[hider= The emperor and the steelhead]
Alasdair was waiting for Claus in the keep’s courtyard, oblivious the the chill of the night. He was looking at the flowerbeds that Isabel had been tending to since she had arrived in Nyhem. She hadn’t been as neat or meticulous as Aurelia, but he had been grateful that she had continued to care for it since the magister’s death. Now his sister was lying comatose in her bed with near a dozen restoration mages and alchemists attending to her. Alasdair had ensured that every trusted healer in the city had come to his sister’s aid. From the wine that Claus had snatched from Alasdair the alchemists had deduced that the poison used on her was ‘Sages Bane’, a deadly poison that targeted the victim’s mind and slowly drove them into a state of psychotic insanity. It normally didn’t cause physical symptoms making Isabel’s sudden illness strange. Several of the alchemists theroised it might have been something to do with the fact she was with child, a matter that disturbed Alasdair even more. The idea that his nephew may not only suffer from the effects of the poison but the fact he may be stillborn was unthinkable. Some hope did remain, the alchemists could delay the effects of the poison giving the restoration mages time to remove it from the body, however to do this his sister had to be induced into a coma for gods knew how long. What saddened Alasdair even more was that he was likely the only person in this city who actually cared for his sisters state. Him and Lord Goodwin it seemed, after being informed of his wife’s state Goodwin was in great distress, much to Alasdair’s surprise. It seemed that he truly cared for his wife’s wellbeing. Alasdair had begun to wonder if, against all odds, Isabel had started to reciprocate those same feelings. She had certainly appeared to be less uncomfortable and tense while around her new husband. Not that he could ask her now.

Claus entered the courtyard with a troubled mind, not that he let it show but he once again felt distressed and unable to sleep.
He tried to let the beauty of the night take his mind off things and it was working to some extent, the pink Dahlia bushes had large bulbous blooms and he grasped one in the cup of his hand to study it closer. He considered yanking it loose to decorate his helmet, but decided against it, mostly since many wouldn’t approve of him vandalizing one of the royal gardens.
In the distance he noticed what was the emperor, his wiry frame and posture gave it away easily.
-”Ey, boss. You needed me!” Claus didn’t need to shout, he raising his voice often had the same effect anyway.

Alasdair continued to stare at the flowerbeds, keeping his eyes away from Claus.

“I have called you here for two reasons. First, to inform you personally of what transpired yesterday evening. The woman who you apprehended was more than a mere spy. She was Vivian Blackwell, or as we recently found out ‘The Shadow of House Blackwell. It would seem she had infiltrated the keep for nearly a year without anyone noticing. A couple months ago she was ordered by her Uncle, Giles Blackwell to poison my sister and eventually myself”. While he spoke Claus closed the distance and was now standing beside him at a comfortable distance.

-”I see, seems this was bigger than i thought. Might be able to forgive me barging in and stealing yer drink perchance?” He smirked and looked at the same flower beds that Alasdair did.

Alasdair suffered a small smirk, after saving his mind as well as giving his sister a chance, he supposed it was only fair that he tolerated Claus’s antics. “I will do more than forgive you” Alasdair said as turned to face Claus handing him a scroll as he did “This is the second reason I have asked you here. By royal decree you are now of noble class. I congratulate you” Alasdair said with a tired smile. To award a commoner with the title of nobility was something that he had never done before, nor ever planned to. However Claus had more than proven himself worthy of the title. “You will have to decide on your own crest and motto, once you do let Alex know and he will officialize them. Just make your certain you are happy with them before you immortalize House Rotstein with something foolish like a rabbit” Alasdair said making a clear jest at house Greensworth, it seemed even at its creation fools ruled that family.

Surprised Claus accepted the scroll and was now grinning.
-”HA! I always thought ‘lord Rotstein’ had a nice ring to it!” Claus was actually genuinely happy and surprised and his thoughts began to race on what symbolism he wanted his charge to have. He had little clue on heraldry but knew it had a bunch of rules. He realised he’d have to speak with a herald about it. But set that aside since there was probably one in the keep somewhere.
-”Don’t you agree? So, what now boss?”

“Right now I’m going to need your advise more than ever”. Alasdair’s face turned grim “With this move the Blackwells have made their intention clear. I imagine we will soon be at war again. However I dare not invade until my brother has been informed of this attack and the circle be brought into the empire. Until then we must prepare. Vivian has already told us what she knows, it seems she has no loyalty to her own family and even offered to side with us ‘for the right price’. I agreed of course and listened to everything she had to say about her family, before having her thrown back into her cell and ordering her fingernails removed” Alasdair replied with a sadistic smile, even if he could trust her he would never work with the woman who hurt his family.

-”That’s… nice. Well as goes for the Blackwells they are a proper threat. I know their kind and a few of them personally, never underestimate them. And we will suffer more from a war than they would.” Claus happy mood was taken down a notch by Alasdair’s reveal of Vivian’s fate.

“Not just the Blackwells, but the south as well. The moment war breaks about between the empire and the Blackwells the south will no doubt invade as well. This will be the true war to determine Formaroth’s ruler, and this time we can’t rely on the foolhardy nature of our opponents leader” Alasdair had no illusions, while the Mandarass Alliance may have larger fighting force, they were easily outmaneuvered where it mattered. Something that Alasdair knew he couldn’t do with Eli. 

-”Yeah, you won’t find that chivalric honour that Andris has. These guys will use every dirty trick in the book. I’ll try to remember as many as i can.” Claus spoke with a genuine respect for Andris Mandarass, but it was obvious he also wanted round two.
-”What happened to Andris?” Claus asked.

Alasdair’s face grew cold as recounted the events that occured in Uzgob. “As i’m sure you know he managed to escape Uzgob after Giles failed to capture him in time. As our own fleet was busy capturing Akki he sailed away with the Neptuna fleet. After that our spies tell us he sailed for Deliverance and captured it from the pirate king Morian. He and his followers have settled there and have named him king of the island nation” Alasdair said grimly “However his forces are still a fraction of what they once were, he poses very little threat to us” Alasdair said, less confident about his last statement. Andris always had a habit of being a thorn in his side.

Looking slightly let down, Claus answered.
-”So he’s gone overseas? Too bad, it’s almost like he knows the history of the fist and ships. I really wanted a round two.” A slight pause.
-”Anything else boss?”

Alasdair gave Claus another exasperated sigh, though at the very least Alasdair could appreciate that he was willing to fight him again should the time arise. 

“There is one more matter to attend to” Alasdair replied “Regarding the mace. I questioned the Blacksmith yesterday and while he claimed ownership of the mace itself there was something he stated was not part of the original design”. At this Alasdair pulled something out from his side, a braided leather hoop that had until recently been attached to the handle of the mace. “What do you know of this”? Alasdair said holding the leather hoop in front of him so Claus could see it clearly.

Claus gently turned the hoop while the emperor held it, giving it a good look before giving up and honestly stating.
-”It’s a braided leather band, nice braid, rather advanced. Was it on the mace?” He wasn’t sure what the emperor was getting at.

“Yes” Alasdair said growing somewhat impatient “and considering it was your gift I would assumed you would know who put it there”.

-”Hey, i was busy organizing the fist for going overseas to the east, it was Katrina who did the order.” Claus was shrugging then kept going, now slightly confused and annoyed.
-”If it’s so darn important i’ll go ask her about it. Timtos arse.” The curse uttered barely audible but Alasdair could easily pick it up.

Alasdair frowned “Careful, I am grateful for your service but you will temper your tongue in my presence. If this Katrina was the one who handled the order then I wish to meet her. Bring her to the keep tomorrow” With that Alasdair turned once again to face the flowerbed before adding “That will be all, Lord Rostein”.

[/hider]