Chapter 14
The morning sun rose slowly banishing away the night. The slow tempo of Isabella's breathing eventually quickens as she wakes. The door between them felt like a cavern and Zarracen did not know if she should intrude on her morning. She would not normally be so hesitant to break social norms amongst nobles. In fact, she simply did not care.
It's because of her uncaring attitude and zero reverence for the intolerant nobles that she was both hated and admired by certain circles of knights. It just felt odd for Zarracen to do that with Isabella especially after seeing the carnage she left behind.
That black magic was beautiful and enchanting as her eyes. It made her blood sing and drew her in like a moth to a flame. She can sort of feel it now better that she can somewhat feel a mind's eye forming for herself. But she could not even fathom the depths.
"You're here early?"
Fiella appears as Zarracen struggles with whether or not to enter the bed chamber. Red eyes lock onto the stalker.
"We had unwanted visitors in the night." Fiella looks through the door it feels like with the way her gaze cast past Zarracen.
"I see. You may depart I'm sure you are busy today. The blacksmith will meet you around midday at their shop Silver Fabrications between Gawker's Alley and Haverson Way."
"I know ya know how busy I am but don't make it so obvious ya love to watch me all day." Zarracen remarks. Fiella froze.
"You noticed me? Interesting."
The woman bypasses Zarracen then leaving the knight alone in the hall. She hears Fiella's greeting and decides to leave. Not too interested in staying after that. She was right after all she has much to do today.
With her given leeway to her leave the mansion without Isabella, Zarracen departs the enclosed palace walls towards Romantic Garden guild. She didn't sense a presence following her today, meaning Fiella truly was staying by Isabella. Which gives Zarracen peace of mind.
Not that Isabella appears to need assistance with how those assassins last night were strung up. If Isabella was so strong it makes her wonder how powerful her siblings are to make it look like she needs a guard.
It isn't her place to question but it felt like she's being setup and Zarracen has never liked that feeling. As if betrayal was waiting around the corner. She's no stranger to it but it still...stung.
Doing what she's doing now will lead those she's planning to hire to this as well. An uncomfortable weight settles on her chest causing her to pause outside of the Romantic Gardens. The sounds from the building were tame in comparison to yesterday but even in the early morning bustling activity can be heard.
Still she did not enter it was all too tempting to just turn around and ask about her own circle of Knights. But, they were untrustworthy. All of them including herself would step upon a fellow knight to get above the other. It's how it was.
As pretty as the life out of the slums were stuff like this shows that despite the elites view they weren't so different from the poor and the dirty blooded they looked down upon. And she may hate them but she wasn't different from them.
Acknowledging this is what allows her to step through the door. The Sulkan Mercenaries as group wasn't present just Jack sitting in the back with a small group of people.
Jack spots Zarracen and waves her over. She approaches slowly taking stock in the people here. They seemed strong. The strongest appears to be a Tier 3 sword or martial Master.
The weakest so far back in the tiers that it felt like they had just started. Zarracen didn't know Jack but certainly he wouldn't introduce the equivalent to a squire to help protect the princess.
Only one way to find out.
Zarracen settles in a chair without introducing herself to the nine people settled around the table. She just stares.
Her actions cause a few to shift uncomfortably and some to return her stare. Jack was certainly feeling the uncomfortable air because he was squirming before he broke and began talking.
"Everyone this is Galt Zarracen the Grand Knight of Valor responsible for defeating the White Dragon of Arcus." Jack introduces.
"We got eyes Jacky the question is do you have a mouth?" A male questions.
The man was imposing. His stature wasn't so more on how he seemed to keep himself. He's sat ramrod straight with a serious expression on his sun kissed face.
His eyes were filled with intelligence. The others in the group at least three of them seemed to have straightened when spoke implying he was once either their leader or someone they respect.
Jack ducks his head down as if the words the man said was a insult to him. This has Zarracen thinking it was likely the latter.
"I'm the one at a disadvantage here so why dontcha introduce yaself?" Zarracen smirks towards him.
The man glowers and then sighs. He stands up and walks off. Two women and another man lock eyes before following.
"Pike! Wait this a goo-"
"Stop Jack." Zarracen interrupts him. Jack was even about to get up to talk them back over to her.
"But you need guardsmen?"
"They are the candidates, right? Where do they get off questioning my methods. Besides if just, that was enough to get them pissy they wouldn't ave lasted long under me anyway."
Jack sighs but concedes. Zarracen then looks at the five still seated. It's the weak one that speaks up. A tall male brutee with the ears of a fox.
"My name is Seazuna. Fox Brutee. Tier 9 Martial Master," he introduces himself.
Better than tier 10 at least. Zarracen mentally complains. She glances towards Jack who gives her a smile and a he's good gesture. Really, she shouldn't be trusting the judgement of a man she met days prior, but she needed this.
Zarracen nods to the next one. A female who has been smiling weirdly the entire time. She was strong and slightly muscular, but Zarracen didn't feel an ounce of videle that would signal that she was a martial or sword master meaning she must be a mage of some kind.
"I am Avery Callista. It would be my honor to work for such a divine cause as protecting our beloved princess of this nation. A child of the Goddess is in need and as a devotee of the Txiumuria faith I must put myself at her feet to show my earnestness."
And that was too much information for Zarracen. She stares at the woman who keeps talking and waxing poetry for Isabella. Was that drool? Zarracen shudders slightly wondering if she was more a threat than the assassins.
"Um, that's um nice yes next person please." Zarracen interrupts before she can start into giving prescription.
"I am Cauld. Sword master. Tier 5 I also dabble in magic at the second tier." The male informs with a sigh giving Avery a side-eye.
"Blakely former member of the Shroud Dance Mercenary band, tier 2 martial master."
"Shroud Dance? Weren't they disbanded due to several criminal offences done by its members?" Zarracen questioned.
"Yes." Blakely states with a monotone voice. Though his blue eyes look annoyed at her for bringing it up. She nods.
Zarracen nods her head. She takes out nine letters. She hands out letters to the four still sitting there. She hands Jack the other four.
He looks at her in confusion.
"The letters are essentially invitations into the Crystal Mist Mansion. The guards at the castle won't let you through without them. Come tomorrow at sunrise. Jack the others are for the other four if they decide to change their mind. If they don't well those invitations expire tomorrow anyway."
"Right." Jack nods.
Blakely smiles as he holds his letter. Cauld looks relieved. Seazuna was squirming in his seat. Avery was staring at the letter as if it was a message from the goddess. Perhaps, to her it was.
"I have other matters to attend to today so I'll leave ya now."
Zarracen leaves the Romantic Garden and walks through the city. She makes her way to the middle of the city where most of the public businesses are located. There was the mailing business. Most military mail would go through the public courier system Rereuters.
Messages getting across distances has always been an important part of the Ixmtaraza public service. Before magic evolved to be able to utilize spatial magic to transport magic directly various birds, dogs and foxes were used as a means to transport messages across distances. People were used as well but the messages would end up being tampered with out lost most of the time.
This is why they came up with Rereuters. Magically enhanced autonomous golems that would deliver mail and the spatial mail portals that would send mail out to certain regions and advise individuals to come to the nearest office to collect them.
Zarracen didn't understand the magic of it and likely never would. She just knows that she'll get a message sent to someone and they'll receive it.
She enters the building finding it full birds still. People were mulling about and some Rereuters were moving into portals carrying mail items. Zarracen approaches the front desk.
"Good morning, Galt Ahktan. It's a honor to serve a dragon slayer. How can the Rereuters assist you today?"
She's gotten more famous it looks like. Zarracen takes out a letter she quickly penned this morning.
"I have a letter I need delivered to Sir Joseph Gibraltar." She nods her head and takes the letter.
"Do you know what company or regiment he is with?" Zarracen shakes her head in negative.
"I do know he led the company of knights that was supposed to waylay the dragon of Arcus if I failed. He's a Knight Commander."
"A knight commander? Understood." The woman takes out a booklet and flips through it. "Yes, Sir Joseph Gibraltar. He's a Margrave. His lands are towards the direction of the dragon of Arcus so it's likely he returned there. If he's in the area the message will be delivered straight to him."
"And if he's not."
"It'll return here where we'll send it out to his regiment."
"Thank you!"
"It's our honor to assist one such as yourself. That'll be two Pap."
Zarracen hands over the blue coin and the woman slid the letter down what looks like a shoot that spiraled across the building before diving into a portal that opened up at its end.
After watching her letter leave, she departs the area. She should kill sometime walking around before meeting with the blacksmith near Gawker's alley.