It was still a little strange for Ercole to be inside the city and not to be completely overwhelmed by the scent of shit and the general stench of humanity. It was not that cities outside the republic didn’t have sewers, or had lost the knowledge, but it was certainly less of a concern for the rulers, with open sewers becoming the norm where Republican Empire era closed ones weren’t repaired after the Republic’s collapse and consolidation.
The architecture was also a breath of fresh air with the wonderful blend of eras that melded together in wonderful ways. Intact buildings from earlier eras were more of a rarity in other places as most were scavenged for their materials to build anew and to consolidate repairs onto only a few buildings in the urban core. Combine that with the fascinating militarisation of the city in response to the now constant and powerful threat of the Neuhderland Empire just across the river. It was the sort of development he wished someone had written a treatise on but alas, he hadn’t found one yet and architecture wasn’t his field of expertise.
“Ercole!”
Agrippa’s hiss gently woke Ercole from his musings as his gaze wandered over to them. “Yes?”
They were, rather suspiciously, leaning against the stone walls of a townhouse and pointing down the street. “Didn’t Val say this is the place where he’d be, since he wasn’t in ours?”
“Yes, it is, but I’d suggest you stop doing that, you’re drawing more than a few looks.”
They quickly took around, noticed the fair few glances they were getting from passing pedestrians, and then gingerly plied themself from the wall. “Sorry…”
“I doubt anyone over there has seen you and to answer your question, yes, it is the inn Val pointed us to.”
“It doesn’t look all that impressive, or uh- just not that much better than ours.”
He leaned over and took another look at it from behind the corner. Sure enough, it somewhat blended in with the surrounding newer buildings made of sandstone blocks, but it had signs of an upper-class establishment. Statuettes of Hetheia, the thirteenth of the Fourteen and the goddess of the hearth and home, Calsynicaus, the last of the Fourteen, and Tavelius the god of taverns, inns, and all manner of assorted places where travellers stayed, were scattered about in small alcoves around the building’s facade. That suggested a good level of wealth from the builder of the establishment, only reinforced by the presence of a tapestry hanging from the second floor and a well-crafted one at that. The Palm of Tavelius…
Pulling back he readjusted his scarf to look as roguishly handsome as possible and straightened his clothes as he turned back to Agrippa with a small smile. “So then, shall we enter the breach dear?”
----------------------------------------
The inside of the place certainly didn’t disappoint either. Inside The Palm of Tavelius was filled with well-built furniture, a rack of good wine at the back, and very well-dressed travellers. Certainly, the place where a pompous ignoramus with more money than education or sense would stay at - not that there were many other places for them to go in this city.
Manning the bar were a few people, about two servants and what Ercole presumed to be the owner. He had light olive skin, well-kept black hair, and an aura of unearned dignity. Or at least that’s what Ercole felt was the man’s status. Innkeepers in upscale establishments tended not to have many glorious experiences. But, all one needed to do with these sorts of people to get them talking was to make an impression.
Ercole moved up to the counter, leaning onto it with a smug, but dignified expression painted across his face. “Greetings! I am a traveller from Pandaros and this fine lady is my companion. We’ve just entered the city and by any chance do you have some wine from Thessala? Perhaps a mountain red?” He said in the most authentic Cudeshian noble accent he could muster.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
The owner turned round caught with surprise, scanning the two up and down before smiling, “Ah! We don’t get people from this far afield very often, and I’m very glad to see you have excellent taste.”
Said as if the assumption was that I wouldn’t…
Ercole kept his expression up. “I’m Meri, and my companion is Lucia. May I ask for yours?”
Another pause.
“Buto. Oh- and, before I forget do you have-“
Ercole placed two Caputs onto the table as he felt the familiar anguish rising in his gut as his facade began to weaken. “I’m not a pauper.”
“You’re certainly not good sir!” The Buto stammered, “It was simply policy! Atainius, fetch the guests their wine!”
An uneasy quiet fell over the two as the wine was fetched with even Agrippa staying silent as they looked between the two as they worked to figure out what was going on.
Finally, the wine was delivered - two mid-sized cups - and Ercole took an appreciative sip, savouring the flavour. While his appreciation of it could never match Dyo’s given his divine predisposition, identifying the notes was nonetheless satisfying. It was deep, very deep, with slight earthy notes. Sure enough, he hadn’t been cheated out of what he ordered this time, but it hadn’t been watered down and the wine in his cup had been served straight…
“So, I was supposed to meet up with a man here for a business deal. A Drusus Opsius Nepotianus, I was told he might be around here in our last correspondence.”
The owner looked at him with firm eyes, “And why would he be working with a Southern-“
Ercole didn’t let him finish that sentence as his patience finally snapped. He grabbed the collar of the man’s doublet and yanked him towards himself as he channelled some of the magic in his hands to make the gems in his rings glow, all done before they could react.
“You-!”
“Now listen to me Buto…” Ercole growled, dropping the fake accent and returning to his Gaulik one, “I’m not who you think I am and I have far more influence than the normal traveller, and far more power. So I want you to answer my question before you become my family’s enemy, is Drusus staying here, and where can I find him now.”
“He- He- He’s out!” Buto spluttered, his eyes going wild with panic as Ercole’s gaze bore into him with fury and none of the patrons or staff dived in the save him. “I don’t know where! He just said he was going to question some suspects down in the merchants’ district and then follow his leads to ‘his rightful birthright’! You should know what that is right!? Y-you’ve got enough!? I’m sure if you can’t find him he’ll be back here in the evening!”
Ercole held him there still for a few more moments as he searched the man’s face before finally letting him go. “Good, now I’d suggest you keep that between us, you don’t want Drusus to know that you held up one of his guests, do you?”
The owner shook his head furiously, “I won’t! Not on my honour!”
“Well then, we will hopefully never meet again. That is unless I need to catch up with him back here. Let’s go, Lucia.”
With that Ercole wrapped his arm around the now somewhat dumbfounded Agrippa, downed the rest of his and their wine, and walked out with Agrippa in toe. Then, when they finally had made it out of the door and out of sight of the patrons, he slipped his arm away from them and let out a long, strained, groan. “I’m going to need to find some good whores tonight…”
“You- what- What went on there!?” Agrippa stammered, “There was so much tension in there and- How!?”
He let out a dry chuckle with no smile, “You didn’t see it, did you? The man didn’t respect me as soon as he laid eyes on me and my false accent and confession of being an outsider made him respect me even less. It was like with the toll man on the bridge as well, and many a time before.”
The realisation clicked into place in Agrippa’s head as their eyes turned down, “I’m Sorry…”
Ercole chuckled again, this time his mouth curling up a little around the edges, “You have nothing to be sorry for, you and everyone else in our little group have been very nice to me and I have to thank you all for that at some point.”
“But we’ve just been treating you like a normal person! Just because some people are dicks doesn’t mean you have to thank us for the basics!”
“I know, I know, but I have to show my gratitude for basic things sometimes, it puts me above most other nobles.”
“And a whore… Don’t you think it’s a little unhealthy to-“
“It isn’t. Don’t worry, when I get to finding one we can tag along unless you want to save yourself for Val”
Agrippa’s face turned a deep red but Ercole was already walking and waving for them to come along with a broad smile by the time they regained their composure.