CrimeWarDiscussion
From IMiA
"To his Grace, Duke Phillip of Carlisle,
I am honored and humbled by your opinion of my skills and talents, unfortunately I must decline. Coming from a humble farming background, I know that it is essential that one should not put all one's eggs in one basket, and that a diversity is the best safeguard against economic misfortune. However, whenever you or the Duchess feel that you have need of me I shall put aside or put off whatever other employment I have taken on until your immediate needs no longer trouble you. Is this an acceptable compromise? It allows me my freedom while also offering you my sword arm on retainer.
Nicholas Van Alliki, duelist"
Juliana says, "Phillip, that's good enough. Let him wander about, I might be able to get him to share his adventures with me when I do get time with him. That could be very telling. I'm quite willing to be reasonable and set a schedule. If something urgent arises and we can't get Nicholas, you'll simply have to come with me. And it's not like we don't have any other swordsmen in our service... I could always take three or four of them with me. And really, I can pick up help whenever I'm in the city. James would die before he let a hair on my head be harmed."
Phillip sighs. "Very well then. I think the boy is making a mistake though."
Juliana smiles. "He's young, and not exactly wrong. He doesn't know how things really stand for us. He's trying to be smart - an admirable trait in someone who slices and dices so well. Send him a letter telling him that's quite fine. I'll go down on the third weekend of each month (she's picking the time closest to the full moon) and see if he can meet me at the City Manor then."
Phillip smiles. "Very well. I was actually thinking he had made a mistake with Lady Abigail, though I suppose there is little to be done about that now."
Juliana shrugs. "He probably is concerned that the same people who want to hire him will be those he needs to help investigate. Bit of a conflict of interests there, from most people's point of view. Or more likely, he's just intimidated by Abigail, and no man likes feeling overshadowed by a woman, whoever she might be."
Phillip chuckles. Then, he adds, "I hope the lad sorts it out. I know Lady Abigail's view of late. There is a war underway. If one is not expressly on her side, one is tacitly on the opposing side."
Juliana stops what she's doing (for some reason I saw her sitting there with embroidery in her lap) and looks up at him, serious. "I'm surprised the King has let all that mess get that far. I suppose it's not affecting him too much, as yet, but it does show a certain tolerance for lawlessness one doesn't expect of him. Do you think there might be something else distracting him? I mean, beyond the thousands of things he must deal with anyway, but something big?"
Phillip meets Juliana's gaze. "The Crown has always had something of a laissez-fair attitude about the Crime Lords. As long as they kept their activities within certain limits, the Crown did not find it necessary to act against them. However, if they violated this agreement, the crown ruthlessly exterminated them and the new Crime Lords would likely be more agreeable to the Crown's policies. It is a system that has always worked quite well, actually. The Crown knows that any kingdom will have an underworld. This system allows the Crown a degree of control over it without wasting valuable resources." Phillip picks up a drink and sips it.
"Following that debacle at Arbor House and recent public criminal activities, it is clear that certain of the Crime Lords are not only warring on each other, but testing the Crown. The Crown could overlook a crime war as long as it did not adversely effect the realm. But the Crown can not allow a challenge to its authority. The recent murder attempts on Amber's most prominent families as well as the kidnapping attempts and the blackmailings can no longer be allowed." Phillip sips his drink again. He pauses, considers, then continues. "Given the events at Arbor House, it is clear to me that the King has important matters on his mind. I would say that Lady Abigail's reassignment and the reallocation of certain other forces are signs of that. I believe it is quite possible that the Crown's new interest in the Crime Lords is a sign of a larger strategy. He is clearing the board," Phillip says, "of distractions."
"Yes, but distractions from what? I don't believe he's considering expanding the Golden Circle. In fact, it seems to me that'd be the biggest mistake he could make right now. If it was any larger it'd be a sap on resources, you know as well as I do, and it could be smaller without causing the kingdom any real logistical problems. Some of those alliances are purely political and could be done without, and wouldn't take that much attention to avoid them becoming 'issues.' But he knows all that, and it's just simply not that difficult. Where is he reallocating forces from and to?"
Phillip considers. "Lady Abigail has never been assigned the task of investigating the Crime Lords before. I have heard rumors that Prince Eric's Weir forces and certain military intelligence forces are also engaged in the operation."
Juliana's eyebrow shoots up at that. She clearly did not know this.
"That is significant. It is a clear indication to those in power that the Crown is taking decisive action." Phillip pauses, looks at his glass, sets it down. "It is also something of a shell game. While Amber's nobility and populace focus on the Crown's efforts to end the crime war, they miss the other moves that are being made. It is clear to me that Arbor house was a symptom of a larger problem. The majority of the nobility has been duped into considering it a move in the crime war. We know better. Arbor House is indicative of a larger problem. What happened there should never have occurred. That is the larger issue that concerns the King."
Juliana sighs. "I never thought being on the outside would be this difficult. I'm so glad to be home, really, but it takes so much more effort to get privileged information now. More pieces to the puzzle missing and all that. I can't fathom a guess to what it really is, and it's agitating. I wonder if I could work my way back into something in the castle Unicorn knows he'd never have me around as an 'advisor' but something like a diplomatic liaison?" She's clearly feeling Phillip out to see how he'll react to this suggestion. She hasn't attached herself to the idea, she's just testing him to see what he'll say.
Phillip arches an eyebrow. "You are a very high profile player already. There are some who think we are Crime Lords ourselves."
She laughs. "I can't help it, you know I want to have a finger in everything. But CrimeLord? Where would I find the time? What would I do if I were a Crime Lord?" She leans back with a big smile. "I really don't know. Not my cup of tea, too much work, I'm thinking. Really, it'd have to leave too much blood on your hands. Who thinks we're Crime Lords, hmmm?"
Phillip laughs. "Certain underworld factions, several members of the nobility, a few members of the watch, at least one Crime Lord. Oberon's personal assassination team is a popular rumor as well. Or we could be spies. That is a popular theory."
Juliana shakes her head, still ginning. "Well, I like the assassination team theory the best, and the spy theory the least. Which of these 'Crime Lords' thinks we're involved in their game? We aren't involved in their game, are we?"
"Everyone is in the game, I'm afraid. It is simply a matter of knowing where you stand on the board." Then, he refills his glass and looks to see if Juliana would like a drink.
She waves her hand like she would.
"I understand that The Scholar thinks we may be competition."
Juliana looks really surprised. Shocked, in fact. She puts down her embroidery and pulls her legs up under her, and turns to him, looking back up after straightening out her skirts. "Isn't he the big one? Why in the world would he think that? I'd love nothing more than to see that entire criminal element cease to exist. I've got no want to become one of them."
Phillip pours a drink for Juliana.
"The Scholar is one of the oldest of the Crime Lords. He goes back farther than most people realize actually. He is arrogant, ruthless, and methodical." Juliana swallows. Phillip pours himself another drink and continues.
"As for his suspicions, consider: You are well-connected. You have traveled extensively. You have great resources at your disposal. You have an interest in the unfortunates of Southside and the populace in general. You would be in an excellent position to be Crime Lord. You would be particularly well suited to be either The Author Anonymous, The Fog, or, forgive me, The Nymph."
That gets a snort. "You know far more about this than I do, I can see. 'The Nymph.' That's just too arrogant. If 'the nymph' is not a man with a front woman, I will be stunned. No self-respecting woman would go by such an alias. If I was going to be a Crime Lord, I'd have to be called, "Miss-fortune," or something equally clever. And 'The Fog,' that seems rather dim, and 'The Author Anonymous?' Who came up with that? That's rather lacking panache, don't you think?"
"Well, I didn't name them," Phillip chuckles. "The Nymph has an obvious area of influence. The Author handles forgeries and other interesting documents. and the Fog is the lord of the black market and exotic items from Shadow. Other Crime Lords have even more ludicrous nom de gurre. I think it is some elaborate, albeit poor, joke they share."
"So you think The Scholar, or one of them, might have introduced some of the poisons to be found at Arbor House? You think this is who tried to kill me, because I fit the Crime Lord profile? It seems he'd be better off to find something to blackmail me about, and try to get me on his team."
Phillip frowns. "The Alchemist deals in poisons. The Gladiator murders"
Phillip sips his drink. "I am certain at least one of the Crime Lords was present at Arbor House. He could have been the target of the poisonings while everyone else was just a poor attempt at a cover up.The whole business was poorly handled."
He looks at Juliana. "The Scholar traditionally acquires some incriminating evidence to use against a target and then blackmail them, yes. Upon acquiring the evidence, he contacts the target and makes it quite clear that they have been compromised. He will even go as far as to provide documentation that makes it clear that he can prove his assertions. As, I said, he is methodical and he is arrogant. Were he to try to compromise you, Juliana, you would know it."
[for the easily amused, note that Phillip already knows she's being blackmailed and has since ArborHouse.]
She looks down into her glass. "I suppose I would," she mutters, and takes a long drink. "I should probably be flattered they think I'm one of them. I'll definitely have to be more careful. And so will you," she adds pointedly.
"I am always careful," Phillip replies. "I am, after all, merely another boring noble with a beautiful wife who is far better than he deserves. I'm not even worth their interest."
"Right, darling. And that's why they think we're Crime Lords. Or Oberon's assassins. Or spies. Please." She lays back dramatically. "We're sooo boring. We're so the mindless nobility."
"Perhaps I was mistaken," he says and kisses her.
[Woo-ho. Now we're getting somewhere. Please kiss me so I can stop lying to you.]
In between kisses she says, "You know, you can be the kissing bandit. No, that's silly. You can be, [dramatic deep voice] The Duck of Destruction!" [she's always calling him her duck instead of her duke. When they're alone ]
"Oh, that would terrify the other Crime Lords," he laughs. "I am certain that when I attended the Crime Lord tea parties, I would have to avoid sitting next to the Cat.."
Okay, that's going to lead to some meowing and mewling...
This letter will find Nicholas via a very young (8 - 14) year old messenger boy who seems to also be selling a little 'entertainment listing' type newsletter called "A Different Drummer." He will stand and look at you with a smile until you tip him. If you don't tip him he'll pout. This letter carries the seal of the House of Carlisle, on light blue and black swirled wax.
"My friend Nicholas,
I've taken your letter from the Duke, since it is in reference to my 'safety' to begin with, and will be taking the matter of our association into my own hands. I hope you don't find this objectionable, but he's busy, and I'd rather talk with you directly.
I wanted to thank you again for your thoughtfulness during the awful events in Baylesport. You made me feel safe in that horrid House. My husband, of course, would like to have you by my side at all times. He grows ever more paranoid since the attempt on my life, and fears there will be more. Sadly, he might even be correct. The more prominent one becomes, the larger a target one makes.
Having read your latest correspondence, and having discussed our current situation with the Duke, I find myself willing to accept a less approachable position in the City, and limit my time therein. In such, I would like to contract you to be my escort during the third Friday and Saturday of each month, for... well, I usually spend this time in the worse parts of the City.
We wouldn't likely be alone. My friend and always a protector James will not let me down there without him, and often we'll gather a bit of a crowd. This is not to make light of the danger, for I can assure you I will have on my person an absurd amount of money to be taking into this area, not to mention what someone might gain in holding me against ransom. The Duke would go to any length to ensure my safety. This is, in some ways, a danger in itself.
I'd also like to take you up on your offer of: "...whenever you or the Duchess feel that you have need of me I shall put aside or put off whatever other employment I have taken on until your immediate needs no longer trouble you." I would feel safer, and I know the Duke would be greatful, if I knew in an urgent or emergent situation I could call on you and find you soon at my side. I would like to suggest that in a situation of such desperate measure, I would compensate you at twice your normal rate, as well as for whatever other engagements/activities your time with me would force you to abandon. In return, I would expect you to come with all haste when I do call, and in fact stay until I release you.
Please let me know if you find this at all acceptable. I am, at present, out on our estates, so it will take a few days for us to pass letters back and forth. You can post anything to me through our Manor House in the City.
Looking forward to your response,
Juliana Pinegar Duchess Carlisle"
Nicholas, a fellow of few, but well chosen words, leans more towards actions, he does not bother to reply. Instead he takes to horse and rides out to the Carlisle Estate to presents himself to the Duke and Duchess. When he arrives, he presents his card to the butler/chamberlain, upon it is written simply, "I am at your service, madam."
Well, he gets invited to stay for dinner and spend the night. Ahem. Spend the night in a guest room. Chris can Juliana entice Phillip into a little swordplay with Nicholas?
Nicholas and Phillip do engage in a bit of swordplay after dinner and after Nicholas proves he is quite a bit better than the Duke with a sword, Juliana takes Phillip away to compensate him for his trouble
-- Main.LizTrumitch - 23 Oct 2004
