Percy narrowed his eyes, but he didn't release his grip on the Spellbolt. He needed to be ready to shoot Hugo in the chest, no matter how informative he was being right now.

"What houses are looking at us?" he asked. "And how far or close are they from being a threat to Dema right now?"

Hugo's shiny grey hair and the shadows under his dark eyes gave him a rather deadly look despite his kind smile.

"From what I've heard, most are still a year from anything substantial. But they will go for more indirect methods of attack; For now I'd say the biggest threat is the Count of Sterick. But they won't attack the Count because of Makari."

"Makari?" Flynn asked.

"The Stormsword, Makari Dyrakis, heir to the Margraviate of Dyrakis," Hugo explained. "He's a young star to say the least, and is already leaving his mark on history. If he stands with the Count of Yarol, then no one can win."

"Why would Makari support the Count?" Percy asked, eyes shifting to grey as they settled into confusion. "The Count isn't absurdly rich; hell, no one is rich enough to tempt a Margrave."

"Dyrakis is on the sea border of the kingdom too," Flynn added. "My dad says knights there make a lot of money. If they can pass the crazy tests."

Hugo made a slight sound of disagreement.

"Every man has a price. There is something that Makari wants. I don't know what, but I have two guesses."

He moved to the coffee table and grabbed a totem that symbolised spirits of harvest and another that symbolised fertility and protection.

"It could be for power, I don't know the details, but advancing to Rank 5 requires special circumstances." He put down the spirit of harvest.

"Or it could be for his daughter, which I heard followed him to Yarol." He dropped the spirit of fertility and protection.

Percy watched the spirit of harvest on the wooden table. All information on how the ranking of Spiritmancers worked wasn't available to him. But he guessed that they were ranked like spirits, from Rank 1–7.

Is the requirement for advancing to Rank 5 a special spirit, or some kind of achievement? Then why didn't Makari rely on his family for help?

He turned to the other totem on the table. Carved from white wood, and surrounded by crafted flowers and soil, was a small spirit with long, thin limbs. She wore the rising sun as a crown and held an olive branch in her tiny fingers.

"It's the daughter most likely," Percy said, lightly sighing. "But Hecate should know some of this now."

Hugo nodded. He didn't know how adept Hecate's spies were, but if you could ask the right questions you'd come to similar conclusions.

"I could go back and tell her. I've been planning to visit and see how she's doing."

"What?" Percy reeled back, frowning. "No. Stay away from there. You'll be following us so I can watch you."

Hugo laughed.

"Doesn't sound like a bad plan, but I prefer being on my own, and I would like to greet Hecate."

Percy was about to disagree, when he heard people coming down the steps. It was Thalos, George, and a couple of the kids.

Thalos had a black sash over his blue vest, which had golden pins to match the circlets he used to tie his black hair.

"Just let him go. He'll escape anyway if we don't kill him."

George and the kids seemed a bit surprised by the stranger, but all still marched into the living room and crashed into one of the many couches.

He was staring at his father though.

"Damn, who dressed you?"

"Myself."

"We both don't believe that," he returned with a smirk. "But anyway, what do you mean he'll escape?"

"He's pretty good at running away," Thalos said as he settled onto the chair beside him. "If we look away for even a moment, he'll escape."

Percy pointed an accusatory finger at Hugo.

"Slimy."

"It's my job," Hugo sighed with a smile. "Do you have any messages you want me to deliver to Hecate?"

"Are you trying to get her to hire you?"

Hugo looked away. "No."

"Liar. Also, no letters, can't trust that they'll arrive unaltered."

"I'd read them, but I wouldn't alter them," Hugo promised. "Just to make sure you don't speak bad about me."

"Whatever," Percy waved. "Can we start going? Enough talk about evil people, I want to have fun."

George was lying against the couch, ruining his wife's attempt to tame his bright red hair and the black casual suit he wore.

"Ura is still dressing the kids, but she should be done—"

They all suddenly heard people running upstairs, then Ura's soft but threatening voice telling them to stop.

"—they should be done right now."

The Ramlos family needed two large carriages just to move together. Percy watched them with barely concealed confusion.

"Those are really good horses," Hugo said, watching the four horses pull the carriage. "George does well for himself and family."

"Nice way to say he spends all his money," Percy added. "When are you going to Dema?"

"Maybe tomorrow after you guys get back on the road. I'll kill some time in the town, one of the perks of being unemployed."

He remained silent for a moment, watching Barty prepare the carriage.

"How about I give you a job?"

"I don't know if you can pay my rates right now," Hugo said, turning to him with a wry smile. "But I do believe in investments. I'll help you now and trust in your future. What do you need?"

"House Eurides."

"I won't insult your intelligence by assuming you want me to kill Sion," Hugo mused. "You want me to find out what they're doing?"

He simply nodded. That was the most pertinent information he needed. He already knew where the temple of Gaia was because of Philip, but needed to understand House Eurides' movements before he made his move.

"I'll give you some information," he said slowly. "You'll use this to deduce their activities and find more information. I'll assume you can do this."

Hugo dropped to one knee and lowered his head.

"Of course, my lord."

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