Lending a Helping Hand

The guards were surprised as to how they accomplished such great feat, moreover with just a mere handful of men.

The Guards opened the gates immediately and Ixander went straight to the Prison Castle, where the Grandquester is right now. He then went on to meet the Grandquester and told him of his need.

"You need more men? I don't think you need more men." Replied the Grandquester "You need people to drive your goods towards here, I'll fetch some coach drivers then." Said the Grandquester.

"Also, I request that this woman may be imprisoned in a hospitable manner, sir." Requested Ixander after showing the Grandquester the woman he caught among the bandits. "Men, do as he say." Ordered the Grandquester

After his request has been done, Ixander lead these five men, each with their own horses, to the camp. Upon returning, they saw everyone intact and the five men among the troops who knew how to drive a wagon rode in front. The other troops carried the few wounded over to an empty carriage, altogether occupying two carriages of men. They were placed at the back and the front of the caravan just so they would be prepared to respond in an event of an ambush.

The wagons safely arrived at the city after a thorough inspection by the city guards, then someone came to the guards and whispered something. The guard then told Ixander that the wagons are to be lead to the Estate of the Grandquester. So they did.

After they have arrived, the Grandquester greeted Ixander warmly, "Welcome Ixander, the Morning will soon break, should we then dine?" asked the Grandquester. Ixander then got off the horse and removed his looted hat in front of the Grandquester as a symbol of respect. Everyone looking at this scene was looking with contempt to Ixander. After all, this class-based society sees Ixander as one of those people who are near the bottom of the caste, only faring higher than slaves and laborers: the riskers.

"Sir, I would rather count the loot first before anything else. I reckon that you would like a part of it?" said Ixander. "How can then I be a great leader if I live on the loot then?" replied the Grandquester and they both lightheartedly laughed.

"I reckon however, that this may peak your interest. Seven crates of large gold trivertis, and eleven crates of small gold trivertis." The Grandquester was shocked that the loot may be well over a million tsarthres worth. "H-have you totaled the amount of tsarthres with the trivertis you have?" asked the Grandquester. "I indeed have, sir. It is a million and five-hundred tsarthres." Replied Ixander. "It does not include the several supplies, right?" asked the Grandquester. "Different coins from the Axis Continent, followed by high-quality arms, and here we see a lot of people in Axan living in poverty" said Ixander. The Grandquester only became sad and looked away.

After a while, the Grandquester said "…You are right…" with Ixander uttering no more words after.

"Move those gunpowder barrels over here, and the arms that we looted!" ordered Ixander. "Sir, Grenavian rifles, with powder and ammunition." The Grandquester was shocked as he never saw so many Grenavian rifles at once, with that many ammunition and powder. "I will not partake of your loot other than the tithed amount we talked about to be donated to the city council. However, I would like our elite troops to be trained in these rifles. Do you perhaps know how these rifles work?" asked the Grandquester.

"I do. I've handled it back when gramps was…" Ixander's speaking was suddenly interrupted by a shout of a soldier. "Sir! I found something strange."

Ixander then went to the soldier, then he was followed by the Grandquester. "I found this strange seal, it may intrigue you sir tha…" the soldier was then interrupted by the Grandquester upon seeing the seal. "I'll be damned…" then Ixander looked at the Grandquester and asked "Is there something with this seal?"

The Grandquester replied "More than ever, Ixander. More than ever. The seal is to be seized Ixander by me, if you do not oppose." Said the Grandquester.

"I have no problems with that sir, but I want to know what is with this seal?" asked Ixander. "Let's go inside for a meal, and I will tell you about it" replied the Grandquester. Ixander agreed then they went inside the estate for a meal.

The meal was quite modest for an authority, but a feast for anyone on the bottom of the caste. There was stuffed chicken, mashed potatoes, a roux sauce and a clear soup. Ixander tasted each and every one of these, and he especially commented on the soup. "Sir, if I am correct, you have one of the great cooks on all Livinia…correct?" asked Ixander. "What of it?" replied the Grandquester. "I should say sir, the soup is quite bland, perhaps I would like to give some cooking lessons to your 'great chef'…" the Grandquester only snorted and laughed so much upon hearing. "I'll take you up on that accord sir. Perhaps it might be well this lunch?" asked the Grandquester. "You will expect me, sir" replied Ixander.

"So sir, what of the seal?" Ixander curiously asked. "The seal is a Lilac, no other than a symbol of the extremist revolutionaries in Alban, who murdered Royalists as they fled going to Livinia. If not for them, many royalists and innocent men and women would have been alive to see this days" said the Grandquester. "It was truly a horror of an event. Alban was in anarchy, the men on the frontier were uncontrollable. Lilacists employed by the Government kept on encouraging these pogroms, and we Livinians are there to catch either bodies that fall on the mountains of Grenav and Alatsto toward us, or to see elderly and children being stabbed. It was horror."

"Why did Livinia not intervene?" asked Ixander. "The king of Alban asked his majesty, King Marcus, to not intervene at any cost. O, how the king loves his country and his people…only to be overthrown and executed like he was one of the animals…but I do know he had neglected his duties because of his emotional state…yet the people would not understand…" replied the Grandquester. "As to why this would be a big issue, Ixander, is because the Government of Alban is conducting espionage and border raids beyond the frontier of Alban. I wish to show this seal to the king."

They finished their meal and so it was it.