A Grand Design 27.

Winter. Oaklynn The Capital City Of The Kingdom Of Girdane.

Mira Reinholt the mage is up fairly early in the morning reading one of the books he acquired up on the Kaldel Plains at the end of summer.
When there's a knock on the door of his room in the Iron Monger inn, and Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy says from the otherside "Mira, Shur Kee says something's happening at the palace".
"I'll be there in a moment" says Mira Reinholt the mage, who knows Shur Kee wakes up really early, and goes onto the roof of the inn to meditate, and practice his unarmed fighting skills.
The once powerful mage grunts as he gets out of bed, and though he's got a low fire burning in the fireplace in his room, the morning is cold today.
The spellcaster who is in exile from his homeland, the city-state of Vexil puts his book away. And after using the chamber pot to relieve himself. He then uses the water in the wash basin, which he heats with a spell. To wash his hands and face.
The mage, who also happens to be a highly skilled swordmaster, straps on his sword and sword belt, dons his cloak, and exits his room.
Mira Reinholt who is a member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, makes his way down to the end of the hallway here on the second storey of the inn, putting on his gloves as he does so.
The Vexilian mage in exile climbs up the narrow stairs to the attic, where the air is much warmer than it is in the hallway, or for that matter in the mage Reinholt's room.
Then he crosses over to the ladder that goes up to the trapdoor in the roof.
As he climbs the ladder, the swordmaster Reinholt wonders if it's still snowing this morning, like it did throughout yesterday, and pretty much all night.
When the spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands, gets up on the roof of the Iron Monger inn.
He finds that it isn't snowing this morning, but the city which in places, is blanketed in snow. Is much colder than it was yesterday.
The exiled Vexilian mage turns around and finds Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy and Shur Kee the monk standing near the edge of the roof.
Which has had the snow on it, swept off. Most likely by Shur Kee, as he's the only one usually up here first thing in the morning.
The highly skilled swordmaster is just about to ask the other two what's going on. But he doesn't have to. As he looks away to the south across the city, and sees for himself.
There's a couple of airships, obviously warships. Hovering just over the palace of the king of Girdane.
There looks to be a third down in the palace grounds. And the mage Reinholt spots a fourth in the distance, away to the south of Oaklynn, approaching the capital city of the kingdom of Girdane.
As he stands beside the other two, and takes out his leather wrapped, brass cylindrical eyepiece to look through it.
The Vexilian swordmaster in exile nods his hooded head when the spy Tanith says "From the kingdom's aircorp". Which means the airships are in the king's fleet.
"So is that one a couple miles south of the city heading this way" adds the elf who hails from the principality of Alínlae, where he once served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland.
"Something's definitely happening alright" quietly says the member of the personal council to lord Farque as he looks through his eyepiece.
Then the spellcaster who at just seventeen was the youngest ever member, in the history of the mage council of Vexil.
Looks away to his right when Dalinvardél Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by the others, says to him "Away to the right, on that wide street with the market square at this end".
The once powerful mage looks away in that direction, and spots a number of riders. They're soldiers in the army of the regent of Oaklynn. And they're on their way to the center of the city.
"That is the fourth such group of riders i have seen so far this morning" says Shur Kee the monk who continues with "I dare say, they will not be the last such group who head to the palace this day".
"More than likely" says the Vexilian mage in exile as he looks back to the palace of the king, then the highly skilled swordmaster after a few moments of silence as he continues to observe the palace, adds "Let's go and get a closer look, hopefully we can find out what's happening".
As he puts away his leather wrapped, brass cylindrical eyepiece, the swordmaster Reinholt looks at the spy Tanith and says to him "Maybe we can find that drunkard of a court official you've become buddies with, and maybe he call tell us what's happening".
"Maybe" says Dalinvardél Tanith, who steps closer to the exiled Vexilian mage who gestures him and the physical adept to stand close to him.
The member of lord Farque's personal council takes hold of a shoulder on the elven spy and the short, statured monk.
Then all three of them disappear as the mage Reinholt teleports them away from the roof of the Iron Monger inn, on this cold winter's morning here in the city of Oaklynn, the capital of the kingdom of Girdane.
The long street in the middle of the city, which has the king's palace, along with the residence of the regent of Oaklynn, as well as the city council building on it.
Is closed to the public this morning, with soldiers in the regent's army patrolling up and down it.
So they have to take a roundabout way to get to the taverna that the court official that Dalin has befriended, likes to frequent.
The street it's on, which is off the long street in the middle of the city. Is packed this morning, with people trying to get a look at the palace, even though it's bitterly cold, and the snow on the ground is turning to slush.
The three of them, Mira Reinholt, Shur Kee and Dalinvardél Tanith hear all sorts of rumours. Usually to do with the rebellious dukes from the very west of the kingdom.
Who from what the people on the street, and in the shops are talking about. Have either defeated the king's army. Or have been defeated.
Either way, those are two most common rumours they hear. As they get to the taverna that's absolutely packed this morning.
They get in easily by the simple fact the mage Reinholt casts a spell for people to get out of their way.
The three of them also get a table, which is vacated when the once powerful mage casts another spell, this one a sense of dread, upon those already seated at the table.
They quickly get service, and order something to eat and drink. Then the three of them wait. As they do, the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster reads the minds of some of the patrons after he drains some of the power in a spell gem he has in an inner pocket of his black hooded cloak.
The Vexilian mage in exile doesn't find anything of interest, just wild rumours.
And the wait isn't all that long. Because like usual, the drunkard of a palace official that Dalin has got to know. Turns up, looking a little worse for wear. He's already inebriated, and it's still fairly early in the morning.
The spy Tanith calls out to him "Hey Larn over here!" says the elven spy originally from the principality of Alínlae, who is now an officer in the armies of Farque.
The court official peers around, and spotting the elven spy, he heartily greets him, and makes his way over to the table they're sitting at, which has a spare seat.
As Larn the young court official orders a bottle of red wine, and after Dalinvardél Tanith introduces Mira Reinholt and Shur Kee to him.
The once powerful mage from the city-state of Vexil reads the mind of Larn.
And though the court official who likes to gossip is already drunk, which is always a little difficult to sort through when one reads another person's mind.
The member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque blinks in surprise at what he finds out.
By the shape of fire, Mira Reinholt thinks to himself in shock, the exiled Vexilian mage then silently adds, what the fucking hell?
Then the spellcaster, who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands.
Who lost the majority of his vast amounts of power when he went offworld through a rift/void he accidentally cast.
Slightly frowns as he realises what he read in the mind of Larn, is what the inebriated young court official believes has happened. Not what has actually happened.
Though Larn is pretty certain that it's pretty close to the truth of the matter, with what's taken place in the palace of the king of Girdane.
"So what's happening over in the palace?" quietly asks Dalinvardél Tanith, who continues with "We've heard all sorts of rumours".
"You won't believe it" replies Larn the court official "Try me" says the spy from the elven principality of Alínlae.
The court official snacks his lips with pleasure as a bottle of wine and a goblet is put down infront of him by a passing serving woman.
Then after furtively looking around, Larn quietly says in a conspiratorial tone "The regent has taken over the king's palace" followed by "He's kicked us all out for the moment as an investigation of some kind is conducted".
The young court official after pouring himself some wine, and downing most of it in one go, leans forward, gesturing for Dalin to lean in.
The elven spy does so, and Larn quietly says "Word is some of those rebels from those duchies out in the very west, somehow got into the palace and killed the king and the royal family" he then adds "I don't know if it's true, but that's the rumour over in the palace".
Both Dalinvardél Tanith and Shur Kee quickly look at the mage Reinholt, who lifts an eyebrow, and slightly shrugs his shoulders, to indicate what Larn is saying might be the truth.
Both the elven spy, and the acolyte in the order of Bru Li are to say the least, are more than a little surprised that the rumours that Larn has heard, might be the truth.
"The regent has sent out his men, as well as the king's from the aircorp to search the city and surrounding area for any sign of the rebels" says the young court official who even though it's still early, is clearly drunk.
Dalinvardél Tanith nods, then quietly says "Hopefully they turn up something".
Larn nods, and blinks as he tries to keep his eyes open. Then he slumps forward, and his head bumps down onto the table, and he's fast asleep.
"Let's go" quietly says the mage Reinholt "You do that?" asks the spy Tanith who gestures at the young court official who is now snoring "No, that was the wine" is the reply from the once powerful mage as the three of them get up, hardly touching the drink and food they got for breakfast.
The trio make their way out of the packed taverna, and once they're out on the street, the councillor Reinholt points away to the right. The three of them head that way.
Noticing that there's a few of the regent's soldiers now on this particular street, talking to some of the people. And accosting some of the others.
Two of whom try to stop Mira, Shur Kee and Dalin, but the two soldiers in the regent's army think better of it. When they feel an impending sense of doom descend upon them. Along with the sudden urge to shit themselves.
They quickly hurry away, leaving the trio alone. Infact they leave everyone else on the street alone too. And get yelled at by their squad leader for not doing their job.
"Was what he said true?" asks the spy Tanith once they've turned onto another street "He seems to think so" replies the mage Reinholt who then adds "And the regent's men back there seem to think an incident occurred in the royal quarters of the palace during the night".
"By the forest gods" mutters Dalin who continues on with "What the hell is going on?". Beside the tall, lean elf in the grey hooded cloak, Shur Kee the monk nods in agreement.
A little while later, and the three of them are on the rooftop of a building that gives them a clear view of the king's palace on this cold winter's morning in the city of Oaklynn.
One of the airships that was hovering over the palace grounds has departed. While the second one has touched down into the grounds.
While the one that was approaching the city from the south, is now flying slowly over the city.
"We have to assume something has to of happened like the king and his family being killed" says the once powerful mage as the three of them watch the nearby palace.
They're not the only ones on rooftops this morning near the palace. There's quite a few people up on roofs looking at the palace grounds, wondering what's going on.
"Hmmm do the dukes have any allies we don't know about?" quietly muses the spy who is from the elven principality of Alínlae.
"Not that i know of" says the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, who after a moment's silence adds "Besides if there was going to be an attack upon the king in his palace, you'd think we'd know about it".
Both Dalinvardél Tanith and Shur Kee nod in agreement, then the spy Tanith says "A lot of odd things have been going on of late" Dalin then adds "Maybe this has nothing to do with the rebellion from three dukes out in the west at all".
"Or maybe it has everything to do with it" quietly says Shur Kee the monk, the other two look at the short, statured monk in the white clothing, wearing his odd, conical shaped hat.
The acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li, who is originally from beyond the Southlands, from the far east coast of the continent to be exact, where his homeland the kingdom of Wah Lee is located.
Says to the two Southlanders "If this occurrence at the palace turns out to be true, and the king is dead" the short, statured monk who is the living conduit of the Jade Warrior Bru Li continues with "It might not have anything to do with the dukes of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen, but it could have everything to do with the rebellion".
"Someone else with a vested interest in what might happen with the rebellion?" asks Dalin "I believe so" says the acolyte in the order of Bru Li, who is a physical adept, a person whose body is a living weapon.
Mira Reinholt slightly nods his hooded head, then the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster as he looks at the palace grounds, then quietly says "Who though?".
"That" says Shur Kee as the three of them look at the palace of the king of Girdane "Is what we have to find out" adds the short, statured monk who is an honorary member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque . . . . . .