Harper walked into the courier room of city hall. Surprisingly, Amelia was nowhere to be found. Nor was Vermon. Amelia was never late; she usually arrived early, before Harper. After waiting a few minutes, with neither showing up, she approached the other couriers. None of the few in the room knew where they were either but suggested checking the board.
Walking over, she scanned the papers. Near the bottom, she found a note addressed to her.
Miss Waspen
Missus Cavill had to fly an urgent mission in her Alius. Instead of assigning you to one of the other couriers, we decided to let you work as the local courier for the week. The woman who typically handles it is doing Missus Cavill’s runs. Think of it as a trial run for being on your own. The board has a list of the tasks that need to be completed. Packages and letters are on the table. Act with grace and stay cautious.
Vermon Woodster
Harper wondered what that was about. Amelia had told her that she occasionally made runs in her thrush form, but she didn’t expect her to do so while she was in training. What happened that they needed a flying messenger so urgently? She supposed it didn’t matter; she had a job to do.
Quickly finding the list, she took note of everything that needed to be done. Harper checked the table, and sure enough, there was a whole pile of items needing to be delivered. First though, she needed to ask the various administrative assistants if they needed any messages delivered or collected.
Harper left the room. Her first stop was the Governor’s assistant. She found her writing something down at her desk. As she walked in, the woman looked up. She was a small woman, with more grey in her hair than brown. “Ah, there you are.” She exclaimed. Then she noticed that she wasn't her usual courier.
“Lady Waspen, I didn’t realize you would be here today. Is Celine sick?” She asked worriedly.
“No, she’s fine. She was taking over Amelia’s runs. I’m taking over hers for the next few days.” Harper assured the woman.
“Oh, I had heard that Missus Cavill was dispatched.”
“Can you tell me what happened?”
“I’m afraid not milady. It’s all very hush hush for now.” She replied regretfully.
Disappointed, Harper replied. “I understand. Do you have anything you need me to do?”
“There is. Speak with the Governor, he has a message for you to deliver. Just knock and walk in.”
Thanking her, Harper did as she asked. Opening the door, she inspected the Governor. He looked similar to when she had last met him, albeit with a frown marring his face and stress clear in his posture. Upon seeing her, those disappeared, and he smiled warmly. Related to whatever called Amelia away? She wondered.
“Lady Waspen- Is it okay if I call you Miss Waspen?” Harper nodded agreeably. Most Vanaxians seemed to place less import with formal titles. She adapted easily enough. It would never pass in the courts of Magnon, but this was not Magnon.
“Good morning, Governor Tebour. Was there something I could help you with?”
He nodded approvingly. “Taking over for Missus August while Missus Cavill is away? A good decision by Vermon. You will get experience doing the job by yourself in a safer environment.”
The large man moved onto the task he had for her. “This is a somewhat delicate matter, and it requires you to be discreet. It will come out eventually, but the later the better. Do you understand.”
At Harper’s solemn nod, he continued. “Several acts of terrorism occurred across the colonies early last night. And I mean all the colonies.” He stressed the word “all.” Harper grasped his meaning immediately. The Quilish colonies were not the only settlements on Vanax. People of the northern coalition had settled on its eastern side. The royal ranva clan Skjoldr was the power that owned them.
“A group calling themselves the Unshackled has claimed responsibility for the attacks. They have vandalized government buildings, stolen Magnate cores being shipped to the tri-continents, and burned flags. Nothing debilitating, but they are clearly trying to make a statement.”
“What do they want?” She asked, aghast.
“Power. What else?” He sighed and began rubbing his forehead. “They want to elect a representative that has the power to veto decisions made by the kingdom and clan concerning the colonies. It’s not something I necessarily disagree with, but they are going about it all wrong. Those fools will just make things worse.”
The conversation lapsed into silence; the Governor lost in his own thoughts. Harper was content to wait. She had some thinking of her own to do. She could understand the reason many were unhappy with the nation of her birth. These people knew nothing about what went on in Magnon, and they couldn’t understand why some decisions were necessary.
To them, they were doing things they didn’t want to and paying more taxes for nebulous, far-off reasons. If only they could see why they were necessary, that one day their sacrifice would make its way back and benefit them. When the war was over, they could reap the benefits a victorious Quilen could bring. Wealth and prosperity would be theirs.
Instead, many were bitter over what was happening now. Still, their actions are so... extreme. They should be achieving their goals through diplomacy, not violence. The tri-continents were where they hailed from, even for the people born here. Why such antagonism for their homeland?
The Governor shook himself out of his stupor. “Anyways, I need you to inform the guards and the rangers of recent developments. I’m sure they already know some, but you will be carrying the official notice and orders.”
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He pulled out two envelopes, both stamped with his crest, a tree imposed over a larger shape, a mountain. Both were vaguely triangular in shape, providing a symmetry between the two.
“You will give the captain of the guard this one and the captain of the rangers this one. Tell them what I told you and that they need to be on the lookout for this group. Tell no one else. Perhaps we can find them, if they're here, before the city at large knows what happened and the Unshackled are alerted that we’re searching for them. I would guess they have some presence at least. I don’t have high hopes of finding them though.”
“Where can I find the captain of the guard?” She asked.
“At this time of day, he’ll be in the armory.”
Harper thanked him and bowed her head. Then she was off. She walked out of the city hall and turned to a nearby building. It was a squat and utilitarian structure, not standing out from the rest of the surrounding buildings with its unassuming presentation.
Finding the guard captain was a simple matter. She walked in to find Wilbur Brogen, the requisition officer, and a tall, bearded man, in chainmail armor discussing something. She thought she caught the word “Unshackled.” The Governor might not have as long as he thinks before news spreads.
They both turned upon hearing her entrance. The bearded man spoke up. “I’m Captain Kipper. I’m assuming your looking for me?”
She nodded. She handed him the letter and recited the circumstances. Sure enough, he didn’t look surprised at anything she had to say. He thanked her and marched further into the building, presumably to give orders to others in the guard.
Harper nodded to Mister Brogen, the requisition officer, and left the armory. The young woman reoriented herself towards the lodge. She had been there twice at this point, once to put up her request, and then to take it down the next week.
Walking through the streets, she half expected people to be having whispered conversations and looking around warily, but no such thing was happening. It was a normal day; rumors of the previous day's event had not made their way here yet.
She supposed it was no surprise, only the fastest travelers or those with specialty communication devices would have known something was going on. Such devices were limited in scope and very expensive, but she expected the colonies’ governors to have one at least.
Harper arrived at the ranger’s lodge and made a beeline for the desk. Vayuhn was not currently here, nor was Gavin. Harper was glad for it, best to just deliver the message and get out.
She skipped the small line, ignoring the scowling looks of the people waiting. Most smoothed out when they saw her uniform. “Urgent message for the captain of the rangers, could you point me to him.”
The woman at the counter gestured to the hall behind her. “Second door on the right.”
Harper thanked her and followed instructions, knocking on the door. “Come in.” The reply came quickly.
The interior of the room was well furnished with taxidermized creatures and pelts. Trophies from various hunts decorated the walls. The room’s occupants were the more interesting though.
Vayuhn stood stiffly in the corner, he let slip a surprised and worried expression upon seeing her, but no one else seemed to notice. She kept her own face carefully controlled.
Gavin was there as well and was arguing with another ranger. He seemed to be in a foul mood. Unsurprisingly, he glared when he saw her. Harper put on an aloof look and turned away from him. The final occupant sat behind the desk, amber eyes looking towards her expectantly.
He bore the appearance of both human and tetran. He had pale skin with dark brown stripes; long ebony hair reached his shoulders. Even sitting, his towering height was obvious. Chitin plates peeked out from his sleeve; his face though, was unadorned.
“The Governor sent you with my orders?” He asked.
She nodded. “The Governor asked that the matter remain discreet.” She looked meaningfully at others in the room.
He looked at the ranger Gavin was feuding with. “Zamock, go, do not leave the lodge. We will hunt you down if you do.”
The man looked back angrily, but bit back whatever retort was forthcoming. “Yes sir.”
Gavin spoke up. “Captain Lancor, sir, he is-”
The captain cut him off. “It's fine. I’ve already instructed the others to watch him. Now, you, are you just here because you're nice to look at or are you going to give me my message? Domains know you couriers aren’t good for much else.”
Harper stiffened, but ignored the insult and implication. She relayed the Governor’s information and handed over the message with his letter. As expected, he didn’t look surprised in the least. She wondered if the matter of Zamock was related. Probably.
“Vayuhn!” He barked. “Go upstairs and tell everyone to gather in the common room.” The young labuntan man flinched at his name, but he kept his face blank. He left the room to do as his master commanded.
Harper intended to follow him out the door but was stopped by Captain Lancor. “Courier, hold. I will have a message for you to bring back soon.”
He turned to the person still shooting her the occasional glare. “Gavin, I know she’s pretty but stop eyeing her. Go gather the materials your father requisitioned. They’ll be making their way to the couriers anyway.”
Gavin reddened, whether from anger or embarrassment she couldn't tell, but he wordlessly followed Harper out of the room and led her down the hallway. Harper didn’t feel any need to break the silence.
They arrived at what was clearly a storage room for alchemical reagents. Gavin began picking up several monster parts and wild herbs. Harper noted that most of them were on the rarer side.
“Are those the ingredients that are to be sent to the atoran hermit in trade for potions?” She asked curiously. She knew that Vermon’s monthly trip was coming up.
He looked like he was going to ignore her, but instead answered in a biting tone. “Yes. Why? You can’t have them. We have special permission from the king to keep them as long as we send over a few of the more valuable potions every year.”
Harper bit off a terse response. “Just curious.” She replied without emotion.
He humphed and finished gathering everything up, shoving it all into the bag she was holding open.
They walked back to the common room in silence. When they arrived, Harper saw that the room had filled up, with more emerging from within the building. She looked around for Captain Lancor, not eager to meet the abrasive man again but wanting to get his message and leave. He wasn’t there yet.
Harper noted that there was a distinct group in the ranks of the rangers. The man that was first ejected from the captain’s office was with them. Everyone in the room gave them a wide birth, as if they did not want to be associated with them. They have ties with the Unshackled, or a similar group at least, she realized. It would make the most sense.
The trickle of rangers into the common room slowed to a trickle and then a stop. Harper guessed that most if not all the rangers that were inside the city were in attendance. Finally, Captain Lancor entered the room.
He handed her a message and jerked his head towards the door. Then he turned to address the room at large. Even though the manner he gave his order in was rude, she acquiesced, wanting to leave as soon as possible.
Before she could take more than a few steps and the tall man could begin speaking, a voice rang out near her.
“Wait.” commanded a familiar voice.
She turned. Gavin was holding his glove in his hand. He tossed it onto the floor at her feet.
“Harper of House Waspen. I challenge you to a duel. Do you accept?”
She crouched down and picked up the glove.
