The wind cried out in a whistles as I stepped off the shuttle, an arrogant smile on my face. Urien and Bolskar wore the suits of courtiers and were instructed to keep their mouths shut unless spoken to directly, and Bolskar was encouraged to speak out of the two of them. They flanked Emmaline and myself, standing at attention like guardsmen. I pretended not to notice the Lord Ignatius's less than enthusiastic welcome, striding up and shaking his hand with both of mine, the little fact he had not offered a hand a mere pittance to Blasius Deckard. 

"It's tremendous to be here," I said with relishing surety. "The good lady has told me vastly about you, my lord. When I heard you had invited her and her escort, I was thrilled to visit your home." 

"Yes, well.." the hawkish man said, clearing his throat. He seemed to still be searching for his ability to lie about his pleasure I was here, but he spoke the words even if he did not act the part. He motioned for his honor guard to redeploy as ushers to bring us inside. "I am honored to have a Jovian Elite visit my home. Now, if you would be so kind, the wind can be quite rough in such heights." 

The Lord Ignatius led us into his home, which seemed more like a complex that was built around half of the mountain. The foyer was huge and immaculate, with busts of long dead Moldarian philosophers and a picture upon the northern section of the wall that displayed Julius himself. At the front of the entrance, a handsome woman in a silver dress awaited, her smile practiced though her eyes fixed upon myself, Urien, and Bolskar as she, too, was likely not prepared for our arrival. The woman recovered far more quickly than the lord had, and gave a curtsy. 

"My sister, the Lady Jezebel Ignatius," Julius introduced. 

"We are honored to have you in our home." She confessed, her brown hair in glorious curls that did its best to hide the grey streaks within its folds. The two led us further in, walking down a long gallery with pictures of ancient battles and prominent members of the old family displayed, some even in expensive holo-picts. The archaic tapestries artifacts displayed, war trophies and old items of imperial stature, and the sheer livery of the carpet along with the scale of the house was staggering. It even more extravagant than anything I had yet introduced to Emmaline. In fact, it would be impressive even to certain areas of the Sol system, and I gave it my due looks of awe when I was duly galvanized.  

"I must say, you have quite the extensive history of your lineage, my lord." I baited him, striding beside the man as he introduced Emmaline to what I imagined was a broken but highly prized STC. An odd device that looked vaguely like a jet turbine and a mechanical wheel of infinitite. What it could do was anyone's guess, likely including Ignatius himself. "To what do you credit your wealth, dear Julius?" 

I saw he did his best not to scowl at me. He was becoming a better liar as time went on. Likely he thought I wouldn't notice regardless. He was far more mystifying in Emmaline's presence. 

"Moldar's dynasty was founded by the Ignatius family." He said, a bit of pride seeping into his voice. He was an exceptionally tall man, and made a display of looking down on me. "Maximus Ignatius settled here, settling in what is today Gralinmakke and forming the first colony. His grandson became the commander of the subsector when he served with distinction in the Hironeiden Crusade. For a thousand years my family safeguarded the realm and brought it prosperity, but nothing lasts the wastes of time. Eventually we were mere Moldarian planetary governors, until two centuries ago when my ancestor Pontiphicus Ignatius was disgraced and ousted. How far we have fallen." 

"You are still the second more powerful house on an impeccably beautiful planet." I reminded him, and gestured to Emmaline. "You certainly impressed the lady Von Morganstern."