The next morning Kellis awoke early, and seeing her sister still sound asleep, she lets her gaze wander over her resting form with a soft longing, then shakes her head and slips quietly out of bed. She must get a hold of herself! She washes quietly and takes an apple before getting dressed. With her sister still sound asleep, she slips out the door into the cool morning air.
She looks about; the shopkeeper across the street is just opening his awning and setting up his wares for the day. She then spots a young boy, lounging idly against the wall of an old house. She makes her way towards him, and digging into her purse produces a sovereign and flips it to him, which he catches out of the air deftly. She has an agreement with the cities thieves-guild: they have their people, usually teenage boys or girls, keep an eye on her place, and raise an alarm if anyone tries to break in or otherwise do damage, and she pays each one, and agrees to ignore some of their lesser crimes. Lord Progald never did approve of it, but has always just looked the other way, and it gives her piece of mind, especially so now.
She decides to head to the city offices, determined to find out more. A few questions to the finance minister might shake something loose, or at least make them nervous. She was very confident he was mixed up with what she was really looking for anyway, so she had little to lose.
Along the way she observes the gathering crowds as people emerge for their morning routines. But now her mind is still reeling a bit from the events with her sister of the past few days. She still has a hard time believing it even happened. Twice! And her sister calling her a lesbian? Preposterous! Still, as she watches the throngs milling about, she does catch herself taking in the forms of the women present, perhaps more so than even the attractive men. Suddenly ahead of her she see's a rather uncommon sight: an elf in the city. For the most part the populations of all the northern city-states is human, as the other races tend to keep to themselves, but in a city as large as High Felutia, you will come across the occasional different race; a month ago there was an entire party of dwarves, there to negotiate mining rights or some such.
She follows the elf with some curiosity, as he... no she... no he? It was difficult to tell, but they were beautiful none the less, and she again could feel her loins begin to warm. Such grace and beauty! With long straight blonde hair, and those signature up swept ears. Wearing a long, flowing white robe, yet not much in the chest area, less than her own small boobs. Probably a man. Well, there was one man she wouldn't be a lesbian for! The filthy thought made her blush, and she decides to continue to the state building.
Upon arrival she decides to head to Lord Prongald's office first, to see if things are still smoothed over, and if he had anything new for her. She was sure he wouldn't be that mad at her really, after all she'd built up quite a bit of cache after saving his life from an assassination attempt last year. She enters the office to find it abuzz; people hurrying back and forth, talking in a jumble. She approaches his secretary curiously.
"What's going on Kandice?" she asks. "It's like an angry bee-hive in here."
She haggard girl looks up with an exasperated expression. "Oh, hi Kellis. Big news out of the south. I have a thousand things to do, no time to talk!" she exclaims, then returns to her paperwork. Kellis nods and heads for Gerith's office, despite Kandice yelling "You can't go in there!" at her as she does.
She finds the Lord of High Felutia speaking into a crystal which hangs on his wall, a large diamond surface surrounded by many facets that catch the light. A fascinating piece of magic, allowing the rulers of the city-states to communicate quickly and over long distances. She waits patiently on the side of the room for him to finish. She can't quite see who he's talking too, or what they are saying, but she can hear his half of the conversation quite well.
"Yes chancellor.. We know that... No, no chancellor, I assure you High Felutia stands ready to offer any aid we can.... yes chancellor.... very good." The image of the man fades, and Gerith turns to see her, shaking his head and taking a heavy sigh. "Ahh, there you are. I was going to send for you eventually, all the better."
"What's going on?"
"Trouble is what's going on. Maybe big trouble. Santilliof has been attacked." There eyes meet and he nods again. "Yes. It was breeds, and led by... something else. Who or what is still unclear."
Kellis' eyes go wide and she feels the pit of her stomach sink. This was big news. Perhaps grave news. There hasn't been war with the Southern Lands for over fifty years, but the last war was devastating for all involved. It took the combined effort of all five states, an extremely rare and volatile thing in its own right, to drive them back. Her mind was already whirling.
"Yes... something must have united them; the breeds will just tear each others throats out otherwise. I can be ready to head down there today. We must find out what is happening." She was already making plans in her head; sorry to have to leave her sister in this time, but it would have to be done.
"No. Not yet Kellis. I still need more information. So far it was just one raid. But Chancellor Brodick does fear the breeds are massing again. For now I need you here, keeping your finger on the pulse of the city. Once word gets out people are going to panic. I still have enemies who will try and take advantage of that. Brodick has his own spies; I'll only send you if things get more... desperate."
Kellis nodded, agreeing with his point. People will try to take advantage of this chaos. "Very well m'lord, I'll keep an eye on things here and root out any trouble. I was here to do just that anyway, in a way." She quickly recapped what she had learned about her being followed.
"Minister Nevall?" he tapped his chin thoughtfully. "He has been blocking my proposals much more often of late, though I was just assuming it was his penny-pinching ways. Maybe there is more to it. Yes, look into that, and keep me posted."
Kellis nods and prepares to leave, when she notices him staring at her, and smile creeping across his face. She looks back a moment then tilts her head to the side. "What?"
"Oh, nothing." he replies. "You're just... just my most trusted agent, and honestly like the daughter I never had. What would I do without you?" he says with a smile. Kellis can only grin stupidly back, blushing a bit.
"It's umm, my pleasure Sir. The city needs you; you're a wonderful ruler. And I plan on keeping it that way."
He steps closer and places one of his large, callused hands on her shoulder, giving her a fatherly squeeze. "I know Kellis. Just be careful out there, I don't want to lose you, either."
Kellis' confident grin returns, and she gives him a wink. "You know me Gerith, careful is my middle name!" He only rolls his eyes and returns to his desk as she gives a little giggle and exits the office.
