Which wasn't all that inaccurate, really.
Though many blocks separated the gates from the political offices in and around the Hall of Meeting, the travelers chose to make the trip on foot rather than trying to ram their horses through the throng. A nearby inn provided quality stabling at only slightly hair-raising prices, and Corvis also acquired a couple of rooms before they braved the streets again. This time, Irrial walked with the slightest trace of a limp and leaned on what looked to be a plain but expertly carved cane. Corvis wore her Cephiran sword at his waist; Sunder was nowhere to be seen.
The baroness, who'd not been to Mecepheum in many years, gawped like a yokel, not taken by the capital's finery so much as by the sharp delineations between the poorer and richer quarters, as well as the obviously new repairs to the ancient structures. As the apparent age of those repairs finally sank in, she cast a suspicious glance at her supposed "servant," trailing a few steps behind.
"Audriss," he said defensively. "Not me."
Irrial didn't look convinced.
They mounted the steps to the Hall of Meeting, noses held high as though they not only had every right to be there, but questioned everyone else's presence. Recognizing the arrogant mien of the nobility-and the servant thereof, which was frankly even worse-the clerk positioned near the entrance didn't even bother to ask their business.
Unfortunately, stopping to ask him directions might have ruined the effect, and Corvis hadn't the slightest idea where they were going. Running through a mental list of Guildmasters and nobles over whom he still held "influence," he stepped up the pace a bit and whispered "Mubarris. Cartwrights' and Carpenters' Guild."
Irrial's hair barely twitched, so shallow was her nod, but clearly she'd heard. As they rounded a corner, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpeting-which, if ubiquitous throughout the Hall, must have cost enough to buy a small village-she raised a hand to stop the next passerby. "Tell me, good sir," she asked, voice distant but stiffly polite, "where might I find the office of Guildmaster Mubarris?"
The fellow they accosted sported immaculately curled blond locks and was clad in the blue-and-white livery of one of Mecepheum's numerous aristocratic Houses. "And what, do pray tell," he asked with a disparaging sneer, "would a highborn lady such as yourself need with one of those merchants?" It might have been the most foul, blasphemous epithet the way he choked it out, and Corvis groaned inwardly. Things were obviously even worse between the Guilds and the nobility than he'd thought.
That, or the guy was just a jackass.
'You're such a pessimist. Why can't it be both?'
Irrial's expression grew so cold and so stony, it might well have convinced an angry basilisk not to waste its time. "That would be between me and the Guildmaster, wouldn't it? Now kindly tell us where to find him."
"So you can make more concessions? Give away more of our power?" The pugnacious fellow was on a tear; apparently having found a target for his frustrations, he wasn't about to surrender it without a fight. "You're not from Mecepheum, my lady, I can see that right off. So why don't you go back wherever you came from and leave the real politics to the people who know what they're doing?"
Corvis sucked in a breath between his teeth and began to step forward, but Irrial raised a hand to stop him. Her voice, when she spoke, had gone completely calm. "You, dear fellow, will answer my question."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Because if you don't, my servant here is going to find the nearest blunt object and play your head like a drum until your eyes switch sides."
"I-you…!"
"I still remember some great military cadences," Corvis told him. "Very impressive. Lots of percussion."
"You can't lay a finger on me!" the aristocrat whined, though he took a hesitant step back.
"I'll swear blind that you raised a hand to me first," Irrial said. "My servant was just defending me."
"Third floor." It was a surly mutter, scarcely audible. "Fourth hall to the left of the stairs, third door on the right."
"My thanks, good sir. You're a credit to your kennel."
They were gone, Irrial leading the way in a billowing flurry of cloak, before he could cease gawking long enough to formulate a response.
"Where," Corvis asked, voice quivering with suppressed laughter, "did you learn to do that?"
"That's all politics is really about, Reb-Cerris," she corrected swiftly, lest anyone overhear. "Finding some way to get the last word." For just an instant, her lips twitched in that smile Corvis hadn't seen in weeks.
"I think I'm rubbing off on you," he said-and right away, even before her smile vanished and her face hardened once more, he knew it was exactly the wrong thing to say.
'How's that foot tasting, Corvis? Have you really gotten this stupid, or are you just trying to prove something?'
They climbed numerous stairs, traversed numerous halls. It was easy enough to see which doors led to the offices of anyone remotely important: Those were the doors flanked by mail-clad guards. They were armed with broad-bladed short swords, brutal thrusting weapons well suited to the tight confines of the corridors, and loaded crossbows leaned against the walls at their feet.
"You'd think they were afraid of something," Corvis whispered. This time, Irrial didn't smile at all.
Without pause, she approached the mercenaries standing outside the room to which they'd been reluctantly directed. "Would you be so good as to inform Guildmaster Mubarris that the Baroness Irrial of Rahariem requires an audience?"
In a practiced maneuver, one of the guards moved to block her way while the other opened the door just wide enough to ask whether or not they were to be admitted. The one whose attentions remained fixed on the newcomers gestured over Irrial's shoulder with his chin. "Your man all right, m'lady?"
She glanced back and was startled to see Corvis's face-well, the face he was currently wearing-furrowed in concentration, beaded slightly with sweat.
"He's fine," she answered with far more conviction than she felt. "It's just been a long journey."
"I understand." Then, "Is it as bad as we've heard out there?"
"I don't know what you've heard, but it's bad enough. We've basically lost the border towns entirely."
That brought a fearsome scowl. Apparently, not everyone here was thrilled with the government's failure to act. "I'm glad you got out, m'lady," he added politely.
The second warrior turned back from the door. "The Guildmaster will see you."
Irrial began to step forward. "Thank you so-"
"Uh, I'm sorry, m'lady," the first guard interrupted with a nervous smile. "But nobody's permitted into a Guildmaster's or noble's chambers under arms. Nervous times, you understand."
"Of course." She waved a finger at Corvis, who dutifully detached the sword from his belt and handed it over. When the soldiers looked her way, she shrugged, leaning on her cane. "I'm unarmed. That's what I keep him around for."
The guards glanced at the cane, which could have functioned as a makeshift club-but then, so could the chairs inside the room. With a mutual shrug, they stepped aside.
Irrial swept between them and offered a shallow curtsy to the fleshy, balding fellow behind the desk. Corvis followed, shutting the door behind him.
The Guildmaster rose and bowed, his movements slightly stilted. His expression was just the tiniest bit unfocused, something she'd never have noticed had he not looked directly at her. He looked-preoccupied wasn't quite the right word, but she could think of none better.
Brow furrowed, Corvis appeared at Irrial's side. "Hello, Mubarris."
"Hello."
Irrial nodded in understanding. "You weren't joking, were you?"