Cassia was sitting in the Heartbran estate, sipping tea with her peers, when a clerk came over and whispered in her ear.

  “Lord and Lady Heartbran plan to have an audience with Mage Jason Kelly this morning.”

  Here eyebrows furrowed as she pondered the news. With the death of lord Brighteye they needed to fill the post for the barony and fast. Jason Kelly was… not who she would pick. He was a wild card, and the Heartbran needed stability, but elevating a noble with connections to other houses came with its own perils.

  Cassia nods, “Thank you.”

  “Of course, m’lady.” The clerk bows before leaving.

  One of the nobles, Lady Cynthia Sandridge, the daughter of a powerful mage who worked with her father, raises an eyebrow, “Any juicy gossip?”

  Cassia ponders Cynthia’s words as the gears in her mind work. She can’t be entirely sure that Jason would be elevated and announcing it here wouldn’t serve her, but she could begin making plans.

  “Nothing special, just an update on the court agenda. I’m sorry, ladies, I need to step away to talk with a few people.”

  Cynthia gave her a knowing smile as she winked, “Don’t worry about us. We look forward to hearing what trouble you are getting into.”

  Cassia nods, turning away as the women giggle behind her. Tea parties were not her favorite pastime, but they were very useful for staying up to date on court gossip. Even with her informants, there is usefulness in knowing what is true and what is perceived by the peerage.

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  She walks down the hall, and her friend and confidant citizen Regan, glides up beside her. Most nobles would ignore her as someone of no importance, which made it all the easier for her to aid Cassia.

  “M’lady where are you going? Court is about to be in session.”

  “I need to go see the clerks.”

  “The clerks?”

  “Jason Kelly is being elevated.” Cassia didn’t mind sharing this information with Regan; there would be no standing lost if she were wrong.

  “I don’t understand m’lady. What does that have to do with the clerks?”

  “When Jason Kelly is elevated, the Heartbrans will need to keep the peerage from thinking he is a wilder savage. They need him to have the strength to stand on his own, but without the knowledge of our customs, he will need help. Hiring a noble would be too troublesome, so they will need clerks to help him manage his estate.”

  “So the Heartbrans will have clerks run his estate?”

  “For the short term, until a more permanent solution can be made.”

  “So we are going to find out who the clerk is?”

  Cassia looks over at her friend with a vulpine grin, “We are going to make sure the clerk assigned to him is the correct one.”

  Cynthia raises an eyebrow. “Who do you have in mind?”

  “There is one family whose son was recently sponsored by House Sandridge to enter the Knight College. Their daughter, on the other hand, has followed in her parents' footsteps. I’m sure she and her family would be quite eager to repay the favor House Sandridge has given them.”

  “Are you sure they will pick her?”

  “Nobles don’t care for the working of citizens as long as the tasks get done. The Heartbrans will order a clerk be selected, and we will make sure the head clerk understands who that person will be.”

  Half an hour later, Cassia sat in the gallery for court as Jason kneeled in front of everyone. His allegiance surprised Cassia, but only for the misstep it was.

  “He can’t believe this will work out well for him.” She mumbled under her breath. The corners of her mouth curl up as she realizes the opportunities he presented her.

  “This is going to be too easy. By the end of the month, I will have house Kelly wrapped around my finger.”