It took a week for the prince to get a hold of me, I bided my time readying supplies and tying up business arrangements (my little tailoring shop in Rolak had become a gun shop/pawn shop, with industrialization in Ronerawth custom tailored clothes just weren't selling like they used to, a real tragedy for the sophisticated). The prince sent a royal messenger which I'm sure surprised my neighbors, but those people don't matter in the long run and I really don't care what they think (I've never really liked living near people, its a necessity as cities grow bigger and places get more developed, but theres just something wrong with living right next to someone). The message was a simple "I may need someone like you." And a time he wanted me at his castle (royalty and castles go together like horrific monsters and caves).
I knew where the castle was, and not just from being there earlier at his fancy party. Like I said I planned the long game, I had been there a few times previous on small errands under false pretenses (in the fifty years since my blowing off the world I'd gotten quite good about being places without being seen, I know its amazing that I learned to be subtle!) The guards at front nodded as I passed inside and I was directed to the "throne" room. I put throne in quotes because honestly it was just a more lavish sitting room, the prince wasn't exactly prince of anything important (his lands were mainly marsh lands with a couple farms sparsed in between, its why I chose him to be my in because no one would look too hard about some out of the way prince in charge of nothing). His lands and royalty were like back ups for more important people elsewhere, he knew it too, but didn't seem to care all that much (I mean its not like he wasn't rich, well fed and had every need catered to anyway). I stood across from him while he sat in his throne looking bored to even be there, the heavy doors I entered slammed shut and it was just me and the prince (proof yet again no one cared they basically let a potential assassin right near their royalty and cared not at all).
"Lord Lorentino I hope you are well." His voice echoed in the empty room, his dress was less showy than last time, just simple slacks and a shirt that looked dirty, no shoes or socks.
"I am my liege, I'm also intrigued why you sent for me." I kept my tone measured, didn't want to let on I knew all the problems his little kingdom faced and knew an untold number of solutions for all of them (again I played the long game on this one, I'll keep writing that until you believe it!)
"I have a problem with some bandits up North Mr. Lorentino, they aren't a large group, but what they lack in numbers they make up for in cunning, they are robbing trade supplies from us and preventing work on a rail line to connect us to the empire. I've tried to call on the military but they think it a small issue and despite my militias best attempts they have alluded us entirely."
"Do you want them dead or imprisoned?"
"Dead, I'd rather not have the small band marched into the town and show us all for what fools we are, if you can remove them from me, I'll be most gracious." The words written down sound grander than they were spoken, that's all I'll say.
"I have my task my liege, I shall be back when it is accomplished."
"I trust you can keep this quiet then?"
"But of course secrecy is my specialty, I have ways of disposing of troublesome bodies." I smiled at that last bit and he waved me off, he pressed a button and the large doors opened and I was freed. I kept the smile on my face out of the castle. I was pleased with my assignment, because simple bandits are no real difficulty for me, and in this case they weren't really bandits at all... But that will wait till tommorrows entry. Because much like with the prince I'm writing this journal for the long game (thats my new phrase I like it, I hope you like it, though if you're reading this I'm dead so whatever!)
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