A tall woman with a cane and a limp is striding in, and everyone nearby is parting to make space for her.

"Jick, I'm sorry, but we'll have to cut this short here. An Archcountess has just come in."

"Ah, quite all right, Watcher. I'll see you next week. Thank you for the counsel."

"Of course."

Theo stood and brushed his uniform-like robes straighter, and walked toward the newcomer.

He bowed a quarter to horizontal, an appropriate amount for a Baron meeting someone of her rank. "Archcountess Jeggare, I believe."

She nodded back. "High Priest Lebanel."

"I'm generally styled 'High Priest Theopho', madam, or 'Watcher of the Runes'. I'm not in line to inherit Lebanel holdings any longer. Have you come for advice?"

"To speak with you. I will gladly clarify, privately."

"Of course. Let me speak to my acolyte for a moment to ensure the shrine operates smoothly."

She nodded silently.

"Sarakaske. You'll run the shrine for the next hour. Maybe a couple hours. Anything you need before I speak to our exalted visitor?"

"Ah- not immediately, high priest. May I close early if you haven't returned in two hours?"

"Go ahead. Tibex will lock up on your command."

"Yessir."

He turned back to Archcountess Jeggare.

"Archcountess. The most secure privacy would be upstairs, if you'll join me?"

"Lead the way. But not too quickly."

"Of course."

He climbed the stairs to his private quarters and pulled out a pair of chairs.

As they sat, he reached for his liquor cabinet.

"You still a brandy woman?"

"Yes, still."

He poured the drinks.

"So, what brings you here, Tessane?"

"I could ask you the same. Didn't you flee to Rahadoum?"

"Well, flee might be putting it strongly..."

"Don't bullshit me, Theopho."

"True, I defected. But then I accidentally started worshipping a goddess, so I had to leave. And, well, she lives in Hell..."

"So are you a proper diabolist again?"

"Again? I never was before. Or since, really."

"What a shame. I was hoping you'd gotten some of the softness scrubbed off."

"Oh, shush, I'd bore you if I had and you know it. How would I catch your eye as one of the dozens of clever Asmodeans around? I wouldn't have anything to argue about!"

She just smirked and sipped her brandy.