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Lucius Alden,
‘Bloody Tiger’
Lord Lucius Aldenus the third,
Praetor Maximus,
Legatus ‘Omnis Legionis’
King Lucius III
The Baron’s Horse
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Lucius had told himself to stay on the duke’s throne but in order for him to deal with his nervousness the king had walked instead to one of the floor-to-ceiling windows of Domus Di Alden and looked outside. The Lorian-style massive villa was facing the Old District’s main square taking up a whole side. He could see the tower from there standing beyond the well-maintained marble-tiled yard and the gates of the modest outer walls. So he immediately spotted the carriage approaching the main building.
Miranda entered forty minutes later, standing tall and tanned, her face unblemished, and the Tigress’ Eyes pendant adorning the opening on her brightly colored Aegium dress. An older version of her but with none of the typical Alden features diminished. The long blond hair, the large blue eyes and softer, more heart-shaped than square face. Vacia’s raven hair had given her colors to two of the three Alistair’s sons with Jeremy getting a darker-brown through the years, but most of the other Alden had Miranda’s characteristics and posture.
“Queen Dowager,” Lucius greeted her and noticed wrinkles at the corners of her eyes under the makeup.
“King Lucius,” Miranda responded with a perfect deep bow holding the sides of her dress. “Apologies. I had to change from the road.”
“I hope your old quarters were decently prepared,” Lucius said debating whether to approach her or not.
“We thank your Majesty for the consideration.”
“It is still your family home,” Lucius noted.
“All Alden share the same privilege,” Miranda replied.
Lucius nodded. “The servants prepared some hors d’oeuvre to welcome you back,” he said pointing at the narrow table next to the windows.
“They have our gratitude your Majesty.”
That was a pass, Lucius thought and tightened his mouth.
“Are the court’s scribes here?” Miranda asked breaking protocol.
“I’m not hiding anyone,” Lucius replied a little defensively. “They are not.”
Miranda nodded and then looked into his face forlornly. “May I approach your Majesty?”
“You can,” Lucius said and she walked to him. Miranda placed her hands on his shoulders briefly and then took Lucius’ hand with hers to hold it on her face with affection. It surprised him but Lucius quickly realized the queen dowager was mourning. “I’m sorry for your loss,” Lucius said comfortingly.
Miranda shook her head lightly, remarkably maintaining her composure. “Every one of my losses your Majesty shares as keenly,” she replied hoarsely and her words affected Lucius deeply. The king kept a hand on her face for a moment, a physical touch Lucius had avoided growing up as Miranda was younger than he was, a spirited girl and his father’s wife. They never were very comfortable around each other with Lucius holding a certain animosity for the girl that had taken his late mother’s place.
“I’d like to see Jeremy,” she told him in a low voice and Lucius pursed his mouth to keep his emotions in check.
“He’s not… I have placed a silver cist in the crypt,” he told her, the matter still bothering him. “It was the best I could do at the time.”
“I’ll visit him,” Miranda insisted. “I haven’t seen Silvie but I’ll speak to Jeremy since they are together now.”
Lucius gulped down and nodded. “Where is Silvie?” He asked and the former queen’s face crumpled, a rugged breath escaping her lips.
“With Prince Kasper in Issir’s Eagle gardens,” Miranda finally said. “My circumstances never allowed me to travel there.”
Lucius nodded in understanding and allowed her a moment of discreetness looking at the table with cold dishes prepared. “I’ll have a cup of wine,” he decided and walked there to serve himself. Miranda remained at her spot some meters away, still in the middle of the hall. “You should rest. The city is filled with dignitaries and I have two Dukes that don’t like each other living too close together.”
“Your Majesty can ask and I’ll do my best to answer,” Miranda finally said.
Lucius sipped at the local wine and pressed his lips thoughtfully for a moment.
“You didn’t want to stay as Regent,” he finally said in a non-confrontational manner.
“I hadn’t planned it nor expected your father to be attacked in a conference,” Miranda replied. “All I could think of at the time was my Silvie. I wanted to find those that had taken her from me.”
“Who was responsible?” Lucius asked looking at his goblet.
“Lord Nattas believes a religious sect had caused it. They had taken advantage of a stupid protest organized by Uher’s Church to apply pressure on King Antoon and matters escalated. Old Gods believers.”
“They targeted my sister?” Lucius asked evenly.
“There was no target. They fired on our tables,” Miranda replied with a shudder at the memory. “It took me years to stop replaying the horrid scene in my head.”
“Which gods?” Lucius asked.
“We haven’t… it wasn’t clear. Those responsible had their faces coated in white paint.”
Lucius furrowed his brows at the detail. He placed the goblet on the table and crossed his arms on his chest. “I have encountered some of them.”
“You have?” Miranda queried a little surprised.
“Up North. Followers of the Painted God.” He grimaced thinking about Steele and the late Bart Crull. “They were working with the priests of Uher?” Lucius asked thoughtfully.
“Gordian confessed they had a hand in the riots but the attack was orchestrated by them.”
“Lord Nattas worked on this? There was an attack on the priests a couple of months later.”
“A local gang was responsible for that. They lashed out as a retaliation for Alistair closing the brothels at Gordian’s behest. The priests had started a pogrom of witches and non-believers. But aye, Lord Nattas looked into both matters at your father’s request,” Miranda paused unsure. “And mine. I might have pressured him some at the time.”
Lucius nodded. Storm was probably busy with that, he thought. Not a small matter for sure and he lost sight of a plot brewing against the King.
“You should have taken the throne from the start,” Miranda said interrupting his musings. “It was all a huge mistake and Jeremy would have been still alive now.”
“Would your brother have ordered Laudus to murder Jeremy?” Lucius asked straightforwardly and Miranda paled at his words.
“Doris wouldn’t have touched him. He’d no reason for it.”
“Would he have done it, if he had a reason?” Lucius insisted patiently.
“My brother is a cruel man Lucius,” Miranda replied openly. “You know that. But he isn’t stupid and harming Jeremy wasn’t in his interests. I think he liked him more than me.”
Lucius nodded with a grimace of frustration. “Laudus was working with Duke Ursus?”
“Laudus was your father’s pick wasn’t he? Sneaky little man. Laudus and Ursus never saw eye to eye. The Duke never trusted him since Laudus had caused him many problems whilst working for the Admiralty.”
This was surprising. “What was their dispute?”
“Laudus supported the status quo. So he was always critical of Novesium’s facilities to the king. All boring bureaucratic stuff. I think he just wanted a payday and Ursus is stingy.”
“Or he was telling the truth. Cartaport and Illirium have the know-how. There are only so many naval yards the Kingdom can support.”
Miranda shrugged her shoulders. “Is Laudus arrested?”
“We are looking for him.”
“I wish him a painful death,” Miranda said evenly. She breathed out slowly and then asked in a courtly manner. “Do we have your Majesty’s permission to travel to Alden?”
“Absolutely but you should stay for a few days,” Lucius replied. “Rest and enjoy staying in the palace. It is unfortunate you had to live in exile for so long but now you are not in any danger Miranda.”
“Gratitude King Lucius,” she replied throatily sounding overwhelmed and performed another graceful curtsy. “May your reign heals all wounds and brings peace to the realm.”
Yeah, Lucius thought. Let’s hope that but at the moment I need to talk with the army heads about another campaign.
19th of Quintus 194 NC
Late afternoon
Consul Galio Veturius moved the tiny wooden vessels through the Krakentrap Straits one by one, with Ser De Hond standing over his shoulder. Four very-heavy, large square tables had been brought inside the elegant Aegium palace and chairs, marble statues or other decorations had been pushed aside to make room for the engineers and cartographers to put together the large scaled model map of the continents. They had started early that morning and it had taken them the whole day to finish.
Durio had assured Lucius that ‘disassembling it would be much faster and probably easier.’ The king in turn wanted the model brought to Cartagen as the Palace of the Hundred Windows had the space for it. Duke Brakis had thought it a needless expense and offered the king a series of detailed maps of the Straits and the oceans that focused mainly on the waters leaving the land a vague concept at the periphery.
Control the seas yes, but you’ll need to take the land to win, Lucius thought, his eyes following the small vessels on their imaginary journey guided by the Consul’s thick fingers. The King of Regia had a pack of scrolls in his hand with the rosters of the 3rd and 4th Legions. The latter had arrived under Legatus Sula the other day and had finished constructing a Castrum just before the first houses of the city, right on the road between Saltville and Aegium.
Sula had cut down the palms shading part of the road and the recently released from captivity Baron of Saltville Vinicius Alden had protested formally to his distant kin King Lucius at the ‘barbaric’ practice. The incident almost turned violent when a group of local Saltville guards, a road patrol in reality, had approached the 4th Legion’s freshly-rebuilt engineers under Reb Cable (who had recently been promoted) and attempted to arrest them.
The young engineers had scattered inside the coast-hugging trees, the mounted patrol followed after them and the Northmen of Marlene Lake who were resting inside the wooded area jumped the guards. Two men were seriously injured with a sergeant having ‘some of his brains spilt’ trying ‘to deflect a war-hammer wit his head’ as Marlene reported to Tribune Pete Dumont standing in for the ailing Legatus making it sound that it was the hapless man’s fault, ‘but he’ll be right as new in no time chief’. The man wouldn’t as a matter of fact according to one of Dottore Borealis' medics (the Dottore of the 4th had given himself the week off) that had rushed to the scene and was to live the rest of his days as an invalid with Lucius ordering the Tribune to pay him a decent pension out of the Legion’s coffers. The Baron in his turn wanted the Legion moved ‘near the other also, to help unclog the road’, which Lucius had flatly refused to even consider.
“Is the Legatus in a condition to join us?” Lucius asked the Tribune of the 4th Legion, Dumont using a cane as he’d a permanent leg injury that made it difficult for him to stand for long. Dumont had teased the Consul on the matter earlier, saying that now ‘we both have our own batons to stand on,’ to which Galio had replied stiffly that he mainly used his to crack open ‘the heads of young fools to set them straight.’
“He will join us tomorrow sire,” Dumont replied. “Nonus had promised Lady Martha whilst we were on the road to show her the city first thing and she rarely forgets a promise.”
Lucius nodded and glanced at the two Dukes discussing with their aides across the large table. “I may need men that can stand on a deck Tribune.” He told the Legion officer.
“The Halfostad lads,” Dumont replied. “A dip in the sea will help them sire.”
“Do you have many complaints?” Lucius asked.
“Pay is more important,” Dumont reported. “But several have taken ill on their leaves.”
“See to rotate them but keep it under control Tribune. We have a lot of soldiers roaming Aegium at this time. How soon can I have the numbers available?”
“Tomorrow morning sire,” Dumont replied. “I’ll have Jacobred put to work immediately. Might even task Hugh Bolton to help soon as I locate him.”
The Centurion was the 4th Legion’s LID officer.
“Where is he?”
“In the city. He’s meeting with Ramirus.”
Lucius nodded. “I’ll have to deal with some civilian matters later, but I trust you’ll have the matter handled by morrow Tribune.”
“Yes sir.” Dumont replied and saluted.
Lucius glanced again at the model and Galio’s miniature ships gathering beyond the Straits but had to stop noticing Duke Stan Brakis approach with the dark-skinned Sir Vel Sextus-Brakis at his side.
“Your Majesty, King Lucius!” Brakis boomed as if to test the hall’s acoustics and stopped in front of the King. He’d sweat rivulets running down his sideburns and a red face but that hadn’t stopped him earlier after they had finished their dinner to attack Lord Doris’ wine collection with gusto. “Sir Vel leads Illirium’s Marines.”
“King Lucius,” the fit and tall knight said with a bow of his raven-head.
“I see you are well Sir Vel.”
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“Still waiting for a rematch my lord,” the wiry dark-skinned Lorian replied confidently.
“My touring years are in the past Sir Vel,” Lucius replied and stared at the approaching thirty knight a little surprised. “You intent on participating this summer? I’ll be sure to come and see you in support if time allows it.”
The Knight from Illirium was always viewed with skepticism from the Lorian crowds despite his skill.
Vel shook his head right and left afore smiling, his stance relaxing. “I’ve retired from the games as well my lord.” He said.
“Hah, there then,” Brakis cracked up, a hand wiping the sweat off of his face. “With that out of the way, Sir Vel volunteered to take part in the festivities your Majesty,” the Duke added very pleased.
“How many marines can Illirium bring to the table?”
“One thousand eight hundred,” Sir Vel replied.
Lucius nodded crumbling the scrolls in his hand. “We’ll need as many, at least a thousand more. Demames has lost theirs I understand.”
“They have some in training,” Brakis replied. “We could crew the ships and use half of them in the actual assault. It can be done.”
“No half measurers,” Lucius argued with a grimace. “We’ll use legionnaires.”
“The sea might get rough beyond the Straits King Lucius,” Brakis countered.
“It concerns me this fact,” Lucius admitted. “But I see no other way to gain advantage. The Khanate’s ships are very big and slow. The same can be said for yours Admiral. It’ll be the men aboard that decide the affair unless we manage to sink each other from afar.”
“We could attempt to bombard them my Lord,” Brakis offered. “If we spot them early and prepare our lines.”
“Too many variables,” Lucius replied. “I’ve thought about it. We could try it if its favorable but your ships can’t sail to battle empty Brakis.”
“The decision is yours to make my Lord,” Brakis yielded with a bow. “Sir Vel will make sure we get the fleet ready.”
“How much time will you need?” Lucius asked and opened a missive he’d received from Duke Anker’s camp.
Brakis stared at Sir Vel and the knight shrugged his shoulders. “I can go right now,” Vel told his distant kin.
“Three months your grace if we’re to have everything ready,” Brakis replied after a thoughtful pause. “How much time has Duke Anker asked for?”
“Officially Lord Anker said they are planning to attack the Khan immediately and can’t discuss any details with us.” Lucius said with a grimace. “But the Duke of Caspo O’ Bor who wrote to congratulate me on ascending the throne and promise to visit, claims that his schedule opens up ‘after six months’.”
“They got kicked in the teeth hard,” Brakis decided with a frown.
“It wasn’t a clear-cut win,” Lucius argued. “Else the Khan’s navy would have moved to blockade Caspo O’ Bor and strangle them. Lord Anker might be forced back to Midlanor in that case.”
“That’s winter time,” Brakis murmured thoughtfully. “Also a lot of time given to the Horselords.”
“Let me see if we have the men needed first,” Lucius told them and ended the meeting.
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The night breeze whistled through the palace garden’s trees and it eased your breathing. Lucius who had still not gotten used to the different weather walked out of his quarters towards the balcony facing east with a gesture for Sir Valgus to remain at his post by the door.
“My Lord, Sir Seleucid wants a portion of the royal guard to travel here,” Sir Valgus informed him.
Lucius paused and stared at the Regia knight. “They are guarding my wives are they not?”
“Queen Faye has men enough at her disposal my lord and Queen Monica never leaves the palace.”
“I see.” Lucius said not wanting to deal with it that night and pointed at the open doors of the large first floor balcony directly over the atrium. “Anyone in there?”
“The Augusta,” Sir Valgus replied.
“By herself?”
“The other priestesses are entertaining the Queen Dowager,” the knight replied. “She requested their presence. They are at the west garden with Lady Maja Nattas.”
“Any word from the younger Merenda?”
“Nothing from the Legatus today my Lord,” Sir Valgus replied.
“Do you want to come outside?” Lucius asked.
“I’ll stand guard my lord,” came the knight’s reply.
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Flavia was standing near the marble guardrails at the edge of the balcony looking at the mostly dark city. The attractive priestess had a thin yellow chiton on and was bathed in the moonlight. Her goddess is having a hand in this probably, Lucius thought and came to stand next to the shorter than him woman. Much older also but it wasn’t easy to guess her age and the priestesses adopted new names after taking up the higher positions. Augusta Flavia was a Vidrix of course, the Lorian family that had settled on Valeria and slowly gained control of the temple they had found there. Since no marriages were common for the priestesses most offspring were born out of wedlock.
“The coastal taverns are still open,” Lucius commented looking at the direction she was looking. “They never really close this time of year.”
“Does King Lucius knows what lays to the southeast?” Flavia asked in a deliberately soft voice. “Beyond the city’s lights and the coast?”
“What heading on a map?”
“A forty-five degrees angle and you’ll head as the crow flies.” Flavia replied and Lucius shook his head impressed with the level of education all priestesses had without attending an academy. Then again they were living inside an Academy after all.
“The Turtle Isles?” He finally replied.
“You’ll miss them to your east,” Flavia said. “But if you maintain that heading you’ll come upon the Split Isles at some point.”
“Ah. The fabled lands beyond the ocean,” Lucius teased her before catching himself. “I guess senior Framtond shared more of his tall tales with the priestesses at some point. I must have skipped that chapter.”
“We learned that from his mother,” Flavia explained looking at him intently.
Lucius nodded not convinced. “Who rules there?”
“Humans control a part.”
“What about the other part?” Lucius asked with a small smile.
“Harpies.”
Lucius laughed trying to be polite and stared at the lights of the lower city reaching the plateau. “Storm wants us to talk with this ‘King’ in Goras.” He told her sobering up.
“You grace refers to Lord Nattas?”
The Augusta was subtly telling him she knew Lord Nattas but not that well.
The rumors were saying otherwise.
“I do. Did you know he had daughter out of wedlock?”
“I didn’t, but it comes as little surprise,” Flavia replied softly. “She’s a quiet girl.”
“Mmm,” Lucius murmured. “Never mind. What about this ruler beyond the Pale Mountains?”
“He’s real.”
“Does he own a Wyvern?” Lucius asked her.
“Many believe he does. Without one, how can he rule over the Zilan?” Flavia wondered.
“One can rule over ruins,” Lucius countered.
“Yet, he helped the three Sisters enough to defeat Prince Nout,” Flavia insisted.
“With the Khan’s armies away and the prince rumored sick for years,” Lucius argued the logical reason.
“Wasn’t Prince Nout the greatest of the Khanate’s generals? Would a sick Lucius be a weak opponent?” Flavia teased and Lucius grimaced. He didn’t like dealing in hypotheticals.
“I think the Horselords minimize Lord Lennox’s contribution here, or not wanting to accept defeat they concocted the story of a faraway benefactor that helped defeat the Gold Leopard.”
Lucius pursed his mouth realizing he had just done the same as her.
“How could Lord Lennox win a battle he’d lost most of his men and his own life?” Flavia asked perceptively. “Perhaps I don’t understand these matters so well your grace. Apologies,” she added seeing Lucius’ deep frown.
“My Lord,” Sir Valgus interrupted them, the armoured knight’s figure appearing in the open balcony garden doors.
“What is it good knight?” Lucius asked.
“Ramirus wants to report a disturbance in the lower city.”
Lucius heard the bells of the city guard ring in the late Salt Coast night as if on cue.
“What happened?” He asked narrowing his eyes.
20th Quintus of 194 NC
Domus Di Alden
Ramirus had the eyes of a man that hadn’t slept at all and there was dry blood smearing his blue tunic at the hem. The Director of LID waited for Lucius to read the casualty list Bolton had given him. The king tossed the papyrus on the desk and stared at the two intelligence officers intently.
“Nine people were killed?” He asked them in a brusque manner.
“And several injured,” Ramirus replied raspingly, his trimmed short black beard and tanned skin making his face appear dark in the well-lit lavish office but for the clear blue eyes. “Two agents amongst the dead, a legionnaire on leave serving with the 4th and we have a Demames Captain that was out for a late night drink with his wife gravely injured.”
“Uher’s mercy. What kind of injury?” Lucius asked with a grimace.
“A blade to the throat,” Ramirus clenched his fists. “Two of the culprits broke out of the crowd and jumped in the sea, then swam away in the darkness. The third went out of the front doors and killed the second LID agent inside a stable. The man was found beheaded.”
“Good grief,” Lucius grunted. “Was it random or it had something to do with your agency Ramirus?”
“According to surviving witnesses,” Ramirus replied. “One of the agents yelled ‘kingslayers’ sire afore those three went berserk. He may have identified them as men working for Laudus just before that.”
Lucius pursed his mouth a little surprised.
“Two Issirs or half-breeds with dark skin milord,” Bolton elucidated. “A male and a female. The third culprit was also a female but a Cofol.”
The king smacked his lips frustrated. “Laudus known associates?”
“Never employed women. And they are overwhelmingly Lorian but for a known Nord,” Ramirus replied.
“What’s the working theory here Ramirus?” Lucius asked. “They are here to attempt another murder?”
“With your grace in the city, it is a concern.” Ramirus admitted. “We are scouring all neighborhoods to locate them but Aegium is packed with visitors at this point.”
“Director,” Bolton intervened. Lucius glanced at him and then at Ramirus.
“There’s another hypothesis gentlemen?” He queried evenly.
“There is a reward offered from the Bank of Trust for the head of Lear Hik. Dead or alive,” Ramirus said and reached inside his chest armour to get a dirty hankie out. He used it to clean his gold signet ring that Lucius noticed that it was covered in blood. “A lot of manhunters are on the move my Lord.”
“The bounty hunter looking for Laudus?” Lucius queried.
“It is said he may have killed one of the Marquise’s sons and the daughter of Baron D’Orsi. Old Federico Mclean is probably behind the reward offered. Two thousand gold Eagles sire. That’s twice what we offered for Jeremy’s killers and we are searching for multiple people.”
“Hik decided to wage war against Atetalerso? These men grew up together. Which daughter?”
“Lady Eleonora sire. His late brother’s daughter. Sir Laurent’s that is.”
“Sir Laurent D’Orsi was killed during the Warbands Rebellion,” Lucius murmured and pushed back on the armchair. “I didn’t know he had a daughter. Why would Hik kill her? He was a friend of her father.”
“We’ve yet to learn a reason sire,” Ramirus replied. “Other than that they were both in Badum.”
“Looking for Laudus,” Lucius added.
“It is the most logical explanation. An argument occurred and Hik killed them according to a witness.”
“Where is the witness?”
“He’s been held in Asturia in a house next to the bank’s main office there. He may be implicated in some unlawful activity himself.” Ramirus explained.
Great.
“Held?”
“Lord Bernard was the first to be informed of the incident and ordered this bounty hunter to remain in the city under guard until everything is cleared. The Bank is negotiating with Lord Bernard for his release. Apparently there were more people killed around Irde. Local Issirs, criminals, bounty hunters and some Lorian sell-swords from Asturia. The local authorities asked Asturia to assist in apprehending the culprits.”
“What happened there Ramirus? Is this about the reward?” Lucius asked feeling responsible for the mess as he was disinclined from the beginning to involve third party help.
“We don’t know what happened in Irde sire but perhaps these three were talking about it or were drawn here by a different reward. They were very skilled… killers my Lord.”
“Professionals?” Lucius puffed out and gazed at the morning sun outside his office window for a long moment. “Why did they come here? Take orders from the Bank?”
“We have the local office under surveillance sire. All roads are guarded for people matching their description and I secured permits from the Dukes to search their ships. Demames and Illirium authorities have been notified. I’m not optimistic we will get them.”
Lucius stared in his face in deep silence. “Let me hear it Director,” he finally said warningly. Ramirus grimaced, lines forming around his eyes and then reached inside his chest armour to retrieve a purse he’d secured with a cord. He opened it and fished out a square gold coin. Ramirus approached the desk and placed it in front of Lucius.
The King stared at the thick coin with the perfectly cut sides and the carved eye of Oras at its center. He touched it with the index finger.
“It’s a repurposed Old Imperial Coin,” Ramirus explained. “Very rare. It is believed that it belongs to one of the culprits and it must have fallen out of their pockets in the confusion.”
“You were going another way earlier when you talked about skilled killers,” Lucius said hoarsely.
“Lindsey was a very-skilled warrior. Former ranger and excellent with a sword,” Ramirus explained. “A woman two heads shorter than him, armed with a dagger took him out in two seconds sire. Stabbed him six-times in that time according to a waitress standing not a meter away. Then the woman leaped over two tables packed with people like an insect, whilst her accomplice stepped behind a decorative plant and disappeared into thin air. The same number of wounds we found on the slain legionnaire on the other exit of the tavern. Even the pattern was identical though the killers weren’t.”
Assassins.
“Why would the Bank contact the Silent Servants Guild?” Lucius asked tiredly. “If we’re to believe everything history teaches us of them and take it as fact, then you never know what they will ask you as payment. Remember the old tale? The Baron’s favorite horse right? The Bank has enough men to handle this on its own without resorting to the supernatural.”
A Baron of a faraway land had his favorite hen stolen by his neighbor. It was an energetic healthy hen that produced large often double yolk eggs and it was the second most favorite of the Baron’s possessions the tale goes. The other been a stallion that produced thoroughbreds. The aggrieved Baron got blinded by hatred when he was informed that his neighbor had dined on the Baron’s prized hen and out of spite he called on God Oras to send one of his Servants to right the wrong done unto him. A Servant appeared days later while the Baron was tending his garden with the heads of both his neighbor and his bountiful wife.
Apparently the man had stolen the hen to please her.
While the Baron stood in shock and stared at the gruesome offerings, the Silent Servant informed him dispassionately that the Guild wanted his prized stallion as payment for the contract. The Baron protested and declared that the Servant would get his hands on the beautiful horse only over his dead body. After a thoughtful pause the Servant accepted the amendment to their deal. Killed the Baron and took his horse.
The story preaching that you don’t call on the Guild for shallow reasons else it might backfire on you.
“Men fail but not the Guild, is also what the tale teaches us. Maybe they were invited by someone else and for this very reason. More interested in having the bounty hunter fully dead than dragged back to face Mclean’s wrath. With more to lose than simply avenging a lost niece or a relative. The injured Captain said they were talking about Hik.” Ramirus explained. “The Bank has offices everywhere and Mclean rarely leaves Atetalerso, yet they came here of all places for they needed to speak directly with whomever summoned them. Aegium is full of people that could have had your brother killed sire and that’s as powerful a motive.”
Those responsible are still here was his meaning.
> There was an incident in one of the seaside taverns in New City. The army remained on alert for weeks and arrests were made but the culprits slipped away.
>
> Legatus Sula volunteered to personally lead the foray beyond the Krakentrap Straits given the new timeline but the King refused to allow it. He did place the Legatus in charge of the operation along with Sir Vel Sextus-Brakis and Captain Peter Brakis was tasked with leading the flotilla. Duke Paulus wanted Lord Drusus to take the lead over his more distant kin but the King turned the proposal down. Duke Brakis suggested Ser De Hond but this was also turned down as the man had little military experience. A compromise was reached with the Legatus staying on land with the 4th Legion and Prefect Valens taking the lead of the legionaries aboard the ships.
>
> Much to Lady Martha’s chagrin who protested vigorously to the king for ‘risking Nonus’ life again’. King Lucius reminded her that it was he in fact that had kept the Legatus from the worst and that ‘Nonus always volunteers my Lady. You do that in the army you’re going to get picked.’
>
> While it was months ahead of time and many things could change in the field in the meantime, the coded vague name for the units to know that the operation was indeed on and they were to attack was agreed upon beforehand and was distributed down the officer ranks.
>
> The phrase suggested by the King was ‘Larum in caelo’ in archaic Lorian.
>
> Seagull in the sky.