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It was late on a Taldes afternoon. Light streamed in through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows of Arc-en-Ciel Hall and the footfalls of High Zeno Tannifer Marbrand clicked forbiddingly on the parquet as she walked. Two others scampered along in her wake, bringing her the day's final briefing before she headed home.

[color=fff79a]"We've received another request for information on the Kavanaugh boy."[/color]

[color=c4df9b]"Who's sending all of these in? I thought he wasn't supposed to matter!"[/color]

[color=82ca9d]"According to his documentation, he has a rather large... family."[/color]

[color=c4df9b]"So it's all of his degenerate relations, then?"[/color]

[color=fff79a]"No, ma'am. I doubt they'd be literate enough anyhow."[/color]

[color=c4df9b]"Well, then [i]who[/i]? For the love of Shune..."[/color]

[color=82ca9d]"Yesterday, it was a milliner from the Crafters' Quarter and an arms manufacturer from outside the walls. The day before, it was an accountant at Sealy's, a master of the tailor's guild, and the madam of a local brothel."[/color]

[color=c4df9b]"And today?"[/color] inquired Tannifer Marbrand, eyebrow arched.

[color=fff79a]"It was a little girl named Genevieve Marais, from the Workman's Quarter."[/color]

[color=c4df9b]"Yes, the one who lost her legs in that awful mess last year."[/color] The zeno considered. [color=c4df9b]"And who was the first?"[/color]

[color=82ca9d]"That would be one..."[/color] Marcel flipped through his little book. [color=82ca9d]"Isabella Lowell, a student at the academy."[/color]

[color=c4df9b]"The clothing designer?"[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Yes, ma'am. Originally registered as 'Moriarty', but she appears to have married. Enthish, I believe."[/color]

[color=c4df9b]"But [i]really[/i], Dolores?"[/color] Tannifer rolled her eyes. [color=c4df9b]"I should bloody well hope that [i]I[/i], of all people, would recognize an Enthish name."[/color]

[color=82ca9d]"As you say, milady. Apologies."[/color]

[color=c4df9b]"It's not for you to apologize for, Marcel,"[/color] she huffed, but then she batted any further conversation on the topic away. [color=c4df9b]"And she was the first and it was just the once, hmm?"[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Apologies Miss Marbrand,"[/color] mewed Dolores. She bowed in deference. [color=fff79a]"She was the first - a tethered girl - waiting in Balthazar for most of the day. She came again the next."[/color]

[color=c4df9b]"And nothing else?"[/color]

[color=82ca9d]"Well,"[/color] Marcel added mysteriously, [color=82ca9d]"Until today."[/color]

[color=c4df9b]"Out with it then, Marcel!"[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Sh-she came again today to inquire about Desmond Catulus."[/color]

There was a long, vexed sigh. [color=c4df9b]"The mercenary?"[/color]

[color=82ca9d]"The same, ma'am."[/color]

Her face settled. [color=c4df9b]"Very well. Let me handle her."[/color]

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