Samuel Drover looked out the window of the alehouse he was in in shock, watching the carriage with the Planhaften family crest on the side.
Choking after inhaling his latest mouthful of beer, Samuel got up and immediately left the bar, leaving enough to cover his tab on the table, before breaking out into a run down the streets. Winding his way through back alleys far away from the main thuroughfaire.
Reaching his objective he rapped on the door three times, then twice, then three again. The door popped open and he slipped inside. A portly man in a well made, if fraying suit stood up to greet him.
“Samuel, always a pleasure, what...”
“No time for pleasantries Milton. Lord Vincent just arrived with what looks like a super sized honor guard.”
“Impossible, our reports say that our men injured him so badly in battle yesterday they did not expect him to survive. No way his family would let him leave so soon after such a grievous wound even if he survived. It has to be a trick.”
“I saw the carriage with my own eyes. It's flying the colors of Planhaften, so unless his fiance came on her own which.... I mean ballsy, I'll give her that.”
“If she is on her own that would be a massive opportunity. Killing her would torpedo Ustral and Planhaften's attempts at an alliance if .”
“Unless It's found out that our nation of Vidya was behind it, then they'll just declare war on us directly.”
“We'd need to be discrete.... what do we know about the fiance?”
Milton went over to a desk and began rifling through stacks of papers. He eventually made an 'ah-ha' noise and pulled out a sheet.
“Elaina Planhaften, daughter of Gregor Planhaften and the late Loraine Planhaften, brother to Ezra Planhaften, twin. Our intelligence has been... quite limited on her. The planhaften family may not have a standing army but their intelligence arm is both vigilant and brutal. None of our agents have lasted long in their territory...”
“We must know something about her.”
“Mmmm... most of what we know is based on what we've gathered from neighboring nations that trade with them... in particular we have several gifts imported for the royal palace of Planhaften... a high end crystal ball and enchanting equipment... along with assorted jewelery, and apparently some alchemical supplies. High end as well. There are several other items listed as gifts, but we've managed to determine to whom each of those were going to. These are the only ones unaccounted for.”
“Gregor is well known to dabble in alchemy... I am guessing the enchanting equipment and crystal ball are for the two of them, but which of them they were intended for...”
“Hmm... we need to report this.” Samuel said.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Milton nodded and pulled a tapestry of some ancient battle off the wall, revealing a small mirror, it's frame covered in complex runes. Milton tapped a specific sequence of runes, ten different sigils in total. After the tenth the mirror's surface went watery, waves pulsing out from the center every second, a small chime sounding every time the wave contacted the frame of the mirror.
This continued for some time, Milton and Samuel looking at eachother and back at the mirror.
“I hate waiting on this. Wish he'd get a secretary or something.”
“Too big a chance for a leak. He get's a chatty secretary and all of a sudden every nation's spy on the continent has our descriptions.”
With a loud sound like cracking glass the waves settled and the image that appeared displayed an old greying man in a military uniform with far too many medals on it.
“You had better have something important to report. You interrupted a very delicate negotiation.”
The two spies heard a female voice in the background, moaning, and gave eachother a look.
“We need to report some unexpected activity General Armon sir.” Milton said.
“A Carriage bearing Planhaften markings has arrived with a full escort. We believe it is Vincent Ustral and his bride to be.”
“Impossible. I have confirmed reports that he was fatally injured in battle yesterday.”
“I would agree, but sir, this is not the first time our men have reported a member of the Ustral royal family dead only for them to come back some time later.”
“Even if they were able to heal him that quickly they would not send him out so fast, this must be a ru..” The image flickered and shut off, leaving it blank for a moment, before it came back, displaying the General in a far more rigid pose.
“Tell me what you know for certain.” The general said, his previously lackadaisical demeanor apparently forgotten. The two spies looked at eachother. Then back at the image.
“Um... we know that they, whoever they are, have arrived in a carriage from planhaften, they have at least fifty guards, maybe more, plus the driver. We haven't seen anyone inside the carriage yet.”
“I see. Stay put. I will notify other operatives in your area to collect more information. Stay put. I will contact you again when I have use for you.”
The mirror shut down, reverting to normal and showing the image of two very confused and concerned spies back at the pair.
“That was weird.” Samuel said.
“Very weird.” Milton answered.
“I didn't think we HAD any operatives in the area besides us.” pondered Samuel.
“Neither did I.” answered Milton.
The two of them looked at eachother.
“We need to leave.” They both said at the same time.
And that is when all hell broke loose.