Chinese Lunar New Year Eve Special: The Windfield District
The footstools rattled under the torn roof sheets of The Callous Inn. Burseque, Steward to the Crown Princess Addie, sat among the many rows of drinking patrons. Foul stench from the tossed rotten food in the nearby cobblestone streets filled the air with despair and defeat. Burseque saw the gleaming light of the half-moon in the distance, and the light that it shone intermixes with that of the oil lamps, drowning the streets in a deep golden mist.
He unfurled a scroll. It bore the mark of the Windfire Elementary School, and contained trivial stories of bravery, happiness and optimism. An alpaca who managed to evade predators and a turtle who preached about commanding respect to an audience composed solely of crabs. He flipped the scroll on its back. The Oath to the Queen, a song that every child must sing is plastered more glaringly, as if to remind everyone of the queen's untouched power. "Hmmph," Burseque muttered to himself. The irony of expecting optimism in a desolate place filled with empty oaths of allegiance and passing rubbish. Adding salt to an open wound, he thought to himself.
The moon eclipses some of its light to a dark alleyway opposite the inn. He saw the faint displays of the homeless, gathered in smaller groups. No one of faint allegiance to the Queen lived in these streets. Technically, the authority of the palace rested on him, but the only instance in which he'll use his authority is to to arm these poor folks with pitchforks and schythes (spelling). "One day, she'll never see it coming," as he freely recalled his ultimate goal, a waitress with a plain black apron approached him. She muttered the same after him, "She'll never see it coming."
The Regency's brief and open rebellion against the capital was an ultimate failure. But much planning happened underneath the more obvious battleground, where spies lurked in secluded corners of the Queendom. And when a Steward of the Crown Princess is actively involved, prospects for a new rebellion are always afloat. "I trust the airships from the free trade cities are successfully requisitioned? " He called after her as they embraced in an arms hug. She replied, "In full, thanks to your money laundering. Meredith's trio of regents also would like to extend its deepest sympathies to the death of Lewis, Erica, Qas, Kalim and the rest of the children for which the Visitors had visited upon. May the Spirit Wanderer eases their path into the afterlife."
"It was unfortunate business. The queen sent nothing but a captain who overworked herself. Palace records indicate her whereabouts are currently at the palace." He turned to face the inn, now packed with more patrons. Their conversations blended in with the rest of conversing patrons. "Although, miss, I regret to inform you that the Crown Princess is visiting more of our 'abandoned communities'"
"Who? Addie? What's it to her? Has she grown a soft spot for our cause?"
"Not quite. She often travels alongside her trusted companions. A sworn knight and a fitness and sword instructor."
"We can't have her snooping in our district openly. The palace controls Windfire in nothing but name. It needs to stay this way."
Burseque bit his lip and whispered a sigh. He was hand-selected by the queen to watch over her heir and to ensure her obedience. But his royal appointment meant he was dead on arrival. The crown princess has refused his help and requested his absence every way she could. Indeed, most of the queen's appointment for the heir were indirectly shunned and ignored. His espionage schemes were successful thanks in part to Addie's repeated order to dismiss him. The Trio Regency's wish to keep a tight hold on this matter seemed overblown and at best, overly-cautious. "She's only visiting orphanages and food kitchens. These often serve the needy. By her order, a shelter for stray dogs was placed, and the massive population was culled thanks to her. She isn't a threat, she's only here to satisfy her hobbies." The spy waitress nodded horizontally, and disagreed as politely as she could,"The regency will allow none of the queen's spawn to influence their designs. Burseque, you're a valued man to our cause, I'm sure you know you can't be serious so as to turn a blind eye to not just a family member but the heir to the throne. The girl will simply ascend and replace that tyrant mother of hers any day. This, the regency will not please themselves."
As they conversed, the streets rattle with small vibrations. The eerie night has seen more activity than usual, and this time the distant noises came from knights donned in grey and velvet armor, with a silver collar draped around their neck. Although this sight naturally alarmed the spy waitress, she sat naturally still and did nothing to shuffle back into a serving position. The rebels have gained a considerable influence in the district that plots were openly discussed freely and loudly. Burseque, however, has disappeared into the inn with the owner of bar latching a lock mechanism of some sort that broke the silence.
As the knights arrive, she saw how well-off the loyalist knights were. There were three of them, with ten additional men-at-arms at their back. The knights decorate their horses in sturdy mail with their snout enclosed within an Egyptian mask. Their subordinates carry themselves in what looked like carriage rentals. She met their gaze with a smile, and the bar patrons equally bored into their line of sight. Citizens of Windfire were all enemies of the queen. Although, everyone was content enough to express their disdain silently. What better way to express them than to signal the knights with a cold and impassive gaze. They passed the bar and she signaled the owner to let Burseque out. He had just the right words to complete their conversation.
"There is a good old trick in the book, one that never fails in its execution. Setting her own mother on her tail. Abusive parents have a reason to exist in this world. Their wickedness will easily destroy her."