Day 337 - Temptation
Sargoth is a strange place. Although it is the capital of the Nord realm, there were no major institutions of importance. Due to the Nord`s low opinion of all sciences there are no academies and the economic heart of the realm is Tihr. But to keep in touch with the political leaders, the Nord merchant guild has decided to move it`s headquarter from Tihr to Sargoth a few years ago. That`s why I`m here.
King Harlaus wanted a trade agreement concerning a huge amount of linen to be signed. Due to my approved trading skills, he sent me to negotiate with the guild masters. It took a few days, but finally we reached an agreement.
When leaving the guild hall, I decided to go to the next tavern for a drink. In front of it I heard a familiar voice.
"Lord de Courtenay. Nice to see you."
"Antor. How come I´m not surprised ?"
"I take it you received my letter."
"Yes. And I was wondering, what the heck you were talking about. What do you want ?"
"Invite you for lunch for the moment. But not here. Come with me."
I did. I was in no hurry and my curiosity to hear what he wanted exceeded my anger about his mysterious behaviour. He lead me to a tavern called `Zendar`s memory`. We ordered a meal and eventually he started to get to the point.
"You`ve come a long way. And now it seems as if you`ve got everything one could long for. But it also seems, as if you`re still unsatisfied. I heard, you had a talk with that foreign scholar in Rivacheg. And I`d love to know, what happened to Sanjar Khan. But rumor has it, you`re held in high esteem at his court since he met you. Whatever, I think you want to achieve more than plain personal success. I think you`re kind of an idealist who strives to change the world."
"Let us assume you`re right. What then ?"
"Then I can make you an offer."
That voice came from the side. It was soft and caring in a suspicious way. A woman came closer and took seat. She must have been in her late twenties and was very attractive. Slim, long red hair, green eyes. A nice smile, a distinctive intellect and a seductive, no, tempting rhetoric. And all she said was tempting in the first place.
Two hours later I was alone again. I leaned back, took some deep breaths and tried to get things straight in my mind. But I always thought about what the Lady had said. And the Lady herself. Isolla. Isolla of Suno.
"What a woman.", I said to myself.
"Yes, she is a temptress. And I bet she promised everything under the sun."
I had been deep in thoughts so I startled when being addressed by the stranger. I guess, he was about 40 years old. I`ve never seen him before, but he had an accent that reminded me of my former home. And somehow he was charismatic with his understanding look.
"Who are you ?", I asked
"Auiver is my name. And you ?"
"Pierre de Courtenay."
"Courtenay ? There is a village with that name near the place I was born. You`re from the east ?"
"Yes."
"Me too. So we are two strangers in town, but you made beautiful friends already. Yes, Lady Isolla is still good-looking and can be very, ehm, convincing."
"Did you listen to our conversation ?"
He laughed.
"No. That`s not necessary. Isolla always tells the same things. About her father, the previous king, who loved her. About the time, he called her his heiress. Well, kind of. About her uncle Harlaus, who betrayed her. And finally, that there were women on the throne during the dark ages. In short, she seeks people to support her claim to the throne."
"Sounds as if you dislike her for that."
"I`m not sure. See, it`s indescribable bitter, when someone defrauds you of your inheritance. You are sad and angry, eager to take revenge on that person. But the danger is, that your wish might turn into an obsession over the time. You must be able to let go when you see, that success is impossible. And that`s what I dislike about Isolla. Yes, she would be the lawful ruler of Swadia, but she can`t win, even if someone would support her. But still she is willing to start a civil war, knowing that she will lose it."
"Why should she lose ? Suppose, she finds enough supporters, then..."
"Do you think, you`re the first one she tries to convince ? There must have been dozens before you. And two of them agreed. Two times a civil war started. Two times she lost. Two times her supporters got executed and their heads exhibited on top of a lance at the market place of Praven."
"Sounds as if you know a lot about her."
"Say, I understand her motivation."
"So you have an advice for me?"
"Rather a hypothetical question. Suppose she wins and becomes Queen of Swadia. What will happen next ? Harlaus or his wife or his son, daughter, brother, niece or his damned cook will show up and claim to be the lawful ruler and the game starts all over again."
"So you are saying that supporting a claimant is useless."
"I`m saying, that there will always be an Isolla or Dustum Khan. And I`m saying, that you should ask yourself, if your potential gain is worth a civil war that destabilizes the country and leaves it vulnerable to it`s enemies. Be it as it may. I wish you luck."
He stood up and went to the door.
"One moment, what is your interest in claimant`s affairs ?"
"Too long a story. I`ll tell you the next time we meet."
And off he went.
I kept sitting there for a while, watching the other guests. A group of pick-pockets were gambling. A beggar trying to get a free drink. Two whores waiting for clients. Several ordinary citizens hanging around, drinking and chatting. A swadian Lord thinking about what to do next. And then, all of a sudden, I had an inspiration.
I hurried outside. Heading for the town gates, I met Baldur.
"Baldur, where is the rest of the gang ?"
"Well, Sir, I guess spread across all taverns and brothels in town."
"Find them ! All men have to report back at the camp as soon as possible. We`ll leave today."
"But Sir, it`s getting dark soon."
"I don`t care. We have to get back to Swadia at once."
"One could think it`s a matter of life and death, Sir."
"You`ve got it."
to be continued (please post in the "Making of"-Thread)
Sargoth is a strange place. Although it is the capital of the Nord realm, there were no major institutions of importance. Due to the Nord`s low opinion of all sciences there are no academies and the economic heart of the realm is Tihr. But to keep in touch with the political leaders, the Nord merchant guild has decided to move it`s headquarter from Tihr to Sargoth a few years ago. That`s why I`m here.
King Harlaus wanted a trade agreement concerning a huge amount of linen to be signed. Due to my approved trading skills, he sent me to negotiate with the guild masters. It took a few days, but finally we reached an agreement.
When leaving the guild hall, I decided to go to the next tavern for a drink. In front of it I heard a familiar voice.
"Lord de Courtenay. Nice to see you."
"Antor. How come I´m not surprised ?"
"I take it you received my letter."
"Yes. And I was wondering, what the heck you were talking about. What do you want ?"
"Invite you for lunch for the moment. But not here. Come with me."
I did. I was in no hurry and my curiosity to hear what he wanted exceeded my anger about his mysterious behaviour. He lead me to a tavern called `Zendar`s memory`. We ordered a meal and eventually he started to get to the point.
"You`ve come a long way. And now it seems as if you`ve got everything one could long for. But it also seems, as if you`re still unsatisfied. I heard, you had a talk with that foreign scholar in Rivacheg. And I`d love to know, what happened to Sanjar Khan. But rumor has it, you`re held in high esteem at his court since he met you. Whatever, I think you want to achieve more than plain personal success. I think you`re kind of an idealist who strives to change the world."
"Let us assume you`re right. What then ?"
"Then I can make you an offer."
That voice came from the side. It was soft and caring in a suspicious way. A woman came closer and took seat. She must have been in her late twenties and was very attractive. Slim, long red hair, green eyes. A nice smile, a distinctive intellect and a seductive, no, tempting rhetoric. And all she said was tempting in the first place.
Two hours later I was alone again. I leaned back, took some deep breaths and tried to get things straight in my mind. But I always thought about what the Lady had said. And the Lady herself. Isolla. Isolla of Suno.
"What a woman.", I said to myself.
"Yes, she is a temptress. And I bet she promised everything under the sun."
I had been deep in thoughts so I startled when being addressed by the stranger. I guess, he was about 40 years old. I`ve never seen him before, but he had an accent that reminded me of my former home. And somehow he was charismatic with his understanding look.
"Who are you ?", I asked
"Auiver is my name. And you ?"
"Pierre de Courtenay."
"Courtenay ? There is a village with that name near the place I was born. You`re from the east ?"
"Yes."
"Me too. So we are two strangers in town, but you made beautiful friends already. Yes, Lady Isolla is still good-looking and can be very, ehm, convincing."
"Did you listen to our conversation ?"
He laughed.
"No. That`s not necessary. Isolla always tells the same things. About her father, the previous king, who loved her. About the time, he called her his heiress. Well, kind of. About her uncle Harlaus, who betrayed her. And finally, that there were women on the throne during the dark ages. In short, she seeks people to support her claim to the throne."
"Sounds as if you dislike her for that."
"I`m not sure. See, it`s indescribable bitter, when someone defrauds you of your inheritance. You are sad and angry, eager to take revenge on that person. But the danger is, that your wish might turn into an obsession over the time. You must be able to let go when you see, that success is impossible. And that`s what I dislike about Isolla. Yes, she would be the lawful ruler of Swadia, but she can`t win, even if someone would support her. But still she is willing to start a civil war, knowing that she will lose it."
"Why should she lose ? Suppose, she finds enough supporters, then..."
"Do you think, you`re the first one she tries to convince ? There must have been dozens before you. And two of them agreed. Two times a civil war started. Two times she lost. Two times her supporters got executed and their heads exhibited on top of a lance at the market place of Praven."
"Sounds as if you know a lot about her."
"Say, I understand her motivation."
"So you have an advice for me?"
"Rather a hypothetical question. Suppose she wins and becomes Queen of Swadia. What will happen next ? Harlaus or his wife or his son, daughter, brother, niece or his damned cook will show up and claim to be the lawful ruler and the game starts all over again."
"So you are saying that supporting a claimant is useless."
"I`m saying, that there will always be an Isolla or Dustum Khan. And I`m saying, that you should ask yourself, if your potential gain is worth a civil war that destabilizes the country and leaves it vulnerable to it`s enemies. Be it as it may. I wish you luck."
He stood up and went to the door.
"One moment, what is your interest in claimant`s affairs ?"
"Too long a story. I`ll tell you the next time we meet."
And off he went.
I kept sitting there for a while, watching the other guests. A group of pick-pockets were gambling. A beggar trying to get a free drink. Two whores waiting for clients. Several ordinary citizens hanging around, drinking and chatting. A swadian Lord thinking about what to do next. And then, all of a sudden, I had an inspiration.
I hurried outside. Heading for the town gates, I met Baldur.
"Baldur, where is the rest of the gang ?"
"Well, Sir, I guess spread across all taverns and brothels in town."
"Find them ! All men have to report back at the camp as soon as possible. We`ll leave today."
"But Sir, it`s getting dark soon."
"I don`t care. We have to get back to Swadia at once."
"One could think it`s a matter of life and death, Sir."
"You`ve got it."
to be continued (please post in the "Making of"-Thread)
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