[i]The Merchant Quarter, Belisaere[/i]

It was lucky that Elaeriel's mind was still tight with anger, her body fuelled by the adrenaline the argument with her mother had brought rushing through her veins.  This was all fortunate because, otherwise, she might not have caught sight of the Charter Magic flare.  The angle was too steep so many failed to notice the light although as she got closer to the source she could hear a good deal of commotion down one of the side streets.  She stopped for a moment, considering her options.  Her first instinct was to go towards the source and investigate what was happening but voices of caution sounded in her head, many voices expressing concern at her apparent empathy for others echoing across the years of her life back to the present.

She shook her head and darted into the side street before the doubting voices could sway her determination.  Today, of all days, she would act as herself before even that was sold away to someone for a paltry alliance in this contest for the throne.  One could be forgiven for thinking the Queen was dying, or dead, what with all the frantic activity from the branch families to amass resources and allies; but the Queen was still healthy and active.  And loved by her people.

The noise centred around a house, not in the poorest of condition but not exactly one of the merchant mansions found nearer the main avenue of the Merchant Quarter.  There was a smashed window and Elaeriel could almost smell the traces of Charter Magic left by the flare, although it looked like no one else could even if they had understood what the flare was; few had the upbringing that she had had with the Charter like a lifelong friend.  The constant presence of the Great Charter Stones beneath the Palace had kept her swaddled in the Charter from the moment she was born and reaching for it was so easy, almost like breathing.  That was not to say that she was especially skilled with it, she certainly had no natural talent, but Elaeriel had been taught by the best so she was definitely an adept at least.

"What's going on?  Has anyone gone inside?"  She asked, her voice ringing out across the hushed murmurs from those around the house.  Charter Magic was something of a mystery to some and often associated with Free Magic.  At least, in the sense that where there was Charter Magic there may well be the danger of Free Magic also.  It was no wonder the people stayed outside rather than rush in but they turned at the sound of her commanding voice; the voice of someone used to being obeyed.  Instant recognition of the crest on her tunic had the townspeople clearing a path for her quickly with one man approaching her to speak, head bowed and hat held in his hands.

"We don't know, Milady.  Just there was this light and a smash so we came over, in case of fire y'see.  But there's just the sound of cryin' inside.  We were waiting for the Guard, just in case it was Free Magic sorcery, ma'am." He said, ducking his head as he spoke.  Elaeriel nodded, trying not to hide her irritation at his subservient attitude; others of her family might expect or even demand it but she had other thoughts about the position of the Royals.

"Stay here, then.  If the Guard arrive, let them know I've entered." She strode down the path before her, trying not to let the stares from the small crowd unnerve her.  She paused at the door before pushing it open and sweeping inside with her hands already itching to cast a Charter mark, just in case it was a Free Magic creature making the sounds.  But it wasn't.  It was a young woman, her age by the looks of it, sobbing as she held a corpse's head in her hands.

After assessing the situation briefly, Elaeriel rushed over to the woman and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.  She still felt uneasy, the whisperings of the crowd outside having set her suspicions alight, but those doubts were being swept away by the sight before her; no Free Magic Creature she knew could pull off such a convincing performance.

"Are you hurt?"  She asked, glancing at the body.  It was definitely a corpse, she hadn't even felt the death from the avenue so it couldn't have been that recent.  The blood looked dark, sticky as it dried but not completely in that way blood never seemed to.

"I'm going to get the guards.  We'll give him a Charter Burial once it's safe."