[center][h2]The Free City Of Ardaza[/h2][/center]

[center][h3]Some Weeks Ago[/h3][/center]

	The morning sun’s light fell weakly onto the lurid menagerie of colour that was the city's streets, the cool salt breeze carrying away its heat. Despite the early hour the sounds of Ardaza were as lively as always, the shouts of merchants hawking their wares and the creaking of old ships at dock filling the air with a curious baritone buzz. Manuel had spent the twilight hours before sunrise making his way down to the seafront, and for a time he lingered there. Despite his status as the cities Exarch he was all but unrecognizable to the crowd. It had always amused him how very slightly one had to alter their appearance to be as good as hidden from all but the sharpest eyes; in this case a beard and crooked nose shielded him from recognition.

	As the sun rose higher he made his way to a decrepit looking building whose once vivid yellow colour had been bleached a spotty beige by time. Ardaza was unlike most cities in that the oldest parts were indisputably the poorest and least maintained. Further inland, near Manuel's own palace, the streets were alive with rich colour. Not a spot of chipped paint revealing old limestone brick could be seen even if a whole year were dedicated to the task. It was a state of affairs driven by an odd tradition, that each new ruler build their own palace further inland from the last. Manuel's was the most recent, though he'd taken extraordinary effort to make sure it was uncontested in scale and grandeur.

	The building he entered now was such a juxtaposition that it verged on the ridiculous. The limestone brick was cracked where old paint had worn away and a small pile of white dust crowded the edifices periphery. With a brief look behind him Manuel heaved open the old oak door and made his way within. Inside a pair of guards came an inch from levelling their spears at him before his appearance shifted to one they were rather more familiar with. He smiled wordlessly at them as they straighten up and saluted their Exarch, neither knowing just how near their nervous reaction had brought them to being unceremoniously ejected from their rather comfortable positions.

	The interior of the building was a stark contrast to the facade outside; though windowless the walls were well maintained and adorned with exquisite paintings. A large rose wood table dominated the centre of the spacious ground level room and Manuel casually made his way to its head, sighing as he sat on the cushioned chair. The meeting ahead was important, but he never enjoyed visiting the sea front. If the area wasn't so suited to such a use he'd have preferred to never set foot in it again. Misgivings about the locale aside, Manuel ran his fingers over the tables polished grain in thought. Ai, the favoured son of the Archon Iao and the regent of the whole of the north reaching out to [i]him[/i] hadn't been expected. Then again, he knew far too little of the man. With a tsk Manuel made a note to commit more eyes to the north. It wouldn't do to leave such a blind spot.

	As if on cue the doors opened once again. With long confident strides, Ai marched in. The man was no more less adorned than normal, burn marked metal adorning his arms and chest, and fur covering all else. An intense look narrowed his eyes akin to that of a hawk or even an eagle spotting a mouse. Without a word he pulled a chair out from under the table and promptly sat in it, but not before unsheathing his two menacing scimitars and laying them in front of him on the table.

	“Exarch Manuel,” He began as he folded his arms, a stern smile cutting his serious face, “I’m glad we could meet, and such and so before the war council.”

	Manuel unconsciously cocked an eyebrow and replied dryly, “Lord Regent, I am pleased to make your acquaintance at last.  I trust this venue is sufficiently discreet?”

	“Very much so. As you might’ve guessed that the following words are meant for you and I only, and is to remain in such a [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjmnot3hSUg]shadow[/url] that Kabius himself won’t know much beyond our meeting place unless told otherwise,” Ai raised his eyebrows and leaned back in his chair, “he will know eventually, but that’s not important right now, we have much to discuss.”

	“I will take great care to see that such is the case Lord Regent,”  Pausing Manuel gestured for the guards to excuse themselves to the upper levels, “so, what is it that has brought you to Ardaza in such secrecy?”

	“So it is clear war is upon us,” Ai began, slouching in his chair as the guards left, his arm dangling over the edge of the chairs back, “and much to my displeasure the South has not been as focused on such matters as the North, leaving us harshly behind from where we should be in the conflict.”

	“I mean there are already skirmishes and we are just calling a council now,” Ai did not hide his clear frustration, “but I digress. We need to catch up, and you are the man I need for a very special job that requires very special connections.”

	Manuel leaned forward, a proposal like this from the Lord Regent of the North?  It was as curious as it was concerning, even admitting the connections Ai presumed he had could cause trouble.  With a small cough to clear his throat Manuel looked to Ai intently, “The way we prepare for the inevitable conflict with Lesmiana isn’t something I am knowledgeable enough to comment on Lord Regent, though I am prepared to aid the effort as best as I am able.  What then would this… Job be?”

	“I’m not sure how well acquainted the South is with war, but any Northern soldier worth his salt would tell you the best war is one fought without battle, and the second best war is one fought on another platform to lessen the length of battle. In this case, due to time, we are restricted in choices but I’m sure you know the platform very well.”

	Ai stuffed his hand in a tiny pouch on his belt and pulled out a shimmering Lesmainian coin and flicked it across the table, the metal making soft chimes as it skipped against the wood.
	“Money,” Ai concluded.

	Manuel cautiously picked up the coin and examined it, squinting for a moment, “Or, Lord Regent, something very much like it.  A man using this would be like to find himself in a cell or worse.”

	“A fake for sure,” Ai agreed, “but imagine thousands of these flooding the Lesmanian economy at a much higher quality. Do you see where I am going with this?”

	“They would find themselves unable to fight before our investment in men even became significant,”  Manuel spun the fake on the table, waiting until it fell before continuing, “and you see me as the man to do this for you?”

	“I think you are the best soldier in the economic world Illyrica has to offer,” Ai answered, straightening his posture, “I feel like you know the language, the battlefield if you will to get this done. I also think you can go above and beyond simply inflating their market. Perhaps staging false subsidies to their farmers using our own currency once their own begins to fail, stalling their food market, or even purchasing their own resources with their own counterfeit to aid our war effort while drowning their exchange rates. The poor will have no choice but to turn to our economy for support, and should the leaders of Lesmania close their economic borders, they will suffocate on the high velocity rate of too much currency and too high prices for farms that are undergoing subsidies. Perhaps even capture the real currency and melt it down to make even more counterfeits. It’ll be too late should we do this right, and I feel you have the creativity to outdo even my expectations. After all war is fought on all levels.”

	Manuel was silent for a time, Ai was right, of course, Manuel could do all he said and more.  That said, it was a calculation in the end.  Was Ai’s endeavour more profitable than a protracted war that would draw upon his cities valuable harbour?  A long war was safe, but Ai’s scheme had benefits beyond simple money.  Manuel was not blind, “This can be done Lord Regent, though I have made an effort to prevent counterfeiting in my city... It would not be impossible to find those who could make fakes of the required quality.  Nor would it be impossible to recruit the men capable of distributing them in Lesmiana itself.  However, the need for secrecy in this matter would make gathering these individuals somewhat difficult.  The Archon of Shadow is not the only spymaster with agents inside my walls.”

	“I am confident in your ability in keeping this as secret as it will be shrewd,” Ai steepled his fingers, “I will tip of Kabius as well, it’s the least we could do to secure his aid in keeping a shadow over this part of the war effort.”

	“Very well then, I will see to this task Lord Regent.  Though I shall endeavour to be hasty…  Well, these things take time.  I cannot guarantee our fakes will reach Lesmiana before our soldiers do.”  Manuel leaned back, considering the myriad ways he could turn this little venture further into his favour.
	“I understand the time it will take to do this right, but the effects will be well worth it in the long and short run. I’m also putting you in charge of a secondary task of confiscating enemy resources for our use while you’re at this and in all ways do whatever you can to benefit this effort. Do whatever you want on the side, just see it to the welfare of the war effort and Illyrica.”

	Ai’s eyes focused on Manuel, “and with all that said, I think we have a deal?”

	Manuel met his gaze, a slight smile infecting his visage, “Lord Regent, I believe we do.”

	Ai stood up and smiled back. He quietly retrieved his scimitars and replaced them on his belt, “Then I’m glad we had this chance to meet and look forward to the next visit. I do hope this particular war won’t be the only reason we discuss the welfare of Illyrica.”

	After securing his weapons Ai gently put his fist to his own chest, “until next time, Exarch Manuel.”