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Description
Mikel Lemik sat in a darkened corner of the Whirling Cloak tavern in the Merchant Quarter of the city Urba Trier, cradling a pint between two trembling hands. He listened to the voice of his compatriot flooding through his left ear as his eyes darted back and forth scanning the tavern for signs of untold danger.  Mikel wasn't a young man anymore, he was approaching his fiftieth year and while he wasn't as round as most of his colleagues one could tell with a glance where years of soft living had affected his once taut and trim physique.  Mikel was one of the city's and kingdom's preeminent citizens.  He had made his fortune as a crusader battling against the Sylvan Fey who inhabited the once mighty Falacrine Empire north of the river Ceto.  Although the crusade had been successful it was the trade that followed that catapulted Mikel into wealth.  As exotic goods flowed into Urba with the returning crusaders Mikel found away to capitalize on the growing silk trade, and now through various means not all of them legal and some that he deserved the block for he had created a monopoly over the entire silk trade in the kingdom.  He owned the means of production, transportation, and procurement and maintained a private army to protect his investments that was said by many to be larger and better equipped than the force that King Harold himself could muster.  He had a network of contacts that stretched from the King's court which he often took a part of to the lowest of dock workers and city guards kept in his pocket through blackmail and bribes.  In all Mikel Lemik could get away with murder in the Capitol in fact he already had and yet his mannerisms weren't quite as steady as one would suspect of such a powerful figure.

His compatriot across the small oak table was the current Captain of the Guard Alistor Trebor who had fallen into the position after the mysterious death of his predecessor.  "Why did we have to meet here," Mikel inquired deploringly, over the years as his power increased so had his paranoia, he had trodden on many toes and not everyone forgot the past.  He should have had no problem with the Whirling Cloak however he owned it and his manor was only a block away, but the only place where he felt truly secure was Lemik Manor the largest estate in the city, surrounded by thick walls guards and filled with secret doors, rooms, route's and other hidey-holes for him to escape capture.  "It would have looked to suspicious for me to amble up to your front gates for a private meeting,  you know as well as I the rumors floating around about our collusion in my predecessors untimely death.  Here in the tavern at least we're out in the open it just looks like 2 old friends meeting for a drink and recollection, plus the view ain't bad either."  The tavern was crowded and the atmosphere ensured that nobody would have heard that last bit of the conversation but Alistor still let that remark hang in the air as his grey eyes shifted to the barmaid as she approached their table with another round of the Imperial Stout that Alistor enjoyed on his frequent excursions to the Tavern and a flagon of Metheglin a expensive oak matured mead infused with the tastes of nutmeg and cinnamon.  As she left the table carrying their empty tankards Mikel couldn't help but ask "Is she new here?"  The last time that he had been here was when the Tavern was reopened after the original burned down.  "She's been here about a month,"  Alistor replied a little to earnestly his eyes only tore away from her disappearing figure when he continued "don't you even keep track of your own investments any more Mikel?"  The last line was delivered as a joke and Alistor overplayed it plastering a feigned expression of shock at his friend.  "No  I only bough this place to make your lot happy, what do I care if a new whore's been hired to keep your men's focus away from my other concerns."

Alistor's expression became immediately forlorn at this as he thought can't even joke; always straight to business he has to be in a false haughty mocking voice.  He caught another sight of the barmaid however and a grin cracked across his face and Mikel saw it turn to a look of longing before it disappeared behind his tankard.  Aello Themis turned away from the table and headed towards the bar grinning, she had known that the captain fancied her and had been playing a little game of hard to get with him in order to secure a way to get to her true target.

Around midnight patrons began to filter out of the Tavern returning to their homes to gain a few hours of sleep before they had to return to their jobs at daybreak or turn towards their rooms upstairs to sleep off the effects of alcohol before their travel's crept back upon them with the sun.  Aello wandered around the Tavern, head down picking up tankards and wiping up spills, picking her head up to reciprocate the goodbye's tossed her way by those who weren't quite stumbling over the door.  One such patron was Alistor who despite not being even close to drunk having cut himself off after two flagons still managed to make a fool of himself, his tongue stumbling over itself before the words "goodnight Aello" stuttered out.  As he turned to leave the docks head shipwright stumbled into him knocking him to the ground and uttering many "sorry sir, I'm ever so sorry" as he hurried out the door before Alistor could exercise his judicial powers.  Alistor picked himself up brushing dirt off his shoulders and looking a little flustered and before he could turn to leave Aello looked up and caught his gaze with her striking emerald eyes for the briefest of moments, and knowing she had his attention she spoke in a quiet and gentle voice, as sweet to his ears as a lone harp echoing out from the darkness, "good night Alistor," ending it with a effulgent smile.  She was sure that Alistor was blushing as he walked away in a much more elated mood than moments before.

Aello continued to collect tankards in the now empty Tavern and moved towards the wash basin at the back to dispose of them before heading to her flat.  It was the first time she had taken an even slightly aggressive action in her little game with Alistor and her features lengthened into sadness as her conscience wondered about what would happen to Alistor he seemed to her like a little puppy dog.  No, she told herself It'll only be a little longer than you can leave this place and him far behind, you'll never have to see them again.

Description
Mikel Lemik sat in a darkened corner of the Whirling Cloak tavern in the Merchant Quarter of the city Urba Trier, cradling a pint between two trembling hands. He listened to the voice of his compatriot flooding through his left ear as his eyes darted back and forth scanning the tavern for signs of untold danger.  Mikel wasn't a young man anymore, he was approaching his fiftieth year and while he wasn't as round as most of his colleagues one could tell with a glance where years of soft living had affected his once taut and trim physique.  Mikel was one of the city's and kingdom's preeminent citizens.  He had made his fortune as a crusader battling against the Sylvan Fey who inhabited the once mighty Falacrine Empire north of the river Ceto.  Although the crusade had been successful it was the trade that followed that catapulted Mikel into wealth.  As exotic goods flowed into Urba with the returning crusaders Mikel found away to capitalize on the growing silk trade, and now through various means not all of them legal and some that he deserved the block for he had created a monopoly over the entire silk trade in the kingdom.  He owned the means of production, transportation, and procurement and maintained a private army to protect his investments that was said by many to be larger and better equipped than the force that King Harold himself could muster.  He had a network of contacts that stretched from the King's court which he often took a part of to the lowest of dock workers and city guards kept in his pocket through blackmail and bribes.  In all Mikel Lemik could get away with murder in the Capitol in fact he already had and yet his mannerisms weren't quite as steady as one would suspect of such a powerful figure.

His compatriot across the small oak table was the current Captain of the Guard Alistor Trebor who had fallen into the position after the mysterious death of his predecessor.  "Why did we have to meet here," Mikel inquired deploringly, over the years as his power increased so had his paranoia, he had trodden on many toes and not everyone forgot the past.  He should have had no problem with the Whirling Cloak however he owned it and his manor was only a block away, but the only place where he felt truly secure was Lemik Manor the largest estate in the city, surrounded by thick walls guards and filled with secret doors, rooms, route's and other hidey-holes for him to escape capture.  "It would have looked to suspicious for me to amble up to your front gates for a private meeting,  you know as well as I the rumors floating around about our collusion in my predecessors untimely death.  Here in the tavern at least we're out in the open it just looks like 2 old friends meeting for a drink and recollection, plus the view ain't bad either."  The tavern was crowded and the atmosphere ensured that nobody would have heard that last bit of the conversation but Alistor still let that remark hang in the air as his grey eyes shifted to the barmaid as she approached their table with another round of the Imperial Stout that Alistor enjoyed on his frequent excursions to the Tavern and a flagon of Metheglin a expensive oak matured mead infused with the tastes of nutmeg and cinnamon.  As she left the table carrying their empty tankards Mikel couldn't help but ask "Is she new here?"  The last time that he had been here was when the Tavern was reopened after the original burned down.  "She's been here about a month,"  Alistor replied a little to earnestly his eyes only tore away from her disappearing figure when he continued "don't you even keep track of your own investments any more Mikel?"  The last line was delivered as a joke and Alistor overplayed it plastering a feigned expression of shock at his friend.  "No  I only bough this place to make your lot happy, what do I care if a new whore's been hired to keep your men's focus away from my other concerns."

Alistor's expression became immediately forlorn at this as he thought can't even joke; always straight to business he has to be in a false haughty mocking voice.  He caught another sight of the barmaid however and a grin cracked across his face and Mikel saw it turn to a look of longing before it disappeared behind his tankard.  Aello Themis turned away from the table and headed towards the bar grinning, she had known that the captain fancied her and had been playing a little game of hard to get with him in order to secure a way to get to her true target.

Around midnight patrons began to filter out of the Tavern returning to their homes to gain a few hours of sleep before they had to return to their jobs at daybreak or turn towards their rooms upstairs to sleep off the effects of alcohol before their travel's crept back upon them with the sun.  Aello wandered around the Tavern, head down picking up tankards and wiping up spills, picking her head up to reciprocate the goodbye's tossed her way by those who weren't quite stumbling over the door.  One such patron was Alistor who despite not being even close to drunk having cut himself off after two flagons still managed to make a fool of himself, his tongue stumbling over itself before the words "goodnight Aello" stuttered out.  As he turned to leave the docks head shipwright stumbled into him knocking him to the ground and uttering many "sorry sir, I'm ever so sorry" as he hurried out the door before Alistor could exercise his judicial powers.  Alistor picked himself up brushing dirt off his shoulders and looking a little flustered and before he could turn to leave Aello looked up and caught his gaze with her striking emerald eyes for the briefest of moments, and knowing she had his attention she spoke in a quiet and gentle voice, as sweet to his ears as a lone harp echoing out from the darkness, "good night Alistor," ending it with a effulgent smile.  She was sure that Alistor was blushing as he walked away in a much more elated mood than moments before.

Aello continued to collect tankards in the now empty Tavern and moved towards the wash basin at the back to dispose of them before heading to her flat.  It was the first time she had taken an even slightly aggressive action in her little game with Alistor and her features lengthened into sadness as her conscience wondered about what would happen to Alistor he seemed to her like a little puppy dog.  No, she told herself It'll only be a little longer than you can leave this place and him far behind, you'll never have to see them again.