Lyshara walked in alongside her team to the enormous hall full of beautiful mosaic windows called the royal cabinet, a place where royalty could have a talk with people they are interested in without too much grandiose and formality, or at least that what's she heard in the guild. However, seeing what she had before here made her question of how possibly you could raise the bar.
A dozen butlers and maids stood on sides waiting for commands. In a corner, a man wearing the robes signifying his high position in the church sat at the desk. He already held a pen in his hand, ready to note every word that will be said.
"Private, huh. What different should we expect from these freaks called nobles." Kol's remarks on nobility had a tendency to hit right in the point.
"Kol I know your past and all, but please.." Lyshara whispered, worried. She already proposed to just let him stay at it, and simply inform the palace he's preparing necessary resources for the quest ahead, but he protested vigorously saying that would be seen as an insult and he wouldn't let their reputation be tarnished. What a friend, she would be already long gone if in the same situation.
"Don't worry I won't make any fuss. I'm a professional adventurer after all." Kol smiled confidently, convincing her. If she wouldn't trust even her most prized companions, who else would she.
The room itself was divided by a massive table made of glistening wood in the shape of a rectangle. Behind it sat four men in dignified poses.
"Representatives," Lyshara thought noticing on one noble's doublet smaller family crest under the main one of the family they served. If not for that, she would probably think like most people in the guild that people before her were some bigshots given the aura they gave off. People, most adventures would rather not have any contact with other than through guild, unless they were looking for problems.
"Your highness, gentlemen, the titanite ranked adventurers team Untouchables came to answer your call." A bit overweight herold announced them, and guards closed the doors.
While the practice of the king giving personally quest to high-rank adventure teams teoretically existed since the dawn of the kingdom, since the first king was adventurer guild master , no king used it as frequently as Rovanress.
"Desperation of a rat on a sinking ship." Even the worst previous monarchs surely knew better in terms of hiding weakness.
"You may come over" King said in monotonous voice. He sat atop the adorned throne, place where light from windows concentrated the most in a halo, observing his reflection in a pocket mirror. When they got announced he after while put it back and raised his head. At the first glance, he seemed to be times better and more dangerous, than those around despite age but all she could feel coming from him was that type of mix of disdain for lower beings she had plenty of contact with during childhood, sometimes even being herself like this, before growing out of it. It seemed both King and her would like to just get it over with and leave the place.
They took their place at the table, opposite to four, lesser nobles who casually observed them while taking looks on some documents from the pile.
One of them stood up and turned towards the king bowing respectfully. "Shall we begin, your highness ?"
"I don't see any reason's why we shouldn't viscount Mir'shermen." King nodded while looking at something in the distance.
"Thank you, your highness." Mir'shermen returned to his seat with another bow. Lyshara wondered in what state his back could be after a day of work. Not only she has already floated away, as a not well-hidden yawn came from her right, presumably, Myra, what earned her scornful looks from everyone in the room, besides smirking Kol and blissfully ignorant Hingar who was too busy going through a mysterious little book he always kept close.
Mir'shermen sighted visibly uncomfortable with those barbarians, or adventures for smallfolk. Well, in his eyes they had to be of this kind.
A hooded woman in full ebonite armor hiding everything besides the face, a blonde tattooed short girl in tight-fitting clothes made of dragon skin that didn't left many things to imagination together with a young, almost child looking man in a mix of priest robes with armored parts paired with a giant spear on the back and a bald, bearded older guy only in pants and few magic items to the complet. "dammit Hardin I told you to cover yourself."
"Adventures of the team Untouchables, you were called here in a time of great need." He let those words sink in and satisfied he finally got their attention continued.
"War with the so-called "Chosen nation" had taken a toll on all of us." The rest of the nobles gave their voice of approval alongside few knights. " and as the fellow citizens of our kingdom we expect your support."
"Great, we will be lucky if they even pay us." Whispered Kol, while viscount went on with benefits of Hir'ostian kingdom over so-called "Chosen nation".
After a minute or two, he finished and cleared throat.
"At the same time, we understand the importance of keeping the balance between beast and humankind, therefore our request does not concern the matter of war as it is the duty of those of higher pedigree to solve it."
"Where's the catch" Someone, on the right asked. Pure bluntness took noble aback. He stumbled for a moment trying to formulate a reasonable response to Myra's amusement. Now instead of buffoonery, his words lingered with venom.
"The catch as you put it,, is that we need every knight and soldiers on the battlefield. Adventures who don't have their part in battle efforts could take a task that would be a waste of manpower.
"In other words, we are shit so we have to do shitty work." Lyshara could see Kol also understood it hearing his knuckles cracking.
"We would like you to serve as guards on a diplomatic mission..." A pleasant surprise. Hir'ostian kingdom had only two neighbors, chosen nation in the west and Confederation in the south.
" It was ages since was I confederation. Perhaps there would be time to do some shopping there." Lyshara already calculated in her head. Confederation was known to have the greatest and cheapest manufacturers of magic items. The last time they were there about a year ago and Luccion's floret and stiletto still pierced enemies with the same deadly power without the need to repair.
"to the Vyrdenfall" viscount ended with an unpleasant smile painted on his face. Lyshara was brutally kicked out of her thoughts hearing that cursed name.
Kol opened mouth to say something but Hingar was quicker.
"Hold your horses" Hardin took stand focusing everyone's attention on him "I may have forgotten most rules of the guild, still I can bet a bottle of good ale suicide missions aren't legal at all.."
Hingar crossed arms waiting for an explanation, but the smile didn't fade on the noble face. Pretentious idiot but Lyshara had to admit he had balls.
"Situation in the fallen valley had changed in the past years. A man known as Gomez became an official ruler over a vast part of the territory. It is the right action to make contact with the newly founded kingdom in order to further relations and hopefully finds a solution to a problem of undread "mindless" monsters blocking us from creating any further contact.
"Sure they will accept us with vide open arm's. Undread don't have a good memory after all." It was weird for the old man to be so grumpy. Everyone went uncomfortably silent.
"Hignar Eleris, a man of the legends who saved our current king, master of the fifth tier of magic and skilled brawler, wouldn't be a person afraid of zombies and skeletons."
A noble on the right loudly said breaking the silence. He was a man in the prime of life, quite big, but it wasn't hard to discover his size came from musculature not fat like the of nobles. Lyshara tried to discover on whom foot old man stepped this time but there was only one big crest in the middle, of Nil'Elshawers. A chill went down her spine.
" Really, tell me, youngster, did you move your arse there yourself? I did."
"It is interesting you decided to form a party after all those years of being a sore thumb, what made you so. Money, or perhaps fine bodies of young girls."
"How about introducing yourself first. Thought culture was your gimmick." Hardin leaned forward. It suddenly became chilly.
"Very well. My name is Burbosa, Burbosa of Nir'Elshawers."
Lyshara almost squeaked out of fear.
"Okay, boy tell me did I murder someone of your family or something in this style."
"I would rather say, you've stolen." He turned towards Lyshara who only because of her utmost will managed to stay on her seat."
"I believe it's the first time we meet lady Mir'kos."
" I'm not a noble anymore." Lyshara spewed out trought her tightened lips.
"That's not for you to decide." he said coldly, then added louder.
"Lyshara Mir'Kos, you were promised to my third son as a bride. Your father may tolerated your disobedience but I will have none of it." He stood up and grabbed Lyshara's hand. She herself felt engulfed in a nightmare. When she escaped for a long time in her dreams it happened. Her freedom was stolen by those people.
"Out of my way plebeian" A sharp command brought her back to reality. They were already halfway to the exit but Kol barren their way. His usual bright expression turned into a grim one, full of hatred towards the man before him.
"See I hate people like you, greedy buffons who think they own everything. I've decided to shut up and listen instead ofmaking this whole thing harder for my team, but if you can't behawe I'm gonna teach you." Kol's took a battle stance. Knight behind him tried to stun him with flat part of the sword, to no use. He nimbly evaded blow and stuck the enemy with shaft of the spear. Warrior got sent aback but
"Guards arrest him." Duke ignored threats and just waited.
"Good idea, to teach him a lesson." Myra appeared behind Burbosa next holding a small dagger thaw was a part of her tatoo before. Knight encircled them pointing swords towards their throats.
Lyshara wanted to stop them, apologise. There was no chance they will walk out alive if this continues, but before anyone did anything a loud voice like a whip crack echoed throughout place.
"ENOUGHT" King stood off his throne visibly furious.
Everyone froze, waiting for things to come.
"Duke Burbosa, this is a meeting concerning the matter unrelated to your cause and despite that you interrupted it slowing it down, explain yourself."
"This is a matter concerning my assets, my king." Duke didn't let go of her, instead tighten his grip. It didn't matter for Lyshaha who could easily beat him down with one hand if not for a fear and lingering danger. The day she was scorned in palace happened to be the last for her protectress who had an accident the next day.
" To my knowledge this woman is a licensed adventurer of titanite rank, isn't that right viscount."
"Well, that is true your highness. I have not received information about such arrangement. It is the Lord duke who is visibly in the fault of not disclosing such important information or even.." He cut in mid of sentence aware it's might not the best idea to make a personal enemy of a duke despite strong backing.
"or what viscount, I'm waiting for you to finish" Dude seemed keen on not letting that slide.
"It's neither important nor do I care about it duke ! Thanks to you I will be late for dinner. All was already decided so any action against it are against the crown. If you have any compliances you will have an occasion to present them during next royal gathering, understood." Without waiting for response he called over one of butlers who helped him get off the throne.
"This whole issue strained my body and I'm already late for the dinner, continue without me." When the king left, everyone went back on their posts.
"It's not the end. This is a kingdom of law and it shall be conducted." He left to slamming the doors behind. Viscount looked after him with a hint of satisfaction.
"Please come next day on 9'o clock to the royal garrison residence quarters. Given current situation, further details will be given there, also any materials such as potions or food will be provided by kingdom alongside means of transport. That's all"
They were let go like that and without any further delay began walking back to the inn.
"Again, we're screwed." Myra exclaimed while stretching out.
"It seems we are fortunately less important that dinner. Guess I had enough nobles for about few years, what's about you Lyshara." Kos sent Lyshara a small blow trying to cheer her up. Lyshara didn't respond. She searched for any signs of hostility with fingers touching her weapon.
"Sudden hug." Myra embraced her from behind groping shamelessly
"Kya, what are you doing!" She went red while trying to fend of girl glued to her back.
"I will be more shameless if you won't stop. Kol, help me." His eye's sparkled. "Don't ask me twice." He joined forces with myra and soon Lyshara realized she had no chance again them, especially Kol's hands began venturing around her bosom.
"I just don't want you to get hurt. You're my family right now." She muttered blushing, avoiding sight contact.
"family, huh" Kol said to himself letting her out.
"So I'm the mother?" Myra asked innocently
"Don't twist it in your perverted way !"
They walked out through the main gate. Sun shone low over the roofs of numerous houses making royal capital.
Lyshara looked over the shoulder. Somewhere in the distance, a bunch of maids talked, sending glares towards them.
"See, I've told you." She moved Kol's head towards maids causing them to walk away flustered.
"We will be topic of next few weeks worth of anyway, as always." He shrugged it of casually. Lyshara didn't like that acceptance of the fact. It only pushed her whole team to do more and more risky things as there was nothing to do about it, so why care.
"As, always." Added Myra showing tongue to one of the maid's who dared to stop in her tracks.
Kol got something out of pocket and gave Lyshara "Here, chewing help with stress."
"Does it help with lite-threatening problems, doctor ?." She asked raising her brow, but few seconds of uncomfortable silence later with him reaching out to take it back with a strange grin, she threw it into her mouth. "Rasberry ." She noticed chewing into it.
"Yup, it took me some time to find right formula but now I can make raspberry gum en masse."
"I want some." Myra pointed at different pockets while her other hand snatched few pieces from the right one.
"Wait! Myra, show me your hands, please." Kol carefully tried to chase her into corner what, since it was a plain road with trees on sides quickly find impossible."
Then Myra stopped and opened them showing there was nothing.
"Apologise pervert." She crossed arms tapping fingers.
"First you, and why pervert." Kol suprised her by swiftly reaching to her jaw and opened it gently. "I could see you chewing."
"I found it." She shamelessly lied with no hint of remorse.
"In my pocket." Kol wanted to add more but Lyshara and Hingar got too far away so he kicked the ground, with Myra behind. They've already reached the city. Even at evening, people walked here and there, all-time busy with something. Many adventures sat in open parts of numerous inns, telling their stories amidst laugh and noise, while carts full of goods get past them.
"It's really good." Lyshara admitted when Kol caught up to her. He has been very interested in alchemy for a while. He had long chat with team's contracted alchemist and despite first attempt's being "concerning" it was worth it to have something as good. Lyshara enjoyed the taste. It reminded her of these calm moments when she had been playing in the garden. When it was time to go back, Lysa the maid always gave her and mum a small cup of fresh rasberry juice they drank while chatting. Then it ended, both chatting and playing in the garden. That monster, father ended up both.
"Who knows, when I retire I might open a stall, you could join me. You and me living a quiet life, wouldn't that be great." He winked at her, stabbing with elbow.
"I doubt, Myra would steal any product we made." She smacked a little hand away.
"Traitor" Myra made a "humpf" and run away.
"They've entered inn and dicretly went upstairs as normal. People at most tables ignored them but few threw some not very nice opinions, carefully so Hingar won't smack their skulls. Not that she longed for contact with other adventuers, also she understood them. Most people gathered in hall were hardened veterans who by hard work got to their positions while she had the luck to have hingar supporting her at each step. Someday, she will prove she is the same.
Lyshara tried to naturally end on the back of group, but Kol noticed.
"Don't worry, no one will try murder us, at least today." Lyshara didn't budge. Kol had best intentions, yet taking in consideration his own dealings with nobles she knew he would guard them instead.
"Look, we will work something out, like every time. Aren't we Hingar." He sought help from the old man, unfair play. Now she realized, he didn't actually speak a word after they left the palace, very unlikely of him.
"Yes, yes." He responded scratching his bald head.
"What, you think too we will be having any problem with that jerk." Kol seemed puzzled, at the thought of having someone so strong worry.
"Nah" Hiingar responded but then a magic item on their wrists activated and they could hear Hingar's voice in minds.
"There's some things I have to take care of, put someone on watch this night just in case. No, both of you will sleep. Myra, make sure they do that, I will relieve you after I come back."
"Don't spare your fists old man, that pig deserve a good beating for touching our Lyshara." Kol's joked but his face was deadly serious. He, disappeared behind doors, then added "no, I'm not listening you. You can take all the watch duties if you like. I will really use some sleep, like totally. Goodnight.
Lyshara smirked under the nose. She always found that little rebellious vibe of Kol's very cute. It seemed so real contrasting the coolness he tried to play of, she wondered if he was ashamed of this, similarly to her with those "fantasions" which haunts her from time to time. At least she could hid her face in the hood.
She fell on the bed completely worn out. Today she learned many things, and tomorrow it's only going to be more complicated.