"...All of it boils down to permission, and the greatest of it all was that Demons aren't allowed into a planet or near mortals without invitation.”

  The whole room paused in contemplation, mulling over what had just been said.

  “I can't help but correlate this to the same restriction placed on vampires,” Keilan said. "—"

  “That's because the vampiric race is demonic in origin,” Vanis cut in. “For some reason, perhaps because of their diluted influence, they are affected to a much lesser degree than their other demonic kin. But the rule still stands, they need an invitation to enter an abode.”

  Huiron sighed. “If that is all it takes to summon a planetary devourer, then I would reckon all worlds would be dead by now. We mortals are great and numerous, filled with the foolish and the wise. It only takes one foolish person with access to forbidden knowledge to bring down an infernal creature on our heads.”

  “Look on the bright side, Huiron,” Sareina said. “If what Vanis says is true and only those of high planetary influence can orchestrate the incursion of a Demon, then that leaves us with very few people to investigate. We have two affected worlds so far, Ver and Za, and the leaders of the latter still reside within Ver here, organizing the placements of their people.”

  “I should order an arrest,” Solis leaned forward. “Bring in the Lord who oversaw—”

  “Hold on there,” Keilan finally interrupted. “Unlike you all, I'm not exactly versed In Lese politics, but i don't reckon it'll go well if you were to arrest the head of a sovereign house, whom, last I checked, was no longer in the land of the living. Put aside that for a moment. What about your house? I don't reckon your grandmother will willingly subject herself to an arrest.”

  Looks of confusion were all he got when he was done. The others looked at him, faces uncomprehending.

  “What?”

  “Keilan, House Verrille might have a head, but we are governed not by one person. Our reaches do not stop at the edge of this world, or the star system. We have worlds far beyond, systems under our rule. Grandmother does not rule over them solely.”

  “Oh,” he blinked. “So who does?”

  “We have a Council, a parliament selected by Granny to rule over specific worlds. Governor Turan is a lesser example of what I speak of.”

  “So that means…”

  “That House Verrille doesn't exactly have a singular Ruler, yes. Grandmother holds full Dominion, with Mother as her right hand, but their attention is mainly outward. We have others to carry out the day to day tasks. So does House Duveyar and Saulae.”

  Huiron and Sareina nodded in agreement.

  “Okay then,” he said. “Your House parliaments are not the only ones with authority to invite a creature of the infernal. Your grandmother and mother might separate themselves from the daily rule of this world, but we can't exclude them from our list of suspects."

  “The Duchess will not harm her home,” Huiron said, ticking off a finger. “Same as the Mistress of Madness. Both are bound by oath to safeguard this world and all others under their domain. The World Spirit will never invite a Demon, for obvious reasons.” He looked at Keilan. “Do you need any more reassurance?”

  “Okay,” He nodded. “I understand, but it still puts everyone of great planetary influence under suspicion. Say we exclude your grandmother and mother, same as you both,” he gestured at the twin brothers, “that leaves the members of your house parliament, as well as your Uncle. He's still part of the ruling family, no?”

  This time, rather than looking confused, the others burst out into laughter, Huiron and Sareina included.

  “Keilan,” Vanis said, fighting back his obvious sign of amusement. “Uncle Xirou, no matter his faults, will do nothing to harm our home.”

  “I agree” Sareina backed him up. “Xirou is many things, a brute and battle crazed maniac amongst many, but he is no traitor. True, he could—would—go to obscene means just for a fight, but even he has his limits. I do not believe he would stoop to such a level as to invite a demonic incursion just for a fight.”

  Keilan blinked and then looked at them all. “All I hear are excuses born from familiar sentimentality. People can, and do change.”

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  “Calm your temper, Keilan,” Vanis said. “I'll send word for Xirou to return back home. Is that okay with you, Lord Keilan?”

  Keilan got the feeling that the Scion was not exactly happy with him, but he nodded, muttering. “Sorry.”

  Vanis turned away without a word. “Now, with all that done, we need to address the possibility of a conspiracy.”

  “Seriously?” Huiron groaned.

  “Yes, Huiron. I am serious. An incursion on two Lese Worlds, planets so far apart that it took us weeks to get from one to the other… this certainly is not a coincidence.”

  Huiron groaned loudly as he leaned back on his chair. “Pray, what makes you think there's a conspiracy?”

  “Good that you ask,” Vanis nodded. “In light of no definite suspect, I took a deeper look, checking what both worlds had in common—”

  “What did you find?”

  Vanis glared as he continued. “On the day Ver was invaded, we had a second incursion, one that took place just a minute or so before the Demons came in.”

  “The Hollow,” Keilan murmured just as a non-existent wind blew into the room, causing everyone to shiver, even the Divine Kings that stood silently behind their Warders.

  “Yes,” Vanis said. “The Hollow. Za also had the same, though different in culprit. I'm led to believe that the Demon was let in a short while after the Aveanii's incursion on the system.”

  “What you imply is that these group are somehow manipulating outside events just to slip in demons?” Solis said.

  “Or they are using those events to mask the demonic incursion,” his brother shrugged. “Any other world would have never detected the Yxil’s invasion until it was too late. Dealing with the Hollow's sudden appearance left us unaware and weakened to the infernal Incursion that came a short while later. The same applies to Za. I dare say that had the Aveanii not trespassed, the World Spirit and Lords of the world would have had ample warnings to detect and nullify the threat.”

  “What does this mean then?” Keilan said. “That whoever these cabals are are seeding demons into worlds already in chaos?”

  “Something like that. I believe that they take advantage of Worlds whose main defenders are already embroiled in conflict to open a hell gate. There is no other way that I can think of to work around the omniscience of a World Spirit.”

  Keilan blinked as a shiver ran down his spine. He turned to Huiron and Sareina, who sat in silence, their darkened expressions a telltale sign that they had already figured out what he was thinking.

  “I see you have already figured out what I am getting to,” Vanis nodded. “If there is a conspiracy, one to bring about the downfall of the Alliance, taking out two of the three Founding Houses is a perfect way to do it. They tried their hand against us, but fortunately we had Grandmother as well as other powerful Ascendants around. Both your homeworlds are currently bereft of any powerful defender, a fruit ripe for plucking.”

  The room went silent as both Scions contemplated, their expressions turning more serious than Keilan had ever seen.

  Huiron spoke first. “In the absence of father and any family member of greater authority than me, the decision falls to me. Despite my hesitation to believe in the existence of a cabal, I can't afford to take the risk. House Saulae Parliamentary Council shall be temporarily dissolved until such time as my father returns. All authority there forth will be ceded completely to the interim monarch—me.”

  “If there's one thing I know about people in power, it is that they seldom let go of it, preferring to hold on to it with their dear lives. This decision will not sit well with a lot of people. How will you deal with that?”

  Huiron shrugged. “House Saulae might be lacking the majority of its Primarchs, but we are not completely bereft of Ascendants. A lesson to a few will instill caution and obedience to the rest. I will not abide dissidents.”

  “That's… harsh,” Keilan blinked. “But I can see the necessity. I don't imagine you plan on taking charge of the day to day tasks of the Worlds under your House?”

  Huiron's eyes widened, and his body shivered. “god's no. I will pick a few capable hands, sworn under the name of Karma, amongst other things. They will handle the day to day tasks. Any decision that has to do with a world entirely shall be passed up to me for final say.”

  “Harsh, but effective,” Sareina sighed. “For once Huiron, you say something that does not sound like it was pulled up from a dump. I will do the same.”

  “That is settled then,” Vanis clapped. “All that remains is for Solis here to order the arrests of every suspect, and our quest for answers shall be on the way.” He paused, gesturing towards the other scions. “We will need your support for this to work. House Verrille arresting every Planetary official of a Sovereign house will not sit well with the other Houses. I expect pushback, and your support will go a long way in helping us repel them.”

  “You will have my support, Vanis. Just make sure none of those... disgusting things come near my home.”

  Sareina nodded. “You shall have my support, also. But is your grandmother in support of this? You might be scion, but this sort of decision isn't exactly minor. Have you spoken to her about it?”

  Vanis opened his mouth to answer when the huge double doors opened and two women walked in.

  Both were familiar sights, but one entirely caught Keilan off guard, given he hadn't expected to see her so soon after their last meeting.

  Lady Kuno glided in with the same stoic expression she'd worn on their first meeting. Her white hair was as unblemished as the morning snow, trailing down her light-touched face to fall over her back in a seamless line. Her white dress, embellished with trails of bright gold, flowed in her wake with a light rustling sound, somehow snuffing the sound of her footwear against the tiled floor.

  Lady Narkyra walked in beside her, a stark contrast to the snow white appearance of the other lady. Her dark hair fell in coiled waves, framing a face so vicious in beauty that her title as Mistress of Madness failed to hold up to it.

  Her dress, a black, flowing, large piece of wool, embroidered with thorny flowers around her chest, seemed to suck in all the light in the room, like a devouring void.

  She smiled brightly at them, once again contrasting the heavily stoic expression worn by her counterpart.

  “Hello children,” she said, her voice managing to sound both creepy and enthralling. “I see you have been concocting.”