The man’s voice was a silky baritone that Drake suspected would be supremely popular with just about anyone who liked men, however, he spoke more crisply than Samuel. Drake couldn’t completely pin down the difference, but if he had to guess, he’d say Samuel sounded a bit more folksy. This guy sounded more like a nobleman.
“You look fine,” Drake said. “However, I won’t need you to speak today, so I’d like you both to remain silent unless you’re unclear about your duties or I ask you a question.”
Both courtesans nodded. Neither answered his question with speech. They were quick on the uptake, but he imagined people who made their living catering to rich folks had to be.
“Now, how should I address you today?” He didn’t ask what are your names because that question, coming from a manor lord, would demand information they might not be comfortable giving him. Names had power in this world.
“I would be pleased if you would refer to me as Lark, lord,” the woman said.
“And you may call me Fox, lord,” the man added.
So they were named for their courtesan houses. That must be how they commonly addressed each other unless ordered to do so in some other manner. It would work just fine.
“Has my steward explained your responsibilities for today?”
“Only that we are yours for the day and are to obey your every command, lord,” Lark said. Fox nodded to agree with her.
“Good.” Lydia hadn’t mentioned the specifics of what they’d talked about so news couldn’t spread. “For now, my commands are simple. We’re going to all relax here until the second bell rings, at which point we’ll leave this room and head to the cabal.”
Neither courtesan spoke, but Fox visibly stiffened in a way that suggested he was freaked out. Drake wondered if either of these people had ever been to a manor lord cabal. He doubted it, but he also suspected they handled more harrowing situations every day.
Drake pointed to his Emily, who waved. “Lark, when we leave, you will walk ahead of me and directly beside Emily here. Don’t worry if you don’t know where we’re going. Just keep an eye on her and follow her lead. Also, if anyone asks you any questions, don’t answer. You can tell them I ordered you not to speak if they insist, but nothing other than that.”
Lark inclined her head to show she understood.
“Fox, you’ll walk just a bit behind me,” Drake said. “Keep your hood up and your face down, but not in a subservient manner. More like you’re watching the floor for traps.”
Fox again nodded his understanding.
“Same orders for you. No talking other than to tell people I said you can’t talk. When we get to the cabal, Lark, you’ll sit to my left, and Fox, you’ll sit behind me and to the left. Finally, during the cabal, I may lean over and speak to either of you quietly. Simply nod or respond as you see fit. It doesn’t really matter what we say to each other, only that we do it quietly.”
Both courtesans nodded to show they understood.
“Now, you are both free to relax until second bell tolls. There should be a cool pitcher of wine in the kitchen. You’re welcome to have a cup if it’ll take the nerves off, but don’t step out on the balcony or anywhere anyone can see you.”
Fox inclined his head and immediately headed for the kitchen. News that he was heading to a cabal full of ruthless manor lords must have unnerved him a little, which was an understandable reaction. Lark, however, remained where she was.
“You can relax,” Drake assured her. “It’s not a trick. I’m fine if you have a glass of wine.”
“I understand, lord,” she said quietly. “But if you will forgive my presumption, I have a matter I hoped to discuss with you before we leave.”
Emily leaned in with a visible frown. “What’s all this about?”
Drake raised a hand to stop his murdermaid from doing something violent. Lark had been unfailingly polite and made it clear she wouldn’t harm him. He also suspected asking to speak to a manor lord required a significant amount of bravery, given how dickish most were.
“We have a few minutes before second bell,” Drake said. “What did you want to talk about?”
Lark gratefully inclined her head. “It concerns my brother Darion, lord. His rarity allows him to mend flesh. If you seek a healer for your manor, I would beg you consider him.”
A rarity to mend flesh sounded extremely useful. It also sounded like a rarity one of the other manor lords would have snapped up already if they could. There had to be a reason this guy wasn’t already with another manor, but Drake was curious enough to want to learn more.
“Why ask me?”
He expected the question to throw her, so was surprised when Lark answered immediately and as confidently as if she’d expected him to ask.
“Courtesans of Lark House speak often with those who work in the temple. Those who work in the temple speak with those who work with manor lords, including your own thralls. To a one, your thralls have spoken of how different you are from prior lords they’ve served.”
That immediately worried him. “Different how?”
“They say you are fair to your thralls,” Lark said. “That you reward loyalty and do not torture or execute those who displease you. It is also said you have held memorials for fallen thralls. That is unheard of among most manor lords.”
So his people weren’t telling others he’d removed the compulsion of the blood pact, only talking him and his manor up in generic terms. Drake was pleased his efforts to change how his people perceived him were already bearing fruit. He might not even need to recruit new people to join his manor because his people would recruit for him.
Just like with companies back in his world, employees talked about the boss and culture with one another... and whether the boss was an asshole. If he’d behaved like Lord Crow since he arrived, he likely never would have gotten the chance to recruit this “Darion”.
Lark continued. “My brother is now nineteen and has, thus far, managed to avoid being conscripted into a manor by remaining here in the capital. However, Lord Redbow is now aggressively pursuing him. The lord has given him a week to agree to join Redbow Manor before he escalates to firmer measures.”
Drake knew exactly what that meant. “So Darion would like to work for me instead.”
“Yes, lord.” Lark bowed her head. “If you would simply agree to interview him, I’m certain you would find his rarity has value.”
This was a no-brainer. Drake could get a second healer for his manor, help out Lark, and fuck over Lord Redbow by stealing his talent. It was a win/win/win. “Have him report to my chambers tomorrow morning. I’ll interview him. If I like him, he’s in.”
Lark’s gasp of delight actually made him tingle. This woman was definitely a talented courtesan. “Thank you, lord!” She looked as if she’d expected to drown and ended up getting a warm bath instead. “Now, if you’ll permit me, I think I’ll have some of that wine.”
Drake motioned with one hand. “You’re dismissed.”
Soon after Lark left, the second bell tolled. It was time to head out to the cabal. If all went well tomorrow, Drake might have another healer for his manor.
But he still had to get through today without losing his title as manor lord.
