The Other Witch; In The Earl's Palace

"I will speak with her alone."  Hack was being characteristically taciturn.  "Wait here and stay out of trouble."
He opened the doors dramatically and began to address the Earl as soon as she came into sight.  Salvia walked to the nearest bench and sat down with the report Katherine had given her.  Before she could start she heard a voice from ahead of her.  There was an armored woman with an unstrung bow standing next to one of the pillars in the hall.  She would have been behind it when they'd entered, but now that Salvia was seated, she could see that there were actually armored guards behind all of the pillars.
"I said Hey."
"Good morning to you too.  Is something the matter?"
"The old dude who's talking to Gammy, he your dad or something?"
"Gammy?  You mean the Earl?"
"Yeah, the one with the big, fiery throne and the sun motif.  Is he your Dad?
"No, You're the Earl's Granddaughter?"
"Does it matter?  She's the scary old boss lady; we're her scary knights.  If he's not your Dad, why are you here?  Witches don't do adventure, everyone knows that."
"I'm looking for a priest, a man named Krell."
The guard pursed her lips and, as best as Salvia could tell, looked off into the distance.  "I don't know his name, but there was a priest visiting the city today.  He was that girl, the one who always used to be a teenager but she wasn't a teenager this time.  If I see him, and it is the guy, who should I tell him was asking?"
"Salvia."
"Well, Salvia, I'm Lieutenant Gwen.  I hope your old dude and my Gammy have a successful diplomathingie and that you don't die of boredom waiting."  And then she took off.

Braga glanced over at her when he heard the sound of Gwen's boots.  He and James were waiting patiently on the other side of the door, and apparently had not noticed the guards on their side of the room.  Which left Salvia wondering how the cryptic passersby always seemed to find her.
"Wonder why we can't go in this time."  James muttered.  It was a valid question, he'd taken everyone in to see the Countess.  Perhaps the Earl needed more persuading and there were details that mere mortals such as themselves couldn't be allowed to know.
"They are old friends, perhaps they are having tea?"
"Maybe they're having sex!"
Salvia blushed.  Such thoughts had doubtless occurred to all of them, but it took a human to actually suggest it.  In any case, she doubted Hack was the sort of man who'd do such a thing; even when his wife had been dead for hundreds of years.  Other than eating, he'd never displayed any natural desires of any sort; as though he was driven by nothing but the force of his own will.
And so they waited.  Braga explaining, at length, the nature of the immortal sex drive to James, who looked both mortified and fascinated, and Salvia standing quietly, stifiling the occasional giggle at Braga's academic approach to the matter and pondering what must be running through the minds of the guards, who were likely immortal themselves.
It was one of the less known facts about Star Haven, that it was the home of an order established at the height of the Frostbourne war.  The Rune Knights, as they were known, had mastered the use of certain forms of enchantment and alchemy that allowed them to exercise incredible power, despite most of them being only mortal.  Using these powers, they had been tasked to hunt down the Lych who served Arcania, a task they were believed to have continued in even after the war's end.  Gwen, who had still not returned, had on her breastplate a series of runes, and it seemed reasonable to conclude that all of the guards here were knights.  Since Star Haven had been constructed as a defensive station, the only real benefit to recruiting the Earl would be access to the Rune Knight's services.  Salvia couldn't see much point to having anyone like Gwen on their side, but with luck she was twice the fighter she was a guard.

The door swung open, considering that it was Hack opening it, it was rather less dramatic than had been expected.
"For the last time Hariel, no."
The Earl wore an outfit clearly intended to emulate the look of a phoenix, bright, on fire, and with a train of embers that followed her wherever she went.  Hariel herself was a tall, blonde woman with long blonde hair and a figure like a fairy queen.  But where the Countess had been elegant and formal, it was clear that Hariel was a fighter with a good wardrobe department.
"Oh come on, she's been dead for years Hal, no one would ever know."  James, it seemed, had at least been on the right track.  "It's not like you've never done it before.  All those years travelling with beautiful, talented women..."
Hack spun around at this, and Salvia caught a glimpse of something in his eye that gave her a sudden, strong urge to cling to something with a hardness of no less than eleven.  Apparently Hariel saw it too, because she fell silent instantly and the fires in her dress seemed much diminished, revealing rather a lot of lace, and more skin than was strictly proper for a woman of her status.
"I have never, in all my years, done any such thing.  No woman could ever compare to her.  And you had best learn your place, and stop seeking to usurp hers."
There was a silence.  Even though all the guards had revealed themselves by now, none seemed ready to spring to action.  Hariel sighed, the waver in her hands betrayed her fear, even a growing anger, but she managed to speak with as much composure as before.  "Very well.  My men will join in your crusade, blasphemous as it is.  And I will begin shipping supplies through to those who remain loyal to the true Gravaga, as we have discussed.  But the next time you come asking favors, know that my debt is repaid."
Then both of the immortals motioned to their parties to depart.

As they returned to the ship, James broke the silence.  "Why are all the rulers of these places ridiculously hot, immortal women who already know the old man?  Why can't just once we run into a young man who's got no clue who we are?"