Menan moves to the man sitting alone at a table. "Please pardon my intrusion sir. I am Menan Variel of Kyonin, a traveler of sorts. Would you tolerate talkative and curious company?" Menan smiles at his own remarks.
Arawyn moves her head to watch Menan pretending she is not interested in the current conversation.
"If you think I'm interesting company, feel free to take a seat. But be warned. I only talk about business all day." Lemuel Gulliver replies.
"There will be time for that. I'm have not decided yet what it will be. I'd like to get to know you and your peers, to see what my role might be in this wonderful town."
"How about a dinner party to get to know everyone?" Lady Eleanor suggests.
"As do I." Menan takes a seat. "What sort of business are you engaged in?"
"I'm Lemuel Gulliver. I deal in bulk materials. And you?"
"As of this moment I am working for the Duke of Seacrest. Bulk materials...Do you produce them or sell them or both? What type of materials?"
"I mine some. Mostly coal and ore. Others I just take back from the places I deliver them too."
"Interesting endeavor and there will always be a demand for your product. I have always wanted to start a business or be a merchant. The right idea has yet to cross my mind. I have a had a few ideas but there was always some part of my plan that made it unworkable. Are you finding everything to your satisfaction in Abadon? Is there anything you could use that eludes you?"
"I don't know. You wouldn't have a ship on sale?"
"I do not. I spent some time on the docks and found the captains to be approachable and willing to move things around for you. Do you need something shipped?"
"I have a few captains shipping my goods. But the fares are a big cost factor for large amounts of low price goods."
"I see. I would buy one in a heartbeat if I had the need. Where are you from Lemuel? Will you be here long?"
"If it's that easy, get me one. Seaworthy, loading capacity of at least 100 tons for 7000 gold or less."
"I'm from the land FarFarAway. I'm only here until the end of the week. I'll leave with a ship full of wheat."
"How about a dinner party to get to know everyone?" Lady Eleanor suggests.
"A man has to eat. Then why not do it in pleasant company." Dearil replies.
"But I thought the kind of event wasn't settled yet? Though I have to admit that I'm not good at horse racing, and I don't have any large hats either."
"I will ask around and see if anything is available." It was a pleasure to meet you,Master Gulliver." Menan joins the ladies and Dearil.
At the ladies' table Menan states "I am suddenly in the market for a ship. Are any of you aware of one that is for sale and if not where I might inquire."
"Shhh. We're discussing important topics here." Lady Adelaide objects.
"Important topics." Lady Margaret replies in a mocking tone.
"I'm prepared to discuss a wide range of topics. Each one with the adequate seriousness. If you'd prefer a topic with more relevance in the long term, I'd like to talk about the council." Dearil comments.
"But for getting to know each other a social event with some entertainment is an easier environment. It's a pity I can't offer something yet. Or are you into haunted houses? I could offer that."
"It's actually an interesting story, you might have heard of it. The ghost of the last duke is haunting the castle."
Lady Margaret doesn't take the bait about the council. Lady Eleanor is shocked by the mention of a ghost and a lively discussion goes on for another hour. At the end of it the decision is made that it will be a horse race and not the 101st dinner party of Lady Eleanor.
After that, one excuses herself and that is the end of the afternoon. All tell their goodbye and leave.
Lady Eleanor is not happy with the decision.
When the ladies are gone Menan looks at the duke and says "What do you think?"
Dearil retreats into his chambers.
"That wasn't bad for a start." Dearil comments. "I think we should see if we can make Lady Eleanor happy. She was the most positive."
Menan and Arawyn head to the warehouse looking for Gorm.
Back at the room Dearil finds Faerveren freed from that annoying breastplate lounging on a couch. "So, are we done for the day? Or do you have other plans besides meeting your tailor."
"I had the illusion, that being a duke would lead to people looking up to me, doing curtsies and such. Not laze about my room." Dearil comments with a raised brow.
"It might as well - with commoners. I could have dukes from backwater towns like these line up to ask for my hand." Faerveren boasts. "I mean guys who are not past their prime and whose castle to inherit isn't in ruins."
"You're more interesting than those, but you're not that awe inspiring that I'd get off my lazy ass just because you enter the room."
"Ouch." Dearil voices with his face twisted in pain. He walks over to another couch and sits down.
"What are you after anyway? What would being a duke give you that you couldn't have by simply being filthy rich?" Persephone asks while she gets up and practices curtsies. It doesn't look very good, as she can't do them on her bad leg, but getting the bad leg behind isn't easy either.
"It is stupid, but the common people look differently at you when you're of noble descent. And definitely nobles look different at you. They would never welcome anyone into their circles just because they are rich. You might be accepted if some noble is desperate enough so you can marry into the family."
"What it will get me we'll see. Worst case I only get a dinner party invitation from Lady Eleanore every other month."
"Best case I end up in a position of power. And power means more riches."
"Sounds a lot like someone is bored by only being rich. Or do you have something you yearn for that costs more than your inheritance?"
"Sounds about right." Dearil concludes.
At the docks it is unusually calm. Only one ship is there that is unloading coal. It is an honest business but no one gets really rich from that. But there are a lot of hands on the way from the mine to the hearts that are fed by this business. And those hands are blackened. As the ship, the warehouse and the docks in between.
The yard to the small warehouse of Marinelli is closed and the door locked.
Menan and Arawyn make their way to Eleanor's manor. Menan wishes to speak with Lady Eleanor.
"What a surprise to see you again today." Lady Eleanor greets Menan and Arawyn.
"Two matters have my interest. What is your impression of Duke Dearil? Also you mentioned something about the Marinellis and something being done to correct them. What are they up to?"
"Duke Dearil is really hansome, isn't he? And he has that air of nobility around him. It is a blessing that someone new comes to join the noble circles. I was really worried where... no, I'm not telling you. You will just walk back to him and tell him."
"But I can't remember telling something about Marinelli, besides the wine. Would you remind me?"
"It was at our last weekly tea party. I mentioned the duke and your thoughts went back to the good old days or something like that." Menan looks down and concentrates for a moment. "Your exact words were 'I bet they didn't have the hassle with people like Marinelli.' I have learned of some of their misgivings in other parts of town, but not the nobility until recently. Please educate me on this matter."
"Well, that Marinelli wasn't content with being a rich merchant. You might have noticed his son on Sunday at the temple. Instead of doing business he always tries to push to get into our circles. But he opens his mouth and you know he is a chav. All that money can't help that."
"He himself has withdrawn from public, and his son tries to accomplish this goal, but even though he isn't as bad, he comes with that background. We can't have that."
"I understand. There may be more to it. And, it may be one of their employees, not a family member doing ill to the merchants. Thank you for your input and information. I noticed your disappointment at the race as opposed to dinner. Do not fret. It will happen and I did hear the Duke mention he liked dinner parties. Good day, Ma'am."
At the horizon appears a ship under full sail headed for Abadon.
When Menan mentions the docks again Arawyn whines and insists on taking the horses.
"I'd like to find out if being rich would lead to me being bored." Persephone comments.
I the corner of her eye she notices the ship through the window. "Is there anything else you need me for? Because I have to be somewhere else in two hours."
A man followed by two assistants climbs the stairs and comes into the corridor.
"Buon giorno!" he greets all concerned.
And as the guards from the temple block the passage he adds "I'm William Fioravnati, and I'm here as per request of the Duke."
"The tailor, finally. I guess I'm busy then for the rest of the day." Dearil states.
"Stand to attention." he orders Persephone and Faerveren while he gets up to greet the man.
"Ah, William, wonderful. I've heard so much about your skill and I'm eager to finally see it myself."
"I'm not in uniform, improvise an excuse for me lying around." Faerveren replies.
Persephone snaps to attention, salutes and then walks out of the room. She doesn't need to watch a duke play dress up.
After a short stop at home to change into more casual clothes, she walks to the harbor to watch the ship arrive and moor at the docks.
With the ship at the horizon, Gorm gets up and leaves his office. He walks out on the street and to the Blue Marlin. There he finds Finn.
"I've seen the ship. Make sure the men are ready when it is here. I want no delay."
Then he returns to his office to lay out the papers of the shipments to be loaded onto the boat.
"Sure thing boss." Finn replies and takes a look out on the sea himself to estimate the time.