*Apologies for the blocky format, was originally typed out on my phone in paragraph form but the forum condensed it when I posted.

Would love feedback on the first part and maybe will continue depending on response and/or how lazy I'm feeling

Part 1.

Lucien stood alone in his thoughts as his hand still bled. The dark mahogany hardwood table alone had cost more than the entire tavern that he used to run. He’d made a point of buying the table solely because of its outrageous price. He didn’t even like the color. It was for the prestige. He remembered his wife’s face when he’d had it brought in to their house. She gazed in wonder at its beauty and craftsmanship, but when she looked at him, he had seen something in her eyes, like she almost didn’t recognize him.

A servant stepped forward with a flask of ale. Lucien had never been one for fine wines, he liked to think he was still a sellsword at heart in that way. He took it without a word and drank deeply. He saw the door to the hall open slightly and a nervous looking man poke his head inside. He recognized him as Wagner, one of his eyes. He motioned the man to enter and held out the flask in silent offer. Wagner carefully glanced all around the room and sniffed the flask before taking a shallow swig. He was a cautious man, but one did not make it to his age in their line of work alive by being overly reckless.

“What do you have for me?” Lucien asked shortly, tonight had been rough and he was impatient to resume drinking himself into a stupor. Wagner nervously stroked his wispy beard and took a deep breath before replying. Lucien saw that the lanky man had been careful to stand just outside of his arm’s reach. This meant he’d brought bad news.

“Tovall Fairchild is here in town sir,” said Wagner, “he arrived earlier this evening.” Lucien knew there was more. There was always more, and he wagered he wouldn’t like this next bit. He put down the flask and waited for the man to continue.

“Given the fact the he arrived alone, and made his presence known to none, we think he’s in some sort of danger,” Wagner continued, “he may be here to see you.”

Lucien wondered what, Tovall Fairchild, Grandmaster of the Knights of the Rose could possibly want with him. The two were old friends from his days as a mercenary, but they hadn’t spoken in years. Tovall had never approved of him changing from selling his sword to selling others’ secrets. It had driven a rift between them that never really healed. If he was in town to see him it must be serious. But he knew there was still bad news or Wagner wouldn’t still be quite so jumpy.

“What else?” asked Lucien, and he saw the older man flinch.

“Fairchild was arrested shortly after entering the town,” said Wagner, “there were no charges made against him.”

This disturbed Lucien quite a bit. The arrest itself was inconsequential, someone had slipped the city watch some extra coin to grab him. But who could have known of Fairchild’s presence before him? He knew of every network operating in the kingdom. His was the best. That wasn’t pride, it was a fact. He’d spent years and a veritable fortune making it so. The fact that someone beat him to this information, it worried him. No wonder even Wagner seemed a bit more excitable than usual. Just what had Tovall gotten himself into?

“Where is he being held?” He knew that once the question was asked there was no turning back. He was involved now.

“The old guard post at the shanties.” answered Wagner. This was another red flag, and they both knew it, that guard post hadn’t been used in years.

“Very well,” Lucien replied, “Come with me. We have a long night ahead of us.”

Part 2

(thanks to the kind folks at the Duchy of Seidrellia for their help with the setting of this part, I hope to incorporate more people and places in game in the future)

Lucien walked through the manor grabbing everything he thought he might need. He had on his customary black cloak but under it he wore a thin, tightly woven leather cuirass. He offered up a quick prayer to the gods that he wouldn’t need it. He grabbed his longsword and checked its sharpness before sliding it in its scabbard. He offered up another prayer that he wouldn’t need that either. Then he grabbed all of his daggers, and put them in the various concealed spots on his person. Wagner stood behind him looking on nervously.

“Sir, surely all this isn’t necessary,” he said. “We don’t even know what we’re dealing with.” Lucien paused for a moment and looked up at the man.

“No. We don’t,” was his reply.

He then grabbed his flask and drank deeply before stashing it in his cloak as well.

“Where are you going?” a soft voice asked. Both men jumped and turned to see Belledonis Vargheste standing in the doorway with a quizzical expression on her face.

“Out.” was all Lucien said. She pursed her lips at this and the two stared at each other for a long moment in a tense silence. Wagner stood there uneasily, stroking his thin beard. She looked her husband up and down, gave a single nod, and turned and walked out of the room. Wagner looked visibly relieved.

The two men walked outside the manor. It was a warm summer night. The air was peaceful and the streets of the town were all but deserted. A few souls shambled along here and there and a drunk laid propped up against a fountain, but all was quiet.

“Aren’t we bringing any of your guards sir?” asked Wagner, but he already knew the answer. He just didn’t like it.

“Guards attract attention,” Lucien said, bringing up his hood to cover his face. Wagner glanced around apprehensively.

They started the walk to the shanties in silence. Any unsavory characters who saw them took one look at Lucien’s steel and decided they weren’t worth the trouble. The pair moved quickly and inconspicuously and within half an hour they arrived at the rundown guard post. He studied the area while Wagner waited behind him patiently. Then he nodded to his companion and began to walk towards the door, where two city guards stood watch. As he expected they stepped forward to stop him.

“Stop right there,” the one on the left commanded, an older man. “Who are you? What is your business here?” the one on the right asked, trying his best to sound intimidating. He couldn’t have been older than twenty. Lucien removed his hood and smiled as the recognition washed over the two guards’ faces.

“I’m here at the behest of the duke to see this prisoner,” he answered, a small lie but a necessary one.

“Your prisoner is of noble station and Duke Karmine would not see him mistreated under his watch. I am here to assess his conditions.” he continued, not giving the two time to contradict him. The younger man frowned and looked to the older one questioningly.

“You must be mistaken, sire, I assure you. We aren’t keeping nobody here,” said the older guard, ignoring his partner’s gaze. Lucien smiled at this. A feral smile, like a cat that was playing with its prey before killing it. He had them.

“What is your name, guard?” Lucien asked sharply, “for that is the name that I will bring before the duke, when he asks me who prevented me from carrying out my duty! You dare contradict not only myself but Duke Karmine himself. The nerve! I could slay you both where you stand and I would get a medal for it.”

The older man paled and the younger was looked as if he were about to faint. The old man stuttered and mumbled for a few moments before offering his name.

“G-Goren, milord. M-My names Goren,” he finally managed to get out.

“Well Goren, I’m going to ask again to see the prisoner. I will not ask a third time.” said Lucien, his voice deathly calm. The younger man was already opening the door for him.

“Of course milord,” he said, “apologies for the misunderstanding.” Goren did his best at an elaborate bow. Lucien motioned for Wagner to follow and they both stepped inside.

To say the room was in disrepair would be an understatement. It was draped in cobwebs and a thick layer of dust covered almost everything. In the corner a man sat in a chair, his hands bound behind his back like a common criminal. Upon their entry he looked up, resignation written across his face. When Lucien stepped closer the man squinted to get a better look, before recognizing him and giving a hoarse laugh.

“Hello Tovall,” Lucien said with a smile, “it appears we have much to discuss.”