The Remnant Of Ferondaal

The Quiver

Lord Sandwell raked towards the impressive building where he was destined. The Chambers were housed in a large palace on the west side of the city's main square, it was effectively the City Halls, but with the sheer size of the city, so must the seat of its officials be far greater than that name would suggest. The dizzying size of its sixteen twisted columns commanded the attention of all those in the square and they held aloft a pediment, more akin to a mountain range than a sculpted piece of architecture. It depicted scenes from Coulthair's history such as the city's defence against Waalajair, when Kentinea ruled. The palace of chambers was, without doubt, the most impressive structure in Jodascave and its fame brought many visit to the capitol the whole year round.

I could see the fastidious Councilman was intent on being on time so, with a calm air of excitement; designed to intrigue him, I arrested his attention.

"The Chambers? Are you; by chance, to meet with Lord Kaspian Diaar? I am keen to consult with him on a matter of potential excitement."

He raised a single eyebrow in a flicker of contempt as he turned his head to face me, it was a natural reflex when hearing the name of his colleague, before he expertly masked it with the other in a display of affable interest. He was a formidable politician and well trained in showing a public face of unity, regardless of his distaste for the man, but I saw it, his eyes betrayed him to me, every time.

"Alas, Lord Diaar is travelling to Kohlair, he will not return for three days at least."

His face was as genial as he could make it, but his voice was coated in disdain and I feigned disappointment. A flash of genuine concern washed across him and he reached out his hand to reassure me.

"Is there something I can help you with in his stead? Excitement you say?"

His face was delicately suave and his smile was lovely, he was a handsome man who carried himself extremely well and he brought to my mind, the night we had spent together, in fact, as we conversed, I became aware of a warm feeling spreading across me. I took a moment to clear my throat and push the distraction aside.

"No, my Lord, I have, quite recently been left something by a relative. It is supposed to be of great value and I wished for him to appraise it for me.I have come to understand that Lord Diaar is a collector of antiquities and a respected authority on the battle garments of the Sevrianance."

Lord Sandwell's eyes narrowed a little and I was aware of a small but significant change in his approach. Any item that belonged to our celestial mothers, would, without doubt, violently snatch his interest. He thought for a moment, too long in fact, if he had spoken a little earlier I would have doubted the depths of his greed, but he couldn't have done so any quicker, he was too excited.

"My dear Lady, you have been ill advised. Kaspian Diaar is not yet the authority I hope him to one day be, but as our lessons continue he will soon enough become as skilled in the knowledge of Sevrianance artefacts as I am."

He bowed low in a gesture of celebrity and I allowed a roll of my eyes to arch over him. As he straightened he appeared to try and become more domineering.

"Let us make an appointment, three hours from now. You can take me to your treasure and I will give you the advice you seek."

A little bubble of pride swelled in my stomach, I had his interest; that was plain, but I needed to gain his complete confidence before I would be willing to proceed.

"My Lord, no. it's not possible, I am to leave in three hours for the monastery, and shall not return until tomorrow. You are forgetting sir, that I have no proof that the item is authentic, I would feel foolish indeed if I travelled lord Enajard Sandwell all the way up to the caverns to authenticate a forgery."