[center][h1][b][color=f26522]Roman[/color] & [color=DAF6C7]Riona[/color] Part 1[/b][/h1][/center]
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[center][h3][sub][color=gray]Morning of Sola 25, 1739[/color][/sub][/h3][/center]

After finishing her morning duties, Riona returned to the gardener’s hut to find that the supplies were running low. Snatching up a worn wicker basket, she set off for the woods.

Sunlight streamed through gaps in the leafy canopy, casting shifting patterns on the forest floor. Riona stepped carefully over moss-covered logs and through patches of ferns. Her fingers worked steadily, plucking plants and mushrooms while her mind drifted to the things that happened the previous day.

A twig snapped. Riona spun around to see none other than Lord Roman himself striding through the woods. [color=DAF6C7]“Lord Ravenwood,”[/color] she said, straightening quickly. Leaves clung to her skirts as she dipped into a hasty bow. [color=DAF6C7]“Good morning.”[/color]

This morning was busy and full of surprises. Roman had just finished getting the birthday gift for Drake Edwards finished and wrapped when their religious leader urged him to go to the forest. He needed to make sure that they had cleaned up all their ‘trash’ from the ceremony. The gift in question was one of their more delicate pieces.

 A small dagger for personal defense but elegant, sharp, and light. Carved with the image of a feather in the dark wooden grip ending in a finely cut and polished emerald at its hilt. Its sheath was equally inlaid with an image of a turning page on a book. Included with this was one of their finest types of fountain pen’s, a combination of metal and marble with a hollowed emerald for the pen to sit in. The Edwards family crest was carefully placed on both pieces. This gift was one of many pre-made items made specifically for this summer, one only had to set the jewel and family crest in the item to complete it.

He would have loved to deliver the piece but that would have to be someone else. Their shaman, Astri Lund, was known to have a good sense for mysterious happenings or coincidences. She never knows what will happen but something will surely happen. Today this feeling was in the forest near where they conducted their ritual.

That was what brought him out here, not a bad day for a stroll. The forest was clear and calm. The citizens of the city didn't seem to venture off the path too often. He would have been to the ritual area sooner but made sure to circle back on his path a few times to see if he was being followed. 

Even with his vigilance he was surprised by a familiar voice. A young olive skinned maiden wearing a simple dress carrying a wicker basket with many herbal ingredients in it. Her outfit matches his own simple outfit of darker and lighter greens and tans. Riona, a person he was actually going to try and seek out sometime this week. Returning her bow with a smile and a polite wave of his hand, [color=f26522]“Riona was it?”[/color] he faked a guessing tone, [color=f26522]“please don't bow or bother with the honorifics when it's just us. The only things different between us is a name and where we were born."[/color] He was genuine with his words.

Riona met her share of commoner-friendly nobles, but Lord Roman was the first this courting season to insist on speaking as equals. She eased out of the bow and smirked, [color=DAF6C7]“I see why Cal likes you.”[/color]

She closed the distance between them, basket swinging at her side, and craned her neck to meet his eyes. Damn, but the man was tall. Like trying to look a tree in the face. [color=DAF6C7]“What are you doing out here, Roman? Shouldn’t you be at a birthday party?”[/color]

The mention of callum gave him a slight smile as she approached. He took a moment to look her over, she looked cute in that dress. Her small stature with an almost childlike look about her that he found adorable in the light, yet he knew looks can be deceiving. 

[color=f26522]“I was reminded by my shaman that I still had to make sure that we didn't leave any refuse behind from our ritual.”[/color] pausing for just a moment, [color=f26522]“Besides, I know what kind of parties those are, a chance for a lesser house to try and show itself off and gain some kind of favor… it's wasteful.”[/color] his own thoughts on the matter were true to him.

Letting that last comment sit for a moment before he spoke up again. [color=f26522]“Speaking of Callum, do you know where he has been? I was hoping to run into him these last few days but this year it seems like he's going to make me work on trying to find him.”[/color] shifting out of his frown to a small smile as he spoke of his old friend. 

[color=DAF6C7]“Oh, you know Cal,”[/color] Riona said lightly, [color=DAF6C7]“probably neck-deep in trouble as usual.”[/color] She didn’t go into any further detail than that. Friendly as the man was, she didn’t know how much she could reveal to him without it coming to bite her or Cal in the a**. Still, she threw Roman a bone, mentioning Cal’s visit to Lady Ariella in the dungeons and some family meeting he was summoned to. She shrugged. [color=DAF6C7]“He might still be in the castle if you hurry. Otherwise…”[/color] Her lips quirked. [color=DAF6C7]“Try bloodhounds?”[/color]

[color=f26522]“So what are you doing all the way out here?”[/color]

[color=DAF6C7]“Me?”[/color] Riona hefted her basket. [color=DAF6C7]“Just foraging. Market prices can be highway robbery sometimes, so I usually try my luck in the wild first.”[/color] A thought struck her so she added, [color=DAF6C7]“Do you need help with the cleanup? It’ll go faster if you have an extra set of hands.”[/color]

He thought about that information but figured there was more to it, with Callum there always was, [color=f26522]“I'm sure I'll get a hold of him at some point. Mostly to make sure that he wasn't spiraling down hill again… This was never his season. I do hope that lady Edwards comes out of this alright.”[/color] his voice trailed off while he looked into her basket once more at everything she had collected.

[color=f26522]“Hmm”[/color] scratching his beard in a joking manner, [color=f26522]“I guess I could use the company. I was going to search you out too in the next day or two so this gives us a chance to talk.”[/color] His words and tone did not conveigh anything unsavory at that last part. His calm and content body language didn't betray anything nefarious either, [color=f26522]“Might just find more of those herbs for you too. What exactly are you after anyway?”[/color] he asked, bowing slightly but still in a humorous way as if he was inviting a noble lady to join him on his stroll.

Riona arched her brow. Searching for her? Why? But before she could voice that question, Roman asked his question first.

The theatrics drew a snort from Riona. [color=DAF6C7]“This and that. Nothing specific. Apothecary stuff.”[/color] She met his theatrics with her own, gasping dramatically and pressing a hand to her chest. Then she swept into a curtsy that would’ve made her etiquette tutor weep.

As they fell into step, Riona studied Roman from the corner of her eye. His gait was easy, relaxed—nothing in his demeanor hinted at ulterior motives. Still, curiosity gnawed at her. [color=DAF6C7]“So,”[/color] she ventured, [color=DAF6C7]“what did you want to talk about? Must be important if you were planning a manhunt for me too.”[/color]

Nodding along to her talking he did glance over his shoulder scanning their surroundings. Although he was relaxed and calm, the man didn't drop his situational awareness. [color=f26522]“If you don't mind, do you think you could teach me about what some of these plants do?”[/color] The basic knowledge of the smaller varieties of plants was at the very least interesting.

[color=DAF6C7]“Yeah, sure.”[/color]

Bobbing his head back and forth as he thought about how to answer her. [color=f26522]“Well…”[/color] he started, [color=f26522]“I would like to talk to you about a job.”[/color] pausing for a moment to glance at one of the rings on his left hand, [color=f26522]“it is a sensitive matter, but if callum trusts you then I will try.”[/color]

Riona’s gut clenched. [i]Another[/i] “sensitive matter”? The last one had ended with her blowing up in Anastasia’s face and waking up with a headache.

[color=DAF6C7]“Well, I can’t tell you where Cal usually gets his shrooms from. But, if you’re going to pick your own, try past the city limits. The good stuff doesn’t grow around here,”[/color] she joked, buying time. Riona knew Roman wasn’t talking about mycology lessons. Whatever was about to be dumped in her lap, she needed those extra seconds to brace herself for it.

[color=DAF6C7][i]Please[/i][/color], she thought, [color=DAF6C7][i]don’t let this involve another death.[/i][/color]

His gate changed slightly to a slower pace tilting his head one way then the other. It was clear he was listening or trying to listen for something but his gaze remained on her. Relaxed but studying her movements and expressions somewhat akin to an officer overlooking their soldiers for uniform infractions. It was almost like he was becoming someone else or that he was giving her a glimpse of his true self.

The weight of his stare pulled Riona’s spine ramrod straight, shoulders squared, chin lifted as if called to attention. She didn’t fidget under his silent appraisal.

[color=f26522]“Mushrooms are of no consequence to us, we have plenty.”[/color] He paused for a moment then lowered his voice so that it would not carry into the forest, even going as far as speaking the native Dialect of Alidasht, <”[color=f26522]I know that you can understand me.[/color]”> The words felt forced with no accent, like there was no emotion in the beautiful language at all. <”[color=f26522]We have many eyes and ears across this city and the kingdom. We don't have very many in the Ivory tower where you work.[/color]”>

The smile on his face and relaxed posture was a strange match to the way he spoke, some may even find it unsettling. <”[color=f26522]All I ask is that you occasionally give us information, what you see and hear. Rumors, whispers, maps, inventory, secret meetings, notable people that come and go. We will take it all.[/color]”>

Riona had seen this game before. Servants playing the spy, and spies playing the servant. Also saw what happened when the Crown’s men caught up with them. Or worse, Lady Morrigan. It always ended ugly.

But something about this request made her hackles rise. Then it clicked into place. Darryn: He was working for someone else too. Quack suspected a criminal organization; Riona thought it was the host of the secret party, or at least someone connected to them… what if that “someone” was one of the foreign nobility?

She pinned the Varian Lord with a hard stare. [color=DAF6C7]“Why?”[/color]

‘Good’ he thought, ‘not a no not a yes’ he would have respected the straight no but a yes without questions is suspicious. <”[color=f26522]To do my duty, to maintain the security and safety of the Varian citizens in this city and kingdom.[/color]”> he stated with an unflinching conviction that carried in his hushed voice.

<”[color=f26522]you know i have been followed by four different people this morning alone? We counted eight yesterday and two the day before that. By what we can tell at least three different organizations.[/color]”> He spoke as if these things were normal and not a threat at all. 

<”[color=f26522]The guards and undercover guards are trying their best but the look in their eyes gives them away, if you know what to look for. A lot better than last year.[/color]”> It was true they had come a long way in the last few years to be very competent but some of them gave the others away. Normally by just having that look in their eye like they were better than others or had some kind of hope.

He knelt down to pick up a random shrub and lift a part of it up toward her as if he was asking her a question about it. He was almost sure they were not being followed but one could never be too sure. <”[color=f26522]The other has used the same people on a few different days which makes us think they are unprofessional, maybe some kind of rebel faction or insurrectionist movement against the crown. Not sure why they would be targeting me but I've made it a point to upset certain individuals.[/color]”> He fake laughed, stood back up and carried on.

<”[color=f26522]The last is professional, using new people every day, different types of people from different walks of life. They are the hardest to spot and seem to be everywhere but are more concentrated towards the slums and industrial areas. We believe this is the criminal organization in the city…[/color]”> he paused for a moment with a sigh <”[color=f26522]and there is more.[/color]”> The last part he said with a tone that was hard to make out, some combination of anger, dread, and resolve.

[color=DAF6C7]“Sounds like you’re very popular, Roman.”[/color] What she assumed was Quack’s people snooping around was one thing, but multiple groups? That was something else. [color=DAF6C7]“Makes me wonder what you did… or do backstage to draw such a diverse audience.”[/color] Riona didn’t phrase it as a question, but it was a question nonetheless.

There was a lot more she wanted to say, but she decided to wait until Roman finished. She crossed her arms, [color=DAF6C7]“You mentioned there’s more? What is it?”[/color]

Roman let out a short laugh, they were getting closer to where the ritual was performed. He could still smell the faint aroma of a bonfire in the air. [color=f26522]“I don't do much backstage, that's not my job.”[/color] he spoke effortlessly, switching back to the common language. [color=f26522]“I present myself as a well to do, aloof Varian noble and dignitary. Here to spread my business and attempt to raise the spirits of the downtrodden and make their lives just that much easier.”[/color]

Again he glanced at her, [color=f26522]“I'm sure that we both know that that alone can rub people the wrong way.”[/color] another pause while they came upon the opening of the ceremony location proper. [color=f26522]“There is definitely more I could share, but I will not do so unless we come to an agreement. We haven't even talked about payment yet.”[/color] 

[color=DAF6C7]“... Since you’re asking me, of all people, to help you on this noble endeavor, and [i]not[/i] the royal family, they know nothing about this, do they?”[/color] Plucking off the rose-tinted glasses that came with being Cal’s friend, Riona looked at Roman as one of the players in the game of politics.

[color=DAF6C7]“Look, I might not know much about politics, Roman, but I’m pretty sure what you’re asking me to do can get me tried and hanged for treason.”[/color] Riona continued, adjusting her basket, [color=DAF6C7]“Why should I risk my neck while you get to watch safely from afar, playing the aloof foreign dignitary?”[/color]

It really came down to that one question: Why ask [i]her[/i]? Yeah, her mother was Varian, but he couldn’t possibly know that. There are plenty of other people he could’ve hired for this. Was it just because of Cal? And that thought spawned another—how in the blazes did Roman even know they were friends?

He didn't answer right away. She had some good points after all and he was effectively asking her to risk his life for him. Instead he kept walking silently. It wasn't for too long though until they crossed into the opening of the small field where the ceremony was held. [color=f26522]“Give me a moment.”[/color]

It was clean aside from the charred pile of ash and charcoal from their fires. He noticed evidence of where others had come and gone the day before. Strange, none of his people reported coming back out here again, they were very careful with leaving trash behind. 

Roman scooped up a handful of charred remains from the fire pit. He held the burnt wood and ash with care while he dug a small hole outside the stone ring and buried a small amount in the dirt. Standing, with his free hand clutching his necklace while he looked at the firepit. His grandfather's face flashed in his mind. 

Riona tracked Roman’s every movement with her eyes, paying careful attention to what he touched. 

[color=f26522]“I know what i'm asking of you but we don't know how far up this goes…”[/color] his voice was quiet. He paused as he thought about how to answer, his gaze still fixed on the ash at his feet. [color=f26522]“With how prevalent and organized the underworld is in this city and kingdom, it could be all the way up to the royal family or some of their top advisors.”[/color] 

The answer to her second question took him a little longer to answer. His jaw clenched and unclenched as his eyes scanned her and their surroundings. [color=f26522]“I am far from safety, Riona. I put myself in dangerous positions on purpose within what would be acceptable with my station so as not to draw suspicion.”[/color] his gaze seemed to dig into her again, brows furrowing, and a look of grim determination in his eyes. 

[color=f26522]“I am expendable. My people are expendable. The Varian citizens in this kingdom and this city are NOT. Neither are our friends or those who help us.”[/color] Each word was punctuated clearly, Romans right hand clenched as he felt his mark set ablaze in his skin, turning his knuckles white. [color=f26522]“This is how we pay our debt, This is our way.”[/color]

Another pause but it was to make sure she understood what it was that he was saying, what it meant. [color=f26522]“Like I said.”[/color] his voice and demeanor relaxed again, [color=f26522]“Callum has mentioned you before whenever we were drinking. If he trusts you I can try. I can not divulge any more details until you accept.”[/color]

A flicker of satisfaction warmed Riona’s chest. She fought to keep her expression neutral, but inside, she was grinning. So Cal had been talking about her, even before their friendship got the official stamp of approval.

His eyes glanced at a nearby tree and a thought came to mind, [color=f26522]“if you accept I can tell you that I will give you the same offer I am going to give Callum and something you can use against me if you truly need to.”[/color] A gamble? Absolutely. This entire summer was a gamble but trust is given not earned. This still doesn't mean she can be trusted with everything.

[color=DAF6C7]“I get it,”[/color] Riona said when she was sure that he said all that he wanted to say. [color=DAF6C7]“But don’t act like your status doesn’t give you more protection than those who don’t.”[/color]

She cocked a hip, resting a hand on it as she eyed him. [color=DAF6C7]“That was a nice speech and all, but it’s your choices when the wolves are at our heels that’ll show who you really think is... expendable.”[/color]

Her gaze dropped to the ground as she mulled it over. A teasing wind danced through the trees, tugging playfully at her skirt and the loose strands of hair that had escaped her braid. She absently tucked a wayward curl behind her ear.

[color=DAF6C7]“So just to be crystal clear,”[/color] she said, glancing back up at him, [color=DAF6C7]“you want me to keep my eyes and ears open, but you’re not expecting me to go sticking my nose where it’ll likely get bitten off, right?”[/color]

He took her words to heart and knew he would have to show her that he meant what he said. Which means he has to keep his word. Not an impossible task, still he knew that he wouldn't be able to bring everyone home at the end of the summer there would be casualties. Hazard pay helps with that.

Roman nodded at her question, his stoic posture and gaze unchanging, [color=f26522]“Correct. I don't need highly classified information from you, I can hire someone else for that.”[/color] 

Another pause as the forest moved with the wind around them. He could tell she was thinking it over. This was good, most people these days lacked the ability to take a step back and make important decisions that have long standing consequences. his left hand slowly slid to his waist to grasp something.

For another while, Riona didn’t say anything. Then, she finally nodded. [color=DAF6C7]“Okay, I’ll help.”[/color][/color]