Bobby
Mercurio Whylder
Undisclosed location, Northwind

"You're not Morcaster." Was the man's first words across a mighty gap between the old, crumbling bridge. If one were to peer into the space where a massive chunk of stone used to be, they would see nothing but thick fog while hearing the rush of icy waters below.

It would be an efficient way to set up a burial.

"And you're not de Burgh." Mercurio spoke up over the rumbling current as Kharlyle pulled up beside him on his horse.

"Whoa, whoa... Easy girl, easy..." The lord cooed to his steed while gently pulling at the rein, in which it had begun pawing at the snow-caked cobblestone. "It's just some water. Don't have to jump into it." 

Mercurio lifted his eyes up and regarded the man before him.

"You're Lord Rhoderick, I believe? Whose father has passed away under rather suspicious circumstances?"
Jeremy
Kharlyle Whylder
Undisclosed Location: Fargone 

"Alright, just kill the fuck" Kharlyle turned his back to the man nonchalantly, stepping back down the cobblestones of the dilapidated bridge, he needed no hand signals for the men behind him to ready their crossbows.
Bobby
"Stand down." Mercurio loudly ordered the crossbowmen behind them. "No one is firing any bolts. No one is going to have to die. Unless they have to."

He narrowed those last words to Kharlyle.
Jeremy
Kharlyle Whylder
Undisclosed Location: Fargone 

"Fine" Kharlyle rolled his eyes and drew a great breath. "I don't see why he should be breathing right now, the man is clearly not John" *Though not sure I would have kept John alive either* He thought.
Bobby
"What are you doing here? Where is de Burgh?" Mercurio ignored his brother and turned to Rhoderick again.
Eddie
Amaryllis' nightmare was a harrowing experience for her friends much like it was for her, for Tagus and Josephine were in no way ready for the feverish attack that the shepherdess went through in the healer's attempt to cure her. Could she be infected by something the wolfmen were carrying? Did they have poisonous weapons or were ridden with disease like the barbarians they were? The young noble suffered most with the words spilled from the healer, for they foreshadowed a fate for her friend she didn't want. To hell with the fever and the chance of it being passed onto her. While Tagus managed to hold the violent reaction of Amaryllis, Josephine sunk to her knees next to her friend and buried her face against the peasant's chest. Her tears rolled down her cheeks with eyes beet red, crystallized drops shimmering under the flicker of candlelight.

When another girl came inside, Tagus frowned at the identical patterns on her skin. He looked down at Josephine, who clung to the only friend she made outside of the keep in Raunkastel. Amaryllis couldn't die! She just couldn't! Josie focused all of her strength in that one belief and let the tears run free like little streams forming rivers. The sour liquid glazed over the sweaty skin of the shepherdess. An ardent sensation on the chest was replaced by a cool breeze stemming from bitter tear to the pores. It was not absorption, but penetration. The skin of Amaryllis wrinkled hidden by the head and long hair of her friend and then stretched anew. Her fever was meant to run wild, but around it was an energy drawn by instinct and without cause or consequence out of conscience. Josephine placed a soft palm against Amaryllis' forehead and wept, the other on her shoulder. She climbed up to the bed and snuggled against her.

"I'm here, Amaryllis...! I won't leave your side! Please fight! Don't give up!"

Heartbroken over seeing his friends on awful states, Tagus pressured the healer. "Is there nothing that can help us treat her and the other girl?! There must be some kind of rare herb or-"

"Don't be so naive, Tagus." Rolf said with a gravel tone, calm and collected. "The man has done what he can. Let him do the same for the other woman." He nodded at the peasants and gave the healer some space. Then the dark skinned man turned to the bedding where Amaryllis laid, accompanied by Josephine. They were all oblivious to the subtle change in the atmosphere, the source of the essence included. It was possible that the two feverish girls were driven through opposite endings, but the knights and peasants inside the healer's house prayed or hoped they both made it.

Tagus, the young knight, felt helpless. He couldn't support Josephine in these situations, because he lacked the ability, he thought, to be a pillar of strength for her. He was her guardian, her right hand in terms of protection, but could he really call himself her friend if he had no idea how to save her from sadness, tears, the wickedness and evil of the world of humans. The boy curled his lower lip. He couldn't cry now.
Frankie
Lord Albert Rhoderick
Undisclosed location: Fargone

For over two weeks, Lord Albert Rhoderick had sought an audience with de Burgh to claim his rightful position on the council. But de Burgh was busy and had all but ignored him, pushing off the meeting and utterly failing to respond to Rhoderick's requests for an audience. It absolutely infuriated him! Yet he did not let it show, at least outwardly, and maintained that charming smile that he had perfected over the years. It was a smile he could hold even while stabbing someone in the back. Or while standing over his father's corpse. 

Despite his outward composure, inside he found himself pacing like a tiger trapped in a cage. Back and forth, back and forth... To de Burgh's office, to the council, to the court, back to his quarters... And then repeat the cycle again. Constantly fighting against the system to try to get an audience with the man. He was itching to do something and get something done, so when an informant placed a letter that had once been destined for de Burgh's desk in his hands, he had pounced on it. He had eyes and ears in place within the castle walls, so at least these past two weeks hadn't been completely futile. This little seed seemed to have been very fruitful, and he rewarded his informant with a few coins and a grin as he said, "And there's more where that came from." 

The night of the meeting, Rhoderick had made his way from Iron Gate to Fargone under the cover of fog and a setting sun. By the time he had reached the designated meeting place, darkness had settled around them, and with just the slightest sliver of moonlight in the sky to light the way, he could just barely make out the figures before him. He appeared calm before both of them, smiling coolly at them, despite their threats to kill him. He knew they wouldn't kill him. Not until they heard his offer.

"You would be correct," He replied. "I am Lord Albert Rhoderick, though I prefer to be addressed as Rhoderick" He glanced at Kharlyle, then added, "You may take a shoot first and ask questions later approach in the wilds, but where I come from, I find that it's better to gather information first and foremost. I've found that people often have valuable information, even if they themselves are worthless." 

With that, he turned to Mercurio once more and shifted a bit, his black cloak shifting gentle in the slight breeze that came across the crumbling bridge. "De Burgh wouldn't have time to see you, even if he had received your letter. He has no time for anybody, as he's a tad bit... Busy, right now. Yet, I've found distraction to provide the greatest opportunities to others." He paused for a moment, then continued, "I believe that we could be of value to each other, Mercurio. You have something I want, and once I achieve my ends, I will be able to give you things that de Burgh may have promised, but could never fulfill on. De Burgh is a dreamer, and dreamers seldom achieve anything. You need someone with their feet firmly planted on the ground. Someone with no lofty ideals. Someone that won't be wooed by their moral scruples." He smirked. "If you know about my father, then you know I have none."
Jeremy
Kharlyle Whylder
Undisclosed location: The Fargone 

Kharlyle turned back around slowly during Rhoderick's speech, culminating into a look of subtle awe. He paused, staring directly at him. Kharlyle's mouth was held slightly agape. 

"Merc, why have we not killed this bastard cuck yet?" His disingenuous looks dissolved away near instantly. "No I have never once heard of you, let alone your *Cuck* Father" Kharlyle laughed at the amount of cuck he just threw at Rhoderick. "You just admitted to intercepting our letter to one John De Bearg, our greatest trade partner in business history" Kharlyle looked around at his vanguards, totally wide eyed. "Merc was right for keeping you alive because even my sick fuckin twist of a mind can't come up with a punishment fittin' for ya"
Bobby
Mercurio Whylder
Undisclosed location: The Fargone

"Please forgive my brother." Mercurio then got off of his horse and walked closer to the edge of the broken bridge. The sounds of the rushing water grew louder with each step that was accentuated by the crunches of boot-stepped snow.

"And as for your offer, what do you want from us? And what do you plan to give us?"

More importantly, how could the Whylders trust him? From what he said, it sounded like he wanted to take de Burgh's position if he was promising to bestow upon him only what the busy man could.
Frankie
Lord Albert Rhoderick
Undisclosed location: The Fargone

Rhoderick stood a tad bit taller as Mercurio approached him, tilting his head in such a way that the little bit of moonlight in the night struck his features and sharpened them into something that was almost ghoulish in nature. It made the young man appear gaunt, almost skeleton-like, as if he were some damned soul that couldn't be killed. 

"I plan to "Give" You nothing," He replied. "A trade, rather. You earn what you get, just as I earn what I get." He reached into his cloak, slowly, and produced a document, handing it over to Mercurio. "My people have done a bit of, well, research on you. I believe that we could have a fruitful partnership. You see, I believe it is my right to take the throne. I understand Northwind better than anyone going for it right now. I understand its harshness and embrace its icy chill. I have tasted the milk of Northwind's riches, and I want more." He paused for a moment, glancing between the two men before him. "You seem to be men that have also enjoyed its richness. If I win the throne, I'll protect your trade. Even help it flourish. In exchange, I ask for your support in my ascent."
Jeremy
Kharlyle Whylder
Undisclosed Location: Fargone

"You say that as if the other two wouldn't say the exact same thing" Kharlyle looked past Rhoderick, his hands folded behind his back, both of his eyes half closed with disappointment. "The only difference I see between you, John and Duke Darin the Kind is that one of you doesn't even have a fokin army" He fell back a few steps, scratching his head and looking to the sky. "But you're right about one thing boy, you shouldn't plan to give us anything... You *Can't* Give us anything" Kharlyle looked back at Rhoderick with growing frustration "I've ordered him killed twice now, kill his fucking horse" He held his fist up next to his head signaling to the Crossbowmen to fire. "I will not be told no".