The Captain looked around and shouted out to a young lady who appeared to be some sort of a lesser noble based upon her fine silken dress.


"Lady Mansfield, would you attend me for a moment please?" said the Captain.


"But of course M'Lord Captain General." said the Lady.


"It seems that a guest of the King's is unfamiliar with the more gentle ways of the Lady. Would you mind teaching her quickly the proper manner in which to curtsey when she meets His Majesty?" asked the Captain.


"But of course. You see my dear lass it is very important for a Lady to carry and present herself properly when amongst the Court. Now if you will follow my lead I shall show you the proper manner in which to curtsey." said the Lady.


She then proceeded to explain and demonstrate the Art of Curtseying to Moryan of the Wayward Band.

Jaelyan eyed the young man, and her tongue darted across her lips. She beckoned him over to sit next to her. "Did thee bring some more of that delightful wine this time mine dear lad? It was quite delicious."


She ran her fingers through his hair, and her bright green eyes took in his handsome features. "Shall we, become more comfortable? Surely thee do nae need such trappings." Her long nimble fingers began to work the buttons of his doublet.

The wench watched the simpering young girl demonstrate the curtsey, over and over. With a groan, she rolled her eyes.


"Fine Captain, I've seen enough. Shall we go?"


She eyed the Captain with a dark, intense gaze. "I'm ready ta get this o'er with, though I am sure ye be lo'ing m'company and want ta keep me around longer."

Coming to the market square, Glavian scanned the area and quickly spotted the person he was looking for.


Slifijen was pilfering a pouch from the waist of what looked to be a farmer, just as he was cutting the purse string, Glavian grabbed his wrist and hoisted him up to the merchant stand.


"Well now, shall I just call fer de guardians? Or do ye mean ta tell me dis is a job fer the guild. Either way me thinks guild master Ariakus will be most unhappy with ye." said the strong mercenary as he tossed the pouch back to the grateful farmer.


With a hiss the scrawny man said "I'll have yer hide fer this highlander. How dare you show yer mug around here again!"


"So the guardians it is." Glavian said as he started dragging the thief toward the nearest guard.


"Wait, wait!" said the little man "Waddya want merc? More info? You know if Ariakus hears you are scamming me we are both as good as dead."


The highlander replied;


"Hah! I deal with death everyday. How bout ye, little man?"


Stopping near the doorway to a clothing shop, Glavian drug Slifijen inside and said


"I need ta get inta de palace right now. It has ta be a place where I kin hear an audience wit de King."


"Are you daft!! That place is crawling with guards, word on the street is the King has recieved death threats. I doubt we could get within thirty paces of the audience chamber." said Slifijen.


Dragging the thief out the side door to the ally, Glavian drew his dagger and said


"Well now, I'll be payin ye one hundred gold ta try or ye kin die right here."


"Alright, alright, you bleedin maniac. Follow me, and be quick about it. If there is an audience then most of the guards will be inside."


With that, the thief headed off toward the main street.


The two ran down back allies toward the palace, and turned into a tavern built against the wall of the city. Climbing the stairs to the top floor, they entered a storage room. The room was musty and dark with just enough light coming in the dusty window. Grabbing a stool, Slifijen climbed up and pushed a trap door to the side and jumped up to catch the edge. Glavian quickly grabbed the thief by the ankle and pulled him back down with a thud.


"I think I'll be goin first. I dunna trust ye."


The big man then jumped up and caught the edge and hoisted himself up. Reaching back down he caught the arm of the thief and pulled him up along side of him. Slifijen slid the tile back into place and strolled across the room to a skylight window, and pushed it open.


Climbing out onto the roof, the two glanced around then the thief jumped the five foot gap to the top of the palace wall. Glavian followed suit, and the two made their way around to the opposite side of the main building.


Peeking around the corner, Slifijen grinned as he saw the lone guardian leaning on his elbows looking down on the street below. Walking casually out in the open he said


"Ho there Hadishin."


The startled guard turned and frowned at the dirty little man.


"Waddya want now Slif. I cannot let you in today, the guards will be all over you." said the guardian.


Pulling a pouch of coins from under his cloak, the thief said


"I'll pay you double, and I will not even be going below. I only need to get into the crawl space above the audience hall. I'll cause no trouble, on my word." he said with a glance back at the Mercanary walking toward them.


"Well who the bloody hell is this!?! If you get caught, it is the dungeon for me you know." said the guardian eyeing the large highlander up and down.


Glavian spoke up "We will cause no trouble, ye kin be sure o it. I be a Knight of the Royal Order, on me oath as a Knight we shall be in and out with none de wiser."


With a nod toward the rooftop door, the guardian said "Alright, but I know where you are, any sign of trouble and I raise the alarm."


"Agreed" said Glavian


Slifijen lead the way into the upper floor of the palace and down a hall to the right. Stopping halfway down the hall, he bent down to the floor and drew a dagger, quickly glanced both ways, and slid it into a crack along the wall. With a click a small door, about two feet high, swung inward and he crawled in. Glavian followed and closed the door behind him.


The crawl space had light coming in from the far end and the two crawled down to a ledge overlooking the audience chamber.

"Don't flatter yourself Moryan." said the Captain.


With that he gave the order to proceed and as one the escort began moving down the hall to the Great Room. The boots ringing off of the walls gave off a most ominous sound.


Then they reached the double doors to the Great Room. The Captain stepped to the front of the escort. The guards posted at the doors saluted and asked, "Captain General Windsor, who do you bring before the King?"


"Moryan, Guildmistress of the Wayward Band, upon the King's request." replied the Captain.


"Very good. Wait with patience while the King is informed of your arrival." said the Guard. One of the guards then disappeared inside the Great Room.


Moments later he returned and said, "His Majesty is ready for you now. Please proceed."


The doors swung open and the Captain ordered the escort forward. As they approached the throne sitting upon a dais the escort parted and left Moryan and the Captain General standing before the King. The Captain General immediately put his right fist over his heart and bowed deeply.


He then stood straight and said, "our Majesty, I present to you Moryan, Guildmistress of the Wayward Band."

Moryan eyed the King for a moment, then with the simple courtesy she is used to giving to those she respects, she bowed deeply, elegantly without a hint of self-consciousness. "Sire, I am Moryan, mercenary and Guildmistress o' The Wayward Band. It seems ye sent fer me?"


She watched the Captain's reaction out of the corner of her eye, and then waited for the King to speak. She tugged her fingers idley through her hair, dark eyes taking in the man whose fancy ruled the land.

The King stood and stepped down from the dais. He walked toward Moryan with a confidence not seen in most men. He extended his hand to her and waited for her to accept it. After she reached out to grip his hand he said, "Thank you for coming Moryan. I am sorry that I had to do this under an armed guard but I fear for the life of any associated with me."


The King was a very handsome man. His long dark hair hung in curly locks to his shoulders. He was a tall, strong man. He wore a kilt but he was not a Highlander.


"I have been watching the activities of your Wayward Band since it's inception. You have all done a very good job of defending the common folk of our land and for that I thank you. It is after all the common people that mark the true character of a land. It is the people that you defend and the very defenders themselves that will ensure Albions future." said the King. Odd word coming from a Noble but he seemed sincere in his statements.


"I fear, however, that I must ask you to place your Band in the path of danger. Not for the peasants you have sworn to defend. At least not directly. But instead for three individuals. I ask you to do this for the man you are involved with, Carrington Whitethorne. I ask you to do this for the man you call friend, Arguyle MacFadden and I ask you to do this for the man I hope you will someday call friend, me. I could order you to do this or be disbanded but I do not wish that. I wish for you to do this of your own free will and accord."


The King paused for a moment and stared off into the distance as if in thought. Then he looked back to her and said, "ou have already seen what has happened to Carrington. I shall see that righted I promise you. What you may not know is that there is a plot in place now to assassinate both myself and your friend Arguyle MacFadden. What I need from you is two things. I need for your Band to gather information about who is behind this plot. I suspect that it is Lady D'Vena. If you can get me solid evidence of this I can stop this farse immediately. We both know that she is angry and blames Lord MacFadden for the marriage of her daughter. The second thing that I need to ask you is to keep a watchful eye on Arguyle. Not many know this but I consider him a brother. We played together as children. We dreamed together of glory and battles. I would not see him harmed before I can bring the full fury of Albion down upon those who conspire against the realm. His Order is there I know but any help I can give him I would."


He stopped and waited for Moryan to soak it all in. Then he asked, "Moryan, can you do these things for me? I fear that I can trust very few to do these things with the fidelity required. You are close to two of the three targets in this plot. I know that you do not know me and judging by your past and your present proclamations you do not trust me because of the circumstances of my birth. I ask you to please trust me now though. Know that I want the same things you want. I want for all of our citizens to live a life free of harassment and pain. I ask for your trust and your friendship Moryan. Can you do this?"


The King then waited for the Mercenary's response.

Surpressing a deep shudder, Crispian brought out a bottle of wine, already uncorked, and began to pour, allowing Jaelyan's hands to continue removing his outer garments. Although the lady's touch was not Entirely unpleasant, he still found his mind shrinking from that touch.


He had her a goblet of wine, and retained one for himself, smiling shyly and putting on his most vacant look. "The Lady has good taste in wines, I must confess." His eyes sought out any place in the immediate chamber where it might be possible to secret documents that he might want to see.


As her wants became more obvious, Crispian cast a prayer to his patron and Martyr, Crispin, that such duplicity as he enacted now would be forgiven, as the cause was just. Then, he surrendered himself to more base instincts, the wine making it a bit more palatable.

 

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Moryan's eyes were a bit wide at the King's words, and she was quite a bit taken aback. Thoughts tumbled through her head as she tried to sort out just what he wanted, why her guild. Why her? Aye, the obvious was there, but still.


She gazed at him, taking in his features and the sincerity of his voice.


"Aye, Sire, I think I can pledge m'support on this. I am in lo'e with Carrington, and I would do anything ta see him restored ta what is his. Arguyle is a dear friend o' mine as well.


"And aye, I dinna know ye at all, but that can always be remedied. I know o' folks already seeking the information needed ta foil the witch and her foul plots, hopefully twill be enough. But, I am a mercenary m'lord, what be in it fer me?" And she grins a bit at this, somehow almost trusting the King.

Glavian and Slifijen listen to the Kings words far below them.


At Moryans request for payment, Glavian barely supresses a chuckle, and Slifijen eyes him with fear, and a plea to remain silent.