Elize haggles, Hieronymus walks through a door and Mercedes does not get the hint
General Summary
Wassund - 14th of September
Dinner has just been interrupted. Agatha Nyckel has ordered for the de Luna siblings Mercedes, Miguel and Estanza to be arrested to later be delivered as gifts to The Phoenix, and they are standing with drawn weapons surrounded by at least two dozen guards. Brunhilde Nyckel says she can still talk sense into her mother and pleads with them to surrender.
Mercedes hesitates, seeing surrender as a terrible gamble as Agatha has obviously lost her mind and they have a hard time seeing how Brunhilde would have any chance of convincing her. Miguel is standing on the table with rapier and morning gown shouting insults at the soldiers. Estanza is scared out of her mind.
Let's take them.
A frantic battle ensues, with Brunhilde continuing to say she can fix this and pleads with them to surrender. They do no such thing. Miguel leaps into action and cuts the throats of several guards. Mercedes runs towards the firing line of musketeers standing at the end of the room, fighting off and cutting down other soldiers on the way. Estanza tries to keep close and protect Mercedes' back.
Despite their onslaught, they are eventually overwhelmed. When trying to dispatch the musketeers, Mercedes gets shot in the stomach at point blank range, the bullet slowed down by her cuirass which she was still wearing but still penetrating it. Miguel gets cut and loses a finger thus dropping his sword. Estanza, too, overextends and drops her broadswords. Bleeding profusely, Mercedes stands over Miguel together with the unarmed Estanza as the still dozen guards surround them.
Mother, please!
They chose this.
Seeing her adoptive siblings in such bad shape, Estanza shouts that they give up. After a moment of further hesitation, seeing Estanzas panic and their dire situation, Mercedes agrees and drops her weapon. Agatha watches them for a while with a wicked smile, but then says that as her daughter is such a soppy girl she accepts their surrender.
They are dragged away to separate cells, with Mercedes taken to a medicus since she is shot in the stomach. It isn't a deep wound thanks to the cuirass, but the medicus tells her that the bullet has still punctured her intestine and he will need to do surgery. He offers her a powder which will make her unconscious, but she refuses, saying she can't be asleep at a time like this.
The doctor rolls his eyes and gives her a stick to bite on instead and tells four guards to hold her still.
After what feels like hours of excrutiating pain, the tooth marks in the stick going deep, the operation is successfully done. An exhausted Mercedes is taken to a locked room where she promptly falls asleep.
Wassund - 15th of September
Mercedes wakes up the next day as the door is unlocked and Estanza is let into the room. She is wearing shackles as it turns out she bit off the nose of a guard after he made improper suggestions. She apologizes for surrendering but explains she was just terrified to lose her new family. Mercedes says she understands and it's okay, but sadly now she'll probably be burned on the stake as a huge propaganda victory for The False Phoenix instead.
They decide to escape and discuss different routes. The window isn't barred, but it's a long way down. They don't have weapons, but fighting might still be the best option. If nothing else they'll die and deny the False Phoenix her victory. Estanza breaks a leg off a table.
The door is unlocked again and they get ready to fight. To their great confusion, outside the door are McKillian and Fernando, Mercedes friends and bodyguards, saying the Duchess wishes to speak to them. No less confused, the two girls follow them to the throne room.
The Duchess, it turns out, is Brunhilde who angrily walks up to Mercedes and raises her hand to slap her, but changes her mind as she is wearing an armored glove and would probably hurt her pretty badly.
You imbecille! You absolute fucking idiot! When we talked about a coup earlier the very same day I thought it would be pretty fucking obvious what I meant by "talk to her"!
Yes, people have always told me I'm an idiot... I'm so sorry, cousin. I deserve the steel-gloved slap.
Ashamed to the point of tears, Mercedes asks Brunhilde for a hug and says she's so glad no one died or she wouldn't be able to live with herself.
Miguel joins the breakfast. He has lost his little finger, but Mercedes and him agree that that is the worst finger and he can probably do without it. Further, she tells Brunhilde she is going to be an aunt as Elize, her brother's new wife, is pregnant, something Elize has told no one except Mercedes and Julius. She also asks when Brunhilde and Miguel are going to marry. Brunhilde says that yes, they really should marry soon, making Miguel spit out his breakfast.
With a successful coup, hardly thanks to Mercedes, they decide that she and Estanza should return to Alldris with haste. They leave the same day with the river boat for the four day journey back down-river.
Lorenzo di Grande's Manor - 19th of September
Hieronymus wakes up in his small guest room at the house of Lorenzo di Grande where he was to continue his studies under this strange but intriguing master of the arts. And, hopefully, find a way out of the blood pact he made with Kleon in a strange alien dimension.
His host is already at work making a sculpture, with the many nude models apparently living here posing on a ship setpiece. He sends them away and tells them to remember their poses as he notices Hieronymus has arrived for breakfast.
After eating, Lorenzo asks Hieronymus to paint yet another portrait of him now that he has had a good night's sleep. Hieronymus tries to not hold back this time, and indeed, after a few hours of painting he has captured his vision of not only how Lorenzo looks but what he is.
Ah... Hieronymus, this is magnificent.
Lorenzo says maybe the talents he was born with can actually indeed be taught, and Hieronymus may be the one he can teach it to. Postponing his commission at the palace, Hieronymus says he wants to continue and asks if he can stay. Lorenzo says he can stay as long as he likes, the facilites are his to use. Today Lorenzo has other business to attend to, but Hieronymus may of course study on his own and is welcome to dine with the models.
Hieronymus is shown to the library where he starts searching for books on Sarkian magic and the goddess Devitia to whom he swore the blood oath. Unfamiliar as he is with libraries and not wanting to ask for help on such a taboo subject, he does not have much luck before the dinner bell is rung.
In the dining hall are the models, still very much in the nude. He is struck by how every single one is one of the most beautiful people he has ever seen, like marble sculptures from ancient Ethonia. Their voices are like the lightest bells as they are giggling and chatting. They are delighted when he joins them for dinner.
As they converse during dinner, the models give avoiding answers and knowing giggles to his questions of where they live and how they work and give each other cheeky looks. The whole thing has a slightly otherworldly feel, like he is wining and dining with fae.
He decides to go to bed, despite the enigmatic models' imploring him to stay. Before he goes, the most beautiful of them all gives him a kiss on the cheek. He withdraws to his chambers, still slightly overwhelmed, and goes to sleep, having vivid dreams about the fae-like girl who kissed him before.
Business in Alldris - 19th of September
Elize Kindling has arrived after the walk from The Rotund Raven with her husband Julius and her newly hired manufactory foreman Ofelius Rex to inspect the locale in Hurville where the new musket factory is to be opened. Ofelius writes a list of what equipment is needed, but says that most important of all would be knowledgable personell.
How lucky, says Elize, since she was going to make a business proposal to the small musket manufactory Boomstick Co. in South Village before she fell ill a few days ago. They should travel there immediately. This time they travel the canals to avoid the riots in Hut Town.
They safely arrive at the manufactory and, after some language problems as the receptionist only speaks Theraonian, manage to arrange a meeting with the current owner. The group is led to her office where it turns out Grosskopf is also visiting. Ofelius, who left Grosskopf's service without telling him he was defecting to Alldris, is terrified Grosskopf will want revenge if he find out and stays outside the office.
It turns out Grosskopf also wants to buy Boomstick Co. to "branch out". The owner of Boomstick Co. is obviously hoping for a bidding war, but to her disappointment Elize and Grosskopf instead make a deal that if she gives him the salpeter mine back, he will travel back to Wassund and leave this to her. She agrees and Elize is free to buy Boomstick Co. without markup. She also keeps the employees, including the former owner, for them to work at the new manufactory since they already got experience.
As they leave, Ofelius says Grosskopf saw him as he left and now he fears for his life. Elize promises him bodyguards to calm him down.
Back at the Princely Palace
Elize and Julius return to the palace where Elize is informed by Princess-Mayor Mari that the coup in Wassund has been successful and thus the contract for her mercenaries' help in that matter has been fulfilled and she will get full payment. Good news!
As she returns to her quarters she has gained further news by post from Malakit. The other mission to clandestinely sink battleships in Barrodal's harbour has been partly successful. They have managed to sink a galleon, one of their largest ships. They lost Cornelius Huklatz however, and did not manage to sink any further ships before they had to flee.
That means the mission was done at a loss as the contract stated they get paid per ship, and had to sink at least two to make up for the costs. The loss of an elite soldier makes the loss even graver. It is written very matter-of-factly, but Elize cannot help but feel like there is a slightly bitter tone, probably because Julius (and his legendary combat prowess) was supposed to join the mission but stayed behind due to Elize emotional collapse.
She also calls in the last survivor of her four original bodyguards, a Kaitoan man named Quad, and tells him that they have been through a lot and he deserves a break and to meet his family again. A vacation or retirement is his choice, but she gives him a large amount of coins, enough to feed himself and his family for several years, and makes it clear that he is welcome back to her service anytime he likes, but he should feel no obligation to do so. He is beyond grateful and tells her he will certainly return, she is the kindest, most noble mistress anyone could wish for. Then he leaves to spend time with his family, and to deliver a hefty sum to the fallen guards' families as well.
Mercedes has returned back to Alldris and left a quick report with her mother who congratulates her and Estanza on a successful mission. Wanting to tell Julius that his sister is Duchess and his mother is arrested but unharmed, and check in on her friend Elize who was an emotional wreck when she left, she steers her steps to their chambers.
She is elevated when Elize throws herself at her in a violent hug, apparently her old self again. Julius is relieved to hear his mother is alright, but can hardly believe how far her insanity had gone. After catching up a bit with some wine, the topic drifts to Hieronymus and Elize divulges that Mercedes' mother seems very interested in the handsome artist. Mercedes is livid at the news.
Julius leaves for The Legion Immortals headquarters to arrange for new bodyguards for Elize. Mercedes and Elize decide to continue having a chill day to catch up with copious amounts of wine, but Mercedes is summoned by her mother before they can get any real drinking on. She leaves and Elize waits alone in her chamber for her return.
Mari wishes for her advice, which suprises Mercedes greatly as she is still not used to her mother thinking of her as anything other than a useless wastrel. Mari and her advisors can't agree on wether to keep the fleet in port to be able to defend against an eventual attack, or send out raids to try and disrupt the enemy fleets before they can converge.
Since Mercedes only real experience of strategy is an aggressive style of fencing, she answers that, to her mind, attack is the best defense. Deal a killing blow before the opponent ever has a chance to injure you. So Alldris should send out it's fleet, because you can't win by defense alone.
Nodding, Mari says that Mercedes is probably right and thanks her for the advice. Then Mercedes asks if she has been writing about Vivaldi with Miguel as he has also started picking on her. Her mother answers that no, she hasn't, but she will have to leave soon before the rumor of a witch living in the palace catacombs starts to spread.
Further, with the news that her mother has seems to have the hots for Hieronymus, she says without thinking that he is suspect and a weird magician and she should be careful around him. Unsurprisingly, Mari is very upset and says he will not be welcome in the palace anylonger. Realizing she has again talked without thinking, Mercedes tries to explain that he is a double agent, but Mari is even more upset that Mercedes is recruiting agents without telling her.
Mercedes gives up, because her mother actually has good points.
Elize is still sitting on her own, sipping wine, when Mercedes returns. She tells Elize about her accidentaly banishing Hieronymus from the palace. Elize sighs and says she will talk to Mari later. Then they talk a bit about the problem with the soul in Elize stomach before Elize decides they should talk about more fun things today now when they haven't seen each other in so long.
Mercedes is all aboard with that idea but first a final problem before they drink their heads off. She is soon going to leave for the river fort to administrate the border defense, but knows next to nothing about cavalry warfare or warfare in general and could really use an advisor to come with her. Elize says that she has the perfect person in mind; Lafayette. They both know he's trustworthy, and he was a cavalry officer before going into exile from South Bomania. Brilliant, answers Mercedes. Then Mercedes maybe won't be as bored and Lafayette could do with something else to think about other than Elize marrying another man. She convinces the slightly drunk Elize to come with her to Lafayette's apartment because she can't keep avoiding him forever. They leave the palace and walk towards his place.
Morning at Lorenzo's Manor
Hieronymus wakes up in his room at the manor. He is, thankfully, alone, and is eager to start with more practice with Lorenzo to learn the secrets of the universe (and find a way to get out of his blood pact). As he leaves the room to head downstairs for breakfast, however, he notices a door at the end of the corridor. He could have sworn there used to be a window there.
Curiosity winning out over caution, he approaches the door and opens it. Behind it is another corridor. This one is strange. The windows are at the wrong side, opposite some inoccuous looking doors. Increasingly intrigued, he enters this new corridor. Outside the windows is a snowy, well-kept garden, very unlike the warm late-summer climate he just left. From behind a door he hears sounds.
He enters and finds a woman with strict looking clothing in a fashion he is not familiar with. She is hammering on some device, a bit like a cemballo, but the keys are smaller and little bars strike a paper, leaving letters. Like a tiny printing press. The woman stops writing and looks at him with slight surprise. She speaks to him in Verdinian.
Are you Death?
No.
Then who are you? I have spoken to no one in the last 13 years. Not since the world ended.
I am Hieronymus. Where am I?
This is Verdina... Or, it was. Now it is only me. Has been for over a decade. Hieronymus, are there others where you come from?
Yes.
Comforted by this, the woman explains that she can not leave. Hieronymus notices a second door in the room and asks where it leads. To others like her, she answers. Captives. He is free to use it if he likes. But she cannot.
Bewildered, slightly scared, but most of all intrigued by this seemingly impossible adventure, he thanks the woman and approaches this second door.
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