675-06-06 - A New Master of Whispers
A New Master of Whispers | |||||||
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Summary: Edris reports to her new boss, in regards to the recent troubles - and her own past. | |||||||
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It is early afternoon, and with most residents of the castle taking the opportunity for a bit of rest after the meal, it comes as no surprise the castle gardens are almost deserted. The weather however is fine, the sky is blue with only a tiny white cloud wandering about here and there. Standing there in the middle of garden, admiring the impressive flora is another colourful flower - Madame Edris Alachri wears an elegant dress of green of rather modest cut, the colour goes well with her fiery red curls that are tamed into a proper, almost courtly hairdo. She is not alone. Somewhere beneath a tree close by leans a man, wearing fine clothes that match those of the Mistress, his pale blue eyes scanning the surroundings now and then. A slim rapier hangs from his belt.
A guard and a pair of handmaids are the first noticed, though it is mere moments more before a woman with cream skin approaches as well wearing a gown of modest cut, only her hands, neck, and head visible outside of the soft, light blue and white silks. A delicate silver chain is worn as a belt around a waist that has bore children, yet still retains a generally pleasing figure. As the small party draws closer to the couple the Lady nods and says, "Good of you to make it Madame Alachri." She then waves her hand as her guard and maids move away to grant them privacy, though remaining within line-of-sight of Adara. The new Master of Whispers then gestures further into the gardens and asks, "If you would join me?" offering a soft smile of her plump red-tinted lips.
The fiery-haired head turns when Adara enters the garden, and Edris lowers herself into a curtsey, a smile flickering over her pleasing features. "My lady." The greeting is offered with grace and politeness, and maybe there is a bit of curiosity dancing in those grey-green eyes as the woman straightens, studying the lady before her. "You wished to see me?" Voicing the obvious, as she joins Adara for this stroll through the garden, a brief glance towards Bertram signalling him to stay put.
After they get a bit more out of earshot, but can still be seen by their respective 'protectors' Adara says, "I did indeed. As you no doubt know the Queen proclaimed me the new Master of Whispers after the death of my predecessor. Reviewing records you seem to be among the most connected so I thought we'd discuss matters as we will be working together more closely. Do not fear, I am not here to tell you how to deal with your own spies, after all you have provided intelligence enough before I arrived so why try and change how you run things?" Smiling once more. She then continues in the same polite, kind voice, "Your brothel and its workers are doing well I trust?"
Adara's statement does bring a smile about on Edris face. "I am glad to hear that," she admits with a soft chuckle. "I was indeed wondering about that, to be honest. I will continue to handle things as before, I suppose. And continue to provide the Master of Spies with information, Lady Adara." She pauses, pondering the question for a moment, before she gives an answer. "The Night's Dream is doing business as usual. I would have thought more of those foreigners would drop by, alas..." She smiles. "Maybe their moral standards are too high, and they are too uptight to enjoy a bit of fun now and then." That smile fades when she continues: "However, I have to report there has been a follower of Asmenachia hiding at our place. This girl seems to be involved in the theft of the holy drawing from the Royal Chapel, she seems to be close with Lord Avraham Grunhaid. She has been turned over to the authorities."
Adara nods and is silent for a moment before asking, "Were you aware of who and what she was when she was discovered hiding in your brothel?"
Edris lowers her gaze and tilts her head a little to the side. "I was there when she arrived.", she admits raising her gaze again to meet that of Adara. "Lord Grunhaid came with her in tow, requested three girls... Then he changed his mind, after they apparently got into an argument. He hit her." That particular part a thing she wants to stress. "Her name is Abi. She asked me, if she could stay. If I could protect her from him. And even if I had a strange feeling about this, I agreed." Her grey-green eyes wander towards the colourful flowers close by and she sighs. "She told me a story. Admitted she had been a follower of the cult. Lord Avraham saved her, or so she claimed. She had been at a convent and found the true faith." And there she pauses and shoots Adara a glance. "She asked me to work for me. That struck me as odd. Even if she claimed she had been Grunhaid's lover and was not pleased about him seeing other women. I should have checked her story right away."
Adara nods and says, "My guess would be that it was a set-up, the question then is to what ends. Do you believe the situation to be a set-up, to give the Cult access to our spies? Also do you believe Avraham to be part of it?" her gray eyes studying Edris closely.
"Ah no," Edris shakes her head with a smile. "I don't think they know about that. I believe it to be a setup though. To what ends... I have no idea. This is more like a political intrigue, I think. The theft of the drawing, and one of the foreigners being blamed for it, taken to the dungeons even. Sir Moshe Machuri is investigating the matter." A bit of amusement sparkles in her eyes. "He is all too eager to fulfill his duty. Maybe she really wanted to hide... But her request to work for me, to become a whore... Now that was odd. Maybe she was aiming for someone in particular to entice." Her gaze grows a bit pensive there. "As for Lord Grunhaid... He is involved with her, yes. And they spoke about a backstabbing and a priestess. Seems they both were involved in that murder at the Deave Inn."
Adara nods and grows quiet for a moment before asking, "You say this 'Abi' is being held in the dungeons, is Lord Grunhaid being held as well? Do you know why Sir Machuri is so interested in the matter, or do you believe it to be simple enthusiasm?"
"Sir Moshe has been officially assigned to investigate the matter," Edris replies. "He asked me about Abi and I told him where she was. Downstairs in the servants' quarters where I had allowed her to stay for a while. As for Lord Grunhaid... I can only hope so, but so far no news have reached my ears, that he has been arrested. I've heard about the Priestess of Asmenachia though, and thirty followers of the wrong faith. I believe Sir Moshe will do his best to get any answers from them."
Adara nods and says, "My concern is that he will be to... Overzealous in his efforts and potentially ruin any leads. He does have Machuri blood after all. If lord Grunhaid hasn't been arrested perhaps I can try a different approach." as she grows silent for the time being.
"He seems to be very eager," Edris affirms. "And very efficient. Although this girl Abi may prove a challenge. She is really playing to come across as the victim here. And... she says this priestess wants to see her dead. Because the priestess," she chuckles again softly, "the priestess is in love with the Grunhaid, or so Abi claims." Adara's remark makes her raise her brows though. "Oh? Well, a slightly more subtle approach may losen his tongue. Who knows?"
Adara nods and says, "That is my thinking as well, and I may yet have a unique advantage on the matter. I can see why so much valuable information has come from you in the past Madame. I am curious though, if you suspected the connection to the Cult, why risk association with someone who confesses to being a member of it?"
There is the question she must have seen coming. Edris rolls her eyes - but only briefly, before she gives her reply. "I admit, it may have been a mistake. No. It probably was. But Abi insisted she had been cleansed, after spending a year at the convent. And yes, she asked me for shelter." Even Edris has apparently a soft spot. "But... this way I could keep an eye on her, as she was under constant surveillance at the servants quarters."
Adara nods and asks, "Was there anything reported about her actions whle she was under observation? I assume there wasn't a time she managed to slip away from her watchers."
Edris sighs and shakes her head. "She was doing her best to make a good impression on me. She was seeing to servant's duties, in the hope, I would give her a job." A flicker in her moss green eyes, as she gives the information.
Adara nods and asks, "Are you aware of anything else of note about her? Fears, behavior, desires, anything that could be of value in discovering more about her claims and any truth behind them?"
Frowning slightly, Edris will shake her head. "I feel she was at the inn, she knew about the man getting killed there, he was a follower of Asmenachia. I suspect the Grunhaid was there as well, but I have no proof. Maybe she or he killed the man."
Adara nods and says, "I will see if I can discover more. Do you know of anything further in regards to Sir Moshe, Lord Avraham, or the priestess?
Edris shrugs. "Only what is known. Sir Moshe usually works for your niece, the Duchess Lisabette. You would probably know more about him than I. After all, he spent many years on the Isle of the Gloomy Jungles." A smirk appears on her features when asked about the Grunhaid: "Regarding Lord Avraham, he's fond of women, alway was. He got into a fight once in Piradin, over a whore. He likes women and wine." As for the priestess she shrugs: "Priestess Leshara was usually at the temple of the cult in Piradin. She is a priestess of Asmenachia, what more is there to know?"
Adara nods and says, "The unfortunate part is that I've been away from home for many years, after all I believe I was still emissary in the kingdom of the Golden Lion or the kingdom of Estoria at the time my sister passed and my niece became Duchess. Much could have changed with Sir Moshe in that time, though I believe I have options for dealing with him. I still have much to catch up on, though I believe I have something more specific to focus on first. At least for a time."
Edris inclines her head to the Master of Whispers. "If you need information on anyone, I will be glad to help.", she offers with a smile. A smile that will deepen when Adara mentions her past as emissary. "I remember seeing you once at the Castle of House Imamu, while I... happened to be there." A bit of an awkward smile flickers over her face.
Adara looks Edris over for a bit and says, "Now that you mention it I believe I do recall red hair among the castle. Dare I ask what a spy of the Kingdom was doing among the ranks of our once-enemies?" offering a bit of a sly grin.
"I... wasn't a spy back then," Edris admits, lowering her gaze. "You see, I... I grew up in this castle here, my mother was a handmaiden..." Her father unknown, but maybe of noble descent. "The Queen's nephew Mikhail Grunhaid would visit here often. And soon he took an interest in me. It became a lengthy affair, one he seemed to tire of soon. And so I was offered as a gift to Rasil Imamu, who happened to visit our lands. That is how I got there." A shy smile curves the corners of her lips, when she speaks of her past, a thing that does not happen often.
Adara nods and says, "A shame, I might have learned more from you then my own efforts if you had been a spy then as skilled as you are now." smiling softly.
"You were sent abroad as an emissary. This must have helped you to gain certain knowledge and experience as well.", Edris replies. "I admit that I have learned a bit about human nature and desires, which may help in getting information. My arena is not abroad, but here in the Isles. I would not want to leave this kingdom again, as it is my home."
Adara nods and says, "I do not like the idea of leaving either, I was away from my girls longer then expected due to the plague in the Kingdom of the Two Rivers. I learned some things, though mostly my stay wasn't long in each region, the only exception was Beresgond and that had more to do with the plague then desire."
A soft chuckle comes at Adara's remark about Beresgond. "Oh, I would assume as much," Edris replies. "It must have been dreadful." Although the glance she shoots the lady may suggest her time in the lands of the Golden Lion were not always pleasant either.
Adara nods and says, "It was my last place to visit as emissary, it should have taken six months at most, instead I was stuck there for a couple years, though it felt like longer as I had been away from my girls for nearly a decade by the end."
"It must have been hard for you," Edris comments with a smile that shows sympathy. "I'm not a mother," her gaze flickers a little, "so I can only assume how you may have felt about it." She may want to ask more, maybe how her daughters may have reacted to her retrn, yet, she does not, feeling it would be unappropriate. "The Queen must be very grateful to have you in her service.", she remarks instead.
Adara nods and says, "It was hard being away so long, I knew it'd be years but not that many. As to the Queen, I am happy I was able to serve as well as I did, and the Queen saw fit to reward me with the position I have."
Edris nods. "I feel she was also grateful for the information I provided on my return. That is why she asked me to take over the the Night's Dream, and establish my own little ring of spies there." She hesitates. "Although... how she could agree arrange the betrothal between Lady Samuela and... Arif Sefu I find quite hard to comprehend."
Adara says, "A political marriage would suit well to strengthen the alliance between our kingdoms. The wars of the past hardly benefited anyone. Who better for such a match then a member of the Queen's own blood?"
"I understand the political reasons quite well, Lady Adara.", Edris replies, her slightly conversational tone fading a touch as she leans a bit closer to the Zorich. "But... knowing of Nawaab Arif's preferences... and character." The fiery-haired woman shoots Adara a glance. "I can only pity the Lady."
Adara nods and says, "I've heard enough of him to agree. Though such is the way of political marriages. We hardly choose those we wish."
"Certainly.", Edris replies, straightening again, her lips curving into a faint smile. "And it is hardly my place to put the Queen's decisions in question. If that will be all, my lady...? I would not be so bold as to say I have pressing matters to see to. But in fact. I have."
Adara nods and says, "Of course, thank you for the information, I'll see what I can learn further on the matter. Keep me appraised if anything further develops on this or other matters."
A deep curtsey is offered to the Master of Whispers, before Madame Edris Alachri straightens, her fingers moving to smoothen the fabric of her skirts. "I will, Lady Adara," she smiles. "Have a good day." And then she moves off, a casual wave given to Bertram as she passes the tree below which he had been standing all the while. The bodyguard nods and falls in beside her, as both leave the gardens and enter the Castle.