8 Chapter 8: Acquittal

Genof and Fiba were released on certain terms to not disclose any information shared with them at the trial - they were to tell their families nothing and return as normal.

"Are you sure about this my Sire?" Sevas poured warm tea into his cup.

"Do you question me?" He had been in his thoughts, in his study drafting letters each sealed with melted gold candle wax.

"No." She affirmed. There wasn't much to question, for Florian Romani had always been the iron-willed young man she knew. What good would come of pretending to hold any hold on him?

He completed the last letter - this one instead was sealed with red candle wax, the fierce Phoenix outlined in gold with the special stamp of the Romani engraving.

"Then worry not. Have Ave send for the horses. Six. Prepare a selection amongst the Pleiades - to complete the tasks of getting each of these declarations to their destinations." He pushes forward only five of the six letters. Sevas watched tentatively.

"Also, send this letter with the messenger owl. The black one. Make it discreet." He took a sip from the tea cup reclining back into his seat, a sigh leaving his lips.

"As you wish."

He gulped down the rest of the tea, removing himself from the study as Sevas excused her services to do as commanded.

She later joined him in the Ancestral Hall, he stared up at the portrait of a woman with violent honey eyes and impeccable warm skin. He was humming a tune that echoed in the empty space. A tune she was all too familiar with.

"My Sire, what you've asked has been done..."

"But?" He could read Sevas like a book without as much as glancing at her.

"If you shall excuse my ignorance."

"If you must ask, ask Sevas." the calmness of his voice reminded her of someone from the past.

"But why are we preparing six horses for only five letters, the last had been sent with the messenger owl." She trod lightly.

"Because the last horse is for you." He turned his face towards hers, "There's something I need you to do." His scarlet eyes had a glint in them she couldn't quite understand, but she did not fathom the possibility that it could mean perhaps he was excited about the brewing chaos he was planning in his brilliant mind.