20 Black Hand (2/2)
”But do you want to learn?” The woman leaned back and scratched her cheek. ”You're already a Knight. There's no need for you to learn our skills.”
”That's true.” The woman had a point.
”Then why are you here?”
”To utilise your abilities in finding my assailants.”
The woman closed her eyes in thought. She tapped her armrest, creating a drumming sound that grated at Elya's ears. Alexis looked like she would lash out, but Elya grabbed her arm. They had to remain calm.
”It's good that you have patience Elya.” It wasn't a surprise that the woman knew her name, but she still flinched in surprise. ”And you're wrong. The Baroness did not ask you to come and learn how to investigate. Since you will be marrying into the Morales family she intends for you to take up her mantle as the next head of the coven.”
”What's a coven?” Elya thought she had heard the word somewhere before but Alexis gave her a blank look and she was forced to ask the woman to explain.
”It's what we call a group of the Black Hand.”
They hissed at the revelation despite their suspicions. It was one thing to assume or guess but confirmation was still shocking.
”I don't want to be in direct control of any part of the Black Hand. I have little interest in spying.”
”Yet you're here in search of our aid.”
”Because I was advised to be.”
”Elya. As the next Lady of House Morales, the Mistress will explain many things to you that aren't known to most people but the deepest secret she has is her responsibility over us.”
”Why is she in charge?” That was the most troubling aspect of this. As far as she understood the woman, it didn't require their skill set to be in control.
”You'll come to know eventually but suffice it to say that there are more reasons for the Count's success than his prodigious abilities.” The woman grinned at mention of her fiancée, but Elya couldn't understand why.
”I still don't see why I can't just get the information from you.”
”It would… help the Count if his wife had access to those such as us.”
The woman made sense. People begged and gave out immense sums of money to have access to the Black Hand's skills, but here they were just offering a position to her. Even though she held great distaste for the field of covert actions, it would be a necessity in protecting Nikolai and her House during this time of flux as the Princes vied for power.
There was little option. She couldn't let things fall through. ”Fine. I'll learn.”
”Good!” The woman clapped her hands in satisfaction and stood to leave. ”Come along.”
With a sway of her hips she'd already stood up, clearly expecting them to follow close behind.
”You both can call me Madame Rose. I own and run the Rose building.”