19 Rose (2/2)
”No need to be so dismissive. I understand.” Alexis sniffed at her sarcasm, wrapping her cloak tighter. Elya felt the temptation to follow suit. Approaching a brothel wasn't something a newly engaged woman should be seen doing, but she was on a mission. Still, sensing the eyes of the townspeople as they entered the closest thing to a red-light district Konstanz had, she pulled her hood forward. Her silver hair was a dead giveaway.
”What were you saying about the discipline?” Elya felt safer but wished she'd brought a mask or veil to hide her face.
”There are some surprisingly strong guards providing security for the place.” Alexis pulled out a small knife from her coat and held it out. ”One of our Knights was close enough to catch one of them removing some troublemakers and spotted this.”
Elya took the blade and studied the deadly curves and jagged edges that anyone would recognise. She tapped the knife and listened for the distinct sound which would prove this was actually what she feared it could be. A soft thrum passed through her hand making her fingers numb.
”A Kushka knife? Why didn't you inform me?” If the Black Hand had agents acting as simple guards for a brothel, Konstanz would be the most dangerous place outside of the Capital.
Magical power from the Count, military might granted by the Emperor and agents of the Black Hand that seemed to be connected to the Baroness meant that one way or another Nikolai had the forces to defeat everyone except the great Houses and the Ministry of War.
”Do you think Nikolai would tell me what's going on?” She hoped so. The longer she spent in this town, the more confusing things became and while they weren't that close to each other, as future husband and wife they should share information.
Alexis hesitated, stepping over some broken tiles and searching the hooded figures walking in front of them. It was clear that no one wanted to be recognised on their way to a brothel. That was a relief since no one would pay close attention to them.
”Are you sure that he's aware of it at all?”
”What do you mean?” Elya frowned at the comment. Implying that the Baroness was hiding things from her son would not be unheard of but concealing a connection to the Black Hand was ominous.
”Never mind. We're here.”
The building was strange. Someone had gone out of their way to paint the entire structure a gaudy pink, ugly purple bunting hanging from the windows and over the doors. It was designed in a style she had never seen before curved lintels and multicoloured windows. The scent of floral perfumes was overwhelming even at this distance and Elya's nose wrinkled in disgust.
”So how are we meant to get in?” Alexis asked, hand on her blade as she studied the guards who could be agents of the Black Hand.
”She didn't say.”
”I'm guessing you didn't ask either.”
”No. I didn't.”
”And she said we're unprofessional about investigations?”
”Yes.”
”This won't prove that we're any better.”
Elya glanced at the slip to see if anything else was written there but she already knew there would be nothing. Sighing, she ran her thumb across her sword hilt and approached one of the guards.
”The Baroness sent me.” The guard took the slip she had offered and gave it a quick glance. Without a sound he went into the building for a while before coming out and granting her permission to enter.