The Intrigue of The Golden Flower

"Why do I have to carry the heavy one?" Mikisai complained as he casually lugged the compact yet heavy box under one arm.  Mikisai did not look it upon first glance, but he was an incredibly strong man.  I remember him lifting an entire cart that had fallen on one of father's apprentices a year or so ago.  He had barely broken a sweat.

I laughed, and replied, "Because some of us are born with good looks, and others with an over abundance of muscles.  Guess which you are brother?"  He scowled at me and I danced out of his reach as he kicked at my shins.

Belaron rolled his eyes and nodded across the street with his chin, asking "That usual?  Seem to be a lot more of them out than I remember last time I was in town..."


We followed his gaze and saw the mail clad form of a group of Hell Knights harassing a pair of street vendors.  They had close faced steel helms that made them seem less than human, and had a sour reputation amongst the denziens of the city.

Geniven's General Adventuring Goodes...

"What, Borean's thugs?  Why our fearless leader Oliana Boriar puts up with them is beyond me, but who knows.  Perhaps we should ask mother when she is back from the Council session."  Our mother, the one thing that Belaron and Mikisai and I all did have in common, was a long standing and respected member of the Council of Thuran, the ruling body of the city under the wise guidance of Lady Oliana Boriar.  An unscheduled council session had been called today, and we hadn't seen her since morning.  I squinted as I noticed they had increased their usual two man patrols up to four, and there seemed to be more of those wandering the streets bothering people than usual as well...  "Yeah, now that you mention it, there does seem to be an awfully lot of them out today..."


We moved on before they took notice of us, pushing our way through the crowd with the easy of long practice.  It helped when Mikisai would occasionally give them an encouraging shove, followed up by a black glare.  I would follow behind, making apologies when necessary, or more threats when not.  It wasn't a long walk to where we needed to make the delivery, a small shop adjacent to the tavern The Golden Flower, both owned by Geniven.  It took about fifteen minutes in total, but in that time we passed another three patrols of Hell Knights, something we all took note of.

Geniven

A small set of bells tinkled as we stepped off the busy street and into the cool lit room of Geniven's General Adventuring Goodes, alerting the proprietress to our presence.  Mikisai heaved his heavy box onto the countertop and rubbed his hands off on his tunic with a grunt of relief.  Belaron stood by the door and surreptitiously looked back out the small shoppe window, watching another group of Hell Knights march past.  For my part, I took a look around as I enjoyed the coolness of the shoppes interior.  The majority of the gear was of decent quality, basic adventuring stuff from the looks of it.  Your average assortment of ten foot poles, hemp rope, and semi portable anvils.  Who used this stuff anyways?  The one thing that stuck out was the weapons.  They were all of excellent quality and make.  There were even a few firearms on display, something you rarely saw these days, even in such a cosmopolitan city as Thuran.  I was just running my finger over the Nalwood stock of a modern blunderbuss when she walked out...

"And I suppose you are the young men that Master Hanzo sent over with my delivery, mmm?" she asked as she walked out from behind the counter.  She moved with the easy grace of someone who was experienced with the blade, and had a presence that could fill a room far grander than her simple shoppe.  She wore red leather with black piping and had a face that you would go to war over.  She cocked a grin at me as she caught me gaping and I suddenly realized what it must be like for all of those poort girls I met.  With a force of will, I closed my mouth and regained my composure.

"Here is your delivery" Mikisai said with his usual curt efficiency, pushing the box on the countertop a little towards her and then crossing his muscular arms.  Belaron turned from the window and simply nodded at Geniven, his eyes taking in a glimpse of the back room and appraising it for exits.

I recovered my wits and tongue at this point, and put on my most winning smile as I added, "And these as well, madam.  Some of the finest Hanzo swords our father has produced these many years, blades of unsurpassed beauty equal to that of their new owner..."  I smiled and held the cloth wrapped swords out to her, bowing my head in acknowledgment as I did so.

Her laugh was like liquid music as it filled the small room, and her smile lit the darkness.  "You do me an honor sir, and to think, Master Hanzo sent his very sons to make the delivery!"  She took the blades from me, our fingers brushing over one and other for the briefest of moments.  "Let us see if their quality is up to the standards of that glib tongue of yours, eh?"  she said with a smile.

A Hanzo sword...

The three brothers came over to watch her pull forth the blades and examine them.  Although each of us were very different in our own ways, the one thing we could agree on is bladecraft, Mikisai and I being passable swordsmiths in our own right, taking after our father's trade.  Each were single edged slashing weapons, with a slight taper to the blade over their three foot length.  In the East, these weapons were called the Katana, but here they were simply known as Hanzo Swords.  I liked their new name better personally.  It became apparent that Geniven knew her business, and that she knew we knew she knew her business.  She pointed out details only the most experienced bladesman would know, mostly to prove to a bunch of cocky teenagers they didn't have a monopoly on knowledge of the blade I suspect, but who knows.

After some time, she stood and resheathed the blade in one clean, efficient motion obviously born of long practice, returning the weapon and scabbard to lay with its brothers, she turned towards us and smiled brilliantly before saying "I see all is in order, and indeed up to the impeccable standards set by Master Hanzo himself.  It is a rare pleasure to..."


Her words were cut off at the tinkle of the small bell of the front door as it opened.  Belaron was already standing behind the door, one hand on the pommel of his curved elven blade.  One side of Mikisai's face twitched as he stood rock still, frame tensed for a moment.  Then the oddest thing happened.  A small keg of beer rolled itself into the store.  I blinked several times until I saw the diminutive form of the halfling behind it, expertly maneuvering it into place.  She looked up and grinned with an infectious smile, and I found myself grinning back at her.

Cyllra Brewer

"Right on time as always Cillyra!  I do so hope that is the keg of Good Stuff I had asked for?" Geniven asked the newcomer.  I distractedly noticed Belaron standing back at ease, although is eyes were still moving.

"Never keep a thirsty customer waiting, my father always said" the halfling said before giving a wink and continuing, "especially a paying customer!"


Geniven laughed and went around the counter and brought forth two small coin purses, tossing one to our new friend and one to my brother Belaron.  Both caught them in mid air with dextrous ease, and noticed the other for the first time as someone perhaps more than your usual passerby.  "You are in luck.  I had been hoping to speak with you four, and this is just the excuse to do so."  I personally was thrilled at the prospect, but my two brothers looked a little more wary.  Cillyra simply looked inquisitive.

"Oh, nothing sinister, I assure you.  I just wanted to buy you a pint or three as a thank you gift, and perhaps pick your brain for a bit about some things I have been thinking upon as of late."  She flashed her dazzling smile once more as she leaned forward imploringly, "Anyone game?  I just so happen to own the nearby inn, The Golden Flower.  Would you care to accompany me there now that our business has been seen to?"


A chorus of "Aye!" met her, and we found ourselves stepping out of the shoppe and back into the hot dusty street.  I saw Cyllra's wagon nearby, with the carving Brewer's Best on the back, but most of my attention was focused on watching Geniven walk, no saunter really, in front of us as she lead us a short distance down the street.  Personally, I was ready to follow her into the depths of Tartarus, as long as I got to follow behind her as I did so!

Moments later we strode inside the darkened, cozy confines of The Golden Flower and walked into our Destiny...

The Golden Flower...