“Wonder if that Ambassador from the Empire would have any?” one small boy asks.
“Why would he have any?” an older boy says derisively. “That’s just dumb!”
“There’s an Ambassador from the Empire in town?” Miko asks. He’s been waiting for the conversation to turn in this direction.
“You ain’t heard?” one boy asks, surprised. “It’s all anyone’s been able to talk about.”
“Just got to town yesterday,” he explains. “Wonder why he’s here?”
“Hear they got troubles down in the Empire and he’s here to ask for help,” one boy says.
“That ain’t the reason,” an older girl says. “I heard it from my brother, who heard it from his master that he’s here to arrange a trade agreement.”
They begin to argue amongst themselves as each tries to convince the others of the truthfulness of their story and the falsehood of everyone else’s.
Miko lets it run for a moment, listening to all the various stories, none of which is anything he hadn’t already heard from Fifer and Jiron. Holding up his hands, he says, “Quiet down now.”
The kids begin quieting down and one by one turn to look at him. “Now, who would like to earn a couple coppers?” he asks.
A dozen hands fly up into the air as each begins saying they do.
“I want information about the Ambassador, why he’s here,” he begins.
“What for?” one of the boys hollers from the back of the group.
“My master is a rich merchant,” he tells them. “If he is in fact here to negotiate a new trade agreement, it would be to my master’s benefit to know.” Several heads bob up and down as they begin to see the logic of that.
“So, I would like you all to find out as much as you can and meet me back here later this afternoon,” he says. “If any of you can tell me his business here I’ll give each of you three coppers and spring for a meal.”
“And more tarts?” one small girl with berry stains on her face asks.
“And more tarts too,” he assures her with a smile. To the rest, he adds, “But be careful. Those from the Empire tend to deal strongly with spies.”
”We’ll be careful,” one older boy says.
“Okay then, on your way and meet me back here this afternoon before the evening meal.”
The kids move away quickly down the street as Miko smiles. If anyone can find out what’s going on here, it’s them. Not willing to leave it just up to them, he plans to do his own investigating.
One of the most prevalent rumors is the trade agreement. That one, more than any of the others, is believed by most. Maybe it’s just the most logical, or perhaps there is a basis for it. Asking directions of a local, he soon is heading down to the Merchant’s Guild. If there’s any truth behind the rumor he’s likely to find out there.
The Merchant’s Guild building is a large three story complex located within the second wall. He tries to walk through the main entrance but before he even gets close to the door is turned away by the guard stationed there.
Unable to gain entry, he instead works his way around the outside, looking for any other doors which may prove more accommodating. The only other doors he finds are locked from the other side. It seems the only way in is through the main front door which is guarded.
Not willing to give up, he stations himself in an unobtrusive spot across the street in an alley where he can monitor the comings and goings through the front door. A half hour into his vigil, he sees two of the kids whom he sent in search of information wander by and mill around outside the building. Smiling to himself, he realizes they’re actually working to find out the information they said they would.
Several minutes later, the kids move off down the street and disappear in the crowd.
He sits there in his place in the alley for awhile longer until he notices two men exiting the Merchant’s Guild. A cold shiver runs through him when he realizes one of the men is none other than Lord Colerain. What is he doing here?
The man he’s with is dressed in fine clothes with a bearing which gives off the aura of authority. They move away from the building and turn to go down the street.
Coming to his feet, Miko edges out of the alley and follows them. He remembers back to their last visit here and the problems Lord Colerain had caused them. At the time, Lord Colerain was staying with a local noble by name of Lord Kindering. The man with whom he’s walking could be this Lord Kindering.
He follows them through the crowds, always keeping enough distance between them so as not to be discovered. Lord Colerain here in Cardri. The Empire’s Ambassador here as well. And then James gets summoned to appear before the Royal Court? It can’t be just a coincidence! Something’s going on and he intends to find out what.
Keeping them just within sight, he follows them to the gates leading into the castle area and watches in frustration as they pass through. Coming to a halt, he knows there’s no way the guards there will allow him through the gates. Positioning himself in an out of the way area, he keeps an eye on the gates in the hopes they reappear.
By the time he needs to return to meet with the street kids, they haven’t returned from within the castle area. Getting up, he heads back toward his rendezvous with the kids. On the way he stops by a bakery for a small sack of tarts, enough for each of the kids to have one then continues down the street. When he nears the location, he sees them already there waiting for him.
“Thought you might’ve forgotten about us,” one older boy states.
“Naw,” he says, “just got tied up for a moment. What did you find out?”
“Not much,” the older boy says. “The word is that they are in fact here for trade negotiations, but that may not be all they’re here for.”
“Oh?” prompts Miko.
“It seems the delegation which came with the Ambassador also included an Eye,” he explains.
“An Eye?” asks Miko. “What’s that?”
“Don’t know for sure, but that’s what they said,” the boy replies. “They didn’t give any details about what an Eye is, but when they said it you could tell it wasn’t good.”
“Interesting,” says Miko.
“You said you’d pay us!” one younger boy demands.
“Of course,” he says as he reaches into his pouch for the promised coins and hands each of them three coppers. “Now, how about that meal I promised too.”
“Yeah!” several of them exclaim at the same time.
Smiling, he leads them back a ways to one of the cities open markets where they stop at one of the open eateries which are popular here in Cardri. He buys them each a bowl of stew with a quarter loaf of bread.
While they eat he asks them about Lord Kindering.
“He’s bad news,” the older boy says.
“Why?” asks Miko.
“He deals with the less than savory factions of the city,” another boy says. “Anyone who crosses him often as not ends up dead.”
Nodding, Miko thinks that’s just the sort of individual Lord Colerain would be associated with. “What else can you tell me about him?”
“He’s one of the three Lords of the Merchant’s Guild,” an older girl says.
“Yeah,” adds the older boy, “I think that’s why he bears the title Lord. From what I’ve heard, there’s nothing of the nobility in his family.”
“So if the Ambassador is here to negotiate a new trade agreement, he would be one of the men involved?” he asks.
“Would think so,” the older boy says. “Though don’t know for sure.”
“Could you find out if there’s a connection between this Lord Kindering and the Ambassador?”
“Sure,” he says.
He gives the older boy a couple silvers and says, “I’m staying at the Silver Bells. If you find out anything, find me there. If I’m not there, just leave word to meet you back here. We’ll meet here tomorrow morning if not before.”
“Will do,” he says. The kids finish eating and begin to leave. One small girl, the one who had berry filling smeared across her face earlier comes over and gives him a quick hug.