“If you will.” Feladean handed him the key and walked back from whence they came.
“Drop it back off to me when your done, Feorick.” He looked at her as if she was half mad. Maybe she was too trusting, but she knew that behind the door Seleroc waited. She had given a signal to one of the guards, before arriving, to inform His Holiness of their arrival.
Feorick unlocked the bolt, and lifted the iron hatch. Upon opening the door Seleroc greeted him in.
“Welcome to my treasure hall.” he said, loud and boastful.
Feorick was startled, and went for his closest daggers out of instinct. Forgetting that they were waiting for him at the front gate. An assassin was not to be trusted, even if he worked for you, didn't mean that he wouldn't kill you if the price was right.
Selerick laughed. “Welcome.” He gestured grandly, are you not impressed, surprised at the little treat you have been given?”
He thought he saw the last of this man for the day, “My Holiness.” more curt, he bowed, he could smell fresh blood. “You have given me a great honour.”
“Relax, Feorick, we are old friends. You have done nothing but serve my every request. This is the least I can do.” he waved with his hand, “One piece, anything, anything in this room is yours.”
'Your head.' thought Feorick, laughing inside, but who would finance him once he was gone? “It, is quite amazing, Seleroc. I could get lost in here.”
“I sometimes do.” he returned. “Walk with me and have a look around.”
Reluctantly Feorick stepped in behind him.
“Over the last ten years of my reign, much of this has been collected, from far away lands, and much from neighbouring conquests. There are objects in here that have been obtained from generations of the L'Ulote linage. I haven't even viewed half of what I have held in this hall, myself.”
“It's quite extensive.” Feorick just wanted a bath. He could still smell, and hear that family. He looked deep into the back of Seleroc. He just killed a man, Feorick could smell the blood.
Upon Seleroc turning toward him, Feorick calmed his look. Though, His face stayed hard. He nodded once again.
“I don't expect you to make a choice today, but have a look through.”
“Thank you, my Holiness.” he bowed slightly.
“Well, I must return to my throne. There are people who must speak with me. Please leave whenever you wish, and lock up after yourself.”
Seleroc waked to the back of the room away from the entrance where he came in.
“So there was a back way in.” Feorick thought.
When he was out of sight he looked around at the junk in the room, gold statues, silver plates, ancient armour, crates stacked on each other. He had no interest in this stuff. It would take years to look through it anyway. He just wanted to leave.
As he turned a flicker caught his attention. He strained to look at what the source was, but couldn't make it out. He dismissed it and left.
“I'll come back another time; just want a hot bath.” he said, whispering to himself.
He left the Hall, locked the bolt in place, and made his way back to give the key to Feladean.
“Find anything of interest?” she asked, looking up from her books.
“Nothing, but I'm sure I'll find something the next time I have a look.” he didn't care much for material, as long as he was paid in silver, gold, or platinum.
“Well, see you soon Feorick.” she was back in her books.
For a women of sinister beauty she certainly cared about the Empires finances. Feorick was surprised she took on the laborious job herself. After the last two accountants, were killed by her brother, maybe she thought she could keep a balanced book. She had the bite to deter corruption and collect taxes. The people feared her here, in her own Kingdom, but else where in the Empire she was relatively unknown. Each kingdom paid their taxes to the Empire, but further away from the central castle the more corrupt the collectors. It wasn't until she took over the books, the corruption began to decrease, which gave the Emperor and her family more income and more power to fuel a larger expansion of The Iss'pale Empire.
“I'll come back another time; just want a hot bath.” he said, whispering to himself.
He left the Hall, locked the bolt in place, and made his way back to give the key to Feladean.
“Find anything of interest?” she asked, looking up from her books.
“Nothing, but I'm sure I'll find something the next time I have a look.” he didn't care much for material, as long as he was paid in silver, gold, or platinum.
“Well, see you soon Feorick.” she was back in her books.
For a women of sinister beauty she certainly cared about the Empires finances. Feorick was surprised she took on the laborious job herself. After the last two accountants, were killed by her brother, maybe she thought she could keep a balanced book. She had the bite to deter corruption and collect taxes. The people feared her here, in her own Kingdom, but else where in the Empire she was relatively unknown. Each kingdom paid their taxes to the Empire, but further away from the central castle the more corrupt the collectors. It wasn't until she took over the books, the corruption began to decrease, which gave the Emperor and her family more income and more power to fuel a larger expansion of The Iss'pale Empire.
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