A Grand Design 6.

Mid Autumn. The City Of Oaklynn. The Kingdom Of Girdane.

"This doesn't make sense" Mira Reinholt the mage mutters to himself as he watches the activity in a nearby army barracks here in the city of Oaklynn, the capital of the kingdom of Girdane.
The once powerful mage who is upon a rooftop of a building down the street from the army barracks, frowns as he watches the loading of wagons on the marshalling yard in the grounds of the barracks.
All types of supplies are being loaded up, but particularly medicinal supplies. From crates of tinctures to piles of cloth bandages and wrappings.
More than what he would expect to go out with the rumoured amount of soldiers who are soon to leave the city of Oaklynn, to travel to the very west of the kingdom. Under the premise to help with the plague that's broken out in that part of Girdane.
The mage from the city-state of Vexil, who is in exile from his homeland. Spots an officer talking to some of the soldiers loading the wagons.
The spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster reads the mind of the officer. Safe in the knowledge that he can't be sensed by other spellcasters due to the amulet he wears on a chain around his neck.
The mage Reinholt grunts after reading the officer's mind, as all the man knows is that he'll be leaving soon to help stop the spread of the plague in the west of the kingdom, particularly in the duchy of Girnath.
The highly skilled swordmaster from the city-state of Vexil isn't all that surprised at that. As he figures only those of importance will know what's exactly going to happen while they're out in the west of the kingdom.
It's just that the mage who is a member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, has yet to find someone that important and read their mind.
The spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands. Who was stripped of most of his powers when he went offworld through a rift/void that he accidentally cast.
Looks up at the morning sky, as a high cloud passes infront of the sun, on what's a fine but cool autumn day here in the east of the kingdom of Girdane, and the city of Oaklynn.
Mira Reinholt looks back to the nearby army barracks, and continues to watch the build up there, as some of the king's army prepares to leave for the west of the kingdom, which has been affected by the plague.
Then the Vexilian mage in exile turns, and makes his way along the roof, to where some steps lead down to another level of the roof.
Once he's down there, councillor Reinholt makes his way to the edge of the roof. And after looking around, he steps off the roof, and levitates down into the alleyway.
Once he's on the ground, the mage Reinholt puts a gloved hand in an inner pocket of his cloak, and drains some of the power from a spell gem he takes hold of.
Then the highly skilled swordmaster starts making his way back to the Iron Monger inn, where he along with Shur Kee the monk and Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy are staying in while they're here in the city of Oaklynn.
On the corner of a large square in the south of the city, that has a number of temples, churches and houses of worship around it.
Shur Kee the monk who is near a scattering of street side stalls, frowns as he looks towards a temple of a particular god. Which one, he's not too sure. As the gods have different names here in the Southlands than they do back in his homeland of Wah Lee, a kingdom located on the far eastern coast of the continent, which is nearly ten thousand miles away.
And even in the fifteen or so years that he's been here in the Southlands. The short, statured monk has never learnt all the Southlander names for the various gods.
But what he sees at the moment, are a few of the sisters from that temple, speaking with some officers in the king's army.
And after watching them for a moment, the acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li.
Looks along the otherside of the square, where on the grounds of a church, he sees priests and clerics, speaking with a couple of army officers.
While novices, and clerics in training are loading up a few wagons of supplies and equipment. And from what Shur Kee sees being put into the back of the wagons.
The supplies look to be healing in nature. And the equipment is obviously for field surgery.
The physical adept, wearing odd looking white clothing, and an even odder looking conical shaped hat. Frowns as he thought the army would already have all this kind of supplies and equipment for a campaign against the duchies in the very west of the kingdom. Where rebellion has been brewing for at least the last eighteen months.
The short, statured monk who is an honorary member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque.
Starts making his way along this side of the square, to see what else he finds before he heads back to the Iron Monger inn, where he along with Mira Reinholt the mage and Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy are staying whilst here in the city of Oaklynn.
In a rather expensive taverna not far from the palace, the elven spy Dalinvardél Tanith is sitting at a corner table with a court official who is getting drunk even though it's only late in the morning.
The spy Tanith who has been currying favour with the court official for the last few days. Waves over the serving maid, who brings over another bottle of wine.
"Why thank you" says the court official, a fellow by the name of Larn, a member of a very minor noble family from here in the east of the kingdom.
Who as the youngest of four sons, had no future on his family's lands. Or prospects of an advantageous marriage. So he was sent to the capital by his parents to see what he could make of himself.
And though they held out no hope for him. And he thought he'd end up working for a trading company or a merchant. Lo and behold, he was able to get a place at the king's court.
Admittedly it's a very lowly position. But it's still a position in the palace of the king of Girdane.
Which was a surprise to his parents, brothers, and everyone else who knows him. For though he's a young man, he's been a notorious drinker since he was a young teen.
"That's what I've heard" says Larn the court official as they continue the conversation after the serving woman leaves the latest bottle on the table after taking another empty one away.
"That doesn't make sense" murmurs Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy in his native language "What was that fellow?" says Larn who though thoroughly drunk is rather perceptive, and he adds "I don't know elvish, be a good fellow and speak common".
The elven spy originally from the principality of Alínlae, who now plies his trade for the armies of Farque, says in the common language "I was just wondering why that is?".
The young and very drunk court official shrugs his shoulders, then says "Who knows" followed by "They're the army and they do whatever the king tells them to do".
Dalinvardél Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by the others in the group, nods his head, then says "I guess so".
The elven spy who is passing himself off as a merchant visiting from his homeland of Alínlae, then says "I suppose your king hasn't got any contracts for his army has he?" Dalin continues with "Supplies and the like?".
"Ha!" says Larn the drunk court official, who continues with "You'll have to take that up with the chamberlain's office" he then adds "Or the army quartermaster's office".
"It was worth a try" says the spy Tanith in a slightly dry tone of voice, the young court official from the palace snorts, and says "That it was" before he takes a big gulp of wine from his goblet.
After the elven spy originally from Alínlae tops up Larn' goblet, the drunk court official tells him "You could try lord Sammis" he continues with "The city's regent" Larn then adds "He and his council will pretty much take any contract, if you know what i mean".
"Oh?" says Dalinvardél Tanith, the court official nods, and after looking around at the other customers in the taverna, he leans towards the elven spy, and in conspiratorial tone he says "Word is they take more than their fair share from the various trade deals done directly with the city".
Now isn't that interesting, the spy originally from the principality of Alínlae thinks to himself, then the spy Tanith leans in closer to Larn when the young drunk beckons him closer.
"Word in the palace is that the king and his cousin the regent are in disagreement about something" says the young court official in a drunken whisper, Larn continues with "What it is, no one's exactly sure".
The court official after turning his head to burp, then to murmur "S'cuse me" he whispers to Dalin "What is known, is that the king hasn't been happy with his cousin the city regent, since lord Sammis went and got himself married again, about eighteen months ago to a young noblewoman from out west in the kingdom, a lady Mera".
The elven spy from the principality of Alínlae nods his head when he hears this, as he's heard that rumour before, and it's nice to finally have it confirmed.
Larn continues on in a drunken whisper, with "In the palace those of a unscrupulous nature, not me of course, are placing bets on how long this wife will last, as the regent's previous wives have met with untimely deaths so to speak".
"I thought his first wife died in childbirth, and his second in a drowning accident?" quietly asks the spy Tanith who knows the young court official likes to gossip when he's had a bottle or three.
"So they say" whispers a drunken Larn with a shake of his head, he follows that with "But who knows what goes on under his roof over at the regent's mansion" the young court official continues with "And who the hell goes boating on the Tambir?" then he adds "The ladies of the court go boating on the ponds just outside the city, not the Tambir fucking river".
Dalin nods, and Larn murmurs "Pardon my language" then after he hiccups, the court official from the palace says "So that's why we are, i mean others are placing bets on how long she'll last" he shakes his head before adding in a tone of disappointment "I didn't think she'd last a year and half, but she has".
The spy Tanith continues to listen to the drunken court official, until he's finished another bottle off. And his head falls forward onto the table and he's asleep.
Dalinvardél Tanith leaves the taverna, and outside on the street, he looks towards the nearby palace. And wonders what other intrigues and plots are going on in there.
Then he turns to the right, and starts making his way to the north through the city, back to the Iron Monger inn, where he along with Mira Reinholt the mage, and Shur Kee the monk are staying at, while they're here in the city of Oaklynn, the capital of the kingdom of Girdane.
Near the northeast quarter of the city, the mage Reinholt is standing on one side of the street. Looking at a large square shaped building, on the otherside of the street, at the other end.
It's where the spy Tanith comes across him, and finds the Vexilian mage in exile slightly grinning as he looks towards the large building, that stands by itself on the otherside of the street, at the very end.
Dalinvardél Tanith turns, and spots Shur Kee the monk walking this way, and as the short, statured monk heads in this direction, the elven spy nods his hooded head towards the building the mage Reinholt is looking at, and quietly asks him "What is it?".
"A counting house" is the quiet reply of the Vexilian mage in exile, and as Shur Kee comes to a stop beside them, the once powerful mage adds "Well, it was a counting house".
"Oh, what happened?" asks Dalin who can guess what happened, and is correct when the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster says "Me, Farque and Dorc ripped it off quite a few years ago".
"How much?" asks the spy Tanith who has heard how lord Farque, Dorc da Orc and Mira Reinholt robbed various counting houses across the Southlands more than fifteen years ago. When it was just the three of them travelling together.
"All their letters of credit, and two wagons full of gold, silver and platinum" quietly says the once powerful mage.
"No wonder they're no longer in business" dryly says the elven spy from the principality of Alínlae, as that's enough to by a dukedom here in Girdane, or any kingdom for that matter.
The mage Reinholt flashes a grin, then nods his head for them to make their way to the Iron Monger inn.
After they turn, and start walking back to the inn they're staying at, Mira Reinholt quietly tells the other two "Something's going on" the exiled Vexilian mage who is a member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque continues with "All is not what it seems with this expedition out to the west, how they're going to attack the duchies out there under the premise of trying to stop the plague".
The mage Reinholt is silent for a few moments as they cross the street, then turn a corner, then he adds "I think the king's army is going out there to actually do something about that plague, and not stop the rebellion that may or may not happen".
"I agree friend Mira" says Shur Kee the monk "So do i" adds Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy.
Mira Reinholt the mage nods his hooded head, then he loudly mutters "So what the hell is actually going on?" . . . . . .