Tarnished had guessed correctly. The visitor was indeed Yura.
He met him in the reception room, dressed in an Iron Hat and straw rain cape. Yura's request was simple. "Lord Tarnished, I am pursuing a Bloody Finger who fled into the Academy. I would ask you to grant me passage."
Tarnished nodded. Just then, a maid knocked softly on the door and entered with a serving trolley, pouring tea for them both.
"Try some. This is Golden Sunflower tea from our own Limgrave. It quenches thirst and relieves fatigue." Tarnished smiled and raised his cup.
Once, Tarnished had been an obscure minor lord who had not even known whether he would live to see tomorrow. Now, however, he wielded more real power than anyone else in the Lands Between-provided he did nothing suicidally foolish, his future was bright.
Yura was devoted to hunting Bloody Fingers and cared little for worldly affairs, but he was not so foolish that he understood nothing of social courtesy. At Tarnished's invitation, he lifted his cup, offered his thanks, and took a small sip. He closed his eyes to savor it, then opened them and praised it sincerely. "The fragrance lingers on the tongue. This tea's reputation precedes it, and now that I have the good fortune to taste it, I see that reputation is well deserved."
"I'm glad you like it. I'll give you two pounds to take with you. You travel far and wide, so help spread the word for us." Tarnished chuckled.
Yura returned to his request. "Lord Tarnished, regarding that Bloody Finger..."
"What is his name?" Tarnished asked.
"His true name is unknown, but he goes by the 'Killer of Ravenmount.'" Yura's expression grew grave, his voice low. "He is the most ruthless assassin in the Mohgwyn Dynasty, with countless lives