The other guests were assembled as Sai entered the long hall. Striding passed pictures of his forebears, looking down on him with the disappointment of a fallen house.
Here he was, bringing together a collection of experts to teach and train someone who wasn't even human. He had no heir, and no one who could inherit the estate.
The House of Sai was dying.
As things currently stood, upon his death, the property and responsibilities would revert to the crown. A new lord would either be titled, or it would be given to one of Sai's many rivals.
His precious neko would probably be part of the auction to pay down the many outstanding debts against the land and house. Her freedom could not be guaranteed until she was able to be protected by other lords once Sai was gone.
Even if he freed her, and she didn't simply disappear with her own ambition, it was likely that the crown would ignore it. Freedom wasn't generally accepted unless one was human.
To save her, and to save his house, he needed to follow through with what Twenty Four had told him on her first day.
The renewal of the House would begin with her ambition.
"My lords. Most gracious ladies." Sai said as he stood behind his chair at the head of the table, "Thank you, all, for accepting my invitation on this day. I hope you will all have the opportunity to converse with my new mistress, and that we will all have the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of my estate."
He gestured, and took his seat.
As he did, Twenty Four sat down at his left hand, golden eyes flicking around the room frantically. Not in fear, but analysing the environment. Drinking in the details.
As she sat, the rest began to.
Lord Castelle, who failed to help his wife seat. Demonstrating the cold rift that was growing between the two. A possible sign of the rumours that the lady was preparing for an attempt on her husband's life.
The lord was an expert hunter, which all people in society were expected to show some skill in. Sai had no doubt that Twenty Four did have considerable hunting skills, but what was necessary here was refinement. Learning to hunt in a civilised manner.
His lady was famed for her tea. It was a skill that most ladies of the court were expected to be well versed in. Sai didn't expect his neko to appreciate the importance of tea, but so much of politics happened over tea, and shifting the mood was easiest with nonverbal tools.
On Twenty Four's left was seated the only other nonhuman in the room. There was no one else that Sai knew of to invite for the role of magical expert. In the court, and society, Lord Elatham was renowned. Accepted, despite being an elf.
To Lord Castelle's right, was seated a monk-like figure in brown robes of poor material. This was a servant of the temple, one of their senior archivists. Lord Yu. A man with a terrible temper, a propensity for wine, and a cavernous mind for knowledge. Sai had hesitated, but there were few other senior archivists who would respect his invitation.
Across from Yu, separated from Twenty Four by Lord Elatham was a woman she already knew, and probably despised. The Priestess Efina, who despite her treatment of the neko, was still the leading authority on all things religious. None could represent the temple better, and one did not operate in society without the temple's agreement.
To Yu's right was a dour-looking woman, who was nonetheless striking in her appearance. Whilst she had no official expertise, she wrangled most of the marriages in the city, and private disputes often found themselves in the deft hands of Domina Florence.
To the domina's right was the expert in wine. Sai's lands included many wineries. They might not be fit for the emperor's table, but they were part of his limited influence. Twenty Four would need the help of Lord Vanhern if she was to increase that influence.
Finally, seated beside the priestess, was Lord Westcolm. Without him, all of this was pointless. He had the emperor's ear, and was the only one who could meaningfully vouch for a nonhuman. His knowledge of all the races, their cultures and traditions, ran deep. His expertise in the clashes between them, even moreso.
However, seating Westcolm so far from Twenty Four had been a deliberate choice. Westcolm might be an expert, but that didn't mean he had the slightest respect for those that he studied. He saw all but a handful as little more than animals, and convenient tools.
Sai would not be training his neko in a single seating with these people. Rather, he wanted her to know their names and faces. This was her introduction.
He had originally planned for the domina to sit across from his little cat. She was a woman with her own title and lands, a rarity. Her subtle politics would have been an asset for the woman to learn, but they still had time for that.
"Lord Elatham, it has been a long time." Toofy surprised him by recognising the man, and bowed her head towards the elf. "Toofy does not expect him to remember, but she enjoyed listening to him."
He, for his part, was also surprised. "Oh, no, little neko. The honour is mine. I was quite surprised to be invited by Lord Sai to meet his new mistress, and more surprised when I heard it was my most gifted pupil. I was exceptionally disappointed when the temple decided not to continue your training."
"She was trained to be a mistress, not a magician to perform for the court." The priestess said with an angry derision.
Lord Castelle leaned forward, "Now, this, I would hear. You are acquainted with the lady of the house, my dear elf?"
Elatham smiled smugly, "I was not exaggerating, sir, when I named her as my greatest pupil. She had a talent for magic, of course. All who are not human have it, to some degree or another. But what was truly amazing was her thirst for knowledge, and her ability to apply it so very quickly."
Sai touched his neko's foot with his own, giving her a glance that she needed to cut that particular conversation short.
"You embarrass Twenty Four, sir." She said meekly, "But... We may yet see her magic. She has cast a bet with the Lord Castelle, to show him magic, if he outpaces her at the hunt."
Elatham lit up excitedly, "Truly? You have continued your studies?"
"The lady is embarrassed, sir." Domina Florence interjected, "Perhaps, we can instead speak to this hunt. It has been some time since I have been invited to one, and I hesitated. Bloodsport is not something I generally enjoy, but the conversation, may be another."
As she was still speaking, the servants arrived and began to serve the first portion of the meal. The maids buzzing around and serving a hot soup, whilst Isaac made the rounds, pouring the wine.
"This is what good conversation needs. Good wine." Lord Yu pronounced firmly, "I don't think I can recall many moments in time when good came from any meeting, where the wine was sour."
"The wine may not be my own, but it would hardly be sour." Lord Vanhern laughed, turning his glass in front of him and inspecting the colour, "Though, perhaps, that may not always be the case in future. I heard the blight might have made its way to your lands, Lord Sai. You have my dearest sympathies."
Sai's jaw tightened at the slight, "This is unfortunately true. Though I did only hear of it myself, this very morning. You remain well informed, Lord Vanhern. Perhaps you might also have the knowledge to combat the disease?"
