Ardaik 5th – Letter Addressed to the Merchant Guild Director of the Lorellian branch

Dear Sir,

I am sending this letter ahead of myself in the hopes that it shall reach you near the time our ship makes landfall. Enclosed you'll find copies of my proposal along with the attending evidence to support the immediate and unreserved expulsion of one, Brice Lawrence Wulf, from conducting further business on the merchant guild's behalf. I believe all the paperwork to be in order, and you will find my case quite compelling. We should make landfall in Causter on the 8th to unload our prisoners. There is no need to rush, for I am sure that the festival activities will delay the processing of our cargo should we arrive any earlier.

Proficiency aside, I will put here that which has no place in any objective report and acknowledge that I did indeed go against your advisement to not involve myself further with Mr. Wulf and his questionable business practices. It is beyond my nature to not act where I see flagrant disregard for the guild and what it stands for. For any who be found in contempt of our cause, I would direct their attention to all that our guild does, not just in Lorellia but across all lands, for without us, all would be subject to prices made at the whims of their local lords regardless of fairness or affordability of price! For without the guild, goods would be subject to greater tax. For without the guild, trade routes would be left unprotected, or newer, faster routes never forged at all! Our purpose transcends kingdom lines for a cause more righteous than any single man may hold, including Mr. Wulf, though I believe he would venture to argue that point.

As you already deduced, the man does vex me and has grieved me at several turns, though not so much as the council every time they have allowed him to go free with little more than a mere slap on the wrist. I know not what favor grants him amnesty, but surely this time, even you must see that he is not worthy of association with our prestigious guild, and further business actions would not only tarnish the Merchant Guild's reputation but yours and mine as well for the allowance of it.

It is with that in mind that I will await your arrival in Causter, where we may speak further. It has been long since we last spoke, and there is much more to say that I shall not put to ink.

- Flavien Narcisse Vidal II
Merchant Guild Emissary
First Class, Lorellian East Division

***

Ardaik 7th – Letter Addressed to the Merchant Guild Director of the Lorellian branch

Dear Sir,

I write to inform you that our plans have regrettably changed, and we shall not be docking in Causter as originally intended. We were making good time towards our intended destination when we happened upon a single merchant ship accompanied by an unmarked stolen vessel. One could forgive me for thinking that pirates were the culprit; however, you'll no doubt be most interested and astounded to hear that it was none other than Artus Moreau Viotto, the crowned prince himself.

The arrogance of nobles is quite astonishing, and I make no attempt to hide the fact that I may have derived some joy from taking the prince into custody, if for no other reason than to humble the young pup. He may indeed need more humbling than that, however, for at dinner, he still had the audacity to brandish a weapon against me in some idle threat. I would not go so far as to say I had not deserved it, though it was still quite unbecoming of a young man of his standing. The saints save us if he should take the throne; perhaps I should begin looking for a transfer to Cardenar in the future. The admiral has taken some heed of the royal and changed our course towards La'Trest—some talk of an attack. It is of no matter to me, as La'Trest cells will hold our prisoners just as well as those in Causter. We will wait there until I hear word from you. There was also an old friend of yours accompanying the prince; he says to send his regards, though from the sound of it, he should be writing you soon enough in his own words.

- Flavien Narcisse Vidal II
Merchant Guild Emissary
First Class, Lorellian East Division

***

Ardaik 8th – Central Ocean

Rowan waited until after dark, when he was sure he'd heard the shift in Artus's breathing and the snoring from Flann across the room that told him they were truly and deeply asleep. That was when he eased himself out of bed and carefully put on his boots and jacket before vigilantly making his way to the door.

Edna probably wouldn't have noticed either if she'd been asleep. However, the Serellian guard was far from dozing off just yet. She did have to give Rowan credit for how he lifted the door as he opened it, so that the bottom didn't drag against the floor, and how this prevented the hinges from creaking. He did the same when closing it behind him, and that's when Edna rose and hastily threw on her boots and scabbard before following.

In spite of her hast, Rowan had still gotten a decent lead on her, and there was no sign of him once she left the room.

"Ya couldn't have gone far..." she said under her breath. After all, it was a ship, and even a large ship still paled when compared to the many corridors and rooms of Tulot Castle, where she was normally stationed. She took up her normal patrol pace. Slow enough to allow her vision to catch misplaced movement but quickly enough to cover ground in a timely manner.

The form of swinging lanterns that'd been turned down to save oil caught her attention. Beneath them, Rowan was picking his way past a sleeping sailor.

As Rowan ascended to the top deck, the dark lantern-cast shadows fell away, replaced by pale blue moonlight that illuminated the large swaths of canvas and cast shadows across the deck. The baron's son snuck through them carefully until he came to the ship's rear and studied the waves below. They told him much the same as the sails—that the Retribution was still running away as fast as she could.

His gaze stretched out across the inky waves caped with moonlight to the other ships. They, too, were at full sail, cutting through the water as fast as the southern wind allowed. Then he looked below him, where the water played against the hull, carefully considering his options.

Edna tried to piece together what must be going through the Lorellian's mind. He was clearly up to something. There were only so many reasons to go creeping about the ship after dark, and none of them were good.

The heir of Boreven didn't linger long and was again on the move. This time, toward one of the ship's officers. Edna fell back into the shadow of the mast while she listened.

"I need to get back to the L'épine de Rose."

"Oh. Well, best to wait for morning then," replied the officer.

"I wish I could, but His Highness insists that his wishes be carried out now," Rowan explained with a helpless shrug that drew a weary sigh from the officer.

"I'm sure His Highness will understand that we're not really in a position to be carting people back and forth on whims," the officer explained, but Rowan didn't miss a beat.

"Perhaps less whim and more utility, then? Send along any request or task you may have with me. I'll see it fulfilled along with Prince Viotto's errand."

The officer took a moment to consider Rowan's offer before he turned and flagged down one of the few hands that wasn't elbow-deep in work at the moment.

"Prepare a boat to board the L'épine de Rose."

"Yes, sir."

"Yar a slippery one, that fer'sure." Edna's voice made Rowan snap around to look at her, but he seemed almost relieved to see her there. As if he'd been expecting someone else. Edna couldn't fathom who.

"A rather strong opinion of me," Rowan replied dismissively as he crossed his arms over his chest and squared his body toward that of the female guard.

"I get strong opinions of people who try to frame our royalty..."

"What are you—"

"Oh, don't remember, do ya?" Edna interjected as she came to stand in front of the blond. "'Can't rule out Prince O'Conar's involvement,' don't ring a bell?"

Rowan visibly winced at Edna's recital of his own words to Artus. "I was only—"

"Only what? Casting blame blindly?"

"Perhaps I was...but for what it's worth, I don't truly believe that Flann is involved in what happened, and surely you don't believe that Artus is..."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Because you're here. Neither of us would have left them alone if we thought the other would pose a danger."

Silence fell between the two for a moment as they both studied the other's expression carefully for deceit, but it was broken as the officer returned. "While they're readying a boat, I'm going to write down what we need if the Rose can spare it. I'll be back in a moment."

As Rowan crossed the deck toward the rowboat being prepared to lower into the water, a smirk pulled onto his features. One that made Edna incredibly uneasy despite Rowan's statements. Rowan could be telling the truth. Before retiring for the evening, Prince Viotto could have given him some kind of assignment to be carried out discreetly, but Rowan could just as easily be lying. There was only one way to find out for sure.

"What are you—"

"I'm going with you. Move over!" Edna demanded as she joined him and an oarsman in the small boat. Rowan was right about one thing. Edna didn't fear what Artus would do to Flann. She feared what she didn't know.

"Here," the officer stated upon returning, handing Rowan a folded piece of parchment and giving Edna a brief glance. He flashed one of their lanterns twice, then waited for two flickers in response from the Rose before a line was shot over. Then, Rowan and Edna were lowered into the water, the oarsman overseeing the process and signaling to the crew of the Rose once they were ready to be pulled.

As the Retribution grew steadily smaller behind them, the sea clashing with the hull sprayed the three with freezing waves of mist, and the closer they were drawn to the Rose, Edna questioned her choices more and more.

Were answers worth leaving the prince completely unguarded? Sure, Flann wasn't defenseless, and she'd find it hard to believe that a boy of Artus's stature would make an attempt on him. No, Artus wasn't the one Edna was worried about. It was Rowan who had her vexed. Why cast the blame on Flann? Why lie about Artus's orders? Why sneak around? Why back to the Rose? Were the answers to her questions worth all of this?

She kept asking herself even as they boarded the L'épine de Rose and headed below deck. The path toward the brig was still all too familiar to the Serellian guard, and she leaned forward.

"What are we doin' here?"

"Hm? Just let me handle this," Rowan said simply, getting a less-than-satisfactory grunt from the lady guard.

"I'm here to collect a prisoner who's been pardoned by the crown," Rowan stated in an official manner to the man on duty.

The guard snorted and replied, "Papers?"

"Are you questioning the legitimacy of a royal pardon?"

"Not entirely, but I'd like my hide covered if my superiors come asking me why I released a prisoner in the middle of the night to some noble's brat and woman guard."

"Fair enough," Rowan reasoned before once more redirecting. "I'll settle for a short meeting before fetching your paperwork."

"Five minutes," the guard replied, standing aside enough for Rowan to pass. When Edna tried to follow, he stepped back into place. "Only one at a time."

She had to comply. After all, she could appreciate a guard who took their post seriously. She didn't like it, but she could appreciate it.

She watched as Rowan went to the cell that held the merchant. She swore that even in the dim light, the man's eyes brightened upon seeing the Baron's son. She'd noticed Rowan speaking with the man while they'd been imprisoned. Despite the overgrown stubble and slight grey peppering of his hair that came with being middle-aged, the merchant held a rugged appeal that might have otherwise been handsome when he was younger—and if Edna had fancied men.

She couldn't hear a word of what was being said between the two, but her sixth sense had her on edge. The pit in her gut grew even deeper upon witnessing some manner of exchange pass between the bars before Rowan headed back toward her and the Lorellian guard.

"What's your game, lad?" Edna asked, finally voicing her suspicions again as they headed back top side. "I thought you were here on Artus's orders."

"He has no idea I'm here," Rowan replied easily. "Sometimes the road to what we want coils in the opposite direction."

"Ya know what else coils?" Edna retorted under her breath. "A snake..."