Noble Arcana

Saying one thing and meaning another is a talent that anyone can have, but is a necessity among the nobility

Lady Arbessa in her letters

Solomon let the taste of the coffee settle on his tongue for a few moments as he considered what Melissa had just told him. Guns were highly restricted within Drakthiss. Only some of the guards within major cities and the king’s personal guard typically had access to them. The rest were sent to the front or sold to the Explorer’s Guild. Certainly some nobles managed to acquire them with special dispensations, or by other means, but that was typically only one or two, far fewer than what Melissa was indicating. Many parts for guns were built in Etling, but those parts weren’t allowed to be assembled there. He considered whether or not Duncan was confused about what he’d seen, but given the man’s demeanor and experience he doubted it.

He’d already determined that James was involved with a criminal element, but it was clear that he was into even heavier works than he’d anticipated. A noble from one of the founding families hoarding firearms was unprecedented. Solomon had to consider why he would take that risk. Was he like the Dentus family? Planning a coup? He doubted it. He didn’t have the right name and claim and if he was attempting to take it by force of arms than he’d need to have cannons, mages, and about fifty thousand men hidden somewhere within the manor as well.

No, there was a more obvious answer here. Viscount Byar was a third son in need of coin to accomplish his goals. Perhaps he hadn’t been lying about those investments he’d made with the draks he’d received from his father. The investments had just been in less-than-savory businesses like gun smuggling and gambling halls. In a way that made him similar to Solomon. He simply hadn’t lucked into a god chained within his basement and access to an infinite library of knowledge.

Solomon turned his attention back to Melissa, placing his mug on the side table.

“He saw nothing, and you heard nothing. We will speak to no one about this. After the ball we will make an excuse to return to Moonfallow. For now, simply act as if everything is normal, and ask Duncan to do the same.”

Melissa nodded. “Yes lord.”

He gave her a look.

“Yes Lord Solomon.”

His look turned withering and she smiled. He noticed she tended to favor a bit of levity when the situation was complicated or stressful.

“For now please ask the household servants when I’ll be expected for breakfast. I need a hot bath before anything else.”

She nodded and left the room. Solomon had another sip of coffee and closed his eyes as he savored it, organizing his thoughts. After that he placed it gently to the side and made his way to the bathroom. Unlike his own manor, this one had running water. He turned the faucet and watched as the bronze bath slowly filled. After it was done he stepped inside, finding a lavender scented soap which he used to scrub himself clean. He still had remnants of sweat and grime from the previous night, and could still smell a bit of that vile gas in the depths of his nostrils.

Once he was done he felt refreshed and focused. He dried himself and brushed his hair before making his way back to his room to dress. He looked at the outfit Melissa had laid out and frowned. It was a green suit of his uncles along with one of his own purple vests. He had liked the green suit when it was packed, but looking at it in that moment he found that he no longer favored it. He instead grabbed one of his own purple suits with silver clasps. Once he was dressed he allowed Melissa to escort him to the breakfast table where James was already waiting.

“Good morrow to you, Solomon!” he said as he spread a heavy slab of butter around on a hot piece of bread.

“Good morning,” he replied, smiling as if he hadn’t heard that particular bit of wordplay more than enough for one lifetime. He went to sit next to his host and let a servant pour him a tall cup of some type of fruit juice. He sipped it, finding it pleasantly sweet and tart, and reached forward to slice a piece of bread for himself.

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“How did you sleep?” asked James.

“Quite well actually. I suppose our adventures last night wore me down quite well.”

James nodded. “Well unfortunately, I’ll guess that by the end of tonight you’ll be similarly tired.”

“The price of being nobility.”

James nodded as he cut into a piece of ham.

“I heard from a few friends that you’ve been reaching out to a few logging and mining interests here in Etling?”

Solomon nodded. “You’re well informed. Yes, I’m hoping to revive the logging and mining that once happened in Moonfallow. Even now many of its people work in the factories here for a week at a time, sleeping on crowded floors, before returning to spend time with their families on the weekend. I want them to have more opportunities at home.”

James nodded. “It’s important to take care of one’s own people… I never had a chance to inherit land and people. When my father dies I don’t anticipate even being given land and serfs within the Reach. I am surprised that you as a fourth son received as much as you did.”

Solomon took a few pieces of bacon and placed them on his plate.

“I was surprised as well to be honest with you. I had expected an introduction to a guild and a small stipend at best.”

“More of that luck like you had last night, eh?” asked James.

“Yes. I’ve found that when one has an unexpected windfall, they should capitalize on it as thoroughly as possible.”

He nodded. “Lateborn sons like us can’t afford to let them go to waste.”

“Precisely.”

Viscount Byar took another sip of his drink, clearing his throat. “I have invited a number of merchants with logging and mining interests to the ball today. I thought it may be something you found beneficial.”

Solomon had already noted that when he’d been given a preview of the guestlist. “Thank you. That is very thoughtful.” It would also save him several trips.

“It’s no trouble. They are frequent collaborators of mine anyway.”

Solomon nodded in response, wondering if there was any double meaning to what the Viscount said, but decided to focus on his food. As far as he could tell, James wasn’t aware that Solomon knew of his illegal activities. It was best to pretend that he didn’t. He may be able to exploit that knowledge later, but here in the man’s own home it would be far too risky to try. Besides that, he himself had been treated well by James so far, and felt that the man was going out of his way to be kind. He himself was an illegal existence since he’d finished his mana transference spell; he couldn’t judge the man for finding his own path to get ahead.

As James finished his meal he wiped his face with a napkin and stood. “I do apologize, but I will likely be out in the city until dinnertime. I have a number of last minute matters I need to attend to before the ball. I hope that you can forgive me for my rudeness.”

Solomon guessed that the last minute business had something to do with Bolivar, the man who’d encouraged the robbery of the gambling den from the previous night.

“I understand. I was hoping to take in the city a bit anyway.”

“Good. I should be back in the late afternoon.”

“I’ll see you then.”

With that the Viscount left and Solomon took his time finishing his breakfast. Once he was done he went out to the carriage house and found Duncan feeding the horses. Melissa was behind him. The weather had cleared up significantly and so he and her had both opted for wide brimmed hats to cover their faces from the sun.

“I’d like to go down to the main street,” said Solomon moving toward the carriage, letting Melissa open the door for him.

“Yessir,” replied Duncan, quickly finishing with the horse and moving to prepare the carriage. After less than ten minutes, they were on their way.

While it was nice to experience some sunlight, Solomon found that without rain or heavy cloud cover the smells of Etling became far clearer, as did the smog. He couldn’t tell in the gloom of the last day, but now he could see that everything seemed to have a thin film of gray around it all throughout the city and it smelled of filth and smoke.

They reached the main street and Solomon tapped that front wall of the carriage when he saw a large bookstore. He stepped out of the carriage and approached it with Melissa close beside him. The street was filled with people working and shopping and he caught the attention of many of them as he walked toward the bookshop.

He spent some time searching for any texts that dealt with translation as well as anything related to the necromancer rebellion. He was hoping he’d be able to answer the request he’d found at the last Arcana meeting. He had good luck finding a few Elvish dictionaries and even an orcish one, but nothing more exotic than that. When he asked the purveyor he explained that the Explorer’s Guild had such books, but they rarely shared them with those outside their group.

“And if someone wanted to attempt to convince them, where could he find them?”

“Well, there’s a small guildhall, more of a tavern really, at the very edge of this street. I hear that they’re… open to donations.”

Solomon smiled and slid a gold drak toward the man. “Thank you.”