Many of the Empire's forces were stationed there, directing the rebuilding of a walled city and the planned fortress which would be built into the side of a small mountain range over looking it. Any oncoming army from the East that might attack would have a hard time getting past this new defense.
Trade flourished between the kingdoms and the Northern unconquered kingdom territories. These areas did not interests the L'Ulote, they were as much as conquered. They sent tribute to the Emperor, and paid their dues for a semblance of independence. They provided a cheap labour force, and cheap raw material for the Empire.
Trade flourished between the kingdoms and the Northern unconquered kingdom territories. These areas did not interests the L'Ulote, they were as much as conquered. They sent tribute to the Emperor, and paid their dues for a semblance of independence. They provided a cheap labour force, and cheap raw material for the Empire.
L'Ulote was happy with the current situation, but the East was always on the back on his mind. One day he would march in that direction, but as his father taught him 'knowing your enemy gives you the advantage.' He had sent a small scouting troop that way, after the end of the war with Goslen, to acquire an much information as they could. They were sent an emissaries if anyone asked. They were to return some months back, but none had heard of their whereabouts. This deeply concerned Seleroc.
He now stood at the window looking down toward the main gate. Watching Feorick as he left. “You had better keep an eye on him Tolec. The way he spoke against me today you'd think he hated me.” he gave off a short deep laugh. “He has served this family for 10 years, he watched my father die in the Battle of Ker.” he paused for a moments recall, “Stupid old man for thinking he was invincible.”
“What was that?” Tolec asked.
“Nothing, I have very high respect for Feorick, yet...” Seleroc paused another moment. Tolec followed his gaze.
Feorick looked up from the courtyard directly at Seleroc. He knew he was being watched. The South Gate guard handed back his daggers, six of them. Although he carried four others hidden away, unnoticed during the body search upon entering.
He wore travelling clothes, a pair of dark brown cow hide boots, padded on the sole for quite movement, laced up to his knee. They were tucked into light trousers, matching the colour of the boots. A grey waist coat with simple circle embroidery covered his arms and neck. He tucked all six daggers into pre-made holes. His hair was curly and shoulder length, a face slim and firmly set, a permanent furrow of seriousness. His dark brown eyes watched as the stable boy walked over with his horse, reigns in hand. He took out his riding gloves that were tucked in the back of his trousers. After slipping one on he took the reigns and mounted his horse, Memory. The gates opened, Feorick flicked a couple gold pieces to the stable boy, wanting to just leave and get home. He eyed them with a deep smile, looked up to Feorick and bowed deeply.
Riding though the city of Isseti didn't irritate him, though he knew these people would start asking him to buy their goods. A man wearing anything embroidered was bound to have a few coins. He had not time for it. He just wanted to return home on the outskirts of the city and take a long bath. He would have to ride through the main road to exit the city walls. It was quite a beautiful city on the surface, the main road was a boulevard with trees lining the middle. Children played on the branches, while one mother tried to pull them down. That was no way to behave, the woman may even be charged for not properly raising her son. Guards patrolled the streets. There for the presence of fear, to remind the people who was in charge, and to see that the crime remained low. It did, Isseti had one of the lowest rates of crime out of the other four kingdoms that made up The Iss'pale Empire.
Turning the corner Feorick eyed down the boulevard, a mass of people shouted out their goods. It was uncommonly busy. It would take him half the day to just reach the main gate. Sighing he reared Memory, and turn for a familiar place, Opal Eyes Inn. It was close, and he knew the owner Tesen Emengar. He would have to find his bath there. He really didn't want to have to listen to Tesen. It had been a while since he last stayed there.
Memory's shoes clapped on the cobble stone road.
“Sir, would you like to buy a handmade medallion?” a boyish voice stirred Feorick's attention from the road ahead.
“Here have a look.”
A medallion landed on his lap. His horse came to a stop with the pull of the reigns.
“No thank you.” handing the medallion back, well, dropping it. The boy catched it before it hit the ground. A familiar sparkle caught Feorick's eyes. He stopped his horse again.
“Where did you find this? Or should I say steal it?” he accused.
“I make them sir, I find many things on the shore lines of Galdevia not far from here and then work some scrap metal...”
“Let me see it again.” interrupting the innocent explanation. The boy was no older than fourteen, and poor by the look of his clothes, face and hands, his orange hair dishevelled. He handed the medallion back to him.
“It's a broach, you can give it to your lady.” He was excited that he might sell the thing.
“Why would I give a handmade thing like this to a woman, she'd laugh and throw it away.”
“Many ladies buy my wears.” the boy said quietly, sounding dishearted.
Feorick saw that a few other merchants were walking his way with a few wears of their own slung across their arms. He didn't want to get into a bidding match between them, as they try to beat each others prices.
“Here, I'll give you a few silver for it.” Feorick offered just to get on his way.
The boy looked thrilled when he was handed 2 silver pieces. Just as the other merchants arrived Feorick kicked Memory into a short prance to get ahead of them.
“Hey.” One of them yelled.
“Fine goods here.” The other one called out hoping for his potential customer to turn around.
“You scared him off...”
Feorick turned to watch the ensuing bickering. The boy waved, with a smile ear to ear.
Feorick was happy to have avoided the pricing debate. Rounding the road, he could now see the Inn's sign, inset with opal, two black circles trimmed with gold. He looked down at the handy work of the boy, it was actually quite well finished Feorick thought to himself. He stuffed it into his front pocket and trotted that rest of the way to the inn.
He now stood at the window looking down toward the main gate. Watching Feorick as he left. “You had better keep an eye on him Tolec. The way he spoke against me today you'd think he hated me.” he gave off a short deep laugh. “He has served this family for 10 years, he watched my father die in the Battle of Ker.” he paused for a moments recall, “Stupid old man for thinking he was invincible.”
“What was that?” Tolec asked.
“Nothing, I have very high respect for Feorick, yet...” Seleroc paused another moment. Tolec followed his gaze.
Feorick looked up from the courtyard directly at Seleroc. He knew he was being watched. The South Gate guard handed back his daggers, six of them. Although he carried four others hidden away, unnoticed during the body search upon entering.
He wore travelling clothes, a pair of dark brown cow hide boots, padded on the sole for quite movement, laced up to his knee. They were tucked into light trousers, matching the colour of the boots. A grey waist coat with simple circle embroidery covered his arms and neck. He tucked all six daggers into pre-made holes. His hair was curly and shoulder length, a face slim and firmly set, a permanent furrow of seriousness. His dark brown eyes watched as the stable boy walked over with his horse, reigns in hand. He took out his riding gloves that were tucked in the back of his trousers. After slipping one on he took the reigns and mounted his horse, Memory. The gates opened, Feorick flicked a couple gold pieces to the stable boy, wanting to just leave and get home. He eyed them with a deep smile, looked up to Feorick and bowed deeply.
Riding though the city of Isseti didn't irritate him, though he knew these people would start asking him to buy their goods. A man wearing anything embroidered was bound to have a few coins. He had not time for it. He just wanted to return home on the outskirts of the city and take a long bath. He would have to ride through the main road to exit the city walls. It was quite a beautiful city on the surface, the main road was a boulevard with trees lining the middle. Children played on the branches, while one mother tried to pull them down. That was no way to behave, the woman may even be charged for not properly raising her son. Guards patrolled the streets. There for the presence of fear, to remind the people who was in charge, and to see that the crime remained low. It did, Isseti had one of the lowest rates of crime out of the other four kingdoms that made up The Iss'pale Empire.
Turning the corner Feorick eyed down the boulevard, a mass of people shouted out their goods. It was uncommonly busy. It would take him half the day to just reach the main gate. Sighing he reared Memory, and turn for a familiar place, Opal Eyes Inn. It was close, and he knew the owner Tesen Emengar. He would have to find his bath there. He really didn't want to have to listen to Tesen. It had been a while since he last stayed there.
Memory's shoes clapped on the cobble stone road.
“Sir, would you like to buy a handmade medallion?” a boyish voice stirred Feorick's attention from the road ahead.
“Here have a look.”
A medallion landed on his lap. His horse came to a stop with the pull of the reigns.
“No thank you.” handing the medallion back, well, dropping it. The boy catched it before it hit the ground. A familiar sparkle caught Feorick's eyes. He stopped his horse again.
“Where did you find this? Or should I say steal it?” he accused.
“I make them sir, I find many things on the shore lines of Galdevia not far from here and then work some scrap metal...”
“Let me see it again.” interrupting the innocent explanation. The boy was no older than fourteen, and poor by the look of his clothes, face and hands, his orange hair dishevelled. He handed the medallion back to him.
“It's a broach, you can give it to your lady.” He was excited that he might sell the thing.
“Why would I give a handmade thing like this to a woman, she'd laugh and throw it away.”
“Many ladies buy my wears.” the boy said quietly, sounding dishearted.
Feorick saw that a few other merchants were walking his way with a few wears of their own slung across their arms. He didn't want to get into a bidding match between them, as they try to beat each others prices.
“Here, I'll give you a few silver for it.” Feorick offered just to get on his way.
The boy looked thrilled when he was handed 2 silver pieces. Just as the other merchants arrived Feorick kicked Memory into a short prance to get ahead of them.
“Hey.” One of them yelled.
“Fine goods here.” The other one called out hoping for his potential customer to turn around.
“You scared him off...”
Feorick turned to watch the ensuing bickering. The boy waved, with a smile ear to ear.
Feorick was happy to have avoided the pricing debate. Rounding the road, he could now see the Inn's sign, inset with opal, two black circles trimmed with gold. He looked down at the handy work of the boy, it was actually quite well finished Feorick thought to himself. He stuffed it into his front pocket and trotted that rest of the way to the inn.
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