Chapter 267: Politics Again? (1/2)
”Alright, just try to keep your mouth shut and follow my lead.” Julia whispered as they passed through the banquet hall.
Cariel nodded absently, her gaze wandering and a look of fascination on her face. Obviously, she wasn't really paying attention.
”Listen!” The cat beastman hissed, earning her a sharp glance from one of the guards stationed nearby. A quick, apologetic laugh was sufficient to cause his suspicious glare to shift elsewhere.
”Ahem. We need to be careful. If they find out we aren't really entertainers, we'll be treated as spies.”
[Although, I suppose that's actually the truth now…] She thought glumly as she led her air-headed companion through the crowd of nobles.
The pair were dressed in vibrant, flowing garments that were designed to add a flair to their every movement. She regretted having to resort to this measure, since the outfits were counterproductive to their goal of avoiding attention, but she'd been left with little choice.
Her original plan of pretending to be servants had fallen through when it became obvious that security measures around the event had been heightened dramatically. Strangely enough, she couldn't find anyone from the criminal underworld who was willing to help. Eventually, she'd determined that their leader had ordered them to assist in securing the party, and virtually all of the city's gangs were working to prevent possible intrusions.
If it hadn't been for a fortuitous encounter with an old acquaintance, she might have been forced to rely on simply staking out the entrance. Thankfully, in a rare stroke of good luck, she ran into Emerald, a cat beastman bard used to work in some of the seedier taverns in Wyrport. Apparently, she'd recently fallen in with a troupe of traveling performers, and was now one of their leading singers.
Since the truth wasn't an option, she was able to secure Emerald's help thanks to a swiftly concocted story about unrequited love. The bard had always been a sucker for those kinds of tales.
As soon as she heard about the unfortunate Cariel, who had her heart stolen on the field of battle and dreamed of nothing so much as meeting the unnamed man to express her feelings, she'd immediately agreed to help.
Unfortunately, there were limits on what even a key performer could do, and the best she'd managed was to get Julia and Cariel positions as back-up dancers. They were even expected to participate in a few of the larger shows scheduled to take place tonight, albeit in minor roles where their lack of experience shouldn't be glaringly obvious.
They still had the better part of an hour to go before they needed to report to the director, so that gave them a good opportunity to search for their target. Of course, since neither one of them actually knew the Hero's name, asking around for him wasn't an option. So, they relied on the tried and true tactic of simply wandering around until they ran into him.
By this point they'd moved into the ballroom, where the troupe's musicians were playing a jaunty and upbeat song for the dancing party-goers. Julia scanned the crowd, and although she didn't find their target, she did see a familiar face.
The dog beastman warrior who'd fought alongside Cariel against a powerful Death Knight, was out on the floor, dancing with a pretty, silver haired girl who looked a bit younger than him. They seemed to be enjoying themselves despite his obvious lack of dancing experience. Thankfully, his innate agility was making up for it to some extent.
[He's definitely a commoner. Probably a meritorious promotion. He would have to be pretty amazing to make it this far. Maybe he had a major contribution during the war? His partner, on the other hand, is much more refined. The daughter of a lesser noble, perhaps?]
As both a familiar face, and someone who was presumably involved in the hierarchy of the Almiran military, he might very well be able to help them in their search. At the very least, he should be able to point them in the direction of someone who could help.
With that in mind, she moved to get his attention, only to realize at the last second that she'd taken her eyes off Cariel for a little too long. Unsurprisingly, the angel had vanished in the short span of time Julia had been distracted. As she frantically glanced around the room, trying to spot her infuriating comrade, she couldn't help but feel depressed.
[Ugh…Why do I have to deal with this?]
For a moment she toyed with the idea of simply leaving. It was not as if Julia had much to expect in return for her efforts. Even the hefty supply of gold she'd received in payment had been largely consumed as traveling expenses.
[Besides, Cariel will be alright by herself. She could easily fight her way out of any difficult situations.]
All Julia had to do, was break her word to rhe angel, a living manfestation of divine will, and possibly earn the ire of the most vengeful of Ea's five creator gods…
Sighing, she resumed her search by heading towards the dining hall. She suspected that she'd have better luck wherever they were serving food.
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Mike opened the door, that should have taken him back into the dining hall, only to find himself in a small office-like chamber. A simple desk was set up along one wall, stacked high with a variety of papers. Bookshelves lined the walls, packed with all kinds of documents, tomes, and scrolls. Beyond that, however, it was sparsely furnished, with only a few plain wooden chairs and a fireplace to break up the scene. Even the stone floor was left bare of any adornment.
As soon as he entered, a familiar person turned from where he was casually regarding the fire, a glass of amber liquid in one hand, and gave Mike a neutral look.
”So good of you to join me.” Count Graveston spoke, his voice echoing a little in the small room. ”I apologize for the abominable lack of décor, but I like to keep my offices in the capital utilitarian. It helps me focus. Would you care for some refreshments?” He indicated a small platter on his desk, where a few liquor bottles were lined up next to a serving plate of pastries.
Mike had to ask, ”How did I get here?”
The Count gave him a slight smile. ”The palace was designed and built by one of the greatest mages to have ever graced the central continent. He spent close to a decade adding a myriad of enchantments into everything from its crenellations to its very foundations. The purpose of many of these spells remains a mystery, and few alive today have the confidence or skill required to even begin to unravel their secrets. However, I believe you learned by now that there are very few things in this world that are truly hidden.”
[That doesn't really answer my question, but I suppose I'll chalk it up to his usual cloak and dagger antics.]
”Alright, then can you at least tell me why you've brought me here? I presume you have something you wish to discuss?”
The Count gave him a simple nod before striding over and sitting at his desk. He took another sip of his drink before replying. ”I've been informed that you were approached with an invitation a few minutes ago.”
Mike blinked, suddenly feeling a little less confident. ”How- ”
”Please try to think a little.” The older man cut him off, ”If I am capable of redesigning the interior of the palace to bring you here, merely to save myself the trouble of having you sent for, do you think monitoring your activities is beyond me?”
He didn't really have a response to that. It seemed fairly obvious in retrospect.
The Count gave him a stern, almost appraising look for a few seconds before glancing down at the documents in front of him, idly sorting through them. ”I no longer have the authority or power to command you thanks to your recent…elevation, and I suspect that such tactics would have little effect anyway, given your personality. As such, I am going to give you a recommendation.”
He pointed to the pocket Mike was keeping the letter. ”Accept that invitation, but do so with the utmost caution. Its sender is also a Tier 4 mage, who has been ruling most of the Riverlands from the shadows for centuries. She is known to extend such invitations to powerful and influential people visiting her area of influence, although her exact purpose in doing so is something of a mystery. There will be banquets and entertainment, and you will be expected to remain in attendance for the better part of a week. At the end of which, she will either give you her blessing, or demand you leave the Riverlands entirely.”
”So, it's some kind of test?”