Strange Times, Strange Alliances|Ekaitz

[Kender Bard]

Dagger Beesbury approached Ekaitz cautiously; warily. He'd heard things about this place, things that interested him greatly. The weapon merchant had a plan he had been cooking up, but first he had to take measure of the man in charge here. Being a Wind type, even unwinged, he did take special precautions. Four guards came with him, armed to the teeth, and he himself had his finest sword buckled to his belt. They stood from afar looked warily at Ekaitz, wondering how to approach.

[Northen Light36]

Mathew himself is taking guard duty today, keeping a sharp eye out from the Beastland boarder of Ekaitz for anyone that might approach, though he doesn't expect any real trouble. Therefore he merely narrows his eyes and watches when he spots the stangers in the distance, waiting for them to make the first move.

[Kender Bard]

"I see someone," one of the guards said to Lord Dagger.

Dagger rolled his eyes. "Very good, Rolund. If you were blind, I'd question why I brought you."

"What do we do?" the guard, Rolund, asks of his lord.

Dagger smirks and replies, "Hoist our house banner, along with a white one, so he knows we mean peace. I doubt he'll recognize the emblem, but it's worth a shot." The guards do as ordered, unpacking the pennet of the singing bee and the white pennet and tying them to the end of a spear, waving them back and forth.

[Northen Light36]

Mathew notices the white flag and considers the emblem. Reconising it's not one of the Storm nobles, or a very newly noble family, he makes sure his sword can be easily drawn before whistling an alert and making his way to the group, staying just out of weapons range. "Welcome to Ekaitz," he greets them. "I am Mathew, of the Noble house of Melissan. And you are?"

[Kender Bard]

Dagger takes just a slight step forward; enough to be recognized, not enough to be threatening, and bows. "I am Lord Dagger, of House Beesbury. Little birds have whispered to me of a band of Storms who are itching for slaves and freedom from the laws of Mad King Shadow. Am I correct in assuming this is the place?"

[Northen Light36]

"Perhaps," Mathew replies. "Beesbury hmm?" Mathew smiles coldly, raising an eyebrow. "And what business would the Lord of a Wind house have in such a town, if one were to exist?"

[Kender Bard]

Dagger smiled back, not cold, but with a calculating look. "Well, as it happens, my house is the foremost armsdealer in Talen'sul. Someday, perhaps, the entire Kingdom. Sad to say, though, I have people who stand in my way to that rise of power. If they were to happen to disappear... say, take a prolonged vacation in such a town, why... I'd be very grateful. So grateful, I might take leave of my senses and give out a few gifts."

[Northen Light36]

Mathew nods thoughtfully, his own expression becoming equally calulating. "How many 'gifts' might be... misplaced in that situation?" he asks, wanting a better idea of how much is in it for Ekaitz before he commits to anything. "And what quality goods might be in those gifts?"

[Kender Bard]

"Why, enough to arm a garrison sir," Dagger chuckled. "As to the quality..." He snapped his fingers and his men produced their own arms, which were of his family's make. They didn't brandish them threateningly, holding them so that Matthew could inspect them well. "And a very special gift to the man in charge would be something akin to this..." He drew his own sword, and held it for Matthew to see; the play of faint color on shining, finely honed metal.

[Northen Light36]

Mathew takes a long time inspecting the weapons with the careful eye of a man well used to judging such things. "Very nice," he says at last, an approving note in his tone. "Well it is hardly civil of me to leave you all standing out here, now is it? Please, come with me and we can discuss business in... relative comfort."

[Kender Bard]

Dagger smiles and nods. "I hope you understand, I'll want to keep my men close to me; at least one of them. But aye, do lead on. If you like the sound of this offer, I have a tempting secondary proposal."

[Northen Light36]

"I understand," Mathew replies. "Please, this way." With that, Mathew leads the way back to his cabin. "Excuse my limited hospitality, cousin," Mathew says, slipping easily into the formal speak pattens of nobles. "As you can see, we are in the process of building. Would you care to take a seat? Perhaps something to drink? Discussing business can be dry work."

[Kender Bard]

"I'm parched," Beesbury agreed, sitting down. "Now, the thing I most wanted to speak with you is this. You appear to be a gentleman; the current steward of Talen'sul, Lady Calder, is all alone at the moment. Her husband is elsewhere, Maelstrom I'd guess, with her daughter. Her son was recently killed; the poor thing. And with Talen'sul in the state it's in, scarcely anyone can go and make sure the sweet lady is doing okay." He smiled wickedly. "But for a gentlemanly Storm, it would be no problem to stroll into the now-unguarded Talen'sul and to the Lady's house. We couldn't have with some nameless brigands carrying her off, can we? That would be just terrible. Why, if that happened, the Lord Calder would be in no state to take over his duties once he returned home. They would have to find a new Lord of Winds..."

He leaned back in his seat. "I'm a modest man, but I will admit I could be well loved by my neighbors. It's quite likely they'd thrust such a burden onto my shoulders, if House Calder were unable to rise to the task. And... we wouldn't want that." He smirked. "Would we?"

[Northen Light36]

"No, of course not," Mathew replies, pouring some quite fine wine into glasses for himself and his guest. "Why, surely such a thing would even cripple Flash Calder and deal a serious blow to his High-and-mightyness, King Shadow. Yes, I think the best thing do be done would be for myself and a few friends to ensure the lady's safety - for the good of all concerned."

[Kender Bard]

Beesbury smiled and took a sip - a fine vintage indeed. "Just to make sure you get there safely, I'll be leaving a few weapons; a token of my gratitude. Put them to good use and there's more where that came from." He lifted his glass a little. "A toast to a couple of gentlemen?"