*In the coming days they finally arrived to Alam. A flock of seagulls escorted "The pride of the Imperium" with their screams as it glided into the harbour area, pass the battlements protecting the city.
Harbour workers looked at the galley curiously with its combat scars, burnt marks and arrows sticking form its sides. After the ship had docked He and Nazlik said farewell to the captain and stepped off the ship. "We are here" she said bemused, "I can´t believe it". "This is the first step" he replied, "next we need to find a place to stay and plan our next move". Captain Aellos of the personal guard followed them to the shore. "What are we to do next my lord?" he asked.
"Take this assignment scroll and take it to the garrison commander of the city, he will give you directions how to reach Magister-Generals main troops" he said giving the scroll to the captain "our paths differ from here on, good luck". His captain saluted and disappeared into the busy crowd.
The harbours Imperial scribe noticed him while squabbling with a merchant who complained of too high docking fee. The scribe left the argument right there and headed towards them accompanied with the merchants curses. "My lord! I am so sorry, had I known you were coming I would have arranged a proper greetings" scribe apologized.
"No need" he said, "I am not here in official business. I just brought some soldiers and supplies to the troops. How is my estate?" He asks looking around.
"It is in top condition. Your servants have kept the place in perfect condition. All you need to do is just settle in my lord" scribe says.
"Very good, then I will be heading there next. Please send my apologies for the governor for not coming to see him today. I have urgent arrangements I need to make" he said.
"As you wish my lord" scribe said, "is the lady here in your company?" he asked looking curiously at Nazlik. "Qunari walking here among people without schakles are bound to make many intrigued". " My company should not be of anyone´s interest. But to clarify, she is my bodyguard and of Tal-Vashoth, not qunari. " he says.
"Of course my lord" scribe says bowing.
"I´ll see you later" he said and headed for the city streets with Nazlik following close by. The scribe kept bowing as long as they were in his sight.
"Who was that?" she asked, "you know him?".
"I do" he said, "I helped him to get this position in the harbour. His family is one of the soporati, a merchant family. His father begged my help after he was accused of tax fraud. I cleared him of charges and gave him this position away from Minrathous. He and his father are in my pocket now. Doesn´t stop him from gossiping from us though, he´s always been a blabbermouth. That is why he was caught."
*They walked through the streets of Alam. He did not want to take carriage since it would draw too much attention to them. Never know who is watching. The lively city was bustling with activity and they did not have any problems in blending in the masses. His cloaked figure along with the staff and Nazlik´s horned look did earn them some interested gazes. At the manor things were as the scribe had said. Servants greeted them with excitement and scuttled around to prepare their rooms and dinner.
"Your family is incredible rich" she said hugging him in the bed, after sneaking into his room in the evening, "We do have a lot" he admitted, "but still there are so few of us left. That is why I want my daughters to bring their husbands into the family. We need to "bolster" our ranks" he continued with a smile.
She tickles him " I see what I can do about that" she says with a teasing smile and rolls over him.
*The day after they set out to the jungle with a small team of local hired swords, servants and few of his own guards from the estate.