[IRP] Power Begets Power

[Lavi]

Cecily gave Lita a leery eye as she quipped about their unromantic moment. She was not below stooping out of necessity, but mockery is one thing that she has little patience for.

"Do not speak of it again," she warned Lita.

It did not take long for the wagon came to a stop. The driver knocked an "all clear" signal before he dismounted. Cecily waited a moment before she too stepped down from the wagon while raising the hood of her cloak to hide her features.

They were well within the castletown; they were virtually within the markets, judging by how loud the crowds were. It is a start, though there is still the problem of getting into the castle itself. Satsume is likely to be on his way there by now, though it is not as though they could simply walk down the drawbridge and through the front gate. As much as she would loath letting even former Black Fang agents know about it, the only way to get inside was through one of the castles many secret passageways.

One such route would have been used by messengers the case that Castle Laus was sieged. It would otherwise would not see general use. Guards were likely to be within the area, but even they would be oblivious to the messenger path.

"Follow me," she told the others. "And keep the knowledge of the path I am taking us private. Only those closest to the marquessate are even aware of the existence of this passageway."

Rather than towards the castle itself, Cecily guided them towards the markets. On a normal day, hundreds of merchants would come and go, making inns extremely common in the town. Ensuring that they evade the occasional patrol meant to ward off thieves and common scoundrels, the party would eventually find themselves at the Courteous Crown.

It was an inn best described as being for modest folk: not the sort that wealthier merchants would stay at, but at least better than living in squalor. Essentially, it was the right kind of inn to evade the cursory gaze.

The innkeeper looked up the moment they entered. Cecily, again taking the lead, went straight to his desk.

"We will not be booking a room. You may imagine what we are actually here for," she whispered to him, raising her hood just enough for the man to see her face.

The man grew visibly pale. He knew, but not what to do with the wanted Lady of Laus.

"As long as you look the other way, we shall not trouble you further," Cecily continued.

He nodded slowly, clearly anxious about the whole ordeal. Cecily knew he would not be able to send a message to the castle any faster than they would be able to break in through the secret passage, so the question of his loyalty never truly bothered her. If he did try to alert the guards... well, she will deal with him later.

Cecily guided the rest to the stairs down into the cellar, where an enormous wine barrel opened to reveal the passageway. The tunnel is not lit, but there were plenty of torches that could be used to guide the way.

It would take some time for them to walk all the way to the end, but it will place them close to the servants' quarters once they come out. From there, it will become a matter hunting down the Marquess of Laus.

To put an end to everything that forced Cecily out of her own home.