Chapter 2:
Noble Intentions
The journey had taken many weeks since leaving his family's estate in the Border Princes. Sir Stephen Thiessmann thought of his family fondly. He thought of his three younger sisters and two elder brothers, his mother and father and grandparents. It was the first time he had ever left the territory of The Border Princes and already he was feeling the slightest hint of doubt at having left his pampered and carefree life behind him. But he was determined to succeed. He would become an adventurer and explorer, a warrior of legend and myth. He would be spoken about in revered tones by fathers reading of his exploits to their children. His father had already hired the services of the renowned and beautiful Estalian poet and bard Isabelle Othelos to record his deeds in what he intended to be the greatest adventure of all time.
His father Adolphus Thiessmann had surprisingly encouraged the young nobleman to seek his own path. He had said that life as a nobleman and merchant was not the life for his youngest son. He said that he had never shown the same interest in the running of the family estates and businesses as his elder brothers and that he would surely regret it if he did not follow his heart's desire to travel the Old World. To encourage the young nobleman his father had set aside his inheritance for his twenty first birthday. One hundred and fifty thousand golden crowns, just as his two brothers had received on their own birthdays.
It was arranged that he could withdraw ten thousand crowns a year from the banks of The Empire, with ten thousand crowns available to him immediately and a further five thousand crowns that he already had present in his account, waiting for him once he reached Nuln. For travelling funds he carried twelve hundred crowns and a small bag of diamonds for trading. As a further gift his father had paid for the first month of his journey to The Empire, employing the services of a small party of travelling companions to ensure his son's safety and to help with various tasks that were the right of every young nobleman to expect. The members of his party had been paid five hundred gold crowns each for the first month of their service during the journey. Although Isabelle's fee was considerably higher and unknown to even Stephan who had been told that she would remain with him until his journey was at an end. He could only guess at how much this had cost his father. She was famed throughout the Old World for her plays and books not to mention her songs and poetry and he knew she would not have come cheaply.
As he sat on the riverboat as it made it's way slowly but steadily north west towards Nuln up The River Aver, he opened a bottle of fine Tilean wine and poured it into his glass, momentarily dropping his slice of bread and beef into his covered lap. The silken cloth caught the crumbs of crumbling bread. He looked over to where Isabelle sat. In the moonlight of the clear star filled sky and by the lamplight set down next to her to enable her to pen her story thus far, he could not help but notice that she looked even lovelier than usual if that was at all possible.
He knew she was his senior by at least fifteen years, and yet she was undoubtedly the fairest woman he had ever seen. Even the young noblewomen of the Border Princes paled in comparison. And yet her attire was modest to say the least. She was dressed in a brown leather jerkin over a plain white silken shirt with ruffles at her wrists and collar. She wore black trousers and thigh high black travelling boots. At her waist she openly wore a short sword and dagger, both having the same intricate and exquisite workmanship and giving of an aura of unknown magic. Across her jerkin she wore a pistol holster in which a silver and mahogany handled pistol rested. Her waist length chestnut coloured hair was tied back in a tight ponytail and a golden coloured silk headscarf adorned her head. She sipped gently from a wine glass as she held a quill over the ink well, dabbing the end with ink and proceeding to write. As she turned towards him the light caught her features perfectly and Stephan had to wonder if he was falling in love with her, although he never dare say as much to her. He would surely be mortified if she rejected him, therefore he would continue to admire her from afar.
Isabelle seemed to sense him looking at her. She turned towards him and smiled then went back to writing but not before Stephan flushed bright red. He wondered whether she could tell how highly in his affections he regarded her. Reluctantly he forced himself to look away and took a long sip of his wine, emptying his glass in one large mouthful. He poured himself another full glass and placed the wine bottle on the deck at his feet. He took the large slice of bread from his lap and took a chunk out of it, savouring the taste of the fresh beef they had bought at their last stop on the river.
For all the talk of how dangerous The Empire had become, he had seen no sign of it during his brief travels. Weeks on the river and they had sighted no more than a handful of river bandits. He longed for the adventure that he promised himself would be waiting for him. Once he reached Nuln he was certain that his story would really begin. Isabelle would turn him into the greatest hero the Old World had ever seen, or so he continued to delude himself. In reality he couldn't help but wonder what he would actually do once he reached the city of Nuln. Surely there would be ample opportunity for a young and wealthy nobleman seeking adventure. He reached inside the pocket of his fine silk jacket and fiddled with the papers inside. They were proof of his title and letters of introduction from various associates of his father, all spoke of his undoubted noble standing and good character. They would be useful for moving among the upper echelons of Imperial society, or at least he hoped they would prove useful. He looked at his golden signet ring, the family crest emblazoned on the valuable heirloom.
He looked to the river boat's captain, a broad and rough looking fellow by the name of Alphonso. The captain guided the river boat steadily through the choppy waters of the River Aver. Beside him stood his apprentice Johann, if indeed he could be considered as such. Johann 'Rowlocks' Dassbut had travelled the waters of the River Reik for all of his adult life. He had owned his own rowboat until recently but had decided this would be his last trip on the river as a boatman, he longed for the wealth a life of adventure could bring him. Alphonso had hired him for the trip to Nuln, having previously known him from their time on the river.
He had since been employed by Stephan; at least once they arrive in Nuln he would be. Stephan considered it a prudent idea to have a skilled boatman at hand considering the amount of travel he intended to do. According to Stephan, arrangements had been made with a shipwright in Nuln to provide the young nobleman with a riverboat of his own once he arrived in the city. For road travel his father had arranged for a dozen riding horses and six pack mules to be purchased with letters of credit once they arrived.
Johann was a tall man of heavy build. He wore his brown hair at shoulder length, parted at one side and combed across to the other side. He wore simple workman's clothes and carried another set of travelling clothes in his leather backpack. His brown leather jacket provided at least some protection to his body and arms. He wore a long sword at his waist. Johann had proved to be an easy going fellow, although one who spoke little and often considered thoughtfully what he was saying when he did speak. Stephan had noticed the boatman was one who seemed to enjoy his own company. He would spend his spare time smoking pipeweed and fishing the River Aver for his next meal.
At thirty five years of age, Johann often wondered if he had left it too late for a life of adventuring. He had little in the way of skill with a blade, but he supposed that if he were ever to break free of his old life then this was the perfect time to do so. With the advance money that Sir Stephan had paid him, one hundred gold crowns and the sixty crowns he had been paid for the journey to Nuln he couldn't remember a time when he had been so wealthy. He longed for a dozen tankards of ale in The Bloated Sow, and to wake up next to the tavern girl Delores, at least he could afford her now. He had often looked on with a jealous expression as she worked the tavern for wealthy noblemen and merchants. His intention was to earn his fortune and eventually marry. It had always bothered him that he had never settled down. He blamed his situation on the bandits who murdered his family when he was just a child, since then he had been forced to fend for himself. The result of over twenty years of hatred towards bandits is that he would not hesitate to slay them wherever they could be found.
Stephan watched the boatman with interest as he leaned over the side of the boat looking into the depths of the river. In one hand he clutched a tankard of ale. In the other he held a smouldering pipe full of potent weed. The boatman blew rings from the pipe and watched lazily as they floated into the air. Occasionally he took a swig of ale, but seemed oblivious to everyone else on the boat.
Gunter and Maida Klinsman sat together as they usually did. Gunter was Stephan's squire and Maida his servant and scribe. The brother and sister had been in his family's service since they were children. Their parents still served the family on their estate along with their younger brothers and sisters. Gunter was a year older than Stephan at twenty two, Maida was just eighteen. Stephan held a great deal of affection for them both. They had been his friends since childhood. Gunter and Stephan had trained for years with the family's sergeant-at-arms and both had become proficient with a blade and shield. The three of them were proficient riders and Gunter was responsible for the care and upkeep of Stephan's horses back on the estate.
Gunter was a tall man of athletic build. He wore his blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. He wore a mail shirt over a cloth shirt. He wore dark red cloth trousers and heavy brown travelling boots. He wore a long sword and dagger at his waist and carried a shield on his back, although he left the shield back in his cabin while they were travelling on the river boat. Gunter was a cheerful and friendly fellow who tried hard to see the good in everyone. His illusion of trust was likely to be shattered during their journey as he had rarely had contact with anyone who was not part of the trusted staff of Stephan's family's estate.
Maida was the trusted servant and friend of Stephan, she was trained and educated on the estate, and took care of most of the paperwork for Stephan as well as providing excellent cooking and cleaning skills. She wais treated very much like one of his sisters, and he wasn't beyond practical jokes and teasing. Both were taken in good nature, although Gunter and Stephan had been known to infuriate her when they joined together to torment her. Maida was a pretty young woman who wore her long golden locks down to the middle of her back. She wore travelling clothes while on the boat.
Ivan Tholstead and Boris Grimstein were two mercenaries that Stephan's father had hired to ensure his son reached Nuln safely. Although both were young and just beginning their life as hired swords, they both showed a great deal of enthusiasm and some skill. Both wore mail shirts over their travelling clothes, both carried a crossbow, sword and dagger, as well as a shield. They had had little to do thus far on the journey northwards and both considered themselves lucky to have been paid such a high wage for the job.
Ivan was from the northern lands of Norsca, while Boris came from Altdorf. They had met in Altdorf and decided to travel together after Ivan helped Boris out during a barroom brawl. Ivan was by far the tallest of the group, standing over six and half feet tall, he wore his long blonde hair loose and windswept. Boris was of average height and build and wore his black hair almost cropped to his skull. The two mercenaries stood on the deck drinking ale from their tankards, both laughed and told bawdy jokes that occasionally brought a flushed look from Maida who was unused to such course and suggestive language. Although to date both had at least been courteous and polite when they addressed either Isabelle or Maida.
And lastly, sat together in deep intellectual conversation were the physician Augustus Steinberg and Stephan's advisor and somewhat of a scholar and teacher Marius Von Karlof. Both were old acquaintances of Stephan's father and had agreed to accompany the young nobleman as far as Altdorf where both had business to conduct.
Augustus was a portly man of considerable weight, although in truth also quite a small man, standing only five foot two inches in height. But no one could doubt his medical credentials. He had treated the finest nobles of the Border Princes for over thirty years, and now at the grand old age of fifty six he was getting ready for what he thought to be a well earned retirement. Although not a particularly brave man, he was somewhat intrigued by young Stephan's journey and was quite looking forward to see what he got up to while he was away from the ever watchful eyes of his usually quite strict father.
His grey hair and beard were neatly trimmed and gave him quite the regal look. He dressed in the finest silks, and money was no object to a man who had the wealth of over thirty years of treating the wealthy, the great and the good of the Old World. Although he was notoriously tight fisted when it came to parting with his hard earned gold. Perched on his nose was a pair of thick lensed spectacles. He was quite short sighted and hopelessly helpless without them. He rested a medical journal in his lap as he spoke to his friend and business partner Marius, as they were also well known merchants and had holdings throughout the Empire. Augustus made his home in Altdorf and had a sizeable mansion in the city with a staff of over thirty servants and guards. He carried a silver handled dagger and pistol with matching workmanship, both presents from Stephan's father for the journey. In his younger days he had been quite the shot with a pistol and felt quite comfortable carrying one again after all these years.
Marius was the complete opposite in looks to Augustus. He was a tall, wiry and gaunt man who looked as though he had been starved for some considerable time. In truth he suffered from a wasting disease that Augustus had been treating him for, for the past twelve years. They have been merchants and business partners for almost as long as they had known each other. Marius was married to August's older sister before she died of disease over three years earlier. He had never quite gotten over the loss and when possible can be seen sitting by his wife's grave when he is at home in Altdorf.
Marius was a picky dresser and refused to be seen in anything but the most expensive and exquisite outfits. Unfortunately everything he wore seemed to be too baggy on him and gave him the appearance of someone who was somewhat dishevelled. He had lost all his hair to disease over ten years ago and still remained somewhat self conscious. He was hardly ever seen in public without wearing a fancy wide brimmed hat. At fifty nine Marius was three years older than Augustus and the eldest member of Stephan's party. He was somewhat reluctant to make the trip with Stephan, but owed his father several favours and so agreed to act as his advisor. At least until they reached Altdorf where he would undoubtedly be glad to return to his palatial mansion, having even more servants than Augustus at somewhere around fifty, he could never quite remember them all. Marius wore a silver handled longsword at his waist, a present from Stephan's father. Although in truth he knew he would have trouble holding his hand steady enough to use the weapon even though he had been a proficient swordsman in his younger days.
Marius picked up a bottle of wine and offered to refill Augustus's glass, the old physician made a mock attempt to refuse and then seemed to reluctantly agree after Marius insisted. Stephan knew both of them liked there drink and it was often whispered that they enjoyed stronger substances when not in public. At least not in the company they were presently in but it was said that among their close circle of friends that the two were quite the party animals. Stephan had a great deal of a hard time imagining the two men in such a situation and thought it must just be rumours spread by young gossips of the royal courts of the Border Princes. They both waved and smiled as they noticed Stephan watching them, but both quickly went back to their own conversation and company.
Stephan looked around at the other passengers on the river boat. There were about thirty others in all. There were a few nobles from the Border Princes with their entourage of bodyguards and servants. There were two merchants and their guards. The rest were commoners who had booked the cheap cabins on the long journey to Nuln.
Stephan twiddled with the ends of his moustache as he contemplated their arrival in Nuln. He was conscious of the fact that if he undertook something dangerous it could put them all in harms way. While the others could at least look after themselves he had to think of Maida and Isabelle. Perhaps he could rent a room in the city for them while they took care of his business. It would certainly be safer than some of the things he had planned in his mind.
Stephan felt the sudden chill of the cold night air. He gathered the ends of his travelling cloak and wrapped them tightly around him. He emptied another glass of wine and finished his beef sandwich. Already he felt light headed from the alcohol. He had never been one to be able to consume much before it took its effects on him.
Stephan stared into the sky looking up at the twin moons of Mannslieb and Morrslieb. Surrounded by stars he thought they looked almost magical in their divine elegance and thought of the tales he had been taught as a child about the moons. On a clear night like this he wished that he was looking down from a vast mountain peak into the world below and everything for miles around could be seen clearly. He thought of tales of the Worlds Edge Mountains and the evil that was said to lurk there. He thought of the Chaos Wastes of the north and exotic far off lands, and how all were now within his reach. He dreamt of leading expeditions into unchartered lands and the riches he would plunder on his journey. The more he thought of it the more fantastic his thoughts became and the more ambitious he became. Soon the world would know his name, of that he was certain.
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