The Honeymoon Suite 3 - Assumptions

Titus

Month 3, Day 19, Friday 5:00pm

Three days later, Titus sent Copper Alma to pick up his attempted blackmailer for “questioning and detainment.” The situation wasn’t a secret, but at the same time, it was best to keep those directly involved to as small a number as possible to avoid excessive gossip. Titus didn’t even plan to meet with him. The woman could deal with letting him stew over the weekend, and then have a nice long conversation where she educated him about the definitions and punishments for illegal activities like “blackmail,” “slander,” and “libel.”

A sealed report about Sebastien Siverling’s background had been dropped on Titus’s desk, but he hadn’t yet had time to read it. His personal matters had to take a back seat to the needs of the nation, and even if he did find something relevant, he would still need to make time to talk to Damien about the whole situation in person. This wasn’t the kind of thing that should be discussed through a letter.

Alma dropped by his office afterward to let him know that she had completed the first step, taking the surprised and frightened man into custody while ignoring all his questions and, eventually, his pleas. She gave Titus a little smirk as she bowed. “He is in one of the first floor cells, my lord. I am sure by the end of this he will think twice about threatening another poor child.”

“Thank you,” Titus said, standing up and wrapping his scarf around his throat. It was cashmere, and had been a gift from Damien. “Would you please let my secretary know to send for me at Dryden Manor in case of an emergency? I should be there for the next few hours.” He sighed somewhat unwillingly. Titus was tired, and he suspected that the dinner party Lord Dryden was holding would last a long time and be sprinkled with the other man’s attempts to get the participants involved in some kind of philanthropic endeavor. He respected Oliver, even liked the man despite his excessive optimism and righteousness, but Titus didn’t feel like debating the future of their city, hearing about all the horrible plights the poor were subjected to, or having to explain once again that he just didn’t have the resources to devote more of his coppers to working the Mires. At least the food was sure to be good, and the man stocked some extremely smooth whiskey, which he poured generously for any guest.

Alma’s face grew grave. “Oh,” she said quietly, and then again, “Oh.” She stared at the floor for a few seconds, fists clenched. “Do you want me to come with you? It might help with the questioning. We could do good copper, bad copper. I’m not as imposing as you, but since you were previously on friendly terms with Lord Dryden, I think I should be bad copper, and you should coax him into telling the truth with some hope that you’ll shield him from the consequences.”

Titus stared at her for a long moment before he realized that she was joking. He let out a surprised laugh. Not many of his subordinates felt comfortable enough around him to joke. “Wouldn’t Lord Dryden be surprised when we arrive and suddenly ambush him with questions about his ward, completely derailing the pleasant dinner party where he tries to get me and other influential members of society involved in another of his philanthropic endeavors?”

But rather than laugh with him, Alma’s face screwed up with revulsion. “He’s the boy’s guardian!?Oh, that’s even worse. Disgusting! There are laws against that sort of abuse, aren’t there?”

Staring at her, Titus found only genuine horror in her expression, quickly morphing into rage. He realized that he was missing something. “What are you talking about, Alma?”

She raised one dubious eyebrow at him. “Sexually abusing a minor is a crime.” She lifted one hand to her chin and scowled thoughtfully at the floor. “Well, maybe the boy isn’t technically a minor, and that’s how he justifies it, but if he’s the boy’s guardian that’s still an abuse of power.” She looked up, staring at Titus’s bemused expression with frustration. Then her eyes went wide. “Ah, you didn’t know. Are you actually just going to a dinner party?”

Titus waved for her to take a seat in front of his desk, returning to his chair as well. “What is it that I do not know?”

Copper Alma twisted her hands together in her lap, then pursed her lips and blew out a long, silent breath. “Okay. Well, I’m not sure you remember, but I was on duty the day the Raven Queen stole that book from the University.” She raised her hand as if to forestall him from jumping to conclusions. “That’s not the relevant part. After she revisited the inn and escaped, my partner and I searched for her through some of the nearby side streets and buildings. As you know, it’s not the most affluent area. Occasionally, you’ll see the homeless, destructive use of addictive substances, or those selling certain servicesout of desperation to survive.” She paused to make sure he understood her implication.

Titus had an ominous premonition about where this was going. “Continue.”

“While searching, we came upon a man who I believe to be Lord Dryden. He had been in the middle of a…liaison with a homeless young man working as a prostitute. Now, I wouldn’t have thought much of it, and I didn’t say anything considering who was involved. Except, all this, collecting rumors and bringing that man working at the hotel into custody, brought up that memory again. The prostitute was a young man with memorably light-colored hair and pale skin. And I thought…well, I just assumed…when you mentioned Lord Dryden was next, that this whole thing was about the same boy. Sebastien Siverling. Though, of course it’s possible that I was mistaken about one or both of their identities. I didn’t take any identification papers at the time since we were in such a hurry to find the Raven Queen.” The woman fidgeted with discomfort.

Titus’s stomach clenched, suppressing any appetite he had built up. “I see. Thank you for sharing this information with me.”

Copper Alma gave him a short, awkward bow from her seated position. “Do you think it’s just a coincidence? Or is there some relevance?”

“I do not know,” Titus admitted, “but I intend to find out.”

“I wish you luck, Lord Commander,” she said, standing and moving to the door. She bowed once more, this time more properly. “Please do not hesitate to call on me if you have need.”

Titus remained at his desk, staring down at the wood grain as he thought. This revelation put certain things into a new light. Was it possible that Siverling was not a patron of the Silk Door but an employee? And what, exactly, was Oliver doing with him?

Titus sighed deeply, standing and peeking out at his secretary’s desk in the next room. “Please send a runner to inform Lord Dryden that I will not be able to attend tonight’s dinner party and convey my regrets. Some unexpected work has popped up,” he instructed the young man.

Titus returned to his office, removed his scarf, and pulled over the sealed report on whatever they had been able to dig up about Sebastien Siverling’s background. The folder was discouragingly thin, but he hoped it would contain some insight.

Author Note: I know I said one every day, but it might be two days before the next installment in this side story comes out. The next chapter is quite complex, as you might imagine, and I want to give it some time to mull over things before I release it, as I have a feeling it'll be richer/better for the effort.

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