Chapter 23: Summoned
Cain exhales , rubbing his temple before dismissing Marta with a simple wave of his hand. She bows quickly before hurrying out, closing the door softly behind her. Silence lingers for a few beats before Cain sighs in obvious frustration, leaning back in his chair and pinching the bridge of his nose.
I frown as I watch him. "What's wrong? And who exactly is Count Ashland?" The name rings a faint bell, but the details are lost somewhere in the mess of half-asleep lessons I endured with Mrs. Carla.
Cain drops his hand, giving me a disgusted look. "If you don't start paying attention, I swear to the Gods I'll have a talk with Carla and increase the amount of time you have to spend with her."
I grimace at the threat but don't respond. The last thing I need is more time trapped in that stuffy study, listening to Carla drone on and on.
Satisfied that his warning has sunk in, Cain continues. "Count Ashland is the overseer of Lont. His castle sits in the northern part of the city, making it one of the first things people see when they arrive. It's a reminder of nobility's presence, though their power is... limited." He gestures vaguely. "The Inquisitors only answer to the Imperial family so they wield a lot more power and more leeway for questionable actions, but counts like Ashland do have some influence over them. Enough to issue certain orders, at least."
I nod, taking in the information as he goes on. "He manages the city's funds and ensures the enlisted soldiers stationed at the garrison are keeping up with their duties. Beyond that, he also sits on the city's council."
That catches my interest. "Council?" 'Never heard of that"
Cain snorts "That's because you dont pay attention to your lessons. He continues, "Lont's council consists of three key figures—Count Ashland, Bishop Lark, and Lieutenant Kirper. Together, they vote on policies, oversee criminal cases, and mediate disputes between multiple parties. The council convenes twice a month unless something urgent comes up that requires immediate action."
I absorb the information, the name Lark also ringing a faint bell but my mind already circled back to the summons. If this Count Ashland is calling us in personally, it means something serious has happened. Either that, or this is about me—which, given recent events, wouldn't be surprising.