Dungeons Just Want to Have Fun

Suliel stopped the carriage to stretch her legs and take in the view. Her parents had stopped here on previous trips to the capital, and it felt nostalgic to look over the city before she reached it.

Back when this land was being settled—or conquered, depending on whom you asked— this site had been a simple portage point. A short, sharp cliff had interrupted the course of the river going north. Goods from the rich, unexplored northland needed to stop and be transferred to the ships below.

The ancestors of the Royal Family had been a mix of merchants and adventurers. They had parlayed the wealth that came from controlling trade into a fortified town, and then into a barony, recognised by the old Empire. When independence had come, and the fighting had started, they’d somehow managed to end up on top. All of it had come from their hold on this location.

That this spot should also be exceedingly picturesque was entirely a coincidence. The valley that the river had cut through the ridge was narrow and had steep sides… but not too steep. Just enough to show off the neat rows of houses that lined both banks. From here, she could mostly see the other side of the river and the two bridges that crossed it. She was currently above the city, looking down, but the walls were high enough that they blocked most of this side from view.

The walls were said to have been built by a Fourth Tier stoneworker of exceeding skill. Some said he’d reached his Fifth Tier by the time they were completed. Whoever he was, he had built with the future in mind. After a hundred years, the city had still not spilled out beyond the walls. Suliel could see a few buildings outside the entrance to the lower city, probably inns for those who didn’t make it before sunset, when the gates closed.

Suliel would make it in plenty of time. She was also taking the long way around, both so she could take in this view, and also so that she could enter Hightown directly. The guards at the high gates were much more accommodating of late arrivals, particularly when they were of noble birth.

Suliel took one last look and then returned to the carriage, giving the driver leave to continue. She smiled at the two elder gentlemen who had been her companions for this long, bumpy journey.

“Was it as you remembered, my Lady?” Syon, her chamberlain, asked gently. Under other circumstances, she would have left him at home to mind to her affairs, but she needed him here. She hadn’t stayed in her townhouse here for more than two years—well before she became the Baroness— and she was uncertain of the staff. Her mother was in the city somewhere and might well have used her influence to arrange something. She needed someone she could trust to be in charge of her household arrangements.

“Maybe a bit smaller than I remembered,” Suliel joked. Both men chuckled dutifully.

Her other companion was also a consequence of her unusual circumstances. Delir Nyer, the guild master of the Kirido Adventurers Guild, had agreed to stay with her as her guest and provide advice. He wasn’t strictly her servant—his first loyalty was to his guild— but he had served her father faithfully for years.

He had his own reasons to travel to the city, of course. He had recently obtained an antidote to the poison Kelsey had dosed him with and was looking forward to finding a cleric of sufficient stature to regrow his leg. Suliel had been happy to help—a carriage ride to the city was not easily procured for common-folk.

Circumstances had also determined who Suliel hadn’t brought. She already missed her maids. The inns they had stayed at had been able to provide help with dressing and her hair, but it wasn’t the same. The townhouse should have a maid there. If not, Syon could hire one. Bringing one of the young girls who served her family was not something that Suliel was willing to countenance. It was far too dangerous.

As they approached the high gate, Suliel sighed in disappointment.

“Still hoping for a bandit attack, were you?” Delir said with amusement. “There’s something perverse about hoping to be attacked.”

“If we’d been attacked, it would most likely not have been bandits,” Suliel reminded him. “It would have been a play from Mother. If we’d been attacked, I would have known what her play was. As it is, I’m left wondering if she knows how ineffective it would have been.”

Suliel’s escort was six men on horseback—the entirety of Kirido’s cavalry contingent. Kelsey had taken to calling them mounted infantry. It seemed a contradiction in terms but it did fit since they couldn’t fire their guns or reload while mounted. Two more guards rode on the roof of the carriage.

Eight guards didn’t seem like much but Suliel was confident that they could hold off any reasonably sized bandit party. Or any party that wasn’t bandits but was trying to seem like they were.

Confident, but not certain. The new weapons had yet to be tested in real battle, which was the other reason Suliel had been hoping for an engagement.

They didn’t have to stop at the gates. The crest on the side of her carriage was all the identification that Suliel needed. She could probably have directed the driver to her townhouse, but Syon’s presence meant that she didn’t have to rely on her faded memory of the route.

When they arrived at the gate to her house here, Syon got out and made his way inside, accompanied by the two guards who descended from the roof. Suliel waited impatiently. It seemed to take forever before the gates were swung wide by her men, and Syon came back.

“It is as the letter said, my Lady. The staff are waiting to greet you.”

Suliel sighed in relief, and the carriage moved forward to deposit her at her front door.

Perhaps townhouse was the wrong word to use here. It was what her parents had called the place, but the implications of the term were that of a small place. Suliel’s townhouse had grounds, which contained a separate carriagehouse and stable. Since her family had been absent, the staff had been pared down to the minimum. All five of them now stood out front to greet her.

“My Lady, may I present Arelon Marr, head of the household servants here,” Syon said, indicating an older man with an upright and dignified posture. Silver streaks were running through his hair and neatly trimmed beard, but he still looked hale. Suliel activated Nobility’s Privilege

Arelon Marr, Level 18, Parents: Deceased, Single, Loyal, Human, Butler

“Your maids, Valia Tere and Shana Veris,” Syon continued. The maids were young, Suliel supposed, but they were older than she was.

Vaila Tere, Level 8, Parents: Alive in Bures, Single, Loyal, Human, Server

Shana Veris, Level 8, Parents: Alive in Bures, Single: one child, Loyal, Human, Server

“Your cook and your groundskeeper, Jorven Kel and Darik Volen.”

Jorvan Kel, Level 17, Parents: deceased, Married, two children, Loyal to King, Human, Master Chef

Darik Volen, Level 16, Parents: Father alive in Bures, Married: three children, Loyal to King, Human, Groundskeeper

Two older men, but they were easy to tell apart. Jorvan was a broad-shouldered man whose dark skin seemed to glow with vitality, while Darik looked to have spent his entire life outdoors. He wasn’t unhealthy, but he looked weathered. His hair was cut so short he might have well been bald.

Suliel was encouraged to see that everyone was loyal either to her or the King. Her trait only showed a person’s primary loyalty, so it was no surprise to see that some of her servants held the King higher than her. She’d just have to keep in mind that she might be in third place, rather than second.

“Greetings to you all,” Suliel said. “I’m going to be in your care for the next few weeks at least, so I won’t keep you from your duties any longer. Shana, if you can get a bath ready. Valia, if you can make sure my room is ready and fetch me once it is.”

The maids curtseyed and rushed off into the building.

She looked at the two older men. “Darik, you can return to your duties. The grounds look wonderful, keep it up. Jorvan, I would like to share a meal with Arelon and my two guests in an hour or two, once I’ve rested.”

The two men bowed and hurried off.

“Syon, Arelon, can you organise quarters for my men and see to the horses. Then come find me in the dining room.”

“Yes, my Lady,” Syon said, bowing. Arelon bowed as well.

“And, Delir, come with me. It’s been a while, but I think I can find the dining room by myself.”

Delir bowed and followed her awkwardly on his wooden leg. She would have helped him, but she knew it was a point of pride for him to walk unassisted. As she walked, she could feel the experience flow in. It wasn’t much, but having new people acknowledge her, giving them orders… it all added up.

Suliel sank into the chair at the head of the table. Her memories had proved accurate.

Nice place, Kelsey commented. Nicer than your castle, even.

Everything’s cheaper in the city, Suliel sent. It doesn’t have to get shipped to the periphery.

That shouldn’t be true for much longer, Kelsey said smugly. And your new place will be nicer still. I’m making notes.

Sure, you do that, Suliel said. Kelsey had been talking for a while about building a new residence, suitable for Suliel’s status. Suliel had seen some plans, but she wasn’t sure if suitable meant ‘bigger’ or ‘covered in skulls’. Negotiations were continuing.

Kelsey’s meanderings distracted Suliel enough that she wasn’t bored waiting for her two servants to return. Delir seemed happy to wait quietly as well. The pair came in together, bowed and took seats at the table. Syon sat next to Delir, while Arelon took the opposite side. He looked nervous.

“First of all,” Suliel said. “Syon is here as an advisor and as a familiar face. He’s not taking over your role here, Arelon.”

“I see,” Arelon said. He stayed seated but gave a half bow. “May I ask what is so urgent that it can’t wait until after you have refreshed yourself?”

“My mother,” Suliel said grimly. “Where is she?”

“She hasn’t been here,” Arelon assured her. “Your letter made it clear how things stood, and she hasn’t seen fit to challenge that. There have been some rumours that she’s staying with Lord Brankil.”

“Lord Brankil…” Suliel said consideringly. Then, “Wait— there are rumours about my family?”

“Some number, I’m afraid,” Arelon said apologeticly. “Some news of the events in Kirido have made it here through various channels. Through regular commerce, the Glimmered Lancers, and the Judge— they’ve all let enough details slip for there to be a fervour of speculation about what’s going on.”

He coughed discreetly. “We were in a position to dispel some of those rumours, but we didn’t feel empowered to be speaking on our Lady’s behalf. Many others have been less reticent.”

Suliel grimaced. “That’s about Kirido, but there are rumours about where my mother is staying?”

“Yes,” Arelon said. “With so many rumours, there is great interest in the movements of the relevant parties, and your mother’s movements are easy for locals to track. I wouldn’t be surprised that your own arrival has been reported widely across the city by now.”

“Well, it wasn’t supposed to be a secret,” Suliel said. “How accurate do you think the rumour of her whereabouts is?”

“It’s quite likely to be accurate my Lady,” Arelon said. “It comes from multiple sources and there aren’t any competing stories.”

“I see,” Suliel said. It did make sense. Count Brankil was her direct superior and was… distantly related to her through her mother. He had been one of the first nobles she was going to visit, but now…

This is part of Mother’s play, Suliel thought. She got here first, and now she’s going to stand in my way.

“Get some writing materials together for after dinner,” Suliel ordered. “I’m going to need to send some letters—”

Um, Suliel? Kelsey sent. Not to interrupt or anything, but you’re going to want to see this.