Desh had been the last to make his way upstairs as a result of him needed to bring his enchanting melody to its proper conclusion, much to the entertainment of the bathhouse patrons. It had the added benefit of giving him a chance to keep an eye on his compatriots to ensure nobody had followed them to the upper levels. He slipped his instrument under his performer’s attire, his hand lightly grazing against the handle of one of the many knives he had concealed upon his person. The feline had no reservations about arming himself, even in the middle of countless people who enjoy his music as well as the several other means of entertainment offered by Bakkheia. Partially because of how skillful he was at keeping them hidden, but mostly because nobody ever looked at him past the braided leather slave collar around his neck. One sight of that and he could easily see the subtle shift in their demeanor as they write him off as being harmless and only worth as much as the joy he brings through his performances. Considering how many of his kind wore such collars in earnest after the humans had conquered and enslaved his people centuries ago, nobody even considered second guessing it even though he was born a freeman and covertly serves as a loyal agent of the crown.<br/><br/>Being the last of them to convene at the meeting, Desh took extra precautions to ensure he was not followed before disappearing behind the locked door and then into the hidden meeting place where the others waited. There was still a faint tension in the air that caused his feline ears to twitch with curiosity before he recognized Cecilia’s stance for what it was. Yet again her abrasive tendencies clashed with Daemus’ steadfast authority and all he could do was grin before finding a nice wall to lean against.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Glad to see that the others had finally arrived and his more volatile agent decided to stand down, Daemus decided it was time to address the matters at hand.<strong>“My contacts at the dockyard informs me that there has been some unusual activity within the smuggling trade as of late. Normally this would be a job for the Civic Legion to sort out, but I have reason to believe that one of the more ambitious High Lords may have his hands involved with this business. Should local authorities become involved, it is likely that any evidence, circumstantial or otherwise, linking the High Lord to whatever activities may be going on will disappear as it always tends to do."<br/><br/>"As you all are aware, Wintersend is only a few months away and this year is likely to keep us busier than it had in the past. The political tides have only grown more turbulent and it is only a matter of time before an attempt is made to overthrow Sextus. Given how busy Alera Imperia becomes during that week of festivities that brings nearly every citizen to the capital, it is the ideal time for treacherous acts to take place. It is for this reason that I want you all to check the southern warehouses near the docks for anything that may be amiss. If this activity is one of the High Lords making preparations for taking action against the First Lord, I want to know about it so we can be on our toes for what awaits us in Wintersend. Be on your guards and keep a low profile, for the smuggling business makes that place dangerous enough as is. Anybody working under the direct employ of the upper echelons of nobility are bound to be skilled and ruthless when it comes to maintaining their anonymity. Are there any questions before I dismiss you to your duties?”</strong>