Winds from Afar

[Serenity]

A small envoy of riders rode up to the gates of Wistvale, a place one would expect to find a gaping breach in it's perimeter and have that be called an entrance.

Several years had passed, and in that time the lady Veronica Howle had returned to her home of Highever to settle a past riddled with guilt and lies. After two years, she was able to show her face once more to her own people and strove to further her house as was always intended. Two years more and she was able to work within the government, an no longer be woman dressed for marriage for the nobility of the city-state.

Word of Wistvale's rise from rags reached far, even to the tables of Highever. The change intrigued several of the nobility, but Serenity was not surprised. After some insistence, she managed to gain permission to visit the new Wistvale.

"How is it, my lady, to be back here again?" asked one of the Howle guards.

Serenity strolled through the gates, wearing a light armor of polished silver with the engraving of a wolf on the chest. Behind her were four of her house's battle mages adorned in a plate armor of similar design to Serenity's, with black capes running down their backs.

"Well, I don't have to crawl back into a hut, so I suppose it's not so bad." Serenity giggled lightly at the memory.
"Forgive me, my lady, but that wasn't a joke when you mentioned it before?"

They walked further into the new town, Serenity absorbing as much as she can to compare to her memory of the place before. She remembered how Wistvale was only going to be a short stay on her long journey to nowhere. How it all turned into something more, it gave her meaning after meeting people like Grayell and Margrett, both of whom she missed dearly; often giving her thoughts to them as she looked out from her balcony back home.

"Who rules Wistvale now, my lady?" asked another Howle guard.

"That is a good question, but I'm sure we'll be greeted shortly by the guard."

They passed by the tavern and were on their way to what Serenity thought was the path to the old council building.

[Margrett]

The old council building had been built up, improved, now standing tall as the Sentinel Building. None of the townsfolk recognized her, even though they whispered and pointed at the obvious noble come to visit.

There weren't many of the town guards at first, but as they neared the Sentinel building they increased in number a bit, and there was a buzzing in the atmosphere centering on the new arrivals.

[Serenity]

The Howle escort noted the armed presence around Wistvale as they followed after Serenity. Far away was Highever from this place, but when casual conversation of ill reputed settlements came into the light, Wistvale was usually named. One of the house guards didn't even know of the town's existence up until this assignment.

"Was there a guard outpost when you were here, my lady?"

Serenity tipped her head up slightly and hummed at the thought. Forming a government was the easiest thing to do in Wistvale, running it was something else entirely. With what little resources they had, Grayell managed to start up a small ensemble of guardsmen, among them the hired Captain Margrett. While it was small in number, the capabilities of them were great. If anything, Wistvale had a way for attracting extraordinary talent.

"A small one, yes, I remember the captain. I don't know if she still serves."

They reached the council building, standing taller than what it was before; a marvel of Wistvale's growth. Serenity admitted to herself that it was inspiring in a way, how far this little shanty town came from it's rotten roots.

"The town seems a bit wary of us."
"Well, we did arrive unannounced, I wanted to surprise." lady Howle said. The guard closest to her raised a curious brow at that.

They proceeded into the new council building, Serenity hoping to be greeted by familiar faces.

[Margrett]

As a public building, it was open to anyone. That didn't change the looks they got as they entered. One of the Sentinels seemed to begin to approach and say something, but was stopped by a loud voice and heavy boots clomping down the stairs.

I don't care if it's the gods-damn king of Kvatch, I've got work to do and I can't be bothered with self important nobles with delusions of grandeur wanting to own my little chunk of land, and I'll be damned if--

She stopped at the foot of the stairs, eyes going wide. Her voice dropped from the orderly, steely half-shout to a near-whisper.

Serenity?

Guards of both groups looked at her, and she cast a look around, catching herself. She cleared her throat and tipped her hat.

Ms Howle. Business or pleasure?

[Serenity]

Serenity enjoyed the look of the place, thinking the inside was just as impressive as the exterior view. When the sentinel had begun his approach toward the lady Howle, so to did the house guards move up to stand at her side, their protective instinct over their lords taking over. Serenity was about to calm them when everyone heard Margrett making her dynamic entrance. She was happy to see her regardless of all the shouting.

The room grew silent when Margrett looked down to address Serenity, and admittedly she to felt a bit strange when asked what she was visiting for. She knew that her visit was mainly business, but the lady couldn't help but feel a tinge of red on her cheek given her history with the illustrious captain.

She collected herself and suppressed the urge to embrace her friend after so many years of not seeing her. The lady Howle knew they had to be professional among those in the room.

"Both, Captain," she smiled, "I've come as a representative of Highever, as well as to see how well everyone is doing."

[Margrett]

Her mouth curled into a small smile that could have been mistaken for mere politeness, but it had a familiar near-smirk to it, a knowing amusement.

Well then. We'll have to give you the full tour.

She folded her arms behind her back and descended the rest of the stairs, voice rising to address the other soldiers.

I want twelve of you to do a sweep of Main street from here to Third to Celph and back. Small one, make sure everything looks nice for our guest, then get back to whatever you were doing. Questions, you report to Major Stevens.

Ignoring the guards, she walked up to Serenity and gave a deep bow, and came up with an outstretched arm. and a smile.

Ma'am, if you'll follow me.

[Serenity]

"Yes, I believe you should. I barely recognize Wistvale as it stands now!"

She gladly took Margrett's arm, and thought this the perfect opportunity to catch up on things.

"You're all relieved for the moment," she said to her escort, "Why not sit down and have a drink? We passed the tavern not a few moments ago, enjoy yourselves. I'll seek you once the Captain and I finish."

The Howle guard looked at each other with concern, "With all due respect, my lady-"

"I'm in good hands, I'm in the arms of Wistvale's strongest, I assure you."

It seemed that she would be insistent on the matter, and the guard who spoke before sighed, "As you wish, my lady. We will take your suggestion and stand by at the tavern."

"No complaints there," another had said.

With that, they all bowed their heads and proceeded to exit the building before Margrett and Serenity could.

"Please, lead on then Captain." Serenity said with a hint of anxiousness and excitement in her voice.

[Margrett]

Margrett nodded, opening the door for the two of them, knowing a few of the soldiers would be spread out in front of them. There was a long silence as they walked away from the impressive building, the people spreading out to give them room along the street. Margrett kept looking ahead, turning a little bit of a darker shade of blue, her voice dropping to a normal volume, something she hadn't done in a while.

I did miss you, china doll. You made Wistvale a lot less pretty when you left.

She knew why the mage had had to leave, and hadn't held it against her.

You sort out the shithole that is Highever politics?

[Serenity]

"As I you, Margrett."

Serenity chuckled a little at Margrett's question,

"Well, they allowed me to come all the way here to represent them. I wish I could have made as much progress as you all have here, but it'll be a long while still until things change with our society. The old way hasn't failed yet, but with Highever looking to stretch it's influence, and it has, I believe social equality is closing upon us as new opportunities come with her growth."

Highever did in fact make it's own expansion over the years, the city-state absorbing nearby towns and those along trade routes. She was well on her way to becoming a kingdom, if it wasn't already. The only thing missing was a monarch to rule, a suggestion that hasn't escaped mention among Highever's own council.

"I've become a representative of the people in the council, the lower class of our fair city. I don't hold much sway in court, but it's more than what they had before. I just wish I could do more for some of our citizens."

It was a reality Serenity learned to accept, but she hadn't given up on trying to improve the way of life for the bottom of Highever's pyramid.

"But enough about my work, how have you been, Margrett? Wistvale is amazing, I imagine you've had your hands full to help make it this way?"

[Margrett]

I've always had my hands full. Of what, well, that's changed quite a bit.

She gave the lady a playful nudge and then became a little more serious.

It took a little doing. Getting more trade flowing through here, better roads, more stable support for merchants coming through. We're leaning on the naval trade pretty heavily, though we should be expanding to metals and ore once we can get the old iron mine cleared out.

Her voice slipped to a bored, monotone explanation. Then she smirked.

We could do well with a good word or two among the powdered wigs.

[Serenity]

Serenity chuckled a little more, "Yes, well, my visit here is mostly a formality, if anything just a personal favor from me. I wanted to see you all again. I'm also the sate the curiosity of my council as to how far you've all progressed." she finished with a smile as she continued onward with Margrett.

"However, with what I've seen so far, I could petition to open trade relations with Wistvale as Highever doesn't have an arm this far."

Trade with Highever might help expand Wistvale further, Serenity thought. The most lucrative resources were the bountiful mineral mines that sat right next to the city. Precious metals and gems are harvested around the clock and fueled all sorts of trades.

"Even if they liked what they heard, it wouldn't be an quick process. How is Grayell?" she asked suddenly.

The lady Howle was a little surprised that she hadn't seen Gray in the council building. She thought perhaps he was in an office or doing something in town and that the lady would bump into him later.

[Margrett]

She faltered in her step, but only slightly. Her tone went a little guarded.

Grayell keeps to himself a lot. He works with a group, uhh...

She threw a look around, only a little suspicious.

Outside Wistvale authority. I don't know much about them, and I know more than anyone in town. Keeps to himself, and Kiko.

[Serenity]

"Oh...alright." Serenity said somewhat disappointed.

It was likely that Grayell would not reside here anymore, but Serenity kept on to a slim hope that she would be able to greet all her old friends. If anything, the day was made brighter with Margrett's presence alone.

"Well as long as he's doing well, I suppose I'll have to settle with that."

She took notice again of all the armed men and women about Wistvale, a leap compared to what security was before.

"You have quite a protective presence around here I see, it hasn't all been just making it prettier. You must be proud, I know I'm impressed. I think they even intimidated my escort." she laughed at the thought. Even so, the Howle guards were a little more tense once they entered, not knowing what to expect if anything at all.

[Margrett]

She laughed honestly, looking around with pride.

We've been keeping up with the criminal element, I think. Growth brings in a lot of folks want to take advantage of the people here. Doesn't help that we're probably the furthest speck of civilization out this way. Lots of scoundrels from the wastes looking to make some trouble or a quick profit.

She pointed down the street to a burned out husk of the building.

Found a nest of soul traders in there, setting up shop. Had to burn the place down, the background magic was too strong.

[Serenity]

"I see...." Serenity said quietly to herself as she absorbed the image.

The experiences the lady Howle had with the ruinous powers of dark magic had all been lost when Serenity returned home. She had forgotten the several encounters she had with it here in Wistvale. The memory of the terrible blood stone, in particular, suddenly emerged from the deepest crevice of her mind. Had it not been for the help of a forest deity, she and her friends would have lost to a black mage.

"I should have left you all in capable hands to deal with dark magics, I'm sorry."

She didn't want to remember the time when she left, it was sudden even for her. Serenity finally accepted her childish past and decided to return to her home to face whatever charges her father would have. The process of being accepted back as a member of the family was not an easy one.

"Who rules over Wistvale now? I remember that the council was disbanded not long after I left."