A Disturbing Letter for River|Obsidian

[Kender Bard]

Gale tensed suddenly, whirling around and grabbing the wrist of someone who was about to tap River on the shoulder. The man gave a surprised and frightened squawk. "Aah!"

[adris]

Without even a jump River turned around to look the man that Gale grabbed square in the eyes. He scractched his head just above the ear to slightly stifle the laugh that the scene gave him. He gave Gale a soft pat on the shoulder, a way of telling her to relax.

"Good job as always Gale, I can't tell you how happy I am that you are on my side. May I ask what you want sir?"

River placed his chin in his fingers pensively, keeping his face stone solid so that anything he was told wouldn't give away any emotion. When he had to be serious, he was deftly serious, although the man probably wouldn't cause trouble knowing what Gale could do at this point.

[Kender Bard]

The man rubbed his wrist once Gale had released it. "A letter for you sir." He holds out the parchment.

[adris]

River reached out his hands and took the letter from the messenger. He looked at his companions and then opened up the parchment so that both of them could see it if they wanted to.

"Very good, now lets see here..."

He looks over the letter, line by line to make sure he gets every detail down. He dosn't want to make a mistake by missing a crucial piece of information.

[Kender Bard]

Lord River,

I regret to inform you that your time in ruling over Humontis is coming to a close. While I will allow you to remain in your seat of power as a figurehead, I must ask you to succeed rulership of Humontis to me. Since it would be imprudent of me to reveal my nature at this time, I will have spies posted outside of your current location. I will give you a week to get your affairs into order for this shift in power, and then you must place two white flags outside of your residence. My spies will confirm these sightings. If you do as asked, then I will send a messenger to pick up a five thousand coin donation of charity, after which time I will be sending an liege lord to act in my stead.

If you do not comply with these instructions, a series of violent and bloody confrontations will arise, starting with random peasants and working up to the assassination of your loved ones, and finally - if necessary - you.

Have a nice day.

Upon reading the letter, Gale snarled and grabbed the man again, this time in a choke hold without actually choking him... much. This time the man didn't even have time to squeak.

[adris]

River read the letter and scratched his head, he was sure that this needed a second reading. Even the second time it made no more sense then the first. The man obviously had no idea how Humontis government worked. A man dosn't become leader just because the current one says he is, the people would riot. He snickered a little and once again patted Gale's arm to help her relax.

"He is just a messenger Gale, I need him in any case," he smiles to the messenger, "Tell your master that it shall be done."

With a bow he turns to the ladies in his entourage. He waits for the messenger to get out of distance before speaking to them both. There was no way he was going to go back to Humontis now, he needed to send his plan to Narcissa.

"Gale, I need you to deliver a message to Narcissa, I will stay here with Bel and talk to Aslan. I don't know who this idiot is but I won't let my people get murdered because he randomly lost his marbles one day."

[Kender Bard]

Gale wanted to ask if that was wise but her strict training just made her nod stiffly, even though disapproval was in her eyes. "I will do whatever you command, my lord."

[adris]

River looks up to Gale, and his gaze is almost piercing when she speaks. When was the last time she referred to him as her lord, she knows very well that he thinks himself no greater then her. It probably would be best to sort this out first, she has been indespensible so far and wouldn't want anything to change that.

"Is everything all right Gale? Which action do you most question? I havn't seen you this stiff in a long time."

He did worry about her, he would think that even she would know that he was trying a ploy. Perhaps she thought that directly confronting this man was a better option. He knows better then to directly attack any problem, that simply wasn't his way.

[Kender Bard]

Gale shifted, figuring this was a window to speak her mind. "I just don't think it's wise, especially after this letter, for you to send me off to Humontis. I understand your elemental power and prowess, sir, but with all due respect, you're only one man and a well placed crossbow bolt will take you down just as fast as a horde of hired swords."

[adris]

River didn't think sending her away was the best option either, but there isn't anyone that he can trust with a message this important. This man may be crazy, but he might be rich enough to get close to carrying out his threats. All he needs is someone planted in the local mail room to blow his plans out of the water.

"Perhaps... I should just put my idea on hold for a while then. At least until this insanity all blows over."

He looks to his group to see what they say about this. They might not understand his wanting to go so far for the threats of a madman, and while he wants to just blow this off, he will not allow his people to just get murdered.

[Kender Bard]

"That might be wise," Gale sighed. "Besides; it does not seem we are making much headway anyway, are we?"

[adris]

River looked dejected for a moment as he hold the wood case that he kept the rolled up parchment in. No, they were making no headway, Lady Cascata was a start, but he was pretty sure he would get that name no matter what.

"You're right Gale, lets go home, I have an administrative decision to announce to the senate anyway. Narcissa will be pleased I'm sure."

He looks back and forth from Bel to Gale, nods and gives a sigh. Surprisingly it was a happy sigh, because outside of the politics he got to go on vacation with two wonderful women who he could really and truly call friends, something he had very few of while he was sitting at his desk in Humontis.

[Kender Bard]

Gale gave a slight bow. "Lead on."