Chapter 02: Night of Change (Part One)
1st day, Month of Darkness, 1847
Throughout the ages, rulers have always faced attempts on their lives. Once in a generation the Empire is rocked by the death of a powerful political or religious figure. As such, city-states across the Isles have devised varying strategies for protecting their leaders.
In the capital city of Dunwall, each new Emperor is allowed to appoint a Royal Protector. This is far more than a trusted bodyguard. Much more revered than the hand-chosen guards defending Dunwall Tower or the food tasters, the Royal Protector is a court figure, given enormous latitude, who keeps constant company with the highest ruler in the known world. At the age of twelve, the young monarch participates in the selection process, making the final decision about who will safeguard his or her life. While most of those chosen as Royal Protector have been men, several times throughout history, a woman has served well in the role.
For the first time in Dunwall's history, a monarch has been slain by her own bodyguard. At the time of this writing, with Dunwall in the grip of the worst plague ever recorded, our fair Empress Jessamine Kaldwin has just been murdered. The deed was done by her former Royal Protector-turned assassin, Corvo Attano, who is still sitting in Coldridge Prison awaiting his deserved execution. Some argue that it is worth noting that Corvo Attano is the first Royal Protector in the history of the Empire born outside of the Isle of Gristol.
[Addendum]
Corvo Attano. Accused of assassinating the Empress he was sworn to protect. How unlikely he would not only overcome this shame, but then redeem himself so fully as to be named Royal Protector to yet another Empress! Those of us at the College of Histories were too fast to use pen against him!
Yet let us not blame historians, for the evidence against Attano was nearly overwhelming. First, he is the only Royal Protector ever to have been born of an Isle other than Gristol. His "foreignness" is not itself a crime, but added to the suspicions (the most forgiving of which was that he lacked the capacity to fully understand his duties). Second, he was caught quite red-handed, with bloodied weapon, kneeling over the body of Empress Jessamine. Of course, it turns out that even this damning evidence was part of a clever plot to destroy the Empress and remove Attano from interfering with the ongoing plans of the Lord Regent's conspirators!
And while I admit to publishing what are now clearly incorrect conclusions regarding Corvo Attano, I will not, as some my colleagues have done, resign my position at our veritable organization. But instead, I reassert myself in the endeavor of weeding out fact from fiction to produce the most salient histories possible!
-Excerpt from a Historical Record of Government Positions and Ranks
Marian sat alone in the cold simply furnished confines of her chamber within the Stone Tower. Her window overlooked the black stormy sea whose songs years ago had lulled her to restless sleep in her cabin aboard the Dreadful Wale, there were times she missed the sea almost as she had once missed her father, but even that had waned as the years passed.
"In the darkness
Round and round
One bite, two bite, three bite, four
In the sunshine
Hear that sound?
Jump up, jump down, jump for the door"
Her voice rebounded of the walls, as if the shadows had begun to dance behind the velvet curtains. It was a traditional song taught to her by a musician who in the month it had taken to ferry her from Serkonos to Morley had fallen in love with Meagan. Marian remembered the woman fondly and from time to time she'd spot the musician near the market that were near her house.
"In the nursery
Something crawls
Mind the ceiling, mind the floor
In the Garden
Barbed and bright,
Round and round, and round no more"
Marian stopped with a soft sigh. The sun had fallen beneath the horizon and with it whatever music in her heart vanished as the grimness of reality set in.
She had done a foolish thing in saving the Queen. Exposing herself in such a manner would almost certainly lead to her death before she could find the man who had murdered her father. It was undoubtedly suspicious that a so called a woman from Gristol had wormed her way to the heart of a kingdom with only the word of Anton Sokolov, a known member of the Empress' court, as a shield.
Oddly enough she could not bring to be fearful of her fate, the Void had robbed her of that not long into her service. They did not know of the mark seared into her left hand, if they did she would have been dragged out of the castle and into the local Abby regardless of the King's or the Queen's wishes.
It had made clear by Alfred that it was expected that she would remain in her room until summoned by the King and Queen. Marian had a fondness of the middle aged Natural Philosopher, he hair was still a dark chestnut color while his face held onto its youth with stubbornness that one could only find in Morley. Alfred had a scar under his left eye that he'd gained from the natives of Pandyssia in his youth under Sokolov. He was a hard man, whose only joys included teaching and drinking, not exclusively in that order.
Marian saw him for what he was: a tortured old soul who found peace in books and science.
She was lucky that she was only forced to wait for half a day before they sent a servant her way. A mouse of a boy, no older than the princess, he was dressed in clothes far too clean for someone of his station. "The Queen asks for you, ma'am." he mumbled, looking at the floor. "She says to meet her at her chambers."
Marian stood from the chair she'd ben sitting on and thanked the boy with a few coins from her purse. "Run along, now. " She ushered him away but still he stood at her door this time looking at her with the level of awe that only a child could conjure up. He'd looked at her for a solid minute before sprinting away leaving the Marian all the more confused.
With an arched eyebrow she made way to the door and closed so she cold get dressed with some semblance of privacy.
o0o0o0o0o
Perched from the grand stairway, she watched Janika as she shouted at the guards with a ferocity she did not often seen in the normally stoic woman.
Marian leaned over the wooden rail, resting her weight on the structure, her steely blue eyes locked one of the two people who could speak of her unusual skill with a blade. Janika was a loyal soldier in service to the King and almost had her shackled and incarcerated in the castle's dungeons.
Had it not been for the insistence of the Queen, Janika would have surely gotten her way. The King, like the man in love he was, listened to his wife… against his better judgment, but he did constrain her to the castle grounds pending a discussion that would be postponed till after the High Overseer's arrival later in the day.
Yet that was not what had Marian's mind so focused on the Guardswoman. Before she'd been carted off to the Royal Physician, she had heard King Wyman instruct Janika to spin a tale.
'For what purpose, though?' She had asked herself during her stay at the infirmary. It would have been a simple matter to have had her killed when she was knocked down by that empty creature that wore the Mask of an Overseer, Janika only needed was shift the Joplin rifles sight slightly and pull the trigger once more.
The large bullet would have done the rest.
'Perhaps Wyman wishes for a public execution….' Her blade work was enough to pin her as a spy, and the fact that she was armed so close to the heir apparent and his sister… it would have garnered enough outrage amongst the people that her innocence wouldn't have mattered. But if the lack of glares from the castle staff was any indication, that particular trail of though was not the path Janika and the king chose to follow.
Instead of swift, yet false, justice that she had expected, Marian found herself the subject of many Guard's hushed whispers. Some spoke of her with incredulity in their voices, while others seemed to praise her ability with a blade.
The number of Guards in the castle had doubled after the attack, forcing Janika to revaluate her near perfect plan to secure the castle. This brought its own set of problems that Marian had to consider.
This was a double-edged sword for the both of them and as such she did not know if she should thank the City Guard for insisting that they be allowed to aid the Royal Guard or curse them for it. It was true that they kept Captain Janika busy and that gave her more breathing room, but that also meant that there were more people keeping their eyes on her and there were far too many faces that she did not recognize.
"What are you planning?' She murmured to the walls. Marian had captured Janika's attention and in turn the Captain had caught hers. She was so focused that she did not notice a figure walk up from behind her until he spoke up.
"Restrict an errant mind before it becomes fractious and divided. Can two enemies occupy the same body?" No, for the first will direct it one way, and the second another, until they stumble into a ditch and its neck is broken. Likewise, two contrary thoughts cannot long abide in a man's mind, or he will become weak-willed and subject to any heresy." A familiar muffled, deep, nasally voice said, making Marian turn far too quickly, which agitated her bused ribs.
Overseer Marcus was a giant of a man who's size was only rivaled by his Zealotry. He dressed in a blood red uniform, similar to those of the disgraced High Overseer Campell , and his face was covered with a frowning worn, silver mask.
Marian's face was a mask of indifference as she faced a man she'd seen slaughter a fisherman for carrying a Bone Charm. "Overseer Marcus," She greeted in a polite tone. "is there something I can help you with?" Her right hand itched for her confiscated blade.
The man's eyes bore into her before speaking he spoke in his unusually demanding voice. "Tell me of the abominations that you faced, Governess Foster."
"I don't know what I can tell you that the Captain couldn't." Marian tried to excuse. She hadn't prepared to be confronted by the Overseers without some type of assurance.
Overseer Marcus scoffed in response. "Captain Janika did not face them as you did." He paused, resting a hand on the rail, getting far too close for her comfort. "The safety of the High Overseer may depend on this information."
Seeing no escape, Marian told him the few facts she'd observed. If she were lucky the Overseers would deal with the black masks before the could strike again.
"They did not bleed, Overseer." She began. "they also felt no pain, at least as far as I could tell, and they are quite strong."
"Not strong enough, if they couldn't slay a fragile starling like you." He said with a growl. "You killed two of them, with a sword. There are no records of your skill, no mention of your impressive skill noted by any of the Overseers across the Isles in the last twenty-two years. I find that odd, girl."
Marian crossed her arms and waited for the behemoth in front of her to make his move. She was ready to duck to the side and with the strength given to her by the outsider, rip his blade from his hand. But as luck would have it, Queen Alexandra appeared behind the Marcus with a gentle smile on her face.
"Is there a reason that you are impeding one of my servants from completing her duty, Overseer Marcus?" The Queen asked as her ice blue eyes bore into the masked man.
"I was asking for details, your majesty." He said bowing his head. "As you know his Holiness is set to arrive later this evening-"
"You were instructed to hold off any questions you might have concocted until after my husband has talked with Miss Foster." She warned him in low and cold tone. "If you disobey Wyman once more, I will personally see you thrown out in front of the of the High Overseer."
Marian was surprised at the Queen's hostility, but she did understand it. She had always found the Overseer's intimidating, doubly so after the Outsider granted her his Mark, the attempt on her life must have shaken the Queen's confidence in the Abbey. Tyvia had no Overseers, not after the princes were driven out by the 'People' and were replaced with black masked Operators.
Marcus took a step back, his body language showed that he was blatantly offended by the Queen's promise. Marian saw the Overseer's hand drift over to his sword, but halted as his hand touched the silver buckle of his belt. The hulking Overseer remained silent for a moment, either reciting the Seven Scriptures in his head or thinking of way he could get around the King and Queen. Judging by what Marian knew about the Overseer, she was sure it was the prior.
The large Overseer bowed deeply and left without another word. Alexandra watched him descend the grand staircase and disappear into one of the many hallways leading to the East Wing, where the High Overseer Yul Khulan and his party would be staying.
Marian sighed, she just knew that that he would be hounding her for the foreseeable future. Alexandra then turned her attention onto Marian, her cold smile turned warm as their eyes met.
"I had wondered why you hadn't arrived, Miss Foster…" The Queen began in a pleasant tone. "you are quite fortunate that I found you, my dear, Marcus has been known to be extremely zealous."
"Thank you for your timely intervention, your majesty." Marian said reverently as she bowed. "but you shouldn't trouble yourself with such lowly affairs."
Marian felt a firm hand on her left shoulder. "It was nothing, my dear. You did Morley a great service and the People know it, how could I stand idly by when you needed help. Now, please stand up straight it wouldn't do for a hero to be seen slouching. "
Marian met the Queen's eyes with confusion. "Hero?"
"Of course," She replied as if she were discussing the weather. "you risked your life for the security of Morley and in these troubled times the people have need heroes outside the Abbey." Marian nearly froze on the spot, being a hero bought far too much attention for someone who spent their time in the shadows.
Alexandra seemed to take her silence as shock incurred by excitement instead of fear, if her growing grin was any indication.
"In Tyvia, we awarded the title of hero for far less, it is pleasing that I have the rare opportunity to give the tittle of hero to someone deserving." Alexandra grabbed Marian right hand pulling her as they moved in the direction of the King's study. "Wyman agrees with me, and once he hears your story he will tell you the one Captain Janika and Alfred wrote for you."
Marian still in shock nodded and let herself be dragged away, the poor woman was almost convinced that she was trapped in a dream and that the Outsider would appear his indifferent face revealing nothing, but his dry tone betraying his slight amusement.
They walked quietly through the castle passing busy servants that would stop their work and stare as at the woman they'd seen everyday for years in a new light. Most nodded their heads head with smiles on their faces, others curtsied twice, once for the Queen and once for their new Hero.
By the time they reached the Study, Marian was unsure what her future held for her. Her network would certainly suffer for a long while, as she wouldn't be able to move through the crowds without drawing attention to herself.
Instinctually, Marian sped her step and opened the for Alexandra,. The door opened revealing the Older Wyman sitting on his desk in a red military uniform holding a glass of King Street Brandy as he discussed something with Alfred.
"Sire, this is an outrage," Alfred said in a disarming voice. "That is plane to us, but you must not let it bother you."
"How can I not, old friend?" He said squeezing his glass. "We agreed to host the High Overseer because it should calm the citizens, I am certain that did not-"
"We have arrived, dear husband." Alexandra interrupted. Alfred jumped out of his chair, giving the Queen a quick yet respectful bow.
The King's eyes drifted over Marian analytically. "Take a seat next to Alfred, Miss Foster."
"As you wish, my king." Marian did as she was told as quickly
Wyman stared at her for a moment before he spoke. "Tell me, how does a woman who studied under Anton Sokolov learn to wield a sword so…" He looked up at his still standing wife. "…if my wife is to be believed, skillfully?"
"My sister taught me." Marian answered without hesitation. "She's the captain of a whaling ship, the Dreadful Wale, I spent half of my life on that ship." It was almost comical how she was explicitly calling Meagan a Whaler and yet none of them bothered to make the connection.
"Ah, yes, the enigmatic Meagan Foster." The king said and took a swing of his brandy. There was a strange glint in his eye that Marian couldn't quite place. "I've heard a few things about the woman, none that I could honestly believe until your actions saved my wife's life." Marian was about to speak up but was stopped when Wyman lifted his hand in a silencing gesture. "I don't doubt that Sokolov chooses his allies well but you and your sister were a mystery. We will have time to discuss this in greater detail but right now? What I really wan to know is the reason that you chose my home."
Marian stared directly into Wyman's eyes. There was something dangerous about them, something far too primal to be shown by nobility.
"I'm looking for someone."
"You better be more specific, girl." Alfred said in his gravely voice.
Marian shot him a pointed look but otherwise ignored her friend. "I'm looking for a man who hides his face with a mask of death. His trail led me to Wynnendown."
"What did this man do to incur such anger, Sweet Marian?" The Queen asked.
"He murdered my father."
There was deafening silence after that. Alexandra looked moved, Alfred gave her a look of sympathy but remained in his chair, the king remained stoic and his face was a blank mask that gave nothing away. Unsurprisingly, Alexandra was the first to break the silence.
"Alfred, please take Marian to the kitchens and after have her help Alba dress for tonight's festivities." The order was clear leaving no room for argument. "Wyman and I have much to discus."