The royal capital, Saining City.
Red Leaf Manor of the Iris Family.
Old Ford sat in an enormous beast-hide armchair in the study.
Fine silverbone charcoal burned in the room, its warmth melting the frost patterns on the windows.
He held a goblet of crimson wine and patiently listened to the report from the man before him.
Kneeling on the floor was the captain of the Iris Family's most elite guard unit.
The man stood over six feet tall, yet he was now drenched in sweat and did not even dare raise his head.
"Count." The guard captain's voice trembled. "The young miss sent all of us back."
Old Ford swirled his wineglass.
Red liquid clung to the sides of the glass.
"She stayed behind in Wading Village alone?"
"Yes. Not only did she stay, she also..."
"Say what you have to say. Why are you stammering?" Old Ford took a sip of wine, thoroughly impatient.
"The young miss told us to transport those large iron chests back to the capital. We hauled them for half a month, but when we reached the manor, we discovered..." The guard captain swallowed. "Some of the chests were empty. The young miss left everything inside with the blacksmith named Su Li."
Old Ford said nothing.
He set his wineglass on the table with an exceptionally crisp clink.
The guard captain was so frightened that he flattened himself against the floor.
"A blacksmith." Old Ford tapped the tabletop.
"Yes."
"Fine, I know." Old Ford waved a hand. "Leave."
The guard captain froze.
The count was not angry?
He slowly left the study and considerately shut the door tight behind him.
Old Ford leaned back in his chair.
He was not angry.
He closed his eyes and sensed that thread of connection in his bloodline.