If Lucanis hadn't blurted out what he did earlier, perhaps all of this could have been avoided. Alas. They were here now and she deserved to know the answers, even if he didn't want to be the one revealing them and potentially saddening her.

"Ah." At least that was a... place to start. "Held hostage in her own home, as it were. Illario did a poor job covering his tracks." Which was wholly unsurprising to anyone that knew his cousin. Lucanis went on to detail the gathering Illario had orchestrated, the promise of power as First Talon and the new allies he brought in the Venatori. The fight, the aftermath, the eventual decision to show his stupid cousin mercy at Rook's behest, and— "Caterina made me First Talon, to my surprise."