The country villa stood on the downstream outskirts of the Royal Capital, Zellheim, where the canal was so narrow that only a single small boat could pass through.
Rotting vegetable leaves and unidentified filth floated on the water, and the air smelled of mold and damp timber.
The villa itself was a two-story stone building, its outer walls covered in moss.
Black velvet curtains sealed off the windows, with only a faint glow of firelight coming from the courtyard.
A black carriage bearing no family crest stood outside the villa.
The coachman was a middle-aged man. He crouched beside the carriage shaft, whittling a stick with a small knife, his eyes constantly watching the surroundings.
A cloaked man stepped out of the carriage, his hood hiding most of his face and revealing only a neatly trimmed gray-white beard. The only noteworthy detail was the thin layer of calluses on his finger joints-the marks of someone who had spent years holding a pen or a sword hilt.
The man stood at the entrance and knocked three times.
There was no movement inside.
He waited about ten seconds, then knocked twice more. This time, the rhythm was different, like some kind of code.
Movement immediately sounded within, and the wooden door opened inward a crack.
A young knight stood behind it, his hand resting on his sword hilt, his wary gaze sweeping over the man.
"Password," the knight said.
"Hyena and Shadow Leopard," the man answered quietly.
The knight nodded and stepped aside.
The man entered the villa. The entrance hall was small, with an oil lamp hanging on the wall, its flame wavering in the draft.
"Follow me." The knight turned toward the stairs.
The upstairs corridor was even darker, with light spilling from only one door at the far end.