Chapter 12 - An Exciting Invitation
"The Empire is a shining beacon of civilisation, surrounded by lesser nations. However, misguided as they may be, our neighbours are still human. Fortunately for the world, all right-thinking people have joined together to eliminate the inhuman threats that once roamed the land. Now these foul mockeries of creation cling on only in isolated areas, far from the Empire’s borders under the illusion that they are safe from Her Eternal Majesty’s wrath."
Two Thousand Years of Empire by Jahangir Amini
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Ester couldn’t help but feel a bit of nervousness as she stood outside the gates to the Rutane Palace. House Rutane’s seat in Vass Karan wasn’t as distinctive as the Starfall Palace, at least on the outside, being built of the same black stone as the rest of the city. It certainly looked just as big from the outside though.
The gates were open, House Rutane’s crest of a tree against mountains on a green background fixed prominently above it. Two stone faced guards stood in the gateway, with a green-liveried servant between them.
Ester could feel the guards’ suspicious eyes on her, she was conscious that her clothes didn’t mark her out as part of the noble classes. She probably looked like a reasonably prosperous merchant. but as soon as she approached the door the servant smiled and bowed. “Welcome Lady Mazar, you are expected.”
How had he…? Of course. It took Ester a second to realise that the man must have been given her description and told to expect her. She wasn’t sure if she should be honoured or feel more on edge. Lady Rutane had seemed nice, if a bit overwhelming, when they’d met at the Velia ball, but that didn’t mean that she had Ester’s best interests at heart. She needed to keep that in mind, even if it did feel like she was descending into paranoia.
A young servant, more of a boy really, popped out of a small side door and was told to escort Ester directly to Lady Rutane’s reception room. Ester strode after him as he whisked her through an expansive courtyard. The trees lining it would probably have looked nicer on a sunnier day, but the ornately carved fountain depicting what was presumably some heroic figure did make a nice centrepiece.
As Ester was led through the palace’s lobby she glanced around her. Like the Starfall Palace, marble dominated. It was another impressive display of wealth, she supposed. But nothing compared to the Academy, also just a bit smaller and less grand than the Starfall Palace. Nevertheless, it was clear that the Rutanes had more money than she could even imagine.
In no time at all the boy was knocking on a thick wooden door before leading her in. What was presumably Lady Rutane’s reception room seemed to have more gilding per foot than Ester thought she’d seen in her life. She suspected there were a number of Schemas built into it too. It had a certain feeling to it, a bit like the Academy, but whatever they did they were somnolent for now. Several comfortable looking chairs surrounding a small table filled the room with Caia Rutane occupying the largest.
“Ah Ester,” she rose to her feet with a warm smile. “I am so glad you could be here. Please, come, have a seat.”
Ester bowed to her, “Thank you for the invitation Lady Rutane.”
“Now, now, none of that. We are all friends here. Please call me Caia in private.” She hustled Ester over to a seat. Ester couldn’t help but notice that despite the friendly welcome Lady Rutane was careful not to touch her. No one ever wanted to touch a Mage.
The moment Ester sat, a servant started laying out tea on the table between her and Lady Rutane’s chair. With quick and efficient movements the woman poured tea into a pair of exquisite porcelain cups that probably cost more than she earnt in a year and then backed out with a curtsy.
Lady Rutane took a slow sip of her tea, her eyelids briefly fluttering with pleasure, and then turned her attention to Ester.
“So my dear, how have you been? I noticed you were limping. Are you well?” Ester flushed, she’d thought she’d managed to hide the signs from her training, but clearly not well enough.
“I am well, thank you. Just a little fall.” It was a less embarrassing reason than a sadistic old sergeant throwing balls at her for his amusement. Thank the Throne she’d cast an illusion over her face before going out, the last thing she wanted was anyone asking why she had a bruised cheek.
“Hmm. You should be careful, it would not do to hurt yourself. We have a healer on our staff you know. An Adept, but a very skilled one. Perhaps I should summon him to take a look at you?” Ester quickly shook her head.
“No, thank you, honestly it is just a bruised leg, it will be better in no time.” That much was true, but there was no way she was going to allow an Adept to try healing her unless it was life or death. The image of twisted tumours growing under someone’s skin that they’d been shown at the Academy flashed through her mind and she suppressed a shudder.
“Of course.” Lady Rutane smiled. “Have they been keeping you busy in the Watch? I do think that life can be rather relentless at times. Naturally at my age one can slow down a bit, but a young Mage, looking to make her name. I can only imagine. Why, when I was young I did not have half the responsibility you do,” Ester somehow suspected that was a polite lie, “and yet I found I never had any free time.”
“Was that when you married Lord Rutane?”
“Yes, indeed. May the Spirits preserve his soul. I do not suppose it is something that you will have to deal with, but when one marries the heir to a Great House there is a great deal of responsibility. Just managing the household is a full time job, then there are all the social events, politicking and so forth. I would say it was tedious, but that would be a lie. Actually I thoroughly enjoyed it.” Lady Rutane laughed happily.
“Did you feel ready for the challenge? Was it what you expected?”
“Oh Great Spirits no. I was a spoilt young woman who was far too pleased with her own intelligence.” Lady Rutane leaned in and lowered her voice conspiratorially. “Fortunately, while I was not quite as clever as I thought I was, it was still quite close. I expect you think you are quite clever too?”
“I…”
“No, no do not answer that. I am just teasing. I have no doubt you are a bright, young woman or you would not be where you are.” She cocked her head sideways. “Why is it that you were sent here anyway? Vass Karan, let alone its Watch, is hardly a normal assignment for a freshly graduated Mage. Let alone a woman.”
Ester shrugged, perhaps a bit indelicately. “I am not sure…” She wasn’t sure why she suddenly felt so defensive. No, that wasn’t true, she knew exactly why she was tensing up. “I suppose perhaps I did not want to just settle down in Trevayn.” She’d certainly never asked to be sent to Vass Karan though.
“Mmm, some might say it was a punishment posting.” That wasn’t true! Ester bit off her immediate protest, she hadn’t thought it was true. She couldn’t honestly say she hadn’t wondered though.
“I am happy to serve Her Eternal Majesty in whatever capacity she wishes.” Ester settled on a platitude.
“As are we all. Of course if a young lady was looking for adventure and to make her name that way then it might be one of the few options open to her.” What did Lady Rutane know? Her tone gave so little away.
“Perhaps… Anyway I am here and I will do my best.”
“Of course.” Lady Rutane leant forward. “Now, would you like to hear how Velthur, Commander Savate, ended up in charge of the Watch?”
“Yes!” Ester couldn’t help but mirror Lady Rutane’s movement, moving closer to her.
“Well,” she lowered her voice. “He was in the Imperial Army before, quite a successful officer too. This was when he was in his twenties, not much older than you in fact. He was rather more… energetic in his activities then. Anyway, I am reliably informed that he was in Trevayn between deployments and he got very drunk with Duke Reynol, along with a number of other nobles.” She saw Ester’s blank look. “One of the Throne’s ministers, I think he must be dead by now. Now Duke Reynol was a devious old goat. The head of the Vass Karan Watch back then had retired and some of the houses were on the verge of a civil war. He could not appoint a local noble and of course it had to be a noble and few would want to move to Vass Karan for a position like that.”
“So Commander Savate is not from Vass Karan? But his accent…” He certainly looked like he was local.
“Ah you are getting ahead of me, Velthur is indeed from Vass Karan, but he left to serve Her Eternal Majesty. It was quite the scandal at the time. Velthur wanted to stay in the army, he had a bright future there and he never got on with his family. If you want to amuse yourself, ask after his sister. Regardless, Duke Reynol wanted a Vass Karan noble of sufficient rank, who had not been involved in the conflicts between houses here. A very difficult proposition. However, he had a plan. He had them all drunk off their faces and playing cards with him. He was losing badly, hundreds of crowns gone, of course that was nothing to a man of his status. At some point he used up the money he had on him and instead of sending for more announced he would offer a promotion against Velthur’s winnings. Of course Duke Reynol then lost the hand,” Lady Rutane winked at Ester. “Velthur stood up, full of pride, and said he would be delighted to accept his promotion. Duke Reynol promised it would be granted the next day.”
“So he won the position in a card game?” Was that really how the nobility did things? Surely not.
“Well, yes and no. Velthur woke up in the morning, feeling very pleased with himself. He was sure he would be getting his generalship. I am told he grinned like his jaw was stuck when the appointment order arrived. Of course he was not so happy when he found that his promotion was to the head of the Vass Karan Watch.” Realisation dawned.
Ester had to stifle a laugh. “So he accepted the promotion without seeing what it was and then could not withdraw himself. He is only the head of the Watch because he was tricked into it while he was drunk?” It was ridiculous, she wasn’t even sure if she believed the story. Lady Rutane hadn’t even been there. Still, she was going to struggle to look at Commander Savate in the same way again.
“Indeed, the lesson there is, however clever you think you are, do not let a wily old politician get you drunk.”
“No! Just tea for me.” Ester raised her cup in a toast to Lady Rutane and took a sip.
“Ha! I am wounded. Now, how are things progressing with your hunt for the Golden Shadows? That must be at least somewhat exciting?”
“How do you know about that?”
“Oh, simple my dear, I make it my business to know. I can assure you that all of the Great Houses keep an eye on things, but as for me, well I find you intriguing and so I keep a closer eye.”
“Oh.” Ester wasn’t quite sure what to say to that. “I… I suppose that makes sense.” Was everything she did being watched? Did she need to reassess her plans? Surely not. Lady Rutane probably just had informants in the Watch. The Great Houses probably all did. Ester sighed. “I am not sure I am making much progress. So far all I have been allowed to do is interview their victims, something anyone could do.”
“Hmph, yes I suppose it is, but Commander Savate would not want to risk sending you off into danger on no more than a rumour. Still, I do not see why this has been assigned to you. Count Velia is more than capable of sending his own investigators in. Great Spirits, if he had the desire I have no doubt he would have sent some servant in to hire the thieves himself.”Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
“He would hire them? Are you serious?” Ester couldn’t help her outburst. She shouldn’t have been surprised by that, but for one of the nobles themselves to so brazenly admit it was new. Although…
“Oh come now Ester.” Lady Rutane gave her a slightly disappointed look. “Surely you have realised by now that things are so rarely black and white. Now, do not start to sulk.” She laughed at the frown forming on Ester’s face. “It is a sad fact that not all houses are as dedicated to the Empire as Rutane.”
Ester hurriedly smoothed her face out. Thank the Throne that Lady Rutane had thought she was offended. She wasn’t sure anything Vass Karan’s nobleborn did would surprise her anymore, although that was probably tempting fate. No, the frown had been because she had had a thought. Lady Rutane had given her an idea.
“No, no, I am sorry Lady Rutane, I know the world is not black and white.”
“Call me Caia my dear.” She smiled. “Ah youth, the world always seems so much simpler. Anyway, let us talk about something more entertaining. Have you heard about Vass Karan’s summer races?”
“No…” Ester tried not to let herself get distracted by the plans running through her head. “I do not believe I have.”
“Ah, well they are one of the more enjoyable social events in our calendar. Nothing compared to what you get in Trevayn I am sure, but I think you will find them quite entertaining.” Lady Rutane launched into an explanation of a complex set of races, mostly involving horses. Ester had to admit some of them actually sounded quite entertaining. Horse archery with an obstacle course did sound like fun to watch.
Conversation about light and easy topics flowed easily and it must have been a good twenty minutes before they were interrupted by the door flying open.
A young man, roughly Ester’s age, burst in. Floppy, light, brown hair almost covered his eyes and he was practically bouncing with excitement as he ran up to Lady Rutane.
“Grandmama! Father said I could go, finally!”
“Velxe!” Lady Rutane’s voice whipped out. “I am entertaining. You cannot just burst in here like that. Lady Mazar and I were having a private conversation.”
The man slumped slightly before turning to Ester and bowing low with a slight grimace. “My apologies Lady Mazar, I did not think before coming in.” He had very striking green eyes with a slightly mischievous gleam to them that belied Lady Rutane’s chastisement.
“Oh.” Ester hid a smile. “Please, do not concern yourself about it my lord. I do not mind.” His grimace transformed into a grin at that and Ester had to resist the urge to match it.
“Hmph, that is kind of you Ester.” Lady Rutane gave him a stern look before relaxing. “This is Velxe Rutane, my grandson. Nephew to Lord Rutane. He can be a bit impulsive, but then that is young men for you. Young women too.” She gave Ester an indulgent smile.
“Pleased to meet you my lord.” Ester murmured, trying to quickly work out his status in her head before she made some kind of misstep.
“The pleasure is all mine.” He bowed again, keeping his eyes on hers. Their green really did make a change from the browns she’d been used to in Trevayn.
“So what is it that was so important you just had to burst in?” Lady Rutane’s dry tone brought Ester back to reality as Velxe spun back to face her.
“Oh, yes grandmama. Sorry.” He didn’t look all that sorry. “It is the borders. Grathbridge!” Did he mean the border with the Republic? Lady Rutane was nodding along. “Father finally said I can go and visit the battlefield! As long as I take some guards and an Adept with me.”
“Well, that is exciting. I am pleased with you, although I remain unsure why you had to bother me with it.” Lady Rutane’s chuckle belied her words. Velxe just laughed. “I am sure you will find it fascinating, although I could not say that I understand why. Surely there is more than enough to keep you busy here. There are those traders from Askus that just arrived in the city, you know your uncle will…”
Velxe cut her off. “Yes of course, but they will be returning home soon enough. I will go afterwards. They will be amusing enough, but more of the same. The Battle of Grathbridge though… History! Relics and magical leftovers! The Empire’s greatest victory of the last decade. It will be an adventure!” He shot a glance back at Ester and hesitated. “There is so much to learn there and so few people are interested.”
Ester certainly wasn’t planning on involving herself in their conversation. She did have to admit though, it sounded intriguing. Exciting even. She couldn’t help but feel a little flash of jealousy. It wasn’t like she’d be allowed to go and explore old battlefields. Too dangerous, unladylike or some similar rubbish.
“Hmph. All foolishness if you ask me, but I suppose it is good for you to have your interests.” Lady Rutane didn’t seem to actually disapprove despite her words. “Anyway, I am pleased for you, but if you do not mind?” She glanced towards the door.
“Yes, of course grandmama.” Velxe turned back to Ester and bowed. “My apologies again for bothering you Lady Mazar. Actually…” His green eyes met Ester’s and a sly look crept onto his face. “Have I heard your name before…” He paused to think. “Are you the new Chartered Mage in the Watch?”
“Y y yes.” Ester hated herself for stammering.
“Oh! That is brilliant!” Ester blinked in the face of his delight. “Maybe you would like to come with me? Father would be delighted to know that I had an actual Mage there rather than one of the family’s Adepts and I am sure that you would find it fascinating. There is said to be so much leftover magic there and that is without even thinking about the historical significance.”
“Velxe!” Lady Rutane’s interruption was instant. “I indulge your fascinations because you are my grandson, but do not bother Lady Mazar with your foolishness.”
Ester’s mind was racing. Was he really offering… She wanted to go, she desperately wanted to say yes. It sounded like everything she dreamed of. An adventure, a battlefield! Lingering combat magics leaking into the ground! Velxe had a certain appeal to him too…
She opened her mouth to say yes and then stopped. It was a perfect offer and that was what made her hesitate. Before coming to Vass Karan she’d have been out the door, dragging him behind her with magic if she had to, before he’d finished speaking. Now…
She carefully kept her voice neutral. “Thank you Lord Rutane, that is a very kind offer. I will certainly consider it, but I have many duties in the Watch that I could not possibly neglect.” She knew she was being sensible, but she really really wanted to kick herself as she said it.
“Of course, I understand completely. If you do decide you would like to come I would be delighted.” Velxe glanced back at his grandmother and then bowed to both of them one after the other. “I will leave you to your conversations my ladies, my apologies for interrupting you.” He turned and headed for the door, shooting Ester a small smile as he passed her. She did her best to ignore the way it made her want to blush.
Once the door had shut Lady Rutane sighed loudly. “Well, I am sorry about that. Young Velxe can be rather impetuous.”
Ester didn’t reply for a second. She still wanted to run after him and start planning the trip. The offer really had been almost perfect for her. “Yes, what a coincidence that he found out about that at just the right moment to burst in on the two of us.” She met Lady Rutane’s eyes, grey unlike Velxe’s, and held her breath.
“Oh well done my dear.” She hadn’t expected Lady Rutane to grin at her. “I did warn you that you would have young men thrown at you.”
She’d been right! She wouldn’t let her satisfaction show. A little bit of the annoyance though, that she could express. “Why are you telling me this? Do you want me thinking you are just trying to use me?”
“Not at all.” Lady Rutane waved a dismissive hand. “Velxe is a charming young man, probably my favourite grandson. He is very intelligent with a wide range of interests and not bad on the eye either. A good match for you if you ask me. If you should like each other then I would be delighted. It would be convenient for House Rutane, of course. However, it would also be good for the two of you. A mutually beneficial exchange. If not,” she shrugged, “I have lost nothing. You certainly cannot say I have deceived you. So, please give his offer due consideration. After all, accepting does not tie you to anything. He would be a perfect gentleman and, even if he were not, I doubt he would be stupid enough to try anything with a Mage.” She leant back, looking rather too much like the cat that got the cream.
Ester still desperately wanted to accept Velxe’s offer. Not so much for him, but for the chance to visit the battlefield. Not that she objected to him either of course. However, she had her pride.
“I will have to think about it.” She was quite pleased with how cool she managed to make her voice.
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Over the next few days Ester found she couldn’t get her mind off her tea with Lady Rutane. Or Caia as she insisted on being called, and didn’t that feel strange? Calling the dowager lady of a Great House by her first name? She really had moved up in the world!
Part of it was the idea of going and visiting the site of the Battle of Grathbridge. She just kept going back to the idea. Green eyes and grin drifted into her mind. No! Not because of Velxe and especially not because of his pretty green eyes. Certainly not. She wasn’t going to succumb to such blatant manipulation. Rather because it just sounded like such an interesting, fun thing to do. Certainly far better than being stuck in the Watch in Vass Karan.
Still, she had more important things to think about. Or more accurately to worry about. The hunt for the thieves hadn’t progressed in the slightest, although at least they hadn’t struck again. Yet. However, Lady Rutane had unwittingly given her the inspiration she needed to get closer to catching them. There’d be no dressing up as some sort of rogue. Definitely not. She’d make a terrible criminal.
It had taken her most of the last few days to work everything out and get herself ready to go, but now it was done. Perhaps she was being impatient, but she had a free evening and she’d decided it was time. There was no point hanging around doing nothing worthwhile, just waiting for the thieves to strike again. Sod Commander Savate and his orders, she was going to take action, but in a sensible and discreet way so that she didn’t cause any trouble. At least right up until she was able to present the thieves to the Commander on a platter.
Ester allowed herself a little, satisfied smile as she worked on identifying some substance that the Watch had found on a trader. It was easy, dull work, but she had other things to keep her excited.
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That evening Ester ambled out of the Watch headquarters, wearing a dark, hooded cloak over a nondescript dress. Both were of decent quality, but plain. The sort of clothes a master craftsman or a high ranking servant might wear. She kept the hood down for now, she didn’t want to look suspicious after all.
As soon as she was out of sight, she turned south, towards where she knew Clanis Edge was. She might not be able to pretend to be a villain, but she’d certainly have no trouble pulling off this plan. She couldn’t say that it was flawless, but then what plan was? It was more than good enough.
It was pretty obvious to her when she was on the right path. She found herself descending one of Vass Karan’s many hills, the buildings around her gradually declining from smart, black stone, to rundown, to increasingly decrepit wood.
Ester descended the steep path into what felt like a valley, hemmed in by Vass Karan’s hills. Cheap, crumbling wooden buildings crowded in on each side of her and she could soon smell the fetid scent of one of the Karan’s tributaries below. The city’s sewers didn’t extend to Clanis Edge it seemed.
When she reached the bottom of the slope, broken cobbles were replaced by wooden boards, with the faint sound of the river below them. The street was a lot emptier here, with only the occasional roughly dressed men and women passing her. Mainly men in fact. Despite that, the place felt alive. Many of the buildings had flickering light from inside them and the sound of revelry, clinking of plates, laughter, shouts drifted out from them. Dark alleyways led off back up the hills and out of the valley. Shadowy shapes moved within them, clearly up to no good.
Ester strode through Clanis Edge, with her hood up and her chin held high, doing her best to project confidence. The first time, she was just going to walk through it without stopping. Take the lay of the land and work out what she could find. Of course if she did see an opportunity she would take it, but scouting came first. Hopefully seeming confident and purposeful would keep anyone from trying to target her.
It seemed to work. Ester had no trouble passing through the rough district. However, she also hadn’t seen anything that had leapt out to her. Not unless she just wanted to start walking into random buildings anyway. That didn’t matter though, she had a back up plan.
As soon as she was sure there was no one around, Ester turned on her heel and headed straight back into Clanis Edge. Once again she walked with purpose, striding along the wooden boardwalk. However, this time when she saw a man coming the other way who didn’t look too much like he’d kill someone for a penny she stopped in front of him.
“Goodman, hello.” She tried to imitate the way she’d heard merchants speak here. “I’m looking for something, might you be able to help?” To her excitement he stopped and gave her a gap toothed smile.
“What can I do for ye goodwoman?” It was actually working!
“I’m looking to hire some… skilled help on behalf of my employer. Where might be the best place to go to find something like that?”
“Can’t say as I’d know about that.” The man shrugged and started to turn away, but Ester had half expected that.
“Maybe this would help?” She held out her hand and opened it to reveal a silver dernier.
The man’s eyes were suddenly fixed on her, his dismissiveness replaced with a rather more considering look. “It might and all.” In a flash he swiped the coin. “When ye say skilled…?”
“I’ve lost something and would like it recovered. I’ll want the best.” She had a whole story ready if he asked. She was almost disappointed when he didn’t. Instead he just pointed behind himself.
“Ye’ll be wanting the Fighting Cocks.” He leered at that for some reason. “’Bout a hundred feet that way, on yer right. Ye’ll hear it easily enough and know it by the sign outside. Big picture of cocks fighting. Ask around in there and ye’ll be seen to, that’s where the best go.”
“Thank you goodman.” Ester nodded to him. “Have a nice evening.”
“For sure, same to ye.” The man headed off the way he’d been going without another word. Ester glanced back after him and then walked on, excitement and nervousness warring inside her. She really hoped she wasn’t doing something stupid, but if things went wrong she was ready. She could drop her illusion spell and cast something else in a flash. She wasn’t stupid, she knew that asking someone was a risk and there was a good chance he’d just go and tell some gang boss that she was there. However, it was a calculated risk. She didn’t mind more important criminals knowing that she was there. In fact it would probably help her plan. She hoped so anyway…
It didn’t take long for her to reach the tavern. Like the man had said, it had a board with a pair of cocks fighting on it. It looked as run down as every other building in the district, no glass in the windows, part of the roof was sagging, but it certainly sounded busy inside. Ester hesitated at the door, she’d never been in a place like this before, it was nothing like the quiet country inns she’d stayed in and it really did sound rather raucous inside. But her only other choice was to turn around and go back to the boredom of the Watch. She took a deep breath, pushed the door open and stepped inside.