Menan and Arawyn approach Finn. "Sir, I am Menan and this is Arawyn. You appear to know these docks all too well. If I were in the market for a ship, where would I begin that search?" He flips a gold coin in the air toward Finn.
"The Ship Yard in Corenty, Cheliax. The Sea King Shipyard or The Devil's Own in Absalom. Have one built." Finn suggests. "You want to become a captain?" he asks.
"Owner would suit me better. Thank you and have a good day."
It takes a while until the ship reaches the harbor. Gorm calls Persephone into the office, before it drops the anchor.
"Here are the lists. There is a delivery for Zolkar on that ship. Someone from the tailor Fioravanti will fetch several crates and three more deliveries that go to the warehouse."
"Last our delivery goes on board. It is important, that the whole delivery is documented on this sheet. Here are ten platinum for the commander from the ship who will sign that for you."
Persephone takes the lists and goes to the ship to find whoever is in charge of checking the unloading and loading.
Outside the plank of the ship is shoved out on the docks. Finn and his buddies are waiting and the first mate of the ship is standing at the ready.
What is still missing are the merchants that should receive the goods.
Persephone greets the mate and check with him if he has everything that is on his lists. And in which order it will come off the ship. The number of crates for the local merchants isn't that big, so Persephone has them stacked in front of the warehouse.
"Who tells Zokar and the tailor, that their goods are here?" She inquires from Finn.
"No one. They come sometime later." Finn replies.
"Great. And I thought, we could save us to put that into the warehouse."
After the large amount of boxes for one of the next ships is stored away, she has Finn put in the boxes for Zolkar and Fioravanti at the front end of the row. The lists to hand it out she puts at the back.
Finally she walks over to the first mate to sign off his lists. "That's done, now to our wares that you shall take along."
She has Finn fetch the wares from the small warehouse.
Finn and the dockworkers carry all the stuff on the ship. With that many men it takes only a short time to get it cleared out.
With the last item checked off, Persephone looks over the list. She checks off all the items, that are hidden in the basement and not loaded onto the ship.
Then she approaches the first mate. "Here for you to sign."
The first mate looks at Persephone's list, then her own and then at Persephone with a raised brow.
Persephone pulls the pouch with the coins out of her pocket and put it on the list.
The first mate checks the pouch, smiles and signs the list. "Always a pleasure to do business with you."
Persephone smiles and leaves the ship.
She visits Gorm at the office to return the lists. "So what are they going to tell the one who has to accept it when the ship reaches its destination?"
"I'm sure they will come up with a good excuse. Maybe pirates?" Gorm comments. "Book the lists into the inventory."
Persephone does as told and once she is finished she leaves.
Half way to The Pig's Whistle she realizes, that she could instead visit the Golden Knight and see if the job of guard comes with free board and lodging.
So she walks home instead, puts on her 'work clothes' and then walks very slowly to the new residence of the Duke.
"I think we've got it now. And please keep in mind: No modern styles. Everything should look like from the good old days. Not preposterous, not too thick that it would suggest royal attitudes. Just a reminiscence of the last duke."
"And make it quick. Magic is a nice make do to travel lightly, but I want to be able to attend the events I'm invited to in proper garb."
"Of course my lord. We will work overtime to get the first of your garments ready for tomorrow and be assured, that everything will be ready for the horse race that shall happen on the weekend." William tells, before bowing and then leaving with his assistants.
As Persephone enters Dearil greets her. "Ah, you're back. Where is my seneschal. We need to talk about who is on the council, and how we could sway those that might not agree on me joining them."
On their way to Lady Adelaide's manor, Menan and Arawyn stop at the Golden Knight and inquire as to their most expensive wine.
"That would be this wonderful Château Haut-Brion rouge for 12 gold." Margaret tells and fetches a bottle to show.
It is the same wine that you could get at The Pig's Whistle for 10. Or for 8 if it were on sale again. It seems that Abadon really lacks some diversity when it comes to exclusive beverages.
"Anything but that, Margaret. I personally dislike that particular wine. Your second best?"
"We have a housewine. But that we serve from a barrel in a pitcher."
Menan pays for the Marinelli wine. The couple heads over to Adelaide's manor.
Lady Adelaide is busy ordering the stable staff around setting up a fence for the race track and has some carpenters building stands for the spectators. There is also a gardener working on making that look pretty with bushes and hedges.
"Well you do not waste time." Menan chuckles as he takes in the scene, bottle of wine in hand.
"This event is going to be the talk of town. For better or for worse. So better make sure it's not the latter."
"With you doing it, I believe the former. When you decide to take a break I would like to have brief discussion with you. We will be in our quarters."
"That could take hours, why not here?" Lady Adelaide inquires.
"Take the horse for a ride and see how wide we have to make the turn that the horses don't have to slow down." she orders one of the people moving around the area.
"Your first impression of Duke Dearil. What is it?"
"He is playing nice. A handsome man, well mannered, articulated. Behind that, calculating. Am I right?"
"Dead on as I see it. I have not know him very long, though. I love what you are doing here. This is going to be quite a show. Is there anything Arawyn or I could do to help?"
"Sure. Take part as jockeys." Lady Adelaide suggests. "I'll be busy as host and most of the nobles will not get into the race either. Probably Corvin, he is a good rider and uses every opportunity to put himself into the spotlight. But if only my staff joins the race, it takes off the edge."
"Two riders you shall have."
"Menan, we will need to begin preparing our horses tomorrow. Plan on spending time with me and the horses every day until the race."
The two place the bottle of wine in their quarters and on horseback go to the Golden Knight and seek out the duke.
"Ah, finally, there you are." Dearil greets Menan and Arawyn. "We're brainstorming here if there is something we can do to influence the council members somehow. Lady Margaret didn't look too excited about me turning up on their turf."
"Agreed. Her husband is the mayor. The high cleric of Abadar indicated he would discuss your council seat with him. I am not certain that either of them control council membership. The other two ladies were impressed with you and would have no problem with the seat."
"You straight away asked them about the seat?"
"I told the cleric that I assumed your seat was a guarantee as you were of higher nobility than anyone else. Perhaps you should chair it." Menan smiles.
"I meant the ladies. But yes, clearly you were open about that to the cleric. Bold even. Let's see how that goes down. Let's hope for the best."
"I did not mention the seat to the ladies. Yes, all I know to do at this time is to wait. What shall we do while we wait?"
"Do you know where and when the council meets? Does it meet at all? Maybe I should have clarified that before." Dearil thinks aloud.
"I do not. I can get that information. Possibly learn how the seats are acquired."
"What about the ghost. You insinuated that he'd be gone. Are you sure it is now? Don't want it to spook the carpenters."
"I suspect that the ghost was anchored to this place because his final wishes were not carried out. I believe they have been now. Want to check on that?"
"Yes. Even if I assume that the money for the temple and me as the heir are kind of resolved, at least the point about the orphanage isn't. So better be safe than sorry. If one craftsman runs from the building site and spreads the word, we're screwed. I don't intend to become a mason myself at this age."
"Good call. Who will pay the orphanage?"
"I guess me. Or you from my funds. I hope it is good enough to start paying them the 10 gold per month now. If not we need to find a way to live with the ghost." Dearil jokes.
"Maybe you should take care of that. Get to know folks. Good, 10 per month." Menan chuckles at the sly duke.
"Might be worth it. If that is a helpful support of the orphanage. But if they are funded already I might make a joke of myself to show up and offer that amount. Someone's got to find out."
"But if you don't want, maybe one of the ladies can do?"