Nerion Orlbereth stood politely and waited as the nominal monarch rambled on.
"The muffin prowls at midnight," the king said, looking around as if he expected to be assaulted by pastry at any moment.
"Yes, your majesty," Nerion said dryly, "but I am quite sure that your guards are capable of handling the matter appropriately. It is nothing to worry yourself about."
This was worse than listening to three solid hours of complaints about the price of silk, as he had already done at the Merchants Guild meeting this morning. He was practically counting the minutes until his wife returned and could once more take care of this. He had a visiting landwalker dignitary to entertain, and a delegation of merchants with complaints about the nomads disrupting their caravans to deal with.
Nerion Orlbereth stood politely and waited as the nominal monarch rambled on.
"The muffin prowls at midnight," the king said, looking around as if he expected to be assaulted by pastry at any moment.
"Yes, your majesty," Nerion said dryly, "but I am quite sure that your guards are capable of handling the matter appropriately. It is nothing to worry yourself about."
This was worse than listening to three solid hours of complaints about the price of silk, as he had already done at the Merchants Guild meeting this morning. He was practically counting the minutes until his wife returned and could once more take care of this. He had a visiting landwalker dignitary to entertain, and a delegation of merchants with complaints about the nomads disrupting their caravans to deal with.
Nerion massaged the bridge of his nose as he swam back to the villa. His assistant was going on and on about something or other, but after spending a couple of hours reassuring the king that he was not going to be murdered by baked goods in his sleep Nerion had a pounding headache.
"Whatever it is, it can wait, Seyeri," he snapped.
The delegation Melusine was a part of returns to Sandreef, noticibly smaller than before. The nomads that accompanied them are conspicously absent
"My dear," Nerion said, greeting her with a warm smile. "You are back much sooner than I expected. And without the nomads? Is there something I should know about?"
"My dear," Nerion said, greeting her with a warm smile. "You are back much sooner than I expected. And without the nomads? Is there something I should know about?"
Melusine huffs and busses her husband quickly.
Well, I had thought to go and straighten out the contract between Blurghoot and Nimora at the coronation ceremony, but things took a bad turn. It seems the 'Mirathan' that she was swimming off to save was none other than the Heir to the Pearl, the now King Mirathan III! And it seems they have a mutual regard! And your daughter let me swim off and negotiate the marital contract knowing that a prince wanted her hand in marraige!
Melusine breathes in and out deeply
The long and short of it is that I have now insulted those feckless hippocampus riders by arrainging the contract and then bringing word of its negation. Then Blurghoot snapped and publicly humiliated himself at the Pearl's court, threatening the new king at the same time.
Now our new alliance is broken, the nomads rode back to their clans, and the Pearl was subjected to several arcane attacks which were probably instigated by Brightwater shamans! Honestly, I do not understand that headstrong girl sometimes! All she needed to say was, Mama, I am in love with a prince and he loves me and all would be well. Instead she keeps his identity secret! Of all the grouperheaded things to do ..
Melusine pauses again to gather her self control up
Nerion, I fear we shall have to brace for a nomad attack. I shall prepare the temple for casualties. I hold out a faint hope that the Pearl and their new king and your soon to be queen daughter will send us some support. Until then we must prepare for the worst.
Nerion frowns. "This is indeed grave news. I will have to find some way to explain this to the nobles and the Guild leadership without the blame resting on us. And we will need to muster as many of our allies as possible. You will need to convince the king to grant a writ giving us the authority to assemble a military force."
He is careful not to mention their daughter as he speaks. He had been cautious about the success of any plan that required Nimora's cooperation. Melusine had never been much good at communicating with the girl, and she was known for being headstrong. But this was much worse than anything that he had feared, a political disaster of epic proportions.
Nimora and Tempest arrive at the omniportal in the center of market square. It is, as always, crowded and bustling.
"I was planning to go to speak with my grandmother. Things aren't so great between my parents and I right now, and she's the only one I can think of who can be an adequate intermediary."
They pass through crowded streets, dodging carts pulled by walruses and packed to the brim with trade goods. The golden cathedral can be seem in the distance. The rose-colored stones of the palace are slightly less visible. Eventually they come to quieter streets lined with large villas.
Nimora leads the way to an exquisitely built, but not as well-maintained, villa in a quiet side street. She rang the bell at the front gate and waited patiently for Parrik, the ancient triton butler. He frowned at her disapprovingly but ushered both her and Tempest inside with a haughty "Follow me." They were led inside and left to cool their heels in a luxurious but well-worn anteroom.
"Well, I can only presume that your being here means you've gotten yourself into some sort of trouble, Nimora. Last I heard your mother was outdoing herself with wedding arrangements. Did you run away or is there more to this disaster in the making?"
Nimora blushed. "I'm afraid it's no longer a disaster in the making, Grandmother," she said hastily standing up. "This is Tempest. She's a knight from Pearl. Tempest, this is my grandmother, Guildmistress Nymphaea Orlbereth."
She waited for Nymphaea to sit down before following suit and resuming talking.
"I don't know how much you know about the situation, but I came here looking for help because I was trying to rescue someone I love," she blushed more deeply. "In order to get that help I had to agree to the ill-fated betrothal with Blurghoot. The someone in question happens to be the new king of Pearl, and you can imagine how Mother reacted to that. She brought the Brightwater brothers with her to the coronation and...it went badly. I asked her privately to call off the betrothal. And she did, but it didn't go well. Blurghoot made a huge scene, publicly insulting Mirathan, calling off the alliance with Sandreef, generally being a walrus's rear end. I fear that the nomads will attack and I wish to help set in place whatever defenses we can, but I'm not having much luck right now getting along with my parents. I...I was hoping you could help. Act as an intermediary as it were. If it wouldn't be too much trouble..." she trailed off nervously.
Nymphaea looked thoughtful. "I am guessing that there is a great deal about this situation that you aren't telling me." She shook her head. "Although it doesn't surprise me in the slightest that that fool girl would have gone and started a war. I always said her ambition was going to get her into trouble someday. I never did understand what it was my son sees in her."
"Very well," she said abruptly. "You can stay. I will speak with your parents in the morning."
Joren rides his prize hippocampus down Sandreef's streets, dressed in an elaborate military officer's uniform with a large gilt trident scabbarded in his saddle. He preens for the girls as he heads to the Sandreef Home Cavalry training grounds.
Drums are heard througout Sandreef, heralding the approach of a battle company from the Pearl of the South. Their pennants float in the current. Light infantry and cavalry astride dolphins, archers, and 12 Knights of the Blue Eel sect riding proudly on top of their namesake dire electric eels. A few sorcerers and clerics follow along with support personnel. (No symbols of Adventurnus) This company is made for speed and mobility.
As they draw within sight of Sandreef they stop. A rider approaches.
"Greetings from King Mirathan the Third, folk of Sandreef. We come to offer our services in support of your city. Is Lady Olbereth available?"
A very confused city guard who looks a bit overawed as he views the military unit that just approached the city replies. "Probably. Which Lady Orlbereth did you have in mind?"
"Lady Nimora Olbereth."
A very confused city guard who looks a bit overawed as he views the military unit that just approached the city replies. "Probably. Which Lady Orlbereth did you have in mind?"
"Right. Er, I'll send a couple of messengers to see if she's within the city or not then. If you wouldn't mind waiting here?"
He swims off and pays a couple of young aventi children hanging about to go and check at both of the Orlbereth villas. Best safe, not offending anyone who might take exception to not knowing all the relevant facts. You could never be too careful when dealing with the uppity-ups.
["This is Tempest. She's a knight from Pearl. Tempest, this is my grandmother, Guildmistress Nymphaea Orlbereth."
"Greetings, Guildmistress Orlbereth."
Maera lets in a messenger and leads him into the main house where Nerion and Melusine are discussing damage control.
"This one here says he has a message for Nimora."
The child looks a little overawed, but nods. "The guard at the gate sent me to look for a Lady Nimora Orlbereth. There's a whole bunch of soldiers from some king named Mirathan waiting by the Sapphire Gate asking for her. Is she here?"
Nerion looked over at Melusine and raised an eyebrow. "Well, it would seem that the young man is serious in his intentions after all."
The other messenger arrives at the villa of Nymphaea Orlbereth. He is dragged in by the butler.
"This rude child has some important information to relay before I chuck him back onto the street," Parrik said stiffly.
"There's a whole bunch of soldiers at the Sapphire Gate. They say they're from some place called Pearl. They were asking for a Lady Nimora Orlbereth," the boy gasped out before being dragged out by the butler.
"Well," Nymphaea says, dryly. "This will surely be interesting. It is likely that this news was also delivered to your parents. I think I will come with you. At my age, there are so few things left that are truly entertaining."
Nymphaea calls for dolphins from the stable and thwaps Nimora's knuckles when the girl rolls her eyes.
"It wouldn't hurt you to actually look the part of a noble lady once in a while, you know. Especially since you've gone and gotten involved with royalty."
Nimora blushes and stammmers an apology, which Nymphaea dismisses with a wave. "Don't apologize. Just don't do it anymore."
With that the group finally sets out for the Sapphire Gate, arriving to see the military unit waiting patiently.
Nymphaea calls for dolphins from the stable and thwaps Nimora's knuckles when the girl rolls her eyes.
"It wouldn't hurt you to actually look the part of a noble lady once in a while, you know. Especially since you've gone and gotten involved with royalty."
Nimora blushes and stammmers an apology, which Nymphaea dismisses with a wave. "Don't apologize. Just don't do it anymore."
With that the group finally sets out for the Sapphire Gate, arriving to see the military unit waiting patiently.
Tempest follows.
Nimora looks over at her grandmother helplessly.
In a loud voice, with an amazing ability to carry honed by many years of talking over shouting merchants, "While it will take a certain amount of time to arrange a meeting with his royal majesty, let me extend the welcome of the Merchant's Guild. We consider you our honored guest until such time as official royal permission can be granted."
"There, that ought to stir the pot a bit," she said quietly to Nimora. "Now go and talk to them. Like it or not, child, you have an audience. Use it."
She gave Nimora a small shove forwards.
In a loud voice, with an amazing ability to carry honed by many years of talking over shouting merchants, "While it will take a certain amount of time to arrange a meeting with his royal majesty, let me extend the welcome of the Merchant's Guild. We consider you our honored guest until such time as official royal permission can be granted."
"There, that ought to stir the pot a bit," she said quietly to Nimora. "Now go and talk to them. Like it or not, child, you have an audience. Use it."
She gave Nimora a small shove forwards.
"Greetings, Lieutenant Quiss'l. As my grandmother already stated we will do our best to arrange a meeting with the king as soon as possible. On behalf of the people of Sandreef I extend a welcome and our gratitude to Pearl for their assistance in this troubled time."
There, that should stir the pot as well, she thought. Hoping she had given just enough information. She might not be the most politically astute member of her family, but she knew that it was always better when they come to you.
She swam closer to the lieutenant. "A private word, please? There are a few...things you should know about the political landscape here."
"Certainly milady, but I am only a subordinate. The Knight-Captain would be happy to meet with you. He gives the orders. He waits by his banner. It might give you more privacy."
"Yes, I think that would be a good idea." Nimora swims over to the banner of the Knight-Captain.
"Yes, I think that would be a good idea." Nimora swims over to the banner of the Knight-Captain.
"Certainly milady, but I am only a subordinate. The Knight-Captain would be happy to meet with you. He gives the orders. He waits by his banner. It might give you more privacy."
Tempest follows again.
Nerion looked over at Melusine and raised an eyebrow. "Well, it would seem that the young man is serious in his intentions after all."
Melusine sighs
"Thank Aventurnus for that! If he was deluding her, we would be crushed by the nomads in short order. "
Melusine sighs
"Thank Aventurnus for that! If he was deluding her, we would be crushed by the nomads in short order. "
"We still might be. But this certainly helps. Should we greet them personally or send a representative? And if the soldiers were looking for Nimora, I presume that means she is no longer in Pearl. However, she is also not here."
Nimora swims over to the banner of the Knight-Captain.A number of Knights of the Blue Eel mill around the vanguard of the company. They cast eyes at Lady Nimora and Tempest as they approach. A sinewy elf in blue armor greets them.
"Lady Olbereth, a pleasure. Tempest, good to see you here."
"Hello. Umm, I don't believe we've been introduced?"
"I was hoping to speak to you about a few things you really should know before you get dragged into the political problems. Especially about the king. King Orca the fifth is er, shall we say....different."
"We still might be. But this certainly helps. Should we greet them personally or send a representative? And if the soldiers were looking for Nimora, I presume that means she is no longer in Pearl. However, she is also not here."
Melusine hurries about preparing a formal outfit and panoply.
"I think we need to be at the forefront before anyone else thinks to gain control of the new soldiers dear. Why don't you wear something formal military dress? I think we need to introduce ourselves to their commanding officer immediately."
A number of Knights of the Blue Eel mill around the vanguard of the company. They cast eyes at Lady Nimora and Tempest as they approach. A sinewy elf in blue armor greets them.
"Lady Olbereth, a pleasure. Tempest, good to see you here."
Tempest, good to see you here."
Tempest smirks at the greeting. "Always so polite, Vel."
"My apologies dear Lady. I am Velantium, Knight of the Blue Eels. Currently captain of these forces."
"What do you infer by...different?"
"Well, I was under the impression that most monarchs aren't prone to wandering the corridors at night singing whalesongs, or building a shrine to a rubber duck, or showing up at a royal ball wearing nothing but bright green bubbles - not strategically placed either. That was...educational. He has also been known to hide under the throne blubbing like a baby from such hideous threats as bedroom slippers, seaweed, a baby's rattle, and my personal favorite, his own rubber duck."