“It did have something to say,” Gary said. “That sword fights are great. The good guys win, the bad guys lose, the end. I liked it.”
Jason was shaking his head.
“You disagree?” Danielle asked him.
“I’m probably just misreading it because of the difference in culture,” Jason said.
“It’s not like you to be diplomatic,” Rufus said. “Just say what you really think.”
“I think it did have something to say,” Jason said. “I think the main characters weren’t the heroes; they were the villains. I think the whole play was a critique of hereditary power structures and by overcoming the antagonists, the central characters were restoring a state of oppression.”
“You think the main characters were the villains?” Rufus asked.
“I do.”
“I don’t see it,” Rufus said.
“Don’t you have a childhood friend who’s a member of some royal family?” Jason asked.
“He does,” Farrah said.
“What does that have to do with anything?” Rufus asked.
They exited the theatre through the doors reserved for private box holders, where members of society were boarding their carriages. Jason noticed a woman with the same silver-rank aura and physical perfection of Danielle. She broke away from her own group of ladies, making a beeline for Danielle.
“Danielle,” the woman greeted. “Always lovely to see you. Young Master Humphrey. And you must be Rufus Remore, with your erstwhile companions, of course.”
“Lady Thalia Mercer,” Danielle introduced the lady.
Thalia’s eyes settled on Jason.
“We haven’t had the pleasure,” she said. “You must be the young man people are getting so curious about.”
“I’m no one important,” Jason said.
“Yet, you keep important company,” Thalia said.
“I do?” he asked. “I don’t really know these people. I’m only here because I won a raffle.”
Farrah snorted a laugh, while Rufus ran an exasperated hand over his face.
“Wait, there was a raffle?” Gary asked, only to be shushed by Farrah.
“This is Jason Asano,” Danielle introduced, a smile playing over her lips. “He will be taking his field assessment for the Adventure Society when Humphrey retakes his. I assume your son will be there as well?”
“He will,” Thalia said unhappily. “I tried to convince my husband that Thadwick would benefit from additional training, but he was quite adamant.”
Thalia turned to Rufus, the man who had failed her son during the previous assessment.
“You know, Mr Remore,” she said, “you rather overturned the fruit cart with how you conducted the last assessment.”
“I’m sorry if you feel your son was treated unfairly,” Rufus said, “but since he had previously passed, perhaps it would have been better not to put him forwards for reassessment.”
Thalia laughed.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Thalia said, to Rufus’s surprise. “However, my husband cannot seem to help poking his fingers into things best left alone.”
“It’s a shame you weren’t here when Thalia’s daughter was tested,” Danielle said. “Thalia oversaw her training personally, and I have no doubt she would have passed. Where is Cassandra, this evening?”
“Out in the delta somewhere, on a contract,” Thalia said. “I do look forwards to introducing you, Mr Remore.”
After some more niceties, Thalia excused herself and the group boarded the Geller family carriage. It was one of the ones drawn by magic rather than animals and was larger than the equivalents from Jason's own world.
“I do believe Thalia is trying to set you up with her daughter,” Danielle told Rufus.
“He’s used to it,” Farrah said.
“If she’s anything like her brother,” Rufus said, “I’d rather she didn’t. I’ve never seen anyone that incompetent undertake a field assessment before. I’m convinced the other members of his group passed because they honed their abilities covering for that idiot. It was to the point that it could be a whole new training methodology. The trick would be finding people so aggressively incapable.”
“You’ll find her daughter to be a very different prospect,” Danielle said. “Cassandra is a remarkable woman, and right about your age. Actually, she rather reminds me of Jason.”
“You’re kidding,” Rufus said.
“Oh, at a glance, they seem different,” Danielle said. “She’s more of a knife to Jason’s hammer, but they both seem to enjoy provocation as a social tool.”
“On second thought,” Rufus said, looking warily at Jason, “I might prefer to deal with the brother.”
Sophie and Belinda were summoned to Clarissa Ventress's home instead of the Fortress; it was a sprawling manor in Old City's canal district. The canal district had its own internal city wall. It was a legacy of time before the Island, when the district was home to the city elite. It had been left to those who had wealth but lacked in prestige, preferring to stand tall in Old City than go underfoot on the Island.
The two women were led through the compound, past various thugs standing guard. Centuries ago, Clarissa’s residence had been the seat of the Mercer family. The grounds were quite expansive, with more than one canal flowing through it.
Inside the house itself, they were guided by Clarissa’s hulking leonid bodyguard, Darnell. Clarissa was waiting for them in a parlour, sitting at a table with morning tea set out. Hers was the only seat in the room.
“Ladies,” greeted them. “I have good news for you.”
“I don’t suppose it’s that Sophie’s done with the fighting pits,” Belinda said sullenly.
“Actually, it is,” Clarissa said.
Sophie and Belinda both looked up sharply.
“Really?” Belinda asked.
“Yes,” Clarissa said. “She’s had her last pit fight.”
“Then what is it you want me doing next?” Sophie asked, eyes narrowing as she looked at Clarissa.
“So cynical,” Clarissa said.
“Just say it,” Sophie said.
“You two were an excellent team,” Clarissa said. “I suspect that even now, the two of you are the only ones who know exactly how many jobs you pulled for Old Man Silva. I just want you back to doing what you do best.”
“The deal was that we help you provoke Silva,” Sophie said. “Now you want us to steal from him?”
“Of course not,” Clarissa said. “I would never put you in that position.”
“Then what?” Sophie demanded.
“It is well known that for almost a decade now, the Silva family has enjoyed the services of a pair of excellent thieves. When those same thieves start robbing the social elite, right out in public, the pressure on Silva will be considerable.”
“Are you crazy?” Belinda yelled, stepping angrily forward. The bodyguard moved towards her, but Clarissa casually waved him back.
“This will be the last task I assign you,” Clarissa said. “Naturally, stealing from Greenstone’s wealthiest will get adventurers investigating. Once they realise that the Silva family’s most capable thieves are the most likely culprits, the pressure on Silva will be immense.”
“Are you really willing to risk bringing the powers from the Island down on your own head?” Sophie asked.
“It’s hardly a risk,” Clarissa said. “What they’ll find is that after conducting a series of expertly carried out robberies, the thieves who have worked for the Silva family for years are no longer in the city. Because, having met your end of the deal, you will be far from here, as promised. With a goodly amount of money for your troubles.”
Belinda opened her mouth to snap back a response, but was silenced by a gesture from Sophie.
“Alright,” Sophie said.
Belinda wrenched her head to look at Sophie as if she’d lost her mind. Sophie gave a slight shake of the head to keep her silent.
“Excellent,” Clarissa said. “Now, your first target—”
“No,” Sophie interrupted.
“Excuse me?” Clarissa asked.
“The goal is to draw attention down on Silva,” Sophie said, “not to undertake any specific robbery. So, it doesn't matter what we take, or from who, so long as it's high profile and it's public. Belinda and I will choose the targets and the timing.”