Preparations

"Invite them all, of course." Abner hadn't given it much thought. After one more reminder to Mrs. Scudder, he headed straight for the villa's study.

The study wasn't large. A row of bookshelves stood against the western wall, while the rest of the room looked more like a sitting room.

At the shelves, he saw books such as Noble Heraldry, History of the Intis Kingdom, and History of the Nobility of the Loen Kingdom, which he had specifically asked the Scudders to buy. They were just the sort Xio liked.

The books hadn't been cheap, and a whole shelf of them had cost a staggering amount... Fortunately, the Church of the Earth Mother would reimburse him.

With that thought, Abner rearranged the books and slipped the tampered-with copy of Blood Feast he had brought among them, in a spot where it could easily be picked up.

Once he was done, he thought it over and decided to use the Solomon Gold Coin again at tomorrow night's banquet. It might bring his arrangement a little more luck and help ensure nothing unexpected happened during the party.

In the garden of No. 16 Williams Street, the bloody scene Abner had witnessed yesterday had long since been cleaned up. Even the lion-like beast, hollowed out inside, had been put into a large crate.

A handsome man in a crisp formal suit stood in a second-floor bedroom of the villa. He was in his forties, mature and elegant.

One sweep of his golden eyes was enough to fix on a cabinet in the bedroom that was now empty.

Just then, a man in a golden mask knocked on the door. After receiving permission to enter, he stepped into the bedroom, stood at attention, and reported to the handsome man:

"Your Excellency, the villa