[Suzerain of Sheol]

"I only just met the man, I couldn't possibly say." Ulysses is of little mind to speak of trivialities as they reach the house.

As if to answer the sense of urgency that fills him, his mother is stepping out through the front door to meet them. Sicarius lays asleep nearby, sprawled in an undignified heap in the shade of the massive oak that dominate's Marl's yard. The horse bats a single, acknowledging eye at his master's presence, disinterested in aught but a sign of imminent violence.

The old woman meets them on the doorstep, arms crossed.

"That didn't take long."

"We saw what we needed to."

"What, and no valiant rescue? Let me guess, if you had half-a-dozen of those army boys at your back, you'd have stormed the gallows." Her regard flicks to his companion for an instant. "No offense, Tanya."

Ulysses' eyes harden on his mother. He does not remember her being this quarrelsome. "There was nothing to be done. We have some news you'll want to hear, though."

Marl's glare softens. She sighs. "Not a total waste, then. Come in, and let's hear it."