The morning mist clung to the cobblestones of Merchant's Quarter like a shroud, its tendrils weaving between the towering warehouses that had sprouted across Avyaburgh's landscape like stone flowers after rain.
The city was unperturbed by the ongoing war, going on with its routine daily life. There wasn't much to do for them except pray to their gods and hope the army would win against the dark forces.
The news has been circulating day to day about what's happening near the Dreadlands depths.
Meanwhile, a few of the upper noble people in the city were busy with their own schemes and drama.
Lorryll pulled his dark cloak tighter as he navigated the bustling streets, his wife Liliana's hand resting lightly on his arm.
They both made their way through the streets.
Liliana said, "Tekkora is in the final stages of his development. And the word spread around about Tekkkora and its stupendous growth."
"It was already a significant place because of those mines; now it had reached further, close to what this city held," Lorryll added. Though his face had an absolutely hateful expression.
"It was bound to happen."
Lorryll nodded grimly.
"He's built something remarkable," Lorryll admitted, his voice carrying a note of grudging respect tinged with bitter envy. "That cursed boy has turned a backwater barony into a jewel of commerce."
The crowds parted before them as they made their way toward the Merchant's Hall—a grand structure of white marble and oak that served as the nexus of Avyaburgh's flourishing trade network.
Inside the hall's opulent reception chamber, Merchant Lord Eude awaited them.
He was a man whose presence commanded attention without demanding it—tall and broad-shouldered, with hair swept back from a face that bore the calculating intelligence of someone who had built an empire through wit and ruthless ambition. His fingers, adorned with rings of gold and precious stones, drummed against the polished mahogany of his desk as his pale grey eyes assessed the couple before him.
"Lord Loryrll, Lady Liliana," Eude rose with practiced grace, his voice carrying the cultured tones of nobility mixed with the practical edge of commerce.
"I trust your journey was pleasant?"
Lorryll's jaw tightened at the subtle emphasis. "Indeed."
A smile played at the corners of Eude's mouth.
He gestured to the richly appointed chairs before his desk. "Please, be seated. We have much to discuss."
As they settled into the plush velvet chairs, Liliana's gaze swept the chamber with appreciative eyes. Tapestries depicting scenes of maritime conquest adorned the walls, while shelves lined with ledgers and scrolls spoke to the vast network of trade that Eude commanded.
Through the tall windows, the sounds of the thriving city filtered in—the calls of merchants, the rumble of wagon wheels, and the distant ring of hammer on anvil.
"You've made quite the investment in Tekkora," Liliana observed, her tone carefully neutral.
"Indeed, I have," Eude replied, pouring wine from a crystal decanter into three goblets.
"The barony has become something of a phenomenon, wouldn't you agree? From the ashes of obscurity to the heights of prosperity in mere months. Quite remarkable for such... inexperienced leadership."
Lorryll accepted the wine but did not drink. "Let us speak plainly, Eude. Your message spoke of opportunities and mutual interests. I assume this concerns the current absence of our young baron?"
Eude's eyes glittered with satisfaction. "Straight to the heart of matters—I admire that in a man. Yes, the boy's disappearance has created something of a vacuum, hasn't it? Here we have a thriving barony, generating wealth at an unprecedented rate, yet governed by... whom exactly? A regent? Council of advisors? The situation is deliciously ambiguous."
"The Baroness Cleora maintains authority in his absence," Liliana pointed out, though her voice carried doubt.
"A woman of noble birth, certainly, but hardly equipped to manage an enterprise of this magnitude," Eude waved dismissively.
"Her children—a teenage daughter and a son barely into his twenties—can hardly be expected to shoulder such responsibility. No, what Tekkora needs is experienced leadership. Leadership that can preserve and expand upon what has been built here."
Lorryll leaned forward, his dark eyes intense. "And you believe yourself suited to provide such leadership?" ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
"I know I am," Eude replied without hesitation. "My merchant fleets control trade routes from the Sunset Isles to the Eastern Kingdoms. My coffers could fund the expansion of the forge district tenfold. My connections in the royal court could secure patents and privileges that would make Tekkora the premier trading hub of the realm."
The merchant lord rose and moved to the window, gazing out at the bustling streets below. "Look at what flows through these streets daily—caravans bearing goods worth fortunes, adventurers seeking equipment and supplies, scholars and mages drawn by the promise of knowledge and advancement. Tekkora will soon become the same as this city. A trade city."
"Yet you speak as though young Jolthar's achievements mean nothing," Liliana observed, her tone sharp with challenge.
Eude turned back to them, his expression thoughtful. "That brat had achieved what no one could. The whole empire had turned its sight towards the Tekkora. If it weren't for the war, it would have flourished with more people. I heard that he left several weeks ago, and there has been no sight of him in the barony ever since. It's just the mother and her little kids. That boy must have left, and no one's there.
But consider—where is he now, when his barony reaches its moment of greatest triumph? Gone, vanished without a word or explanation, leaving his people to wonder if their prosperity hangs by the thread of his whims."
Lorryll's hands clenched into fists. "He should have died in that duel. The arrogance of that whelp, to humiliate me before the—"
"Peace, husband," Liliana placed a calming hand on his arm, though her own eyes burned with shared resentment. "Lord Eude, you speak of taking leadership of the barony. Are you proposing to simply... assume control?"
"Nothing so crude," Eude returned to his seat, his fingers steepled before him.
"Legal channels exist for such transitions. Petitions to the crown citing abandonment of duties, economic instability, and threats to regional security—all quite proper and above board. With the right backing, such petitions can be... expedited."