It was the great festival of Leantris in the city of Karana and Valentine was happily in his element. He walked through the familiar districts of his home town, heading towards the parks located in the centre of the city. He had moved away from the poorer Barrio district, where his favourite inn was located and into the large market. Some of the stalls were still present and had been decorated with bright green and yellow ribbons and banners of matching colours, the colours of the Goddess of Life and Nature. He walked passed a small cake stall and purchased a small seed cake to munch on as he walked to the Parks district. There were revellers drinking everywhere he turned; the city had two reasons to celebrate this day. The treaty between Karana and Tamrain had recently been signed, ending the eighteen months of civil war that had ravaged the region. The Spring Festival of New Life seemed like a good day to make the signing official and celebrate the new found peace.
As he walked through the market and passed through the archway into the Muntz district he noticed Karanan men rubbing shoulders with Tamrainian's; those who they would have killed only a week before hand. He smiled and inclined his head at a few well dressed ladies as he walked by, pondering the confusions of the war he had so recently fought in. He continued to ponder the futility of the past strife as he walked through the district, which was also decorated with green and yellow ribbons. He climbed the steep hill that was the east side of the Muntz and passed through into Tyseley. The houses here became larger and he knew he was nearing the parks that surrounded the tower dedicated to the Spring Goddess. The streets were distinctly more crowded as well, elaboratly dressed people clad in the colours of the Lady, as well as the red and white of Karana mixed with the blue emblem of Tamrain, spilled out of the pubs and lined the streets.
There were more than a few drunken soldiers... ex-soldiers, along the streets, being hugged by a group of young women, little more than girls. He smiled again as he passed them, having decided to not use the excuse that he was a soldier, and therefore a hero, to get attention from them. He finally crossed through into the parks, walking under another well decorated archway strewn with yet more ribbons and flowers. There were a lot of people on the large lawn, relaxing in the warm spring sunshine. It looked like the entire east side of the city has turned out to see the parade put on for the goddess. He had already missed that particular event but had agreed to meet a friend anyway. He walked onto the grass and crossed it, taking the most direct route to the tower which dominated the large lawn. He pushed his dark hair out of his face and gathered his strength. He could not help but wonder what was required of him on the day of the Spring Lady. He passed another group of middle aged merchants and nodded as he did so, they raised their wine glasses in his direction and he let out a laugh and a salute.
He turned to the tower and spotted a young woman waving enthusiastically at him. He raised his arm and walked swiftly over to her. "Hello Valentine." she smiled.
"Sylvia." he nodded.
"Leantris watch over you." she said, placing a hand on his left shoulder in blessing. "Thank you for coming to see me at such a time."
"Anything for you." he replied. "How can I help you?"
"Please, come inside and I will explain everything to you." he gave her a puzzled look but she shook her head and lead him into the tower. The soft green light that the outside of the tower radiated at this time of year did not penetrate through to the inside, which was sparsely decorated. He was led along a carpetless stone hallway, through to the back of the tower where the initiates lived. Although he knew Sylvia was no initiate, she obviously still had her rooms at the back of the tower on the ground level, rather than with the other fully initiated members of her Order. She pulled a large key from underneath her home spun woollen gown and unlocked the door. She ushered him inside, closed and locked the door behind him. He took a look around and found that he was in a sparsely decorated room, much like his own Order's back in Quillia. There was a small simply carved wooden table with two chairs around it. In the centre of the table was a vase containing a single green rose. There was a double bed in one corner of the room and a set of shelves against the opposite wall.
"Please, take a seat." she urged, sitting herself on the one opposite him. He did so and folded his hands in his lap, shifting about a little.
"How can I help you?" he asked eventually.
"I have a very sensitive issue that I am hoping that you can help me solve." she said.
"I see." he nodded, "You understand there is a strict code to what I do?" Sylvia sighed and stood up, she crossed over to the shelves and took down two glasses and a wine bottle.
"I was hoping to keep this off the records." she evaded, pouring out two glasses of red wine and handing one to Valentine. She pushed her long mousy hair out of her face and regarded him with her bright blue eyes.
"What I do is always off the public record."
"I mean just between you and I." she replied.
"Could be problematic." he replied, "There are very strict rules."
"I don't need anyone killing Valentine."
"So what do you want." he frowned, sipping the warm liquid.
"What do you know of me?" she asked, evading his question.
