Watching the strange man go with a smile and a nod that one was strange but he could appreciate the attitude of a good soldier when he met one. The smile on his face did not fade while he walked through the streets. Taking in the sounds of the city and its people, the smells floating through the air were not all unpleasant, he made sure to pick up more than a few tempting treats and grilled meats. The evening sun slowly falling ever closer to the horizon did at the very least begin to lower the temperature of the city to a comfortable temperature for the north man.
Making his way slowly back to his warehouse gave the man plenty of time to think as he nibbled on some of the food and handed some of it out to either children as he walked by or the seldom scruffy looking beggar here and there. The events of the day gave him a lot to think about, from all of them forgetting what happened the night before then finding out that the first women he actually had a natural connection with left, meeting up with Jacob and crystal again, then the issue with the hunting area, Verrick winning the archery competition wasn’t all that surprising.
The blacksmith lessons went rather smooth considering the turnout for participants, then there was meeting the outlander Sjan-dehk and learning about him while watching the end of the arena fights. Blood thirsty the lot of them, he just shrugged at the thought as he shouldn’t judge them too harshly. There have been several encounters which should have killed him but instead he blacks out and wakes up the next day surrounded with carnage. The memories from some of those instances flooding back for a moment before he pushed through them.
The incident with the bear was worrying, it should not have been able to get that close to the city and it wasn’t starving. Even with the possibility of it being sick it would have been more attracted to the smells and sounds of the carnival than them in which case it would have done a lot more damage before getting put down. He guessed that was a good thing but it also seemed odd he just couldn’t quite figure out why or who would have an angle for that to happen. He also heard a rumor that Mina had some sort of episode at the execution as well from one of his passing men, he hoped his old friend was doing well with it. The last thing she needed was to make her father worry about her even more.
The entrance to the warehouse came into view as he realized that he wandered here without remembering he was so close. The two guards at the main door stood as he approached from their seated positions under a small awning. With a wave of his hand they relaxed and accepted some of the food he had brought back with him. Stepping inside he saw that a few of the others from the ship had moved into the store house as well. They weren’t technically supposed to stay here but he bought the whole place for the summer and made sure the local guards knew that his people would be staying here.
Moving to the back of the warehouse he saw Eric writing on some parchment, the diligent worker didn’t even raise his head as roman handed him a skewer of meat and vegetables. They didn’t say anything at first as roman began to change into some evening clothes and wash up a little for the firework show. The smaller man at the table finally set the pen down and leaned back in his chair followed quickly by a yawn and rubbing of his eyes. “
Is that the last update to the queen before she leaves?” He asked in a serious but quiet voice than usual, he did not need to be loud and boisterous in here.
“
Aye, won’t know for sure who is goin wit her tell the morrow.” Eric answered his friend with a tired voice beginning to eat a few chunks off the stick he was given.
“
You need to add in there for her or one of her advisors to meet a Lady Adiyan, she is a representative of the Viserjantan Commonwealth on the trade ship Sudah. They are from a far off island nation fresh out of a civil war. Could be a good trading partner if not an ally perhaps someone to keep neutral if things here go bad.” Roman spoke as he applied some neutral fragrances and started to put on his evening clothes.
Eric gave his superior a questioning look for a moment,
“I… I don’t know how to try to spell what you just told me... I'll include it in this missive so they can decide what to do on their end.” Picking up the pen again to add in a few more sentences.
“
Also do include that I suspect that there are more strange occurrences in this city this time around. Just a feeling, everything seems just a little more sideways than it normally is. Maybe another player we are not aware of that’s shaking things up.” Roman made sure to almost whisper that part as he made sure that his sword, seax, and pouches were secured to his belt and inside pockets. Opening one of the small boxes with flowers painted across its side, he took a small glass orb that barely fit in his palm it was a small ceramic jasmine flower encased in glass. A small trinket that Sadie may enjoy.
“
Your gut feeling then” the man retorted.
“
Something like that, just another thing to watch out for.” Throwing his light brown cloak over his shoulder with a shrug, he didn’t need the cloak but it helped to hide away his weapons a bit better since many of the city folk were on edge around open carry weapons at times. “
I’m off to the park to see the princess, try to get some sleep or something after you’re done with the queen.” The other man just waved him off while Roman headed back out the door and towards the park in the setting sun.
The walk back to the park was uneventful, the only thing that stood out was the look of an earlier gunfight down some of the streets near the Damien estate. Just another thing to chalk up to weird events through the city, might be worth investigating in later but not now, right now he was to meet up with some of the other nobility of Varian at the park for the firework show. Even before he got to the park he could see the spot that Sadie picked out for their show.
Drawing closer still he noticed a few familiar faces prince Felix was there with the good doctor John and he could even see the form of Lady Zarai being carried up the hill to the others. It would seem that her injuries are still getting the best of her and the wheelchair from earlier wasn’t all for show. Roman slowly strode up the small hill towards the others as well. One of the guards moved to intercept him for a moment but a quick look to the man made him reconsider his earlier decision.
Making it to the top of the hill he gave a respectful bow to the prince and princess.
“Prince Felix, Princess Sadie, Lady Zarai, Dr. Williamson. A pleasure to see you all again on this lovely evening.” Spoken with a smile and his ever friendly demeanor towards his fellow countrymen. “
I hope you all had a wonderful and eventful day.” Either not reading the room very well or not caring too much for the personal space of others in an aloof kind of way, he found his spot next to Lady Zarai.
Turning to face the young lady with a genuine smile. There was no judgment in his gaze or persecution lingering in his voice. He honestly felt like she needed a friend in his own sort of way without being entirely too awkward. “
I do have to say, you look as stunning as ever Lady Zarai.” His words were meant as a compliment, he always did enjoy her company but never saw her as more than a friend or little sister.
He wasn’t always the best person to gauge the emotions of others but she was looking a little down. He could only think that it was because of either being as beat up as she was or that she was just annoyed that she had to be stuck with a babysitter all day either way he figured he could at least try to cheer her up.
Still smiling with that big brother attitude he had towards most of the other Varian nobility, “
Zary, I’m proud of you.” He teased her, quietly using his childhood name for her, the words just meant for her but he wasn’t hiding it either. “
You’re doing a good job, I’m glad to see you out here with the rest of us, instead of letting your injuries get the best of you and remaining in bed.”
Always the optimist and in a good mood, the giant looked at the others that where with them on the hill as the fireworks went off above them. “
I believe that we are all doing a good job, our lives can be stressful and challenging at times. Yet if it wasn’t challenging it wouldn’t change us and we wouldn’t grow.” He looked to them again from his seated position and continued to give them all a smile. “
I still believe this summer is going to be very interesting for all of us.” Again he continued to smile at them while they enjoyed the evening air.
With his hopeful, short, pick me up speech done Roman let his eyes wander through the crowd below. There were plenty of people moving about plenty of sights and sounds. Then his eyes locked onto someone familiar and his smile dropped slightly. He knew it was her from the moment he saw her that form and dress. Violet? Calbert said that she would have been gone to their home in the interior yet here she was limping through the crowd with a cane? It was hard to tell at this distance but he almost certain it was her. He needed to investigate but wanted to make sure that Zarai was okay first before going down there after her.
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