4.1

Lord Anon looked out over the landscape from his courtrooms large balcony. Below him the city of Marshmountain spread out over a large flat hill beyond which the farmland had been irrigated over the last decades to push the marsh away so far that he could only barely see it at the horizon. He had been a good leader for his people he told himself every time he could. This had led to the blindness for reality that was emerging all around him. There were schemes and plots on how to eliminate him bubbling among his underlings and throughout many of his citizens. Though powerhungry Lord Anon was no fool so he had made sure over the years to surround himself closest with strong allies that would never leave his side and he had built his powerstructure to be able to remove problems almost before there was even a notion of a problem. His three coadjutors was the key to the system, one to keep close control of each caste. Filden held a firm hand over the military, Wiltord over the clericas and Degan had the responsiblity of the lower caste. At times Lord Anon would assist Wiltord who would come under heavy attack from the wise men of the church for protecting what they called a tyrant with no sympathy for the common men. Anon thought fondly of all the times he had been able to sway the opinion around to his favour with carefully selected promises that eventually drained out into smaller promises and finally ended up as basically nothing.

An eagle came in for landing on the rail of the balcony and squaked at Anon. News come fast for the wealthy if they know how to train the messenger, he thought for himself when he undid the strings that held the little container. He opened it and unrolled the note inside. It was a note from his loyal friend at the monestary over in Banford. Carefully he read the tiny letters and his smile began to grow even wider.

- Aide!, he screamed into the courtroom.
- Yes, my liege, a small man answered as he came running.
- Prepare my wagon, we are going on a fieldtrip. Alert the cleric with the biggest hat, he will want to join us.
- Biggest hat, sir?
- Yes, the Supreme Priest, do you not understand a joke boy?
- Of course I do my liege, the young boy answered and laughed a little too much to be believable.
- Well, off with you and do your duty. And send in the dressmaidens.

As the aide ran down the stairs he could hear him shouting to the service maidens to alert the dressmaidens that they were wanted immidiately.
Lord Anon read through the note again and thought to himself, At last it is time, at last she has shown true self.