Emirikol Part IV, Scene 1

[subplotkudzu]

Rising the next morning to a crisp breeze from the south and the perpetual leaden sky promising at least no rain the Lady Floriane considers her tasks and options over some fruit and mercifully spiceless oatmeal provided by the house's new cook. She will, she decides, get at least some interim cards and stationary made until she could design her own and then meander to Florian de la Bellasteros' house in hopes of not just some conversation but an opportunity to borrow their tailor to have her new dresses fitted. That decision made she sips her coffee (served in the traditional northern fashion with sugar, rather than the honey of the Greensward or the - ancestors preserve us - maple syrup favored by those of the far south) and is joined by the master of the house, fresh from his morning workout (Tom: Dietrich grew up with halfling breakfasts. You either exercise a lot to work off all those sausages and potatoes or you begin to spread), to learn that Dietrich intended to spend much of the day with his solicitor going over his estates.

 

With a wistful shake of her head hoping that she might someday reclaim her estates (and a wonder if she would show Dietrich's discipline in actually handing them himself - what were solicitors for, after all?) she navigated the pleasant streets and lanes of Serin, unhurriedly locating a shop whose shingle advertised the production of printed matter. A bell's chipper jingle marked her entry and the shop's halfling proprietor provided her gracious assistance in the selection of one of an array of pre-made card designs. While the price was higher than one might expect, Cybele knew that she was in part paying for speed and a short print run, as well as to establish a relationship with the shopkeeper for the day when she needed her own designs printed.

 

Promised the small run in no more than a half an hour the noblewoman ensconced herself in the reading of one of the city's bi-weekly broadsheets, delivered just that morning and sipping some of the complementary coffee. The broadsheet - entitles the Scornbul Observer, a day more recent than the Serin Companion that lay on the table with it - was a wonder: larger and more detailed by far than those from her own town. The front page dedicated to the news of the city and the docks, the back containing advice, letters and advertisements (including several that appeared to be looking for swordsmen or other daring sorts for dubious adventures, though most were people looking for servants, or servant-agencies looking for households in which to place their staff). The main story of the day concerned the death of the Cardinal of the West at the hands of Sebastian d'Ferrantino - a charge that the lady Floriane was sure was untrue, and provided evidence to her that she might be called upon to provide evidence in the matter.

 

Pronouncing herself satisfied with the cards as presented she settled books with the shopkeeper and, now able to properly present herself, began the amble to the de la Bellasteros manor, thinking thoughts no more serious than which dress would go best with her and Florian's complexions. It was the sound of a voice behind her that brought her and her idyllic daydreams to an abrupt halt. "Would you look there, it does seem to me that we perceive none other than the Lady Florane, late of places south."

 

Turning slowly, fearing the worst, Cybele spotted the pair of halflings approaching her and had those fears confirmed. "Lady Floriane, allow us to introduce ourselves, I am Halden Dapper and this is my dear brother Haiden, and we just wanted to take a moment to extend to you our gracious welcomes to our fair city and to ask if all was well with your family, as you see our cousin Holden sent along such concerns to us when he discovered that you had with extreme haste vacated in a northerly direction the domicile in which you had been dwelling just around the corner to him with nary a word despite your personal and more to the point legally binding contractual relationship."

 

"He wuz worried." Haiden added with a wheeze - apparently the slightly larger of the Dapper brothers did the breathing for both of them.

 

"Yeah, I meant to talk to him about that," Cybele prevaricated.

 

"We would never assume that you would have done anything less, and hence our shared belief that it must have been grave circumstances that caused you to failed to make the first payment of the aforementioned contractual arrangement, and why Holden requested that we, as members of his immediate family and then covered under clause four, take measures to locate you should you arrive in Emirikol so that any violation of the contract be reduced to the minimum possible amount, out of deference to our shared families good working relationships up to now, which we surely do hope to continue," the thinner halfling replied.

 

"We like you." added his brother.

 

"Well, that's great. How much…?"

 

Before the sorceress could continue with her question Haiden produced a sheet of paper that Cybele recognized as a copy of her contract. The halfling handed it to his brother, who had fished out a pair of spectacles to give the contract and exaggerated going over. "Taking into account the cumulative penalties for the time since the official payment date and those for leaving the immediate area without comment or forwarding address as elucidated in paragraph nine, your first of ten new seasonal payments is one hundred Marks, dutifully rounded to the closest full gold coin as per standard." Halden then pointed out the relevant paragraphs to the contract with an arm of his spectacles before handing the sheet back to brother.

 

"Pay up." Haiden wheezed.

 

"Well, I don't have that on me." Cybele replied, not at all happy with having this conversation in the street and applying the steel to her voice that had frightened off expert swordsmen in the past. On the halflings it appeared to have no effect.

 

"That's a shame, a shame indeed," Halden replied, "Not even things that might be taken in kind so that a quick visit to an art or jewelry dealer might furnish us with the balance and therefore restore our relationship to its previous equitable state?"

 

"What's that?" Haiden added, pointing to the paper-wrapped parcel.

 

"They're dresses for pity's sake. Look, I can get you the money. I just don't have it on me."

 

The two halflings looked at each other, and Haiden shrugged before Halden nodded and spoke, "After conferring with my brother and business partner we are in agreement that we would hate to see your relations with our family in this fair city start off on an ungentlemanly, or in your case non-ladylike - fashion and therefore we are willing to accept your offer, with the gracious addition of no additional interest accrued through the end of the day, if you will but endeavour to join us for a drink before sunset. As the natives of the city we highly recommend a pleasant little bistro called the Cock Robin, at the edge of the Scornbul warrens and where my brother and I have found ourselves passing many a pleasant hour."

 

"Know the place?"

 

"I can find it," the sorceress replied to the overly bulky hairfoot.

 

Halden beamed "Excellent. Then we look forward to seeing you there and again would like to extend our hopes that all are well with you and yours and that no other issues arise that might cause you distress."

 

Haiden smiled "Good day."

 

Cybele turned as politely as she could manage and began her walk again before stopping, realizing that in her current mood even Florian's considerable charms held no appeal. "Little buggers just ruined my whole damn day," she muttered before heading back to home. 

To be continued