Argentorum
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The Devil's Foundry Book 3: Chapter 10
🕑 Added 2024-03-19 23:48:24 +0000 UTCA/N: In an earlier version of this chapter the character "Verdant" of house Orhlys was named Vergrisa, I've changed her name in this chapter and in all future chapters.
Chapter 10: First Meetings
Throughout human history, many writers and poets have waxed long and lyrical about sea travel. About the smell of that salt spray, the wind billowing into your sails.
“Fucking morons, all of them,” I grumbled.
At my side Dum grinned. “Why’re you so glum, boss?”
“The only good thing about boats is making it back to shore.” I ran a hand down my face, stiffening when the rocking of the ship sent my stomach for another lurch.
“We’re almost there.”
I nodded. You could see the city of Corvandr, easily now, but my ship had run into what the sailors affectionally called a “choppy squall,” and now I was doing my best not to toss up a choppy squall of my own.
Dum put a steadying hand on my shoulder, the meaty mitt was just what I needed to hang onto as the Little Mistress finally cut through the last of the breakers and into the bay proper.
The calmer waters let me get my breath back, and I finally took in my first good view of the city. It looked more modern than I expected. A tight urban sprawl, built with brick and stone, Corvandr stretched up into the foothills leading away from the bay, and I caught just a glimpse of a bright marble dome.
Their port was bigger than mine. Noisier too, complete with bells and shouts and the sound of the sea slapping against wood and stone over and over again.
The small sloop that shared a name with my class glided past larger vessels, galleons and frigates maybe. I had a blind spot regarding maritime terminology; fortunately I was here to sell magic glass instead of ships.
As a figure from the shore darted out to meet our ship, I narrowed my eyes at the sleek wooden construct beneath their feet. Too small to be a dinghy, but still bulkier than a surfboard, the small vessel cut through the waves under the power of its owner’s class. Wave Rider sounded incredibly useful for managing a port of this size.
He came up to the side of our boat, waving a pair of flags. It meant less than nothing to me, so I was fine letting the crew take the lead on this—and on everything else for our voyage—as our ship was slowly guided into its berth.
Ropes were thrown and tied. I did my best to look imposing on the stern and stay well out of the way—a good villainess knew when not to micromanage their helpers—until Captain Rouss lowered a gangplank and waved for me to be the first ashore.
“My thanks,” I said to her.
“Seems like you’re mostly thankful to be off my little ship.” She smirked. “Could it be the ocean doesn’t agree with you?”
“How could you tell?” I asked. Brushing past, Dum and I walked down onto the stone quay.
“Still think you shoulda brought my guards, Boss,” he murmured.
“Yes, I’m sure they’d have served us well.” I tilted my chin. “See the archers on the inner wall?”
He shaded his eyes. “Huh…”
A few ships full of archers had saved Lady’s Port from the last of the great monster stampede that threatened my town. “I’d rather not experience what they can do with even footing and a good vantage point.”
“Why am I even here then?” Dum asked.
“For your riveting conversation skills, of course.”
“Awww, Boss.” He grinned. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“More seriously, I’m very short, and I need someone to shove other short people out of the way.” I patted him on the arm. “Fortunately, next to you, everyone is short.”
“Should I start now?”
I shook my head. “Our welcome party is already here.”
Coming down the quay was a shorter man flanked by a pair of guards. They wore the same livery as the pair Ishanti brought with her. Could just be the royal crest, or it could be an indicator of whom her backers were.
The man leading them, however, was no warrior. Aside from being short, he carried himself with an officious walk that showed off the neatly polished buckles of his pointed shoes. When I narrowed my eyes, I saw that his class was Aide to Champ, an assistant class instead of a trained fighter.
“The Comptess of Lady’s Port, I assume?” He glanced over at my small ship with an air of blatant disdain. “More…suitable conveyance could have been arranged.”
I smiled stepping closer. “I wouldn’t want to inconvenience your benefactor.”
“Quite.” The man stepped once, already dismissing Dum and I. “Since you feel so strongly, you’ll be pleased to hear that I’ve been instructed to escort you directly to the palace.”
“How kind, but.” I relished the way his eyes narrowed slightly. “I was hoping we could scout locations first.”
“Locations? Is that what passes for espionage since that dreadful little Seneschal was deposed?” he asked.
“I was invited to see Corvandr, wasn’t I?” I placed a hand on my chest. “Do you mean to drag me through the streets as well, bound and blindfolded?”
The man sniffed. “I would be quite happy leaving you here, if it pleases you. I’m sure you’ll understand if no other invitations are forthcoming.”
Well, at least this one wasn’t just going to roll over for me.
“I’m sure my manservant and I will be able to find something to do. We might even peruse the local trading houses.” My grin widened. “Or you could show us the city’s highest places, so that I might better inform you of what my services will cost.”
“And why, exactly, would you need to see these locations?”
I shrugged. “That’s between me and your benefactor.”
He laughed. “Believe me, Comptess, when I say that you are best off informing me first, before my prince hangs you for wasting his precious time.”
“If you want to waste his time later, then—”
“Come with me now,” he said. “Or back to your ship with you.”
“Tough crowd,” I murmured. “Well, I can’t stand to be so horribly sea sick again so I’ll play the gracious supplicant. Dum, stay with the ship.”
“Someone’s gotta look out after you, Boss.”
I saw the Aide to Champ stifle a laugh at the form of address. Good, I’d prefer he thought of me as an upjumped commoner with no sense of her own impCoschece.
“Look after the ship,” I replied. “I’m sure our good friend here won’t let anything happen to me.” I paused. “What was your name again?”
He didn’t puff himself up, just continued looking at me with that unimpeachable air of condescension. “You may call me Sir Cosche.”
“Our good friend Cosche,” I continued to Dum, “would never let anything happen to me.”
“On my honor, as much as it pains me,” the man said.
“See? That’s how you know he’s telling the truth.” I walked forward, placing myself firmly with the rest of Cosche’s party. “And the rest of my crew? You know how sailors get.”
From his pursed lips, I could tell that he 100% did know how sailors get.
“They shall be limited to the docks for the duration of your trip,” Cosche said. “I’m sure the facilities herein will be enough for them to…amuse themselves.”
I’d take what I could get. “Dum, let ‘em know their orders.”
He nodded. “You got it.”
Cosche very pointedly didn’t snort, but that was good. The more he thought of me as a fool, the easier it would be for the crew to carry out my orders as well. This whole commotion was preventing any customs officials from inspecting the sloop after all, and while the hold was not large, neither were many of my demons.
Neither were my mirrors.
As Cosche nodded, and even his satisfaction looked pinched, I thought we might be able to get a good look at Corvandr even without the tour. Though, that Cosche’s benefactor didn’t want to impress me with the splendor the city meant something as well.
The docks were surrounded by a high wall of marble. I saw three large gates set in it, each one guarded by a score of men. Despite wearing different livery than my escorts, they stepped aside without a word to Cosche.
On one hand, that seemed like an exploitable security flaw, but on the other, I hadn’t figured out how to spoof a class yet.
A horseless carriage—and no, that wasn’t just me using an archaic word for a car—waited for us just past the wall. It was a six-wheeled affair, with two sets of doors, black panels set with gold decorations. Atop, instead of space for baggage, there was an elaborate relief of golden ravens in flight, the sigil of the royal family.
One of the two escorts opened the door for us, but before I climbed in, a voice called out to us.
“I say, is that the new Comptess from Silverwall?”
Cosche’s expression turned an interesting shade of puce as we both turned.
A richly dressed woman broke away from the crowd. Well, I say ‘broke away’, but really, the common men and women parted before her like a wave. She had her own follower, noticeably dressed in plain clothes but armed with a sword at his hip.
She was dressed in rich crimson and white fur that contrasted her jet-black hair, and honestly, I felt surprised that someone so ostentatiously eye-catching deigned to walk at all.
“Are you interfering with royal business?” Cosche blustered.
“Interfering? Why, I wouldn’t dream of such a thing!” She came closer, looking me up and down. I could see easily that she was unimpressed, and this time I hadn’t even tried. “So it’s true, you’re our new Comptess?”
I put on a bemused smile. “Yes, but I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage.”
“You may call me Verdant.” She smiled. “Please, let me be the first to welcome you to the capital on behalf of house Orhlys, because I know that this lump wouldn’t have bothered.”
Well now, wasn’t that interesting. “It’s a pleasure.” I took her hand, pressing a kiss against the back of it.
“What an interesting custom.” She laughed, eyes narrowing.
I shrugged. “I find the local customs to be just as…charming, my lady.”
“Oh please, don’t call me such. Especially not in front of—”
“If that is quite enough.” Cosche stepped between us. “Comptess, I would ask you step into the carriage, else this visit be cut short.”
I blinked at Cosche. “Is there a problem here?”
He shot me a withering look before turning that same glare on Verdant.
I threw my hands up. “You heard the man. It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Verdant of House Orhlys.” With that, I did as I was told and climbed into the carriage.
But, not before I heard her reply.
“Indeed. I look forward to our next meeting.”
She said it more like a promise.
