[b]Monavdu, Aylsfyn[/b]

The sound of the jewell-blue sea washing against the rocks of the shore was a sound of soft pillows. Washed inland by a fresh breeze the gentle washing of the shoreline carried on into and over the city of Monavdu. It brought with it the daily celebration of life and comfort. The gauls over head squalled and called against each other as they circled over the countless fishing boats that sailed the calm mirror-quality waters.

Minarets and towers towered over the homes and guild-halls of Monavdu proper. Their bright plaster caught in the glow of the sun, turning them into shafts of silver light, crowned in red. Dominating the skyline, a towering keep of deep earth-reddened stone stood over the city, bearing a stoic watch on its domain as soldiers below patrolled and drilled in the court-yard. The sights of a thousands of banners flew over the yard from ropes, proclaiming the thousands of lords of the king's reach.

Standing guard over the ramparts, twisted and gnarled gargoyles sat at their frozen perch. The twisting snarled faces bore a resemblance to the northern Wyrms and bears of the homeland of the island kingdom's ruling family. Those locals who looked up at the carved avatars bore little to know knowledge of these beasts. Less so of the rearing chimps and cheeky monkeys carved onto pillars and into mosaics that decorated the court-low walls of the liege-lord's home. Pieces of porcelain glowed in the eyes, like gemstone inlays burning with the ferocity of the sun.

All through the courtyard stands of spindly bamboo and towering Cyprus provided decoration for the stone yard, or at the least some manner of shade for the clumped courtiers who haggled and hawked over the soldiers with one another. Casting sharp eyes towards their neighbors or rivals. Fearing that perhaps even a castle away, their secrets could be heard. But their affairs were merely private, passing along the gossip. It was in the grand scheme – and always will be – the talk of young girls amidst adult men with money pretending to own prestige. Many of them could hardly prove the titles they claimed to bear, and simply waited and hoped for some power to make good on them.

A high platform stood above the court. Nestled in the clusters of towers rising in succession to the top of the great keep. Covered over by a stone-cut canopy draped with hanging moss the true nobles of the keep sat reclined in the fair weather of the Mondovan afternoon. Servant women in loosely hanging robes attended to the needs of the men, pouring their wine from silver vases and offering bread from silver platters.

Their lord - Malius Enywyr – was a simple man by many standards. A small creature with a plane round visage. He reclined on a long couch, his blue eyes pulled down to an unrolled scroll, and not up to the maidens that served him. He was a paler man than they, with hair far fairer and soft.

“I hear the Bjorni family kids have been dabbling in with-craft.” Malus said, his voice hard and grinding. Like gravel under the boot. If it was for a man larger, it would have been fitting. “I am rather unhappy that my pledges against dark magic have not been taken seriously.”

“My liege, I must insist they are only rumors.” a dark skinned man said, his head crowned with a turban as simple as the robes he wore. The chancellor Veada. A man who claimed to be the heir to the titles of the minor house of Bedja. But in trying to force his claim had been proven a mere bastard and beaten on the field as such. A cowardly man by his nature, he sought quick refuge in Malius' court. But the native-born blue-eyed dark skin courtier had proven a serviceable figure with an apt ability to put his large nose into affairs he did not need to know, but his king did.

“The house Bjorni is already at odds with your imprisonment of Cath Rathskull, Od' Bjorni's eldest son's fiancee. Would it even be wise for you to charge his sons on black magic?”

“They know well the consequences of associating with such matters!” Malus boomed. His eyes turned up from the scroll to Veada. His bright blue eyes connecting with his. “I have made it time and time clear my tolerance on the matter as I sentence many a thousand to partnering with the old blood magics.

“Od' was even at the trial of Cath and saw full well the weight of the evidence against her. He knows full well the consequences of not keeping an eye on his brood. And should understand the merit to controlling these rumors. But they are out there, and I must take action on my own honor.”

“I understand the issue of your honor,” Veada pleaded, “But it might be best to let this go. For the sake of the realm.”

“The sake of the realm's stability is no issue when speaking of a house so low as Bjorni. If we were speaking of the Vedajad or the Barwrongs I would be inclined to agree on the matter.” an old man said between the two. The old wizard Skulding. The beard hanging from his face not unlike the moss that hung down from the eaves of the castle. And his face as tired as the ground itself. His eyes still shone with a spark. The magic of his very life, “I would hazard to say that the association of black magic with his family would dissuade Od' from declaring hard action in retribution. The Rathskull's abided, despite being a more major house than Bjorni.

“In fact, if I have heard right on the matter the Rathskull after the charging of Cath had their invitation revoked from the banquet of Geja's design. It hurt their alliances in such a way that they could not make a move.”

“Od' is still all the same a short-tempered man!” Veada pleaded, “He is not the complacent, tempered person as Goring Rathskull.”

“Still, all the same I side to the opinion that the Bjorni children should be investigated. I shall go to conduct the inquisition on them and to find the signs of dark magic, if you will my liege.”

“Yes, and thank you.” Malius said. A serving maiden swung over to his side and offered down to him to refill his glass with wine, but he briskly refused the offer.

“If it matters all the while perhaps if you could seek out from who the boys learned the magic they're rumored to be dabbling in.” he handed the wizard the scroll he was reading and added: “Perhaps we may figure out why so many cats have gone missing. We will need to get their rat-catcher compensated.”