The atmosphere was tense, with the old man -Alfrenzo- taking a hefty seat in front of the Baron. He lightly drummed his gloved fingers on the wooden table, a faint smile peaking through his aged composure.
With calm, cold eyes he gazed at the Baron. "I hope you have been treated well...Baron Ronney," he softly rasped.
Baron Ronney swallowed, and his throat worked its way to form sound. "Who...who are you?" He asked; his voice was very thin.
Alfrenzo's lips pulled faintly. "Alfrenzo," he simply stated. "That's all you need to know."
Ronney tried to regain his lost fraternity. "You...you dare threaten a vassal of Marquis Duskwatch? You know the consequences--
Alfrenzo's mild emotion seemed to flicker toward annoyance for the first time. "Duskwatch," he said, sounding cold and dismissive. "He'll come in his turn. But, first...your barony. We need to make sure we... own it."
Ronney opened his mouth, but no words came out. He could only stare across from him at the man who was the shadow of the forest with the assurance as if he commanded the world.
In that moment, Hunter stepped from the shadows, a calm smile on his face as he let a tiny fraction of his aura escape. The air thickened, weighing down on the Baron's shoulders, as if it were a mountain. The Baron gasped for breath, his legs gave way, and he slumped in his chair.
Alfrenzo lifted a hand and after a moment, Hunter's aura receded, but the Baron continued to tremble, sweat glistening on his forehead.
"You know by now how strong we are," Alfrenzo said quietly. "So we should not waste time with threats or bravado."
Ronney swallowed, his voice a raspy whisper. "Wha... what do you want?"
Alfrenzo leaned back, his gloved fingers tenting neatly on the table. "First," he began softly, "I want to know where the mana stones go - every buyer, every mana stone shipment."
Ronney shivered, "I... I don't..."
Alfrenzo's eyes turned cold, and the Baron went silent.
Ronney licked his lips, his voice feeble. "They... they travel to the capital, to merchants who sell them to mages and nobles... some to the army. I have a list... it is hidden, but I will give it to you."
Alfrenzo's face did not betray a change. "Second," Alfrenzo continued, "the black market in your barony will be mine. Completely. You will facilitate its dealings, but I will control every coin that changes hands."
Ronney's skin went ashy, but he nodded shakily. "Yes...yes. I...I can arrange that. I have a man in Hallowridge who oversee's it-I will give you his name."
"And third," Alfrenzo said softly, but unyieldingly, "You will submit to me. You will still be Baron Ronney--your barony will function as always. But if you act against me or attempt to deceive me... I will have no hesitation to end you."
Ronney swallowed, looking around the room. "What...what do I get in return?" he whispered, fear and greed fighting in his eyes.
Alfrenzo looked at his trembling hands. "You will have my protection," he said in a low voice. "And you will pay for it, Baron. In money, in information, and in loyalty."
He lifted a gloved hand, and Arwin and Nalia entered and guided the old butler from behind. The heavy parchment shaken in the butler's hands was of thick high-quality vellum with deep runes carved into it.
The butler set it down comme une ombre in front of the Baron, and bowed. "The agreement," Alfrenzo said gently. "Your submission. Your silence. Your longevity."
Ronney's eyes skimmed the delicate script that made a flowing thread of promises and threats before receding backwards to catch the Brahmin seal from his belt and place it shakily onto the soft wax.
Alfrenzo continued to observe him with that same placid patience. He took the hatched parchment from the Baron and folded it with rigid precision, and then pulled another copy out from his heavy black cloak. "A copy for each of us," he said, "so there are no surprises."
He rose and the black cloak hung around him like the gravity of midnight. "Good night Baron Ronney," he said in that thin rasping voice. "I hope you recall what you have agreed to here this evening."
Ronney swallowed hard and his voice was barely a whisper. "And... and the knights and mages I sent with Roderick...?"
Alfrenzo paused at the door frame and turned his head slightly. "They will not be back," he said flatly. "There is a beast waiting for them in the woods. It will also reduce the competition—and give me... better chances to provide you with protection."
The Baron shuddered and with that, his mouth opened in soundless horror and Alfrenzo stepped into the shadows with the old butler close behind.