At the next conveniently open window, some better-dressed people are talking about news from outside the city. Apparently House Elarial lost another shipment of something-or-other from Fadrex City because of bandits; this is speculated to be the cover story for an act of a rival Great House. To the people who aren't up to date on party politics (which is most of them), the event matters only because the ongoing problem means more demand for local goods. Anyone who actually cares about which Great House scored against which is likely to be doing their talking nearer one of the castles.