Our ride up was smooth and quicker than i thought. The palace was far up the mountain yet our climb lasted only a few minutes, though the stench made them look longer.

There was a more thorough check up on the castle's loading ground. An official opened every crate and amphora but they didn't search the kemcha much, allowing us to stay hidden.

We then had to wait for what seemed like forever before someone finally lifted our hideouts and transported us on some wheeled apparatus. My best guess was that we were on a wheelbarrow like the ones in town. The bumps and jolts along the way told me we were going down some stairs.

We were finally stored somewhere. I could hear first daybell ring from somewhere close by, probably one of the castle's fancy towers.

I was waiting for things to be still for a while before coming out from hidding but Melodi's patience was at an end and she broke out of her amphora first before whispering at us: “I was about to pass out. Never again will I do something like this.” she accusingly warned me: “This better be fun and worth it.”

“Shh, keep your tone down.” I shushed her in annoyance, this was no game and she was putting all of us at risk. “We're in the middle of the day, who knows who might come near?” I reminded her before she could retort.

“Don't worry, no one will come near our stink.” Jokingly replied Balout while brushing the oily mixture away from his body. He was right, I think my olfactive receptors got burnt forever and that my sense of smell will be crippled for life.

I took a look around. We were in a dimly lit cellar. There were many crates and jars around us, mostly containing food but there was also a pile of wood logs for firewood (a luxury with the current trade disruption) and some materials like fabric or bags of feathers. The walls were tiled in some place and made of rough rocks in others. My best guess was that we were in a cellar dug uner the lord's mountain. We'll have to find our way up.

Gelcaria was the most methodic one: she looked out for the clean change of clothes. After finding them near a crate full of yellow berries, she grabbed some fabric laying in a corner for us all to use to take away as much kemcha as possible from our bodies.

The oily paste might be taken away but the smell was lasting on us, annoyingly clinging to our skin like a gum ever glued under your sole.

We all got naked and started wiping ourselves out. We had to help Melodi because her fur was covered in the liquid and she wasn't able to wring it all out on her own. We even resorted to shower her with an amphora of barok beer that was in the cellar we were in. Better to smell of alcohol than rotten fish. She was happy with the change of perfume. I wish there were some barrels of water to wash up a bit more but the palace must have a source of running water.

Once cleaned as best as we could we donned our spare clothes on, simple brown tunics and pants for my friends. The fabric was of good quality though and they could pass for servants. My outfit was a little bit better, a yellow tunic that was cut like the top of a scholar's robe and a light sand pants to go with it. I even had a small black cap to put on. I could pass for a bellboy or errand runner of a blade or any other official of the palace.

There was nothing much we could do about our hairs thought. This was fine for the short haired me and Balout but Gelcaria's long chestnut hair was now dyed with a brown and smelly tinge.

Melodi who had her hair washed in beer searched for another amphora and Gelcaria got some fruit wine to wash hers. The alcohol vapors alone were enough to make me slightly dizzied from standing around the intoxicating girls.

But this wasn't a party and time wasn't on our side, who knows when a servant will barge in the cellar? Without further ado we started our plan.

* * * *

We found a stairway leading to another storing room. A big wooden door was opening on a corridor that looked like what Nutusi's plan was describing. There were two intersections leading to the various places we needed to go, just like she had planned for us.

Balout went out first after some last minute advices and encouragements. After Mel gave him the thumbs up he went through the only corridor leading upstairs then towards the kitchen. The stench of kemcha had somehow awoken his appetite.

He must have succeeded in his mission because after a while the three of us heard some running in the hallway going towards where the kitchens should be.

Gelcaria and Mel left me at the same time each going to their respective objective. I whispered a last word of caution to both of them, mostly at Melodi since she was the one most likely to find trouble, while they wished me Fortan's best.

I silently prayed Shinpilo to hide them from the eyes of those meaning them harm. Maybe it was the irritating remnants of the alcohol vapors but I almost felt a burn around my right eye in response.

After giving them a bit of an advance I also got out of the cellar. The hallway was empty.

Walls were made of clean smoothened white stone and there were light crystals hung regularly to keep darkness at bay because there were no windows to be seen.

I calmly walked the path I had memorized, going along the kitchens that were still brimming with the commotion Balout was causing then going even more upstairs for the innermost courtyard.

There were no guards at what should be the entrance of the inner court. Either Gel or Mel managed to lure them away.

I met a few servants walking to their own task, some cast a glare on me but most were focusing on their jobs instead of a random kid. I just hope the smell wasn't going to attract their attention.

Since I could pass for one of the youngest aides of the retinue of a blade, I was left undisturbed.

In the inner court there was a change of scenery. The hallways got larger, there were mosaics on most walls depicting either the current lor or his ancestors fighting against a varied bestiary of monsters. Complex carpets were laid on the ground and luxurious furnitures were everywhere.

There were more people too. Guards for one: patrolling in pairs, either in armour or in uniform but always wearing a short lance in hands and an array of servants and other official looking.

All servants were wearing the light blue colour of the Shieldlord and had his crest embroidered on: the three waves in the circle. I was trying my best to not walk past them, stay hidden behind the furnitures or hide my lack of crest behind the satchel with my textbook inside.

This went smoothly until I was nearing what should be the library if I didn't get lost.

There, an old servant came out from the library. He was looking like some old official: plump, bald and with a short grey beard. The fat man was wearing a blue robe with the crest of the ruler on his back.

He glanced at me before walking his way. I sighed in relief and that might be what attracted his attention because he turned back and pointed at me: “Who are you boy? I've never seen you around before.” he said in a strict tone but without raising his voice.

I tried to stay as composed as I could to not betray the fright that was growing inside of me and meekly responded. “Apology respected elder. I am one of first blade Duarch's servant. I was tasked with bringing this package to the old lord.” I was bowing to hide my shirt and the lack of crest on it and just showed my pouch in front of me, not even daring to meet his gaze.

I was praying that he wouldn't come near and start smelling me which would in turn attract more questions.

The old official beamed. “Oh, such a young servant. Quite meritorious. Which family do you stem from to already start working?” He probed me.

Shitty scribe, can't you let me go? I needed to find some way to deter him. “I'm from the Kosho family.” I tried sounding as shameful as I could. Passing for the blade's family that got demoted last year should deter him from probing more and was a fitting explanation for my current condition.

“Oh is see. Regretful, what happened. But it is nice to see hard working young ones.” he said in a gentler tone, somehow sympathizing with the Kosho family that got so many citizens killed. “I though most of them went to the imperial city though?” He added yet another trouble for me.

I tried to not falter “Most did, respected elder but I was left behind and had to find an occupation, thus my current condition. Would you be so kind as to point me to the old lord's quarters? I'm tasked with handing him this book and he must be waiting for it. I wouldn't dare make our lord wait.” I subserviently said acting like a perfect servant.

“Oh the former lord requested a book. How unusual, I thought he stopped reading for years now.” he responded in surprise. “It's been a long time since I saw that, let me accompany you.” He added with joy.

Damn it old man , can't you care for your own business? Don't you have books to transcribe or a library to tiddy up? You're going to blow this operation up. I needed to find a way to get rid of this persistent mosquito: “Thank you very much respected one but I wouldn't dare abuse more of your valuable time, just point me the way.” I was boiling inside but kept it low profile.

He gently laughed “Do not worry poor child you aren't abusing this old one's time. It would be my pleasure to guide you there, come, follow me.” He ordered in a firmer tone indicating that I couldn't refuse his help any longer.

I was in no position to refuse without looking more suspicious. At best I could keep this masquerade going on until I met the old lord. From there it wouldn't matter much. Who knows the old man could even deter others from prying about me?

And indeed the man must have been some official of substantial importance, maybe a librarian instead of a scribe? Servants were slightly bowing at him on our way and letting him pass.

We were now in the heart of the inner court, he was short breathed after we climbed a few more steps to reach the top of the palace. The walls were tended with luxurious tapestries and the floor was made of wooden flooring of various types of wood.

The drawings on the walls and embroidered carpets and tapestries were mostly depicting Kirins, the Shield's family's patron beast or portraits of notorious members of the family. The Kirin was a water dragon that looked like a horse with horns. They were considered as beasts and not as monsters and were the pets of Arteus, god of all crafts. Although water born they were gifted to him by Amidea as a return of favour. Under the god's influence they became avatars of tempests rather than water. Cyclones and other hurricanes were their deeds.

I tried to not stare too much to not look like a country bumpkin. I'm supposed to be a member of a fallen noble family, not some commoner awed by a few carpets.

When we crossed a guarded door the guards saluted us on our way, like it was fit for an official. They were clad in armour with the kirin's crest carved on and wore halberds. They also had blade strapped on their side, more fit for indoors fights.

The fact that they were guards here meant that either Gel's or Mel's commotions were already dealt with or that these guards had to stay on duty whatever happened.

“Have you ever been to the jade garden?” asked my guide without turning back to look at me, since he started leading the way I kept my distances from him to not let him smell my stench, I could only see his back.

“I never had this honour, respected elder. Thus why I got lost on my way.” I explained, praying Shinpilo to help make the man gullible and my lie sound plausible.

“Such a shame. But at this time of the year it has lost most of its splendour.” he sadly added before losing himself in what I can only think was the memories of what the garden looked like in the summer.

The decoration was getting both more luxurious but also more discreet. I could tell that the area was carefully worked on by the artisans. Light crystals were seamlessly embed in the walls, alongside heat crystals that were keeping the inside agreeable even in this harsh winter.

There were less portraits hanged around but more nature pictures be it silk drawings or paintings. And lots of potted plants, flowers and small trees bigger than bonzaïs that somehow were still green at this time of the year. They weren't coniferous so I suppose that there is some of Tupu's or Fusaad's magic at play here.

We crossed path with yet another official clad in blue silky robe that bowed to my guide before stepping aside to let us pass. My guide gave him a slight nod of acknowledgement.

That's when I realised I was being fooled.

I should have guessed it earlier.

All the signs were there: an old man, with a beer-belly, a scholar's attitude and who was greeted by everyone: guards, servants and officials alike.

“I'm sorry for not realizing earlier my lord.” I stopped and got on my knees, head facing the ground.

The man knew I must have lied, how could a blade's child not have recognized the former lord? Especially when supposed to be tasked to find him.

This eluded a heartily laugh from the old man. “What gave me out?” he asked with curiosity.

Since he was really waiting for an answer and not rhetorically asking I had to explain. “The official that bowed at you. It could only mean you are from a noble rank and not another colleague. And since both servants and guards were also saluting you it could only mean you were their superior too. I bet not even the head librarian would be greeted by everyone.”

“Smart kid and keen observer. Who are you really little Kosho?” his tone got less friendly in an instant. I dared not raise my head but I could feel his gaze weighing on me with all the menace a powerful Chi user could muster.

We were still in the middle of an alley and the guards were now looking at us. I was done for and had to convince him to hear me out. “I am just a commoner in need of your help my lord.” I bowed till my forehead hit the paved ground “Please listen to my plea.” I begged him.

I kept prostrated like this, bearing the weigh of his aura until he finally spoke. “Were the other troublemakers your doing too?” he must have been referring to my friends.

“Yes they are. They are my friends and I asked them to help me meet you.” I meekly said. “Please don't harm them, they are just children helping a friend.” I kept begging.

I could hear him fiddle with his robe. “Child's play? Huh? Is that really it? Three kids that somehow managed to get inside the inner castle and caused trouble? Or are you an assassin perhaps?” He was sounding fierce and threatening.

I raised my face to show him my honesty “Please believe me, we meant no harm. I really needed to meet you. Shinpilo bears me witness and Jalea strikes me if I lie.”

He was calmly stroking his bearded chin. Hearing about assassins the guards were now surrounding me with swords drawn.

The old lord was playing with a small white crystal, he tossed it to me “Catch!” he ordered.

I managed to catch it at the last moment. The stone was just a translucent crystal like some quartz.

I could feel his pressure ease a bit on me: “At least you are not a threat. Show me what's in your pouch.” he ordered.

I hastily opened the leather satchel showing my textbook and flipping through the pages to show that it was just a plain book. “I swear it is just a book.” I pleaded.

The lord nodded his head and one of the guards somehow understood the order and took the book from my hand, skimmed through it to check for traps or any dangerous content before handing it over to the lord.

The old man sat the book on his prominent belly before reading some pages at random. Most were in my alphabet so it made him raise an eyebrow in befuddlement. “What does this mean? Who wrote that?”

“I did my lord. Consider this a gift before requesting for your help.” I didn't want to say more with so many people around us.

“What scripture is this? I've never seen anything like it. Is it Beastkin? No it isn't. Maybe from the old elven scriptures?” Curiosity was taking the lead.

I hesitantly answered “Maybe we could have this talk somewhere else my lord. I'll explain everything then.”

This brought him back to our current situation: me kneeling on the ground with guards pointing their blades at me. He relented and spoke to the guards. “Let him be, he is powerless and I might be old but still stronger than any of you. I can handle a kid.”

The guards didn't dare discuss the lord's command, they sheathed their swords and went back to their stand but not without throwing me black stares on their way back.

“Get up and follow.” ordered my warden.