Titus settles back down into a different chair, suddenly seeming a bit dizzy.
"Our uncle, the duke, is the real power in our family. He's always squirreled away, busy with some project or other. You know, I can't remember if I've even ever met the duke. Maybe when I was just a whelp of a boy, too young to remember. He doesn't bother himself with parties or family or anything that isn't magic related. No wonder he favors cousin Bartelby so much. Two birds of a feather, they are."
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Greenly pops into the manor and replicates the original note to the best of her ability, not wanting to part with it without permission from the group.
"Here you go, Mr. Sir. The Lady should be back by tomorrow or the next day, but if you're quick you should be able to catch her still in Lotheedar. Maybe next time you could send us, like, notice, so we can host you right and proper?"
Meraki watches in amazed silence as Greenly works her own particular kind of magic on Guisarne.
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Meanwhile, back in Stachys, Greenly has Sir Gusairne back on the road in short order.
Internally, the count's seneschal also makes a mental note that he should not underestimate Greenly in the future, as he was clearly unprepared for how adroit she proves to be even beyond her obvious physicality.
Amandine is discovering that Lord Titus does have some uses after all. She still needs to be careful though. While she doesn't find him to be bright, she doesn't want to betray unusual curiosity about the Lotheed family. He seems to talk incautiously, and anything that stands out to him about their conversation might be mention to the Count.
She decides to end her questions, but open up a space for him to continue, either or out of family pride or resentment since she sense both, with some praise.
"I see. Obviously I'm not as knowledgable about the Lotheed family as I thought. Thank you for your insights Lord Titus. Of course everything of importance in Meratt is touched by the Lotheed family, so to understand your family is to understand the region."
Lord Titus staggers off to find some other diversion elsewhere on the palace grounds, leaving Amandine and company to await Count Lotheed.
"Lady Betony, thank you for your patience," the count says when he finally appears. "I was attending to some important family business. Your arrival is quite the...pleasant surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Ah...Forgive my error Sir! Lady Betony asked that I send word of her travel here, but it slipped it mind completely...we had a raid of the Swan recently on her lands! I've been so busy since then..."
"Thank you for bringing this to my attention," the count says, apparently placated by Gan'dro's obsequiousness.
"Sir Gusairne's inability to catch or even identify the Night Swan has become an all-but intolerable irritation," Count Lotheed says thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. "Despite his loyalty, there are days when I regret that my family ever showed him mercy or generosity."
The count begins to pace the room, hands clasped behind his back.
"Mayhaps a new approach is needed. My seneschal is too recognizable, too predictable to the Swan and her sympathizers. Your ladyship and your coterie remain, shall we say, largely unknown in your capacities. If you were able to finally bring the Night Swan to heel, you would be duly rewarded.
"Hmm. Now that I think of it, Voinum's line of inheritance is rather disorganized, to say nothing of the state of the absentee Telus' affairs. Should the time be soon in coming that I need to elevate someone to control those baronies, well...I would remember those who have served me well."
Back at Stachys, the overactive youngsters serving as scouts bring news of yet more visitors approaching. They don't recognize them, but it's a group of men and women that numbers higher than the children can count - of course, since the brightest of them has only learned to count to ten, this does not necessarily mean an entire mob is approaching.
Sallying forth to meet them, you deduce by their shabby dress and scavenged tools that these are the folk from the Beggarwood.
'Gan'dro nods easily, glancing at Amandine with a small smile.
"Your thoughts on this matter are most generous my Lord! I assure you Lady Betony and I will begin immediately to try and teach Sir Gusairne what true nobility requires of its ardent supporters."
Meraki sends the children on their way with her thanks before heading out with Greenly to meet the Beggarwood folk.
"How do you think we should handle this?" she asks, while the pair are still out of earshot. "Just invite them to Stachys for work?"
"I do apologize deeply for my sudden and unannounced arrival. I have news touching on both of these subjects that I thought must not wait."
"Baron Telus was, as had been rumored, suffering under a curse. It had left him mentally incapacitated these recent years. Fortunately a priest named Meraki, a member of my entourage, was able to left the curse, ad Baron Telus is now restored to sound mind."
"Jambis is however still in ruins, and its population is destitute. The village's former residents are anxious to return and make a new start, but they have little means for rebuilding. I have pledged resources from Stachys to assist them, mainly timber for building, food while they do so, and seed stock so they can plant crops going forward."
"But, when we traveled back to Stachys to prepare the supplies, we were met by your tax collector Giado and his men. His assessment of the taxes due on the harvest was approximately fifty percent of the total. I questioned him regarding his sums, and he could provide no clear answers to how he arrived at his total. Nor could he provide records showing taxes from previous years."
"Based on what information I could gather locally, it would seem his assessment is the same each year, regardless of harvest totals. Smaller harvests do not result in reductions in tax collections. What this says to me is that the amounts are arbitrary rather than based in any policy or mathematical formula."
"It goes without saying of course that aid to Jambis would be impossible given the sums required to meet Giado's demand."
"I allowed Giado to collect at the rate of twenty percent of the harvest, delaying any further tax collection until I appealed his processes and their results to you."
The particular attack by the Night Swan mentioned by Dro'gan targeted Giado after he left Stachys. On our way here we came across him and his men. They had been left bound and their wagons had been burned. I sent him back to Stachys for wagons on loan so he could gather up what he could and continue on with it."
"So you see, these several subjects are linked, and require immediate attention."
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"Maybe? I dunno but that nasty guy we dealt with earlier hates them, so maybe we could do something with all that? Like maybe we can find out why or do something about it? Also we should buy drugs from them."
Worried Amandine will piss off the Nobleman throwing around words like 'demand' and 'immediate', Gandro tries to help...
"Of course...you would certainly honor us with any attention you can spare from your busy schedule. The common people can be such children at times? But as always it falls on the nobles of the country to pick up the pieces."
"I will look into the matter and speak with our county's licensed collectors," Count Lotheed replies.
Amandine readily identifies this as a non-committal response.
Because the count generates his own revenue from selling licenses to private tax collectors, rather than from direct taxation, he is little concerned by how these men conduct their business.
He will likely allow this matter to quickly slip from his memory. Even if he does remember the concerns raised by Lady Betony, he will apply no haste or urgency to the matter. This is especially the case given how much more of his attention he directs towards the Night Swan.
Count Lotheed, whether because of callousness or sheer sloth, is content to maintain the status quo here in Meratt, which he considers his personal little kingdom. Thus, the disruptions and challenges to his authority posed by the Night Swan are the sole matters of governance that actually motivate him into action.
Ultimately, the accord that he offers is that if Lady Betony and company take care of the Night Swan, he will address the practices of the tax collectors. He assumes that the inexperienced noblewoman will accept his offer at face value, unaware that Amandine sees through his hollow promises, and even further ignorant that this is exactly what she wants.
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Greenly pushes Meraki forward with a large smile and a friendly wink. "You should go talk to them. They already love me, so they'll love you too! Or they will if they, like, know what's good for them or whatever."
Meraki stumbles forward, caught off guard, but recovers her balance enough to prevent a face-plant. Into the dirt, anyway. With a nervous glance back at Greenly, she steps forward to meet with the folk from the Beggarwood.
"Good morning!" she calls out to them once they're in earshot. "My name is Meraki, and behind me is Sir Greenly. Some children from the town let us know you were coming, so we came to greet you. On behalf of Lady Amandine Betony, welcome to Stachys."
Unsure what to do next, she gives the crowd an awkward half-bow, hoping to hide some of her nervous energy.
Of course Amandine has no intention of hunting down the Night Swan, but that isn't really something she can say. Instead, Amandine tries to set up the inevitable 'failure' to come, while suggesting at the same time she does have incentives to see the Night Swan taken down.
"I may not have the advantages you think I do Count Lotheed. The Night Swan has already marked me with assassination threats. I have also been stalked, which I assume to be preparation for an attempt on my life. I would not be coming at the Night Swan from an unexpected direction."
"The residents of Jambis cannot afford to wait for a future decision regarding the questions of taxation. I will be dispatching assistance to them as soon as I can organize it upon my return to Stachys."
"I thank you for your time and consideration. I will depart as soon as my carriage is ready."
Against an uphill battle, Meraki manages to overcome those hurdles with her greeting.
One of them speaks up, explaining that they've come to work. They've heard about Lady Betony's projects revitalizing both Stachys and now Jambis, so they've ventured out to seek employment.
Amandine's rhetoric has ably served its purpose and convinced the count that she is not able to catch the Night Swan, but this means he has lost interest in this visit. He leaves Lady Betony to deal with Jambis, which he sees as a pointless frivolity.
His face puckered after the meet with Count Lotheed, Dro'gan waits until Amandine is settled in the carriage and the look of rage has left her face before bring up his thoughts.
"That went...well it went. What is your next move Lady Amandine? While I loathe to turn the Night Swan over to Count Lotheed just as you do, there could be an advantage here. I have the beginnings of an idea if you are interested..."
Counter to Dro'gan's expectations, Amandine is not upset at all. In fact she seems content with the meeting's outcome.
"We are still on course. We have been refused any sincere review of the country's tax situation, and Count Lotheed remains unconcerned with the fate of Jambis. If we help Jambis, there will be no relief for us coming from him. He could have said these things more directly, but I suppose that is asking too much."
"Now we can begin to make our case for Count Lotheed's removal in favor of Princess Eutropia to the rest of the county's nobles. We will start, gently, with Baron Okerra."
"But first, what is your idea for the Night Swan?"
Nodding at Amandine's forward thinking, Dro'gan offers a casual salute for her success and offers the basics.
"The idea is not fully formed...but we do have the ability to contact the Swan, and possibly manipulate her into situations where we can get something positive out of it in the end. We have already done so. We also want to snip Sir Gusairne's over-zealousness and make Count Lotheed look bad, so why not 'kill three birds with one stone'? We set up a situation... say we convince Sir Guisarne' we have discovered the Swan's identity and and are willing to reveal her to him with proof as long as he helps us capture her alive and give us half the credit with Count Lotheed. But we give Guisarne fake info on the Swan, and we WARN the Swan that Guisarne's about to let some innocent take the rap for her and she can get the chance to gloat at his mistake in public. Guisarne will more than likely cut us out of the deal and attempt to take the Swan by himself. The REAL Swan steps in and stop's Guisarne, publicly humiliating him and by extension Lotheed. Lotheed probably also punishes Guisarne after such a humiliating loss to the Swan who is his nemesis currently. Its a delicate plan and it relies on the various pawn's natures...and there are other holes too of course. But with your permission I could flesh out the details and let you look them over."
He pauses and looks out the carriage window, then settles himself for a new nap.
"Lion's Rule#3: Never pass up volunteering someone else to go with you or do something for you, and Lion's Rule#4: Never...EVER...underestimate desperate people."
"Wonderful!" Meraki exclaims. "Please, come with me and Sir Greenly. Lady Betony is out of town on an errand at the moment, but she has a number of projects in motion that could use your help."
Amandine sucks on one of her front teeth as she thinks about Dro'gan's idea. She asks "is there a version of the plan in which Guisarne is killed before he talks to Count Lotheed?"
"Two things worry me. First, what if Guisarne kills or captures the Night Swan? How do we know this won't be the outcome instead? If Guisarne suceeds, Count Lotheed gains credibility."
"The second is this. My feeling is Lotheed trusts Guisarne. I also believe Guisarne is extremely perceptive. How are we protected from Guisarne realizing he has been set up? If that were to happen, I think Count Lotheed would believe him. Even if he isn't convinced, his knowledge of our involvement through Guisarne could plant the idea, which could be used against us later."
"What I have been doing so far is undermining reasons for others, our potential allies here, to support Count Lotheed when we contest his stewardship of Merrat. We can argue he taxes in a way that is driving the county to ruin. We can argue he is corrupt and self-serving. We can argue he is incompetent, the Night Swan is part of that. We can remind them Lotheed's agents are despised."
"When we finally reveal the court decision in Princess Eutropia's favor, all that should remain in Count Lotheed's favor is tradition. The Lotheed family has long ruled Meratt as the Stavian family's proxy, why change things now?"
"We have made our arguments though, and they are many and varied. All Count Lotheed can do is protest they are not true. But enough people will know he is lying in one or more cases to make them doubt him in the others. He will be entirely on the defensive, and he will look weak."
"He has nothing to counterattack us with. Perhaps he will say we are new here, so we should be doubted. Such an appeal is easily countered. Stachys has made gains this year like none other in memory. One less manticore plagues the county. Jambis is no longer a dreaded place, and can rejoin the county's other towns. Some, like Dame Crabbe have personal reasons to favor us. I believe it could even be possible to get Archbanker Paril to speak in our favor. In short, our reply is 'yes, only a short time, but look at how much we have done so quickly'."
"If Count Lotheed could argue we have colluded with the Night Swan though, it would be a serious blow to us, perhaps fatal. Think on it more."
Pulling his cloak's hood over his eyes as he settles in for his bumpy nap, Dro'gan shrugs and replies easily.
"As I said...there are holes. But I can say this: All my..OUR dealings dealings with the Swan have been distant from you specifically. She only knows me...in my alternate identity. That gives us...YOU distance from all of this. I am more than willing to take any blame upon myself as a rogue element too if such things come up in the end: Make no more thought on that idea. I would insist on being present to prevent Guisarne from succeeding too, and do NOT discount the Swan. She is quite formidable in her own right. A little show-boaty..but MORE than competent. Now upon the idea of hurting our successes to date...I would definitely think the local nobility would appreciate the luckless Guisarne get his comeuppance...or at least a timely death...and this would further erode any confidence of Count Lotheed in their eyes since he can't even get rid of 'one little girl with a knife. Especially if they truly fear the Swan in any way....which they should in reality. Her 'democracy' ideas if nothing else are scary enough. Anyhoo: In a sense, you are already appealing to those who already have at least a minor dislike of the Count. I'm suggesting we try and move the needle on those who actually think he should be here. Those close supporters might be more easily convinced of his removal if the Count's 'chosen' people are shown to be completely incompetent. In the end, its just an idea. I will think on it more and if time and opportunity arise...talk to you again"
"I'm not rejecting the idea. I'm saying I believe we should not underestimate Guisarne either, and we need a sure outcome guaranteed if we go forward with it. We also need to be certain it can't be traced to us. I'm not sure your willingness to take blame if needed helps that much. You're still a part of the Betony group, and it would still raise questions and doubts. We also can't make a decision until we've brought this to Greenly and Miraki."
"There is some other business we need to act on now. I need you to arrange a visit to Baron Okerra for me. I'll write the letter during our return."
"Also we must research the heirs of Baroness Voinum. Unless it turns out she has no heirs at all, she should be very interested to know Count Lotheed is willing to shunt them aside for me if I hand him the Night Swan. This is very good for us since we have weak ties to the Baroness compared to most others. We might yet bring her onboard with us."
"Oh man oh man, I'm sure we can use your help especially, like, with making Spiderville livable again. And there's plenty of work needs doing here too! Food's a little tight after taxes, tho. But maybe we can help each other! Speaking of," she wanders the crowd, looking for the shadiest looking bunch.
The bodyguard leans into a group that looks to her both trustworthy and not (in the best possible way), loudly whispering, "hey! do you have anything fun a girl could buy? like real good time shit?"
Meraki's brow knits together in confusion and she turns to Greenly. "Spiderv--oh, you mean Jambis! They'd been under a terrible curse, but we recently managed to free them from it. They're still getting back on their feet, with Lady Betony's help."
She was serious?
Smiling evilly under his hood Dro'gan yawns and replies again.
"Understood my Lady Amandine! I know my job, and will do it appropriately as you request. Also, do not worry: The Swan knows nothing of us right now, or of our plans. She technically still hates you, simply for what you represent. Nor do I plan on ever getting caught...at least not alive. Don't worry, I'm not suicidal! But I'm pretty sure Guisarne could be homicidal if given the chance. Just note...even if 'Dro'gan' is caught in some manner, 'Gandro' is the only one who has known ties to you. Technically speaking, you don't even know if Dro'gan is my real name...do you? Gandro is just a servant...one of many you have. Most Nobility is known for going through servants like water. Gandro could simply disappear and not many would care...or even notice that much."
He then doses off in silence, snoring slightly, the bumping and rocking of the carriage more than enough ease for the agent to rest.
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Amandine takes out pen, ink, and paper to write the letter as Dro'gan settles in.
"While we're having a moment of openness and sharing here, I'll mention that the only certain thing you know about me is my name is indeed Amandine. Otherwise... Well, I was a commoner until given documents saying otherwise when we departed to come here."
Amandine lets a small laugh escape.
"Think about it. The disguised noblewoman claiming to stand up for the common people wants to kill the commoner she believes to be a noblewoman. You couldn't write this as fiction unless it was a comedy."
His voice starting to drone as he drifts off, Dro'gan replies yet again, eyes closed.
"Nobility, as you know my dear lady, is not always about Titles and Lands. It is also about individual character: sacrifice, bravery, honesty, honor...and similar things. All of which I've heard about but rarely seen in my entire life. You, the Princess...heck even our dear Paladin holds more nobility in your little toes than does Lotheed and most of the other 'real' Nobility we've met. My trainer once told me however, that all it takes sometimes is one honest person whose truly nobility shines through to lead others into the light of a good future for all. We shall see if the Princess is such a person before the end I think..."
At that point he snores lightly.
"Er, Jambis?" one of them speaks up. "We thought there'd be work here around Stachys. You know? Helping with planting and harvest? Building fences, roads, barns, and such? Going to Jambis is kind of iffy, you know? What with all the bandits and beasties roaming wild over there?"
Meanwhile, while Meraki addresses the bulk of the crowd, one of the shadier men steps aside with Greenly. He offers to share some Grit with her for a couple gold.
Meraki pauses for a moment, trying to think of what to say next. "I suppose what I am trying to say is, you have nothing to fear from Lady Betony. She truly cares for each person under her protection, and looks past surface details and hasty judgments. The fact that she has welcomed someone like me into her home and done so much for the region already is proof of that."
The sky grows orange as the afternoon wears into evening. Your carriage rumbles south along the Oppara Highway, with Olivia taking a turn at the reins. You come to the bend where the road passes alongside the southernmost spur of Lauchlein Lake.
You hear a sharp whistling sound.
"Get dow...!" Olivia calls out, but she is cut off.
The horses whinny in fright, and Olivia tumbles from the driver's seat of the carriage and falls to the wayside. The carriage begins to veer off the road.
Instantly awake, Dro'gan assesses the situation and immediate moves to the carriage door, yanking it open and trying to get up onto the carriage seat in order to gain control of the run-away carriage...or jump clear if the carriage looks like it will turn over!
Amandine reacts similarly to Dro'gan. Too surprised to speak, she almost instinctively sends a wakening pulse out through her nervous system, quickening the speed of neurotransmission throughout her body. As synapses (metaphorically) hum with flashing messages, she adjusts to her body's new response time and waits for Dro'gan to clear the door so she can follow him out.
Of course, this means she is soon bombarded by other questions. They ask about the work required, when they can begin, how much they'll be paid, whether they can get some coppers up front, and if you've got anything to eat.
Olivia lies a few yards behind you, unconscious on the road, the cloud of dust kicked up by her fall just starting to settle.
You see no gang of bandits lining the road. Neither do you see any beast flying overhead.
Nevertheless, you distinctly sense that whatever attacked you is still lurking nearby.
Bringing the carriage to a stop, he sets the break and leaps off the carriage toward Olivia. He hisses out at Amandine quickly as he grabs his magic spear from its hidden spot on the carriage.
"Keep a look out! Something attacked us, but I cannot see it!"
Dro'gan scarcely has time to deliver his warning before another shot whistles out from the east.
The arrow strikes him square in the stomach. The pain is quite real, but as he looks down to assess the wound, the arrow vanishes in a burst of white light. He feels lightheaded, and his limbs briefly feel like lead, but he manages to resist whatever magic effect attempted to take hold.
This latest shot draws your attention to the attacker, lurking among the cattails growing like a forest near the lakeside. A warrior in silvery mail and a white feathered cloak crouches down with a stout longbow in her hands. Hints of short, blond hair peek out from the winged helm atop her head.
However, as you lead the new workers towards the first of the paddocks, you are stopped by Onora. The former tribune takes you aside and whispers to Meraki and Greenly.
"Are you going to lead the foxes to the henhouses next?" she asks in a low, hissing whisper. "I know Lady Betony seems keen on giving second chances and offering fair shakes, but this is a bit much. Folk from the Beggarwood? Entrusted with the livestock? They'll run off with sheep or horses, and we'll never see any of them again."
The workers from the Beggarwood offer Onora some bitter glares. She does a poor job of concealing her concerns, and even those who can't hear her whispers can easily guess what she's going on about.
Grabbing cover behind the carriage from the interestingly dressed woman's direct shots, Dro'gan curses and whispers to his boss nearby.
"My dear Lady Amandine...it appears we have drawn the ire of another Swan-like warrior at the edge of the lake! Now...Get down! She shot me with some magic bow, but it did not seem to affect me this time.
"Many have said the same of me. In fact, I suspect some have said the same of Stachys and its people. Others still insisted that the curse laid upon Jambis's baron could end only in his death. They were all mistaken, and I think you may be, too. I won't tell you that there's no reason to worry, but the only way we'll build a better life for ourselves is to do it together, and we can't do that if we're too busy expecting a knife in the back." She sighs.
"And, at the end of the day, they've come to us in need of aid and shelter. I have no right to deny them. If they betray that trust, there will be consequences."
Not liking the situation, and not understanding the circumstances of the attack, Dro'gan assumes the worst.
"Lady Amandine? Wait for me to move and grab our attacker's attention, then go grab Olivia and get her behind those rocks she fell near. Then see what you can do for her, if anything. I will see what I can do about our 'White Swan' here..."
He then casts a simple Expeditious Retreat spell upon himself, and grips Godspike with white knuckled hands...and charges her position.
"I know Lady Betony and her friends have been right so far," she begrudgingly admits. "It's just that every time you push your luck, you're pushing our luck, too. We ain't keen to go back to how things used to be. No siree."
She sighs again, casting dirty looks at the Beggarwood folk.
"They can work, but I'll be keeping an eye on them."
Rather than drawing another arrow to her bow, she begins to cast a spell aimed at the fast approaching Dro'gan. He feels a magical drowsiness fall upon him.
Amandine moves as Dro'gan says, going to Olivia to check on her. When Dro'gan drops though, she decides she must first try to do something about their attacker. Given her words, Amandine thinks there must be some sort of confusion, or mistaken identity involved. This certainly doesn't seem like banditry. She calls out.
"I ask for a parley! I don't know the cause for your assault on us, and do not want to turn to violence without knowing why! We are new to this area and have never been to the lake!"
"Guests of the Count, I take it?" the warrior woman asks, disgusted. "He has poisoned my lake and seeks my death, so any members of his circle, new or old, are just as culpable!"
Despite this pronouncement, she stays her next attack. It seems she may yet be convinced that you are neither her enemy nor friends of the count.