Two weeks after his confrontation with Lucius Crane, Aldric received an invitation that would change everything.
It arrived in the form of an elegant card, delivered by a servant in the livery of House Ashford. The Duchess Vivienne Ashford requests the pleasure of your company for a private dinner. Tomorrow evening at eight. Come alone.
Aldric stared at the card, his heart pounding. The Duchess. One of the most powerful women in the Empire, a Tier 5 Archon, a master of political intrigue. Selene had warned him about her, had told him that he would eventually attract her attention.
That time had come.
He spent the next day preparing. He bought a new outfit, the finest he could afford—a dark jacket with silver buttons, a crisp white shirt, tailored trousers. He bathed and shaved carefully, making sure he looked presentable. He rehearsed what he would say, how he would present himself, how he would navigate the conversation without revealing too much or promising too much.
That evening, he made his way to the Duchess's townhouse in the Consortium District. It was a grand building, three stories tall, with marble columns and ornate ironwork. Guards stood at the entrance, and they checked his invitation before allowing him inside.
A servant led him through a series of opulent rooms—drawing rooms with silk wallpaper, libraries lined with leather-bound books, galleries hung with priceless paintings. Finally, they arrived at a private dining room where the Duchess waited.
Duchess Vivienne Ashford was in her early forties, but she looked younger, her beauty preserved by wealth and magic. She had dark hair streaked with silver, sharp green eyes, and a figure that was both elegant and commanding. She wore a deep blue gown that accentuated her curves, and her fingers were adorned with rings that glowed with subtle magical power.
She rose as Aldric entered, her smile warm but her eyes calculating.
"Aldric Thorne. Thank you for accepting my invitation. Please, sit."
Aldric sat across from her at a small table set for two. A servant poured wine, then withdrew, leaving them alone.
"I've been hearing interesting things about you," the Duchess said. "A young mage, newly registered, who's been making quite a name for himself in the merchant community. You've been solving problems, uncovering secrets, making yourself useful. That's impressive for someone so new to the city."
"I'm just trying to make a living, Your Grace," Aldric said carefully.
"Please, call me Vivienne. We're going to be working together, so there's no need for excessive formality." She sipped her wine, her eyes never leaving his face. "Tell me, Aldric, what do you want? What are your ambitions?"
It was a test, Aldric realized. She was probing, trying to understand his motivations, his vulnerabilities. He needed to be honest enough to seem genuine, but careful enough not to reveal too much.
"I want power," he said. "I want to be someone who matters, someone who can't be dismissed or ignored. I was born a third son with no prospects. Magic gave me a chance to change that. Now I'm trying to climb as high as I can."
Vivienne smiled, and this time it seemed genuine. "Honesty. I appreciate that. Most people try to dress up their ambitions in noble language, pretending they want to serve the Empire or help the common people. But you... you're refreshingly direct. You want power for its own sake. That's something I can work with."
"Work with?" Aldric asked.
"I'm always looking for talented people to add to my network," Vivienne said. "People who are intelligent, capable, and ambitious. You fit that description. I'd like to offer you a position as one of my agents. You would gather information for me, handle delicate situations, and help me advance my interests. In return, I would provide you with resources, protection, and opportunities to advance your own goals. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement."
Aldric's mind raced. This was exactly what Selene had predicted. The Duchess was offering him patronage, a chance to rise faster and higher than he could on his own. But it also meant becoming entangled in her schemes, becoming a tool in her political games.
"What kind of information would you want me to gather?" he asked.
"Political intelligence, mostly. The movements and plans of rival noble houses. The secrets and vulnerabilities of key players. The kind of information that gives me an advantage in negotiations and conflicts. You're a mage of the Veiled Mind, which makes you perfect for this kind of work. You can read thoughts, uncover hidden truths, and operate without drawing attention."
"And if I refuse?" Aldric asked.
Vivienne's smile didn't waver, but her eyes hardened slightly. "Then you would continue on your current path, making a modest living as an independent contractor. But you would also be turning down a significant opportunity. And in this city, opportunities like this don't come along often. I'm not in the habit of making the same offer twice."
It was a veiled threat, Aldric realized. Accept, or risk making an enemy of one of the most powerful people in the Empire.
But it was also an opportunity. With the Duchess's backing, he could advance faster, gain access to resources and training that would otherwise be out of reach. He could climb higher, faster.
The risks were real, but so were the rewards.
"I accept," Aldric said. "I'll work for you."
Vivienne's smile widened. "Excellent. I had a feeling you would make the right choice. Now, let's discuss the terms. You'll report to me directly, no intermediaries. You'll be paid a retainer of fifty gold pieces per month, plus bonuses for particularly valuable information. You'll have access to my network of contacts and resources. And you'll be under my protection—anyone who moves against you will answer to me."
Fifty gold pieces per month. That was more than Aldric had made in the entire time he'd been in the capital. It was life-changing money.
"There is one more thing," Vivienne said, her voice dropping to a more intimate tone. "I value loyalty above all else. If you work for me, you work only for me. No divided loyalties, no secret alliances. If I discover that you've betrayed me, the consequences will be severe. Do you understand?"
"I understand," Aldric said.
"Good." Vivienne raised her glass. "To a profitable partnership."
Aldric raised his own glass and drank. The wine was excellent, rich and complex, with a hint of something he couldn't quite identify. He felt a warmth spreading through his body, a sense of euphoria that was almost intoxicating.
They talked for the next hour, discussing the details of their arrangement. Vivienne explained the political landscape of the capital, the key players and their rivalries. She gave him his first assignment: gather information on Lord Castor Blackwell, a rival noble who was rumored to be plotting against her.
As the evening wore on, Aldric became increasingly aware of the Duchess's presence, the way she moved, the way she looked at him. There was an undercurrent of attraction, a tension that hummed between them. He wasn't sure if it was genuine or just another tool she was using to manipulate him.
Finally, as the clock struck midnight, Vivienne stood. "It's late. You should go. But before you do..." She crossed to him and placed a hand on his cheek, her touch warm and electric. "I think we're going to work very well together, Aldric. You have potential. I'm going to enjoy watching you grow."
She leaned in and kissed him, her lips soft and commanding. Aldric responded, his hands moving to her waist, pulling her closer. The kiss deepened, and for a moment, the world narrowed to just the two of them.
Then Vivienne pulled back, her smile enigmatic. "Not tonight. But soon. Now go. And remember—you work for me now. Don't disappoint me."
Aldric left the townhouse in a daze, his mind spinning. He'd just committed himself to one of the most dangerous women in the Empire. He'd accepted her patronage, her protection, and her demands.
He'd taken another step up the ladder, but he'd also placed himself in a position where one wrong move could be fatal.
As he walked through the dark streets back to his apartment, Aldric thought about Selene's warning. Don't trust the Duchess. Use her, let her use you, but always have an exit strategy.
He would need to be very, very careful.
But he would also need to be bold. This was the opportunity he'd been waiting for, the chance to climb higher and faster than he'd ever imagined.
The game had just become infinitely more complex.
And Aldric Thorne was playing to win.