She found Damon in the kitchen.
He took one look at her face and said "well?"
"He took the outline," she said.
"And?"
"And he's not done," she said.
Damon looked at her.
Then he smiled.
"Four factions," he said.
"Not yet," she said. "He has to talk to his members."
"He took the outline," Damon said. "He's not done. That's four factions Eve."
She looked at him.
"Almost," she said.
"Almost," he agreed.
***
Corin came back in four days.
Not alone this time.
He brought seven people with him.
Eve was in the study when the ward chimed and she looked out the window and counted them crossing the courtyard and felt something tighten in her chest that was equal parts nerves and anticipation.
Seven people.
That was his senior leadership.
He hadn't just consulted them. He had brought them.
She went downstairs.
They assembled in the formal dining room.
