The heavy study door swung open, revealing Master Valerius once more, but this time he was accompanied by a figure who radiated an entirely different aura. Captain Marek of the Core Guard was a man built like a fortress gate – tall, broad-shouldered, his movements economical and precise. His uniform, a deep Synkar blue accented with polished obsidian, was immaculate, and his gaze, as sharp and unyielding as honed steel, immediately swept the room before settling on Rhyse. There was no deference of a servant, but the alert respect of a dedicated protector.
"Lord Rhyse," Marek's voice was a low baritone, steady and devoid of unnecessary inflection. He offered a crisp, military bow. "Thank you for granting me an audience on such short notice."
"Captain Marek," Rhyse replied, his voice deliberately calm despite the internal turmoil. He gestured towards one of the chairs. "Master Valerius said your message was urgent, concerning irregularities in external communication." He watched Marek closely, his System-enhanced hearing picking up the subtle shift of weight as the Captain remained standing.
Valerius, sensing the professional nature of the impending discussion, discreetly moved to stand near the edge of the room, present but silent.
"Indeed, my lord," Marek began, his eyes fixed on Rhyse. "Approximately eight hours ago, the manor's ambient Arcane Sentry Grid caught an unauthorized, heavily warded transmission. The signal was complexly shielded, its magical signature routed through multiple obfuscation enchantments, but its destination resonated with a known Valtari Syndicate ley-line nexus in the Krellian Deeps."
Rhyse kept his expression neutral, but his mind raced. Eight hours ago. Livia. The System's findings aligned. The Core Guard had detected it. This was a double-edged sword: his internal security wasn't completely inept, but it confirmed the System's alarming revelation.
"Valtari Syndicate," Rhyse repeated, letting a note of controlled concern enter his voice. "That is deeply troubling. Have you identified the source of this transmission?"
Marek's expression didn't change, but Rhyse sensed a subtle tightening around his jaw. "The shielding enchantments were sophisticated, likely a custom Hawthorne mercantile cryptic rune sequence layered with additional scrambling spells. Pinpointing the exact origin device within the manor's dense magical matrix without initiating a disruptive arcane sweep – which would undoubtedly alert the sender – is frankly nearly impossible. However, the transmission's initial point of emanation traces back to the East Wing, specifically the guest suites currently occupied by Lord Marius Hawthorne and Lady Livia Hawthorne."
He delivered the information as a statement of arcane analysis, devoid of accusation.
"My uncle and cousin," Rhyse said quietly, feigning a thoughtful frown. "This is unexpected. Do we know the nature of the message?"
"The magical signature of the message was too deeply entwined with protective wards for immediate deciphering, my lord," Marek stated. "Attempting to unravel it would require considerable arcane resources and time, and again, risk alerting the parties involved. My immediate concern was to bring this unauthorized external communication with a known hostile entity to your attention."
This was the critical juncture. Rhyse knew it was Livia. Revealing that, and its source, was too risky. But he couldn't appear entirely passive.
He opted for cautious guidance, subtly testing Marek. "Captain, your diligence is commendable. The Hawthorne connection is… sensitive. A direct accusation without irrefutable proof could cause significant internal disruption." He paused. "Livia Hawthorne utilizes advanced communicator crystals for her mercantile dealings. Could her personal device have been compromised, or perhaps she was conducting unrelated Hawthorne business that inadvertently connected to a problematic ley-line?"
Marek considered this. "Possible, my lord, though the use of such intricate warding for routine business is highly irregular. Lady Livia is also a trained Witch; one would expect a certain level of awareness regarding secure magical communication." He wasn't easily swayed.
"Indeed," Rhyse agreed. "My question, Captain, is how do you recommend we proceed? An arcane sweep seems disruptive. How do we gather more information without tipping our hand or causing unnecessary internal strife, especially if this proves to be an innocent, albeit careless, mistake?"
"My primary recommendation, Lord Rhyse," Marek said, his voice firm, "is to place the East Wing, particularly its occupants, under discreet, heightened arcane surveillance. Enhanced monitoring of all their outgoing magical transmissions, physical movements, and interactions. We can also deploy subtle Resonance Scanners near their quarters to attempt to capture the magical 'fingerprint' of any future transmissions for more detailed analysis. This will be resource-intensive but less overtly hostile."
This was where Rhyse's internal alarm bells rang louder. He recalled his own System-prompted distrust of the Core Guard due to potential Hawthorne influence. Tasking a potentially compromised guard force with investigating the very people who might be influencing them felt like a trap. Yet, dismissing Marek's professional recommendation outright without cause would be suspicious. He needed to appear to take action, while also pursuing his own, more trusted, avenues.
"Captain Marek," Rhyse began carefully, "your assessment of the threat is sound, and the need for surveillance is clear. However, given the delicate internal dynamics involving the Hawthorne family and their significant presence within the Synkar structure, I believe a simpler approach is warranted. I want the Core Guard to proceed with the general heightened arcane surveillance of the East Wing, focusing on detecting any further unauthorized external transmissions. Record all such activity."
He paused, choosing his next words with precision. "Simultaneously, I have already tasked Master Valerius with securing a small, personally vetted team for my immediate security and for certain sensitive inquiries. These individuals will operate independently. I expect your full cooperation with Master Valerius should their paths cross, Captain, but their direct operational command will remain with me."
Rhyse was attempting a delicate balance: allowing the Core Guard to perform their standard duties (and potentially reveal their own biases or leaks if they failed to detect what his System already had), while setting up a parallel, more trusted investigation path via his new team. He wasn't giving Marek the specific task of investigating Livia directly for the Valtari link, but the broader task of monitoring the East Wing.
Marek's expression remained unreadable, but he nodded. "Understood, my lord. The Core Guard will enhance surveillance on the East Wing as ordered and record all anomalous transmissions. We will cooperate with Master Valerius's designated personnel as required."
"There is one other matter, Captain," Rhyse continued, turning to Marek's earlier point. "Master Valerius informed me of your support for my request for a dedicated, personally vetted detail. Until that detail is in place, I accept your offer to assign two of your most trusted Guards to my immediate vicinity, operating with absolute discretion. They must be ghosts."
"They will be, my lord," Marek assured him. "Their only purpose will be to observe and intervene in the event of an immediate threat."
"Very well," Rhyse agreed. "Coordinate with Master Valerius for all these arrangements. Report any significant findings from the East Wing surveillance directly to me or through him. Discretion is paramount in all these endeavors."
"As you command." Captain Marek gave another crisp bow. "I will begin immediately." He turned and exited, his movements precise.
Once the door closed, Valerius stepped forward, his expression deeply troubled. "My lord, tasking the Core Guard with surveillance when we suspect Hawthorne influence… is that wise?"
"It's a calculated risk, Master Valerius," Rhyse said, his voice low. The System had already given him a critical lead on Livia. "The Core Guard will monitor the East Wing broadly. If they detect and report what I already suspect, it confirms their integrity in this matter, or at least Captain Marek's. If they fail to report significant anomalies that align with my… other information sources… then we know the extent of the problem within the Guard itself. Consider it a test, alongside being a general security measure."
He met his seneschal's gaze. "Meanwhile, the team you are assembling will conduct the more focused inquiries and provide my true layer of trusted protection. We cannot afford to place all our eggs in one compromised basket."
Valerius absorbed this, a flicker of understanding, perhaps even grim approval, in his eyes. "A complex strategy, my lord. A prudent one."
The young lord had undergone a startling transformation in the single month since his parents' passing. Though still a year shy of his fourteenth nameday and full adulthood, he was already actively shedding the vestiges of the frightened, naive youth he had been. The weight of responsibility, and the unsettling revelations surfacing with each passing hour, had forced a maturity upon him that belied his age. He was no longer merely grieving; he was assessing, planning, and, despite a lingering undercurrent of fear, striving to exert control over a situation rapidly spiraling beyond his initial comprehension.
He then shifted. "On the matter of your personal detail, their dossiers are prepared. They will be here soon as well."
"Excellent," Rhyse said, a measure of relief touching his features.
Rhyse wanted to fullfill the system request and guarantee his safety. His instincts told him he needed to advance the system as soon as possible to survive.
At that moment, he also wondered if the System could help with finding out if someone was of loyal or disloyal nature, and began exploring the system again.