Two weeks ago, Ean Fleming was out plowing fields and sowing seeds. He'd never met a king, let alone held a conversation with one. Now he was standing in the royal castle court in the capital city of the Kingdom of Argonia, his knees knocking so hard they echoed off the stone walls.
The young King of Argonia, Edgard Lionshield, paced about the dais of his magnificent throne room, resplendent in his regal attire. In his right hand was a thin strip of parchment. He approached Ean and shoved the parchment into his face.
His voice a blend of intrigue and severity, the king asked, "Can you read this?"
Encrypted_Message-01 added to Inventory
Ean took the parchment and examined it closely. It had a single sentence written on it.
ELDNIRB SERAPERP ROF RAW
The king wanted an answer, but no matter how Ean looked at the message, he couldn't get his brain to see anything but gibberish. "I… am afraid not, sire," he admitted, his voice respectful and slightly regretful.
A shadow of disappointment came over the king's face. "I see," he murmured, his lips curving into a fleeting frown.
As the king paced, Ean gawked at the opulent grandeur of the throne room. Intricate tapestries depicting the glorious history of Argonia adorned the walls. The heroic figures on the tapestries stared at Ean, challenging him to join them or fade into oblivion.
The King of Argonia's stern demeanor gradually relaxed, replaced by a hint of empathy. "Apprentice Spymaster, I realize you have only been on the job for a week. The poisoning death of your master, and my friend, leaves the kingdom in turmoil."
Ean's heart sank as he recalled the tragic events that had led him here. In a voice laced with sorrow, "It was… a terrible loss, your highness," he replied.
The king nodded solemnly. "There are rumors that in the north, the Empire of Brindle is building up their military. I must decide how the kingdom will react to the rumors. The most vocal of my advisors are demanding we scale up our military to match. Others advocate for diplomacy. The eldest assure me the emperor is looking for attention and counsel me to ignore him. To make the best decision, I need information.
"This coded message may contain vital information, so you and I will need to grieve your master later. He took you on as his apprentice because you are clever. Prove him right by deciphering this message.”
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Ean’s gaze hardened with resolve. “I will not sleep until I find a way to read it, sire,” he vowed, his heart echoing the weight of the task entrusted to him.
QUEST ACCEPTED: Q-001 Decipher Encrypted_Message-01
The king gestured approval. "I appreciate your dedication. That is why I am promoting you to interim Spymaster of Argonia."
Ean's breath caught in his throat while his mind reeled from the sudden promotion. "Your highness," he stammered, his eyes wide with shock.
The king raised a commanding hand. "Your first quest, interim Spymaster, is to find someone to train you in the ways of secret codes, ciphers, and spycraft."
He stared hard into Ean's eyes. "What I am about to tell you is a state secret. Reveal it to no one upon penalty of death."
Ean's voice trembled with a mix of awe and trepidation. "Yes....yes, sire. I will d-die before I tell anyone." Who was a simple farmboy to do anything less when commanded by his sovereign?
The king's gaze intensified as he leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "When I was an infant, a Master Spymaster defected to our kingdom. He is retired now and runs a local bookstore." The king stared off into the distance, lost in a memory. "As a boy, he often read my favorite story, The King With Six Friends. I wanted to grow up to be like the king in the book."
He shook off the memory and addressed Ean. "Take the coded message and inform him I require his services. Study hard and repay the trust I have placed in you."
Ean's mind raced as he absorbed the king's words. A retired Master Spymaster? Hiding in Argonia Central? This was a game-changer. "I won't let you down, sire," he affirmed.
QUEST ACCEPTED: Q-002 Seek out the master spymaster
The king nodded, his eyes reflecting a glimmer of hope amidst the uncertainty that clouded the kingdom's future. "Until we know how your master died, the castle is not safe for you. Find someplace safe but close enough I can call on you. I am counting on you, Spymaster Fleming."
With a final bow, Ean backed away from the throne, his footsteps echoing in the cavernous hall. As the heavy doors of the throne room swung shut behind him, Ean took a deep, calming breath. The weight of his new responsibilities settled upon his shoulders. He would honor his master's legacy and safeguard the kingdom, no matter the cost.
Feeling lightheaded and woozy, Ean exited the castle's imposing gates and entered the bustling commercial hub of Argonia Central. Surrounded by the structures that housed the hopes and transactions of his kingdom, he couldn't help but feel like an insignificant cog in the complex machine of governance.
The founders of Argonia Central gave the city and region its name as a grand gesture of bravado. The region was bordered by Argonia North, Argonia West and Argonia East. At the southern border was a vast ocean, which the first king bragged his mighty naval fleet would rule over as Argonia South.
Around him, the residents of Argonia Central went about their daily affairs, unaware of the clandestine world of subterfuge and intrigue he now inhabited. In the open-air stalls, shopkeepers hawked their wares, merchants negotiated prices, and children darted between their parent's legs. No one was selling books.
Ean left the sounds of the market behind and ventured into the oldest part of town. Here, ancient two-story stone block buildings housed artisans on the top floor and their workshops and studios on the bottom floor. Blacksmiths converted ore into metal tools while glassblowers and pottery makers turned stone, dirt, and fire into glass and ceramic containers. In a back alley, between a butcher shop and a small grocer, he found a bookshop.