The disc exploded letting out a bunch of crimson words which were flying around in the air. They did not disperse, but fell into line, arranged and spread a chilly light.
The signs were smouldering above the obsidian stone, and a red light spread on the walls of the chambers. On the way down blue smoke was vanishing, as though fire knew the order of things.
Seraphine stood straight and read the text
And Archie remained in the water, with half-closed eyes. Instead of the message, he looked at her.
"The fact that the Viscount was absent, being now occupied with a commission under the seal of the Duke, and leaving me in charge of the wolf-blooded presence on the Baronial soil, was settled by the decree of the Crimson Authority. "
The air felt heavier.
Seraphine did not move her countenance, only something behind the eyes grew hard.
The Earl continued.
"Baroness Seraphina Valcrest will introduce me to the said person first shadow tomorrow. This audience is private. Any form of non-compliance will be regarded as a hindrance to the order in the region. "
The crimson writing throbbed again.
The words evaporated into ash-light and disappeared.
The room grew a little and the warmth of the lake had the effect of having cooled.
Seraphine took her hand out of the disc.
"Word travels fast" said she at last.
Archie came out of the water in a smooth movement. Drops moved down his skin and returned to the lake without making any sound.
"The Earl?" he asked calmly.
She looked at him rather quickly
"No need to be worried, it's merely an evaluation.
The Viscount is supposed to deal with anomalies in my district. He is now performing in obedience to the Duke."
The last word was uttered with a little more stinging.
"The Earl has made it his own business to assess you on his behalf"
Archie sat on the cold stone floor cross legged and did not think about it being cold.
"Evaluation," he repeated.
"Evaluation" she said, "It is what will make something in this city an asset... or a correction. "
There was a lapse of silence between them that was no more.
Seraphine strolled to a stand beside her which now held dark cloth uncut so far.
"He has not summoned the Court" she went on. "That is deliberate and this will be a private meeting which means the Earl has a scheme in mind."
Her gaze slid back to him.
"You are already a pain, Archie Ambrosius. An Earl does not meddle in Baron business unnecessarily."
He took the cloth she extended in his hand without even looking down.
"Then I will provide him with a reason he was not anticipating" he said in a cool voice.
A faint smile curved her lips.
"Careful" she replied. "Silence and calm need does not impress earls. They are taken with something of flare, something they will remember"
She stepped nearer and her voice dropped in tone.
"Above him stands a Duke. Above the Duke, a King. And above that, the Emperor. I'm willing to protect you but I definitely can't go again those above me, they are above me not by politics but by strength"
He looked at her with no strain.
"I do not need protection" he said. "Only opportunity."
Something, as though approval, flicked in her eyes.
Then it was gone.
" There will be first shadow tomorrow" she said turning to the exit. "You will stand at my side tomorrow, I'll have an attire made for you."
That would be the only decision to resonate.
Beyond the walls of the chambers, the vampire city went on with its silent power talkings.
The doors of the chamber closed after them with a heavy moaning tone.
There were already servants waiting out there.
They were not openly staring at Archie. They prostrated themselves before Seraphine, and turned the eyes down. Nevertheless, their senses were not asleep; the word had gone round.
Their Baroness had been called by an Earl.
That in itself was sufficient to agitate a district.
"Make up formal clothes, Seraphine, come slowly. "Noble standard. My crest."
The servants instantaneously shifted.
Archie was walking next to her and not behind her.
Such positioning was not overlooked.
Chambers of black marble lay ahead, and were illuminated with constant blue fires. The manor with its former sensuality was now strategic. Every guard they came past pulled himself in. All whispers were lapsed into a silence when she came near.
As they went into a special dressing chamber the attendants maintained a deferential, curious, and watchful distance on the side of Archie.
She brushed off attendants in a minimal motion. The room emptied.
"The presence of an Earl is not same with that of a barron,This is not the square" she said "The Earl is a dangerous being, one who will handle hundreds of barons with my strength with ease"
Archie remained calm.
It brought her nearer, where she examined him as a general strains the weapon before a fight.
"He will perceive instability in case you seem to be reckless. He will try to fish out weakness from you and if he finds any, it renders you consumable and therefore disposable"
"And what sees he should I seem untroubled?" Archie asked.
Her lips were touched by some faint curve.
"Then he will wonder why."
Silence lingered.
She went towards a high black iron mirror. She gazed at both their reflection a moment, Baroness and anomaly.
"Not to tell the truth, the absence of the Viscount is not coincidence. The command of the Duke should be great. The Earl must go himself, it means you are either must prove yourself useful to him. The Viscount is probably on a journey to gain strength beyond that of the Viscount if the Duke communicates with him with the Earl being informed first"
Archie fiddled the black cloth over his shoulders.
"That's inconvenient" Archie replied, without further effort.
A soft knock at the door. A waiter came in, with a folded piece of some deep crimson bordered with silver spots. The crest was inwardly woven in by Seraphine.
She picked it and gave it to Archie himself.
"You will wear this," she said. " It brands you to my jurisdiction."
Anytime Archie wears the clothes hum and Seraphine will be publicly connected.
It was dark, the layers of shadow and dim red light spread out, outside through a tall window, the city. Rooftops resembled blades. Towers came up speechless spectators.
The Earl was waiting somewhere outside those towers.
The voice of Seraphine fell a notch lower.
"Do not provoke him. Do not challenge him. And then don't be too submissive to him"
Archie met her gaze evenly.
"I never tell you more than I have to."
A moment this made the air between them become steady neither want, nor suspense, but harmony.
The district would be experiencing the burden of tomorrow.
The result being that because one of the Earls summon a Baroness to account, the result will either be a long breed secret or the end of a barony.