Enzo smiled again, the tension in his shoulders visibly melting a bit. It was one thing to trust that you had a friend's support. And he had always trusted. But to see that support in action was always touching. Leaning forward again, Enzo reached back out for his hand. Taking it in both of his own, he leaned down slightly and kissed one knuckle. Lingering for a moment as his eyes focused on the fine hairs on the man's hand, he breathed out audibly. "Thank you."
Nerves reassured, Enzo's confidence reemerged as he stood, gesturing to a map he'd rolled open on his desk. "Not far." he said, pointing to an area outside of Minrathous. "The Eye was investigating a possible smuggling operation set up somewhere in this area. There's little clusters of homes and farms all along the coast here, hardly dense enough to call villages. Some fishing docks are large enough for some enterprising criminals though, it seems.
"Their last contact placed the spy somewhere down here, near where the Felinus lands meet the coast. That part of his estate is kept natural. Some forest, some grassland, good small game hunting. He even has a cabin maintained there for the purpose. He owes me... well, several favors. I think we could use it as a base to strike out from. If we can do this covertly, all the better. But if we are discovered, then we can simply be two unlucky noblemen. Wrong place, wrong time, all that. But honor would not allow us to let such an operation continue. What do you think?"
Enzo had been prepared to make this trip alone. His own supplies had been packed and ready before Tiberius had arrived. It was a quick enough thing to stop by the Umbra estate to gather what Tiberius would need and allow him to give what orders needed ordering in his absence. It also allowed for a letter to be sent ahead to old Lucillius to let him know that Enzo would indeed be accepting his offer to use the hunting cabin. No need to fuss over him and his guest, however. Their aim was to need as little attending to as possible. They would, of course, call upon the estate proper should they require anything.
"Tie. Crrrk. Crrrk. Tie."
Enzo chuckled, looking over at Rei. The Blue River Bane had been immensely curious about Tiberius when she and Sua had been brought around as they left the estate. She sniffed and nudged Tiberius several times until Enzo came over and settled her. Now, having heard his name a few times during their journey, she was trying it out.
"Well done, Ria. Tiberius." he said, slowing his pronunciation. "Though I do wonder if Tibby would be easier for her to say." he mused, smiling wryly sidelong at Tiberius.
They were on Felinus lands now, moving at a leisurely pace down a shaded lane. They'd been met by a rider as they arrived at the edge of Lucillius' land bearing a message that the old lush was honored to host Lord Pavus' excursion. They'd be disturbed only initially as servants stocked and tidied the cabin for them. Secret mission aside, Enzo was privately thrilled to have this time with Tiberius. Recent developments in their lives as nobles kept them busy, never allowing for a proper reunion. He'd deeply missed his friend. If things could just settle, maybe outings like this could be regular parts of their calendars. Maybe...
Well, one thing at a time. They came around a bend in the road and the cabin was revealed. Nestled into a small clearing, the little building was perfectly rustic with a little garden in the front and a stable and well to one side. The windows and door were open, airing out the interior. As they dismounted, two servants came scuttling out, bowing and begging forgiveness as they were just finishing up. Enzo waved them off, assuring them they could finish what they needed. Sua grumbled in their direction, but Enzo led her to the stable, turning her head from the offensive sight of strangers.
"Something to eat first, while we make our plans?" He asked Tiberius as he pulled his bags and the saddle from Sua's back.
Nerves reassured, Enzo's confidence reemerged as he stood, gesturing to a map he'd rolled open on his desk. "Not far." he said, pointing to an area outside of Minrathous. "The Eye was investigating a possible smuggling operation set up somewhere in this area. There's little clusters of homes and farms all along the coast here, hardly dense enough to call villages. Some fishing docks are large enough for some enterprising criminals though, it seems.
"Their last contact placed the spy somewhere down here, near where the Felinus lands meet the coast. That part of his estate is kept natural. Some forest, some grassland, good small game hunting. He even has a cabin maintained there for the purpose. He owes me... well, several favors. I think we could use it as a base to strike out from. If we can do this covertly, all the better. But if we are discovered, then we can simply be two unlucky noblemen. Wrong place, wrong time, all that. But honor would not allow us to let such an operation continue. What do you think?"
------\-\-|-/-/------
Enzo had been prepared to make this trip alone. His own supplies had been packed and ready before Tiberius had arrived. It was a quick enough thing to stop by the Umbra estate to gather what Tiberius would need and allow him to give what orders needed ordering in his absence. It also allowed for a letter to be sent ahead to old Lucillius to let him know that Enzo would indeed be accepting his offer to use the hunting cabin. No need to fuss over him and his guest, however. Their aim was to need as little attending to as possible. They would, of course, call upon the estate proper should they require anything.
"Tie. Crrrk. Crrrk. Tie."
Enzo chuckled, looking over at Rei. The Blue River Bane had been immensely curious about Tiberius when she and Sua had been brought around as they left the estate. She sniffed and nudged Tiberius several times until Enzo came over and settled her. Now, having heard his name a few times during their journey, she was trying it out.
"Well done, Ria. Tiberius." he said, slowing his pronunciation. "Though I do wonder if Tibby would be easier for her to say." he mused, smiling wryly sidelong at Tiberius.
They were on Felinus lands now, moving at a leisurely pace down a shaded lane. They'd been met by a rider as they arrived at the edge of Lucillius' land bearing a message that the old lush was honored to host Lord Pavus' excursion. They'd be disturbed only initially as servants stocked and tidied the cabin for them. Secret mission aside, Enzo was privately thrilled to have this time with Tiberius. Recent developments in their lives as nobles kept them busy, never allowing for a proper reunion. He'd deeply missed his friend. If things could just settle, maybe outings like this could be regular parts of their calendars. Maybe...
Well, one thing at a time. They came around a bend in the road and the cabin was revealed. Nestled into a small clearing, the little building was perfectly rustic with a little garden in the front and a stable and well to one side. The windows and door were open, airing out the interior. As they dismounted, two servants came scuttling out, bowing and begging forgiveness as they were just finishing up. Enzo waved them off, assuring them they could finish what they needed. Sua grumbled in their direction, but Enzo led her to the stable, turning her head from the offensive sight of strangers.
"Something to eat first, while we make our plans?" He asked Tiberius as he pulled his bags and the saddle from Sua's back.
07-29-2024, 10:39 AM
