Serenna stared at the symbol on the paper for several seconds.
The black flower surrounded by a thin crescent had been drawn in ink, but the lines were precise enough to have been copied from a seal.
Teclos watched her rather than the page.
Harven shifted in his chair.
"I assume that means something."
Serenna folded the paper once.
"It belongs to my family."
Maela leaned against the table. "How much trouble are we talking about?"
Serenna gave her a tired look.
"That depends on who they sent."
"You said six guards and a woman," Teclos said.
Maela nodded.
"She arrived in a black carriage yesterday morning. No house markings on the doors, but the horses were bred too well for a merchant. She rented the entire upper floor of the Silver Laurel."
Serenna's expression tightened.
"What did she look like?"
"Tall. Dark red hair. Maybe forty, though with vampires that means nothing to me. She wore black gloves and a silver pin at her throat."
Serenna closed her eyes briefly.
