2 Infiltration
The cold winter breeze was blowing and a bone-piercing chill permeated the air. Though the cold wasn't the only thing that disturbed Martin, it was the unpleasant smell of the horses' poop in the air that took most of the credit.
He wondered why Malazan had asked him to wait here of all the places in the world. The stables of the Blackstone Inn were not maintained well, to say the least. In fact, the recalcitrant horses here bothered him a lot more in comparison to the disgusting smell — One of them was looking at him like he had stolen the guy's wife or something. And that's not all! Awhile ago, when he became tired of waiting and chose to sit down...one of the horses came over and peed on him!
He would have started to fight these sons of gun already if he weren't afraid of being ganged up upon.
"Sorry to make you wait so long, my friend!" Martin came out of his reverie after hearing the shout. He turned his head and saw Malazan coming over. He wore black robes and trotted on as if taking a leisurely walk in his backyard. Behind him followed an expensively armoured horse, who dragged along an equally expensive carriage.
Martin looked at the sight dumbfoundedly and once again wondered how rich Malazan actually was. Malazan's evaluation in his heart rose up by several degrees after seeing this.
"No worries, I just got here awhile ago myself," he was obviously lying because he thought it would be rude of him if he had said otherwise.
"Is that so? Anyway, let us dispel with the pleasantries and get right to work," Malazan said with a shallow smile on his face.
"What work?" Martin asked curiously.
"Just follow what I say and you'll find that out soon enough."
Martin was going to question him again when he heard Malazan say: "Come on, no more questions. Get on the carriage and let us be on our way." He suddenly had a feeling that something bad was going to happen in the following hours of day and he would play a major role in that.
"By the way, what's with this unpleasant smell around you?"
"N-Nothing. It's the smell of my grandma's homemade perfume. She said that it acts like a good luck charm. According to her, harm will avoid me due to this," Martin made up a lie in a flustered manner.
"Although I don't know anything about harm, but people are sure as hell going to avoid you because of that so-called good-luck-charm-perfume of yours. Let's stop at a nearby inn to get you out of that smell," replied Malazan whilst fighting the urge to cover his nose.
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Baron Monward, full name Alzin Shuziel Monward. His house had been of minor nobility. Around 20 years ago, when the lord's father grew ill and could not continue the duties as the head of the house, the young Monward took over.
He quickly outpaced his rivals using strategic maneuvers, bringing in wealth and influence to his house. He was in his early twenties when he married the lady Reanne—then Reanne Gilin Lazfor. With her help, the Monward house had truly flourished. Now his influence and wealth did not lose out to that of a Duke.
In fact, it was said that he would be granted the title of Duke soon enough by the King himself. Though there were many discontent people among the nobility who resented how he was going to directly skip ranks and become a Duke, but there was not much they could do about it as it was the King's decision.
He was brave warrior who wouldn't frown even in the face of death, but today he was feeling nervous, extremely so at that. Today was the day he was going to meet his mother, the very person who gave birth to him, after not seeing her for whole ten years.
"Are all the preparations completed?" Asked Baron Monward.
"Yes, my lord. As you ordered, the palace decorations have been seen to by the master artisans; and food has been specially cooked by the chefs of the Council of Nobles," replied a knight with deep brown eyes and a short military beard.
"Uhm, has my mother arrived yet?" questioned the Baron whilst feeling fidgety.
"Not yet, my lord. We'll immediately inform you when she arrives," answered the knight.
"Okay, you can go now," ordered the Baron.
"This servant shall take his leave, then."
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Every town in the Kingdom of Cierith was divided into four different districts — Nobility, Business, Common, and The Red Light districts.
The Red Light district, as its name suggested, housed brothels and slums. It was place of pleasure and crime. Pick-pockets prowled in search of lecherous drunkard whilst prostitutes hoped to hit big by making a merchant take fancy to them.
On the other hand, the Common district was a lot more civil as it provided residence for the normal people. Most of the workers and their families lived here, making the place the liveliest district of the four.
The Business and the Nobility districts were also aptly named as the former was a place for merchants whilst the latter was a residence for the high and mighty nobles. The streets were wide and roads clean, to the point where one could not see a speck of dust. And the buildings here stood tall as if mocking all the small houses of the common people.
Though if a person with a skeptic eye came here, he would easily notice that these districts lacked something — they lacked the liveliness of the people living in the Common District; very few people could be seen here with the exception of some knights belonging to the Guard Squad. It made one realize the loneliness that came alone with being rich.
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Baron Monward palace was, unsurprisingly, located in the Nobles district. It's dome reached the high heavens and it's walls were a white stone that glistened in the summer sun and the roof was grey slate.
It was as big as ten of the ordinary houses of the Common District and employed a good number of the townsfolk as servants. Around the palace were the horse pastures and three kitchen gardens for the Baron's family, and around that was a stone wall topped with iron spikes and guarded day and night.
A carriage could be seen moving towards the palace's gate.
"Captain, it looks like the Lord's mother has arrived!" a knight shouted.
"It seems so. Come, let us welcome her. Make sure to demonstrate our discipline in front of her and don't you dare make a fool of yourselves," said the Captain in a stern manner.
"Yes, Captain!" shouted all the knights in unison.
"Oh, and go inform the lord about her arrival."
The gates were opened and the carriage made it's way towards where the all knights were standing to welcome them. A boy no more than nineteen year old was the driver of the carriage.
"So young!" whispered one of the knights,
"Pshh! Be quiet!" the Captain smacked the knight on his head.
The boy climbed down the carriage and opened the door for the Baron's mother.
'Here she comes,' thought the Captain inwardly.
And the Baron's mother stepped out of the carriage and let the knights, who were in anticipation of arrival, witness her appearance for the first time.
There was a long silence, followed by a scream: "What the hell?!"
