Jovanos

The route from Old-town to Northwest Orientia and the other northern parts of Sandoria is opening up to trade rapidly now that the kingdom has received a new unexpected trading partner. In a matter of a few short years the Tribesmen have gone from a people in the way of the kingdom's progress to its most lucrative trading partner as though by magic. The Northern State of Kimberley with semi-dry regions that met most of its fiscal responsibilities with modest gem trade revenues is now the largest importer of Tundra goods paying its fiscal taxes from its intra-Sandorian trade even though it isn't in a direct route from Central to Paradisum.

Never before have the sidhe-fae exposed themselves in this manner and though there are rumoured to be only a few in Paradisum, already the bastard redheaded population of Sandoria is migrating north at an alarming rate. Orientia, the northernmost province of the Kingdom is now turning into a trading hub and because it hasn't been much populated or explored since the Oriental Exodus the tribesmen love it, since the House of Lords approved them the privilege of buying property within the kingdom that's where they've been buying land; though at exorbitant taxation.

There is a large swath of unclaimed land between Orientia and the Tundra that is neutral and agreed upon will stay so by both nations to remain so as part of the peace treaty. But Orientia is turning into a hub of sorts and already has warehouses under construction though Kimberley is trying to secure exclusive buying rights from the Paradisans, luckily Barbarians don't like being told who to sell to. The Governer Magisters in Kimberley are quick to try to attach themselves to a potential riline goose whose first few eggs are always pure flesh gold.

The mages, the traders and the business-minded are buying up property in these parts fast to be closer to the progress of trade coming in and going out from Paradisum, which is my current destination. I'm walking leading a pack mule with a walking staff in hand and my 'slave' keeping close carrying the pack with the silver and gold.

Lord Izan had me on the mission to find the reason for the child disappearances and when I reported my findings he quickly sent me north whilst he consulted with the magisters and the master magicians that run a lot of the day to day of the kingdom on the best course of action against a Sorcerer of the apparent strength my team estimated. Even to me, it is quickly becoming evident that we had been used as a rod against the tribes by the higher-ups and the elite during the war and I don't even have the bigger picture as a guide for figuring it all out.

Politics, sometimes part of my job to understand them but I try not to pry beyond my reach. Hence I'm still alive while most in my profession are permanently retired or disappear without any known trace. Still though, master magicians participating in the fight with the Barbarians on their own accord...

The master magicians don't usually sully themselves without great concessions from the House of Lords yet during the War with The Tribes they volunteered their expertise and power without asking for anything from the House in return. At the time it seemed like a reasonable thing for them to do with the kingdom losing a war for the first time in centuries. But since then we at the Ministry have uncovered a number of inconsistencies with the way the war was approached with further investigation finding that the mages had received a different type of payment, but from whom and why?

King Magnus doesn't like to be manipulated especially to the extent of the losses we took so the investigation has been thorough and long these past few years and I think finding those kids may have led to our quarry. The only problem is the corrupt nature of the mages and the reputed powers sorcerers and wizards are said to possess, something else I was curious to find out but investing with Master Magicians is certainly got bad for my health quick once they knew I someone was snooping. Best give such investigations to the politically connected rats that won't be so quietly gotten rid off.

Thus I find myself trudging up the new roads of grass walking to Paradisum in the guise of a minor merchant down on his luck looking for opportunity. There are already a number of agents up there of course, I already have a contact that is well established that I can fall back to if I lose my cover but judging by the number of the poor and freed slaves going up to the north these past few years I'll only be another foreign face in a multitude of foreign faces.

The city is everything I was told it was, I pay the toll to enter the city and I get a stamp on the back of my hand I'm told will fade slowly. I've never seen a city with so many trees and so energetic a population. There is almost an air of quiet excitement about the place and almost everyone is walking around openly armed, even the children. The architecture is intriguing as well even to me who has never found interest in buildings and roads. The road of grass leading to this city was a joy to travel on though.

The inns are full but there is a hostel like building that is overcrowded with unknown foreigners that are desperate enough to appreciate any form of cheap shelter. Though overcrowded I'm surprised to find the place is relatively clean and is run by a group of no none-sense highland women.

A young man with blue tinged skin that is about 6 feet 6 inches stands guard over the property, keeping his frosty blue eyes on all of us whilst mostly lounging about in the shade. The patrols I've seen roaming the roads also seem very casual about their duty and there seem to be no official policing force within the city itself.

"I suppose you'll want to be fed as well, we have soup broth at the 50th hour beyond that you make your own way. I will be very upset if your slave starves whilst in this city and you will likely find yourself dead if such happens, we don't tolerate negligence here." She says looking at Astro then back at me with a scowl, so they don't like slavery here, at least some of the report was accurate.

"We will be here at the appointed hour, thank you mistress." I say humbly and only get a scowl in response.

We store away most of our things by the coths we are assigned and after refreshing myself I leave Astro to guard our possessions while I go out to meet our contact. Its not a very big city considering the actual sizes of cities in general, its not even a quarter the size of Capital.

But for it's age its huge, I've never even heard of a city building project going so quickly that in a single generation you watch the progress os though the city is growing from the ground like a forest golem. I find the tavern relatively easily and I take a seat and start drinking and making small talk with the other customers.

I have a feather in my hat that is a symbol for those in the know and I sometimes loudly use key phrases that will identify me to my contact. This meet is a double blind meet, meaning neither of us knows what the other looks like but its only an hour after the appointed time that a man passes by me flashing the correct hand signal before sitting at the bar.

I finish the drink I bough my new friends then I go to the bar to get another. We begin loud small talk as I order another drink and after a while I buy him another, I think we've firmly established in everyone's eyes that we honestly don't know each other but are sort of kindred spirits.

We move to a booth that is being vacated by another pair, bringing the jar of ale with us. The man who only introduced himself as Shadow is mostly quiet and morose but he grins and laughs at times. He stands at about 5 feet 8 inches and walks like a hunter even after so many drinks.

"Listen," he says, "I know the prevailing concensus at the Ministry is that the Barbarians are dumb and have a shitty espionage program and that's mostly true in a sense, they do have a shitty espionage program compared to us and their agents are relatively easy to spot in Sandoria.

"But their counter insurgency and counter espionage game is on a whole other level and most of them are very far from dumb," he says seriously leaning forward and looking me straight in the eye before leaning back with a sigh and another gulp from his drink.

"I told myself I'd give anyone else that came up here a heads up so they don't have to go through what I went through. Have you been briefed on this place?"

I nod, not sure how seriously to take this person. One moment he seems like a professional and the next he is as grumpy and loud as an old man. He looks to be younger than me though, probably still in his 40s and definetely not stable, but I understand the job does that to some people.

I've been in this game for over 20 years and my speciality is investigation, I think this Shadow may be an infiltrator but I'm not sure. I was only told he was competent and his reports always concise, the man is too casual for my tastes though.

"What can you tell me about this place and the best way to accomplish my mission. I'm told you are the only agent to last this long here." I say, using a bit of flattery but seeking information more than anything else.

He snorts, "Listen to me carefully." He says leaning forward again speaking in a low voice forcing me to lean forward as well.

"After 10 days if you still want to reside within the city you will be challenged to a match at the Arena, you have to accept otherwise you won't get anywhere here, you will be shunned. Do not hold back, that first match is the second most important match and it determines whether or not you survive."

"Won't me showing my skill blow my cover? I'm supposed to be a merchant, and wounding or killing one of the locals can't put me in good standing with the rest of the population." I say and he snorts again shaking his head.

"I swear you people ignore all the reports I send home. Listen to me very very carefully." He says seemingly in exasparation leaning even further forward and looking straight into my eyes.

"Do not underestimate these people or judge them by the standards of the norms of society in Sandoria. If you do not fight here you don't get to live or do business here as a foreigner, even the dwarves and highlanders take their queues on which foreigners to respectfully do business with from the tribesman around them. If you do fight and do so not to your fullest to defeat your opponent, you'll die." He pauses looking at me a moment before breaking eye contact and indicating with his hands as he speaks.

"The first fight will be against a veteran warrior that will test your limits, she will seem young and innocent. Do your very best to kill her or you will not survive the rest of your matches if she deems you were holding back. In fact you may not even survive that first fight if you do hold back, but she has been known to show mercy. That fight they use to gauge your level of skill and power so they can set the stage for the rest of your challenges; and there are always more challenges as everyone in this bar will attest!" He says loudly for the rest of the room to hear.

I scowl at the display but I see the far away looks I've seen in trauma survivors and soldiers, the solemn nods, the acknowledging ''aye's'' from a few of the other drinkers and even a look of pity from one of the slaves present with her master. There is a lot going on here that I'm not aware of but I don't appreciate having a private conversation suddenly made public.

I watch as he leans back forward and talks about his beloved city and it's inhabitants. The more he talks and his mannerisms the more I realise he's gone native. The respect and reverence he gives these tribes and this city the more apparent it becomes that he now sees himself more as a genuine part of this warrior culture and doesn't even realise it; that his loyalty to the kingdom has been compromised. I do listen to his words very carefully even as I think of the termination report I will have to send, for who best to learn the city and it's ways from than a foreign agent who doesn't realise he's been turned?

*

Soal

I have been learning from watching a lot of the activities these people have been taking since the big guy's revelations. Not that he is particularly big when compared to all his other countrymen. Since he started training with Sergei in that estate I can't seem to get too close to, he has been slipping my watch more and more frequently.

Either he has found his magic in stealth or they have been teaching him to be sneaky in there; he also seems to pay better attention to his surroundings as he walks again. Present, and aware of anyone that may be a potentially threat or following. I'm almost proud to say twice in the past 6 months I have noticed him spot me.

I have had to fight in the Arena 6 more times but apparently that is the threshold I needed to reach to receive enough respect not to be constantly challenged for occupying space in their beloved city. I'm even allowed into the long-houses now due to my prowess though I'm not yet permitted to live there as some of the tribesmen seem to do.

Everything seems to have been happening all at once and very quickly since that crazy speech by Sachi and already the air of preparation and excitement is in the ambience of the entire city population.

The training yards have slowly gotten busier the last few months, the women of all species seem to be perpetually pregnant through the city. There is a pickup in the pace of the construction of the buildings and estates currently outside the confides of the city walls. The tribesmen particularly seem to be in good spirits and hardly any foreigner has died in the Arena fights in months.

It's as if the entire city knows what is coming though I haven't even heard it spoken about openly in rumours. But if they knew of the coming of a war that could potentially end the seven worlds why would they be happy? So obviously there is something else going on and as an outsider I just can't see it.

I've been put to work helping in the building effort and Sachi has me working for the unpleasant twin dwarf merchants. I've been training at the Arena yards and in the fighting circles at the park for sparing. Slowly I'm fitting into their society and making myself useful with my presence. I'm not yet sure what my ulterior goal is but there is just something about the man that draws me to be near. I'm conflicted by the fact that I actually like him because I may have to kill him one day.

There is a danger in someone being so naturally talented and blessed by the Seven with strength, charisma, loyalty and power that he may one day reach for the heavens. A person like this could grow to be a tyrant, they could grow too powerful to be bound by something as lowly as human morality. And when that point comes I think I will be necessary to be that dagger that pierces his heart, until then I will be loyal and grow in strength under the shadow my new master.

At least for now that's the plan...