Gold Coin Tavern -------(Indoors) (Cover: Fair) (Owner: Aitor) The tavern of the Gold Coin is a remarkably attractive redbrick cottage. Inside, its terracotta tile flooring is covered with thick, warm embroidered carpets. A large, circular firepit is centered in the room, capped by a rack supporting several rotating spits of meat. The walls are decorated with various images of Vozhdya's glorious past, from the Wildling Wars to the coronation of House Vozhd. Mounted highest of all, however, is a portrait depicting the Ascension of Emperor Talus Kahar XI.

Overhead hangs a large, three-tiered iron-and-copper candelabrum, swaying gently. The atmosphere is one of familiarity, as various persons - mostly soldiers - play games at the large ebon tables. Perhaps a dozen of these populate the room. The second story of the cottage is dedicated to small sleeping quarters for guests. A door to the kitchen is visible, as is a large biinwood bar stocked with copious amounts of booze.

Eden Kahar and Markus Kahar are here. An iron oven is here. A medium white velvet tapestry is here. -------Also here: Cook Uvan Waterstone Obvious exits: Out

Forrest dusts off his boots, scans the tavern, and takes a deep breath in. "Finally..."

Markus Kahar sits in the now-empty Gold Coin smoking a cigar and flipping through a number of scrolls. His kith and kin, Lord Captain Eden Vozhd- Kahar, is seated at his side doing very much what Eden Kahar enjoys doing. With so many workers in the fields and mines, the tavern is wholly the Vozhd's domain.

Forrest walks up to the cook at the counter. "My good friend, I was sent here by courier from the House Kahar. Do you know?..." Uvan Waterstone gives Forrest a wary glance, and then points his head toward the two nobles in the far tables. "Oh.. my.." stutters Forrest. "Thanks man. I'll be back..."

What is it that Eden enjoys doing? Drinking. Certainly, the man seems to have an admirable constitution (at least where ale is concerned), and he does such with quiet mirth, eyes occasionally drifting to his uncle.

Forrest walks toward the two nobles slowly, his hands drifting inside and out of his pockets. "Good lords? Happen one of you to be the Lord Markus Kahar?"

Markus Kahar glances towards Eden with a sly smile, before looking back to the man with a chuckle. "You are speaking to he. Who be ye?"

The brown-eyed gaze of the young Lord Captain is slightly critical as it rests on Forrest, though Eden says nothing as the man converses with Markus.

Forrest bows low, spreading his arms before Markus. "I am one Forrest Wineburn, of the Silkfield Forest, my Lord. I am very glad our correspodance connected as quickly as it did, and I am immensely happy to be in your fair city." Forrest removes a slip of paper from his pocket, and hands it to Markus. "Sorry about the quality. It was a long and hard ride from Silkfield, and Parlance, though a strong horse, is still new to me."

Markus Kahar looks surprised, sitting up and setting the scrolls aside. "As am I - you arrived quickly." He nods towards the formal greeting and gestures him to sit. "Join us. This is my nephew, the Lord Captain of the East Aegis Garrison, Eden Vozhd-Kahar. Eden, Forrest is a man of letters. I invited him to Vozhdya to see if, perhaps, he can't further our literary tradition."

Eden Kahar looks to the Duke as an explanation is given slightly, and then inclines his head to the newcomer, offering a simple greeting of, "Well met, Master Forrest."

Forrest smiles and bows to the captain. "I am most pleased to make your acquaintance, Lord Eden." Forrest removes a coin from his pocket, and says further, "If you would allow me to do the honor, I would like to press this coin to you. It is a ceremonial tiding, from my mother, the Light bless her, and she begged me to show her appreciation to you."

Forrest places the coin on the table of the two lords, and steps back, his hands clasped behind him, and a large smile on his face.

Markus Kahar tilts his head in curiousity, taking the coin in his fingers and flipping it a few times; holding it upwards to the light. "Quite beautiful, but I must admit I am not a collector of such things. What is its significance - purely famlial?"

Forrest grins with hearty admonition. "Aye, it is. From my father's day, when he served on the Aegis. He never spoke of his time much, but he kept many of these coins on his hand. Don't know where they came from, and he never said." Forrest pauses. "Now, I suppose you'd want me to start working straight away?"

"Most impressive, young man, most indeed. That key point is a question of which I shall offer back to you: when would you like to start working, and more-so, to what? This is a secondary job, at most, not requiring many hours a week. While there will be bursts of heavy work, especially during official functions, you will have much free time. Do you pursue private enterprise as well as Ducal work?"

Taking the coin by his fingers, flipping it back into his pockets, the young man sidles into a seat, his mind deep in thought. "My Lord, I have many ideas, many ideas. They come and go, but as I do not know what I must deal with yet, they do not stay. It would be best if I could stable my horse and settle down, make some notes, and give it a day's thought. If that's fine with you, of course."

Markus Kahar nods, "That's excellent - fine and well. In that case, you may start immediately - we'll have a room arranged at the inn, here, for you - until you decide on more permanent quarters."room arranged at the inn, here, for you - until you decide on more permanent quarters."

Forrest frowns, and then looks up with a question on his face. "Sir?"

Markus Kahar nods, "Yes?"

The young man turns his gaze to the table, and begins to talk. "I, err," he begins, "I am a writer myself. I have not traveled vastly, perhaps the farthest was to the southern part of the river district, to look at the imperial hunting grounds. But I believe the realm is missing a... well, bookshop. I would like to sell them. I know it's a strange idea, but, please, do you understand?"

Markus Kahar tilts his head in surprise, before smiling. "Indeed... it surely does. I myself dabble in book-collecting. Does such an enterprise interest you, young man?"

Forrest continues, "I myself, have written several books, and it is indeed a passion of mine. It is a large passion, yes, to eventually open a bookshop. Not only mine, but other's in Fastheld. A small enterprise, to be sure, but I believe a much-needed one."

Aitor appears behind the bar to notice that the Duke has come to the Gold Coin. As usual, he goes to his table to welcome him, even when he is talking to some individual. "Ah welcome, your Grace. Do you wish something to drink or eat?"

Forrest whispers under his breath, "Grace?..." Forrest shudders into a wash of crimson, but under his dusky face, it is almost unnoticable.

Markus Kahar glances upwards with a smile, "Ah. Aitor. Something sweet, perhaps - a pie? And bring my man here," he nods towards Forrest, "... some lamb. We were just discussing bookshops - do you read, Aitor?" Markus inquires, to the commoner, with an unusually familiar tone. Such is the unique and compatriotic bond between the boozer, and He Who Brings Him Booze.

"And another glass of ale for myself," Eden suddenly pipes up, the Bladesman having sat in silence as the Duke and Forrest conversed.

Markus Kahar glances back to Forrest momentarily upon his murmer, tugging at his beard with a bemused smile. "Indeed. Grace. Your Grace. I am the Duke, Markus Vozhd-Kahar II, Lord of Vozhdya, Eastwatch and Marble Grove and 2nd Blademaster of his Majesty Talus Kahar's, Emperors Blades. Or had I failed to etch that on the letterhead?"

Aitor nods. "Excellent, some pie and lamb then." Then he smiles to answer the Duke's question. "Indeed I love reading, M'lord, although in the lands I come from, not too many books were available. I'd gladly purchase some literacy if I had the chance." Then he hears Eden's order. "Of course M'lord.", he says while looking at the Lord Captain. Then he stands there for a minute, before going to tell Uvar the requested food.

With a sudden start, Forrest says, "Do forgive me if I stumble, your grace, but I have rarely left Silkfield, only to see Lord Seamel a few times at the tavern. To continue, a bookshop, I believe, would be a grand thing to add to the realm. I have read the classics, much to my mother's chagrin, and feel they are most important to educate the populace with."

Eden Kahar grunts slightly at the stream of titles, a slow, mirthful smile crossing his face, to which he lifts his mug (never mionding the fact that it's empty) to cover.

Markus Kahar nods, "Well then, you shall start with my private collection. It is small, but your primary endeavour should be to increase it - that is - when you have nothing else to do. You'll find my volumes in the shelves, in the upper-parlor of Vozhd Keep. Inform the house seneshcal that you are the new archivist."

Forrest smiles pleasantly, his eyes lighting up. I shall begin immediately, then. I have rarely had the chance to visit a private collection, outside of my schooling, so I shall take every step to ensure the safety of your books."

Aitor comes with all the request food, aided by a waiter: roast lamb with plumb for Forrester, a kidney pie for the Duke, and apple ale for everyone. He stands there, with reverence and some steps away from the table, for in case he's invited into the conversation. After all, he has waiters and waitresses, and Uvar in the kitchen.

Cook Uvan Waterstone accepts Markus Kahar's money in exchange for the item which is placed on the counter.

Forrest begins again, first breathing in the scent of the lamb, and then speak to the Duke. "Might there be anything else you need me to do, your grace?"

Eden Kahar takes his ale in silence, though not before slipping a coin to Aitor. The speech of books and stores does not seem to be of the foremost interest to the young Bladesmen, but he does bend a curious ear to it.

Markus Kahar shakes his head, "Not yet, no - but soon yes. When you are ready to install your shop, contact my seneshal personally. There is nothing else, and, you may go as you wish."

Aitor notices he hasn't been invited to the table, so he politely bows and goes to his place behind the counter. He gets back to writing a list of needed supplies, and planning the construction of a second floor with his living quarters. Indeed, he has great plans for the Gold Coin!

Forrest nods, and replies with a steady voice, "That I shall do. Now, shall we eat? I believe the food is getting cold!" Forrest breaks into an immense grin, suddenly without his nervousness.

The conversation between Markus and Forrest at an end, Eden turns to look for Aitor... but the man has already gone back to the bar. Clearing his throat slightly, the Bladesman raises a hand as if to gain the bartender's attention.