Emirikol, Part III scene 7

[subplotkudzu]

Once he had broken his fast Hiram Desaud took to the streets of Emirikol armed only with the solicitors card from Raul de la Bellasteras and the burning desire to soak the man for as much money as possible in the replacement of his shattered sword. Following the broad thoroughfares of Serin across one of the many bridges to the western side of that sundered quarter he eventually located the offices of Bauhausen and Derr.

 

While the house is obviously of tallfolk construction the well worn shallow steps out front make it clear that Raul's solicitors, like Dietrich's, are of halfling descent. The interior is everything a prosperous law office should be - clerks busily working of briefs and contracts, assistants pulling information from the filing cabinets that line the walls to waist height, or from the latter-accessible bookcases that ascend from there to the ceiling. To his right is a long, narrow closet containing two rows of identical gray bowlers and coats, with two yellow bonnets and patterned shawls to add color. He is in the office only a few moments before a helpful clerk asked his name, and, upon learning it, offers him a seat for a moment while Signor Bauhausen was contacted.

 

Hiram's wait was remarkably short before the clerk escorts him into Signor Bauhausen's office - some chairs for tallfolk facing a human-sized 'status' desk made of polished oak that completely dominated the room, with several long low locked chests to on the wall. Signor Bauhausen greets him at the door with a bow, stating that sir de la Bellastaros had already contacted him about the affair, and he extends his deepest regrets, please, please have a seat, would you care for a drink?. The halfling lawyer then clambers onto the boosted seat behind his enormous expanse of desk, all the while passing along the apologies of sir de la Bellasteros for the unfortunate incident as one of the women in the office arrived with a platter of holding a pot of tea and a pitcher of fruit drink. Hiram declines, trying to feel out the situation, and begins to lay out his requirements.

 

He is politely interrupted by the solicitor, who informs him that sir de la Bellasteros had already sent over a package with which to make amends - it arrived by courier this morning along with the letter explaining the situation. The Bellasteros heir had gone into his family's heirlooms to make restitution for his error - at this Signor Bauhausen hopped back off of his stool and unlocked two of the locks on his offices complicated chest to withdraw a sheathed rapier. He carefully handed it over to Hiram, pointing out the quality of the workmanship. Hiram couldn't deny this - the fine leatherwork of the sheath, the filigree of the hilt, the red veined green of the bloodstone on the hilt - but he still wasn't comforted. The bloodstone was an odd choice, as the stone bore connotations of protection and defense or hearth rather that was unusual for a dueling blade. He slid the sword from its sheath and learned why.

 

Not a metal blade at all, but a flawlessly balanced wooden training blade - the sort of thing given to rich, often spoiled children who have clamored at their father's knee for their own sword. Hiram silently held his temper, his acting training preventing the slightest sign of the insult from showing on his features. (Tom: Oh, that's a priceless insult. Dave: no, he'll pay for it all right.)

 

Seeing nothing, Bauhausen continued to prattle on as he reclaimed his seat, "Indeed, Sir de la Ballesteros informed me that had he but realized your age he certainly never would have consented to the match. Most shocking, but I do admit you carry yourself in a very adult fashion young sir, and can understand how he might have been confused." (Dave: does the lawyer know what's happening here? Brian: he seems oblivious, just happy that he was able to settle the affair so easily. Do you want to take it out on him? Dave: Not in this town. I need the lawyers on my side, remember?) "I hope it meets with your approval - I know that the Ballesteros family must be sorry to part with it."

 

Hiram smiled gracefully, "Not to worry, I'm sure that sir de la Ballasteros will be seeing it again."

 

The official meeting over, Bauhausen continued with some pleasantries, asking how long the young sir would be staying in the city, if his parent's were here with him, and if his family had arranged for a solicitor within Emirikol as yet. (Dave: it's tempting to take him up on that, but I'm not sure I want to share lawyers with my new arch enemy. Tom: yeah, that's just asking to get screwed.) After a few more minutes Lord Desaud made his goodbyes, accepted his cloak from a clerk at the door and made his way back onto the street, looking for a weaponsmiths shop.

 

Finding one with a gnomish proprietor who was either fresh to the city or who was prickly enough to not abandon his thick accent, he inquired about the costs of having a new blade placed on the hilt. The gnome is initially shocked, but is quickly mollified when informed that Hiram has no intention of damaging the masterwork of the wooden blade - he just has needs to the hilt to be visible on another weapon. The gnome then quickly points out the various blades he has available, but Hiram is momentarily stymied - the cheaper, more workmanlike blades would not do justice to the hilt and scabbard, while the ones of equivalent craftsmanship were slightly too dear for his purse. He promises to return to the shop within the next few days and makes his way, having moved from seething to plotting, towards Ferrantino library to meet his companions.

To be continued.