The House of three blue beetles.

[The Smith]

A large manse near the trade district. The Manse belongs to Lord Piers Bettley.

[The Smith]

Lord Piers arrives in his house with guests.

[Deleted]

Myranda and Marq Allyrion followed him inside the manse, walking side by side and looking round with in unison turns of the head and identical smiles. "It is big," they said together.

[The Smith]

Piers rolls his eyes and walks into the dining room. He nods his head to his servant, who has a full table laid out in preparation.

The Servant bows, "My Lord."

[Deleted]

At the eye roll Myranda laughed and Marq frowned, before turning to his sister, "Are you going to be okay?" He asked.

Myranda smiled sincerely up at him, "Of course..."

"I can stay if you would like me to," He went on and Myranda leaned up and kissed his cheek.

"Marq, it's fine, this will be good for us anyway." she said and held his hand.

Marq pulled her into a tight hug, "Be careful here, and if-"

"I know," She cut him off, "Stop worrying, I'll see you soon." Myranda confirmed and pulled back to smile at him, "Go on."

Marq nodded and glanced in the direction Lord Bettley left before leaving the manse.

After he had gone, Myranda sighed and shook her head and followed Piers to where he had gone into the dining room.

[The Smith]

Piers smiled at her, and motioned for her to join him at the table. "I sent ahead commands for my chefs to prepare some food for us." He smiled at her, and motioned for her to join him.

[Deleted]

"How conscientious," she said, smiling at him and sitting down opposite him. "Do you keep chefs and servants here all the time?" she asked and looked round the room.

[The Smith]

Piers nodded, "They live here, when I am not here. I bet they feel more at home here then I." He poured them both glasses of wine, and smiled at her. "It also keeps them loyal. Even though Bernardo's wife works for the Sea Lord as a spy."

[Deleted]

"Who is Bernardo?" she asked, grinning and taking the wine and sipping it, "and does his wife know you know?"

[The Smith]

"He was that servant." Piers replied, "And she does not, but he does." He smiled at her, and reached to lift up a silver tray to look at the entree. A vivid green serpent launched itself out from the underneath.

Piers leaped back and knocked over two other trays spread across the table. Another snake this one scralet and black with a skull on the back of its neck, and ten spiders the size of apples are unleashed. The spiders scatter in all directions, but the serpents race towards Piers.

[Deleted]

Myranda flinched in surprise as the snake came out from under the lid of the tray. She didn't have time for more of a reaction before the other snake and spider had been released. At seeing the spiders she pushed back from the table and stood up away from it.

She looked at the snakes attacking Piers with panic, but was prepared to step in to help if need be. Snakes were easier to handle than spiders.

[The Smith]

A single spider charged Myranda.

Piers' hands moved so fast they were a blur. From the table he plucked up a knife and a spoon. He threw the knife and hit the second snake through the tail pinning it to the table. The first snake lunged at him, as he fell away. His spoon caught the snake on its head, and knocked it across the table to the floor.

The snake stabbed into the table flailed about, and hit the last silver tray. A small black scorpion hurried away from the snake.

[Deleted]

Myranda looked at Piers and the snakes do battle, and watched as he threw one across the table onto the floor. It was as she turned to look that she noticed the spider.

Myranda stepped to the side slightly and picked up the lid of the tray one of the snakes had come from under and tried to put it over the inexplicably advancing spider that seemed to be heading straight for her.

[The Smith]

She dropped the lid over the spider, and felt it hit the side hard. It nearly knocked the lid free from her hand. She heard the snake as it slithered toward her feet. She could feel it closing with out seeing it under the table she stood by.

[Deleted]

Myranda knew that usually, it is best to stay still, as snakes were usually very passive and non confrontational, but sudden movements would make them attack defensively. These snakes however, were quite obviously aggressive.

She looked down to see where the snake was exactly, and stepped back and to the side again.