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A Lovers' Tale Part II (Against Mardier) Prelude Part 1 (Bregir) Part 2 (Elostirion) Part 3 (Ayrlego) Rumours had spread quickly in town. Ricardo Alphonso de la Montague had proposed to Angelica Castellano. In the many taverns of King's Port the stories of Ricardo's proposal were already told, how he had brought a carriage with more than one thousand flowers, a ring of pure gold with the biggest ruby that had ever been found in the new world, and proposed to bis beloved Angelica from down the streets, up towards her balcony. And how she had replied, singing with the softest voice of an angel, as her name sugggests, a song to express her deep love for Ricardo, and to say yes. Marja Fontonajo knew different. She had been there. She had found Angelica Castellano in King's Port, and realised that she was the girl that Ricardo's father had talked about, the girl Ricardo was in love with. There were not a thousand flowers, nor a pretentious ring, nor did she sing. But what she had seen had gone far deeper. These two did not need any of these symbols. It was the real and honest love of a young couple. Now, a few days later, the facts were obvious. The de la Montague family had always been pro Terraversan independence. And while Ricardo's father, Hugo de la Montague, was afraid for his son, he would not oppose the marriage. General Castellano, commander of the Horse Guards, was more sceptical. He had not yet decided for a side in the Terraversan conflict, and did not like the idea of his daughter deciding for him. And then there was King Alphonse XIII of Mardier, who had been struggling to get the powerful Castsellano on his side in the Terraversan conflict. It was known that his ruthless Death Guard had already arrived in King's Port. The danger for Ricardo and Angelica had become real. At the "Grape & Goblet", a tavern and guesthouse in King's Port The Death Guard is entering the tavern, while Ricardo and Angelica are climbing down the window. But how have they gotten there? And why is blood dripping from the upper floor? Two hours earlier Marja Fontonajo saw one of the kitchenmaids hastily leave the guesthouse through a backdoor with a letter in her hand. The maid ran straight to a larger estate and handed the letter to one of the guards at the gates. The guard took the letter inside, and soon after Marja could see a Sergeant of the Death Guard assemble his men in the courtyard. Marja hasted back towards the "Grape & Goblet", where she confronted the innkeeper, but found him to be innocent. In fact, he had not even known that the young couple who were his guests were actually Ricardo and Angelica, but when he learned he agreed to help. Marja quickly ran up the stairs, and burst the door open, where she found the two lovers kissing, half naked. "Get dressed. Immediately!", she commanded the ashamed lovers. While Angelica looked at her in fear, Ricardo - though still confused - grabbed for his rapier. "If I wanted you dead you would already be.", Marja replied. "Who are you?", Angelica asked, afraid of the answer. "Your guardian. Now listen! You have been betrayed. The Death Guard is on its way. Your lifes are in danger. Now get dressed, and stay in here. When I give you a sign you leave through the window. You", she added towards the befuddled innkeeper, "get us a rope and a board to barricade the door. Now!" And looking at the lovers again she added: "Climb down the window, then run towards the back of the house, fifty metres to the left, turn right, and you will find an alleyway. Go down, at the first crossing go left, and then just follow the path till it ends. You will find a closed tavern called Othello's Folly. Climb in the second window at the back and I will meet you there and get you out of town." "But my father...", Ricardo started. "Already knows", Marja interrupted. "Now stop discussing and get ready. They will be here in a minute!" When the first soldier of the Death Guard ran upstairs, Marja gave the sign for Angelica and Ricardo to climb. Once the soldier has spotted her and starts running, drawing his saber, a bullet hits him right in the heart. Marja hasn't killed anyone in quite a while. Now, however, her only thoughts are with the lovers. And how she will leave the tavern in about thirty seconds. Downstairs the innkeeper tries to win some time by discussing the honour-code of the Terraversan guesthouse association, that clearly forbids to disclose any details about guests. The Death Guard's sergeant is already getting angry, while the next of his men cannout hold it an run upstairs. Two more members of the Death Guard are entering the "Grape & Goblet" right now. Little do they know that the room of Ricardo and Angelica is already empty... ... and that the two lovers are fleeing the guesthouse right under their nose. __________________ To be continued...
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A Lovers' Tale Part I (Against Mardier) Prelude Civil war had been gentle on King's Port, although everyone had a relative or acquaintance involved in the conflict. Life had been good on Terraversa under the Viceroy, after independence from Mardier had been declared, and for a long time, there had been little or no fighting, limited mainly to minor skirmishes at sea. But now, with Mardier recovering from internal conflict, war is moving closer, and the whole populace is holding their breath, watching the tides and turns of the political landscape. Of great importance is the generals of the Terraversan armies, as their choice of allegiance will spell the doom or success of the independence movement. One such is General Castellano, commander of the Horse Guards, some of the finest Terraversan Cavalry. Undecided as of yet, the Horse Guards has been ordered to remain in their barracks, their general refusing to declare either for or against independence. Agents of Mardier has tried bribes, blackmail, threats, seduction to bring him to their side, as has agents of the independence movement. An honourable man, General Castellano has yielded to none so far, wishing not to stir up conflict and risk bloody, collateral damage, but agents of Mardier fear that his daughter is about to do so for him. The Castellano family is both rich and influential, as is typical for military officers in Mardierian societies, and holds considerable real estate, including a mansion in uptown King's Port. In from their country estate, his daughter Angelica often takes residence here, as she has done this day. She occupies the west wing, with several balconies over the back alleys behind the mansion. Just moments ago, she heard something hit the shutters over the back door and rushed with great anticipation to the balcony nearby, fixing up her hair and robe on her way. Walking out on the balcony, her hopes are met, as her paramour, Ricardo Alphonso de la Montague, is awaiting, a defiant expression upon his face. The son of one of the champions of Terraversan independence, Hugo de la Montague, their romance is laden with political implications, but none of them care one bit for politics, entirely caught up in the intense love so typical for the young. Seeing her beaming smile in the window, Ricardo's face lights up as he takes off his hat in an elegant sweeping movement merging with a bow. "My sweetheart! How my heart has longed throughout the day to once more set eyes upon your beauty, and hear the sweet melody of your voice!" Breaking into a charming, shy smile, Angelica feels her love rise through her bosom, resulting in a healthy blush upon her face, making it prettier than ever. At least to Ricardo, a man with a mission... "As have mine, my love. The hours have passed like the turn of the centuries, as I waited for you to return" Looking left and right, concluding the alley is as empty as before, our young hero returns his attention to Angelica, with a more serious glance. "Listen carefully, my darling Angelica - we must act. My father and yours both have caught the scent of our connection. This is of little concern, but rumour has it that others have done so too. Others, who will not look kindly to our families uniting..." "What are you saying, Ricardo?" "There are those who will seek to part us, with any means possible. Angelica, my love. I have come to ask for your hand, and to ask you to abscond with me. To leave for a place where we can live in peace until such a day that we can return here, without risking our lives..." Ricardo gave her a compelling gaze before continuing. "Let me in to talk to you in private. And to help you pack - we must hurry! I know of an inn where we can hide for now..." __________________ To be continued...
