The meeting with his grandmother and Zakkiel concluded, Roman had been urged to return to Senghiz, in order to try and allay any suspicions his uncle might have.

Arriving at the gates of Senghiz' home, Roman had been readily admitted by the servant, Ordeia, who had led him into the deeply carpeted interior.  There he found himself in the study once more, while the silent servant departed to locate Senghiz...

...

Beyond the window, the sky burns, black flame dancing from cloud to cloud.  There are animals out there - a herd of mountainous gargantua moving across the landscape, right on the brink of the Abyss.  The land in their wake is scraped bare, and marred by deep gouges and grooves.

Senghiz seems to be taking his time.

The desk drawer, where the docunents had been hidden upon the arrival of Derris' troops, currently stands slightly open, Roman notices...

Roman takes a peek inside the desk drawer - without touching it - just to see what is there.  Not tat it is likely to tell him anything of significance.

As Roman peers into the drawer, there is a cough behind him, and Senghiz' voice says, "I moved them, as soon as you left with the troops, just to be on the safe side."

Senghiz steps forward, moving silently across the soft pile of the carpets.  He smiles as he steps up beside Roman, and pushes the drawr closed, "I must say that I'm surprised to see you back so soon, My boy, and apparently none the worse for wear.  I felt certain that Derris would have questions for you, and she has been... ah... reluctant to wait for answers, of late."

"Often she has been in a 'cut first, ask the actual question later' frame of mind.  It's good to see you in one piece.  What did she want with you?"

"Oh, the usual sort of thing." Roman answers.  "Politics.  Family business."  He fixes Senghiz with his eyes.  "Your dealings with the Nephilim being a point of interest."

The smile is still there, but it seems a great deal less friendly all of a sudden.  "Ah.  So she knows about my friend, Kushiel, does she?  Are you here to... ?  No, no, of course not.  She would have sent more men to ensure success, were that the case.  Senghiz backs away from Roman.  For all his stated belief that his nephew is not there to kill or arrest him, he still seems nervous.

"I mean no harm by this, Roman.  I serve only the best interests of Chanicut, by gaining us allies who would help defend us from the other houses.  Unlike Derris, who is unstable, and would sell us to an enemy for a bag of empty promises."

He slumps down in a chair at the far side of the study, and his gaze is fixed on the view from the window as he continues speaking, "Those notes of yours, and this weapon you spoke of, will be invaluable, My Boy.  They give me something that I can hold over Kushiel.  A means to ensure that he does not renegue on his part of the agreement.  Chanicut will be strong with the support of the Nephelim.  We will crush all opposition and rule over the Courts."

"Support me, Roman, and I'll see that you are placed in a position of power.  Would you have one of the great houses as your own personal domain?  Two of them?"