The Lady Blackwood and Kayden arrived back at the relatively refurbished townhouse within the hour, walking with perfect, innocent poise. Kayden made a show of waving to those who watched or giving friendly nods, eyeing their surroundings while making a show of congeniality and flirtation. Even Calliope gave a smile to a few more prominent members of the township. When they arrived, Kayden knocked on the door for the lady, and one of her knights answered. He opened the door for both of them, and Kayden, a perfect gentleman, allowed the noblewoman to step in first, the prince following in her wake. The door clicked shut before the prying eyes of Nehren. Kayden was glad, he doubted he could hold it in any longer. 

The Prince laughed, the pleasant sound echoing in the main lobby and carrying up the carpeted central stairway. Even when he was finished, he grinned. The Lady Blackwood held herself a moment longer, acting confused on his source of mirth, but there was a knowing, amused twinkle in her eyes. Otto Von Draken appeared at the top of the stairs, holding his sword hilt to steady it and hurrying down to meet his liege. "How did the court decide?" He asked in breathless worry. The prince ignored his entrance and continued with the dark wizardess as Morek stepped into the foyer from an apparent interest in the kitchens. 

"That was well played," Kayden admitted, giving Calliope a smile Gossippa Lotta would have killed an elector count to have thrown her way. "I was afraid I was going to dearly miss the intrigue after I left Tilea. Everything I've heard about the Empire makes it sound so droll, and my time at Altdorf did not necessarily dissuade me of such notions." He placed a hand to his forehead as he chuckled once more. "Rhya’s tits, forgive me my ignorance."   

"Do not speak to her in such a familiar tone." Otto warned him. If his gaze were daggers, Kayden would have been impaled thrice immediately. It only made Kayden's grin wider, getting some sly, fey delight at Otto's incessant jealousy. There were rumors some men of albion had the blood of elves or spirits. Likely false, even to Kayden's reckoning, but while he was controlled and educated, he did find himself cursed with deep passions when the mood struck him. It only fueled Otto's ire, but Morek stepped forward as Otto gripped the hilt of his sword. The ironbreaker gave him a black look, and it caused him to hesitate long enough for Calliope to wave his concerns away. 

"The Captain was merely complimenting me, Otto. Don't be a bore. And the proceeding went well. I'm simply glad such a litigious meeting could bring out such joy." She placed a perfect hand to her chest. "I, myself, feel rather satisfied as well."  

Kayden found himself toying with the amethyst earring again, but pulled his hand away as soon as he grew conscious of it. As the Lady Blackwood began to speak the details to those knights that did not follow, Morek escorted Kayden into the kitchens with the six men that had joined them in the townhouse, leaving twenty scattered across Nehren. Just as Kayden had advised, they were Pike's men. Each held a longbow with arrow bags. Longbow arrows were too large to be used in traditional quivers, unless under great duress, at least. 

"I see that look in your face, Captain." Leuthold remarked, leaning against the left wall. He had a scar over his left eye, leaving the orb milky white. Somehow he was still one of the best shots in the company. He claimed he just needed to cross his eye like one might with both and it brought it all into perspective. As long as it worked. "Good news?" 

"'Course it is, we'd be run out of town if it weren't," Arnest said, sitting at the table and chewing a bit of cooked mutton. On his shoulder was Conrad, a small squirrel the archer had found alone as a baby and raised with scraps from his rations. It did tricks for nuts and scratches, and followed Arnest everywhere. At night, some men said Conrad could be seen watching the Mannslieb from atop his tent. No one could figure why.

Kayden sat down and ate some mutton with them, telling them of the whole ordeal. An hour passed, and Kayden was somewhat convinced that things would turn out in their favor, and with relative smoothness. 

They were unfortunately interrupted by a rock thrown through the kitchen window, shattering glass and pitching poor Walden over when it struck him in the head, though the man wasn't hurt badly. His propensity for wearing his helmet indoors served him well in this instance, the stone bouncing off the steel audibly. Immediately Kayden, Morek, and the men got to their feet, weapons out. Two grabbed their long knives, but while Arnest helped Walden up, the others nocked their bows. The loud sound of more glass shattering showcased it wasn't an isolated incident, and peering through the window, Kayden saw Ernst Ruttiger, with what looked to be a quarter of the townsfolk behind him, along with several of the bailiffs from the court room. He even spotted the rabbit poachers from days before lurking amongst the crowd. A number of the men had ranged weapons, crossbows and rifles and pistols, but most had messers or daggers, many holding mining implements. No doubt Ernst had squeezed their livelihood to have them join him or lied about Lady Blackwood, likely both.  

"Lady Blackwood!" Ersnt screamed, his pudgy face sweating in the relatively mild heat.

"Captain?" Gerhardt asked, readying his bow. Kayden shook his head, staying his man's shot. 

"Lady Blackwood, I know you're in there!" The fat merchant seemed very pleased with himself, despite his pitiful efforts to make his presence more grandiose for the masses. "Come out and speak with me reasonably! Come out, or we'll come in and drag you out, you witch!" 

Above him, Kayden heard the voice of Calliope Blackwood carried on the wind, oozing smugness. "Dear Ernst, you brought my money already? I was led to believe the appointment was tomorrow! How thoughtful..."  

"My money belongs to me! You and your backwood liturgy has no place in Nehren!" He cried, and a few of his men yelled in support, though most of the townsfolk remained silent. In hushed tones, Kayden told Morek to stay below with Walden, Arnest, and Leuthold. Gerhardt, Grolmes, and Hanke were to follow him to better vantage points as he ascended the stairs, rushing past the mezzanine and making it to the third floor in the private library, where Calliope, Otto, and another knight were near the window. Kayden motioned for each man to find a different room and a different window to cover, and joined Calliope, albeit at a different stained window to her right. As he opened the glass pane, Ernst caught the movement with his eye. 

"Captain Caladwarden! You should have taken my offer!" Ernst lamented dramatically. "You seem like a man of honor! Why not come down and join us! I would take the deal if I were you, my boy!" 

"If you were me, you'd be charming." Kayden replied simply. Ernst looked taken aback, and a few of his men dropped their jaws. A number of the townsfolk chuckled and tried to hold their laughter. He heard a snicker to his left, and he dare not look but he believed it was the Lady Blackwood. 

"You little shit!" Ernst roared, his pudgy face red. He looked like the crimson-faced ape from the southlands he had seen once in a cage during his stint in araby. "You clearly do not value your life!" 

"I am a mercenary, herr Ruttiger. It's my job to value money over my life, and by the court's decision, you'll soon be lacking it." He said, a sly grin spreading across his face.