A Grand Design 3.

Mid Autumn. The Town Of Salme. The Duchy Of Dalmar. The Kingdom Of Girdane.

Arvelle the plainsman makes his way out of the chambers after another unsuccessful attempt to get them hired by duke Hilloc, the duke of Dalmar.
The tall, shaven headed plainsman who really isn't what he seems to be. Looks around as another petitioner is ushered into the duke's meeting chambers.
Arvelle spots a figure standing next to one of the columns here in the outer chamber, and makes his way over to the figure in the white hooded cloak.
"When did you get back?" quietly asks Arvelle the plainsman in the elven language "Not so long ago" is the quiet reply of Helbe the elven thief in the same language.
The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel who along with most of the rest of the group, have been for the last couple of weeks or so, exploring the duchies here in the west of the kingdom of Girdane, then adds "Around midmorning".
The plainsman who at the start of autumn was an illegal wrecker plying his trade on the Kaldel Plains, which lie to the north of Girdane, nods his head, then quietly says "Let's get something to eat" as it's now around noon, and he's been in a meeting with the duke and his advisors for most of the morning.
The elven masterthief nods his hooded head, and the two of them make their way out of the outer chamber. Garnering a few looks from the other partitioners, and those of the duke's court who are in attendance.
The tall plainsman and the elven magic user are silent as they make their way through the duke's castle.
And remain so, as they cross the inner courtyard, and out through the inner wall, and into the outer bailey.
They're still silent as they pass through the main gates in the outer wall. And exit the castle, and enter the walled town of Salme itself.
It's only after Arvelle points the way to go, that they break the silence and Helbe the elven thief quietly says "No luck?".
"None" is the reply from the tall plainsman, who rubs his shaved head, then wryly smiles.
The former illegal wrecker then adds in a slightly dry tone with "Though he still wants more gold and jewels from what the wreckers have taken on the plains".
"Of course" dryly says the young elven noble who is a member of the royal family that rules the island principality of Laerel.
"Any reason why he's so reluctant?" asks the highly talented elven magic user "I actually think he's okay with the idea" says Arvelle the plainsman who continues with "Though some of his advisors and allies are dead set against it" he then adds "They don't want mercenaries on their side, especially an army of foreign mercenaries".
The elven master assassin shakes his hooded head in disgust, then says "If and when they finally decide to go ahead with their rebellion, they'll never succeed without extra help".
The tall plainsman nods his shaved head in agreement, as he leads the way to a nearby taverna that he's frequented since arriving here in Salme.
The walled town of Salme is in the very west of the duchy of Dalmar. And is the seat of power for the duke and his family.
The town itself, is dominated by the duke's castle, a five hundred year old fortification that's on a hill in the north of the town, which is spread out around it, and below it.
With it's cobblestone streets, and a modest sized airdock. Salme is the hub of commerce and activity in the very west of the kingdom, and has been for many centuries.
And though over the years it's fortunes have waned and flowed, it's a town, along with the rest of the duchy. That's always been politically secure. And for the most part, loyal to the throne in the city of Oaklynn.
Though in recent times, over the last few years, and especially in the last eighteen months.
There's been upheaval in Dalmar, and in other duchies in the west of the kingdom.
As first a decree of higher taxes came from the throne. The first time in decades that's happened.
And second, and more importantly to duke Hilloc, his younger sister Mera, married lord Yarmoth. The regent of the city of Oaklynn, and a cousin of the king.
A marriage that wasn't political like pretty much all marriages between nobles, which in all intensive purposes are arranged.
But was a marriage that was pretty much forced if rumours are to believed. As the lady Mera went to the king's court the previous summer as many of the nobility throughout the kingdom do.
And by the end of summer she was married to lord Yarmoth, a man over twenty years older than her. Who has been married and widowed twice already.
With word at the king's court, he might of had something to do with the deaths of his two previous wives. One apparently died giving birth. And the other died in a boating accident on the river Tambir, near the capital Oaklynn.
After walking through the cobblestone streets and lanes, they get to the taverna on what's a cool, but sunny mid autumn day.
Once seated at a small table inside, and they've ordered some wine and some local dishes.
Arvelle the plainsman, who in actual fact is a hordes outrider from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, who just happens to find himself inhibiting the body of the former illegal wrecker from the Kaldel Plains.
Asks the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel "What did you find out?" followed by "Anything new?".
"Quite a lot actually" says the elven master archer who along with much of the group, with the exception of Arvelle who remained here in Salme. And Mira Reinholt the mage, Shur Kee the monk, and Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy who are in the east of the kingdom, in the capital Oaklynn.
Traveled north of Salme, and into the north of the duchy of Dalmar, and further north into the duchies of Falosen and Girnath.
To see what was happening, as there were a myriad of rumours about what's been going on in the countryside in the three western duchies of the kingdom.
Arvelle aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman is pretty much silent as he listens to the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel explain what he and the others found out.
Only speaking when the serving woman brings over their wine and food, and a bit later, and he says in surprise "The plague?". When the elven magic user, who along with himself, are members of the personal council to lord Farque tells him something of significance.
"Yes" says the elven princeling who continues with "Though a magically created one".
The tall plainsman with the shaved head, who has decided to keep shaving his head. For when he spent a few weeks trying to grow his hair out, he looked ridiculous. Quietly says to the elven magic user "Who would do that?".
"Whoever would get the most benefit out of it" is the quiet reply of the grandson of Prince Raendril of Laerel "The duke as he tries to shore up more support for his rebellion?" adds the elven master assassin who follows that with "Or the king, as an excuse to send his army west to make sure the plague doesn't spread?".
The tall plainsman who is really a barbarian hordesman from the southern tundra, is silent as he thinks about it.
And as he takes a drink from his goblet of wine, he slightly nods when Helbe the elven thief tells him "Or it could be someone completely unrelated".
After putting down his goblet, Arvelle the former illegal wrecker asks "What does he think?".
"He's not sure" says prince Helbenthril Raendril who continues on with "Though he wants to find out".
"Once we do find out, do you think it'll make a difference in the decision of our potential employment?" asks Arvelle aka Zubutai Timaginson.
"I doubt it" says the elven masterthief who is a member of the royal family that rules the principality of Laerel "He's just cares about who'll hire us" adds the highly talented elven magic user.
The former illegal wrecker from the Kaldel Plains grunts as they discuss lord Farque, who is hoping they'll get hired by one side or the other in any potential war here in the kingdom of Girdane.
As they know both sides are definitely preparing for a potential war. That could happen at anytime really. Even in the late autumn, and winter.
Or more likely in the late spring, and summer. After the spring rains, that hit most of the kingdom for at least a  month, and even longer in the springtime.
"We found an odd thing out in some of the villages up in the northwest that got hit by this spell created plague" says councillor Raendril who is safe in the knowledge that everyone else in the taverna, which is essentially a wine shop.
Doesn't speak or understand the elven language, which he and Arvelle the plainsman are conversing in.
He's read everyone else's mind here in the taverna to make sure they don't.
"Oh what was that?" asks Arvelle aka Zubutai the son of Timaginson "All the children and young people in those villages were missing" is the reply from the elven master assassin.
The former illegal wrecker blinks in surprise at that, then after a few moments of silence, he quietly asks "Any idea why?".
"None" says the elven princeling, who continues with "It's one of the things we have to find out" he then adds "Along with getting hired".
"I'm working on that" dryly says Arvelle the plainsman who is eating a selection of cold meats, along with various cheeses on small crackers.
"I'm back, I'll help you with that" says prince Helbenthril Raendril who continues with "He'd prefer us to be hired by the duke, since we're already out here in the west".
The tall plainsman with the shaved head grunts at that, and as he eats a rather pungent white cheese, the young elven noble from the principality of Laerel adds "If not, we'll head east and join up with Mira and the others, and see if we can get a hire with the king".
"That might be even more difficult" says the former illegal wrecker from the Kaldel Plains, who continues with "From what I've learnt at the duke's court is that the king is even more conservative than the nobility out here in the west, and he definitely won't hire a foreign mercenary army".
It's the elven masterthief's turn to grunt when he hears that, and he does so again when the tall plainsman with the shaved head adds "He won't even enter into talks on that matter".
"That's not good" mutters Helbe the elven thief, as more and more, it looks like there's only one choice of them getting a hire here in the kingdom of Girdane, in any potential revolt that's brewing in the kingdom.
"So our choices are, let's face it a bit of questionable fellow in the duke who wants more and more stolen funds from the wreckers on the plains. Who might enter into the idea of hiring us, but some of his advisors and allies are against the idea" says the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel.
"Or the king, who by all accounts is a bit of a greedy sot himself, who in no uncertain terms will even think about hiring a foreign mercenary army, let alone go into any negotiations to do so" continues the highly talented elven magic user.
"That sounds about right" says the tall plainsman who until recently was the leader of a crew of illegal wreckers, who were bringing down airships all across the Kaldel Plains.
With a shake of his head, Arvelle aka Zubutai the son of Timagin continues with "When you put it like that, it sounds like we don't have much of a choice at all".
"That's for sure" wryly says the elven masterthief, who after a momentary pause, adds "But since I'm back, i think i might be able to, encourage the duke's allies into hiring us".
The tall plainsman with the shaved head lifts a questioning eyebrow, and the elven princeling tells him "A few subtle suggestions here and there won't be noticed" the elven master archer follows that with "The spellcasters here, though some are powerful, have no idea who i am and what I'm capable of".
"We might actually get hired then" quietly says Arvelle the plainsman as he finishes the last of the slices of cold meat on his plate.
Nodding in agreement with his fellow councillor who is a cavalry commander in the armies of Farque, the young elven noble who acts as an envoy for the armies of Farque says "We just might".
Prince Helbenthril Raendril who will make sure they'll get hired, continues with "If they decide to begin their rebellion at the end of autumn or at the start of winter that won't give us much time".
Arvelle aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman nods in agreement and quietly says "We'll have to bring up one of the armies from down south, that'll take a bit of time".
The highly talented elven magic user nods his hooded head in agreement, then he downs the last of his wine, gestures at the remaining cheese and crackers on his fellow councillor's plate and says "Eat up".
The elven masterthief continues with "Best we get started as soon as possible in changing the minds of the duke's advisors and allies".
"Best we do" says the tall plainsman with the shaved head, who after a slight pause adds "And finding out about that plague and those missing children and young people" Arvelle Ganard continues with "That is definitely odd to say the least" . . . . . .