Chapter 11 : Acting City Lord
The frosty shadows of the night fell back as the warm embrace of the morning sun brought the city of Breccon out of its slumber. Maynor Rhemott and his staff however hadn't slept one bit and were still busy securing the manor.
Following yesterday's incident the previous tenants – Mavruc Moor himself now excluded of course – had read the atmosphere and left the manor in a hurry along with anything they could grab. On top of the mess they had made there were also the ongoing renovations to manoeuvre around. Maynor had done his best to fortify the claim and mark it with his own possessions, but there had been frequent interruptions.
Aside from Maynor's rivals who were already probing for opportunities, a dozen or so spooked but gossip-starved acquaintances had decided that it somehow fell upon Maynor to temper the the strange mood. As expected, the mysterious woman who savagely ended two powerful city lords in seconds had caused no small amount of bewilderment. Aside from Maynor a few curious adventurers and nobles had also used gauge on the woman. However, unlike Maynor they all chose to remain hidden spectators in the alleyways and buildings surrounding the grisly town square.
What had the two talked about? Was she a saint in disguise, here to sort out the Moor family situation? Or was she some sort of high level hermit? Could she be the legendary witch Death-eye who was last seen a thousand years ago? Perhaps it was all a fluke, some sort of trick or illusion?
Maynor kept it cool and said very little about his conversation with the woman. They had come to a provisional agreement regarding the manor ownership, that was all. The general populous likely didn't have a problem with the manor falling back under the Rhemott family's control. In hindsight, Maynor's brother had at least been somewhat well liked, unlike Mavruc Moor.
Now Maynor stood frowning at a couple of vulgar paintings hanging askew in the manor's reception hall. They would have to be replaced, and quickly.
He shifted his gaze to a freshly compiled inventory list brought over by a maid, pleased to notice that the Moors did leave some stuff of interest behind. The question was, what would placate the woman if she showed up?
––o––
Meanwhile, a certain mother and daughter walked towards the southern city gate. They had spent a few copper visiting the nearly empty public bath first thing early in the morning, then a whole two silver on nice new clothes and shoes. The nervous looking shop owner had given them a substantial discount for some reason.
It was weird for them to be out walking in public like this, but they felt somewhat defiant and confident given recent events. Plus, Zhoey had a few important errands to take care of. She fortunately hadn't seen the embarrassing "Wretch of Breccon" wanted posters still up anywhere.
The pair came to a stop outside of a quaint looking pottery shop. Zhoey had been confused about the quest given by the mysterious white snake, but upon seeing the shop window she gained some insight. There were a lot of sculptures on display. The pieces weren't bad, except for one. It was a figure of a hideous demon woman, really quite unflattering. Seemingly intentionally so.
Thama didn't seem to notice it, but Zhoey stared at the thing. Could it possibly be a blashemous portrait of her benefactor? Well, Zhoey didn't like the statue either.
Inside the store a man wearing a large conical green hat snuck forward, rolled a three-sided sign in the window from "Open" to "Closed for lunch". Strange – it was still morning. Zhoey would return later. Perhaps after dark.
Their last errand drew them towards the manor. When they approached at the gate a large man on guard rushed in and a much smaller man rushed out, but then immediately shifted to cautions steps. Zhoey recognised him from yesterday, but he seemed to struggle doing the same. Then he suddenly became unsteady and had to support himself against a pile of wooden planks. Looking somewhat stricken, he faced Zhoey, cleared his voice and put on a smile which seemed somewhat genuine.
"We meet again, city lord."
––o––
The woman looks completely different! What's going on? Maynor had no clue, and he wouldn't pry. He'd take no chances or he'd turn into minced meat. He'd have to give her the manor if she was interested, but yesterday it didn't seem like she was. Did she perhaps change her mind?
And who was the other woman? It didn't matter. She was probably incredibly dangerous too. None of them wore any cosmetics or perfume, but rather oozed of high level vitality.
"This is where you issue papers?", the unknown woman asked with a neutral but pleasant voice.
"Certainly. What do you need them to say?", Maynor quickly responded, deciding to be very, very flexible.
"Identity papers. We... unfortunately lost ours years ago."
"Ah, right. Yes, we can issue those from here, no problem!"
It wasn't quite true. The city lord would often sign documents, but the work was actually done in an building elsewhere in the city. The two seemed unaware. Maynor made an inviting gesture towards the still open gate.
"Would you like to step into... the manor.", he caught himself, keeping ownership neural.
The fall blade tossing menace looked hesitant but once the older woman walked right in she quickly followed. Now when he thought about it, it seemed like they could be closely related. He caught up and lead them past the outer garden, underneath which the dungeons lay, and towards the inner manor and one of the offices.
"I am Maynor Rhemott. My family was deeply wronged by the previous city lord, too...", he tried, before shifting focus, "Now, regarding the identity papers, I would need... the names you want to appear on those. And some other minor details."
Would they give their real names? He didn't care. Didn't care at all.
"Right, I am Thama Garnet and this is my daughter Zhoey. We're soon moving to the capital where we have roots. We just need to tie up a few loose ends here."
Maynor didn't recognise the names but nodded politely at them while quickly reshaping plans in his head, hiding both his excitement and dread. He wasn't one of the loose ends, was he?
"Ah, I see, I see. So...the city lord does not plan to stay in the city?"
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"No.", the daughter answered simply.
"...but you will perhaps need an intermediary to handle the position?", Maynor said with his most relaxed, by-the-way tone.
"Sure, whatever."
Maynor beamed a smile and held open the door to the main office, waited for the two to enter then made wild silent head gestures towards one of his maids who had kept out of the way so far. He hoped she got the signal.
"Then let us discuss that and sort out your papers."
In the room stood a fancy table and a few comfy chairs. On the floor laid a thick red rug with elaborate golden patterns. The paintings on the wall had fortunately just been replaced with some from his collection, showing saints and various historical figures. He caught up again, jogging in a half circle around them in order to present their seats, except he gestured at all of the seats as he'd simply pick the one left over.
Moment after they were all seated, the maid appeared carrying a tray with the finest refreshments, straight from the bakeries. One by one she placed small plates and glasses down on the table. The daughter seemed to pay great interest to the procedure.
Maynor was relieved to see a second servant appearing with writing instruments and paper, having picked up his cues.
"I'll just quickly take your details then."
The two women women answered his series of questions while engaging the refreshments with more interest. Maynor had crossed his legs and wore his scholar face, only briefly looking up.
"..and how do you spell that?", "...Uhum.", "Interesting", "Right.", "You have some relatives in the capital you say.", "Ah, you don't know? That's fine, we don't need to bother with this minor detail, I'll have it sorted out later.", "Should I put... City Lord of Breccon on social status?", "Great – that was the last item."
He handed the papers to a servant on standby, uncrossed his legs then slapped and clasped his thighs, discretely wiping off some sweat.
"We'll have the papers done by first noon at the latest I should say. Now, regarding the city management, I happen to have some experience myself. Usually, this position is called Acting City Lord' when the actual city lord is away on business.", he explained, then quickly added, "But all power still rests with the actual city lord if when or if she returns, of course."
"That's fine.", the new city lord answered, then shifted to a complicated expression for a while, "Do... you have a library in the manor? We're looking for some books. Alchemy, Smithing... and, uh..."
"Etiquette.", the mother added.
Maynor tried to repress his joy, and was momentarily stumped by the new problem. The manor did have a library. Not all of the books had been taken. However, he could simply grab some books from his own collection or- suddenly he got an idea.
"Well, unfortunately the previous last city lord made a bit of a mess here, why don't we head over to a book store and pick them up? Don't worry about the cost – it's on the city."
"Right now? Why not?", the mother responded.
Fabulous! This way he would be seen escorting them in public. The word would spread. It would essentially be a ratification of his position, and protection – who would dare to challenge this menace of a city lord, even indirectly? It would be pure insanity. Also, some of Maynor's enemies would no doubt get curious and use gauge on her.
But the best part about all of this was that with the actual city lord being located over in the capital, well, he was just the acting city lord, wasn't he? At level 18 he was five, ten, fifteen levels short of most city lords and challengers. However, he would just redirect them. Ah, you seek to challenge the city lord? She's in the capital on business but I'll send a letter. By the way, she's well over level 40, ask anyone here. Oh, you lost interest right now? That's good, We really don't want to trouble her unnecessarily, do we?
Such little fantasies played in his head as he escorted them out of the manor. He then took the most advantageous route he knew to reach the book store. He walked them past the Adventurer's Guild, stopping to casually in clear line of sight to comment on something. Then the entourage proceeded to the street with Ms. Echelzin's tea house and Madame Emmeroo's Emporium. He knew the rich wives would notice and talk most of all.
By making careful conversation he found out that the mother had some talent as a smith and wanted to open a shop, whilst the daughter likely lacked, well, formal education, and was apparently seeking a place of learning. He would arrange transport, a small budget for the smithy, and an- uh, impartial letter of recommendation to the capital's academy. It would temporarily eat into his private savings, but it was well worth it.
The clerk in the book store was a tall lanky man who had no problem reaching the top shelves. He approached Maynor with long eager confident steps, stroking the long whiskers of his waxed mustache. Maynor introduced the women before the man could speak.
"Good morning bookman Tahler. This is Zhoey Garnet, our new City Lord.", he almost spelled the last part out as he knew the clerk didn't have gauge, "...and her esteemed mother, Thama. We came here to browse your store and make a small purchase."
"Ah? Oooh. Oh! I see. It's... it's a pleasure to meet you."
Maynor chuckled inside as the man pieced things together and went through a variety of expressions, finally settling on an unsteady smile and a hasty little double bow.
They ended up getting a few extra books about this and that which seemed to interest the pair. They had gotten "The Art of Alchemy – Volume I", "Smithing. By D.Dorf", "Etiquette and Vocabulary by H.Clinkette", "Ammott's Everycraft Handbook – third edition", and finally "The Household Encyclopedia and Dictionary".
Fortunately, upon settling the bill Maynor found it perhaps expectedly easy to negotiate a small discount for the city lord, or rather, his own purse as it were.
When they parted for the day, and Maynor was a little sad he hadn't managed to escort them by a few more places.
––o––
"That went... pretty well.", Thama voiced after a moment of contemplation as they prepared to stroll back towards their hideout shed in the outskirts. Thama quite needlessly carried a bag with five heavy books, but at her level it didn't bother her in the least.
Up ahead, a young man – likely with cold resistance as he wore almost nothing – had jumped out of a deep snowbank to play a stupid prank on some ladies. In this part of the city most adults near level ten were only wearing light winter clothes, often quite colourful and with fur elements more for show than practicality.
Thama continued, "...I thought maybe they'd make a big fuss and a bunch of guards would come running waving spears. Instead everyone just looked a little cautious. You must have put on quite the show yesterday, you silly girl."
She ruffled Zhoey's hair, then frowned.
"But we need to do something about this mess."
They managed to get directions to a barber shop. Upon entering it they were greeted by a puzzled man with a finely braided beard.
"Oh, I want those!", Zhoey quickly exclaimed, pointing at the beard.
When hearing womens' voices all of the customers spun their heads, shooting gazes. A man in the process of getting shaved nearly got his neck nicked.
Thama looked back and forth between the barber's beard and her daughter.
"Hmmm. Well I don't think a beard would work, but those sort of braids might really suit you."
The barber wore a troubled expression.
"Apologies, but this is a barber shop... for men. M-mostly for men?", the barber trailed off.
Thama squeezed her daughter, as if presenting her.
"Aww... can't you make an exception? She really likes the braids. Did you do them yourself or was it someone here?"
Soon, Zhoey sat in a chair getting her hair finely braided. It all happened in complete silence. Were barbershops usually this quiet? Perhaps men just don't talk much.
It was meticulous work taking almost an hour, and they ended up paying 45 copper, which was a lot of money to spend on hair but they were both in such a good mood.
Then they stopped by a bakery, but the bread really wasn't all that given their previous experience with the system bread.
By the time they got home it seemed to be almost first noon already, so they had to make an awkward u-turn back to the manor to sign and pick up copies of their identity papers. They also received a 140 silver sponsorhip, a letter of recommendation for Zhoey and another one for the estate agency of the capital. A travel-carriage had been also arranged to stand ready before noon tomorrow.
Maynor Rhemott sure was a quick worker. Perhaps he'd make an decent acting city lord. Otherwise Zhoey would have to return and tap him on the head.