Elan's retreat was a gracious brick house, Victorian in derivation, with lacelike woodwork marking its every peak and corner. Located in a sleepy little hamlet of only thirty thousand humans, it was set well back from the lane it was on, and had a river snaking down one side of the property.
As he got out, he did not fasten the tortoiseshell buttons on the front of his camel-hair coat or put on gloves. Nor did he do up his double-breasted suit jacket.
His guns were close to his heart, and he wanted access.
Closing in on the front door, his fine black boots clapped over the shoveled walkway and his breath left his mouth in puffs of white. Overhead, the moon was bright as a halogen light and fat as a dinner plate, the lack of clouds and humidity allowing its true power to rain down from the heavens.
The drapes on all the windows had been pulled, so he could not see how many others had arrived, but it would not surprise him if they were already assembled, having dematerialized to the site.
Imbeciles.
Punching the doorbell with his bare hand, the entry was immediately pried wide, a formal doggen butler bowing at the hips.
"Master Assail. Welcome - may I take your coat?"
"No, you may not. "
There was a hesitation - at least until Assail cocked a brow at the servant. "Ah, but of course, my lord - please come this way. "
Voices, all of them male, flooded his ears as the cinnamon scent of mulled cider eased into his nose. Falling in behind the butler, he allowed himself to be led into a grand living room that was crammed with heavy mahogany furniture as per the period of the house. And in and amongst the antiques, there were a good ten males attending upon the host, their trim forms dressed in suits with ties or cravats at the throat.
There was a noticeable dip in conversation as he made his appearance, suggesting that at least some of them did not trust him.
It was likely the only wise thing about the group.
His host broke away and approached with a smug smile. "How good of you to come, Assail. "
"Thank you for having me. "
Elan frowned. "Where is my doggen? He should have taken your coat - "
"I prefer to leave it on. And I shall take that seat over there. " He nodded to the one corner that would provide the most visual access. "I trust we will be getting started soon. "
"Indeed. With your arrival, we await only one more. "
Assail narrowed his eyes on the subtle line of sweat that dotted the skin between the male's nose and upper lip. Xcor had chosen the correct pawn, he thought as he went over and eased himself into his chair.
A sharp draft announced the arrival of the final guest.
As Xcor strode into the room, there was a hell of a lot more than a lull in the chatter. Every one of the aristocrats fell silent, a subtle rearrangement of the crowd being effected as they each stepped back.
Then again - surprise! Xcor had more than a plus-one with him.
The entirety of the Band of Bastards filed in on his heels, forming a semicircle behind their leader.
In person and up close, Xcor was precisely as he had always been: rough and ugly, the kind of male whose countenance and stance suggested his reputation for violence was based on reality, not conjecture. Verily, standing in the midst of these weaklings, in their environment of luxury and civility, he was ready and perfectly capable of cutting down everything that breathed in the room - and the males at his back were just the same, each dressed for war, and prepared to bring it to bear at a mere nod from their liege.
Regarding the lot of them, even Assail had to admit they were impressive.
What a fool Elan was - he and his glymera gadabouts had no clue of the Pandora's box that they had opened.
With an officious cough, Elan stepped forward to address all and sundry as the one who was in charge - even though he was dwarfed not only by the soldiers' heft, but their very presence.
"I believe there are no introductions necessary, and it goes without saying that if any one of you" - at this point, he eyed his fellow Council members - "speaks of this meeting, there will be reprisals the likes of which shall make you wish for the raids to return. "
Whilst he spoke, he gathered a certain momentum, as if assuming the mantle of power, even if it was provided by someone else, was a sort of masturbation for his ego.
"I thought it was important to bring all of us together this night. " He began to pace, clasping his hands at the small of his back and leaning forward to address his shiny shoes. "From time to time in the last year, the esteemed members of the Council have each come unto me and expressed not just their catastrophic losses, but their frustration with the current regime's response to any meaningful recovery. "