589. Duchess III

589. Duchess III

“You will refer to the Duchess as Her Grace, and you will speak only when spoken to,” Sir Maria stated firmly as she guided them along the pathway towards one of the many gardens of the Duchess’ estate.

The land around was green, blankets of grass as far as the eyes could see. Adam spotted dozens of buildings of various different styles, each with their own section of greenery, each different to any other, from the flowers to the trees, none appeared elsewhere. Adam could see guards every so often too, but most of the figure he saw were the help, servants adorned in a dark blue, almost navy, except darker, closer to black.

As they marched for at least ten minutes, they approached the archway made of all manner of flowers and greenery, and were welcomed into a large square garden. The pathways were cement, as the pathways for the entire estate were, with bushes of all manner of flowers growing around the garden.

Around the garden were several tertiary tables, which were guarded by a single heavily armoured guard, whereas the table in the centre, a semicircular table which had no further tables between it and the exit, was guarded by at least a half dozen guards.

It was probably the fact the Duchess sat at the centre of the flat edge that there were so many guards. She sat at an angle, one gloved hand laying on the edge of the table, her other gloved hand over it. She was beautiful as one might have expected, with tan skin that was contrasted by the silver jewellery she wore. Her hair was darker than the typical Aldish, her eyes a beautiful hazel.

She wore dress of deep blue, like the ocean depths, and a necklace made of pearls, each catching the light in a way to make it seem like there was a rainbow sea constantly rippling among them. She wore a silver spaulder over one shoulder, with chains of silver connecting between each segment, matching the rest of her jewellery. Resting at her side was a sapphicule dagger settled in white leather.

The guards around all wore plate mail. All carried blades at their side, with most also holding shields. Those at the exits wielded long spears, while those near the Duchess carried blades at their side, each made of what looked to be silver. The two warriors beside the Duchess were both female, and were almost identical to Sir Maria, with identical equipment and near identical stature.

Servants also stood all along the side of the walls behind the Duchess, like statues.

“Good morning, Fate’s Golden, and to Sir Vonda Littlesea,” the Duchess said, motioning with a hand to the various tables, though there were four main seats opposite her for Adam and his closest three companions. She also motioned to the seat on her side which was free, though it lay towards the edge. Sir Vonda took her place on the Duchess’ side of the table.

“Good morning, Your Grace,” Adam replied, before taking his seat opposite her with the other Iyrmen, while the others settled themselves around the other tables, which were nearby.

“I am Duchess Dalia Eastsea of East Port,” she said, shifting her hands slightly. The servants nearby moved silently, attending to the tables nearby, silent as mice. “I am glad you have accepted my invitation.”

“You honour us, Your Grace.”

A servant brought over a clay teapot with detailed, intricate patterns, as they poured the tea in for the Duchess. Adam raised his brows towards the clay pot.

“Do you like the tea pot?” The Duchess asked.

“Yes, Your Grace. Is it from Persevia?”

“You’re familiar?”

“One of our greatest tales,” Jaygak confirmed. “When East Port needed the Iyrmen, we sent many. My ancestor, Jogak,” the Devilkin said, before smirking slightly, “fought hard to assist the Duke of the time. Some of our family were cut down by blades from the front, and others, through the back.”

“It was a terrible business,” the Duchess confirmed.

“The debt was paid.” Jaygak’s lips formed a wider smile. One of the many stories of the Gak family, but one which all Gak children learned shortly after being taught about the various Blackwater Crises.

The Iyr never forgets, and it’s debts were always repaid.

The Duchess held Jaygak’s firm gaze for a while, before she bowed her head. “I wished to meet with those who had made a name for themselves in recent times, and in the tournament. The rising stars working in Aldland. I wanted to offer you all roles, though I do understand some of you Iyrmen, but not all of you are off limits, I presume?”

“It depends on the offer,” Adam admitted. “Though Nobby here is one of mine?”

“Yours?”

“He has a contract with me at the moment,” Adam explained. “Your Grace,” Adam added, clearing his throat. “We trained him up, well, mostly Jurot, and he’s going to work for us for a while to pay that off.” Adam decided against mentioning his real plan with Nobby, since it would give her an easier time to try and take the boy from him.

“Would you take an offer from the Duchess of East Port into consideration?” the Duchess asked, before sipping her tea.

Adam lifted his cup up, feeling the warm vapours of his tea, smelling the fruity scent. “I will consider it, Your Grace.” He sipped the tea, which tasted faintly of berries.

“I hope you will take it into consideration, since I have spent some time thinking about the matter,” the Duchess stated, though Adam understood it held some threat. “I would give you a position as a Vice Captain of my guards, and you would be paid appropriately. Five hundred gold upfront, one hundred gold for each month, and five hundred gold each Twilight Month. I will also gift you a magical item once you have reached five years of service, and an additional five hundred gold for each five years thereafter. If you work well, there is a chance for you to reach the rank of Captain of the Guard, and a potential knighthood.”

“In another life I would have accepted such an offer, Your Grace,” Adam replied. “Unfortunately, a potential knighthood, and what works out to be a couple of hundred gold monthly, doesn’t interest me. I make a decent sum as an adventurer, and, as you’ve mentioned, I’m quite the rising star.”

“Third place is a decent rank to achieve,” the Duchess stated, staring at the Half Elf. It wasn’t just the pay, but the fact that it was simple work, work which didn’t require him to face against wyverns and other creatures.

“It was a shame that my opponents were quite high up on the hierarchy of nobles, otherwise I would have been allowed to take first,” Adam replied, sipping more of his tea.

“I watched the fights personally,” the Duchess admitted, noting how hard Adam was fighting back against such a statement. “You were quite impressive, perhaps the most impressive of all the warriors to fight. You were wise enough to understand your position then.”

Adam let out a sigh as he stared into the woman’s eyes as she tried to put him down. ‘Relax. Don’t get yourself killed because of the ego of the rich. I should try to get used to it, since I’ll need it to live within this world. Should I make a revolution in this world so we don’t have to deal with it any more?’

Viva la revolution!