Vern hadn't told Elliot that he and Jasper had been in contact, to arrange this meeting of the lords. That was good thinking on Vern's part, because Elliot would have reacted in the same fashion as Quinton had, if he had known. But oblivious to the fact that the servants had taken it upon themselves to get their employers together, Elliot stood in front of the door when Jasper opened it. Elliot followed behind the man, leaving Vern by the door. Whether he went back to the carriage or would have a chat with Jasper later was up to him.

The man arrived in a room, but he couldn't see which one. He assumed it was the sitting room. Apart from the walking stick, nothing unusual would stand out. Elliot still looked like the same old man, but internally, everything was different.

"Lord Featherton, it indeed has been too long. I am sorry that I missed your ball." So their servants had arranged this? He would need to talk to Vern about boundaries. Secretly, he was happy to be out the house. "I'm afraid I had good reason not to be there, though." Elliot extended an arm to feel around for a chair, then sat down. Quinton would most likely be able to notice now that something was definitely up with Elliot, and that he didn't seem to be able to see anymore. "But I don't want to be impolite and barge in with everything that's new in my life. How are you?" The blind Elliot wouldn't be able to see the unshaven beard, or how rough looking Quinton was. He had no idea that anything was the matter.

Neither of them was doing particularly well, but Quinton was the first to notice, since Elliot couldn't really notice anything since he had lost his sight. He wondered what made Quinton say that the ball had been a spectacle, but his friend said they would talk about it later and instead asked what had happened since they had last spoken.

Elliot couldn't help but start to chuckle somewhat hopelessly. "I have been meaning to talk to you about this, but I didn't get the chance... A while ago, I was assaulted in Mordha by Honora Allemeade and Hiram Eldouir. They asked about you. I didn't say anything, I asked what business they had with you, and Honora used her Gift on me." He exaggerated the word Gift, his voice full of disdain. "I followed them when they left, and they had gone to Levi Wyndham's estate. Well, that was the end of the Wyndham bloodline. I don't know what they needed from him, but they killed him."

Elliot took a deep, trembling breath. "I stabbed Hiram, with a dagger. It wasn't enough. He took it right out of his body and blinded me." He laughed, but it wasn't because he was amused. It was desperation, hysterics, and disbelief. "I can't see anymore. I was trapped in the Wyndham's estate until someone found me and brought me home." Elliot let out a deep sigh, relieved to have finally been able to share this story, with someone who would understand him.

Her Gift was certainly unpleasant. It left you spasming on the floor, in excruciating pain. Elliot nodded in response to Quinton. It had been quite the season.

"I don't understand why he kept me alive. Probably so I would spread the word of his misdeeds, but he will be sorely mistaken. I will not shout it through the streets. I will not allow him to scare our people." He was determined. "What did that whore want with you?" he asked. "Whatever reason she has to betray her own family... To me, it only shows that even the 'good' Allemeades aren't to be trusted." He shook his head. "Lord Featherton, we need to do something about this."

Elliot frowned with an almost repulsed look on his face. "Love?" he repeated. "You must've hit your head when you fell down. Love?" He hugged. "You should feel hatred. Death would be too good for her. She deserves to rot in a dungeon for the rest of eternity." He was getting worked up, his shoulders tense under Quinton's hand, which started him, since he hadn't seen him coming towards him.

"It is", he said coldly. "So how do we make her pay?"

While it was still bad, he felt relieved. It had been her Gift, she used it to make him love her. He hadn't lost his mind. "I did not know that. I thought she could only read minds. She's even more dangerous than I thought." Elliot was still convinced that Ikisina had used her Gift on him to get him to sleep with her, so he felt like he understood Quinton. In reality he had just been a piece of shit, but it was easier to make himself believe Gifts had been involved. Elliot nodded, agreeing that they must be controlled.

The hesitation made Elliot even more intrigued. "My good friend", he said, almost a hint of amusement in his tone. "You're talking to Elliot Moore. I've done more illegal things than I can count on two hands, even four hands. Tell me, and we can see what we can achieve, together."

Elliot listened to what Quinton had to say, and his brain started to work overtime. There were a lot of opportunities here. Lots of things they could do. "Do you have collars?" Elliot asked, rubbing his chin while continuing to think. "Without them, capturing will prove to be difficult. I might have another idea, too." He grinned slightly and looked in Quinton's general direction. "Perhaps we could write a letter to Arynn Frey. Say we're working on dealing with the problem, in a diplomatic fashion as to not arouse suspicion. With their enchantments, we could maybe get our hands on actual trackers. That way, we could even plan an ambush and take out multiple Gifted at once."

Their talk was definitely in illegal and danger territory now, but Elliot was enjoying it. Perhaps they could actually do something.