Roughly half of the council mbers stared at Scarlett as though she were either delusional or utterly absurd. A quarter seed faintly amused, their expressions betraying a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. The rest appeared—justifiably—offended, as if she had spat upon the revered na of Arch Wizard Aubrianne.
It was no surprise that Arch Wizard Newbury belonged to the latter group. anwhile, Arch Wizard Elaine fell sowhere in the middle, watching Scarlett intently, her sharp gaze suggesting she was trying to anticipate Scarlett’s next move.
Scarlett could respect that.
“I can’t speak for the others,” Arch Wizard Newbury said, his voice low, “but you are testing my patience if you think you can possibly threaten this council in such a manner, Baroness Hartford.”
“Or you’re simply foolish, if that’s truly your intent,” Grand Wizard Felwin added, a light smirk tugging at his lips.
Scarlett turned her eyes to them both. “The forr? Perhaps. The latter? Most certainly not.” She shook her head. “I did not co here today to strain our relations more than necessary, but you should all understand that I have neither the obligation nor the inclination to justify myself, my actions, or the circumstances of my companions on the Isle. My sole goal was to exchange information that might strengthen our collaborative efforts. That does not require to subject myself to scrutiny over matters irrelevant to the Rising Isle, its imdiate concerns, or its long-term stability.”
A scoff ca from one of the council mbers, their eyes narrowing. “You an to say you don’t think your potential affiliation with demonic entities is relevant to us?”
Scarlett faced them. “There is such affiliation,” she replied flatly. “But even if there were, it would not concern the Council’s interests, no.” Her gaze swept over the wizards. “However, I recognise that a body so accustod to having its expectations t without resistance might struggle with the idea of not receiving every morsel of information it demands. So allow to simplify matters.”
Arch Wizard Elaine leaned forward, lightly resting her chin on her palm. “And ‘simplifying matters’ entails what, exactly? Compromising the Isle’s protective wards? Exposing supposed ‘clandestine activities’?” Her tone remained relatively mild and polite, but there was definitely a keen edge undercutting her words. “I am still willing to extend you the benefit of the doubt, Baroness, but saying such things does little to serve your cause.”
“That may be so. But I believe it will encourage this council to recognise the value of focusing on matters within its purview rather than discarding the opportunities laid before it.”
Arch Wizard Newbury gave a short, incredulous laugh. “That is a rather elaborate way of dressing up what amounts to a threat. We understand, Baroness. You wish for us to ‘tend to our own garden’, so to speak.” He looked at and gestured emphatically towards his peers. “I’m sorry, but this is becoming increasingly absurd. Since when did we allow imperial nobles to waltz into our chambers and hurl these grandiose insinuations around? I understand that we do owe her so degree of gratitude, but there are limits. For her own good and ours, I propose we simply detain the Baroness and her companions until we’ve had the ti and clarity to properly assess the situation. Let’s determine the nature of any demonic influence involved and extract a thorough, reliable account of what occurred in the Hall of Echoes. None of them will be hard, of course, and they will be duly compensated. Any fallout that may occur with the empire will be handled by personally.”
Several heads nodded in agreent, and Arch Wizard Elaine’s gaze shifted briefly towards her fellow mbers before settling back on Scarlett. “That seems to like an extre solution. Baroness, we could avoid the need for anything drastic if you would simply agree to share more information voluntarily. If you are worried what doing so might bring, perhaps I can assure you of the council’s goodwill by giving my word that no harm will co to you or your people.”
Scarlett’s eyebrows lifted faintly.
It seed they weren’t really taking her earlier remarks entirely seriously. Only Gaspar and Magister Penney regarded her as if they were genuinely concerned about her ‘threats’. Was it that the others just didn’t believe she could make good on her words?
…That was honestly fairly amusing, if so.
They knew she held information on the Zuver that they didn’t. If they weren’t worried about whatever vulnerabilities in their wards she had alluded to, it either ant they were very confident in their own expertise in those wards or—maybe more likely—they didn’t think she had the ans to disseminate such information without their consent.
Her gaze briefly focused on Gaspar. Of all those present, he wore the deepest frown. He’d interacted with her the most, which ant he understood sothing the others didn’t. Or, more accurately, he knew just enough to realise he had no idea what her true capabilities were. That uncertainty was likely what unnerved him.
Still, with two arch wizards and nearly a dozen grand wizards present, the Council’s confidence wasn’t entirely misplaced. Scarlett had no doubt that if they truly wished to, they could deal with her easily. She also seed to recall that Arch Wizard Elaine was a master of umbramancy, aning she might possess spells capable of extracting information from an unwilling subject. That probably wouldn’t work on Scarlett, but they didn’t know that.
In that sense, it might be a testant to the Council’s restraint that they hadn’t already resorted to such asures. If necessary, they could likely afford the strain it would put on their relationship with the empire.
Scarlett wasn’t sure if they would ever go that far. However, it was true that, no matter what rumours they had heard about her, she was currently in their domain. They held the upper hand here. Any threats she issued might seem like nothing more than the buzzing of a particularly knowledgeable gnat.
Her eyes road over the people before her.
She had no shortage of ways to disabuse them of that notion. To spare everyone the tedious deliberation over how far they were willing to push her, it was probably best to balance the scales now.
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“Baroness Hartford,” Arch Wizard Elaine prompted. “Your response?”
Scarlett’s focus drifted upwards, towards the illusion of a starry night sky stretched across the ceiling. “It remains the sa as before,” she replied. “I have told you what I intend to tell you and see no reason to elaborate further. That said, I do have a proposal—several, in fact—for collaborations between the Rising Isle and my barony. Ones I hope this council will consider before we adjourn. But first, I believe a reminder is in order.”
“A reminder?” soone muttered, but she ignored it. Her attention settled on a particular constellation woven into the enchanted sky. Among the twinkling formations, this one stood out — not because it shone brighter, but because it didn’t. A small section was missing. Anyone well-versed in the heavens of this world would have noticed it, and thanks to Thainnith’s legacy, Scarlett hadn’t even needed to study beforehand.
She reached to her hip, retrieving a small object from the [Pouch of Holding]. It was a marble, faintly glowing white, fitting neatly in her palm. As she raised it, the light intensified, illuminating her fingers like a simple lantern. This was a variant of the magical light crystals often found in Zuverian ruins. This type wasn’t exactly common, but here on the Rising Isle, they weren’t hard to find either. She wouldn’t be surprised if she’d sold a few of them to the Isle’s inhabitants at so point.
Encasing the marble in a delicate sphere of water, she flicked her fingers, guiding it upward.
“Baroness, what exactly do you think you are doing?” Newbury demanded.
“Providing a demonstration,” she replied evenly.
The marble ascended towards the ceiling, slipping effortlessly into the empty space within the constellation. The mont it nestled into place, the entire formation ignited with a brilliant light.
“What—”
Murmurs of astonishnt rippled through the chamber — cut short as the room itself shifted around them.
Scarlett, along with the council mbers, was teleported away, landing in a smaller chamber with walls of intricately carved marble. The air was dense with an almost tangible arcane presence, and rows upon rows of chests lined the walls, each secured with elaborate locks and pulsing faintly with enchantnts.
So of the council mbers staggered, disoriented. Their expressions wavered between shock and disbelief as they took in their surroundings.
Arch Wizard Elaine was the first to recover. She turned to Scarlett. “…What is this?”
Scarlett let her gaze move across the chamber, lingering on the ornate carvings and the sheer number of chests. “Who can say?” she mused, conjuring her inner Rosa. “A hidden cache, perhaps? Mayhap a Zuverian dragon once decided this was the perfect place for its hoard.”
It was a minor, nearly forgotten secret from the ga. Practically an Easter egg for observant players or those who spent too much ti on wikis and forums. In her experience, it hadn’t held anything particularly significant, but it was a fun find nonetheless.
Though…there were more chests here than she rembered.
Several council mbers’ attention snapped back to her, now studying her with disbelief. Scarlett glanced at them, then turned her focus to Arch Wizard Newbury, just long enough to unsettle him.
“It seems so of you have forgotten the scope of the knowledge I possess,” she said eventually. “Since you value candour, let make this clear: I will not disclose how I ca to know of this place, but I do expect to be compensated appropriately for whatever you may find here.”
Newbury’s brows furrowed, his mouth twitching as though he wanted to argue. Yet she could see the glint in his eyes — hunger, barely restrained. It was mirrored in the faces of many of the other council mbers as well.
“This should serve as a reminder,” Scarlett continued, turning to Arch Wizard Elaine. “A reminder of what I bring to the Rising Isle. It should also make you reconsider dismissing my claims when I say that I am aware of weaknesses in your defences. I have no particular desire to share that knowledge beyond this council — so long as you accept the truths I have offered and refrain from ddling in my affairs.”
The older woman’s expression shifted subtly, a contemplative shadow passing over her features.
“And if any of you are still entertaining the idea of forcing information from ,” Scarlett’s voice sharpened as she fixed her gaze once more on Newbury. “Know that I have already ensured that should anything happen to here, each secret of the Isle that I know will be shared with every noble house in the empire within a day. The wards preventing external communication pose no obstacle to — as Grand Wizard Hartford can attest.”
Newbury shot a glare in Gaspar’s direction, seeking confirmation.
Gaspar hesitated, observing Scarlett for a long mont before giving a reluctant nod. “She is likely speaking the truth. When the Tribe of Sin launched their assault on the empire and disrupted the Kilnstone network, the Baroness sohow learned of the events long before anyone could inform her. To this day, I do not know how she did so.”
A prolonged silence settled over the chamber as the council mbers exchanged glances.
“…I didn’t think we planned on forcing anything from her to begin with,” Grand Wizard Felwin was the first to speak.
“You!” Arch Wizard Newbury turned to him.
Felwin gestured at their surroundings. “Do you see this? Even if her threats were baseless—even if she hadn’t already shared so much with us—the re fact that she could reveal sothing like this, hidden under our noses for all this ti, is enough. I was willing to pressure her for what information we could, but this? This is more than enough for .”
“The Rising Isle does not bow to threats,” Newbury snapped, his glare shifting back to Scarlett. A couple council mbers murmured their agreent, but the majority remained silent, seeming thoughtful.
“The alternative,” Arch Wizard Elaine interjected smoothly, “would be to not only detain Baroness Hartford but to permanently silence her — and anyone she might have shared her knowledge with.” She let the words hang for a mont before adding, “An alternative that, I should make clear, I do not condone.”
Newbury scowled but said nothing as Elaine looked back at Scarlett. “The council will vote on our official stance regarding you, Baroness, but for now, I can at least assure you of your safety while you remain on the Isle. That, I assu, is what you wanted?”
Scarlett nodded. “Among other things, yes.”
“If you are willing,” the woman continued, her tone softening, “we are open to renegotiating the matter of compensation — both for the knowledge you possess and any services you have already provided. We can also discuss what your barony and the Rising Isle might offer one another.” She paused, tilting her head slightly. “Though I admit, I am still unclear about your earlier remark regarding ‘clandestine activities.’ What exactly did you an?”
Scarlett studied her, also looking over the other council mbers. That comnt had partly been a way of sounding them out, but perhaps they were truly all unaware.
“I was referring to certain dealings involving Grand Wizard Blakeshaw in the Unresting Steppes,” she said. “Specifically, his collaboration with the Undead Council.”
The mood in the chamber shifted instantly. Several expressions darkened, and even Arch Wizard Elaine’s face grew taut with a deep-set frown.
“…Those are grave accusations, Baroness.”
“They are. And naturally, I can corroborate them.”
The Undead Council could perhaps be considered the only faction that was still a true ‘rival’ to the Rising Isle, particularly now that tensions between the Isle and the empire weren’t as bad as they used to be. For a wizard of the Isle to consort with them was the closest they ca to heresy.
Arch Wizard Elaine exhaled slowly. “First, Baroness, is it possible to return to the council chamber from here?”
“It is,” Scarlett replied.
“And can we access this place again through the sa thod you employed?” Warder Asheton asked.
“Yes.”
“Then we will return to the council chamber and discuss these matters in greater detail — both concerning Grand Wizard Blakeshaw and Baroness Hartford’s proposal.” Arch Wizard Elaine’s gaze locked with Scarlett’s. “…I suggest everyone steel themselves. It seems we may need to concede more today than we anticipated.”
Scarlett allowed herself a faint, calculating smile. “I do believe that is correct.”
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