Half Orc Prince Quest (Original Fantasy Setting): Story Only Thread

[tellion]

Seven days after the birth of Prince Robar Talient...

---

Baron Timon Rigal was tired but restless as he silently stood before the gilded door to the Imperial Throne Room, awaiting for his audience with the Emperor of all Theoniel in his best doublet and a fake smile. After years of being at court and silently being pushed aside (sometimes literally) he could finally ascend to a higher rank than being a servant of the Count of Coudreres. If he could be able to explain why his son five months ago being lucky enough to find him a competent wet-nurse would correlate to a nice cushy position as a steward to a Prince. He was going to get some damn power and when the filthy orc became of age he would pawn him off to the Emperor's Steward and get a nice higher position. He was going to increase his wealth and power so much that even his knightly ancestor 300 years ago would be rising from his Holy grave to commend him for his success (unlike his father).

Timon felt a twinge of pride at how so many of the nobility in line seemed jealous of his ingenious foresight of taking advantage of this incredible vacancy. He just hoped that his ignorant liege lord had done the job he manipulated him to do and was waiting inside. Timon honestly could not understand how incompetent of a nobleman would allow him to cheat so easily on his taxes but be persuaded to take him on as an adviser and praise him for the minimal work that he did. Though Timon hoped that he wouldn't have to deal with as many higher nobility for his position due to the whole Orcianki business. Whatever the case thought Timon, his ascension to wealth and power would begin as soon as the Herald would announce him to go in.

"Announcing Baron Timon Rigal, vassal to Count Edmond Coudreres and candidate for Steward of the 5th Prince of the Empire and 6th in line to the Throne." said the bored and pompous voice of the Court Herald breaking into Timon's expectations of grandeur with all the subtlety of a blacksmiths hammer breaking, causing him some brief internal panic before the grand door to the throne room opened allowing to enter the throne room in as much of a dignified manner as his meager noble status would allow.

The entire throne room was looking at him hard when he came through the door all dressed in finery that Timon realized eclipsed his pitiful doublet in appearance. He than realized only than that the only nobility present was the high nobility. His silent survey of the court was a who's who of the powerful of the Empire. Ministers stood in their lavish robes staring him down sternly, Church officials of Theolent looked at him as if he were a demon, Marquises looked at him with utter disdain, the Dukes looked at him as if judging whether to poison him or not, and Grand Dukes looked at him with amusement as if he were some dog. He turned around and even saw old Archduke Fararem of Monsoriens smirking from behind a pillar like he was watching his head already being

beheaded

Spoiler

Gulping silently, Baron Timon had determined that he had most definitely fucked up as he looked up to see the Throne of Theolent itself rise above him as the Emperor preened in his expensive robes while giving him a thin smile. Even the First Prince Guntram Talient was here as he gave him a smile even faker than the one he already had. In the midst of this shock and the Emperor's preparation to speak, he silently determined that this was going to be an all or nothing gamble with his head probably being on the line.

Spoiler

"So, you want to supervise an orc welp" said Emperor Talient in his opening question as the whole of the Court started to laugh at poor Timon as he gritted his teeth in anger. "Granted, I don't think many others want to do the duty but you might be less desperate for lands if I give it to you."

"Hail your Radiance" said Timon as he tried to desperately ignore the laughing from the higher nobility and he started his practiced begging routine. "Yes, you are correct in that regard but I believe it may benefit you if you have someone with experience to look after your son."

"I have six great noble families that have been given such tasks for as long long as the Empire has ruled, more often than not so why should someone so low as yourself get such an important task" said the Emperor with a little less mirth as Timon glanced at Archduke Fararem preening in the background with his sycophants as they chuckled at the hilarity of a lower nobleman trying to sweet talk the Emperor.

"I believe that my work as Steward for my leal lord Edmond Coudreres shows my dedication" said Timon as he glanced around to look for possibly his only ally for this position. "He said that he was traveling to Theolent to present..."

"Oh yes he did" said the Emperor as he interrupted Timon with slight impatience in his voice now as he looked down from his throne. "And what he said was so pointless that the good Archduke did them when he was his father's heir and I had to apologize to him for his arrogant servant!"

Timon puffed himself up with anger as the Court started to laugh like hyenas at the Emperor's partial dismissal of him. Even he had done some work in hunting bandits (Behind the Knights as a sane man would do) these pompous cretins probably had only gone to war when they had greater numbers than the Levornian or Balasornian savages with their pitiful armies. Even the Archduke was nothing more than a bastard clutched at the Imperial teat and rarely going to war allowing his functionaries to go do it for him like good like dogs. They were all parasites! At least he had the decency to try to act the part and rule!


"Well, at least I have some experience with how to run things other than using Imperial functionaries to do his work, unlike His Highness Fararem!" exploded Timon as the hilarity of the Court reached a crescendo as even the Churchmen making jokes insulting his intelligence

Than Timon realized than that he had taken this little charade too far. The higher Nobility were now glaring at him with the hard looks as he realized he had shown a wee bit more defiance to their order, the Emperor's order, than what was typically allowed from someone in his now utterly expendable situation. He turned around and their stood Archduke Fararem with an indeterminable look on his face until he started to frown hard and he spoke.

"Did you insult me in the presence of my liege?" whispered Fararem as Timon realized how quickly he had blown his attempt at power. Fararem than looked at the Emperor and then at Timon and then started to shake his head like one would do with an idiotic child.

"Guntram" said the Emperor in the deadest voice Timon had ever heard as he looked to his son at his side "Kill him."

Timon turned around in horror as Guntram Talient with a pleasant smile still on his face got up slowly from his seat at the right hand of the Emperor and drew his sword. Then he started hearing chanting which he realized was coming from the Church officials all around the court. Then he glanced into the Court and saw every noble look at him with apathy as he started to realize his oncoming death. Then Guntram ran down from the Throne with his same smile on his face, his sword in his right hand, and than Timon threw himself onto the ground.

"Forgive me my lord" screamed out Timon as he placed his face on the ground awaiting for the blade to cut deep into his body. "I mispoke! I did not mean to insult either of you!"

"Well it appears you are as craven as your liege lord told me" Chuckled the Emperor as Timon slowly raised his head. "Your liege lord told me about how he discovered you were cheating on your land taxes and agreed with me and did not mind the possibility of you meeting an unfortunate end. "

"I did that and I insulted you as well your Radiance" shouted Timon as he ignored the betrayal of his liege lord and his own analytical mind as he tried anything to save his soon to be long and happy life. "I believe that I of my noble status, deserve more than to be killed like some beast or elf!"

"You still are trying to get this position?" said the Emperor in an indecipherable tone "After all you have been revealed to have practiced?"

"Yes my lord!" Yelled out Timon as he ignored the pain of a guard kicking him to stop moving.

"Hmm very well!" said the Emperor in a frankly amused tone "If you want to deal with the welp then you can do so."

Now that set off a loud shouts of disbelief all around the Throne Room as the disoriented Timon felt the kicking stop and he was harshly dragged to his feet to look at the Throne of Theoniel where Emperor Talient stood unruffled before the threats of rebellion that seemed to be developing ever more quickly at his announcement was processed. Timon had a weary smile put on his face as he briefly caught a glance of Archduke Fararem looking up at the Emperor shocked to his very bone. The cries of the noble court increased strenuously as finally a massive boom sounded in the middle of the Throne room silencing all who were yelling with the exception of some cries of pain.

"Thank you Ecuyer" said the Emperor to a woman as she silently walked into view from behind the massive Throne. Timon looked at the woman with wide eyes as he remembered that this was the new Court Mage that had been appointed a fortnight ago. He also slightly felt nausea as he remembered her functions for the Emperor when the Imperial Justice was unavailable.

Spoiler

"Rollo" said the Emperor to the Archduke , as the heavy silence returned to the Imperial Court, "You will marry my daughter Ginerva as you have been asking me for years and in exchange the good Baron will be Steward to the orc welp, understand?"

"That is very much desirous, Your Radiance" said the Archduke as he grinned from ear to ear with a lecherous glint in his eye as he bowed exaggeratedly before Timon with a slightly amused smile seemingly forgetting his insult as if the chaos that had just occurred was nothing more an amusing trading of insults by drunken noblemen.

"And you" said the Emperor as he turned to the dazed Baron "will be the Steward to the 6th Prince."

"I will be honored to serve you in that function and in many other offices to come" said Baron Timon suddenly not tired as the Knights and Prince unhanded him and the good Baron happily prepared to celebrate as soon as he got out of the viper pit that was the capital.

"No you will not get any more offices after your tenure as Steward ends nor will you be payed for your efforts" said the Emperor with a sharp edge to his voice as Timon was about to celebrate. "You will serve at the leisure of the Prince and if you are dismissed by him you will never return to Court under pain of death and all of your payment in this office will be given to the Count of Coudreres as payment for your misappropriation of taxes in the realm."

"That is obscene!" Shouted Timon as he suddenly regrew his spine, "why should I even bother myself with such an office with such draconian insults to my person when I could just return the my Seat?"

"If you don't, than the Council of Imperial Heralds will take your pitiful title and deliver you back to your liege lord where he will have you dealt with for all of your crimes. " Said the Emperor with a condescending smile on his face "Now will you honorably take this office and guide our new Prince into being a leal servant to this Empire?"

"Yes your Radiance" said Baron Timon as his stomach lurched at the scope of the massive mess he had gotten wrapped into, "But when would I start on my duties for this job?"

"Oh when will you start?" Chuckled the Emperor on his massive throne, "Why you will start on his most auspicious day, I Emperor Bernot Talient of the Empire of Theoniel have spoken."

"Long may he reign!" Shouted all of the members of the Court as a drained Baron Timon Rigal was swiftly dragged from the opulent Imperial Throne Room by the two guards that were ready to execute him moments before.

The countless opulent hallways turned into a blur as Timon was half dragged and half "guided" by the Imperial up and down the countless hallways and grand staircases until he came to a large door which he deduced in his date was where the accursed brat was.

"Baron" said one of the soldiers in a gruff manner as the other soldier opened the door to the Prince's room "You will get yourself familiarized with the Prince and his attendant before you can deal with your affairs and any indications that the Prince dislikes you or you try anything and you will be killed understand?"

The must chastened Timon bowed his head before the guards before they shoved him into the well furnished Prince's room. Finally given a sense of calm after his ordeal the Baron collapsed to the floor of the entrance of the room and started to cry pitifully at what he had lost. His entire life had just been laid bare and uprooted all because he tried to look to the heavens all because he had cheated paying a marginal amount of taxes and taken a small amount of taxes. Honestly he was being oppressed all because of his intelligence in the face of those unwashed barbarians.

"Who in the hell is crying? Said a soft female voice over the soft sound of baby noises "I was about to let him suckle Becca! Can you stop crying about how Pate left you!"

Than suddenly an annoyed and buxom, red haired servant girl started to walk towards Timon's collapsed form in the entrance and he felt a surge of anger and confidence as he looked at her sinful body. He started to remember his role as a Steward and he immediately walked towards the girl and grabbed her by her throat pushing her toward the window, right next to the cradle where the orc Prince lay. He smirked as he suddenly felt back in his element as a member of the superior peerage of the Empire of Theoniel as he intended to put this whorish peasant in her place as how he and his ancestors had done for 300 years.

"Listen here you whore" said Timon as he savored the gasps of air of the peasant girl as he increased his hold on her throat. "I am the Steward for His Imperial Highness and unless you want to be executed you will do as I say, even if he is a !"

Timon grinned as he felt his lordly rights return to him after being treated like a peasant by the Royal Court. The silent terror of the whore reminded him of when he was a young heir to his father before he had to marry his accursed wife to pop out his knightly son and he could go out on outings similar to this every night with any maiden he fancied. The servant girl had appeared to be chastened so he eased up on his hand being on her throat so she could speak and he could hear he after his bought of discipline.

"I was about to suckle him" said the buxom girl with a tone of pure irritation instead of the fear he expected. "I'm guessing you're the father of that shining Ser Lomas ?"

"Yes, I am" said Timon with pure irritation at her resistance "And this is to understand that..."

"Yeah, yeah grovel before my meager nobility and kiss it right?" said the girl now even more annoyed at the Baron "In case you're son hasn't told you if you hurt me look at what happens when the Prince sees it."

A wary Timon loosened his grip on her throat as he decided to check on the Orc brat. Timon sneered as the half orc looked up at him with his chubby body and green skin reminding him of the beast that he was going to be responsible for. For a minute the child looked at him with his hands around the throat of the servant girl and his eyes narrowed suddenly before he started bawling his eyes and screeching in the loudest manner as Timon had to place a hand on his year.

"Your Imperial Highness!" Shouted to his horror, the voice of the second guard that had escorted him from the Imperial Throne Room, opened the door.

As the guards started to draw their weapon Timon made a move for his survival as he pulled the breast out of the girl's dress and shoved them into the shocked Prince's mouth as he started to cry again.

"He just wanted to feed" screamed the chastened Baron as he shoved the breast into the Prince's mouth while the girl flailed around, the the guards moved back from him shocked but amused for some reason at his move of desperation.

"Sure milord" said the other guard richly as he closed the door "Sure."

Finally after the door was closed, Baron Timon leaned against cradle tired as the comely young servant fell off the Prince. The Prince had stopped crying which was thanked for by the winded Timon. However, just as he was about to turn back to the comely servant girl he felt a hard back hand hit his face which caused him to wobble and fall without a sound into a convenient chair.

"How dare you!" yelled out Timon in outrage to this servant who was now rising up with a red face with determination in her face.

"No you listen" said the red haired girl bitterly silencing the protesting Baron with the venom in her voice and in her eyes. "I have served His Highness first and I have given him the affection that clearly all others in this damned castle have clearly forgotten. Now here this you milord, if you do anything to me the Prince will kill you, and if you do anything to the prince I will kill you, do you understand that raper?"

"Why should I care?" said Timon with sudden fear in his voice as the girl glared into his soul "Who do you think you are?"

"The guards and the Emperor seems to be the reason why you will care." smirked the red haired peasant girl as she continued to glare into Timon's soul "And I am Erina, the Prince's servant, who you also seem to be."

"Yes, yes I seem to be his servant just like you" said Timon as he looked up at the girl with fear in his eyes "as the Steward of the Prince you may return to your womanly duties servant."

"Thank you, Steward Rigal I am so delighted by your wise decision for my simple mind!" Giggled the servant girl suddenly as she curtseyed before him "but I must continue with my womanly duties."

Baron Timon Rigal quietly gave his ascent and the girl immediately went back to work as the young Prince giggled in the background as what she was doing with him. Timon Rigal sat in the chair as he silently relaxed his eyes. He was going to be a servant of the Prince for as long as he willed it and if he displeased him than he would die before him, the Emperor, and that rat Count Edmond.

'Why?" he thought to himself 'Didn't I just pay the fucking taxes!'

Spoiler

 

[tellion]

Centralia


Taken From: The New Survey of the Lands of Theoniel by Magister Ellard

---

As all of the citizenry of Theoniel know, Theolent is the capital of our Grand Empire on the shores of the river Theolan close to where it crosses with the river Jardins, where our illustrious Emperor holds court, and where the Exalt of the Trios reigns in the grandest Cathedral outside of Holy Primus. The capital is the most known but the land surrounding it is the true heart of Imperial pride and power since the early days of the Empire.

Upon entering Theoniel you first notice the near perfect roads of solid lined stone stretching all around Centralia, which all lead to Theolent. These roadworks were created by the vile Sorcerer Lords of Alvaria from Cermont (At the time Caera) during the days when their heathen Empire put much of the world under the yoke of their unholy magic. However, long after the Great Shattering of Alvaria these lands still held the last Rexari from their lands who still held his heathen ideals and punished the Triens for their one true faith and threatened Holy Primus. Theonile of Theolent the Anointed Founder of the Empire broke this hold in the name of the Faith when he drove them from Theolent to Caera where he slew the last Rexari and drove his host into Imperial Bay. Afterwards he purged with the assistance of the Church's Knights all mages and arrogant beastmen from the land in accordance with the tenets of the faith until the only evidence of their presence are the occasional ruin, a restored manor, and the best roads in all the empire.

Since then Centralia has been the base for the Emperors from the House of Talient frequently weathering wars, betrayal, and otherwise for roughly 300 years until when Abraxas Talient crushed the former mayor of the palace Caylan Formartian in the Battle of the Two Rivers ending his revolt against the Imperial Throne. The subsequent administrative re-centralization ended support for Formantian's ridiculous notions of the humanity of beastman, support of mob rule by peasants, and preaching of freedom for mages while making Centralia into the preeminent center of the empire of which it has held for more than 400 years since.

Since then the noble houses directly within Centralia (Coursonny, Artians, Coudreres, Preseoux, and Virans) have benefitted greatly and have become integral parts to the running of the Empire. Other nobles with history from Centralia or otherwise maintain old castles and even build fortified manors within Theolent and outside of it due to the incredible prestige, prosperity and safety that these lands have.

As a result the various settlements are well known throughout the Empire outside of warfare and black reputation. Villy, the Seat of House Virans is a well known breadbasket and wine producer for instance. Coursonny is an important port on Lake Heron, well known for its picturesque lands and also for his important military might. Oigy of House Artians has become legendary for it's countless tourneys making it a destination for Knights from all over the Empire that seek to become a part of the House's massive retinue of Landed Knights.

What is the cause of such great fortune? The blessing of The Maker above, the wise leadership from the House of Talient, and the Immemorial Imperial Guard of Centralia. This army, created by Theonile as a response to the heretical armies of Alvaria, now counts as one of the greatest armies of the world enforcing the divine will of the Imperial Throne in order to guide the people and nobility of the land. The Centralia garrison (Currently under the command of the First Prince Lord Commander Guntram Talient, one of the youngest Knights of the Realm) has a bare minimum of 30,000 men at all times, which is essential to preventing major revolts and has made many nobles comfortable with living in manor homes and has allowed peasants to be not afraid of being molested by brigands as in other areas of the Empire.

While Centralia's rule serves as a shining example of good governance naturally traitors and critics from heathen nations and from within our Empire attack Theolent and Centralia for being a vile cesspit of corruption filled to the brim with cultists, massive slaver rings, abuse of lessers, brutality by the divine church, deviants, large walled slums in Theolent, and other similar accusations. While some parts to this reputation is true with the occasional horrific incidences that Centralia has faced such as the Great Poisoning of the Wood in which no fewer than 67 scions of 33 noble houses died a horrible death by poison in a fortified manor near Oigy at the hands of a jealous noble can attest. However, the vast majority of these accusations are exaggerations and are often a sign of treasonous and heretical thought.

 

[tellion]

While Robar is experiencing his Tutors...

---

'Why of all times does this have to happen?' Quietly questioned Baron Timon Rigal, as he and his servant/sworn sword Ser Michel Morel, walked urgently down a particularly lavish part of the Imperial Palace to his Princely master. 'I took care of that brat better than his own father could, and yet he wants me to talk with Coursonny about my role?!'

"Your lordship, this merely sounds as if the Emperor wants you and the new Governess of the Imperial Heirs to interact in order to foster some sort of understanding," said his exasperated knight as he clunked along with Timon in his suit of plate armor. "I do not see why I had to be fetched from my melee and accompany you in my full armor. This seems like just a typical courtesy."

Spoiler

Timon glanced back in anger as he looked at his snide raven haired servant as he walked at a snails pace behind him, confused courtiers and servants looking at him and of course his master to his dismay. Timon silently began to think back when he seemed like he had most of his situation . The Morel's were among his most loyal vassals and the current lord of the house had spent almost a decade at court which meant he had some experience which could have served him well when he "became" a Steward. However, the cursed idiot had fell off his horse while surveying his lands when he sent word, and had sent his recently knighted, second son in his stead. Michel was satisfactory in his duties and his martial prowess had won him many an honor duel (And maybe a few enemies) but he was woefully ignorant to much of the civilized Court "game" which had been an utter nuisance. His simple ideas fell in the face of the obvious machinations of the noble houses trying to gain power (Like the Coursonny's) after all how on earth does an elderly Governess fall sick and die in the same day without poisoning as another powerful woman jockeyed for the position? The thought is just so boggling. However, as the injury of his Lord Father appeared to be quite detrimental for the past three years he had been stuck with his current household associate.

"I need to catch those lazy trash and get them to tell me some progress they had with His Highness." said Timon as he changed the subject and started to speed up his walk in a combination of rage and panic as the terrifying thoughts of dismissal fell into his head again. "I am sure they compensated to my duties while discussing with Ministerial Courtiers."

"How in the name of the Maker would they be able to assist him in his study's when your tutors misliked the Prince along with pretty much all of their ilk?" said Michel winded, as after suddenly speeding up to catch his lazy master.

"Enough! We are going to question the prince's leal servants so that way we will be prepared for the Governess" said Baron Timon as he started to break into a brisk run, leaving his beleaguered Knight to run more slowly behind him.

After a few minutes of running in a decidedly non-dignified fashion to the amusement of both the servants and nobility, Ser Michel was able to bring him down to reality and pull him over to the door to the Prince's room after the good Baron passed by it around three times.

"Thank you Ser Michel for your adequate assistance to my person" said Timon after he had been calmed down by his highly annoyed Knight. "Now let us get this door open and get those rats to fucking talk!"

Thus, the door opened quickly to an immaculate room, the bed and all parts of the room were cleaned extremely thoroughly. The wood was polished to perfection, the flowers in the room had been replaced, and even the ceiling had been dusted.

"What the hell?" said the Baron as he surveyed the immaculate room until a grin of triumph fell onto his face. "Their is no way they got permission from the head maid to run off from their other duties..."

"Actually they did, you lordship." said a sweating and greatly annoyed Ser Michel as he pointed to an open parchment note with an obvious seal on it. "I think we may be under prepared for this meeting at dusk with the Marquise."

"Well then help me prepare!" yelled Timon as his face turned red in embarrassment as he suddenly lunged for a log book in the back of the room that was kept by your servants which detailed the actions of yourself for a particular day.

"This is quite blatant for those servants," quipped Ser Michel as he sat down at your table and watched the Baron rip open the logbook. "Are you actually going to discipline them for this?"

"No" said Timon as he froze for a minute at such a suggestion as his Knight gave him a look of disbelief. "His Highness is quite fond of them, now get over here and help me!"

He was going to need everything when he finally learned the truths wi

---

While you Steward and the mostly corrupt nobility played the Great Game of Power for greed and desires in the luxurious confines of the Imperial Palace of Theolent and in many locations across the High (also known as Inner) City of Theolent, the servants survive. A mixture of species both human and otherwise that ubiquitously serve the rulers and survive in their own social circles. The same social circles weather all the devout loyalists to the particularly vile nobility, idiotic social climbers, and of course the occasional desperate snitch who gave names to a household or Imperial Guard after an incident. The life of a servant was quite perilous but some servants eek out a living and are still able to feel empathy for the kindest of their charges along with their fellow being. However, this often happens deep underground where the simple replaces the opulent and the masks can come off.

"Come on Becca!" yelled Erina as she hurried down the stairs to the servant quarters. "We don't want to miss the others!"

"Yes, coming!" shouted back the catgirl Becca as she ran faster down the stairs with her tail moving fast with worry.

Eventually they came to the end of the stairs and after running down a few hallways in opposing directions they finally reached the servants meeting rooms. The servants quarters were unique in the Imperial Palace as that all large rooms did not have any doors. This was due to the fact that over two centuries ago the servants revolted against an abusive Emperor and before killing the Lord Chamberlain, half the Imperial Stewards, twenty four guardsmen, and one unfortunate member of the Empyrean Guard they had used the heavy doors to fortify themselves. Naturally, the doors were removed and a twelve guardsmen were left to supervise the servants. However, the Palace Guards were much more lazy and in exchange for wine and good behavior they didn't interfere. This was where your servants Becca and Erina met with a few of their fellow servants.

"Why good morrow Erina" said a cocky elf wearing the typical Imperial servant livery as he gave Erina a big smile while she and Becca came up to the table. "You are as beautiful as..."

Spoiler

"Oh stuff it Maeric," yelled Erina as a day of irritation and stress boiled over as she took a seat "You and all the good women here know you will always be a virgin until your wedding night, hells maybe after !"

"Oh come on Erina," wilted the elf as Becca, a bunny servant girl, and a human servant roared their laughter as the false bravado of the elf crumbled beneath Erina's shining will.

"Oh Maker that was so satisfying Erina" laughed the bunny girl as the elf fell further and further into his seat. "He's been trying that on everyone, even the married servants. Ain't that right Bryen?"

Spoiler

"Oh yes I'm pretty sure Arten almost knocked him out for trying that." Chuckled the much more composed human servant as he adjusted his work rag. "Now lets stop ganging up on our good friend here before Frynne takes his member to!"

Spoiler

"Come on Bryen I'm not that desperate!" laughed the bunny girl Frynne as her bust shook with her increasing laughter.

"Erina!" said the annoyed Maeric as he hit the table futilely for quiet as he heard the laughing spread to the adjoining meeting rooms "I hope you didn't get me out of extra pay just to kill my love life"

"Yeah she didn't want to kill your..." paused Becca as she looked at Erina's face suddenly harden at the mention of the business that was coming as the other two continued their laughter at the expense of Maeric.

"I'm here about the young thing, Maeric" said Erina which instantly silenced all the servants that were still laughing and the adjoining rooms suddenly became quiet as well.

"Well, I must be going off to talk to the Steward about how he wants us to approach the food at midday" said the bunny girl Frynne now completely alert as she quickly got up from the table suddenly and moved toward the opening to leave. Right before she leaved however she covertly mouthed 'no guards' and walked down the hallway before the remaining servants started to hear the light hitting of shoes on the stone stairs.

"You really gotta be careful" said Bryen also completely serious as he got up to leave and gave a slight glance out the door before signaling something. "I need to get back to the gardens outside."

With the departure of their other two accomplices Becca and Erina both handed parchment to a stone- faced Maeric. He gave a quick glance at the ratty parchment before frowning and then he stuck the parchment into his boot and then looked to Becca and Erina.

"I don't know," said Maeric with a low voice as he started switching gazes between the doors in a paranoid way. "That information is more imperial than gossip."

"What!" said Becca with some volume that made Maeric and Erina shush her, "You mean after a month you still have no idea on why this Coursonny women is here?!"

"Yeah what the hell, you found out the whispers about the new tutors coming but you couldn't tell us about the noble," said Erina with an indignant glare in her eyes. "If you sold us out..."

"What what! No!" said Maeric now quite mad at the accusations. "We have known each other since we moved out of that gutter, we live in the same inn, I would never betray you! Ever!"

"Really well..." said Erina now blushing a bit.

"Oh enough you two," said Becca as she hit the table hard to get them back on topic. "We need the reason why this happened, now Maeric!"

"From the few tidbits I heard this matter is being handled directly by the Heralds and some Ministers" said Maeric now his voice at a whisper. "The channels that are deciding these things have moved beyond that ponce of a Steward and the Lord Chamberlain to someone more important. No reason why or how it's being done."

"That makes no sense, the Duchess..." said Erina as her voice started getting panicked. "You really think she just died in her sleep do you?"

"I know that!" snapped Maeric as he started to glare toward the entrance area to the deserted room. "But her own family disliked her and she had pretty much lost her wits, I wouldn't be surprised if someone poisoned her to get this Coursonny woman to become the Governess of the Imperial Heirs but again this stuff is beyond typical palace events."

"You told us about all sorts of crap!" Whispered Erina furiously. "You even told us about that one poisoning that turned out was actually the Steward."

"I can tell you about a shit ton of stuff alright. Like which nobles sire bastards, the best idiotic court intrigue, when a noble got a pox, and hell when an idiot gets caught trying to kill" said Maeric with a resigned tone in his voice. "But I can't tell you secrets where even nobles die to keep them."

"Are you a coward?" Asked Becca with steel in her voice that replaced her typical meekness. " Weren you not the same man who robbed Grand Dukes in their chambers before you became a servants?"

"I was younger and stupid" hissed Maeric in a sort of desperation. "But we all have limits before the Gods, this is my limit!"

The silence after that was palpable, Becca lost her edge as she silently realized how close they were to the dragons den. This was stuff that any noble other than the Emperor and his close circle would die from an unfortunate application of poison and would die peacefully in their sleep. For servants? Well, she could see every part of her body being hacked off during torture and than being burned alive by an entire army of Guardsmen. That was fine for her if she could help the Prince but if they died the Prince would have no one except perhaps for one greedy Steward that would gleefully kick him off the Palace walls at the first mention of a trumped up charge of treason and the reward for taking them down.

"Can you tell me about the noble house again?" Asked Erina curtly with a subdued air of determination which seemed more in place with Becca.

"House Coursonny of Coursonny, " began Maeric with a certain urgency. " A moderately wealthy noble house that currently holds only two offices of note, the Governess and some role in a Ministry. The current Lord is Marquis Bartoloman Coursonny who is a Portmaster for Coursonny, a tax farmer, and owns multiple ships in Cermont along with on Lake Heron. His wife was the daughter of his sworn lord Viscount Mallette and was a handmaiden for some noble family in the south in her youth. They also have a son named Germain who is currently ruling in their stead while they are in the capital. "

"Is that it?" Begged Erina as desperation showed again. "Please tell me that's not it!?"

"I'm sorry my friends," said Maeric as he brushed away some tears that started to fall. "I'll help you in any way I can but you need an actual spy to find the information you seek."

Erina and Becca gave him a hard look and they silently thanked him for his help and he left extremely despondent. Then they both got up from their seats without speaking to each other and started walking in lockstep toward the stairs leading upward. Their were a great many thoughts in their head but they both had the same thought as they walked up the long stairs into the palace above.

'We need a way to spy' they thought as they walked back into the opulence and falsehood of the palace as night approached for the Steward.

---

Later that night...

---

"Milord we're at the manse" announced Timon's servant Pate in a much more subdued voice than normal temporarily pulling Timon out of thinking about the scenarios that frightened him. The most obvious one was of course possible dismissal and at worst he imagined his head on a pike but at the same time he felt relief in getting some of the Herald's goals to be told to him,

Whatever his thoughts Timon and his Knight both looked out to see the the sun outside the carriage was setting fast as they could see the quiet High City manse of the House of Coursonny coming into their vision. The High City, while being rightly famed for it's glitzy aristocratic homes, the palace, and it's luxurious stores seemed to forget that this part of it existed. The Manor and the ones next to it were on the very periphery of the Old Tourney grounds. A wooded glen in the eastern part of the High City that had once hosted tourney's for the first Talients before the city expanded. Now the tiny glen had shrunk as old manors gradually took it's spot including the large gardens of the Coursonny's manse.

As Timon approached he realized the age based on the old cobblestone walls which appeared at first glance to be new but the closer you got to the grey manor showed their age. The lavish fountains sprayed their shining water and the entirety of the gardens appeared to be spotless which unnerved Timon due to his own experience with his harvests. Timon checked his and Ser Michel's doublet and when he was satisfied he glanced again at the manor and saw that only one weak light was on for the entire old manse with the exception of the guard station which was hailing for the carriage. Upon getting stopped the guards immediately ushered him and Michel outside of the carriage, after telling Pate to wait nearby, Timon walked up nervously to the door of the manse while his sworn sword followed lazily behind him.

"Marquise Coursonny has been expecting you" said the nameless guard as he stopped before the big oak door. "Just follow the household guard to the great chamber."

Timon muttered his thanks and knocked on the doors to which three young servant girls immediately opened them. They were two blond humans and a brunette elf that were wearing immaculate livery and giving smiles that were so fake that Timon was reminded of some particularly disturbed aristocrats. Regardless he moved into the manse where he almost hit a huge household guard that was standing so still that he appeared to be a statue.

"I apologize good servant" said Timon as the guard gave no acknowledgement of his presence and the servant girls starting beckoning him further into the house.

"This place is worrying, your lordship," whispered a now alert Ser Michel as he covertly tightened his grip on his shortsword's handle while trying to avoid the speechless household guards which littered the lavish floor as they continued toward the great chamber.

Between avoiding guards, he began to notice some marks on the servant girls back and necks that were only just visible due to the heavy dresses on each of them. Then he noticed one of them slightly limping and his heart utterly sank. Ser Michel had also noticed the hidden marks that he was now was extremely close to his master with the pommel of his sheathed shortsword being gripped even clear. Both were now clear that this may be a problematic visit. Finally, they came to a large door which was guarded by two guards whose face's could not be seen under the fully armored knights.

"Announcing his lordship Baron Timon Rigal" came the voice of a deep voice from within the room which promply made the guards at attention suddenly open the door to a large great chamber, with a massive stone fireplace whose flames that cast eerie shadows on the walls. The occupant that Timon was here to see sat at a long, ornate, wooden table giving him hard glance.

"Thank you for coming Baron Rigal but we must make this short, " said Marquise Coursonny in a bored and detached tone as she got up and stretched her hand out to have Timon kiss it. "I will be having an audience with the Emperor in the Imperial Palace for the rest of this night so I will not be asking you the trivial tidbits of the Prince's daily life."

"Thank you your grace, " said Timon uncertainly as he realized to his relief that he didn't have to talk about what the servants did with the prince while he slowly made his way into the dark luxurious room to kiss the hand of the Marquise. "I eagerly await to discuss the young Prince."

"Well, the young prince does seem to be having quite a few problems related and not related to his breeding," chuckled the Marquise, as Baron Rigal paused mid-kiss as he could feel his worst fears start to solidify.

"What do you mean?" said the Baron as he quickly raised his head from the kiss and backed up further into the room. "I hope he is not doing anything wrong?"

Marquise Coursonny looked at him before shaking her head and sitting down in her expensive looking wooden chair. She than immediately waved over a large, guard who walked over, ignoring his Knight and stood on the other side of him. As the glare of Coursonny grew, the Baron decided to look into the fire as it seemed less hot than the glare he was already receiving.

"Baron Rigal," started the Marquise as Timon started feeling her guard suddenly grab his arm hard. "I must ask you to refer to me as 'your grace' or Governess or the Emperor will hear about this. Now before we can talk about your feelings I want you to sit down."

"But..." sputtered Timon ineffectually as Ser Michel attempted to move toward the guard that held him before he noticed the other guards had moved slightly in their direction extremely fast while the servants continued to stand ramrod straight and smile as if their life depended on it.

"I said sit down!" yelled Coursonny suddenly as the guard holding him shoved him painfully down into the chair in front of him.

"This is absurd I have my rights!" said Timon as he suddenly regrew his spine at the blatant insult. "How will the Emperor look at this?"

"You title has no bearing on this meeting and these guards are the Emperor's," said Coursonny with a dash of smugness in her voice, as Timon suddenly froze and looked around at all the black armored men that had moved even more towards him and his beleaguered knight, at his sudden spurt of resistance. "Now, please let this meeting go smoothly."

"Of course, your grace," said Timon, now visibly chastened fell back into his chair. "What is the problem with his grace?"

"A myriad of problems when I first met him," said the Marquise as she fell back into the bored pompous tone she had used earlier without any of the edge. "Some of it was understandable due to his ilk, but at times he seemed more like a cowardly peasant then a member of the royal family since he couldn't bother to meet his father."

"What!" Yelled Timon with an unusual amount of outrage for a charge that he supposedly hated, "I thought it was an option to see his father!"

"Yes it was," said Coursonny with clear distaste in her voice. "But he set himself back in his etiquette lessons even further than the ignorance of his breed had just as the previous tutors have said."

"The previous tutors were a problem but honestly his servants..." said Timon with an unusual amount of desire to defend his work with his charge.

"Then we come to those servants," said Coursonny with her voice laced with disgust at the mention. "Honestly how you got some gutter born trash and a filthy bastard beastman to serve the His Radiance's child is beyond me."

"They were the servants that were given to him from birth," said Timon who was shocking himself with his own defense of his own antagonists. "I do not want the emperor to be separated from something that he likes."

"Sometimes what a Prince likes is not toward the interests of the realm," hissed the Marquise as her disgust seemed to increase. "After all he needs fitting companionship from pure highborn's rather than the daughter of the gutter and some slattern's spawn."

"You mean you want me to get rid of them?" Yelped Timon as he sat ramrod straight in his chair and suddenly thought back to how it was possible for him to be dismissed by the Prince.

"Oh no, I plan on observing that trash to make sure they are not a bunch of whorish social climbers," said Coursonny as her tone started to soften towards Timon to her confusion. "After all his highness must have been given too much power over you, that allowed him to act so horrid."

"He is somewhat of a nuisance," said Timon as he ignored the false flattery. "Though his considerable problems with his previous pool of tutors that may have brought this on."

"Still, from what I heard he still treated leal servants of the Empire like trash," said Coursonny as her tone continue to soften. "Most likely due to his orc blood."

"Your Grace, his orc blood may be a problem with his temperament," said Timon as he continued his odd impassioned defense for his position and for his Prince. "I believe we are starting to civilize the orc and the various tutors..."

"Baron it seems that you do not understand," said Coursonny as she interrupted him. "My Lord Husband's House along with my House have known the nature of the heathen orc since our ancestors made war on them in the Anointed Marches."

Marquise Coursonny than raised her hand without turning to point to the back wall of the house that was illuminated by the firelight. In the back Timon could see a blood red tapestry with vague silver and darker figures fighting each other. He recognized the various iconography of the church on the civilized silver soldiers and could see the fangs of barbaric looking warriors fighting brutally against them with various bloody deaths being shown. Coursonny gave him a hard look and a grim smile as he could catch her meaning.

"The Emperor has interest in the child and understands our loyalty," said Coursonny simply while still maintaining her soft tone. " We must kill the orc to save the man in the name of the Emperor and with these tutors are under my supervision I shall achieve what you you failed to do."

"So, I understand that the emperor is using you to get this supervision" said a now worried Timon. "I understand why the servants, tutors, the prince and me are being supervised but why is the Emperor doing all of this?"

"That is not for you to know" said the Marquise with a smug glance at the Baron. " Continue with your duties but try to be more competent at them."

"Your grace, the carriage has arrived to take you to the palace," said the deep voiced guard which startled Timon briefly out of his extremely worried state.

"Perfect timing!" Chuckled the Marquise as she got up from the seat and left Timon paralyzed with the revelations in his seat next to his forgotten sworn sword; still alert even as the large amount of guards that were emptying out of the room following Coursonny.

The room had pretty much emptied out after a few seconds when Timon got up and ran after the Marquise to the shock of his sworn sword.He was mad, all of this time he had been told some of the most obvious tripe about the brat that he had to deal with but he hadn't heard the reason why. Why was the Emperor interested in this orc child? Why did the Emperor give him more resources for tutoring? And of course the thousand gold question, how was the orc mother involved? As he ran through the manner he ignored the puppet servants yelling at him to stop, he ignored the silent guards that lunged at him, and he tore the main doors to the manse open to come face to face with the Marquise. The Marquise was looking at him at shock from atop a black carriage unadorned by anything, the black robed guards on the carriage also turned to look at him.

"What in the name of The Maker is that orc spawn!" Yelled Timon as he took tried to catch his breath while listening to dozens of swords being unsheathed, "I am the Prince's chief servant, I deserve to know!"

"Why should I tell a pawn that?" Laughed Coursonny as the shock wore off from her face, "I knew that you were a conniving little worm but I had no idea you were willing to die in the name of your position!"

"Tell me," yelled Timon as his rage increased as he thought about the various humiliations he had suffered to meet this woman. "I will not die for you because this boy did something wrong!"

It was at this moment that Timon noticed the various faceless guards that were moving cautiously toward him and he awaited for the death that was sure to come. Until, the blades were suddenly sheathed as the Marquise walked over to him with a look of silent rage and stopped right to the side of him.

"I will ignore this impudence in the name of the Prince," as she whispered into this ear. "I will tell you a bit of what is known and in return you will return to your duties with no complaint, you will owe me your life ."

"I understand your grace," whispered back the much chastened Timon

"After the brat's mother died from childbirth a Magister returned from overseas," began the silent Marquise. "The Magister had found some interesting information about the orc Empress's bloodline."

Then the Marquise turned around and walked to the carriage that was still waiting for her, while telling the guards to escort the sworn sword and much chastened Timon back up to the palace once she left. In the meantime, a shocked Timon stood in the exact same spot, ignoring his now freed sworn sword's questioning on his conditioning, as other questions flooded into his mind.