Seeing Harald's response, Renart excused himself from the trio, and the slain guardsman, while moving back to his Personal Quarters -- the same area King Albert had given him during the Spring. Actually, he was on the way there before sending the reply message to his vassal, Trent.
Trent, I write this with the words of one speaking to a close friend and relative, and not to a vassal.
You have sacrificed much for the good of Northwatch, and much more when asked to prove yourself in the name of the Prince and his brother. While I believe you're too young in mind and at hand, you've proven me otherwise - showing charisma and prowess in your actions, though brash if I must say.
I have written a formal letter to the Elders of the villages providing the pelts in our traderoute. All earnings are to be given for your disposal. I hear rumors that the people are naturally attracted to your cause, however vague it may seem to the rest, therefore I believe you'd do well with this decision.
I am dismayed to hear the Ranger Order being abolished, but as they were your men, I take faith that you have found a solution to the problem that I have so accidentally made.
Keep safe, I will be returning to Northwatch soon with my Personal Guard and the levies of the people. Winter will be a harsh one, and we must all stay together in this time of rebirth.
~Renart Lionel, Marquis of Northwatch
Perhaps he was just lucky to meet the others as the meeting ended.
They don't mind me personally helping the King. All good, then.
Retain action here, and keep my PG regiment with me along with the levies until this is resolved [Not moving them back until Winter]
Trent Nathal is to inherit the Trade Route profits of 1d per year to use as he wishes due to his actions.
After speaking to Aveline (see earlier post), you are informed that the king's agent is actually waiting in an accomodation area outside the palace hall. He is in fact waiting to speak to a noble himself. You meet him separately in a small, incredibly opulent antechamber to debrief him.
Karas and Renart meet.Ril slipped the note from Jitpau, from a hidden spot in his shirt, handing it to the guard, after a moment. It took a moment for the shaggy haired, wool-coated, lean young man to remember his old voice, his back straightening, voice containing confidence and the stately-ness of those who had nearly died as he addressed the guard.
"I'm...Ril Emanhild. Younger brother of Ursa, the last Blauritter. I've a message the Regent tasked me to deliver for the prophet Jitpau, as well as a message for Saer Richard."
Tess and Lock looked worried, leaning on their bone-tipped pike staves, looking healthier than Ril, by far, their frames staying the same, despite the hungry time in the hills.
[4-1+2] The guard inspects the note carefully for a moment. He makes a strange sign with one hand, almost to himself. "Apologies, brother," he says. "I did not know you were one of the Messiah's agents. The Prophet is beyond the city at present, but I can take you to the palace to wait for Prince Richard. Your companions I must insist on staying at the inn, unless they have critical relevance to your mission."
You are allowed into the city and the guard sends your companions to the Iron Hound (paying for the cost of their stay out of his own pocket - you get the feeling he might be some sort of cult member of Jitpau's). You are escorted to the palace where a grey-liveried servant shows you to a waiting chamber. On the way you notice a corpse hanging above the palace gates, some would-be assassin who tried to kill Lord Stonewood.
The chamber is opulent, to say the least. Rich tapestries in Selenid silk hang from the walls, with goose-down cushions on the sofas. An ornate cherrywood low table sits in the corner of the room, and the room itself is lit by candles from a gilt chandelier when the soft purple curtains are closed. Bowls of lavender sprigs give the room a distinctive perfume to mask the odours of the city beyond. Another grey-liveried servant enters and places a carafe of Altanic wine and glass goblet on the table along with some small ceramic platters of spiced nuts, sweetmeats, savoury pastries and slices of bread and olive oil. He tastes each item and the wine, then lights the candles on the chandelier, which give off a distinctive rose scent to complement that of the lavender. The servant informs you that his Highness will be with you in an hour, as he is in a meeting with the Regent at this time. Should you require music, the court troubadour is available, and the palace has an account with the Drifting Chemise should other entertainment be your preference. The servant gives a deep bow and leaves.
This must be where ambassadors and guests of state are kept. Well, you doubt the Arendalian ambassador is about to get treated any time soon...
after spending a few days thinking, It hit him. The dock-worker must have been a cover. So that means that whoever my Father is, he frequented Adran's Landing!
Ask around to knights and other men and women with swords if any male swordmasters frequesnted Adran's Landing.
[1] Most of the men have no idea where the mysterious Swordmaster is, but Adran's Landing is a fairly minor fort and almost nobody of any significance was ever born there. Except Captain Aveline, of course.
Hunting Cavaliers...[4 vs ?] Harald's riders head out to the northern plains to find that the cavaliers have already withdrawn; news of the coming hunters seems to have gone ahead of them, and the peasant witnesses questioned claim that messengers rode between the bands of cavaliers and they all rode north at once into the Red Spear foothills. A following search of the hills revealed no results; the cavaliers have already ridden away. Northern Stormstead, at least, is clear.