You leave Yarek to his mints, although once outside the library you see an impatient-looking woman in expensive robes and partially unkempt hair. She is able to maintain an air of nobility and aloofness, despite the appearance that she rushed to make herself decent enough to find what the commotion in the house was about. "Mercenaries! In my home? What is that daft fool up to now," she asks in shocked surprise as she self-consciously pulls her robes tighter.
"Lady Fransin, Mr. Yarek insisted on seeing them after hearing about the death of his old friend, Kaira..."
"I don't care what that man insisted upon. He is a member of the household, not the master of it. That role falls to my husband, may Lothian protect him. How dare Yarek!"
The party decides to allow the two to continue arguing as the heroes slip out the front door and head back towards the Citadel of the Golden Cross.
Glau relates that the Knights of the Golden Cross and House Nagel used to be close allies and were until... well until about the time when Yarek was in his prime. Yarek Nagel was an influential member of the family and was said to be close to Kaira Swanwing back in his youth, but several incidents had befallen the House until it is the current shade of its former self and struggling to retain any influence at all, and having to release many of its previous servants and retainers in the last months. The current head of the House, Lady Fransin, is more worried about her recently arrested husband and his status than the welfare of her relatives and lineage. The rumors persist that she has been bribing both the warden of Ptolus prison and House Sadar for the return of her husband, after House Sadar had him arrested on trumped up charges. Other rumors state that the man, former head of the household Kurtlan Nagel, is guilty of murder as charged. It has been said that Yarek had been pushed to the side, along with the old alliance with the Knights, because of a lost power struggle between himself and Kurtlan, and now as Fransin has flailed unsuccessfully to recover her reputation and her husband. Supposedly, Yarek's senility started at around the time he began to find himself politically maneuvered and worked against in his own home years ago. As for the Knights of the Golden Cross, they espoused the belief of the old gods, before the rise of Lothian long ago, and were considered heretics although harmless and altruistic heretics.
Two members of the City Watch stand outside in the cold, clearly not enjoying their assignment. As you approach one of the watchmen puts a hand out and stops you, saying, "Sorry citizens, but no one is allowed in there. This is by order of Captain Erda Schenk, and this area is closed until such a time as the Imperial investigators are able to enter and complete their investigation." The party shows of Yarek Nagel's papers, which contain seals from House Nagel as well as the recognized symbol of the Twelve Commanders. The sergeant who stopped you whistles and says, "Well, everything here seems to be in order. Looks like you are government sanctioned investigators, although I don't know what you could possibly want to investigate. It's a pretty cut and dry case, you see. We have two murder scenes, one here in Oldtown with multiple homicides followed by mutilations, and another one outside the home of Quaelin Fillasti, in South Market. Ol' Quealin was a member of the Knights of the Golden Cross, but was on his way to meet with the rest of his companions when he was ambushed. Probably a smart move on the killers' part, as Quealin was said to be the ablest wizard of the Knights and would have given them some trouble." The sergeant seems helpful and you get the sense that he likes to make small talk. The front door of the Citadel is at the top of some outside stone stairs, and you can see that the portal is open and hanging on its hinges.
