Waking up early the next morning they didn’t have much time to talk with Val before heading off to the mayor’s villa in the centre of the city. He hadn’t been entirely sure about it but a few words of encouragement from Ercole and Hreysti had been enough to get him going. It was so early that the city was still bathed in the morning orange glow of the rising sun. In that light the city walls and watch towers cast stark shadows across the streets as they walked around and around the spiralling streets upwards. Thankfully the spiral layout made the climb more comfortable, but Dyo couldn’t help but think that even this might be a part of the city’s defence.
Eventually, though they reached the top and the small set of walls surrounding the fortified villa at the centre of the city, with its gates open yet guarded, inviting them in.
Inside was Dyo’s second nature-related shock in the city as around the villa was a lush, well-manicured garden. A stream of water flowed down a channel inlayed into the steps and down the path ending at a small pool in front of the gates. Around the path was a menagerie of greens and browns from the olive trees lining it and casting blissful shade onto it.
And at the end of that path at the top of those stairs was the villa itself. Fortified over the years, the original villa was encased in a patchwork thick wall of stone that shored up the original walls and introduced battlements, lookout positions, and towers.
But a grand entrance still remained, though the doors had been reinforced. Yet strangely the doors were open yet again and at the threshold stood a well-dressed servant flanked by two Armatee clad in mail armour and great helms, hands on the hilts of their swords.
As they approached the servant bowed with the tassels of his chaperon dangling from his head. “Greetings honoured guests; I hope our message didn’t disturb your afternoon last night.”
Dyo stepped forth, not bowing as instructed by Ercole. He was a son of the divine, mortal servants were not people he had to bow to according to convention and could be a breach of etiquette. “It did not, but we still haven’t been told why we have been summoned.”
“You’ve been summoned for a meeting with the mayor and chair of the city council, that is all, and you can be assured that anything discussed will be private, as even I, her aide, do not know what she has on the agenda.”
Dyo, Shani, and Ercole all raised an eyebrow at that. “May you lead us in then?” Dyo asked cautiously, quickly glancing back to the rest of the group forming closer together behind him. He also couldn’t help but notice Shani staring down the Armatee. While everyone else had donned their most formal clothes with Ercole for once putting on a proper doublet, Shani had decided to play the role of guard and was in full armour with spear and shield in hand.
Hopefully, that’d be enough combined with his assumed powers to stop any threats.
The aide nodded, “Come right with me divine one.”
Walking through the door they were greeted by a villa courtyard surrounded by a covered walkway connected to countless offices with bureaucrats milling around. But they were soon inside the main building and traversing its decorated corridors before quickly arriving at a set of large wooden doors that creaked open for them.
What they were met with was the city’s council room cast half in shadow, half in rays of light. It was a modest hall decorated with frescos of scenes from old Emor that had been meticulously preserved over the years. Arrayed around the room were polished wooden benches that all surrounded a central open space headed up by an oak throne.
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It was in no way kingly but clear craftsmanship had been put into its construction with it sitting upon a granite dais that put it above all those who’d stand before it. Sat in it was the mayor herself. She was richly dressed in an embroidered blue and grey houppelande that flowed to the ground and was lined with light fur. Her gaze was firm and unyielding, staring straight at Dyo without any hint of fear or surprise.
“Come forth.” She beckoned flatly with a wave of her hand, “But please leave your hireling guard by the door.”
He didn’t like her already, “They’re a member of my retinue,” He replied curtly, “I won’t speak to you if she’s not allowed in with me and my fellow friends.”
He caught a slight smile from Ercole as the mayor sighed. “Then they can come in.”
They walked forward, taking positions at the foot of the dais. If one could only see the look in the mayor’s eyes and not see the people below her, they’d probably think that she was looking down at any other petitioner and not the grand ensemble actually before her. To be honest to himself it was slightly unnerving to him how calm and unimpressed she was when compared to anyone else he’d met in the city.
“So, what brought you here demigod?”
Again, it seemed almost like she had some sort of trick up her sleeves… Or it could be that she was just trying to create the impression of it…
“Me and my friends are just stopping here for rest before we continue our travels across the north of the Republic.”
She raised an eyebrow, perhaps noticing the lack of any mention of her title or name. But if she wasn’t going to introduce herself properly and start like this he might as well use the ability to ignore it given that he should have the higher position. Again, if Ercole wasn’t lying that is.
“I am Necia Opsius Ennius, Mayor of Mijerno and descendent of the general Vibius Opsius Ennius, ally of dragons.” She said, her tone expecting something.
“And I am Dyonaigus Calsyniacus, son of Calsyniacus the fourteenth of the fourteen high gods and of Salonia Pennus of Aloreia.”
Necia’s eyes affixed Dyo her fingers started to rap against the arm of her throne. “The gate guards very much said so and were very impressed by your magic.”
“Are you trying to suggest I’m not who I say I am?” He asked, starting to draw his magic still he was suddenly stopped by Ercole firmly placing his hand against their shoulder, probably sensing the buildup.
“I wouldn’t lie, I do have my suspicions of reported sightings of demigods, especially when they come from some of the lower members of the City State Militia. But looking upon you now… I can confidently believe they were telling the truth. You mentioned Aloreia though…”
“What about it?”
“Where is it?”
“Estria”
She nodded slowly. “I see why you’re on edge now but there’s no need to worry here. I’m not a rash, inexperienced fool like the young prince is. I am far more reasonable.”
“I’m not worried about you trying to imprison me, I doubt anyone with the wisdom you have would try to.”
His glare affixed her as they locked eyes in an invisible battle, the two eying each other up and gauging the other’s intentions and what they could say without spiking tensions further.
“And that’s not what I’ve brought you here for.”
“And what is it that you have made us come for!?”
She swallowed, “You saw my god-awful distant cousin at the gate yesterday, he somehow managed to argue his way into the city.”
“We’re not assassins.” Dyo snapped.
“And I was not going to ask you to gods damned kill him!” She retorted back with a huff, “It’d be too messy anyway, too difficult… Instead, what I’m concerned with, rather than his massive ego, is what he’s here for.”
Dyo looked at Necia warily. It was certain that the presence of the man infuriated the mayor and possibly posed some sort of challenge to her, but if his part of the family had been disgraced and he only had a few bodyguards, surely, he’d just be a small thorn in her side. Nothing more. Maybe she was bringing it up to keep him and the group occupied? Have the “troublemaking” adventurers go after some pompous noble instead of anything else they might do. But by the look in her eyes, she seemed serious…
“What is he here for?”
She snapped her fingers and an Armatee walked out from the shadows behind her throne, fully armed and armoured with a letter in hand that they passed to Necia. Then they retreated back, slipping back into the shadows.
“Drusus sent this letter to me shortly before his arrival declaring in his usual sickeningly arrogant tone that he was reclaiming the treasure of my family.”
Her tone dripped with venom as she said it with her hands holding the scrappy parchment like it was a bloodied pig’s liver.
“Do you mean Vibius’s lost riches!?”
“Exactly that.”