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Post by Brandwyn on Aug 24, 2010 14:33:10 GMT -5
(OOC: this takes place in the late early winter of 656 after the Harvest Faire and right after Ash meets Rathbone but before he goes to the Winter Revel in Norgate in January of 657. This is his second trip to Greenfield fief in the year 656, having come back in the summer after meeting Cyrus at the tavern in “Delivering Dispatches”. On that summer trip he learned of Shantilly and some of his associates and knew they were connected to his father’s business somehow. He learned the details during his summer trip, now he was following up.)
Ashton Lewis Thornbury sat on his horse Raven over looking castle Greenfield on the edge of the rather busy road. Travelers were scurrying down to the gates of the castle to get inside before the sun set and the gates were locked for the night. Ash debated on whether or not he wanted to be locked into the castle or out of it for the night, so he sat his fidgeting, ill-mannered horse and surveyed the courtyard and surrounding shops of the castle below. Behind the castle was the flash of the setting sun on the sea far off in the distance.
Ash took a deep breath, relishing the fresh salt sea air. He was standing on the last good sized hill for miles around before the land descended into the flat, marshy farmland along the coast. The whole scene was very peaceful and Ashton sat for a few moments enjoying it as the sun dipped down and kissed the sea in the distance.
He finally nudged Raven and trotted down the hill to the castle, dodging the stragglers on foot who were still trying to make the gates for the night. Snowy, his owl, swooped down and landed on his shoulder in her customary place.
Once inside the city he made his way to a poorer section of the town sprawled at the foot of the castle and rented a room in a small, but tidy inn. His horse stabled, his meal before him, he took out one of his notebooks he had made and perused its pages. By rights he should have gone straight to the monastery and delivered his letter, but he had no desire to return quickly to the tedium of monastic life. Besides, he had some things he wanted to do before he reported in.
After quickly eating his dinner, he donned his midnight blue nobleman’s clothing and slipped unseen out of the inn and strode off into the night, his sword tucked in its sheath at his waist and his white cloak thrown over his shoulder.
‘Now, if the man is only home, this will all work out perfectly.’ He thought as he consulted his notebook again, double-checking the location and name of the man he was looking for. ‘Heh! Father is going to love this!’ He smiled to himself and picked up his step, sauntering off into the night.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 13, 2011 14:51:55 GMT -5
Ash’s destination was an average looking, nondescript house much like every other house on this block of the city in the heart of the merchant district. The streets in this area were far from quiet as compared to the more affluent sections of the city where the nobles tended to live, but far less raucous than the areas around the docks. The night was still early, however, so many respectable people were still making their way back home from their shops and errands. Ash nodded politely to people as he passed, humming an old favorite hymn and smiling to passersby. It was not a usual look for him, but tonight, if everything went according to plan, he would be striking a major blow against his father and he was nearly giddy with the thought of the look on his father’s face when he wakes one morning and finds out he is several hundred gold pieces poorer.
Ash double-checked his notebook, nodded and then tucked it back into the satchel at his waist. This was the right place. He stepped up to the door and struck the knocker three times. After a few minutes in which Ash admired the molding on the porch above his head, the door opened and an elderly gentleman enquired his business.
“Greetings, I am afraid I have no appointment, but I must speak with Mr. Shantilly urgently on behalf of Duke Avignoned. My name is Carpenter.” The man nodded and showed him to an anteroom and asked him to wait. A few more minutes, several in fact, passed before the old man reappeared and led him to a study near the back of the house.
Ash stepped through the door and paused in surprise for a moment before making a sweeping bow and introducing himself. Shantilly was not at all as Ash had been expecting. What he thought was going to be another fat, overly confident merchant with only half a brain was actually a trim and fit man with hardened muscles, a deep tan and a bird of prey look in his eyes. At once Ash could tell he was intelligent and clever. Ash knew he was going to have to be very careful with this one.
Shantilly snapped a ledger closed and stood up from his desk, taking in every detail of Ash and sizing him up just as Ash was doing. He moved with grace and speed and Ash had no doubt that the scimitar at his hip was for far more than show. He was wearing black pantaloons with soft leather boots and a white linen shirt over which was an elaborately decorated silk vest. His left ear sported a huge gold ring that may have looked ridiculous on anyone else, but on Shantilly it would look ridiculous for him not to wear the earring. He had a full, long black mustache and his dark brown eyes held a glint in them that set Ash’s nerves on edge. The man was a predator and he recognized the same in Ash. They both knew it and silently acknowledged it, facing off warily.
“Carpenter is it? Never heard of you, is that your name or your trade?” Shantilly’s voice was a deep baritone, worn from years of shouting orders upon the sea. When Ash didn’t answer one way or the other Shantilly grunted and then asked, “What business of the Duke’s could you possibly have with me?” Shantilly stood facing Ash, his feet slightly apart, arms at his side and his weight on the balls of his feet. Ash could detect at least three knives hidden in the folds of his garments in addition to the obvious one opposite the sword at his waist. Dangerous target indeed. Perhaps Ash had bitten off a bit much with this one.
Ash nodded again and casually folded his arms across his chest, trying to appear non-threatening. “His Grace is aware of the goods you purchased that are destined to be sold to a Count Arthur Thornbury the Third.” Ash got straight to the point. Shantilly didn’t seem to be the type to enjoy small talk and pleasantries. Ash found himself admiring the pirate and feeling regret for they were kindred spirits on the opposite sides of justice. Here was a man Ash understood and could possibly become a friend, if only Ash wasn’t planning on killing him.
“I hardly find that surprising since Thornbury can’t keep his mouth shut. So, what of it?” Shantilly also crossed his arms, although he was as ready for combat as Ashton himself. The sparring had already begun, though no blades had yet crossed.
“Ah, yes…”Ash grinned, his eyes cold. He had to remember that this man was a ruthless killer and deserved his fate. “Then you know, as well, that there is no love lost between them, though they now be family through the marriage of Thornton’s daughter to Avignoned.” That was old news; Ash was just stalling for time trying to reassess his next move. He had to get Shantilly to cooperate before he executed the final part of his plan. “The Duke sent me to make, um… certain arrangements with you.”
“I’m listening.” Shantilly stated dryly, his eyes locked on Ash’s unflinching gaze. The contest of wills was so thick; it palpitated through the air between them.
“The payment for those items has just arrived in Greenfield on a courier who is even at this moment renting a room at the Dragon Ember Inn a couple of blocks from here.” Ash definitely had his attention. “The Duke proposes that you utilize my talents to ‘acquire’ the payment, leaving the courier alive to report the money as stolen.”
“And just how would that benefit me?” Shantilly growled. “I need that money to pay off my supplier.”
“Ah, but that is the beauty of it. I bring the money to you, less my usual ten percent operating expenses and you will have it to pay off your supplier. You then use my courier service to ship the goods meant for Thornton to Duke Avignoned instead.” Ash couldn’t help but let a hint of a smile touch his eyes. “We all win and Thornton gets the short end of the stick with no way to trace it back to you.” Ash stated. “All you have to do is report to Thornton that you never got the payment, pay off your supplier and I take care of all the arrangements of getting the goods to Avignoned with no one else the wiser as to where the shipment came from.”
Shantilly’s eyes narrowed as he studied Ashton’s face for several minutes, giving no hint as to his thoughts. Ash, sensing that he needed to cinch the deal, produced a gold ring with the Duke’s signet etched under the large ruby. “His Grace thought you might be a bit leery of the offer and so he told me to give you this.” Ash stepped forward carefully and set the ring on the end table next to the settee and then stepped back away from it, being very careful to keep his hands free from his weapons. Now would not be a good time to set the man off and spark a duel. Ash needed the man alive for a while longer. When he stepped forward his eyes had swept the contents of the desk behind Shantilly that had been blocked from view up to that point. There were two identical ledgers, but one contained a small red mark in the lower left corner. ‘Interesting’ Ash thought. He made a mental note to check that out upon his return trip to visit Shantilly.
Shantilly picked up the ring hesitantly and examined it. “So you have his personal Sigil. You are an admitted thief. This proves nothing.” Shantilly’s hand moved toward his sword.
“Think about it a moment before you do anything rash.” Ash said calmly. “What possible motive could I have to be acting on my own here? I don’t know you; I barely know the Duke and couldn’t care less about this Thornton guy.” That was actually all very true, from a certain point of view. “I make money by delivering things, trading information and performing certain, well let’s just call them less savory tasks, shall we?” Ash winked at the merchant. “Perhaps you might even have use for my talents after this little arrangement is concluded.” Ever the entrepreneur, this was a ploy Shantilly would recognize and expect. Ash noted that Shantilly now regarded him thoughtfully instead of quite so suspiciously. Ash waited while the man thought things through, his hand still resting on his sword hilt while the other stroked his chin.
“Just supposing I agree to this thick-brained scheme, what guarantees do I have that you won’t run off with both the money and the goods?” Shantilly glowered.
Ash relaxed ever so slightly. “I won’t ever handle the goods.” He reached carefully into his satchel and Shantilly tensed. Ash pulled out a scrap of parchment and opened the careful folds. Upon it was a list of contacts and directions to route the stolen goods through several clearing houses dividing them up and repacking them until they were all delivered safe and sound at the Duke’s estate. “All of the goods will be transferred and re-crated several times before reaching the Duke’s estates in about one month’s time. I never actually handle any of the merchandise and you have the names and locations there of every agent through which whose hands they will pass. You can double check their location at any time.” Ash held up the paper to Shantilly who snatched it from Ash and looked it over carefully. “All I need is to notify that first man on the list as to where they are currently located. I only do that after I deliver the payment to you, less my 10 percent fee of course. Once you have the money, you give me the location and I get my man to pick them up for their first leg of their journey. Once delivered, you destroy this little piece of evidence linking us both to the merchandise and no one else is the wiser.” Ash tapped the paper. “Once the goods are in the Duke’s possession, he pays me the price that we had agreed upon – which is no small amount, I assure you. He also pays you half of what Thornbury has paid you. You get one and a half times the original amount and I make a nice little profit for my troubles. I have a great deal vested in seeing this deal goes through without a hitch, so why would I want to do anything to mess that up?.” Ash stepped back and crossed his arms again, waiting for Shantilly to make up his mind.
After several minutes in which Shantilly studied the paper and Ash’s cool, confident form, Ash cleared his throat and said, “This is a limited time offer.”
Not one to be rushed, Shantilly stepped back and laid the scrap of parchment on his desk next to the ledger with the red mark on the corner of the cover. He regarded Ash for some time and then stepped forward and Ash instinctively tensed, ready to attack although he appeared calm on the outside. The reaction was noticed by Shantilly whose eyes widened and the corners of his mouth twitched as if he was fighting back a grin at Ash’s wariness. He held out his hand to Ash and said, “Very well. Go get that payment and then I will let you know where your man can find the goods.”
Ash shook it and smiled, this time his eyes, though still steel, glittered brighter with pleasure as he gripped the murdering merchant’s hand. Oh yes, his father was just going to be in absolute fits over this one. He had to have over 1000 gold pieces each riding on it. Implicating his brother-in-law in the theft was just going to be icing on the cake.
Ash bade Shantilly good night and let the doorman escort him out. Once outside he went back to his hotel room and began to plan for the next dangerous part of his little escapade: acquiring his father’s payment to Shantilly.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 22, 2011 14:26:29 GMT -5
Ash stumbled into the Dragon Ember Inn’s common room outfitted in a black leather tunic thrown over a dark brown under tunic. He had on low cut leather boots with pointed toes and a wide brim and had darkened his face and hair with soot. His black cloak hid the katana strapped to his back and he had poured rum on his breeches and cloak so that he reeked of booze. With a slur to his speech, he staggered up to the bar and flopped an empty ceramic jug down on the counter. “Tray ya this ole empy jug fer one o dose der full-uns.” He said loudly and laughed at his drunken cleverness. The barkeep scowled at him and collected the empty jug. He pulled out a jug from under the counter and waved in front of Ash’s nose. Ash made a few clumsy grabs at it, swaying on his feet. “Hey, yooo there. Ssstop adoin tha,” Ash said crossly and reached for an imaginary sword hanging at his waist. “Welll, where did mmmy ssswor’ go?” He looked down at his side and then back to the barkeep suspiciously.
“It’ll be a half-silver for the jug, you,” the bartender said and waved the jug again. “Though you’ve had enough already.”
Ash fished into a pouch tucked into his tunic front and pulled out 6 copper pieces and set them on the bar one at a time, counting loudly as he did so. Then he reached out his hand for the jug. The barkeep hesitated and then set the jug on the counter and swiftly scooped up the coins. Ash glared at him, knowing the brew inside the jug was going to taste foul and probably was only worth about 2 copper pieces. “I’ll ssaayyy when I’ve hhatd nuff.” Ash said indignantly and then stumbled across the crowded room to an empty seat near the door that led back to the rooms for rent. Carrying on his ruse of being totally inebriated, he studied the occupants of the common room while he waited for the courier to show himself. He was hoping the man had gotten dinner in his room and was just waiting for it to be late enough to make his way to Shantilly to deliver the money from Thornbury. This was the only part of his plan that could go drastically wrong, but fortunately if it did go wrong, Ash would simply disappear and set up some other way to torment his father and make a little profit on the side.
His fears were unfounded, however as he heard a door open from the hallway behind him. He was sitting in the optimal spot to trip up anyone walking out of that hallway and into the common room. Rubbing his eyes, he took a peek behind him and saw that it was just the man he had been waiting for. He took a swig of the awful liquor in the jug as the courier entered the room.
Ash’s foot jutted out and tangled up the man’s legs and down he went, face first onto the polished floor of the Dragon Ember Inn. Instantly Ash was upon him, a knife at the man’s throat before anyone else even saw what was happening. Ash quickly cut loose the man’s pouch at his side and then felt another bulge over the man’s stomach. With some difficulty Ash worked the other pouch of coins up and out of the neck of the courier’s tunic while he lay gasping to get his air back into his lungs.
By this point the barkeep had noticed the two on the floor and was telling one of the bouncers to go check it out. Ash jumped to his feet, stepping on the courier’s back and expelling the air from his lungs again as he tucked the two pouches into his own tunic and then drew his katana in one fluid motion.
Two men at a nearby table stood up, tipping their chairs over and drew their own swords, trying to block Ash’s escape out the front door. Ash laughed at them, blocking the sword thrust of one of them and kicking the other in the groin. He turned, his blade still touching the brute’s blade and then dashed off down the hallway to the back door. A glance backward showed Ash there were three men chasing after him, and the courier trying to pick himself up off the floor even though he was still dazed by what had happened.
Ash flung himself out the back door and quickly stepped to the left raising his sword above his head. The first man following him hit the door and barged into the courtyard in front of the stables followed by the second man. Ash let the first man go and then brought the pommel of his sword down on the head of the second man. He let out a grunt and then toppled to the ground like a sack of potatoes right in front of the bouncer who tripped and went down on one knee, sprawling over the man on the ground.
Ash gave the bouncer a kick to his rear end and sent him flying face first into the muddied courtyard. He felt more than heard the swoosh of air as a sword went sailing over his head. If he hadn’t leaned forward to kick the bouncer, he might have been wearing a blade in his neck. Spinning to his left, Ash slashed out with his sword and then back, slicing the other man across his stomach and then sprang up onto the wood pile next to the Inn and jumped across to the stable roof. He glanced back and saw the man clutching his stomach but could tell he had not inflicted a mortal wound. He wanted witnesses to this incident, not casualties. With a nod of satisfaction and a grin on his face he sheathed his katana and hauled himself up to the upper level of the stable room and ran along its rim until he got to the end. Jumping down behind the wall in back, he found himself in the back alley of the next block of businesses with no direct path back to the Inn. He took off running, changing direction often until he was a good three blocks away and at his intended destination.
He had stashed a change of clothes under a crate in a back alley and was relieved to see it was still there. Quickly he changed clothes, leaving the disguise in the care of an unconscious homeless man sleeping a few crates down. He made his way back up the alley to the mouth, noting the sound of the city watch boson’s whistles coming from the direction of the Dragon Ember. On this street there was no commotion as of yet, although a few people were looking in that direction curiously. Stepping out into the street wearing his priest robe with the cowl up over his head as if to ward off the chill night air, Ash made his way back to his own lodging. He checked on Raven and gave him another armload of hay and topped off his water bucket. Raven threw his head up and laid his ears back initially upon Ash entering the tiny stall, but as Ash began to brush him off, he relaxed and munched the hay. For a few moments he even acted as if he enjoyed the attention. Ash patted him affectionately and grinned, “You are not fooling me, you devil!” Then he made his way back to his room at the little Inn and ordered a late night snack. When the kitchen maid arrived, Ash was on his knees in front of the fireplace, his head bowed in prayer. The girl set the food down on the table and then left silently. Ash smiled. Everyone here would swear that he had been here in his room or in the stable all night, should there be any witnesses that might recognize him as the thief.
As soon as she was gone, Ash cleaned the soot off his hair and face and then sat down to eat his late dinner and count the money the courier had on him. When he was finished nearly a half hour later, Ash whistled in surprise. No wonder the one pouch had been so heavy. Between the paper vouchers and the gold coins, the courier had been carrying 2136 gold pieces. Most of this was in the form of the paper vouchers that could be exchanged for coin if they were redeemed at any one of the locations listed on the voucher. Most of these locations were merchants that did transactions overseas. Ash was familiar with the practice and knew that the common thief would probably think they were useless, unaware of their true value.
Ash separated out the amount he knew Shantilly was expecting, using up a large portion of the vouchers and just a few of the coins. ‘Let him deal with the hassle of cashing them in,’ Ash thought, ‘not that he is going to have much time to do so.’ The amount included about 100 gold pieces as a ‘bonus from the Duke’ for doing business with him. Shantilly would expect something like that and so Ash set that amount to the side in its own pouch. He had brought a velvet one with the Duke’s crest on it to carry the coins in so it would appear more legitimate. Ash hated to part with the pouch, knowing his sister had done the embroidery, but she had made it for this purpose and Ash was likely to get it back later anyway.
With the gold counted, divided and safely hidden away, Ash made sure his door and windows were locked and then rolled into his feather mattress bed sighing in relief at the rare luxury. He quickly fell asleep with a smile on his face.
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Post by Brandwyn on Aug 10, 2012 13:49:48 GMT -5
Later that next day, after having delivered his letter to the monastery as required to fulfill the official purpose of his visit to Greenfield Fief, Ash wandered the streets and market square gathering information and making a few more purchases of books and writing supplies among other small items. He also ordered food for himself and his horse for his return journey to Araluen’s Order of St. Benedict Monastery. He intended to depart as soon as he found out the location of the merchandise he’d come to re-direct out of his father and Duke Avignoned’s care.
He was walking past the Dragon Ember Inn on his way back to his room to eat supper, pray and then deliver the payment to Shantilly when he was hailed by a man leaning dejectedly up against the doorframe of the Inn. Ash stopped and turned to the man and noted with surprise it was the courier he’d robbed the night before. He smoothed his features into his usual look; that of being interrupted when he was on important business. “Can I help you, my brother?”
“Father, please pray for me!” the courier hurried over to him and bowed before him in the street. “I am cursed!” he sobbed.
Ash was taken aback at first and felt such aversion he wanted to scurry off and leave the man sobbing in the street, however he noticed they were attracting interest and the last thing he wanted was people remembering his face. He knelt down and gently patted the man on the back and cupped his elbow to raise him up. “There, there now, get up and tell me what the trouble is.” The man rose and Ash saw a side alley between the Inn and a coat shop and steered the man toward it. “What’s all this about being cursed?”
The man sobbed and wringing his hands told Ash how he’d been robbed and that it was the second time in a month and how he must be cursed to have such bad things happening to him. He had been drinking, Ash could smell the liquor on his breath. “The Count is going to k-kill me,” he wailed. “I lost all his money and he will never believe someone jumped me in the middle of a tavern common room.”
He went on for several minutes before Ash stopped him, “Do you truly believe yourself to be cursed?”
“Yes, Father,” the man sobbed, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. Ash knew that he wasn’t cursed, but just a victim of unfortunate bad luck, having been the courier both times Ash had intercepted deliveries from his father. Ash hadn’t really considered what trouble the courier would be in and he felt bad that he had caused this innocent man such heartache and possibly his life, for Ash’s father was likely to kill the man if he reported back in person that the money was stolen.
“I am not a ‘Father’ but merely a brother in the eyes of God,” Ash corrected him. “Have you gone to confession to absolve yourself of your sins?” The man shook his head and Ash looked at him sternly until he hung his head in shame. Then Ash fished out his coin purse and pulled out a shiny silver piece and handed it to him. “Take that to St. Benedict’s, right back there,” he motioned behind him to the steeple rising over the buildings, “and give it to the Church.” Ash directed, “Then confess your sins and follow the Priest’s instructions. My advice to you is to then change your name and not return if you truly feel this man will harm you. Start your life over somewhere else – unless you have a family?”
“There is only me, but how shall I do that? I have no money to go anywhere or even for my next meal.” He asked with pleading eyes.
Ash considered him a moment, feeling even more guilt for putting the man in such a position. He reached again into his pouch and pulled out two gold coins and placed them into the courier’s hand. “Perhaps this will help you get established but if you find yourself in dire straits again, seek out the Church. It may be that the courier service is not what God has chosen for you and he is trying to point you in the right direction.” Ash didn’t know if that was true, but it never hurt to put in a plug for the church. They could always use more priests as long as those men were dedicated. He then prayed for the man and blessed him in God’s name and sent up a prayer for himself asking for forgiveness for harming the man in the first place.
“Thank you, Brother, for your kindness and blessing.” The man smiled up at him and tucked the coins into his tunic over his heart. “I shall go to the confessional straight away!” With that he took off down the street with a smile on his face.
Ash watched him go, his face thoughtful and his mood considerably less light. Once again the doubts about what he was doing assailed him and he decided to skip supper and go straight up to his room to pray.
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