Another? Getting rid of some of the back log I see. May I say that it is about time!
Couldn't agree more.
Chapter 11
July, 28, 1949, The Roast Hog, Leacon
The sun rose, warming the chilled bricks that the buildings in Leacon were built of. Edward stretched, staring out of the window over the table he was working at; books, papers, photos, and maps lay in piles, neatly assorted, a cup of cold tea next to one elbow. He pulled the blanket firmly around his shoulders, before continuing writing. Far away a bird of prey called and the pen scratched it's way across the paper, pausing now and again for Edward to check a detail. The cook started the morning meal, ordering the sleepy maids about. The guests had not yet begun to descend down from their rooms.
Across the commons room a door slammed open, Retin stood, her dressing gown wrapped tightly around her, her quick steps brought her to the Mage who gave her a cold look before she demanded: “What have you done to Jarro this time?” she thumped the table, “Last time I saw him he was talking to you, and this morning I can't find him anywhere!”
Edward shot upright, “Jarro's not here?”
“I just said that you idiot, and don't try to play dumb, I know you did something!” her hands tightened into fists.
“Oh yeah go on blame me straight away, couldn't you at least pretend to think about it first?”
“You almost got him killed before, why shouldn't I suspect you?” Retin sneered.
“I was not my fault that he followed me! If anything you are to blame for not keeping an eye on that dimwit.” Edward shot back.
“Unless you are blind as a bat you would have seen him straight away, he is as stealthy as a rampaging bull.”
“I wasn't expecting anyone to try tailing me.”
“Sure you weren't, but that isn't the point - what matters now is finding him, so spill the beans!”
“I already told you, I don't know!”
“Do!”
“Don't.”
“Do!”
“Now, now children, what is going on here?” Spode stood arms folded, glaring at Edward and Retin as they stood, teeth bared at the other. A startled Lunarious and a impassive Kayle were standing behind him. “Come on, you'll wake the whole house at this rate.”
Retin began, before Edward could say a word. “Jarro's not here.”
Spode raised an eyebrow, and Loony let out a loud groan, “Is that what you two have been yelling your heads off about? He might have just gone for an early morning walk or-”
“His bed was not slept in, I did look..” Retin snapped, eyes still fixed on the Mage.
“Oh,” Loony paused, reconsidering, “Well in that case, where would he have gone last night?”
Kayle growled, “He better not have caused any trouble, if he starts a war I will make sure that he is the first casualty.”
Spode rubbed his forehead, “Who saw him last?”
“I was talking to him last night, after that he left saying something about wanting some fresh air, that was about ten-ish.” Edward volunteered.
“That your story anyway.” Retin muttered under her breath.
“It's the truth.” Edward, exasperated.
“Your truth.” she shot back.
“Break it up you two, I don't know what is going on but the sooner we get our lost minister back the better. First I'll check with the palace to see if they can help ferrite him out. Next-”
A door slamming outside resounded though the building, Grycite and Brilsion voices were heard raised in argument.
Rosie opened the inner door, “Anyone lost a minister?” Jarro stumbled through the gap, pushed by someone behind him, his hair was plastered with dirt and his clothes needed a wash, but he was unhurt. “The corporal says they picked him up after curfew last night so he spend the night in their cells. He was delivered along with the post just now.”
The mage and assassin reached his side simultaneously.
“What did you think you were doing?”
“Didn't you know about curfew?”
“If you ever do such a darn silly thing again I am chaining you up!”
“If you want fresh air get it from a window, not an unknown street, you were lucky it was only the guard!”
Jarro defended himself as best he could, before giving in. He was grateful when breakfast was served to distract his well meaning torturers.
Though, with Retin and Edward on either side of him it made for a tense meal, both spent it snarling at each other like a cat and dog. It would have been funny, Jarro decided, if he wasn't sitting between them.
He was about half was though breakfast, a runny porridge with bread sticks, when the owner of the Roast Hog oiled his way in and announced that the palace car had arrived. The remaining food was stuffed down his throat at an amazing speed and soon the train of cars were honking their way though the packed roads. Beggars tapped at the windows before being swept up by the masses, vendors screeched theirs wares at anyone within ear shot, a few of the wingless dragons, jippers, plodded past.
As they past though the second set of gates he inquired as just how many there were.
“Five, each time the city needed to be expanded due to population expansion another wall was added. The first king to expand the city outward was a lazy guy and very much a penny pincher, so he left the old one were it was. After that it become more or less a tradition” Edward explained
“The other reason given is that this was the original plan for the city, but the treasury ran out of money so the construction had to be halted, until such time as they had the funds, so each extension of the walls is just a continuation of the plans already made.” Retin countered, smiling as sweetly as a lemon.
“Well excuse me for learning my history correctly.” Edward gave a very good impression of someone who's nose had just been put out of joint.
“You thought you were right? Alright then I won't argue, I might hurt your poor feelings.” Retin adopted a highly patronising tone.
This polite and calm argument continued, Jarro sat wincing as verbal barbs and daggers flew over his head, he wish heartily that they would both just shut up.
The cars past through several more gates before finally stopping before two massive golden dragons supporting the Golden Empire Gate. The jewels that encrusted the golden hide made the whole structure shimmer. The doors themselves where carved, one side with a sun and other the three moons. A guard blew a horn and the doors retreated, and an explosion of green hit the eye.
“Someone over did the garden.” Lucuse announced. “Is there even a palace in here or is it all bushes?”
“The palace and its grounds are relativity new, in the last hundred years or so, the old ones were destroyed when the current rulers' great great grandfather disposed the previous ruling family. He used mages to melt the very foundation - by the end a puddle of molten stone was all the was left.” Senic sounded a little wistful, Jarro thought, but then again melted stone sounded far more interesting then a garden.
“History lesson over yet? Lets get this over with then.” Lucuse had had enough of talking.
“It would not hurt you to take an interest in what is going on around you, now and then, you know.” Kayle said in a deadpan voice.
“Why? I don't mind ignorance.” Kayle narrowed her eyes but kept silent they were led by a servant though the maze of conflicting paths.
Jarro let himself fall to the back of the group where Lucuse was slinking, hands sunk in pockets.
“If you hate being a Seirions so much why haven't you quit?”
“I can't.” Lucuse snapped, he caught himself, and continued in a calmer voice, “I can't. All the clan leaders have to enrol at least one son as a Seirions and as the eldest must remain to carry on the family business the second son is the logical choice. No matter their view on the matter.”
“Oh.” Jarro walked silent for a few steps, “Can't you be dismissed or something? Expelled for bad behaviour?”
“What does it look like I am try to do?” Lucuse glared ahead, “When I was first assigned I tried to strike a deal so that Lady Kayle would say I am unfit for duty, but all I get is lectures about how hard some people had to work to get in and that I should thank my parents for the short cut. She says I have 'great potential', I disagree strongly, but unfortunately she is the only one who can release me from the contract, so I am stuck here.” He finished, shrugged and lengthened his strides so he was a few feet ahead of Jarro. Jarro pondered, staring at the snake changers back, as far as he could tell the lady Kayle was just wasting her time, Lucuse was a man after few things in life, and none of them involved a high ranking career. He did feel a sort of sympathy with Lucuse, he knew what it was like being pushed into a job you didn't want to do.
The servant announced loudly, “Behold the palace of the Childa!”
The building itself was white marble, it's gleaming white walls contrasting the multiple colours of the garden. It was simple, no gaudy ornaments or golden statues. Jarro decided that he liked it.
However the same could not be said of the inside. Jarro gaped, every surface glittered with gold, gems, silver, copper, the value would have astounded the richest man and emptied the largest vault. Turning slowly he surveyed the fortune around him, and almost walked into Retin as she stood, her foot tapping.
“Coming?”
Jarro laughed a little, embarrassed, and followed after, still staring in awe at the decorations.
They were ushered into a waiting room were they found hard benches to park themselves upon and listen to the chiming of a distance tower clock, before a short Grycite with a very loud voice announced, “You may now enter.”
Jarro jumped up, relieved the wait was over, Retin hissed in his ear, “Do not make an utter fool of yourself.” The doors opened onto the Throne Room. Guard in uniforms that looked like they had been designed by a hyper four year old with a box of coloured pencils lined the walk to the throne itself. Behind them various house representatives stood, curious to see the first officials to visit the Chillda himself in many years. Jarro could feel the tension as a hundred people held their collective breath.
The Chillda sat on an ornate but nevertheless wooden throne, it looked out of place among the gold, the man also looked plain, hair dull and clothes a simple linen robe. To the Chillda's right was a woman, who despite looking close to thirty, was almost bouncing with enthusiasm. Across from her a man who made a morgue look cheerful, he stood, gazing chillingly as the aliens approached.
Loony curtseyed deeply, before beginning a lengthy introduction through Senic who was interpreting.
Jarro tuned her out after a few minutes, his eyes briefly met those of the Chillda's right hand woman. She made point of glancing toward Loony, rolling her eyes, and touching her lips gently in a pretend yawn. Jarro smiled slightly, tapping his fingers and thumb together to agree that he thought is was mostly boring chitchat - holding his arm at chest level so it wasn't easily noticed.
They continued exchanging signals until Retin gripped his arm and whispered, “How old are you again?” Jarro gave an annoyed glare at his shoulder, but he stopped. The woman gave a slight shrug and returned to gazing at nothing, Jarro followed her example.
It was another two hours until they were dismissed, and guided to the guest house. Jarro glanced around the rooms, the main was a combination sitting and dinning room, off to one side was a small bathroom and the other a bed room, he collapsed onto the bed, while the maid told him that food would be brought up soon and that the feast this evening would start at eight. She left in a flurry of skirts and wings. Jarro stretched, kicking off his shoes, and flinging his arms out, he still had a few hours before he needed to do anything but relax, and he planned to put it to good use.
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