Snippet #1801264

The guards wasted no time hauling him off from the South Gate, past the Academy, through the Purlieu to the south east end and into the Imperial Prison. They brought him through the first block, passing a big man with short, jet black hair who eyed Felix with a mean, hungry look as they walked by, to an office in the back. Inside, there was a large desk with locked drawers and cabinets, wooden chairs for seating, and a unmarked door beyond the desk. One guard released him, and the other dumped him into the chair furthest from the door.

The guard he'd kicked loomed over him with his arms crossed. "Wait here. The captain will be here soon... There'll be guards waiting right outside the front door, so don't try anything funny." With that, the three men who'd 'escorted' him left, none too quietly as they slammed the door behind them.

...

"My dear," the wizard said, leaning forward. "The Blades do not answer directly to the emperor, but they are a part of the empire much the same. For instance, your shoe is not an extension of you, but you wear it. When the leather is dirty, you polish it, when it breaks you repair or replace it. Likewise, there are missions for which the Blades are better suited. In simpler words, the Imperial Army would stir up quite a fuss if they intervened in every situation, you understand? That, however, is not why you have come." Uthis stood up, and opened the little wooden gate to his desk. At full height, he stood taller than Alexandria- their kind were known on average to be taller than their woodland and drow kin- but she could see he hunched slightly, as if his back troubled him.

"I can see the question in your eyes, young one," he observed, stepping between her and the desk to the bookcase that divided the room. He pushed a few books aside as he searched for a specific title in the collection. Like anyone who is not a mindless slave to the madness and doctrines of a slowly ailing government, you wonder just how deep its corruption runs. You are wise not to trust the first person you meet, but in all honesty, the Council could use your help. You see, we have long suspected their may be a traitor among us with motives darker than mortal greed. While a few of us have our doubts as to the loyalty of certain people, most of us have been on the Council for many, many years, and a fresh face is less likely..." he selected a book and gently slid it off the shelf. "...to stir up commotion. Of course one could not be expected to work without proper payment, but I will throw in a little bonus for your trouble."

He tilted the book so she could see the title: Eyllisathem: Journey of Cleary the Wise, as written by Solbrar, with excerpts from the Diary of Clery the Wise. The book, one of a hundred copies in Zamil, had seen more than a few years. The diary of the ancient scholar believed to have traveled to the mythical world of the Ka'ua, had been copied a few dozen times when a museum curator had brought the original from Daemus on the famous ship, the Dionysius, as a present to the emperor of the time. Uthis had translated and transcribed the text himself. The original returned with the High Elves to the World History Museum of Daeoth.

"With all due respect, this is not a task assignable to just anyone, and your presence here is more than likely to cause disharmony among the guards. Should you accept, I ask only that you first pay a visit to our treasurer, as I'm sure he would appreciate a little help regarding a small matter."