First Morning In The Empire.

I arose the next morning and joined the girls for breakfast as we talked in secret about what might be the best way to get aboard the ship before it was off loaded. Of course we had no clue what the gold was being used for or if it was even real and not another con like at goblin town. I saw a young dark elf woman walk to the bar and speak to the tender who pointed at me.

"She is looking for you." Willow said though I got that already without having to ask.

"Hello. My name is Ciara I was told to come get you so that you may see the Minster of trade." The young woman did a bow with her head.

"That was fast, I mean I was hoping to meet him but I didn't expect him to send someone looking for me." I smiled playing dumb.

"It seems someone put a good word in for you at the palace. Would you please follow me." She replied. "Your bodyguard and translator will not be needed."

"I would feel better if they came along." I shook my head.

"I am sorry sir but they will not be permitted into the palace so armed."

"Very well." I nodded to Willow and Sura.

"So are you from around here." I said making small talk as I followed her to an awaiting carriage.

"Yes. I grew up here." She said. We spoke on the ride to the palace as we went up the hill to the top. We got out at the palace gates and then she lead me inside. The area that I would have expected to be the courtyard was more like a throne room as I saw two thrones across the was under a sheltered roof as was several others around the open yard watching as four fighters approached a woman in the middle with a spear in hand. Ciara led me around as they began to fight. The woman danced in the middle of them not holding back as she deflected ones attack then smacked him in the face with the other end of her staff. Blood and teeth went flying as his helmet flew off and he hit the ground..

"Your lordship." Ciara said stopping beside a slightly plump dark elf.

"Hold one second I want to see this." He held up a finger. One of the men managed to land a cut on the woman's arm. It was clear this was more then just a show. She was fighting for her life. She paid him back by knocking his sword aside and brought the other end of the staff up between the dark elves legs. I saw a smile cross her lips from the satisfaction of it.

"Who is that?" I asked.

"Princess Kiara." Ciara replied. I had read up a little on the dark elf royals. She was the daughter of the previous emperor who died under questionable circumstances after which her uncle took the throne and his brothers wife as his queen. Assassinations seemed to play a reacquiring them in dark elf politics. Very few emperors ever died of old age. The fight ended with the four men either **** or surrendering to the princess.

"Ah, looks like I win again." The Minister said to a man beside him who paid him several gold coins.

"Well that was quit the show." I said to the Minister who finally turned to see me.

"Yes. The princess is quit a skilled combatant." The Minister nodded. I looked at her as I swore she glanced my direction for a second. "So I heard you gave one of our Magistrates a ride to the city." The plump elf said giving me a pat on the shoulder and lead me inside a building.

"Really. I had no clue she was a Magistrate." I shook my head. "Her horse threw a shoe so I figured she was just someone in need of a ride."

"Probably for the best you don't get to wrapped up in that ones affairs." He said. I took it as kind of a warning. I was sure their were several dirty officials who had their eye on Raven. She was a danger to the older men who ran things in the emperors name. "So you are looking to trade with the empire?" He said leading me into his office and motioned for me to sit and he poured us two drinks.

"My company is yes." I nodded.

"And what side does your company support in the war?" He smiled bringing the drinks over and handed me one before sitting down across from me.

"Ask me again when the war is over." I smiled. I used the ring Raven had given me to pour a little bit of dust from the moonlight lotus into the cup. I didn't think he would poison me but I preferred to play it safe just encase. "Governments and leaders come and go but either side will have a long way to go to restore the economy when all the bloodshed is over. My associates want to be at the forefront of the restoration when the new government starts to rebuild." I sloshed the cup around before taking a sip.

"And what do you have to offer?" He smiled leaning back in his chair.

"Goblins for starters. Even if the Queen wins the war the people will never forgive the goblins. No lord would send men looking into the disappearances if a few hundred go missing here and there." I smiled.

"True but your not the first to thank about that." He smiled. I had heard rumors that the **** trade was still busy.

"I am sure but they can't offer near the number I can."

"And how do you intend to acquire so many?" He smiled.

"We already have. They are being used as cheap labor as we speak but someone has to crack the whip to keep them in line. Through false names and signed documents we own a considerable number of assets protected under the indentured servant laws."

"And how would you move them?" He smiled now that i had his interest.

"Ideally my company is hoping the Orc army will attack a few of the border towns. We would gladly provide aid to rebuild in the aftermath and when their work is done."

"You stroll them across the border. Cleaver. He smiled. It was my lead in. Now all I had to do was hope he took the bait. "You just might get your wish if that human prince gets his wish."

"I thought the prince was dead." I shook my head. I had put a sword through him myself.

"The dead do not always stay dead, especially when money and dark magic are involved. Both of which Lord Warwick seems to have plenty." He shook his head. I should have cut off his fucking head. I know the body was sent back to his father for burial but it seemed he never made it into the ground.

"I have to ask. Does he really have a ship full of gold. My employers believe it is a load of horseshit meant to cause fear in the west but they can be a little small minded. They only count the gold they have in hand which is why I am here and not them." I said trying to play it cool though I was anything but at the second.

"Yes, it is quit real. I have seen it myself twenty thousand bars sitting in the lake. It was crafted through magical means but it is quit real."

"Magic?"

"Alchemy. Lead into gold. It would take a very powerful magician but Lord Warrick obviously has one under his employment." That explained a lot. Such as why someone would send a ship loaded with it clear across the world.

"Wish I knew someone like that." I raised my glass and took a drink.

"You and me both. I am sure I could afford immortality myself with someone like that. Least us learned men get to write on paper while other men toil under the sun." He smiled. We talked business for a little while longer about plans after the end of the war. All bullshit and a lot of reading on my part though I managed to get a lot of information from him. He had no clue what the gold was for neither. Least not that he would share but he was able to confirm a little. I had no way to contact Raven directly so I would have to wait for her to contact me. Until then I had to play my part.