V1CE: Online

Winds of Change

"It's a shame to hear the accident with your messenger, your majesty," Alan said, walking next to the King, surrounded by his guards.

The tables were full of nobles, dumping their bags of silver and gold coins. The dealers were in their highest forms, snatching the bags with every roll of the dice or turn of the card. The look in the nobles' eyes were uncaring; as if the money was inconsequential to them. The image of wealth is all they cared about, even if they lost it all to a nobody dealer or a whore on their lap. Bae herself was enjoying the scene, playfully giggling with the King's nephew, the Earl of Wennox.

The city sat on the most northern reaches of the kingdom, engulfed by snow-capped mountains and harsh winter storms. It bordered the Fjordlands of the Jotun tribes; giants who could rival Wreckt in size. Alan appreciated the fact that she was attempting to find information on neighboring areas. Wennox, as a border city, was a prime location to focus on, since traveling there would be difficult. Perhaps, Bae might even find out information regarding where Ouza had fled to, since his whereabouts were still unknown, which made him a threat.

"More drinks, table nine!" a dealer shouted.

"It would seem that the messenger I sent was very rude. Had he not done the deed, I might've found need to punish him myself," the King replied, grabbing a wine glass that was being sent to table nine.

"And how would you know that?" Alan asked.

"Master Alan, I may be weak when compared to you and some of your employees, but my court wizard knows compelling magic when he sees it. Still, it would seem that whatever spell was employed was far beyond anything humans can perform."

"I see. I would like to meet this court wizard some day, with your permission of course, your majesty."

"I believe he's in the city, at the new church you've built. My younger brother speaks highly of your charities, though I must admit, I was shocked to learn it was run by lizardmen," the King replied, sipping the wine.

"Yes, it was a shock to me as well. The religion must hold some merit, if it has curbed their natural tendencies toward violence."

"Interesting. That is probably the reason for my court wizard's current absence. He's very inquisitive."

"My lord," a voice rang through Alan's head.

"Apologies your majesty, I shall return momentarily."

The King bowed his head, permitting Alan to walk away from earshot. Lorka was contacting him, and there was an urgency in her voice. Since her spell had a time limit, he rushed into a private room to speak to her.

"What is it, Lorka?"

"Master All-In, I apologize for the interruption, but an elderly man is snooping around the farms. He said he is the court wizard of his majesty, but he hasn't provided any documentation. Should I have the guards throw him out?"

"Stall him, I was just speaking with the King regarding his presence in the city. I'll send Merrik to retrieve him, but do not let him investigate your training or our production warehouses."

"Yes, milord."

The connection faded, and Alan balled his hands into a fist. The man was a nuisance, but a dangerous one to his operations. He suspected the King made the request to use the casino for ulterior motives, but what those were he couldn't be sure. Merrik believed it was to plan for a campaign, but now Alan figured his majesty found out about the Black Grass use by his younger brother's soldiers in Emberdale. The Duke had shielded him from excessive taxation from the Kingdom, since taxation typically came from both the local government and the crown. The Duke circumvented this by creating a military contract, which absolved Alan's business of the crown's take so long as he sold fifty-one percent to the Duke's forces.