[h3] [center] [i]The Crow[/i] [/center] [/h3]

The figure stood stalk still as swords, muskets, and threats were leveled at them. The mask hid any reaction the uninvited assassin might have had to the number of questions leveled at it. The Crow kept its hands well away from the weapons it was carrying and just folded them in front of itself, keeping them in plain view. Now was not the time to start a gunfight. The Mask turned when Nalia spoke to The Crow, the black pits of the silver mask centering on the new head of house. 

"If I came in through the front door as I am I would be apprehended and then you would know who I am. If I came without the uniform, I would have been ignored unless I revealed myself. I had not planned on making such an entrance. Someone detected me as I was arriving and sent cat's paws after me. Not proper guards, mind you. I suspect it was your master of spies given the men who tried to stop me." The Crow tilted its head to the side as a gesture instead of moving its hands to point. "I am sorry to inform you that one of them fell to lady Fiona's balcony and is likely quite hurt. The other will be fine, maybe a little bruised. after I had been shot at I had no choice but to enter to avoid any further casualties. I didn't come through the balcony on a whim, Matriarch Nalia. As for who exactly I am, I am The Crow, that will have to suffice unless you intend to kill me and pull my mask off. My relationship to your father was, complicated. It would be hard to explain and I am not interested in telling you at this time. Perhaps when I am not surrounded by guards and unimportant parties." 

The Crow turned its masked face and locked Lady Fiona in its eyeless stare now, "Lady Fiona, you did tell me not to return after our business was done. I regret to inform you, I did not intend to return to you unless someone wanted you dead. These circumstances go beyond simple contracts though. I came here of my own accord, no one is paying me to inform you about what the captured assassin said, nor are they paying me to suffer your delusions of having any measure of control over me." the last part was a hiss of disdain. While the assassin never gave any physical signs of anger, its voice clearly portrayed its dislike for being spoken to as an inferior by Fiona. 

The dark pits of The Crow's mask passed over the rest of the room. No words for them. The Crow thought they were all very unimportant in the grand scheme of things.The assassin judged each of them in turn, its mind processing and dismissing them in turn; the doctor was a failure and a murderer; the younger brother a foolhardy boy who would get himself killed in the courts; the former noble guard captain was just another body to take a bullet; the cousin and son to Fiona was an easy target with less sense than the women he bedded; and the musician and spy pretended at being important enough and that would lead him down to ruin. The Crow's gaze stopped on Juniper, she was different. Always sneaking about. If she could get her emotions under control she would a force. The Crow inclined its head slightly at the young girl, a small nodd and show of respect for the young girl.