(Vol 2) Chapter 50: Delegation

Delegation.

That was the word of the day to describe the way things were rapidly changing amongst the Order of Her Stunningness Samantha, at least as it occurred to Azure, sipping mint tea on the first floor of the Brackenhome inn and watching the coming and going of the busy business. And it wasn’t only for the obvious members, that delegation. Hooks were in far more lips than Her Most Dimpled One realized, even there in Brackenhome.

Hooks her High Priestess was better off enriching and utilizing instead of sitting on her hands.

I’ll earn her respect and confidence through the utilization of what I’m given. Blessings of Fate, even to lives before. Even there, I am hers. Body, mind, and soul, I will serve her absolutely and count it a gift. I’ve sought her without knowing it all my life and tasted the bitterness of crude substitutes — wasted devotion and worship.

No longer — she is the idol of life worth sacrificing for. One who loves as we love. And there is no helping it… my heart is hers forever, such as it is. For now, I direct it to the practical things, as she also must…

The level 1 clerical spells included a Disguise Self that, at double the FE to a costly total of 8, allowed 24 hours of a disguise. She’d chosen to stick with the same deception Samantha had gone with — a more roguish Naugite character, with a nose ring and a gold tooth. She kind of liked it as ‘Seddia.’

It isn’t very logical for ‘Azure’ to become blue, have a different face, and then park in Brackenhome. Unfortunately, combined with rumors of an illusionist companion, Andemen would surely get suspicious. He knew illusions were at work on that farm.

Athos was sitting somewhat across from her as her constant bodyguard, also eyeing things, though he occasionally puzzled over their game of Arrays — a card game normally solitary adjusted for two. They’d played a bit of chess earlier, but Athos claimed it was too distracting if he was to guard her. He liked to puzzle over his moves.

As Her Lover of Shiny Things had delegated to her Servitors, so had they brought certain things to Azure, understanding her capabilities. One such thing was the spy of Andemen in Brackenhome, Jeeves feeling her input and assistance would be useful. It was a simple matter to begin asking around, and another to enlist the aid of those eager to serve Lady Dym and her ‘friend’, the instant local heroes.

Though rougher sorts were common enough, outsiders that just hung around endlessly could not be, standing out in some capacity like Devero did. But Devero was too obvious. That was more due to his arrogance than him being a spy, and she’d been proven correct in that he was simply someone with his own agenda.

A spy was one everyone assumed was one of them, though when it was investigated or thought about a bit, was actually not true. A spy was not the man in the shadows casting suspicious glances, they were the amiable drunk that ‘had always been there.’ Someone a bit curious and nosy, usually.

But what Azure really understood were the commonalities that would make such a character one of Andemens. The universal truth of all his people was simple: they were overpaid. He threw gold around like thieves threw lies. His men would be too good at what they did for their position, and showing too much wealth, unless they were especially disciplined…

Janius came through the front door, his eyes briefly passing over hers. He went through the motions of chatting with the front desk and the guard. Saying hi to a few others as he inevitably ‘happened upon’ Azure and Athos at their table to exchange pleasantries.

Then he slipped a letter onto the table, still sealed. A letter that might have touched the hands briefly of a certain spy (with too much love for jewelry) in a certain external inn room — or maybe not if it was simply slipped under the door. Sadly for him, he had company at that time with slightly more priority of interest in the contents of that letter, and, ultimately, said contents were irrelevant to him any longer.

The best way to avoid accurate information delivered by a spy is to make the spy deliver lies instead. What’s that, you’d like to apologize by gifting us your ill-gotten gains? Why certainly, good man. You’re making quite a case to keep your life!

Janius had a faint smirk. “He’s been singing like a bird for us, though I guess it ain’t much. Thanks for bringing our attention to this traitor, Madam Seddia. Never liked him anyway.”

Seddia smiled — showing off her illusory gold tooth, Azure knew. Then she sipped her tea and nodded graciously to Janius. “It pays to delegate, my friend.”

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73 Daily FE gained.

22 FE (Mirrors, Fate, Light) obtained from worship. Converted to Light FE.

7 FE (Illusion, Fate, Light) obtained from worship. Converted to Light FE.

2 FE (Fate, Light) obtained from worship. Converted to Light FE.

2 FE (Illusion) obtained from worship.

Upon arriving in Caneboro in the dusk, Dax split the party up to search inns and taverns and ask around. Dax went solo to check with her various contacts, while Bob also went on his own.

Estara and the young knight Brynn went together, both of them essentially clueless about the city. Sammy thus kept a close ‘mirror-eye’ on them and ensured Estara was the one wielding the mask. She’d been instructed since before even entering the city to keep a disguise on through it as well — someone less ‘target-worthy’ than her cute, innocent-looking self.

She chose to be a well-built, raven-haired woman with a big cliche scar over one eye, which Estara nonetheless loved. “I always wanted a cool scar!”

Brynn and her got by by buying a drink here and there and asking about performers. There were definitely already some playing, as it was quite big in the city with multiple inns. Most had little platforms in a corner for it, bards playing lutes and flutes and… drums with flutes played at once? Estara called them ‘pipe and tabor.’ It was simple but quite effective.

Merril has probably heard many performers himself in this city. Has been to all these inns. Maybe he even secretly wished he was up on one of the little platforms. Not something he would’ve admitted to, though.

Dax turned up nothing immediately, Merril having apparently not touched base with the typical channels. While it had seemed unlikely, it was good to rule out. And they were exactly the channels he’d go to if he were asking about what captains to trust taking a ship out with.

After a couple of hours of searching, the assisting Dart brought Sammy’s attention to a mirror in some fancy, unattended room. There was nothing to see, but faintly, music could be heard — a harp conducting in some sort of whimsical arrangement, cheerful and a little more upbeat than most harp play. It sounded lovely, from what she could hear in the muted input.

Bet this is one of those places that serves fancy wine. Ha! Of course that would be more his crowd.

She immediately touched base with Dax mentally. “Hey, I think I might’ve found him. But I only have sound from an upstairs mirror. Going to need confirmation.” Sammy then started piecing together ‘where’ it was in relation to other places so she could get the location verified.

Dax quickly filled in the blanks. “The Stag and Lion! Only place it can be, being a fancypants inn over the bridge wealthy merchants go to and such. We might as well converge. No sense in trying to hide, either… what’s he gonna do, run again?”

“I have no idea how he’ll react other than I bet it will be belligerent with you. So what, you’ll just let him play?”

“That’s right. No sense in making a big scene. We’ll have us a little private chat after.”

“Hmmph. Sure.” Fucking hell, how is this going to go?

Whatever the case, she didn’t feel good about it at all.

Estara and Brynn ended up arriving first, which suited identification quite well. They found a fairly packed large inn with its doors left open for the sounds of harp play to filter out into the lamp-lit night. That was certainly a thing about Caneboro — its streets were always religiously kept lit up in the night.

Sure enough, inside Merril was playing his harp sitting on a chair upon a platform in a corner, and not paying much attention to the crowd, such was he into his art. The appreciation of the diners and drinkers was clear, as everyone was quiet. Her two Followers ordered some food so they could have a table — or at least half one, because they all were well-occupied.

The music had shifted to something adventurous, with the feel of racing warriors and rogues and the casting of spells. Sammy was rather amazed he could translate such a thing. Despite that his skill seemed wholly natural, it sure seemed to have its own kind of magic.

After a time, Bob and then Dax herself showed up, another couple of men along with her, looking like typical bruiser types.

Sammy gave Dax a mental glare. “You hired fucking goons?! Come on!”

“Hey, I had ‘em helping with the search! Might as well get my money’s worth as bodyguards. And these fine young lads aren’t goons! They’re professionals.”

“Tch. Whatever.”

Dax had a seat with one of her goons while the other goon stuck by the door. Merril soon noticed her — briefly, he was surprised, but his face quickly turned into a sour grimace. He did not stop playing, pointedly ignoring his sister cooly, while beginning on a piece different from before. Equally cold.

Actually, it was downright frosty — enough that the audience shifted in their seats, with many frowning in discomfort. Someone even called, “Play something else!” It was a bit like a too-long villain scene, where one began feeling like they were really winning and the heroes had been forgotten.

Alright, Merril, we get it, yeesh… and I thought Dick was passive-aggressive through a medium…

When he finished, there was some very sarcastic cheer, as in ‘we’re glad it’s over’ with some light clapping. But one man in a hooded cloak gave it a standing ovation, clapping loudly, head seeming to shake underneath in amazement.

“Bravo, bravo!” Clap. Clap. Clap. “What magnificence! Such skill in one so young.” His voice was rich, yet as cold as the performance had been. Colder. Possessed of some inner banality. It made all eyes draw to him. “Truly, it is an honor to hear the masterwork of a bard fit for the highest courts of majesty, in an unworthy place such as this. Come, bard, have a drink of the finest, and tell me how you came to such skill.”

Who the fuck is this? I have zero angles on his face, but it's no one good.

Merril’s eyes narrowed as he likely saw deeper into that covering hood than anyone. “Perhaps another time. I think it’s time I retire for the night.” He began reaching for his harp’s case to put it away.

Some sighs issued from the crowd — despite the less palatable last song, they no doubt expected more of what had come before it.

The cowled one barked a laugh, a fake thing without humor. “Oh, I must insist, I’m afraid. I simply must know, and what I say I must know always gets known, one way or another. Just ask your sister, who was kind enough to join us,” and he turned slightly to gesture right at Dax with a gloved hand. “I’m sure she’s figured out what is going to happen here, by now.”

Dax’s face had in fact gone white. Her lips slowly parted, and finally, out came, “Inquisitor.”

“That is what I am, but very astute!” came the voice of an instructor to a young child. And the man flipped back his hood to a few gasps around the room. The rest were holding their breath in fear.

A man that looked as if life had been sucked from his face was revealed, hairless and almost gray-skinned, with a simple white skullcap covering his baldness. Though his face was one for deep-set, fearsome scowls, he seemed to hold everyone around him in patient regard, like an unruly child he was kindly sparing the rod. Where his gaze swept all avoided meeting it.

Almost a dozen tough-looking types rose as the man uncloaked, looking around threateningly with their hands on their weapons.

No! They have to run, they have to-

“Merril and Daxerris Stoneboro,” the Inquisitor said almost cheerfully, “you are under arrest for conspiracy, under the authority of the Inquisition of the Dominion of Wisdom. Your guilt or innocence will be determined in private. Kindly come along without resistance — for safety, dignity, and what mercy you believe you deserve.”

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« (Vol 2) Chapter 49 | Table of Contents | *ya gotta get by by buying bites by the beeshore* »

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Samantha, Virgin Goddess of Mirrors & Illusion
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Goddess Level 3 [1/30]; Minor Deity

Domains (3/4): Mirrors, Illusion, Fate
Faith Energy: 242/3000
FE (Mirrors): 5 ; FE (Illusion): 14 ; FE (Fate): 7 ; FE (Light): 129
Followers: 48 (Daily FE Gain: 67 [73])

Devout: 12
Priests: 6+1

Brute: 0
Rogue: 0
Wizard: 2 [0/30]
Bard: 0 [7/10]

MP: 40/40

Special Skills: First Aid, Tarot Reading, Meditation, Priestly Ordination, Holy Relic Investiture, Create Servitor, Read Runes, Spell Construction, Detect Magic, Ritual Cast, Draw Mana (1/1)

Special Traits: Token User, Immortal, Demiplane Domain, Conceptual Body, Fueled By Faith, Detection Ward, Split Prediction, Avatar (Samantha; Core, Mental Res 1, Magic Res 1, PFE: 44/70)

Spells: Identify (5 MP), Icebolt (3 MP)

Powers: Faith Energy Utilization, Grant Prayer (Illusion), Grant Prayer (Fate), Mirror: (Sense, Communication, Maze, Walk, Other), Intuition, Alter Fate, Create Illusion, Grant Invisibility, Dazzling Spectrum, False Auras, Mirroring Duplicates, Reflect Force

Status: Token User Promotional Bonus (11/30)