Hours passed and soon the clouds above were gathered and dark. Slowly the rain appeared like a blanket over the District and surrounding Districts. Velen had bought Lorel a cloak to wear when it rains. On their way to Grim they would stop at the district Tabulath which was famous for its clothes making, there they would fix up Lorel?s clothes. Before that they would go through Rathen, Nafria, New Uvea and then into Grim. It would take them the better of the week to get there. Unless they could find a carriage service which they could find near the edge of Middle District.
They were popular so the odds of just happening upon one were a rarity. Hours later when the sun was already beginning to set again they were close to the edge of the Northern part of Middle District. There to their luck they saw a Carriage with a man leaning against it, he too was a cloak. He noticed them coming up to him so he stood away from the wall and approached them.
?Looking to get a ride?? He asked in a clam voice.
Velen was already taking out his pouch of money. ?To Tabulath if possible.?
?500 Kiel.?
Lorel?s eyes opened wide. ?Velen, 500 Kiel? That is practically robbery.?
The man was angered by this. ?Hey times are tough here with Upper District taking all of our money. I got to make a living.?
Velen took out 500 Kiel and gave it to the man. ?Hop on.?
Together Lorel and Velen got on the back of the carriage and the man at the front. He ushered the two horses to go. Soon they were going through the streets of Middle District and they could soon see the walls separating it and the rest of the Districts. The gate to Rathen was large.
?Feels almost nostalgic to be back here.? Velen commented as they passed through the gates.
?How so?? Inquired Lorel.
?I was here around 11 years ago, a Faction called New Wave had taken control and were readying up to take on Middle District. A bunch of wankers if you ask me. But I came here to try to stop them, that was when I met Mar, the man I mentioned who had taught me the Sosia Spade Style. Changed everything.?
?Did you stop New Wave??
Velen chuckled. ?Yeah, we did. Now it appears they?re much better off.?
As they went through he noted all of the places that had been torn down and repaired and where specific events happened. Though he left out some specific details that he deemed Lorel not needing to know. For the first time in a bit, Lorel felt happy. He enjoyed listening to Velen speak of the various Nu?ve members and their mystery cargo.
Rathen was small and after about two hours they were through it and the sun had set. They had stopped for a moment and the driver took a, iron stick and placed it into a little socket. At the edge of it he placed a torch in the hole and promptly lit it. The driver didn?t talk through the ride. As they entered Tabulath it was a polar opposite to Middle District. While they were both Middle Class, there were many lights in Tabulath and many people still out and about at the late hour.
They wouldn?t stay long. Having been here in Tabulath before, Velen brought Lorel to a place where he had several of his clothes made for various unspecified missions he had done for the Ion family over the years. The building they stopped out of was large and had many windows with lights all over. Using Magi Crystals no doubt. As they entered through the cloths that made for the door. Apparently crime in Tabulath was extremely low so they were lax on various things, very open with each other. As long as you weren?t near the border area with Smo.
?Welcome!? They were greeted by some of the patrons. He noticed that while the outside didn?t
look it, the inside was very oriental. Velen and Lorel pulled down their hoods. One of the clerks gasped. ?Velen, is that you? On another mission??
?Sort of is Madam Yias here??
?Yes she is, follow me.?
They followed the clerk to the back of the building where Clothes started to impair his vision as they were at every angle and they had to push some out of the way at various times. Where they stopped was at a large cloth and the silhouette of a woman working. Immediately he could tell she was using magic, as various fabrics were floating to her and away.
The clerk cleared their throat. ?Madam Yias, Velen Majl is here to see you. I believe he has a request. I assumed it would be best in both interests if I brought him to you.?
?That was smart of you; you may take your leave.? Lorel had expected an older voice but it was someone young.
They bowed and left them alone. Yias then moved away the cloth and she was revealed. She was short, quite short and to her appearance was roughly his age, with her long dark blue hair, pale skin, and narrow eyes that were dark red. He had never seen a person with dark red eyes before. Must be something in her family line, and she wore an oversized robe, with many designs on it from dragons, moons, suns, and flowers all elegantly put together. Yias appeared to also be in a very happy or pleasant mood.
?I am surprised.? Lorel bluntly stated.
Both Velen and Yias looked at him. ?How so? Didn?t expect her to be so young??
?No offense, but yes.?
Yias smiled. ?I will take it as a compliment. It is an inherit trait in my family to look younger then there.?
?Yias, I want to get down to business as we need to get to Grim. Could you fix up his clothes? See all of the rips and such in it? I want you to fix it but don?t make it look new.
Make it look raggedy so then not to draw any unnecessary attention.? Velen spoke in a very
serious manner.
Yias was already circling around Lorel. ?I shall indeed. I shall do it the same manner as your clothes you made me make for missions. And what is this young man?s name if I may inquire??
?Lorel.?
Suddenly Yias wasn?t as happy looking as before. ?That Lorel? The Ion?s son? Then it has
happened I assume??
?Yes. They had been killed. You know we took preparations if these events happened.?
?Yes, I do know. Lorel I am sorry for your loss, but there is no time. Take some clothes
lying around and I will get work on your clothes. There is work to be done.?
Lorel took some clothes and behind another cloth changed into them and then gave Yias his. ?Thank you Madam Yias.?
She began work immediately and Lorel and Velen sat down at one of the various tables around. Away from any of the other customers, clerks, or Yias herself. ?Velen, I am confused. Plans? What does this have to do with Yias??
?Before your parents were killed. Months before. We made various plans in case of anything. If your parents live or not. If you live or not. Madam Yias is part of the Esamsa family. They are connected to many factions. Including Steel Hearts, because Yias is also an excellent black?s smith and being a Mage, she can make gear of the top grade. But she also has ties to Ion family to even before the creation of the City. Yias has many connections within the City, ways of getting things done without attention being drawn. Together with your family that?s how they could cover things up. Their reach extends quite far; it?s bi-section to say the least. Esamsa is great supports of the Ion family and similar to my own Majl family, loyal to the line.?
Lorel felt like he was almost not even part of the Ion family anymore. So many secrets kept hidden from him. But he understood, and it was probably the same reason Amelia spared him. He was ignorant and had no idea. In a half an hour, Yias called to them saying she was done. She handed him his clothes and noticed a couple of additions including patches on his legs which were red and blue respectively. He had to ask.
Is by chance the blue and red in reference to my magic??
?They?re indeed. I have heard in the past of your magic and it sort of came to mind.?
smiled, it was nice of her to do that. Once they finished up, Lorel was told to go outside and wait for a bit while Velen and Yias talked. Once outside in the cold of the night he stood there with his hood up to block from the rain.
