Ken, Anna, Mira, and Sebastian stood at the large metal gate to the Duke’s castle in the center of the city.
“Did you really have to tag along? This is our business, you know.” Said Ken.
“Of course! Someone has to represent the rest of the party, after all we are going at this as a group.”
Ken sighed, “Just don’t screw this up for us.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
The gate rumbled and grinded, opening up to allow them entry. Anna followed the rest, and clung to Ken’s arm. The moment they stepped across the threshold into the courtyard, the air felt different. Heavy and dark. The weeds in the cobblestone were even more withered than the rest of the city, and she felt as if the sky suddenly looked a bit cloudier. She looked up, Ken seemed on edge, his eyes darted back and forth at the guards flanking the walls. She clung a little tighter as they entered the castle.
They walked down a long hallway to the throne room, and were stopped by a tired looking halfling.
“Please wait a moment, the Duke is currently having an audience with nobility.”
Anna peeked past the man into the throne room, it was large and relatively empty, the windows were shut tightly and cobwebs hung in the corners.. A long blood red rug ran across the floor and up some steps to an uncomfortable looking wooden chair, in it sat a man who she assumed was the Duke. Ken mentioned he was nearly fifty, but he looked quite young for his age. He had a tired look about him, and a large mustache and beard. If it wasn’t for the dreary air of this place he might’ve looked pleasant, he reminded Anna almost of a warm fatherly figure.
“My Lord, if I could only have just a few of your men I assure you-”
“No Devran! Take it up with your father if you want men.”
“We both know my father won’t speak to me.”
The Duke was speaking to a handsome young elven man, she assumed his name was Devran.
“If Slaad won’t help you then I’m sorry.”
“You’ve known him for so long, couldn’t you put in a good word?”
“Me? The Duke of Merravale asking the Duke of Jaerim for reinforcements on his son’s behalf? You overestimate the pull I have, and you should know Slaad Marwell isn’t the kind to just give things away.”
Devran clenched his fists, “I refuse to speak to that man after what happened to my mother.”
“The late consort Julianne,” the Duke paused, “I’m sorry Devran, I meant to send a letter expressing my condolences.”
“It doesn’t matter now. What matters is solving your crisis. I’ve come to personally lend aid, I just need men!”
“Enough of this! We’re sparing all the men we have as it is. If we had more don’t you think we’d already be deploying them? I swear, when I was your age…”
“You are my age.”
“You’re an elf, that’s not the same.”
“Half. Remember my mother.”
The Duke sighed, “I’ll let you recruit from the auxiliary city watch. They’re mostly recruits, but that’s better than nothing.”
Devran scratched his chin and thought for a moment, “That’s a start, perhaps I can form a-”
“You can have ten men. If you can recruit that many. I won’t have any of them forced into this.”
“Fine then. I’ll begin at once, I believe we’re done here.” Devran turned about and left the room, his short cloak billowing behind him.
Anna watched as he brushed past them, for a moment their eyes met… they looked cold, but something told her it wasn’t for lack of feeling. Soon he was out the door, and the halfling ushered them inside.
Their footsteps echoed unbearably loud in the empty stone room.
They stopped, and it was quiet. Anna looked over, Ken was shaking ever so slightly. She took his hand in hers, it didn’t stop.
“I am Duke Radcliffe Von Merravale. Who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?”
“I- uh-” Ken stammered.
“Inquisitors first class Mira Liander and Kenneth Elwood, my Lord!” Mira saluted.
Ken saw her salute. He should salute too, right? He clenched his fist and saluted. He was suddenly fumbling over himself. Why? He’d rehearsed this over and over that morning while Anna slept, and even mentally prepared. But now, his nerves were getting the better of him. That and whatever the foul air of the place was doing, everything in him was sounding alarms of danger, but he couldn’t find the source. Mira seemed surprisingly stoic and collected in comparison.
The Duke gave his salute a funny look. “Ex Inquisitor for you. Isn’t that right, mister Elwood?”
Ken sputtered, “Y-yes my lord! That is right.”
“And who is this you have with you? I’ve been told he’s the one who murdered a priest within the Sanctum walls. Is this correct?” He crossed his legs and eyed Anna, “Introduce yourself lad.”
“Anna McMalley, of Jiral.”
Silence.
They stared at each other. Anna’s cold eyes met the Duke’s and neither looked away, they seemed to be gauging something about each other. Ken and Mira still sat there, saluting. The Duke furrowed his brow and leaned his face on his hand.
“Tell me. Was my report wrong?”
Nobody said anything, they weren’t sure who he was speaking to.
“Well?”
Mira spoke up, “Pertaining to what, my Lord?”
The Duke narrowed his eyes, “I was told there was a rabid young man who slaughtered a girl with such ferocity the guards thought they’d witnessed a lycan. One witness couldn’t sleep for days, and chose to retire from the watch.”
The group shifted uncomfortably, Anna could tell Mira was looking at her with newfound fear in her eyes.
“The remains were so unidentifiable that the girl’s parents chose to have her burned rather than lay eyes on her, and the blood so soaked into the holy Sanctum stone that it took three priests two days to scrub it all clean.”
Ken spoke up, “My Lord, I-”
“So spread were her entrails that one witness claimed they assumed a sow had been brought to a slaughter. And throughout the Sanctum’s halls were heard the laughs of a madman so sickened and gleeful one would think a cherished newborn babe had just entered the world.”
Mira began to shake. She’d heard what happened but not this much.
“So drenched in the blood of his victim that witnesses thought he ready to devour her flesh and drink till she lay empty.”
The Duke stood from his seat, growing in rage with every word.
“Is this truly the man who committed the most heinous and unholy crime of which I have ever heard in the twenty years I have had the blessing of governing this land. The man whose foul deed has spread across the countryside as a tale to frighten the ears of children in the night? The man who defiled the most holy place in all of Glade and laughed as he did so? Is THIS truly the epitome of unhinged lunacy of which I have heard, audaciously standing here in my throne room defiling my very presence?”
He stared at Anna with eyes full of fire.
“Is this you?”
Her eyes never wavered. Never moved a twitch. Didn’t even seem to blink.
Cold as ice were her eyes, and cold as ice were her words.
“I am a woman. But yes.”
The Duke nodded and the guards drew their swords.
Ken looked at Mira, her eyes were wide with fear.
“Ken… you spared that…” She looked at Anna with disgust, “that thing?”
She laid her hand on her sword, hesitating for a moment, unsure what to do.
“Mira, I promise you… Anna is a good person. You have to believe me.” He pleaded with his eyes.
“I…”
There was a metallic swoosh, a spin of cloth, and Mira had a knife at her neck.
Nobody had paid attention to Sebastian.
He looked over at Ken and laughed, “These negotiations certainly aren’t going well. Are they?” He turned his head to Mira and smiled, “Darling, do you know what a carotid artery is?”
Mira moved just an inch away, and the tip of the knife followed pressing a millimeter deeper into her neck.
“I’d be careful if I were you. I know how to use this thing.”
The guards froze, knowing if they too moved then the Inquisitor would have her throat slit in an instant.
“What is the meaning of this?” Shouted the Duke.
Sebastian side eyed him, “It should be obvious, we’re negotiating. Just a bit more hostile this go around.”
“Sebastian! Stand down!” Said Ken.
With a flick, Sebastian took his dagger away and sheathed it somewhere in his robes. He spun to the Duke, his cloak flapping, and bowed dramatically.
“Your Lordship, I am Sebastian of house Shney, hailing from Castle Aurora.”
This did nothing to calm anyone.
The Duke gritted his teeth, “Your house was destroyed 2,000 years ago in the War of Twin Kings. And you dare try and invoke noble privilege in my court? Zauberian noble privilege no less?”
“Sebastian Shney… the 54th.” He added. “Lord of rats, and the last of my bloodline.”
“I won’t humor false foreign titles in my court.”
Sebastian fumbled around in his robes for a moment, the guards stepped forward but relaxed when all he pulled out was a ring.
“Here, have some proof.” He flicked the ring through the air at the Duke.
The Duke caught it, and gave a look. It was a signet ring, and bore an emblem of a snowflake. It was cold to the touch, and the blue gemstone glowed ever so faintly.
“The Ice of Ages, as my father said. Polished blue manakite, holds up surprisingly well given how old it is. But nonetheless, proof I am of once noble blood.”
The Duke frowned and tossed it back, Sebastian caught it with a grin and slipped it back into his pocket. The Duke sat down and sighed, “Explain yourself, Lord Shney.”
The halfling from earlier, who was apparently the Duke’s steward, piped up. “My Lord, you can’t possibly take this man’s claims at value. Just look at him!” He pointed to Sebastian, who undeniably looked like a homeless man, and smelled like one too.
The Duke grumbled, “I lost my temper for a moment earlier. Inquisitor Liander did arrange this meeting in order to negotiate a reduced sentence for these malefactors, and I suppose I did give my word to hear their plea. After all they did come before me of their own volition.”
Sebastian chuckled under his breath. “Glad to see you’re a reasonable Lord.”
“Don’t let this go to your head, Shney.”
Sebastian spun back and gestured to the group, as if showing off an amazing gift.
“Behold! Two noble and capable adventurers!”
Mira stepped away from the others.
Sebastian spun around yet again to the Duke, “Through our history, good deeds have been rewarded and bad deeds punished.” He gave a nervous grimace, “And sometimes the two cancel each other out.”
“I’m listening.”
Sebastian practically danced as he paraded and gestured around wildly, “You! The noble Duke of Merravale. You have a problem. And we have a solution!”
“...”
“Ahem. Yes. A solution! You are facing an onslaught of cultists, as I hear. Well, some would-be adventurers - myself included - have taken it upon themselves to answer the call!”
He pulled the crumpled flier from his pocket.
“It says here that any adventuring party that is capable of apprehending and stopping the vile threat shall be rewarded handsomely for their courageous and valiant efforts. Now, it doesn’t exactly list what the reward is, which leaves a bit of legal wiggle room.” He wiggled around as he spoke, “I assume most people such as myself would ask for money as the obvious reward. But not these two. Oh no no no!” He wagged his finger. “What we ask is not a pardon, it’s merely a trade of execution to excommunication. I.E. banishment.”
Ken looked concerned, “Sebastian!” He whispered, “That’s not what we agreed on!”
Sebastian gave him a stink eye and continued. “If our party can do this for you, we ask that you allow Ken and Anna to leave Glade alive and safe on the condition that neither ever return.”
The Duke had been sitting quietly listening to his speech. He cleared his throat, sounding even more tired than before. “And you?”
Sebastian scoffed and put his hand to his chest, “Oh? Me? My reward?”
He laughed. “I want cold hard cash baby.”
There was an uncomfortable pause, the Duke was thinking things over. But the pause was interrupted by a sound, clapping.
“Bravo little rat, well done.” Came a sultry woman’s voice from behind them.
Sebastian looked over, it was a tall woman with long blonde hair and an immensely sized sword. She wore the same gaudy armor Inquisitors wore, but more ornate and heavier. She leaned against the stone entryway and watched them with a knowing smile. Beside her was another Inquisitor, an elegant elven man with fair silver hair and several piercings.
Ken’s blood ran cold. “Leveilleur...”
“Whoever you are, I don’t appreciate you stealing my style.” Sebastian shrugged, “I’m the one who shows up unannounced like that.”
Mira quickly kneeled, “High Inquisitor! Forgive me, I didn’t think you’d arrive until tomorrow.”
Leveilleur crossed her arms, “I arrived a few hours ago and thought I’d be a fly on the wall to this sham of a negotiation. Although I didn’t expect you of all people to take their side, Inquisitor first class Liander. From what I recall you were at the top of your class.”
“I wasn’t… I…”
“Cat got your tongue? Don’t try telling me you were just luring them here, I won’t buy it. And I have ways of making people talk.”
The Duke beat his fist on his chair, “Catherine! You are interrupting a Lord in his court, I would appreciate you waiting until our negotiation is over.”
The High Inquisitor stood straight and walked over to the Duke’s throne, taking her time. She climbed the steps and stood right before him, putting her metal boot high on the arm of his throne.
“Are we really on a first name basis, Radcliffe? I don’t think so. You and King Aldwin may be chummy but we have no such connection. Just because you and the King fought together at the Battle of Moonlit Fire doesn’t mean you have any authority to act in his stead. And we both know I answer only to him and Thræn.”
Leveilleur looked over and snapped her fingers at the elven man, “Jacque! Apprehend these criminals at once.”
The Inquisitor strolled over and roughly grabbed Anna by the arm, yanking her away from the rest. She seemed confused for a moment, then began to kick as she was tugged away. She’d been unfazed the entire time until now, but the moment Ken was out of arm’s reach she showed instant distress.
“Anna, calm down please!” Urged Ken.
“Ken!” She yelled, it was the first time he’d heard her raise her voice since the Sanctum.
Leveilleur looked smug, “Hmph. Poor thing. If you want free, why don’t you kill him? Let’s see that ferocity you showed back at the Sanctum.”
Mira threw her arm to the side in anger, “He’s third class! Not even Ken and I could do that together!”
“Then looks like the chopping block it is.” The High Inquisitor patted her oversized greatsword.
“Catherine.”
“Yes, your Lordship?”
“Those two are one thing, but I won’t stand to have you challenge my authority in my own court.”
“We’ve been over this, I only-”
“You only answer to Aldwin. Do you forget who practically raised that boy? Don’t think he won’t take my side, you’re acting where you have no place to here.”
“What are you saying? You’ll have your men turn on me? That’s high treason, you’d be no better than that oathbreaker over there.”
“I’m saying we mustn’t act rashly. Let us wait for word from the King on this matter.”
“You’re just going to let these two sit around till then? It’ll take at least a few days for a message to be relayed. They could skip town by then, be at the coast with a stolen ship by the time we hear back from the King.”
“I’ve made my decision!” He thumped his chair again and stood, making Leveilleur back off a few steps. The Duke pointed at the group, “You are, as of now, a penal retinue under the order of I, Duke Radcliffe Von Merravale.”
Sebastian took a shy step away.
“You too, Lord Shney.”
“Me?” He asked incredulously.
“King Aldwin Ebinson has expressely forbid any Zauberian citizens from entering within the borders of Glade. Nobility such as yourself doubly so, barring pre arranged diplomatic negotiations. You are as wanted as they are, and shall be expected to leave at once when your mission is complete.”
Sebastian bit his tongue, “That sure as shit wasn’t expected.” He hissed under his breath.
The Duke continued. “Your mission is to find and eliminate the cultist leader known as Elderere here in Merravale. You are free in your discretion of how you approach this task, but you are expected to follow all laws both common and military. You are, after all, now acting as an officially deputized force of the Glade royal government. You are free to go about within the borders of Merravale, but any venturing beyond will be seen as desertion and will be met with revocation of your retinue status and prompt execution.”
Ken seemed relieved for a moment, “And what if the King disagrees with this?”
“I have faith that King Aldwin and I see eye to eye. But if he denies your request, then I will have no choice but to follow through with your immediate execution.”
“That’s not too cheerful.” Said Sebastian.
The Duke pointed at Mira, “Inquisitor Liander. You are to accompany them on this task and ensure the terms of the agreement are upheld. Do you agree to this task?”
Mira gave a worried look at Anna, but nodded, “I do.”
“And Inquisitor Fournier.” He said pointing at Jacque, “You are to provide regular briefings on their progress to the High Inquisitor and I, but you need not accompany them the entire time. Understood?”
Jacque let go of Anna, tossing her back to the group. “Understood, my Lord.” He didn’t try to hide the venom in his voice.
“Good. Then you may begin at next sunrise. For today, rest and prepare yourselves if you haven’t already. I expect results from you, and you are to report back here when your task is complete. Any questions?”
Nobody spoke up.
“Good. These negotiations are adjourned, you may leave.” The Duke took his seat back, visibly exhausted.
Anna clung back to Ken’s arm and breathed a sigh of relief. They all did.
The High Inquisitor and Jacque took their leave, giving them eyes that could kill. Jacque brushed past Anna, intentionally bumping her aside.
“Watch yourself, oathbreaker.” He said as he walked by without stopping.
A few minutes later, the group found themselves resting just outside the castle walls, needing a bit to take in what had just transpired. Anna sat on the ground cross legged and picking at the grass between the cracks, Ken paced back and forth anxiously, and Sebastian and Mira were leaned against the wall.
None of them had much to say, they were all lost in thought.
Finally Sebastian took a deep breath and exhaled.
“I think that went pretty well. Don’t you?”