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<blockquote data-quote="Delemental" data-source="post: 2882552" data-attributes="member: 5203"><p><strong>Negotiations</strong></p><p></p><p>Yes, that's right, two updates for the price of one! Everything must go!</p><p></p><p>--------------------------</p><p></p><p> “You’re doing what?”</p><p></p><p> The Imperial Messenger looked impassively at Autumn. “I have been sent to recall the Imperial Guardsmen and advisor that our Emperor permitted you to make use of during your transition into your domain. Guardsman Imrahil will continue to be assigned to you until such time as the Emperor has need of his services.”</p><p></p><p> Autumn closed her eyes. The loss of the two Guardsman wasn’t too difficult to accept, although Shirazal had been serving as her Lord Constable. But Shoshone’s help had been invaluable. Autumn was sure that Haxtha realized this.</p><p></p><p> “Is it possible to have Guardsman Shirazal remain instead of Guardman Imrahil?” she asked. “Both have served well, but I have Shirazal assigned to a rather critical task at the moment.”</p><p></p><p> “My orders are explicit, Your Grace. I am certain that Guardsman Imrahil can adequately replace Guardsman Shirazal.”</p><p></p><p> Autumn nodded, but in her mind had doubts. Shirazal had displayed a reasonable competence in the administrative end of his job as head of the Watch, skills she knew Imrahil lacked.</p><p></p><p> “Very well,” Autumn said, keeping the sigh out of her voice. “I will inform Shoshone and the Guardsmen that they are to prepare to leave in the morning. My chamberlain will show you to a room where you may stay until then.”</p><p></p><p> Autumn sat in her audience chamber until the Messenger and her chamberlain had left, then she walked to another door and left, heading down the hallway and opening a door. Two of her servants followed her a respectable distance away, and two more of the house staff sat in chairs just outside the door, standing and bowing as Autumn approached. With a brief nod to them, Autumn stepped into the room, leaving the four servants in the hall.</p><p></p><p> The sound of steel rang through the room. It was a large, spartan space, adorned with weapon racks and practice dummies. In the center of the room, her sister Arrie sat in the midst of eight wooden pillars, with gourds planted atop each one. Arrie twirled her spiked chain around her body in a rhythmic, almost hypnotic pattern, before suddenly lashing out at one of the gourds, curling the deadly chain around it and turning it into a pulpy mass.</p><p></p><p> “I take it that the messenger wasn’t bringing flowers from Kyle,” Arrie said, returning to her meditative battle-dance.</p><p></p><p> “Haxtha’s recalling all his people,” Autumn said, “except Imrahil.”</p><p></p><p> “He must be getting soft,” Arrie commented. “I was expecting him to take them all.”</p><p></p><p> “I know,” Autumn agreed. “I knew it would happen, but I was hoping for another month at least. We still know so little about these guilds, and with the neighborhood citizen patrols just starting up…” she sighed.</p><p></p><p> “Kyle and Xu should be here in a few more days,” Arrie said, then paused to shred another gourd. “Maybe you can persuade Togusa to stick around too and help out. I just got the raven back from them this morning – Kyle says he’s looking for some farmland for sale outside the city on the way up, so he can settle his family in something they’re a little more accustomed to.”</p><p></p><p> “And so he doesn’t have to bring them into the city to get robbed and murdered,” Autumn scowled.</p><p></p><p> “Give yourself a break, sis,” Arrie said. “You’ve done a lot so far.”</p><p></p><p> “I know, but…”</p><p></p><p> Arrie cracked a tiny smile. “Still want the city cleaned up before the wedding, don’t you?”</p><p></p><p> “Well, I’d like my guests to feel like it’s actually safe to attend, you know.”</p><p></p><p> “I know. But four months doesn’t give us a lot of time.” Arrie lashed out quickly, this time pulping two of the gourds in quick succession. “But hey, we’re the Legacy, right? Once we’re all together again, I’ll bet we’ll have those criminals run out of town with two weeks. Three, tops.”</p><p></p><p> Autumn smiled. “Thanks, Arrie.”</p><p></p><p> “No problem. Hey, how’d you know I’d be here?”</p><p></p><p> “I didn’t. It’s the only room in the manor that the servants won’t follow us into. I was coming here to smash things for a while.”</p><p></p><p> Arrie laughed out loud. “Well then, grab a weapon off the wall. There’s still four gourds left.”</p><p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center">* * *</p><p></p><p> Just as Arrie had said, a few days later Kyle, Xu, and Togusa arrived at the gates of Autumn’s manor. After a joyful reunion (minus Osborn, who was still working undercover in the Silent Foot), Autumn met privately with Togusa, who agreed to take over as Lord Constable of the Watch until a suitable replacement could be found. He also agreed to contact the church of Tor on Autumn’s behalf to present them an offer; if the church would send men to help reinforce Vargas’ watch, then the Duchess was willing to grant land in the city to the church for a new temple.</p><p></p><p> A day later, another Imperial Messenger arrived, accompanied by a squad of five archers from the Order of the Eldritch Arrow. The messenger had been sent by Herion, who explained that he was sending the archers to Autumn as a more discreet personal guard. Between the archers, and the runic guardian statues in the city, it was felt that Autumn was well protected. This freed up Guardsman Imrahil to take over the security of the estate, and meant that Autumn no longer had to be escorted anywhere if she didn’t wish it.</p><p></p><p> Other messengers were arriving as well, bringing letters and gifts from Autumn’s vassals. The Duchy of Vargex held dominion over three baronies and five counties, and they were all now sending word of their continued loyalty to the duchy. Baron Guilford sent two bottles of Whelpwhiskey, which was the finest and most expensive of the many liquors produced by the baron’s distilleries. Razael tried unsuccessfully to convince Autumn to open a bottle immediately; besides being a fine whiskey in its own right, Whelpwhiskey was known to temporarily chase away the infirmities and physical deteriorations of old age. A letter also came from Count Carfex Alexos, who promised to send militia troops to help stabilize the city.</p><p></p><p> Not all of the news was good. Despite the vows of loyalty, none of Autumn’s vassals had offered to come personally to Vargas to swear fealty. Kyle contacted the local mage’s guild, and was told that they were still not convinced the city was safe enough for them to publicly back the new Duchess. And it seemed that some plots might have started against the duchess and her friends; Lanara learned one morning that she was supposed to be performing at three separate places in the city at the same time, none of which she had arranged herself. Suspecting a plot, Lanara decided to go incognito for a few days to try and ferret out who was behind the plan.</p><p></p><p> About a week after the messenger had come to recall Shoshone and the Guardsmen, the group was sitting in the dining hall enjoying breakfast. The conversation came to a sudden halt when they realized that Osborn had pulled up a chair at one end and was piling fruit on a plate.</p><p></p><p> “Morning,” he said, reaching for a basket of hard-boiled eggs.</p><p></p><p> “Good morning,” Razael said. “Want some bacon?”</p><p></p><p> “I had some earlier this morning,” the hin said.</p><p></p><p> Kyle grinned. “Yeah, but… do you want some bacon?”</p><p></p><p> “Sure.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, at least we know it’s really him,” Razael said as he passed the platter of bacon to Osborn.</p><p></p><p> “So, can we go shopping later?” Osborn asked. “I need furnishing for my new house.” Everyone knew he was referring to the house that had previously been occupied by the Lord Constable that had been in the city when Autumn arrived, who had fled rather than help the new duchess enforce the laws in the city.</p><p></p><p> They continued the charade for a few more minutes, conversing casually as if nothing unusual had happened, before they finally broke down and welcomed Osborn back, filling him in on what had happened in the past several days.</p><p></p><p> “So, what to know what I found out, or should we go back to discussing meaningless crap?” Osborn asked.</p><p></p><p> “Maybe you should take a bath first,” Maddie said. Osborn was, in fact quite grimy.</p><p></p><p> “What?”</p><p></p><p> “Osborn,” Maddie said, “I’m not sure what animal that came from,” she pointed at a dark smudge on his armor, “but I think it needs to go.”</p><p></p><p> Razael looked at the stain and sniffed. “I’d say horse.”</p><p></p><p> Kyle zapped Osborn with a <em>prestidigitation </em>spell, instantly dissolving the muck. “So, continue, please,” he said.</p><p></p><p> “Well, I didn’t get a lot of really deep information,” Osborn admitted, “being at the bottom of the ladder and all. But I can tell you that the Silent Foot is composed entirely of the short races – dwarves, gnomes and hin. They won’t let any other race in. A very lovely gnomish woman named Abraxas leads the guild. She doesn’t like ‘tall people’ at all, but she tells a good story. Quite inspirational, really. And if you’re not inclined to listen to what she has to say, she has the largest dwarf I’ve ever seen backing her up. I swear he was five feet tall and just as broad. I never caught his name – he doesn’t talk much.”</p><p></p><p> “Shouldn’t be hard to miss him, then,” Razael said.</p><p></p><p> “From what I can gather,” Osborn continued, “Abraxas’ agenda in the city seems to be the ruination of all tall folk. Her plan seems to be to wait until caravan season opens up, and then she has two objectives; first, to plunder any caravans run by humans, elves, or the like, and second, to offer protection to any caravans run by the short folk… for a small fee, of course.”</p><p></p><p> “You know,” Kyle said, “it’s probably ‘small’ jokes like that that pushed Abraxas over the edge in the first place.”</p><p></p><p> “I wasn’t making a joke,” Osborn said.</p><p></p><p> “Really? I could’ve sworn… oh, never mind.”</p><p> “Anyway” Osborn said, “as far as how the Silent Foot gets along with the other guilds, I learned that they don’t see the Black Hand as much of a threat, but apparently there’s not many of them left anyway. The Night Whisperers tend to run in the outskirts of the city and outside the walls, so they don’t interfere much with the Silent Foot right now. Once Abraxas starts her caravan scheme, though, that could change.”</p><p></p><p> “Why would a thieves’ guild like the Night Whisperers stay outside the city?” Autumn asked.</p><p></p><p> “Not sure, but I hear they have a lot of druids and rangers,” Osborn said. Then he looked at Razael. “Hey, maybe it’s something you could check out.”</p><p></p><p> “Could be,” Razael said.</p><p></p><p> Osborn went on, talking between mouthfuls of bacon. “Right now Abraxas is more worried about the assassin’s guilds. She’s afraid that if they figure out that her guild is made up of nothing but short folk, they might start targeting them. But there have apparently been meetings, and it seems like the Silent Foot is more interested in working with the Night Blades than the Poisoned Edge.”</p><p></p><p> “Surprising,” Kyle said. “Given how persuasive you’ve said Abraxas is, you’d think she’d find the Poisoned Edge more appealing. They’re the ones that specialize in character assassinations.”</p><p></p><p> “Who knows?” Osborn shrugged. “But the most recent bit of news is the most troubling. It seems that with popular support starting to swing your way, and with rumors of more troops arriving soon, Abraxas has been saying that something big will need to happen. What she’s planning, I don’t know, but I get the feeling it will happen soon.”</p><p></p><p> “I appreciate the information, Osborn,” Autumn said.</p><p></p><p> “Yeah, good job,” Kyle added.</p><p></p><p> “Now we need to find out about these other guilds,” Razael said. “I could look into what these Night Whisperers are doing outside the city. As an Imperial Huntsman, I should be watching out for poachers anyway. I’d need a writ of authority from you as the Duchess, giving me permission to enforce the laws, so that when bodies start showing up I have an excuse. Or, I could ask for a letter from Herion, since he is technically in charge of all Hunstmen.”</p><p></p><p> “Why don’t you ask Herion for that writ,” Autumn said. “I’m a little… uncomfortable giving you that much leeway under my name.”</p><p></p><p> “I can head out today and put my ear to the street,” Osborn offered, “maybe find out if there’s a particular area the Whisperers can be found.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, as for the Black Hand,” Kyle said, “didn’t you just get a message from them last night?”</p><p></p><p> “What’s this?” Osborn asked.</p><p></p><p> “I did,” Autumn confirmed. “We were just discussing it when you arrived, Osborn. The leadership of the Black Hand wishes to meet with me this evening to negotiate.”</p><p></p><p> “It’s a trap,” Osborn said automatically.</p><p></p><p> “Normally, I’d agree,” Autumn said. “But they’re willing to meet here, at my manor. Kind of puts them at a disadvantage, doesn’t it?”</p><p></p><p> “We’ve heard from multiple sources that the Black Hand has been hit pretty hard,” Kyle pointed out. “They may be desperate.”</p><p></p><p> “I think they are afraid of getting wiped out,” Osborn agreed.</p><p></p><p> “It could be an opportunity,” Kyle said. “You know that you can’t completely eliminate crime in the city, and despite what you may think of them, thieves’ guilds do serve a purpose – they keep the underworld under control.”</p><p></p><p>“There is wisdom here,” Xu said, “Better a guild that you know about and can possibly exert some control over.”</p><p></p><p>“You can at least hear what they have to say,” Osborn said.</p><p></p><p> “I know, and I agree,” Autumn said. “I’ll agree to the meeting tonight. Anyone who wants to be there is welcome.”</p><p></p><p> They decided to hold the meeting in Autumn’s study; they contemplated the audience chamber, but chose the study because they didn’t want to give the meeting with the Black Hand the air of ‘official duchy business’. Autumn sat behind a large desk, wearing her plate armor with her axe by her side. Kyle stood behind her chair, with a message spell already active in order to speak quietly with Autumn and others in the room, and a detect thoughts ready to give them a split-second warning if the Black Hand attacked. Razael stood in a back corner, his bow ready. Osborn was waiting in another corner, invisble. Maddie, Xu, and Arrie were also in the room, arrayed evenly about the room. Several defensive spells had been placed on Autumn by Kyle and Maddie.</p><p></p><p> The servants escorted in five individuals. Each wore full red robes, and black face masks. All five looked to be exactly the same height and build. They wore black leather gloves. As the servants left, the robed figures stood in a line in front of Autumn’s desk, a respectful distance away.</p><p></p><p> “Illusion,” Kyle whispered to Autumn, explaining the uniform appearance.</p><p></p><p> “Your Grace,” said the one in the middle, bowing. The voice was neither male nor female, and carried no distinctive accent. “We five are all that remains of the Black Hand guild. We have come to offer you a bargain. We have information on the remaining four guilds in your city. We will give you this information for a price.”</p><p></p><p> Razael slowly started to draw arrows from his quiver. The rogue on the far left spoke with a voice identical to the first.</p><p></p><p> “If your Huntsman continues to pull arrows, we will turn around and leave now.”</p><p></p><p> Autumn shot a warning look at Razael, who sighed and put the arrows away. Then she returned her attention to the five rogues. After a while, she said, “Forgive the pause, but I’m unaccustomed to negotiating with your kind. What kind of price do you seek?”</p><p></p><p> “At the very least, we would want ducal pardons for any crimes that we may or may not have committed prior to this evening,” the rogue on the middle right said. “We would also want a guarantee that we would be allowed to leave the city unharmed and not followed by ducal agents… or Imperial ones.” The speaker turned his head slightly to indicate Razael. “Beyond that is open to negotiation.”</p><p></p><p> “And you say you have information on every other guild?” Autumn asked.</p><p> “Every one,” the middle rogue confirmed. “Information that we feel is not only useful to you, but of personal interest.”</p><p></p><p> “Is it fear or revenge?” Razael asked.</p><p></p><p> “Some of both,” said the rogue on the far left.</p><p></p><p> “An honest answer,” Razael said.</p><p></p><p> Autumn looked at the Black Hand, choosing to focus on the middle one. “Do you wish to remain in Vargas, or do you wish to leave?”</p><p></p><p> “Staying would be preferable,” said the one on the middle left, “but in order to do so, the other guilds would have to be eliminated. If you feel you could accomplish this, we would remain here.”</p><p></p><p> “It will be done,” Autumn asserted. “But what do you feel your information is worth?”</p><p></p><p> “We have information on guild strengths,” the middle one replied. “Numbers, locations of hideouts, general composition of members, and leadership. Rather a lot, we would say.”</p><p></p><p> “Are you seeking gold?” Autumn asked.</p><p></p><p> “Favors,” the one on the far left said. “Things within your power to grant, such as the aforementioned pardons, and safe passage. Coin can be had easily enough.”</p><p></p><p>“Perhaps,” Xu said, “you could offer to let them remain and rebuild their ranks, as long as they maintained a dialogue with you concerning their activities.”</p><p></p><p> “A possibility we had hoped would be amenable toward,” said the Black Hand on the middle right. “Certainly, we feel our guild’s agenda in Vargas is more ‘pure’, in a manner of speaking, than that of the other guilds. We only seek to profit from our activities.”</p><p></p><p> “I will not tolerate murder and rape in my city,” Autumn said.</p><p></p><p> “We do not rape and murder,” said the rogue on the middle left. “Such crimes are bad for business. If we kill, we kill those who have broken our rules and endangered the guild.”</p><p></p><p> “It’s true,” Osborn whispered to Kyle from his hiding place who relayed it to Autumn, “thieves don’t usually do that kind of stuff.”</p><p></p><p> “Perhaps what we need to agree upon,” Kyle said, “is that should we allow the Black Hand to operate as the ‘official’ thieves’ guild in Vargas, that certain types of crimes should be discouraged. Violent crimes of course, but also protection rackets, and at least a decrease in burglaries. We’re trying to get the merchants to return to Vargas.”</p><p></p><p> The rogue in the middle held up a hand. “I believe we understand your intention. We can certainly negotiate details later, but for now, will it suffice to say that the Black Hand will not do anything that would potentially drive people or money out of the city? Certainly, that would not be advantageous to either side.”</p><p></p><p> “Sounds reasonable,” Kyle said. “We’ll just call those the ‘unapproved’ crimes for now.”</p><p></p><p> “Agreed,” said the middle rogue. “If your intent is to allow the Black Hand to rebuild under these conditions, however, we will need an environment in which to recruit and train new members. We would need reduced watch presence in the slums for a period of six months after the elimination of the other guilds. With your watch currently undermanned, it shouldn’t be difficult for you to arrange this.”</p><p></p><p> Autumn thought for a moment before speaking. “Very well. I will grant you each a full pardon for any alleged crimes committed up until this day. I will ensure that you receive protection from retaliation from the other guilds should you choose to remain in the city. I will guarantee that you will not be molested or watched by any civil authority should you choose to leave the city. I will eliminate the four competing guilds in the city. I will permit you to rebuild the Black Hand within Vargas after the other four guilds are eliminated, which will include adjusting the watch patrols in the southwestern portion of the city so that you may adequately recruit and train your guild. In exchange, you will provide me with the promised information on the other four guilds – should the information prove inaccurate, our arrangement will be null and void. Your presence in the city will be tolerated only so long as your members do not engage in what we are currently terming ‘unapproved crimes’, and make a reasonable effort to curb such crimes from those not in your guild. Your leadership will also agree to meet with me or my appointed seneschal every three months in order to maintain an open dialogue and to ensure that both sides are keeping their end of the bargain.”</p><p></p><p> There was a similar short pause from the Black Hand. “We agree to these terms,” said the rogue on the middle right at last. “We will give you the information.”</p><p></p><p> “Let us start,” said the middle rogue, “with the most vital piece of information. We have found your predecessor.”</p><p></p><p> “Count Robar?” Autumn asked.</p><p></p><p> “Yes. He is the head of the Night Blades assassin’s guild.”</p><p></p><p> “The head of it?” Autumn said. “Interesting.”</p><p></p><p> “The Night Blades are a small guild,” the middle rogue continued. “No more than fifteen or twenty members. But they seem to be very potent, and are backed by dark magics of some kind.”</p><p></p><p> “The Poisoned Edge,” said the rogue on the far right, “is a much larger guild, but their clientele tends to be more diverse. Perhaps as many as thirty members, who are as well versed in the social arts as they are in assassination.”</p><p></p><p> “We’d heard that they specialize in character assassinations,” Kyle said.</p><p></p><p> “This is accurate, though they are no less willing to engage in traditional killing. Their leader has had some bardic training, which should come as little surprise. He has a number of disguises and personas he uses. At least one of them is a well-to-do grain exporter, who keeps offices by the river.”</p><p></p><p> “The Silent Foot is the most numerous guild,” said the rogue on the middle left. “We admit that exact numbers have been difficult to obtain. There are perhaps as many as a hundred, most of them comprised of hin and gnomes. Given that this number of the short fold moving in to the city should have been noticed, but wasn’t, we suspect they have contacts among the native elves and humans that allow them to move freely in the city. Their leader is a gnomish woman named Abraxas, who has also been trained as a bard.”</p><p></p><p> “Please, continue,” Autumn said, giving no sign that they’d already learned about the Silent Foot and Abraxas from Osborn earlier than morning.</p><p></p><p> “The Night Whisperers,” said the middle right rogue, “seem to be more like brigands that thieves, as they operate mostly outside of the city. They number around forty, not including the animals that always seem to accompany them. Some are skilled riders and well trained in mounted combat, others have trained animals such as bears and wolverines for brute strength. Those who operate in the city tend to have smaller animals or those that don’t look out of place in an urban environment, such as dogs or rats. The leader of the Night Whispers appears to be an elven druid of some skill. We don’t know if he has a grudge against this particular city, or cities in general, or even civilization as a whole. He may be using his people to poke holes in the weak places of society.”</p><p></p><p> “That’s okay,” Kyle commented. “We have Razael, who’s good at poking holes in the weak places of people.”</p><p></p><p> “Very good, thanks,” Razael said.</p><p></p><p> “Is there anything else you wish to impart?”</p><p></p><p> “The rest we will impart to your seneschal,” the rogue in the middle said, gesturing to Kyle. The rogue on the far left stepped forward and pulled a large bundle of documents out of his robes, setting them on the desk in front of him. “There is far too much information to relay verbally in one evening,” the middle rogue said as his companion stepped back. “These documents will provide you with most of the mundane details.”</p><p></p><p> “We will be in touch when you have eliminated the guilds,” the rogue on the left said. The five rogues inclined their heads in unison to Autumn, and then turned and filed out of the room. As soon as they left, everyone exhaled and relaxed.</p><p></p><p> “That was weird,” Maddie said. “Listening to all five of them gave me a headache.”</p><p></p><p> “They probably didn’t want us to identify one of them as the ‘leader’ or the ‘one with all the information’,” said Kyle. He picked up the sheaf of papers on the desk. “Well, I can read through this tonight.”</p><p></p><p> Autumn turned around and smiled at Kyle. “So, seneschal, eh?”</p><p></p><p> Kyle shot her a dark look. “Don’t you dare,” he said.</p><p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center">* * *</p><p></p><p></p><p> Early the next morning, before the sun had even crested the city’s outer wall, there was a knock on Autumn’s bedroom door. She rolled over at the sound, and pushed on Kyle’s shoulder. He got out of bed and threw on his robes before answering the door. Autumn’s valet Aleria stood at the door.</p><p></p><p> “Sir, there’s a messenger here for the Duchess from Count Helaku,” she said, curtseying.</p><p></p><p> “Count Helaku? Who’s that?”</p><p></p><p> “He controls the vast majority of the grazing land in the duchy, sir,” Aleria said. “His cattle and horses provide us with the majority of our internal income.”</p><p></p><p> “Okay, then,” Kyle said. “Does the messenger need to see the Duchess personally, or can I take the message?”</p><p></p><p> “I believe you could take the message, sir,” Aleria said.</p><p></p><p> “Okay. Have the messenger wait downstairs while I get dressed.”</p><p></p><p> A door down the hall opened, and Razael’s head poked out. “You want me to go, Kyle? I’ve been up and dressed for a while, and you and Autumn were up pretty late last night.”</p><p></p><p> “No, Raz,” Kyle said. “I’d better start learning to do this myself.”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, that’s what seneschals are for, after all,” Razael chuckled. As the tracker’s door closed, Kyle muttered to himself. “We’ve got to get him a room further away.”</p><p></p><p> A few minutes later Kyle came down to greet a young elf standing patiently in the audience chamber. He was still slightly sweaty, as if he’d ridden hard. Kyle almost sat down in Autumn’s raised seat, paused, and then remained standing, stepping down off the dais. “I understand you have a message? The Duchess is currently… performing her morning devotionals.”</p><p></p><p> “I have been sent to inform Her Grace, Lady Autumn Verahannen, Duchess of Vargex, Lady Mayor of Vargas, that my lord, Count Helaku, will be arriving shortly to swear fealty to his liege lord as is custom. He and his entourage should be arriving here by midday.”</p><p></p><p> “Midday? Wonderful. Why not in five minutes?” Kyle suddenly realized what he was saying, and blushed. “I mean, we’ll be delighted to have Count Helaku here, I’m sure. We will prepare for his arrival.”</p><p></p><p> The messenger bowed. “Of course, sir. If I may ask where I might rest and freshen up? I have run for a day and a half without stop in order to arrive here before my lord.”</p><p></p><p> “Sure, sure, I’ll… have someone who knows where everything is show you where to go.”</p><p></p><p> Kyle dashed back upstairs to his bedroom to rouse Autumn and inform her of Count Helaku’s arrival. Autumn quickly roused her servants to begin preparing a large lunch in anticipation of the visit. The messenger told them that Helaku’s entourage consisted of eight people, including the count, with no horses. Apparently the count preferred to travel by foot.</p><p></p><p> “Given the situation in the city,” Kyle said, “should we send a few people to meet the count outside the city, and escort him in? Sort of an honor guard.”</p><p></p><p> “Do you want me to go?” Razael said.</p><p></p><p> “As long as you can be courteous,” Autumn said sternly.</p><p></p><p> “Haxtha never had me killed,” Razael replied. “I reckon that proves I can do it once in a while.”</p><p></p><p> Xu and Guardsman Imrahil ended up going out with Razael to meet Count Helaku, though Imrahil waited near the gates, as he could not run as fast as either the tracker or the monk. Within a few minutes, they spotted a party of eight elves running up the road. They all wore light armor and carried longspears, and they had black hair, which distinguished them from the light brown to blond hair that most elves sported. The elf in the middle of the group was much older and weathered than the others, appearing to be close to Razael’s age. Other than that, the only difference between the elves in the party was that Helaku’s spear was of finer quality than the others, and he also wore a gold chain about his neck.</p><p></p><p> Razael and Xu approached the group, offering them greetings from the Duchess and an offer of escort into the city. They were certain to state that no trouble was expected.</p><p></p><p> “Excellent,” said Count Helaku. “The courtesy, and the foresight are noted.”</p><p></p><p> The group began the walk toward the city. Razael made his way over to converse with the count.</p><p></p><p> “So, Razael, you’re back in Vargex, I see,” Helaku said.</p><p></p><p> “Yeah, Herion found a new assignment for me,” Razael sighed.</p><p></p><p> “I can’t imagine why he’d want you here.”</p><p></p><p> “I’m bodyguarding. Where they go, I go.”</p><p></p><p> “Ah.”</p><p></p><p> “By the way, you haven’t seen Arovnen in the area recently, have you?”</p><p></p><p> Helaku smiled. “The Marquis of Malachor? Can’t say that I have. Nor his daughter Lilliana. She turned one hundred just a few months ago, as I recall. There was some sort of to-do just before her birthday, I think. Did you hear about it?”</p><p></p><p> “I’m sure I was somewhere else at the time, my lord,” Razael replied smoothly.</p><p></p><p> “That’s good to hear, Huntsman,” Helaku said, “and given what I know of your reputation, please make sure that ‘somewhere else’ is nowhere near my lands or my daughters.”</p><p></p><p> “You have daughters?”</p><p></p><p> “Yes, and if you wish to lose a few limbs…”</p><p></p><p> Razael held up a hand. “Should the Duchess decide to visit your estates at some point, I will have to accompany her, of course. But the ones I am guarding have one of their own watching me. They don’t want me exiled again.”</p><p></p><p> “The Huntsman finds himself trapped?” Helaku said wryly. “Herion had more wisdom in him than I thought.”</p><p></p><p> “Wait until you meet his wife.”</p><p></p><p> Meanwhile, preparations were still underway at the manor. Kyle went up and walked into the bedroom, where Aleria was helping Autumn get dressed.</p><p></p><p> “So, refresh my memory about this Count Helaku,” Kyle said, sitting on the bed, watching as Aleria was lacing up Autumn’s corset.</p><p></p><p> “He’s an elf, and has been in his position for about two hundred years now,” Autumn said. “His herds are responsible for the majority of Vargex’s internally generated income. He’s known to be a down to earth person. He spends most of his time out with his people tending the herds. He’s relatively straightforward and direct, and isn’t terribly impressed by titles or fineries. He’s here to find out if I can do the job.”</p><p></p><p> “Huh.”</p><p></p><p> Autumn turned around. “What?”</p><p> “Well, it’s just a thought,” Kyle said, “but if I were you, I’d wear your armor. If he wants to know if you can handle cleaning up Vargas, and he’s not into frippery, then I’d think mithral would make a better impression than satin.”</p><p></p><p> Autumn thought for a moment, then grinned. “Aleria, please get rid of this damned corset, and unpack my armor.”</p><p></p><p> Several minutes later, Autumn and Kyle came out of the room, walking toward the stairs. Arrie was hanging out in the hallway near Autumn’s audience chamber, also dressed in her armor. As Autumn walked by, Arrie leaned over to her.</p><p></p><p> “I’ll see you in the dining room later,” she whispered. Arrie walked away and disappeared through one of the doors, but not before giving Kyle a wink and playful punch on the shoulder. Autumn understood the reason for her vanishing act; she always avoided being seen with Autumn during any official business, so that no one would think that the Imperial Princess, or by extension the Empire, was unduly influencing or aiding the new Duchess.</p><p></p><p> Razael preceded the count’s party into the manor by a minute to announce his arrival. “And if I may suggest, Duchess, a few glasses of that Whelpwhiskey might be welcome as a greeting. Count Helaku’s pushing close to my age.”</p><p></p><p> Servants went to retrieve one of the bottles at Autumn’s nod of approval. Moments later, the main doors to the audience chamber opened, and Count Helaku and his men entered in a spearhead formation. They all walked about halfway to the throne, and then threw their spears high into the air. The spears arced almost to the ceiling, and came down to land in a precise eight-pointed star formation, with the butt of Helaku’s spear pointing directly toward Autumn. Al eight elves then dropped to one knee. Razael, whose hand had automatically reached back to his quiver the moment the spears had gone up into the air, exhaled slowly and relaxed.</p><p></p><p> “Welcome,” said Autumn, gesturing for them to rise. “Please, have a seat. Would you like some refreshments?”</p><p></p><p> Count Helaku shook his head. “We will stand until our business is concluded.” Helaku’s eyes swept the room. “Word has reached my ears that you have taken to cleaning house here in Vargas,” he said.</p><p></p><p> “Yes,” Autumn replied.</p><p></p><p> “I take it by the fact that I needed an additional escort into the city, that the housecleaning is not yet finished.”</p><p></p><p> “That is correct.”</p><p></p><p> “It’s a pretty messy house,” Kyle interjected.</p><p></p><p> Autumn tensed slightly, unsure how the Count would react to his comment. But the weathered old elf just smiled. “The fact that no obvious crime was seen on the way here does speak of certain improvements.”</p><p></p><p>Helaku’s gaze took in the others in the room again. “I also understand that you have been associated with Huntsman Fletcher for longer than you have been Duchess.”</p><p></p><p>“Again, you are correct,” Autumn replied.</p><p></p><p>“You have my sympathies,” Count Helaku said.</p><p></p><p>“Thank you.”</p><p></p><p>In the corner, Razael scowled.</p><p></p><p>“But you also have my congratulations. Razael is one of the finest Huntsman the Empire has to offer. You could certainly do worse than to have him at your side.”</p><p></p><p>Count Helaku looked intently at Autumn for a moment, and then seemed to suddenly come to a decision. “With that, I have come to offer you my fealty. Will you accept?”</p><p></p><p>“I will,” Autumn said, managing to keep her elation down to a warm and radiant smile.</p><p></p><p>The Count approached Autumn’s dais, and presented her with the formal declaration of fealty. He and Autumn then exchanged oaths, and sealed the ceremony with a kiss. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Helaku’s seven men erupted in cheers, and the others in the room applauded.</p><p></p><p>“We’ll take those chairs now, and those refreshments,” Helaku said. “We’ve been running for a couple of days.”</p><p></p><p>Autumn escorted the Count into the dining room, where a light lunch had been laid out. Pitchers of water and wine were plentiful, and as the guests sat down, they were offered a glass of Whelpwhiskey, which was accepted gratefully. Autumn tried to place Helaku at her right and Kyle at her left, as would be customary since they were not yet married, but the Count chased Kyle out of the chair and made him sit on Autumn’s right side.</p><p></p><p>“Far as I’m concerned, that’s your seat, and you’d better get used to sitting in it,” he said to Kyle. “I don’t need a piece of parchment or a priests’ blessing to make it ‘official’.” Helaku then gave a nod to Arrie, who sat two seats down. “Princess,” he said, “how are you?”</p><p></p><p>“Very well, thank you,” Arrie replied, nodding as the other members of Helaku’s party rose and bowed to her. “And yourself?”</p><p></p><p>“Can’t complain. Well, I can, but no one listens to old men who complain. How’s that young husband of yours?”</p><p></p><p>Arrie smiled at the thought of a ‘young husband’ who was nearly six times older than her. “He’s good. I’ll let him know you asked about him.”</p><p></p><p>“You do that. I tell you, I was beside myself when I heard that his father had passed away. I considered Jhoxan a kindred spirit, I did.”</p><p></p><p>“What about his son, Haxtha?” Kyle asked.</p><p></p><p>Count Helaku scratched at his chin. “I’m going to give the young fellow a few more years at the job before I make up my mind,” he said. He turned back to Autumn. “So, Your Grace, introduce me to your companions among the Legacy. The ones I don’t already know, I mean.”</p><p></p><p>Autumn went around the table, skipping over Arrie and Razael. “This is Osborn Greenbottle, a knife-thrower from the Amazing Traveling Circus in the Khag Steppes. Xu Dhii Ngao, a monk from the Xhintai Empire. And Madrone, Erito’s favored soul, from Medos. Our other friend, the bard Lanara Rahila, could not be here today, I’m afraid.”</p><p></p><p>“Pity, I heard she was quite the performer. Easy on the eyes, too, I hear.”</p><p></p><p>“Indeed,” Razael commented.</p><p></p><p>Helaku arched an eyebrow. “She’s a little old for you, isn’t she, Fletcher?” he said, grinning. Razael shrugged, but said nothing else.</p><p></p><p>“So, you’re all graduates of that Tower, right? Well, except Fletcher here, of course.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, we are,” Autumn said.</p><p></p><p>“Good. Good school, even if it is in a country full of stuck-up xenophobes. But you forgot one introduction, Your Grace.”</p><p></p><p>“I was only saving him for last,” Autumn replied. “Count Helaku, this is Kyle Goodson, my fiancée, a wizard from Targeth.”</p><p></p><p>Helaku eyed Kyle for a while. “Well, congratulations. When’s the wedding?”</p><p></p><p>“In four months, on the tenth of Lutros,” Autumn said. “Your invitation should be arriving soon.”</p><p></p><p>“Excellent. So, we should expect children about this time next year, then?”</p><p></p><p>Kyle dropped his fork onto his plate. Autumn only smiled. “That’s quite possible,” she replied. Kyle seemed to have a little more trouble picking his fork back up.</p><p></p><p>Helaku eyed Kyle again. “So, you’re from Targeth,” he said. “You one of those stuck-up xenophobes?”</p><p></p><p>“No, sir,” Kyle said. “I’m a farmer from the Circle.”</p><p></p><p>“A farmer, eh? So I suppose you noticed all those barley fields south of the city, didn’t you?”</p><p></p><p>“Well, yes, although they were wheat, not barley. At first I thought they were planting way too early, honestly, but then I found out that most of the crops grown here in Vargex are for producing grain alcohol. So the early planting makes sense, since you want the wheat to mature at the same time as your hops and barley. Gives you a thinner crop, of course, but it’s the price you pay. Now, do you have any other questions designed to test if I really was a farmer, or should I ask you what breed of cow produces the best mutton?”</p><p></p><p>Count Helaku stared at Kyle for a moment, and then broke out in a loud guffaw that quickly caught on at the table. “I like him, Your Grace. Teach him how to hold on to his silverware and he’ll be just about perfect.”</p><p></p><p>“I’ll work on that,” Autumn said, smiling.</p><p></p><p> The rest of the meal was spent in talking about the forecasts for the upcoming year, including more details about foaling and calving than Autumn wanted to hear during a meal. Helaku ended up directing most of the conversation to Kyle, who understood the subject far better than anyone else in the room.</p><p></p><p> “Is there anything we can do to help you?” Autumn asked.</p><p></p><p> “Not right now,” Helaku said. “It’s quiet on my lands at the moment.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, you and your entourage are welcome to stay here as long as you wish.”</p><p></p><p> “I think we can stay about a week. After that, we’ll need to get back to help protect the herds from rustlers.”</p><p></p><p> “I should go check on his daughters while he’s away,” Razael muttered to himself.</p><p></p><p> The Count turned toward Razael. “If you think my ears aren’t as sharp as yours, Huntsman, you’d best think again.”</p><p></p><p> Razael sighed. “I’ve gotten used to humans.”</p><p></p><p> “Your Grace,” Helaku said, returning his attention to Autumn, “is there anything you need from me?”</p><p></p><p> “Well, I can always use men to help bring the city under control,” she said. “If you have anyone you can spare.”</p><p></p><p> “I’ll be honest, Your Grace, my men aren’t used to working in enclosed spaces like Vargas,” Helaku replied. “Even the towns in my county have streets about three times as wide as your main thoroughfare.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, then I have a possibility,” Autumn said. “One of the guilds that infests my city is actually based outside the city, in the surrounding countryside.”</p><p></p><p> “Druids and rangers playing bandit,” Razael said.</p><p></p><p> “Huh. That we can help with. But it’s still a bit early for caravan season yet. Give me some time to collect some volunteers, and I’ll send them your way.”</p><p></p><p> “Your help is most appreciated,” Autumn said.</p><p></p><p> “And certainly, we’d send them back to you in time to help with the herds when you needed them,” Kyle added.</p><p></p><p> “My hope is to eliminate the threat posed by these brigands before the caravans arrive,” Autumn commented.</p><p></p><p> “A good thought,” Helaku said. “You’ve got about a month before the roads harden up enough for a wagon. You might get a few merchants coming in with a pack train before that, but if you lose a couple of them to bandits there shouldn’t be much economic impact. And the caravan companies expect to lose a couple every year – cost of doing business. If they want a caravan to get through, they’ll hire more caravan guards.”</p><p></p><p> At this comment, Kyle’s eyes lit up with a sudden idea, but he kept his mouth closed.</p><p></p><p> The meal concluded with a discussion of news in the Empire and in Affon in general, and the sharing of a few of the Legacy’s exploits. Razael also managed to slip in a few mentions of some of the Legacy’s enemies, advising Helaku to keep an eye out for them. Then the Count and his men were shown upstairs to the guest quarters. As the servants began clearing plates off the table, Autumn turned to Kyle.</p><p></p><p> “Okay, spill it,” she said.</p><p></p><p> “Spill what?”</p><p></p><p> “Whatever idea you had when Helaku was talking about caravans. I know that look.”</p><p></p><p> “Well,” Kyle said, “when he talked about hiring caravan guards, I just had a memory of when we all graduated from the Tower. You remember our first assignment, where we were recruited by that little logging village in exchange for paying off part of our school debts?”</p><p></p><p> “I remember that,” Osborn said. “Canyon Camp. That was when we met Sauroth for the first time.”</p><p></p><p> “And the shadar-kai,” Autumn said. It had been a long time since she’d thought about the dark fey that lived in the forests of southern Tlaxan. She reminded herself to write her stepfather Zanich to ask if he’d heard anything about them. “But go on.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, it occurs to me, why can’t we do the same? Contact the Tower and ask them to send us some graduates to do things like guard incoming caravans, or help investigate some of these crimes that our own watch can’t get to, or eliminate some of the lower ranks of the guilds? Plus, if we give Vargas a reputation for being friendly to adventurers, then that brings in a lot of extra cash and goods, because the adventurers will start coming here to buy and sell their stuff. That will make the merchants happy, and probably the mages and priests too, because they’ll be able to sell magic items and healing.”</p><p></p><p> “Kyle, that’s brilliant,” Autumn said, hugging him.</p><p></p><p> “And being on good terms with that Tower of yours can’t be a bad thing,” Razael pointed out.</p><p></p><p> “And hey, we can always inspire the younger generations,” Kyle said, “sort of a ‘look where you can end up’ thing.”</p><p></p><p> “I’ll write the Tower tomorrow,” Autumn said. “But graduation’s not for a couple of months, and I want something done about these guilds well before that.”</p><p></p><p> “Okay, then,” Kyle said. “We’ve already decided to have Razael check out the Night Whisperers outside the city.”</p><p></p><p> “I’d suggest we start with the assassin’s guilds,” Maddie said. “The sooner we get rid of people who can kill us in our sleep, the better. I don’t like getting killed in my sleep.”</p><p></p><p> “Maybe we should eliminate the Night Blade first, then,” Kyle said. “They’re the smallest guild.”</p><p></p><p> “Taking down Robar will do us good,” Razael pointed out. “I reckon he knows a fair sight more about this city than should make us comfortable.”</p><p></p><p> “And exposing and eliminating Robar would help cement your rule,” Arrie added.</p><p></p><p> “It makes sense,” Autumn said. “Let’s go over the information we have, and plan to strike at the Night Blade in a week, after Count Helaku leaves.”</p><p></p><p> No one was opposed, and so the matter was settled. Everyone left the table and went their separate ways. Autumn sighed in contentment as she walked to her room on Kyle’s arm, and she leaned her head against his shoulder for a moment. It felt good to know they were taking decisive action at last. With the Night Blades gone, things would start to turn around, and by the time she and Kyle were married the city would be in a position where she could comfortably leave it in the hands of a steward.</p><p></p><p> <em>One week,</em> she thought, <em>one week and we can be rid of Robar’s assassins. With all the intelligence we have, it should be easy.</em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Delemental, post: 2882552, member: 5203"] [b]Negotiations[/b] Yes, that's right, two updates for the price of one! Everything must go! -------------------------- “You’re doing what?” The Imperial Messenger looked impassively at Autumn. “I have been sent to recall the Imperial Guardsmen and advisor that our Emperor permitted you to make use of during your transition into your domain. Guardsman Imrahil will continue to be assigned to you until such time as the Emperor has need of his services.” Autumn closed her eyes. The loss of the two Guardsman wasn’t too difficult to accept, although Shirazal had been serving as her Lord Constable. But Shoshone’s help had been invaluable. Autumn was sure that Haxtha realized this. “Is it possible to have Guardsman Shirazal remain instead of Guardman Imrahil?” she asked. “Both have served well, but I have Shirazal assigned to a rather critical task at the moment.” “My orders are explicit, Your Grace. I am certain that Guardsman Imrahil can adequately replace Guardsman Shirazal.” Autumn nodded, but in her mind had doubts. Shirazal had displayed a reasonable competence in the administrative end of his job as head of the Watch, skills she knew Imrahil lacked. “Very well,” Autumn said, keeping the sigh out of her voice. “I will inform Shoshone and the Guardsmen that they are to prepare to leave in the morning. My chamberlain will show you to a room where you may stay until then.” Autumn sat in her audience chamber until the Messenger and her chamberlain had left, then she walked to another door and left, heading down the hallway and opening a door. Two of her servants followed her a respectable distance away, and two more of the house staff sat in chairs just outside the door, standing and bowing as Autumn approached. With a brief nod to them, Autumn stepped into the room, leaving the four servants in the hall. The sound of steel rang through the room. It was a large, spartan space, adorned with weapon racks and practice dummies. In the center of the room, her sister Arrie sat in the midst of eight wooden pillars, with gourds planted atop each one. Arrie twirled her spiked chain around her body in a rhythmic, almost hypnotic pattern, before suddenly lashing out at one of the gourds, curling the deadly chain around it and turning it into a pulpy mass. “I take it that the messenger wasn’t bringing flowers from Kyle,” Arrie said, returning to her meditative battle-dance. “Haxtha’s recalling all his people,” Autumn said, “except Imrahil.” “He must be getting soft,” Arrie commented. “I was expecting him to take them all.” “I know,” Autumn agreed. “I knew it would happen, but I was hoping for another month at least. We still know so little about these guilds, and with the neighborhood citizen patrols just starting up…” she sighed. “Kyle and Xu should be here in a few more days,” Arrie said, then paused to shred another gourd. “Maybe you can persuade Togusa to stick around too and help out. I just got the raven back from them this morning – Kyle says he’s looking for some farmland for sale outside the city on the way up, so he can settle his family in something they’re a little more accustomed to.” “And so he doesn’t have to bring them into the city to get robbed and murdered,” Autumn scowled. “Give yourself a break, sis,” Arrie said. “You’ve done a lot so far.” “I know, but…” Arrie cracked a tiny smile. “Still want the city cleaned up before the wedding, don’t you?” “Well, I’d like my guests to feel like it’s actually safe to attend, you know.” “I know. But four months doesn’t give us a lot of time.” Arrie lashed out quickly, this time pulping two of the gourds in quick succession. “But hey, we’re the Legacy, right? Once we’re all together again, I’ll bet we’ll have those criminals run out of town with two weeks. Three, tops.” Autumn smiled. “Thanks, Arrie.” “No problem. Hey, how’d you know I’d be here?” “I didn’t. It’s the only room in the manor that the servants won’t follow us into. I was coming here to smash things for a while.” Arrie laughed out loud. “Well then, grab a weapon off the wall. There’s still four gourds left.” [CENTER] * * *[/CENTER] Just as Arrie had said, a few days later Kyle, Xu, and Togusa arrived at the gates of Autumn’s manor. After a joyful reunion (minus Osborn, who was still working undercover in the Silent Foot), Autumn met privately with Togusa, who agreed to take over as Lord Constable of the Watch until a suitable replacement could be found. He also agreed to contact the church of Tor on Autumn’s behalf to present them an offer; if the church would send men to help reinforce Vargas’ watch, then the Duchess was willing to grant land in the city to the church for a new temple. A day later, another Imperial Messenger arrived, accompanied by a squad of five archers from the Order of the Eldritch Arrow. The messenger had been sent by Herion, who explained that he was sending the archers to Autumn as a more discreet personal guard. Between the archers, and the runic guardian statues in the city, it was felt that Autumn was well protected. This freed up Guardsman Imrahil to take over the security of the estate, and meant that Autumn no longer had to be escorted anywhere if she didn’t wish it. Other messengers were arriving as well, bringing letters and gifts from Autumn’s vassals. The Duchy of Vargex held dominion over three baronies and five counties, and they were all now sending word of their continued loyalty to the duchy. Baron Guilford sent two bottles of Whelpwhiskey, which was the finest and most expensive of the many liquors produced by the baron’s distilleries. Razael tried unsuccessfully to convince Autumn to open a bottle immediately; besides being a fine whiskey in its own right, Whelpwhiskey was known to temporarily chase away the infirmities and physical deteriorations of old age. A letter also came from Count Carfex Alexos, who promised to send militia troops to help stabilize the city. Not all of the news was good. Despite the vows of loyalty, none of Autumn’s vassals had offered to come personally to Vargas to swear fealty. Kyle contacted the local mage’s guild, and was told that they were still not convinced the city was safe enough for them to publicly back the new Duchess. And it seemed that some plots might have started against the duchess and her friends; Lanara learned one morning that she was supposed to be performing at three separate places in the city at the same time, none of which she had arranged herself. Suspecting a plot, Lanara decided to go incognito for a few days to try and ferret out who was behind the plan. About a week after the messenger had come to recall Shoshone and the Guardsmen, the group was sitting in the dining hall enjoying breakfast. The conversation came to a sudden halt when they realized that Osborn had pulled up a chair at one end and was piling fruit on a plate. “Morning,” he said, reaching for a basket of hard-boiled eggs. “Good morning,” Razael said. “Want some bacon?” “I had some earlier this morning,” the hin said. Kyle grinned. “Yeah, but… do you want some bacon?” “Sure.” “Well, at least we know it’s really him,” Razael said as he passed the platter of bacon to Osborn. “So, can we go shopping later?” Osborn asked. “I need furnishing for my new house.” Everyone knew he was referring to the house that had previously been occupied by the Lord Constable that had been in the city when Autumn arrived, who had fled rather than help the new duchess enforce the laws in the city. They continued the charade for a few more minutes, conversing casually as if nothing unusual had happened, before they finally broke down and welcomed Osborn back, filling him in on what had happened in the past several days. “So, what to know what I found out, or should we go back to discussing meaningless crap?” Osborn asked. “Maybe you should take a bath first,” Maddie said. Osborn was, in fact quite grimy. “What?” “Osborn,” Maddie said, “I’m not sure what animal that came from,” she pointed at a dark smudge on his armor, “but I think it needs to go.” Razael looked at the stain and sniffed. “I’d say horse.” Kyle zapped Osborn with a [I]prestidigitation [/I]spell, instantly dissolving the muck. “So, continue, please,” he said. “Well, I didn’t get a lot of really deep information,” Osborn admitted, “being at the bottom of the ladder and all. But I can tell you that the Silent Foot is composed entirely of the short races – dwarves, gnomes and hin. They won’t let any other race in. A very lovely gnomish woman named Abraxas leads the guild. She doesn’t like ‘tall people’ at all, but she tells a good story. Quite inspirational, really. And if you’re not inclined to listen to what she has to say, she has the largest dwarf I’ve ever seen backing her up. I swear he was five feet tall and just as broad. I never caught his name – he doesn’t talk much.” “Shouldn’t be hard to miss him, then,” Razael said. “From what I can gather,” Osborn continued, “Abraxas’ agenda in the city seems to be the ruination of all tall folk. Her plan seems to be to wait until caravan season opens up, and then she has two objectives; first, to plunder any caravans run by humans, elves, or the like, and second, to offer protection to any caravans run by the short folk… for a small fee, of course.” “You know,” Kyle said, “it’s probably ‘small’ jokes like that that pushed Abraxas over the edge in the first place.” “I wasn’t making a joke,” Osborn said. “Really? I could’ve sworn… oh, never mind.” “Anyway” Osborn said, “as far as how the Silent Foot gets along with the other guilds, I learned that they don’t see the Black Hand as much of a threat, but apparently there’s not many of them left anyway. The Night Whisperers tend to run in the outskirts of the city and outside the walls, so they don’t interfere much with the Silent Foot right now. Once Abraxas starts her caravan scheme, though, that could change.” “Why would a thieves’ guild like the Night Whisperers stay outside the city?” Autumn asked. “Not sure, but I hear they have a lot of druids and rangers,” Osborn said. Then he looked at Razael. “Hey, maybe it’s something you could check out.” “Could be,” Razael said. Osborn went on, talking between mouthfuls of bacon. “Right now Abraxas is more worried about the assassin’s guilds. She’s afraid that if they figure out that her guild is made up of nothing but short folk, they might start targeting them. But there have apparently been meetings, and it seems like the Silent Foot is more interested in working with the Night Blades than the Poisoned Edge.” “Surprising,” Kyle said. “Given how persuasive you’ve said Abraxas is, you’d think she’d find the Poisoned Edge more appealing. They’re the ones that specialize in character assassinations.” “Who knows?” Osborn shrugged. “But the most recent bit of news is the most troubling. It seems that with popular support starting to swing your way, and with rumors of more troops arriving soon, Abraxas has been saying that something big will need to happen. What she’s planning, I don’t know, but I get the feeling it will happen soon.” “I appreciate the information, Osborn,” Autumn said. “Yeah, good job,” Kyle added. “Now we need to find out about these other guilds,” Razael said. “I could look into what these Night Whisperers are doing outside the city. As an Imperial Huntsman, I should be watching out for poachers anyway. I’d need a writ of authority from you as the Duchess, giving me permission to enforce the laws, so that when bodies start showing up I have an excuse. Or, I could ask for a letter from Herion, since he is technically in charge of all Hunstmen.” “Why don’t you ask Herion for that writ,” Autumn said. “I’m a little… uncomfortable giving you that much leeway under my name.” “I can head out today and put my ear to the street,” Osborn offered, “maybe find out if there’s a particular area the Whisperers can be found.” “Well, as for the Black Hand,” Kyle said, “didn’t you just get a message from them last night?” “What’s this?” Osborn asked. “I did,” Autumn confirmed. “We were just discussing it when you arrived, Osborn. The leadership of the Black Hand wishes to meet with me this evening to negotiate.” “It’s a trap,” Osborn said automatically. “Normally, I’d agree,” Autumn said. “But they’re willing to meet here, at my manor. Kind of puts them at a disadvantage, doesn’t it?” “We’ve heard from multiple sources that the Black Hand has been hit pretty hard,” Kyle pointed out. “They may be desperate.” “I think they are afraid of getting wiped out,” Osborn agreed. “It could be an opportunity,” Kyle said. “You know that you can’t completely eliminate crime in the city, and despite what you may think of them, thieves’ guilds do serve a purpose – they keep the underworld under control.” “There is wisdom here,” Xu said, “Better a guild that you know about and can possibly exert some control over.” “You can at least hear what they have to say,” Osborn said. “I know, and I agree,” Autumn said. “I’ll agree to the meeting tonight. Anyone who wants to be there is welcome.” They decided to hold the meeting in Autumn’s study; they contemplated the audience chamber, but chose the study because they didn’t want to give the meeting with the Black Hand the air of ‘official duchy business’. Autumn sat behind a large desk, wearing her plate armor with her axe by her side. Kyle stood behind her chair, with a message spell already active in order to speak quietly with Autumn and others in the room, and a detect thoughts ready to give them a split-second warning if the Black Hand attacked. Razael stood in a back corner, his bow ready. Osborn was waiting in another corner, invisble. Maddie, Xu, and Arrie were also in the room, arrayed evenly about the room. Several defensive spells had been placed on Autumn by Kyle and Maddie. The servants escorted in five individuals. Each wore full red robes, and black face masks. All five looked to be exactly the same height and build. They wore black leather gloves. As the servants left, the robed figures stood in a line in front of Autumn’s desk, a respectful distance away. “Illusion,” Kyle whispered to Autumn, explaining the uniform appearance. “Your Grace,” said the one in the middle, bowing. The voice was neither male nor female, and carried no distinctive accent. “We five are all that remains of the Black Hand guild. We have come to offer you a bargain. We have information on the remaining four guilds in your city. We will give you this information for a price.” Razael slowly started to draw arrows from his quiver. The rogue on the far left spoke with a voice identical to the first. “If your Huntsman continues to pull arrows, we will turn around and leave now.” Autumn shot a warning look at Razael, who sighed and put the arrows away. Then she returned her attention to the five rogues. After a while, she said, “Forgive the pause, but I’m unaccustomed to negotiating with your kind. What kind of price do you seek?” “At the very least, we would want ducal pardons for any crimes that we may or may not have committed prior to this evening,” the rogue on the middle right said. “We would also want a guarantee that we would be allowed to leave the city unharmed and not followed by ducal agents… or Imperial ones.” The speaker turned his head slightly to indicate Razael. “Beyond that is open to negotiation.” “And you say you have information on every other guild?” Autumn asked. “Every one,” the middle rogue confirmed. “Information that we feel is not only useful to you, but of personal interest.” “Is it fear or revenge?” Razael asked. “Some of both,” said the rogue on the far left. “An honest answer,” Razael said. Autumn looked at the Black Hand, choosing to focus on the middle one. “Do you wish to remain in Vargas, or do you wish to leave?” “Staying would be preferable,” said the one on the middle left, “but in order to do so, the other guilds would have to be eliminated. If you feel you could accomplish this, we would remain here.” “It will be done,” Autumn asserted. “But what do you feel your information is worth?” “We have information on guild strengths,” the middle one replied. “Numbers, locations of hideouts, general composition of members, and leadership. Rather a lot, we would say.” “Are you seeking gold?” Autumn asked. “Favors,” the one on the far left said. “Things within your power to grant, such as the aforementioned pardons, and safe passage. Coin can be had easily enough.” “Perhaps,” Xu said, “you could offer to let them remain and rebuild their ranks, as long as they maintained a dialogue with you concerning their activities.” “A possibility we had hoped would be amenable toward,” said the Black Hand on the middle right. “Certainly, we feel our guild’s agenda in Vargas is more ‘pure’, in a manner of speaking, than that of the other guilds. We only seek to profit from our activities.” “I will not tolerate murder and rape in my city,” Autumn said. “We do not rape and murder,” said the rogue on the middle left. “Such crimes are bad for business. If we kill, we kill those who have broken our rules and endangered the guild.” “It’s true,” Osborn whispered to Kyle from his hiding place who relayed it to Autumn, “thieves don’t usually do that kind of stuff.” “Perhaps what we need to agree upon,” Kyle said, “is that should we allow the Black Hand to operate as the ‘official’ thieves’ guild in Vargas, that certain types of crimes should be discouraged. Violent crimes of course, but also protection rackets, and at least a decrease in burglaries. We’re trying to get the merchants to return to Vargas.” The rogue in the middle held up a hand. “I believe we understand your intention. We can certainly negotiate details later, but for now, will it suffice to say that the Black Hand will not do anything that would potentially drive people or money out of the city? Certainly, that would not be advantageous to either side.” “Sounds reasonable,” Kyle said. “We’ll just call those the ‘unapproved’ crimes for now.” “Agreed,” said the middle rogue. “If your intent is to allow the Black Hand to rebuild under these conditions, however, we will need an environment in which to recruit and train new members. We would need reduced watch presence in the slums for a period of six months after the elimination of the other guilds. With your watch currently undermanned, it shouldn’t be difficult for you to arrange this.” Autumn thought for a moment before speaking. “Very well. I will grant you each a full pardon for any alleged crimes committed up until this day. I will ensure that you receive protection from retaliation from the other guilds should you choose to remain in the city. I will guarantee that you will not be molested or watched by any civil authority should you choose to leave the city. I will eliminate the four competing guilds in the city. I will permit you to rebuild the Black Hand within Vargas after the other four guilds are eliminated, which will include adjusting the watch patrols in the southwestern portion of the city so that you may adequately recruit and train your guild. In exchange, you will provide me with the promised information on the other four guilds – should the information prove inaccurate, our arrangement will be null and void. Your presence in the city will be tolerated only so long as your members do not engage in what we are currently terming ‘unapproved crimes’, and make a reasonable effort to curb such crimes from those not in your guild. Your leadership will also agree to meet with me or my appointed seneschal every three months in order to maintain an open dialogue and to ensure that both sides are keeping their end of the bargain.” There was a similar short pause from the Black Hand. “We agree to these terms,” said the rogue on the middle right at last. “We will give you the information.” “Let us start,” said the middle rogue, “with the most vital piece of information. We have found your predecessor.” “Count Robar?” Autumn asked. “Yes. He is the head of the Night Blades assassin’s guild.” “The head of it?” Autumn said. “Interesting.” “The Night Blades are a small guild,” the middle rogue continued. “No more than fifteen or twenty members. But they seem to be very potent, and are backed by dark magics of some kind.” “The Poisoned Edge,” said the rogue on the far right, “is a much larger guild, but their clientele tends to be more diverse. Perhaps as many as thirty members, who are as well versed in the social arts as they are in assassination.” “We’d heard that they specialize in character assassinations,” Kyle said. “This is accurate, though they are no less willing to engage in traditional killing. Their leader has had some bardic training, which should come as little surprise. He has a number of disguises and personas he uses. At least one of them is a well-to-do grain exporter, who keeps offices by the river.” “The Silent Foot is the most numerous guild,” said the rogue on the middle left. “We admit that exact numbers have been difficult to obtain. There are perhaps as many as a hundred, most of them comprised of hin and gnomes. Given that this number of the short fold moving in to the city should have been noticed, but wasn’t, we suspect they have contacts among the native elves and humans that allow them to move freely in the city. Their leader is a gnomish woman named Abraxas, who has also been trained as a bard.” “Please, continue,” Autumn said, giving no sign that they’d already learned about the Silent Foot and Abraxas from Osborn earlier than morning. “The Night Whisperers,” said the middle right rogue, “seem to be more like brigands that thieves, as they operate mostly outside of the city. They number around forty, not including the animals that always seem to accompany them. Some are skilled riders and well trained in mounted combat, others have trained animals such as bears and wolverines for brute strength. Those who operate in the city tend to have smaller animals or those that don’t look out of place in an urban environment, such as dogs or rats. The leader of the Night Whispers appears to be an elven druid of some skill. We don’t know if he has a grudge against this particular city, or cities in general, or even civilization as a whole. He may be using his people to poke holes in the weak places of society.” “That’s okay,” Kyle commented. “We have Razael, who’s good at poking holes in the weak places of people.” “Very good, thanks,” Razael said. “Is there anything else you wish to impart?” “The rest we will impart to your seneschal,” the rogue in the middle said, gesturing to Kyle. The rogue on the far left stepped forward and pulled a large bundle of documents out of his robes, setting them on the desk in front of him. “There is far too much information to relay verbally in one evening,” the middle rogue said as his companion stepped back. “These documents will provide you with most of the mundane details.” “We will be in touch when you have eliminated the guilds,” the rogue on the left said. The five rogues inclined their heads in unison to Autumn, and then turned and filed out of the room. As soon as they left, everyone exhaled and relaxed. “That was weird,” Maddie said. “Listening to all five of them gave me a headache.” “They probably didn’t want us to identify one of them as the ‘leader’ or the ‘one with all the information’,” said Kyle. He picked up the sheaf of papers on the desk. “Well, I can read through this tonight.” Autumn turned around and smiled at Kyle. “So, seneschal, eh?” Kyle shot her a dark look. “Don’t you dare,” he said. [CENTER] * * *[/CENTER] Early the next morning, before the sun had even crested the city’s outer wall, there was a knock on Autumn’s bedroom door. She rolled over at the sound, and pushed on Kyle’s shoulder. He got out of bed and threw on his robes before answering the door. Autumn’s valet Aleria stood at the door. “Sir, there’s a messenger here for the Duchess from Count Helaku,” she said, curtseying. “Count Helaku? Who’s that?” “He controls the vast majority of the grazing land in the duchy, sir,” Aleria said. “His cattle and horses provide us with the majority of our internal income.” “Okay, then,” Kyle said. “Does the messenger need to see the Duchess personally, or can I take the message?” “I believe you could take the message, sir,” Aleria said. “Okay. Have the messenger wait downstairs while I get dressed.” A door down the hall opened, and Razael’s head poked out. “You want me to go, Kyle? I’ve been up and dressed for a while, and you and Autumn were up pretty late last night.” “No, Raz,” Kyle said. “I’d better start learning to do this myself.” “Yeah, that’s what seneschals are for, after all,” Razael chuckled. As the tracker’s door closed, Kyle muttered to himself. “We’ve got to get him a room further away.” A few minutes later Kyle came down to greet a young elf standing patiently in the audience chamber. He was still slightly sweaty, as if he’d ridden hard. Kyle almost sat down in Autumn’s raised seat, paused, and then remained standing, stepping down off the dais. “I understand you have a message? The Duchess is currently… performing her morning devotionals.” “I have been sent to inform Her Grace, Lady Autumn Verahannen, Duchess of Vargex, Lady Mayor of Vargas, that my lord, Count Helaku, will be arriving shortly to swear fealty to his liege lord as is custom. He and his entourage should be arriving here by midday.” “Midday? Wonderful. Why not in five minutes?” Kyle suddenly realized what he was saying, and blushed. “I mean, we’ll be delighted to have Count Helaku here, I’m sure. We will prepare for his arrival.” The messenger bowed. “Of course, sir. If I may ask where I might rest and freshen up? I have run for a day and a half without stop in order to arrive here before my lord.” “Sure, sure, I’ll… have someone who knows where everything is show you where to go.” Kyle dashed back upstairs to his bedroom to rouse Autumn and inform her of Count Helaku’s arrival. Autumn quickly roused her servants to begin preparing a large lunch in anticipation of the visit. The messenger told them that Helaku’s entourage consisted of eight people, including the count, with no horses. Apparently the count preferred to travel by foot. “Given the situation in the city,” Kyle said, “should we send a few people to meet the count outside the city, and escort him in? Sort of an honor guard.” “Do you want me to go?” Razael said. “As long as you can be courteous,” Autumn said sternly. “Haxtha never had me killed,” Razael replied. “I reckon that proves I can do it once in a while.” Xu and Guardsman Imrahil ended up going out with Razael to meet Count Helaku, though Imrahil waited near the gates, as he could not run as fast as either the tracker or the monk. Within a few minutes, they spotted a party of eight elves running up the road. They all wore light armor and carried longspears, and they had black hair, which distinguished them from the light brown to blond hair that most elves sported. The elf in the middle of the group was much older and weathered than the others, appearing to be close to Razael’s age. Other than that, the only difference between the elves in the party was that Helaku’s spear was of finer quality than the others, and he also wore a gold chain about his neck. Razael and Xu approached the group, offering them greetings from the Duchess and an offer of escort into the city. They were certain to state that no trouble was expected. “Excellent,” said Count Helaku. “The courtesy, and the foresight are noted.” The group began the walk toward the city. Razael made his way over to converse with the count. “So, Razael, you’re back in Vargex, I see,” Helaku said. “Yeah, Herion found a new assignment for me,” Razael sighed. “I can’t imagine why he’d want you here.” “I’m bodyguarding. Where they go, I go.” “Ah.” “By the way, you haven’t seen Arovnen in the area recently, have you?” Helaku smiled. “The Marquis of Malachor? Can’t say that I have. Nor his daughter Lilliana. She turned one hundred just a few months ago, as I recall. There was some sort of to-do just before her birthday, I think. Did you hear about it?” “I’m sure I was somewhere else at the time, my lord,” Razael replied smoothly. “That’s good to hear, Huntsman,” Helaku said, “and given what I know of your reputation, please make sure that ‘somewhere else’ is nowhere near my lands or my daughters.” “You have daughters?” “Yes, and if you wish to lose a few limbs…” Razael held up a hand. “Should the Duchess decide to visit your estates at some point, I will have to accompany her, of course. But the ones I am guarding have one of their own watching me. They don’t want me exiled again.” “The Huntsman finds himself trapped?” Helaku said wryly. “Herion had more wisdom in him than I thought.” “Wait until you meet his wife.” Meanwhile, preparations were still underway at the manor. Kyle went up and walked into the bedroom, where Aleria was helping Autumn get dressed. “So, refresh my memory about this Count Helaku,” Kyle said, sitting on the bed, watching as Aleria was lacing up Autumn’s corset. “He’s an elf, and has been in his position for about two hundred years now,” Autumn said. “His herds are responsible for the majority of Vargex’s internally generated income. He’s known to be a down to earth person. He spends most of his time out with his people tending the herds. He’s relatively straightforward and direct, and isn’t terribly impressed by titles or fineries. He’s here to find out if I can do the job.” “Huh.” Autumn turned around. “What?” “Well, it’s just a thought,” Kyle said, “but if I were you, I’d wear your armor. If he wants to know if you can handle cleaning up Vargas, and he’s not into frippery, then I’d think mithral would make a better impression than satin.” Autumn thought for a moment, then grinned. “Aleria, please get rid of this damned corset, and unpack my armor.” Several minutes later, Autumn and Kyle came out of the room, walking toward the stairs. Arrie was hanging out in the hallway near Autumn’s audience chamber, also dressed in her armor. As Autumn walked by, Arrie leaned over to her. “I’ll see you in the dining room later,” she whispered. Arrie walked away and disappeared through one of the doors, but not before giving Kyle a wink and playful punch on the shoulder. Autumn understood the reason for her vanishing act; she always avoided being seen with Autumn during any official business, so that no one would think that the Imperial Princess, or by extension the Empire, was unduly influencing or aiding the new Duchess. Razael preceded the count’s party into the manor by a minute to announce his arrival. “And if I may suggest, Duchess, a few glasses of that Whelpwhiskey might be welcome as a greeting. Count Helaku’s pushing close to my age.” Servants went to retrieve one of the bottles at Autumn’s nod of approval. Moments later, the main doors to the audience chamber opened, and Count Helaku and his men entered in a spearhead formation. They all walked about halfway to the throne, and then threw their spears high into the air. The spears arced almost to the ceiling, and came down to land in a precise eight-pointed star formation, with the butt of Helaku’s spear pointing directly toward Autumn. Al eight elves then dropped to one knee. Razael, whose hand had automatically reached back to his quiver the moment the spears had gone up into the air, exhaled slowly and relaxed. “Welcome,” said Autumn, gesturing for them to rise. “Please, have a seat. Would you like some refreshments?” Count Helaku shook his head. “We will stand until our business is concluded.” Helaku’s eyes swept the room. “Word has reached my ears that you have taken to cleaning house here in Vargas,” he said. “Yes,” Autumn replied. “I take it by the fact that I needed an additional escort into the city, that the housecleaning is not yet finished.” “That is correct.” “It’s a pretty messy house,” Kyle interjected. Autumn tensed slightly, unsure how the Count would react to his comment. But the weathered old elf just smiled. “The fact that no obvious crime was seen on the way here does speak of certain improvements.” Helaku’s gaze took in the others in the room again. “I also understand that you have been associated with Huntsman Fletcher for longer than you have been Duchess.” “Again, you are correct,” Autumn replied. “You have my sympathies,” Count Helaku said. “Thank you.” In the corner, Razael scowled. “But you also have my congratulations. Razael is one of the finest Huntsman the Empire has to offer. You could certainly do worse than to have him at your side.” Count Helaku looked intently at Autumn for a moment, and then seemed to suddenly come to a decision. “With that, I have come to offer you my fealty. Will you accept?” “I will,” Autumn said, managing to keep her elation down to a warm and radiant smile. The Count approached Autumn’s dais, and presented her with the formal declaration of fealty. He and Autumn then exchanged oaths, and sealed the ceremony with a kiss. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Helaku’s seven men erupted in cheers, and the others in the room applauded. “We’ll take those chairs now, and those refreshments,” Helaku said. “We’ve been running for a couple of days.” Autumn escorted the Count into the dining room, where a light lunch had been laid out. Pitchers of water and wine were plentiful, and as the guests sat down, they were offered a glass of Whelpwhiskey, which was accepted gratefully. Autumn tried to place Helaku at her right and Kyle at her left, as would be customary since they were not yet married, but the Count chased Kyle out of the chair and made him sit on Autumn’s right side. “Far as I’m concerned, that’s your seat, and you’d better get used to sitting in it,” he said to Kyle. “I don’t need a piece of parchment or a priests’ blessing to make it ‘official’.” Helaku then gave a nod to Arrie, who sat two seats down. “Princess,” he said, “how are you?” “Very well, thank you,” Arrie replied, nodding as the other members of Helaku’s party rose and bowed to her. “And yourself?” “Can’t complain. Well, I can, but no one listens to old men who complain. How’s that young husband of yours?” Arrie smiled at the thought of a ‘young husband’ who was nearly six times older than her. “He’s good. I’ll let him know you asked about him.” “You do that. I tell you, I was beside myself when I heard that his father had passed away. I considered Jhoxan a kindred spirit, I did.” “What about his son, Haxtha?” Kyle asked. Count Helaku scratched at his chin. “I’m going to give the young fellow a few more years at the job before I make up my mind,” he said. He turned back to Autumn. “So, Your Grace, introduce me to your companions among the Legacy. The ones I don’t already know, I mean.” Autumn went around the table, skipping over Arrie and Razael. “This is Osborn Greenbottle, a knife-thrower from the Amazing Traveling Circus in the Khag Steppes. Xu Dhii Ngao, a monk from the Xhintai Empire. And Madrone, Erito’s favored soul, from Medos. Our other friend, the bard Lanara Rahila, could not be here today, I’m afraid.” “Pity, I heard she was quite the performer. Easy on the eyes, too, I hear.” “Indeed,” Razael commented. Helaku arched an eyebrow. “She’s a little old for you, isn’t she, Fletcher?” he said, grinning. Razael shrugged, but said nothing else. “So, you’re all graduates of that Tower, right? Well, except Fletcher here, of course.” “Yes, we are,” Autumn said. “Good. Good school, even if it is in a country full of stuck-up xenophobes. But you forgot one introduction, Your Grace.” “I was only saving him for last,” Autumn replied. “Count Helaku, this is Kyle Goodson, my fiancée, a wizard from Targeth.” Helaku eyed Kyle for a while. “Well, congratulations. When’s the wedding?” “In four months, on the tenth of Lutros,” Autumn said. “Your invitation should be arriving soon.” “Excellent. So, we should expect children about this time next year, then?” Kyle dropped his fork onto his plate. Autumn only smiled. “That’s quite possible,” she replied. Kyle seemed to have a little more trouble picking his fork back up. Helaku eyed Kyle again. “So, you’re from Targeth,” he said. “You one of those stuck-up xenophobes?” “No, sir,” Kyle said. “I’m a farmer from the Circle.” “A farmer, eh? So I suppose you noticed all those barley fields south of the city, didn’t you?” “Well, yes, although they were wheat, not barley. At first I thought they were planting way too early, honestly, but then I found out that most of the crops grown here in Vargex are for producing grain alcohol. So the early planting makes sense, since you want the wheat to mature at the same time as your hops and barley. Gives you a thinner crop, of course, but it’s the price you pay. Now, do you have any other questions designed to test if I really was a farmer, or should I ask you what breed of cow produces the best mutton?” Count Helaku stared at Kyle for a moment, and then broke out in a loud guffaw that quickly caught on at the table. “I like him, Your Grace. Teach him how to hold on to his silverware and he’ll be just about perfect.” “I’ll work on that,” Autumn said, smiling. The rest of the meal was spent in talking about the forecasts for the upcoming year, including more details about foaling and calving than Autumn wanted to hear during a meal. Helaku ended up directing most of the conversation to Kyle, who understood the subject far better than anyone else in the room. “Is there anything we can do to help you?” Autumn asked. “Not right now,” Helaku said. “It’s quiet on my lands at the moment.” “Well, you and your entourage are welcome to stay here as long as you wish.” “I think we can stay about a week. After that, we’ll need to get back to help protect the herds from rustlers.” “I should go check on his daughters while he’s away,” Razael muttered to himself. The Count turned toward Razael. “If you think my ears aren’t as sharp as yours, Huntsman, you’d best think again.” Razael sighed. “I’ve gotten used to humans.” “Your Grace,” Helaku said, returning his attention to Autumn, “is there anything you need from me?” “Well, I can always use men to help bring the city under control,” she said. “If you have anyone you can spare.” “I’ll be honest, Your Grace, my men aren’t used to working in enclosed spaces like Vargas,” Helaku replied. “Even the towns in my county have streets about three times as wide as your main thoroughfare.” “Well, then I have a possibility,” Autumn said. “One of the guilds that infests my city is actually based outside the city, in the surrounding countryside.” “Druids and rangers playing bandit,” Razael said. “Huh. That we can help with. But it’s still a bit early for caravan season yet. Give me some time to collect some volunteers, and I’ll send them your way.” “Your help is most appreciated,” Autumn said. “And certainly, we’d send them back to you in time to help with the herds when you needed them,” Kyle added. “My hope is to eliminate the threat posed by these brigands before the caravans arrive,” Autumn commented. “A good thought,” Helaku said. “You’ve got about a month before the roads harden up enough for a wagon. You might get a few merchants coming in with a pack train before that, but if you lose a couple of them to bandits there shouldn’t be much economic impact. And the caravan companies expect to lose a couple every year – cost of doing business. If they want a caravan to get through, they’ll hire more caravan guards.” At this comment, Kyle’s eyes lit up with a sudden idea, but he kept his mouth closed. The meal concluded with a discussion of news in the Empire and in Affon in general, and the sharing of a few of the Legacy’s exploits. Razael also managed to slip in a few mentions of some of the Legacy’s enemies, advising Helaku to keep an eye out for them. Then the Count and his men were shown upstairs to the guest quarters. As the servants began clearing plates off the table, Autumn turned to Kyle. “Okay, spill it,” she said. “Spill what?” “Whatever idea you had when Helaku was talking about caravans. I know that look.” “Well,” Kyle said, “when he talked about hiring caravan guards, I just had a memory of when we all graduated from the Tower. You remember our first assignment, where we were recruited by that little logging village in exchange for paying off part of our school debts?” “I remember that,” Osborn said. “Canyon Camp. That was when we met Sauroth for the first time.” “And the shadar-kai,” Autumn said. It had been a long time since she’d thought about the dark fey that lived in the forests of southern Tlaxan. She reminded herself to write her stepfather Zanich to ask if he’d heard anything about them. “But go on.” “Well, it occurs to me, why can’t we do the same? Contact the Tower and ask them to send us some graduates to do things like guard incoming caravans, or help investigate some of these crimes that our own watch can’t get to, or eliminate some of the lower ranks of the guilds? Plus, if we give Vargas a reputation for being friendly to adventurers, then that brings in a lot of extra cash and goods, because the adventurers will start coming here to buy and sell their stuff. That will make the merchants happy, and probably the mages and priests too, because they’ll be able to sell magic items and healing.” “Kyle, that’s brilliant,” Autumn said, hugging him. “And being on good terms with that Tower of yours can’t be a bad thing,” Razael pointed out. “And hey, we can always inspire the younger generations,” Kyle said, “sort of a ‘look where you can end up’ thing.” “I’ll write the Tower tomorrow,” Autumn said. “But graduation’s not for a couple of months, and I want something done about these guilds well before that.” “Okay, then,” Kyle said. “We’ve already decided to have Razael check out the Night Whisperers outside the city.” “I’d suggest we start with the assassin’s guilds,” Maddie said. “The sooner we get rid of people who can kill us in our sleep, the better. I don’t like getting killed in my sleep.” “Maybe we should eliminate the Night Blade first, then,” Kyle said. “They’re the smallest guild.” “Taking down Robar will do us good,” Razael pointed out. “I reckon he knows a fair sight more about this city than should make us comfortable.” “And exposing and eliminating Robar would help cement your rule,” Arrie added. “It makes sense,” Autumn said. “Let’s go over the information we have, and plan to strike at the Night Blade in a week, after Count Helaku leaves.” No one was opposed, and so the matter was settled. Everyone left the table and went their separate ways. Autumn sighed in contentment as she walked to her room on Kyle’s arm, and she leaned her head against his shoulder for a moment. It felt good to know they were taking decisive action at last. With the Night Blades gone, things would start to turn around, and by the time she and Kyle were married the city would be in a position where she could comfortably leave it in the hands of a steward. [I]One week,[/I] she thought, [I]one week and we can be rid of Robar’s assassins. With all the intelligence we have, it should be easy.[/I] [/QUOTE]
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