The Raven's Designs

Campaign: Chaos in the Capital

Chapter 14 / EX 1-1

The Raven's Designs

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Summary

As Phares and Beren gaze upon the capital, Harle appears and asks after their true goals. Seeing through his intentional loss to the prince, the pair throws the question back, but Harle says nothing and takes his leave.

Dialogue

Come on! H-hold your ground! It's up to us to save the capital! Sir, look! The fog around the palace is disappearing! Then the prince and his retinue must have defeated the Other! Come on, everyone! If the Other is no more, we can make quick work of these imperial curs! Our enemies have rallied! Captain Harle, what are your... Wait, where's the captain? I've not seen him for some time. Ilia damn that man—I KNEW he couldn't be trusted!

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From this vantage, even the capital appears as some mere plaything. It is an empty burg o'erflowing with naught but florid bombast—not at all unlike the seventh scion, as I think upon it. This will be our last look at the capital for some time. And once robbed of its prime statesperson, Sol Alberia will know terrible trouble in the days to come. Thank you, my brother. I understand the city well now. Then let us be off. First, we must do something about the man over there. Ah, yes. I suppose we must. Razor-sharp as always, Phares. Nothing ever did get by you. Please forgive my impropriety for eavesdropping, though it is a testament to good fortune that I should happen upon the pair of you here. Who is this man, Brother? Harle. He once served as chief of the Capital Guard. An honor to finally meet you, Prince Beren. I must say, it is a moving tale indeed to hear of an elder brother who risked all to extract his younger sibling from a most terrible imprisonment. I wonder what it was that impelled you to such action, Prince Phares? You must have had some intent beyond living up to that sacred bond of brotherly affections. ...... Oh, dear me! It seems my foolish musings are making themselves known again. Pray forgive my inapp— He is not our ally. Will he interfere with our work? Soft, Beren. This man is no threat. ...I understand. You have my most sincere gratitude for quelling your anger, Prince Beren. If anyone is plotting something here, Harle, it appears to be you. Oh ho! Whatever do you mean? One would be hard-pressed to call your magical-barrier defense "ironclad." If you were truly putting your heart into the defense, surely you would have planned a more multifaceted strategy. You observed the battle, did you? Ah, I confess that I am ashamed of my own inadequacies in allowing the New Alberian Army to break through our defenses. And what of the matter of the rebel insurgency? Surely there is no way one such as you— a paragon of secret intelligence and tactics—would be wholly unaware of a rebel faction operating in your own army. One might even think you overlooked that intentionally in order to permit my brother and his forces free access to the capital. You give me far too much credit, Prince Phares—I am but a humble servant of the crown. At my best, I am no more than a knight of little renown huddled under the great tree that is the royal family. I do not imagine for a moment that our family is what you cling to. I, er...confess myself at a loss. And yet, I also find it strangely enjoyable! Clearly I am no match for your keen and penetrating insight, My Prince. I shall take the time to carefully observe what great works are to come from the both of you. And with that, I take my leave. May we meet again in the coming days. Should we simply let him fly away? We should. His "ability" may be of use to my research at some point. But I fear we have tarried long enough; we have a plan to put into motion. Indeed, there is still much for us to do.