Kenneth
The clerk was some forty years of age by the look of him. He had a swarthy, wisened face, with a hooked nose and hazel eyes. Fingers interlinked on his desk, he gave Jericho a nod as the latter took his seat.

"Same to you, Mister Heinrich." The clerk tilted his head. "A foreigner's name. From where are you coming to us, may I ask?"
George
Jericho Heinrich
Rikolto City Hall, Terresol

"I come from Araedia, from the city of Aco, though that is far behind me now." Jericho would adjust his coat slightly, easing in the chair. "I take it you folk don't get many newcomers."

Jericho would chuckle to himself, him finding his own statement amusing.
Kenneth
"One of the great roads passes through Akno, but if you mean folk who would come to set down roots ..." He shook his head. "This usually isn't their choice of province. And that makes *You* Very unusual." The clerk arched an eyebrow. "Why exactly do you want to settle here?"
George
Jericho Heinrich
Rikolto City Hall, Terresol

Jericho pauses, trying his best to seem as sincere as he can. "I come here for the sake of trade! I seek to set up a hub for trading at a local property I wish to own after today's business is done. This location has large amounts of profitable potential, so I will take any opportunity I can get..." 

Jericho sounds quite enthusiastic despite his expression and remained constant eye contact with the clerk.
Kenneth
The clerk threw a look out the window. "Indeed." Standing from his chair, he went to stoop down by a cupboard, and produced from it a leatherbound manuscript book. He set it down on the table and began to flick through its vellum pages. "Well, I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you. Ever since this place became a veritable *Holy land*, converted blow-ins have been eating up the nearby plots like a swarm of locusts." The man chuckled grimly, still perusing the book, until eventually he stopped and fingered one particular entry.

"It seems you're in luck. 'Mas Sifisme' is the local name for it. It's just outside the city walls, close to the road. Belonged to a blacksmith. It's been vacant for three years ..." The clerk squinted at the writing. "... Which would make sense, since the original owner was apparently exiled for *Witchraft*. How about that?

"If you're not the kind of man to fear a curse," The clerk said, bringing out a nib pen and a little bottle of ink, "Then this might be just the place you're looking for."
George
Jericho Heinrich
Rikolto City Hall, Terresol

Jericho would stifle a chuckle, "Curse? My apologies sir, but I have no belief in that nonsense. But a secluded little shack outside the town walls though? That sounds too good to be true."

Jericho perked up, resting his elbows atop the table and gladly glanced at the clerk's book, eyeing the entry. "If there is any way I could ever purchase this place, I'd gladly do so, see I am not looking for anything overrun with the public, the *Trading hall* As it is titled, should be a place people come to, to negotiate real business in an environment away from ne'er-do-well's and vagrants. Fine gentleman with goods to be bartered... What is included with the property if I may ask?" Jericho's brow would raise questioningly.
Kenneth
The cleric seemed a touch perturbed when Jericho put his elbows on the table, eyeing him over. He had his hands steepled and his back straight; he had an increasingly cautious air as Jericho continued to express his remarkable enthusiasm.

He seemed to take a moment to process the question, then looked at page. "Two stories. Everything in the house was either destroyed or appropriated by the city council, mostly sold to family members thereafter." He placed a finger down on the entry, tracing it beneath the lines. "There's a well nearby, and the bones of a smithy. Fifty acres of mostly arable land. The former owner grew crops, but the fields are fallow now, of course. There's a pen for animals. And, as I said, it's next to the road, which I suppose would suit your ... *Purposes *Very nicely."
George
Jericho Heinrich
Rikolto City Hall, Terresol

Jericho frowns, realizing he has broken an important rule in mannerism and quickly withdraws his elbows. "I couldn't think of a better place to purchase... I think I will take it. What is the pricing? I don't intend on paying all at once mind you."

Jericho simmered slightly, he didn't want to give the clerk any bad impressions but his excitement was getting the better of him, he took a deep breath before continuing.
Betty
Magistrate Serafina
Falsa Province, Terresol

As the mansion came into view, Serafina glanced around the fields in hopes of seeing Cleos. She wouldn't, of course, having only met the boy one time and not recalling his appearence in detail. She had promised him glory when they had first met and though she did not fully intend to retreat on her promises she did not intend to keep them to the same extent either. New information had emerged at the Council, some of which she was willing to share and other bits she would keep to herself. 

"Let us hope my prayers to the gods have been answered and he is still here." She murmured. "Alive and well." Nudging her horse forward, the Magistrate followed the road to the main building before dismounting and searching for assistance. 

"Magistrate?" Serafina turned to find the Lord a few steps away, a puzzled look on his face. "My apologies, I was not informed of your arrival. Why have you returned?" 

"I was required to attend the Council of Taemar and at the time could not take Cleos with me. I believed he would be safer here, among people who care about his well-being." She smiled. "Now that those duties have been fulfilled, it is time for Cleos to return with me." Serafina took a few steps forward and gently placed a hand on the Lords arm as her gaze held his own. "I cannot thank you enough for protecting him. The gods will greatly reward you for this."

—————— Out in the fields ——————

It had been many years since Serafina had treat through muddy fields, though at that time she had done so in more appropriate attire. It brought her a sense of comfort. One she seldom indulged in given her position. In some ways Serafina envied the Wisdoms and Visions who got to live among people in outlying villages. Teaching and educating the people with the newest research and, of course, the Southern Pantheon ideals. It had always been about more than that to her. People were curious in what was different and she had certainly been different. Serafina showed an unwavering faith to the gods and they had richly blessed her during her time in the outlying villages. Many of the people she had tutored and counseled had become successful in varying way. A smile played on her lips as she thought of Mathen, a young boy in one of the villages who had grown and was now a well-established Physic at the Abigreth. 

Yes, Serafina had great faith and the strength of it was manifest in those she touched. 

Their pace slowed and she returned to reality, glancing around the fields for the boy. A few steps further she stopped to greet him - the resemblence undeniable. "Cleos?" She smiled. "It's good to see you alive and well. How are you faring?"
Kenneth
Cleos
Falsa Province, Terresol

His eyes rose to meet hers. Cleos was sitting against a boulder that no generation of local farmers had ever managed to remove; it sat in the midst of the barley like a dark clam washed up onto golden sand. Cleos' hair seemed black as pitch in the shade of that rock, but the smoldering amber of his eyes shone out at her.

Bringing the book in his hands to a gentle close, he stood up, one hand discreetly freeing some hem of his tunic that was caught in his belt. He gave Serafina a clear nod. "I'm well, Serafina. Wisdom Yustus has been teaching me well." He pressed the book to his stomach, a quizzical look falling upon his features. "How was Taemar? I managed to pry some rumours from other people coming home through the town. People spoke of a shape-changing assassin. They said that warriors put some Taemish witches to the torch and ended the plague."
Betty
Magistrate Serafina
Falsa Province, Terresol

"I'm happy to hear that your studies have been going well." Wisdom Yustus had not been her first pick of a tutor, but the Grand Wisdom who had told her about Cleos suggested they ask someone less well-known for the time being since news of Cleos was still a guarded secret. 

When he brought up the Council, Serafina chuckled, knowing the rumors of such events would run rampant among the populace. "All true and events I will be happy to relay to you on our way to Sol. Are you prepared to leave or shall I give you time to say your goodbyes?"
Kenneth
The cleric leaned back in his seat, seemingly pleased by the change in Jericho's demeanour. He smiled.

The deal went smoothly enough. They agreed on a fair price for the fifty-acre plot; naturally, due to the supposedly miasmatic nature of the location, the price was a few marks below its objective value. A stranger's name was inked into the fabric of the city's populace that day, and with a shaking of hands and the bestowment of a blemished iron house-key, Mas Sifisme had its new owner.

Cleos
Falsa Province, Terresol

Cleos cast an eye about the farmstead, frowning as the separation involved in his imminent departure appeared to fully dawn on him.

"Yes, I think I'll need a few moments for that. To say goodbye."
Betty
Magistrate Serafina
Falsa Province, Terresol 

Serafina nodded, understanding. "It is not forever, Cleos. The next time you see them will be when you are King." She smiled gently. "I'll wait for you at the entrance and send men to prepare your belongings."
Kenneth
Cleos
Falsa Province, Terresol

Cleos gave a little laugh, though his eyes began to glisten. "They won't find much. Anything dear to my heart is somewhere in the palace, if it hasn't been lost or destroyed." He nodded towards his distant house. "A knife and a worn-out bag aren't much use to a king, I'd imagine."
Betty
Magistrate Serafina
Falsa Province, Terresol

"Never underestimate something or someones use." She corrected him with a smile. "After all, the gods have found treasure in you that other people denied." She moved forward to lay a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Go say your goodbyes. We cannot wait any longer."
George
Jericho Heinrich
Rikolto City Hall, Terresol

Jericho shook hands with the clerk proudly, buying this property was more than simply owning property, it was the beginning of a new life. 

Jericho made his way out of the room, waving at the woman behind the front counter and exiting the City Hall to see his newfound acquaintance.

Tucking the documents into his satchel, Jericho approaches Felix. "And so the fun begins! Let's ride." Jericho mounts his horse, awaiting Felix to accompany him.