[Maren’s POV]
Lord Ashford’s office overlooked the eastern quarter of Haremdale City. From the tall windows, I could see merchants moving between the market streets, carriages passing through the main thoroughfare, and the distant roofs of the administrative buildings. It was a view I had grown accustomed to over the past three years, though I rarely had time to appreciate it.
I stood before his desk with my notes in hand, waiting for him to finish reading the document in front of him.
Lord Ashford was a difficult man to read. He rarely showed surprise, even when presented with information that would have unsettled most people. As the man responsible for overseeing Haremdale, he had learned to keep his reactions measured. His position on the regional council only made that habit more necessary.
He finally placed the document down.
"You said you had something substantial."
"I believe I’ve found a connection between House Vellmore and the Thorn Collective."
That earned his attention.
"Go on."
"The Collective has been making its presence known for some time. Their activities have included intimidation, interference with merchants, and attacks against people who have opposed certain trade interests. They’ve also publicly claimed to represent House Vellmore’s interests."
"House Vellmore has made no official statement regarding that claim."
"No. Lord Vellmore has neither confirmed nor denied it."
Ashford leaned back in his chair. "And what makes you believe the connection is more than an attempt to borrow the family’s name?"
I placed my notes on his desk.
"Payments made through Sera Voss’s merchant house. I’ve traced several transactions to individuals associated with the Collective. The records go back eight months."
"Eight months?"
"Yes. That is several months before the Vellmore trade initiative was formally proposed."
He examined the figures. I watched his expression as he moved through the pages, though he gave little away.
"Then the Collective was already operating before the initiative came into consideration."
"Exactly. Which is why I don’t believe House Vellmore created it. Sera Voss appears to have established her own network, with interests that existed long before the proposed trade route. House Vellmore may be providing the money and political protection it needs, but I don’t believe that makes them the ones giving the orders."
"And you believe Voss is in charge?"
"I do. The payments lead back to her merchant house, and the people connected to the Collective appear to answer to her."
Ashford looked up. "You are certain?"
"Certain enough to pursue it. I haven’t found anything that proves the full extent of their arrangement, but the evidence points in that direction."
He returned his attention to the documents. "A merchant with her own organisation, supported by one of the most influential houses in the region. That is a troublesome combination."
"It becomes more troublesome when you consider what House Vellmore stands to gain."
"The eastern pass."
I nodded.
The proposed route would redirect trade away from Millhaven and several other towns, allowing merchants to reach the eastern territories without passing through their markets. It had been presented as an opportunity to improve trade across the region, but the benefits would not be shared equally.
"Millhaven stands to lose nearly a third of its trade revenue if the proposal passes," I said. "The other towns would suffer as well, though not to the same extent. It would weaken the local economy and reduce the influence of those who depend on the existing route."
"Magistrate Dale among them."
"Yes."
Ashford tapped one finger against the documents. My uncle, Councilman Dale, sat on the regional council alongside him, while my father held his position as magistrate in Millhaven. The proposed route threatened more than a few merchants’ profits. It could weaken my father’s standing and leave the town with considerably less influence when the council next considered its interests.
"Your uncle has already raised concerns about the initiative," Ashford said. "He is not the only councilman who opposes it, but the support behind Vellmore is growing."
"Then the Collective’s activities may be intended to discourage anyone who stands in their way."
"That is one possibility. It would be foolish to assume every incident is connected, but the timing is difficult to ignore."
"I agree. I still need to establish how much of the Collective’s work is directly connected to the initiative."
"And how much is simply Voss pursuing her own interests."
"Precisely."
Ashford gathered the papers into a neat stack. "Do you know where the payments ultimately end up?"
"Not yet. I have the merchant records, but the money passes through several hands before reaching the individuals associated with the Collective. I haven’t identified every recipient."
"Then that is where you should concentrate your efforts. Find out who receives the money, who distributes it, and whether any of it can be traced back to House Vellmore."
"I’ll look into it."
"Be careful, Maren. If Voss has maintained this organisation for eight months without exposing its structure, she is unlikely to be careless. And if Vellmore is protecting her, you should assume there are people who would prefer these records never see the light of day."
"I understand."
He studied me for a moment before nodding towards the papers. "Leave the copies with me. I will consider what can be done through the council, but I don’t want this information circulating until we know exactly what we’re dealing with."
I gathered my remaining notes and turned towards the door.
"One more thing," he said.
I looked back.
"Your father has been asking after you."
I hesitated. "Has something happened in Millhaven?"
"Not that I’m aware of. Your uncle mentioned that your father was concerned you had been spending too much time away from home, and he wanted to check on you and your sister."
I couldn’t help the small smile that crossed my face. "That sounds like him."
"Then perhaps you should write to him."
"I will."
I left his office with more questions than answers. At least I now had a clearer idea of where to direct my attention. Sera Voss was not simply a merchant whose business happened to cross paths with the Thorn Collective. She was the person behind it, and House Vellmore had found a reason to support her.
The arrangement made sense, but it also raised another question. What did Voss want in return? Money and influence were obvious answers, yet the organisation had existed before the trade initiative. Whatever her ambitions were, they had not begun with Lord Vellmore’s proposal.
I would need to find out what she was building beyond the eastern pass.
As I made my way through the building, my thoughts briefly shifted to Clara. I hadn’t spent as much time with her recently as I would have liked. Between my work for Lord Ashford and everything happening in Millhaven, our conversations had become increasingly brief.
There was also Joseph.
I still wasn’t entirely sure what to make of him. Clara’s behaviour around him had changed, and I had noticed it more than once. She seemed comfortable in his company, perhaps more comfortable than she ought to be considering how little we knew about him. I couldn’t say whether that was a good thing or a bad one.
I had no reason to accuse him of anything. Still, something about the situation bothered me, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was.
For now, I had more immediate concerns. Sera Voss, the Thorn Collective, and House Vellmore were becoming increasingly difficult to separate. If I wanted to understand what was happening in Haremdale, I would have to follow the money until I found the people standing behind it.
And if Lord Ashford was right, I would have to be careful about who noticed me looking.