The mewing of seagulls betrayed their proximity to dry land. In the distance, the lithic towers of the city of Narlême stood proudly against the morning sun shining on the hill the city was erected on. As they drew nearer, the traffic on the water increased accordingly. Many smaller fishing boats were already out, casting their nets into the ocean. All around the harbour, a plethora of different ships laid at anchor, each one seemingly had its very own style.

Eulisses stood at the bow of the ship and took in the sight. The view is breathtaking! I never visited the sea before, so I have no comparison, but it’s so much grander than Baycall.

Behind him, Felicity was speaking to her three retainers, but Eulisses felt he was probably included in the conversation, by the way she explained things. “We are almost there.” She pointed to their ship’s main mast and the flag hoisted at the top, fluttering in the wind. “The flag we are sailing under signifies us being official representatives of the Esaburg kingdom. Duke Rochette already knows to expect the various foreign dignitaries around this time, so he will probably have men at the ready to receive - us, in this case.”

Trevis nodded in agreement, “Yes, and we even have over two full days until the summit officially starts. The winds have been prosperous, despite the … incidents, we are early.”

“Indeed, the redeeming feature of our turbulent journey.” Felicity turned to Eulisses, “You will be especially happy to hear that we are early. Narlême has a big library, and now it seems you can check it out, even before the end of the summit.”

That’s great, I have paused my experiments and even just reading for so long now, I’m beginning to show withdrawal systems! Eulisses clapped his hands together in elation, getting hyped up on burying his proverbial nose in some literature.

“I guess that Arcrary won’t make it’s deepest arcane secrets available to the normal literate. But I’d love to get some additional historical events in order - or current insights into the Planar Convergences and the mechanisms that drive them, for that matter.” He paused a second. “Wait, Felicity, do you speak, erm, the language of Arcrary? That Edmond chap earlier was talking in ‘our’ tongue, so I couldn’t tell.”

“Yes, I do speak Arcrarian to some degree,” she affirmed, “we would only really need a translator to speak to the Wrachuridian delegates. I haven’t had the opportunity yet to learn their language.”

Still, three out of four is an impressive figure. Five, if you include the study of magic, which in part resembles learning a language. “Still, I think you are selling yourself short. Even given the amount of resources and time available to you, I doubt many would achieve the same. Dabbling in international politics alone seems exhausting, although my knowledge on the matter is really limited.”

Felicity shook her head, and took a moment to think before replying. “Most of my efforts had been in pursuit of the same goal, so I would not view them as separate. After all, if I want my voice to be heard across the nations, it might be necessary - or at least preferable - that I talk to the people in their own language.”

--

Time passed quickly as they were focused on their conversation, and soon Captain Nimo expertly maneuvered the ship through the bay and the already docked vessels to a free berth.

People presumably from the harbor master’s office helped moor the ship to the dock with the cables the crew threw towards them. They then started to unload boxes of various sizes, while Nimo came down to them. “Well, yer Highness, ‘tis goodbye then. Me have to say, ‘twas a most peculiar voyage indeed!”

Nimo chortled deeply, which elicited a chuckle in Felicity, and even Eulisses was inclined to chime in. “It has been an event, true. And yet, you once again brought us safely and timely to our destination, Captain Nimo. For that, you have once again my thanks.” She lowered her upper body towards the man, who quickly gestured for her to dispense with it.

“Please, stop it yer Highness. I’d do so anytime. Just give me a holler if ye need me again, will ya?”

With a playful smirk on her lips, Felicity admonished Nimo. “Now now, Captain, do not sound so altruistic. You have still turned every situation into a profitable one. After all, aren’t Bessian spices ever in high demand in Toumart? What might be in those boxes, I wonder? I seem to recall you loading them the last time we have been to Khiphamid.”

Nimo’s chortling turned to roaring laughter. “Okay, okay, ye got me! Ye always take me to places I wanted to go to anyways! Not my fault if me strike myself a bargain on the side!”

“Your highness,” Trevis interrupted them, “the duke’s men have arrived.” He pointed towards a group of men in sparkling plate armour marching down the pier towards their ship. Leading them was a woman wearing expensive clothing and a pair of pince-nez. Her dark brown hair was tied back into a tight knot, and she was eying their vessel up and down with a strict gaze, while impatiently tapping her finger on the clipboard she brought with her.

“Whoa, if she was like twenty years younger, there would be a couple of men into that,” Eulisses whispered his inappropriate comment to Trevis, who incredulously replied, “Where did that come from all of the sudden? Aren’t you an ancient bag of bones?” under his breath. “How rude, to ask an undead after his age. And to your information, I am not that old!” Eulisses harrumphed in retort.

“I believe this is our sign to go,” Felicity simply ignored the banter and spoke to the captain, before turning to her guards and lich. “Let us go then, shall we?”

After they disembarked, they were greeted by the strict woman, who spoke to them in what Eulisses could only assume was Arcrarian. I can tell the difference, but still understand what she’s saying. Yet it somehow feels … a bit off. As if the princess’ understanding of the language is not that high as, say, of Khiphamid’s.

With undisguised irritation, the woman opened the conversation. “Welcome to Narlême, your Highness, Felicity Esaburg, I presume?”

“You assume correctly,” Felicity replied, slightly pointedly. “With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with?”

“I am Anne-Claude Robineau. I am the secretary of state, in place of Duke Rochette, and handle the duchy’s day-to-day affairs. This ‘summit’ that the Duke so graciously agreed to host in our city is amongst them. As such, I am personally here to receive you and to show you to your accommodations during this event.”

Eulisses was slightly taken aback at the degree of hostility in her voice. Isn’t she talking to royalty of a foreign nation? Yet she sounds so … dismissive?

If it did get to her, Felicity didn’t further show it. “Please, lead on then, Secretary Robineau. My companions and I have an arduous journey behind us and are eager to recuperate.”

Anne made a few notes on her clipboard, and then gestured for them to follow her. They passed the primarily wooden constructions of the harbour and its surrounding buildings and moved towards the upper districts of the city - both figuratively and literally. Along the way, the buildings got progressively higher and sturdier, passing over into multi-story stone houses. Many of which featured towers in their architecture, which surprised Eulisses but gave him delight.

When he quietly informed the princess on the matter, she softly chuckled and told him that Narlême was often called ‘the city of a thousand spires’ because of it.

Many people they passed stopped for a moment and eyed them curiously, their vanguard of shining metal being very eye-catching. Some were talking about the upcoming tournament and how they were looking forward to the spectacle, while others speculated on the summit the Esaburgian princess had convened, and whether this second one would result in actual policies against the Convergence.

They do not seem overly worried. Are they simply ignorant or are these ‘Convergences’ not that much of a deal that Felicity made them out to be? I haven’t been able to read up on them enough back in Baymere, I must do so while I am here!

“You are the second attendant to arrive,” Anne commented on the way, “a day after the Khiphamidian representatives. Young master Rochette is running late - as always. He is probably off on some adventure again.”

“We have come across him, actually, on our voyage to here,” Felicity jumped on the opportunity. “Have you heard of the sea creature disrupting the sea route between Bessi, Narlême and Baycall?”

“It has been brought to my attention, that there appeared to be a sort of disturbance, yes. So the young master has been running off fighting some monster again then, has he? I will have to talk to the duke about this.”

“The problem has been dealt with, by us, or my companion, more specifically.”

Felicity took a breath, no doubt to narrate the epic tale of him single-handedly slaying the mighty Leviathan, but the secretary didn’t give her the chance to. “Is that so? That is nice to hear, then,” Anne dismissed Felicity’s attempts, “and so, here we are.”

They came to a stop in front of the doors to a big mansion, in no way inferior to the one the mayor of Baycall has been residing in. “These are to be your lodgings for the time you are staying in Narlême. Staff is included and personally reviewed by me, they will fetch your luggage from your … boat later. I believe everything will be to your satisfaction.”

Anne turned around to their group of four and gave a small, barely noticeable nod. “My time is rather precious, I am afraid. So I will have to leave you, for now. I will be accompanying the young master at the summit, so we will meet there again. An escort will pick you up in two days, I hope you will enjoy your stay in our beautiful city in the meantime.”

Without waiting for confirmation, she left, together with the ten armed men. What the heck was that all about? Why receive us in the first place then?

“A rather … unpleasant individual,” Macey, the female Royal Guard, commented. The second one, Reed, stoically nodded to signal his agreement, while Trevis snorted and held an unhappy expression. “She didn’t show you the respect you deserved, your Highness.”

Felicity sadly shook her head. “My guess would be that she is a minor noble of the crown from Toumart. They are known for being rather … dismissive of our kingdom, not just myself in particular.”

She looked at the manor they would be staying in for the foreseeable future, followed by Eulisses and the rest. Its architectural style was grand, yet still fundamentally tasteful, indicative of a rich history.

“Well, what are we standing around for, here? Let’s enter!” Eulisses tried to lighten the mood, and led on. He pushed both of the handles down and swung the double doors open with pizazz.

The sight that greeted him baffled Eulisses. Wait, how did they? Were they in position the whole time or did they recieve some notice?

Standing in a perfect line to both sides of the carpet extending from the entrance, the staff of female and male servants were bowing and simultaneously greeting them.

“He didn’t quite know how to react, and stirred only when someone lightly tapped him on his shoulder. Eulisses turned to look at Felicity, who flashed him a wry smile. “Quite the reception, isn’t it?” She passed by him and entered the manor, upon which one man in a tailcoat separated from the aligned servants and faced the princess, giving her a straight, deep bow.

“Your Highness Felicity, I am Bastien. I serve as the butler of this estate. Let me express the warmest of welcomes to you on behalf of the entire staff.”

The princess gracefully nodded, and gestured for the man to stand at ease. “I thank you, Bastien. We will be in your care, for the duration of our stay. For the moment, I would like you to show us to our rooms, as well as send someone to the docks to pick up our luggage. The ship’s name is ‘Parthshire’ and its captain’s ‘Nimo’.”

Bastien bowed once more. “As you wish, your Highness. I will send carriers at once. If you would please follow me, I will show you to your rooms.”

This marked the group’s arrival at the city of Narlême, one of the cultural and mercantile centres of Arcrary, if not the world. The events that would soon unfold were still hidden from them, but not for much longer.