The Chamber of Laws

[Fel]

Maekar nodded, then he looked at all three of them. "Do any of you have any experience leading men?"

[The Stranger]

Eve snickered, but shook her head. Girard nodded, "bandits and cutpurses used to answer to me from the trident to the marches." The Summer Islander did not speak, but nodded quietly.

[Fel]

Maekar nodded again with some finality.

"Very well, as Girard has pointed out I do not believe it would serve to have you three work together, but I am offering you each a position of cooperation with me. I will provide you each with a letter from me directing that you are on official business from the crown, giving you increased influence in tracking down these criminals, provided you report to me the information you learn about them. Should you fail to carry through on your end of the bargain, however, you may find yourself on the next list."

[The Stranger]

Girard nodded, the Summer Islander grunted, and Eve chuckled.

[Fel]

"Good," he said. He scribbled his signature three times onto three separate parchments. He then took the blue candle that flickered on his desk and pour wax onto each piece of parchment and stamped his seal onto them. He hand each one a parchment.

"You may go now, good luck," he said.

As the three began to stand, he looked at the Summer Islander, "Ashurgi, stay a moment longer."

[The Stranger]

"Yes milord?" The Summer Islander asked.

[Fel]

He waited until the other three had left, then he spoke.

"I would like to offer you a more permanent position within my employ than the agreement I have made with the other two. I would pay you a regular stipend for your service, but the bounties you would take would be at my discretion, and I may call on you for other tasks that would suit your skills. Any bounties you collect would still be entirely yours, and I can provide you with information and men when necessary to accomplish the job."

[The Stranger]

"What have I done to earn this benefit?" The man asks curiously, raising one well manicured eyebrow.

[Fel]

"Because I think you the most capable at tracking down these bounties, and it is the duty of my office to see that they are carried out. If I support you in doing this you are more likely to succeed," he answered simply.

[The Stranger]

"Very well then, your grace, It would be rather foolish to refuse," the Summer Islander says.

[Fel]

"I think so also," Maekar said.

"You may go now, return tomorrow and I will tell you who your first bounty will be."

[The Stranger]

"As you say," The Summer Islander bowed, and departed.

[Deleted]

/////

Sojen Manderly arrives, requesting an audience with the Master of Laws.

[Fel]

He is shown in. Prince Maekar is sitting behind his desk writing on a scroll. He puts the quill down calmly as the Manderly heir enters.

"Sojen, sit," he said offering a seat, and stood moving over to his cabinet. "Wine?" he asked, pouring himself a cup.

[Deleted]

"Please," he said, sitting. His face was a myriad of bruises and cuts and he winced as he sat down.

"How does the new position treat you, Lord?" He asked, fumbling for small talk, a trait he always lacked.