Aitun and Temuchar in Nestic (Spring 835)

It was decided that Melaine will stay on site as artifact expert, while myself (Aitun) and Temuchar would venture into Nestic to accomplish several things:

 - We must set up a supply chain to keep our men fed--although the beancounter can handle the details. It's also quite vital that we get in contact with Southern merchants to start establishing external trade

 - Once we arrived in Nestic, we found that some people are curious about why we're remaining. We must fend off these questions to prevent prying eyes.

 - And of course, most important to myself, men must be hired.

 

After a few weeks in the city, we received a letter from the Lady Relgal inviting us to a summer banquet in Stonebridge. We were most glad to accept, and prepared to depart.

I obtained a horse, who I have named Spot.

On the road to Stonebridge, we encountered a man spewing the words of The Church to any who would pass him by. At first we decide to share his camp and engage in conversation, but he began talking about how "the signs" have begun to come and the apocalypse is upon us shortly. While he had interesting news about civil war in the nine cities, we had little desire to be surrounded by his false religion for the remainder of the night, and travel through the night to make it to Stonebridge rather than spend more time with him.

 

We make it to Stonebridge, sleep for the night, and join the Lady in the afternoon. She gives us her thanks for retrieving the ring, and we engage in some pleasant conversation over lunch. However, we notice it to be somewhat quiet and secretive, with no other attendees, and discover that this was all a cover--she wished to talk with us without attracting overt attention! We discuss Melaine, and I offer to set up a meeting between the two of them, without revealing any real details of our mission at camp. Eventually, her true topic comes up, as she mentions the matter of southern rule in the March, and how perhaps self-rule would be must better for all involved--a subject which I hold most dear myself, and strongly agree with. 

As a result, we agree to help with some of her early efforts--most notably, an early, secret diplomatic mission, led by myself, to establish communications with the Homeland, Tormar, in the summer! This could not be a better time for me to establish my return home, and with powerful backers as well who I can gain favor with by doing so. 

 

And so, after the details are determined, we depart to Nestic and plan the trip for the next season. Along the way home, Temuchar reveals some key details I had not known previously about her--she used to be the handmaiden to the princess of her country, which is a key part of why she has such a dispute with Aminar, as he assumes her to simply be a lowly "maid". It is most understandable to myself how this could cause such friction, and is a quite useful look into the otherwise opaque Temuchar.