Shadows in the Smoke - 11 - A Republican Liaison

"When I was writing it, my friends asked me why I was naming this book 'The Struggle for Freedom'. I think it should be obvious. The Republic represents freedom to people throughout the world, but every day of its existence has been a struggle. At its inception it had to struggle against the reactionary forces of the nobleborn and king. It borders the Lands of the Dead and the Empire, both of which are considerably larger and would destroy it if they could. And, of course, there is the internal struggle. What meaning does freedom have without prosperity? Every day the Republic struggles to build meaningful freedom for its people. So, the liberty enjoyed by the People is characterised, protected and grown through struggle, be it political, military or economic."

The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun

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The next couple of days saw a flurry of events and dinners. They seemed to mostly involve standing around quietly, while Ambassador Hatami and some senior Republican or other made polite speeches at each other. Ester had even been briefly introduced to a member of the Central Committee. It was clear she'd been meant to be impressed, but the man had only said a few words before being ushered off to be introduced to somebody else.

The dinners were at least enjoyable. The food was strange, with spices and flavours Ester just didn't recognise, but that was exciting in itself. She'd read enough accounts of adventurers and explorers experiencing curious new cuisines and imagining herself as one of them gave her a break from the interminably dull conversation around her. Presumably she was meant to be honoured by the people sat next to her, but they were so boring! Self important men, and occasionally women, with titles she didn't understand, who wanted to talk diplomatic platitudes or about the glory of the Republic and little else.

Even in her own rooms things were different from Vass Karan. Ina, or Citizen Ina as she preferred to be called, was very efficient at keeping the place clean and making sure Ester had everything she needed. However, that efficiency was almost a problem. Whenever Ester thought she might have a moment of peace, Ina would be there. Making sure everything was perfect, yet somehow managing to have a defiant glint in her eye that made Ester want to apologise for having inconvenienced her. Even quietly practicing spellcraft, or thinking about Schema design, had to wait until the late hours of the night if she didn't want to be bothered.

That was why, by the third day, Ester was less than excited when Ina bustled in through her door, yet again.

"Good morning, Citizen Ina." She forced herself not to frown. She'd just been getting herself properly settled down to think about an idea she'd had for making her shield Schema more efficient.

"Good morning, Mage Mazar." As usual, there was no warmth to Ina's tone. However, instead of making a show of tidying up the rooms, as she normally did, she came over to Ester. "I was asked to deliver this to you."

Ester took the letter Ina held out, her eyes widening slightly at the Imperial seal on the wax holding it closed. After a moment, she broke the seal and ran her eyes over it.

No more group events for now. She couldn't help letting out a sigh of relief. Thank the Throne that Sir Vitaly hadn't been making things up about why she was sent. It seemed that the Ambassador wanted her to meet an Arcanist today, she felt a little surge of excitement at that, and start building relations with the Republic's Arcanists. Or, if she read between the lines, try to find out what secrets she could from them.

Ina spoke the moment Ester looked up from the note.

"Mage Mazar, if it suits you, I can take you to meet with your new liaison officer."

"Of course Citizen Ina, just give me five minutes to gather my things and we can be on our way."

It only took her two in the end.

Ina led Ester through the warren of the passages that ran through the People's Palace and knocked on a door. After a moment, a woman's voice called out.

"Enter."

Ina pulled the door open and stepped inside, leaving Ester to follow. A short, dumpy woman with light brown hair that was just starting to go grey was sat behind a desk. At their entrance she immediately stood with a smile.

"Ah, you must be Mage Ester Mazar, I am delighted to meet you." She gave Ester a small bow. "I am Arcanist Sonja Rosholt, but please call me Sonja. We try not to be overly formal here in the Republic."

Ester couldn't help shooting a glance at 'Citizen' Ina, but perhaps that only applied to Arcanists. "Pleased to meet you… Sonja." She returned the bow and hesitated for a second, it felt far too familiar, but she was meant to be being a diplomat. "Please, call me Ester."

"Of course, Ester." Sonja came out from behind the desk, her smile widening and eyes crinkling. "I am very much looking forward to working with you. Before the… unpleasantness of recent years, Itrian Arcanists had close links with their counterparts in the Empire. I have always thought that it was a pity that that fell away. Knowledge and magic only become greater when shared and everyone can benefit from that. Now, we've got a lot to discuss. Perhaps I could treat you to lunch and we could come up with a plan of activities for you? I do hope that this will be the start of something magnificent."

Her open smile was infectious and Ester found herself returning it, almost without thinking. Of course, this was what Sir Vitaly had told her to do anyway, which did help.

"That sounds perfect. Thank you, Sonja."

"Excellent," the Arcanist glanced at Ina. "Thank you citizen, I promise I'll bring you back Ester in one piece."

Even she couldn't crack Ina's facade and the woman just gave her a shallow bow. "I shall await Mage Mazar's return. Thank you, Citizen Arcanist."

Sonja waited for her to leave and then shrugged at Ester. "A dedicated woman, but she could perhaps do with relaxing just a hair."

Before Ester could think of what to say to that Sonja laughed and clapped her hands together.

"Anyway, we really must think about what to do with you. Come, walk with me. What would you like to see?"

Ester found herself hurrying along beside the shorter woman. She hadn't expected them to be this accommodating. Especially after Ina.

"Well umm, I…" She trailed off. What did she actually want? She couldn't just ask to be shown their magical secrets. "I suppose I…"

Sonja didn't give her time to get her thoughts together.

"Perhaps something with our police? After all I understand that you normally work for the Watch."

"Police?" What under the Throne were they? "Is that like the Watch?"

"Indeed. Well the closest equivalent to it anyway. Like your Watch does for the Empire, the police keep law and order in service of the Republic. Of course it's not entirely the same. We do not have nobleborn with their own guards enforcing their will. So our police are solely responsible for keeping the peace and protecting the liberties of the People, while making sure that everyone is treated fairly under the law."

"I am sure that would be most interesting." Ester couldn't quite keep the doubt out of her voice. The Watch was meant to uphold all laws equally too. She'd found out how well that held up against the nobility when she'd first come to Vass Karan and wanted to investigate a Great House. The idea that the Republic was any different, whatever they called their Watch, was ridiculous. Anyway, she was here to learn about their magic, not how they kept law and order.

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"You don't sound overly enthusiastic." Sonja chuckled, taking the sting out of her words. "Perhaps coming here just to get back to work isn't so appealing." She stopped suddenly, turning to face Ester. "Ah! Let's kill two birds with one stick, is that the expression you use in the Empire?"

"With one stone." What under the Throne was she going to suggest? Anyway why would you kill a bird with a stick?

"Yes, kill them with one stone. I know an excellent tavern that's popular with the police. Let's go there and discuss things over a drink."

"A tavern?" Ester couldn't help but eye her dubiously. The last time she'd been to a tavern she'd been practically kidnapped at knifepoint.

"Exactly, a tavern. Don't worry, you're in the Republic now. Fun isn't reserved for men."

"That wasn't what…" Ester gave up on her protest, Sonja was already moving away at an impressive pace. With a huff she hurried after her. "Very well, thank you for the offer, a tavern sounds entertaining." Maybe she'd even have fun.

Sonja quickly led Ester through a maze of corridors and then out a small gate at the back of the palace. Two guards stood in front of it, holding long wooden tubes rather than spears. Their eyes landed on Sonja and they immediately stepped aside with a bow.

"Arcanist. Citizen."

Once they were out of the palace Ester followed Sonja down a series of cobbled streets, filled with Republicans in drab clothes. They turned down a narrow side street in the shadow of a towering, brick building and then stopped in front of what must be the tavern.

It occupied the ground floor of a tenement building, with a sign over the door showing a painting of a mailed fist holding a bloody rag. It looked nothing like the tavern in Clanis Edge, the Fighting Cocks. It was far more civilised. The street outside it was clean and the building looked almost newly made. Most impressive of all was the large, glass windows fronting it.

"Is this tavern popular with the umm, higher classes of citizens?" That amount of glass must have cost a small fortune. Ester wasn't sure she'd seen anything with that much glass outside palaces.

Sonja blinked at her. "We do not have higher classes of citizen here in the Republic, we are all judged on our merits. Why do you ask?"

"Mere curiosity." Ester forced a smile, she wasn't going to admit to being impressed by a tavern. Anyway, surely it was just lies that they had no higher classes, it was impossible to believe that the Republic could function otherwise.

"Of course," Sonja smiled, "come on, let's go in."

The inside was larger than Ester had expected. There was a bar counter along wall, with various bottles of Spirits only knew what behind it. Tables took up much of the rest of the space, with a scattering of people sat at them chattering away. It had none of the chaos or noise that she'd seen in the Fighting Cocks. In fact it was quite quiet inside. However, it also didn't seem to cater to travelers or have the decorations expected by the wealthy or nobleborn like the inns she'd been in.

The tavern's patrons were mostly dressed in baggy breeches, high leather boots and doublets, many of them with a large hat set on the bench by them. Ester looked away from them and then looked back again, her eyes widening in shock as she realised at least one of them was a woman.

Sonja scanned the room, oblivious to Ester's surprise.

"Ah, yes they'll do nicely. Come along, Ester, let's get a drink and then there are some people I'd like to introduce you to."

Ester pursed her lips. Was drinking even a good idea? Alcohol and magic didn't mix particularly well and she really didn't want to put herself in a vulnerable position here and now, surrounded by Republicans.

"Of course, thank you." She needed to be polite and accommodating. Anyway one drink wouldn't hurt. Leixu probably wouldn't be hesitating, he'd certainly gone through a fair amount of wine over dinner in Atheta.

"Citizen!" Sonja cheerfully yelled at one of the bartenders. "A half litre of your finest and whatever my friend here wants."

Ester blinked. What did she want? Adventurers never had to worry about this sort of thing in stories.

"What is your speciality, uh, Citizen?" Her mind went back to Clanis Edge and the disgusting drink she'd had there. "Other than ale," she belatedly added.

"Other than ale?" His eyes narrowed. "Where ya from Citiz…"

"Ahem" The barkeeper's mouth snapped shut as Sonja cut him off. "I think you'd quite like mead, Ester." She looked back to the barkeeper. "A cup of mead please, Citizen."

"Of course." If he was upset at being interrupted, he didn't show it as he hurried to prepare their drinks. "Coming right up, Citizens."

A few moments later, Sonja led Ester over to one of the long tables where a man and woman were deep in conversation.

"Mind if we join you?" The man and woman looked up and then grinned.

"Ah, Sonja! You're earlier than usual." They both rose and Ester's eyes widened as they embraced her like an old friend. They'd touched her. Just like that. Were things different for Arcanists? She couldn't even remember the last time someone had touched her. Not when they had any choice about it, anyway.

"Please, have a seat. Who's your friend?" Both their eyes flicked over Ester assessing her in a fraction of a second.

"This," Sonja busied herself climbing over the bench and taking a seat, "is Ester Mazar. She's a Mage in the Vass Karan Watch, here with the Empire's delegation. Ester, this is Captain Trym Gondahl and Lieutenant Eva Enberg. They lead the Nilrava Police's Magical Directorate."

"Pleased to meet you." Ester bowed politely and started trying to lever herself into the gap between the bench and table. It was harder than it looked in a long dress.

"Likewise." Both of them returned her bow with a small flourish.

Once Ester had successfully sat down and rearranged her skirts, Lieutenant Enberg turned her attention on ehr.

"So, Mage Mazar, you're our equivalent over in the Empire? How fascinating! Are you the head of your Watch's magical division?"

Ester hated the way her cheeks heated at that. "I suppose I am."

It was sort of true, there weren't any other Mages or Adepts in the Watch.

"Wow, and you look so young! You must let me know what you do for skincare." The lieutenant laughed. "Seriously though, you must be a very Talented woman.

Ester glanced at Lieutenant Enberg and then at the other two. How was she meant to deal with this? She knew how to talk about magic or books, but she hadn't expected these 'police' from the Republic to be so friendly, or relaxed. She needed to remember they were the Empire's enemies.

"I suppose I am just lucky." She didn't want to talk about how she'd ended up in Vass Karan. She needed to change the topic. "Is your work busy here? Do you," she cast around for a question that wouldn't be too sensitive, "I mean what sort of crimes do you focus on?" That seemed both safe and interesting.

This time Captain Gondahl spoke. "Anything and everything really. Obviously in a city the size of Nilrava you'll find all kinds of criminals looking to undermine the People's peace and some of those criminals have the Talent. Sadly that occupies much of our time. Of course we also help with more mundane crimes sometimes. I dare say Eva might be the Republic's leading expert on arcane forensics. No doubt you have your own techniques over in the Empire."

Ester blinked. "Forensics? I am not sure I am familiar with the word." She was already learning something! Although it didn't feel good to have to admit ignorance. Especially not to a Republican.

"Maybe you call it something else in the Empire." Eva laughed. "It just means the detection of crime, so I do things like examine crime scenes to find out who was there and when, or test things to work out what they are and where they come from."

"Oh!" Ester, that made more sense. "Yes, I understand, I do that too. I just had not known it was called forensics here." Although thinking about it, she wasn't sure why it needed a name, it was just magic. "Perhaps we could exchange notes some time?" She didn't need to fake the enthusiasm in her voice.

Lieutenant Enberg's eyes flicked to Sonja and then back to Ester. "Of course, it would be a pleasure. I'm sure that something could be arranged."

"Thank you. Only if it is not too much of an inconvenience though."

"Not at all." Captain Gondahl shook his head. "Things are quiet, the Republic does not have that much crime and we have plenty of assistance from the rest of the department."

"The rest of the department?" How many of them were there?!

"Well, yes. We have the Cantrists and of course our assistants."

What under the Throne was a Cantrist? Sonja must have seen Ester's blank look because she jumped in.

"Cantrists are magic users who do not quite have the Talent or desire to become an Arcanist. Not everyone has the skill or Talent to be an Arcanist, but the Republic embraces everyone's abilities nevertheless."

"Oh, like an Adept."

Something flashed momentarily across Sonja's face. "Yes, indeed."

Had she offended her? Ester ignored the urge to squirm. It wasn't like the Empire ignored people who couldn't be Mages either, but she wasn't going to start arguing about that with them. She was meant to be being diplomatic after all.

That seemed to bring a pause to the conversation and Ester finally took the opportunity to have a sip of her mead.

"Oh!" Her eyebrows rose as floral sweetness exploded across her tongue. "This is very good. Is it a common drink in the Republic?"

If there had been any momentary awkwardness, her appreciation of the drink ended it, bringing broad smiles onto the faces of all three Arcanists.

"Ale is more common, but mead is one of our traditional drinks." Lieutenant Enberg raised her larger cup of ale. "To the Pe… your good health and friendship!"

"Good health and friendship!" The other two Republicans echoed, followed a moment later by Ester.

After that, conversation started to flow more freely. Captain Gondahl launched into a story about uncovering a group of 'cracks' apparently that was what they called witches, making dangerous tinctures and how he'd nearly fallen into a huge vat of aphrodisiacs. It had left Ester blushing furiously while the other two women laughed raucously along with the Captain.

Then it was Lieutenant Enberg's turn. She launched into a tale about an investigation into potential spies and saboteurs from the Lands of the Dead and how much time she'd had to spend hanging around in a tavern trying to find them without getting too drunk.

Another round of drinks turned up, Ester wasn't sure where it came from, but the mead really was nice as were these Arcanists.

"So, Ester, what about you? You must have some good stories from your own service in the Watch." Sonja took a big swig of ale and leant back with a happy sigh.

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