It was towards the end of the day now, after most of the city's business had been concluded and the Bazaars had begun to close when Coatleque finally made her way to the Heart of the Sworn. She had requested a meeting with the Captain herself, stressing it was important but without saying why or for what. And while she had built her career around on punctuality, this being early evening now one might have considered her late. Stranger still is that this notion did not particularly bother her this eve.
Saluting the guards, she stepped up to the door of the Captain's office and wrapped the knuckles of her gauntlet off the wood. She waited for the familiar voice to respond from within. "Enter". The captain was out of his usual seat, standing and looking out of the window to the setting sun. His eyes squinted but his expression was absent the usual lines of worry and weight of his office. She closed the door behind her but did not stand to the side like usual. She saluted him as well before crossing the office straight for the first chair in front of his desk. He gave her a sidelong glance and a nod only. "Late. Unusual for you."
She stopped with one hand on the back of the chair mid-pull. "Aye, i was held up by a situation down at the palace gate. Just a drunk who wouldn't leave. He's sobering up in cell three for the time."
Jenlyns gave a small short, looking amused. "If that is the worst of our troubles as the day closes, let us consider our day a fortunate one, hm?" He turned from his view to face her then, an odd expression curling his lips as he regarded her. "You asked for this meeting. What can I do for you, Ser Crofte?"
She had meanwhile resumed her motion without waiting for the seat to be offered. Crossing her legs and brushing a string of hair from her eyes nonchalantly. "I did, didn't I? Ser, to be frank, I would like to request permission to take a detachment to Coerthas. A few squires at least, perhaps more. What with diplomacy opened again I think it prudent to have agents ready to secure trade for the Sultanate."
Both brows raised into a look of surprise. The man scratched his chin in consideration before answering her. "I am impressed, Crofte. Forward thinking. I was just pondering on what to do with our new allies since Her Grace herself had made the trip recently. I have always thought you were one of those who did not wish to leave the sands."
Coatleque's mouth twitched slightly. "I prefer stability." She replied calmly. "Recent events prove it may not be wise to remain so rooted though. The alliance is rather fragile right now, we may be more comfortable having agents close by to respond. And since I have been barred from La Noscea..."
The captain shifted positions at her words, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall with his back to the window. "The Noscean affair has cooled considerably. I suspect perhaps in a few moons even your exile may be reconsidered." His voice dipped. "A lot has happened."
She looked away. "Yes well, it is not as if I will be blowing up an Ishgardian cathedral. I'd be interested in seeing how these knights of theirs compare to us. I've also heard rumor of a wanted man in the area; I'd hate to think of him escaping justice still."
He smirked and nodded. "Very well. You make convincing arguments, Crofte. I cannot say I have any arguments with any part of your proposal. Besides, I think it would be good for you to get out of the Jewel for a bit."
It was Coatleque's turn to look surprised as her head turned back to face him. "O-of course, Ser. I do not think more than five squires will be needed. I'll continue their training myself while we are there of course. I'd like to take Ser Tarry as well. I think we will be spending most of our time in the outer settlements at first, just learning to integrate. I will be discrete."
The man regarded her for a moment longer, his thoughtful look passing. But he did nod again. "You and Ser Tarry worked well together in that Pearl Lane debacle. I think it prudent to have someone trustworthy and competent by your side. I do not see much getting done if you are busy with squires. Besides, Ser Tarry has already taken the initiative of seeing our new allies for herself, if reports are correct."
Coatleque chewed the inside of her cheek when she heard of such 'reports'. She knew Sharla had left Thanalan already but not on orders. If the Captains caught wind of her ture intentions it may be considered desertion. But not now. "Ah, yes... I will be sure to inform her of the assignment and new orders. Hopefully she has found some beds already. I will have the squires set about some low-risk tasks until we are established enough, then I will start looking for Anden Anduron. I believe he is somewhere in the outer reaches of Coerthas, and I would rather see him reeled in before he can tarnish Ul'dah's reputation further."
"Hmmm," a crease bent above the captain's brow. "Yes, the Brass Blade captain, still wanted for murder if I recall." He rubbed his forehead. "He had some affiliation with Taeros, aye?"
"Aye, murder, among some of his transgressions." She replied flatly. "I wouldn't know of his affiliations, though..." She did not look away, but her eyes refused to meet his any longer.
A long pause fell between the two. The sun at last dipped below the skyline bathing the room in shadow. When Jenlyns finally broke it, he was quiet. "I am not deaf nor blind, Ser Crofte. The rumors of you and Taeros were on the lips of many."
She fidgited uncomfortably in the chair. "It's not nearly what it may seem. Besides, I am sure you heard such things of Natalie before me anyway."
"Natalie was a wild cannon. You were held in a much different regard. And those rumors, I cannot say most of those who spoke of it did so favorably." There was no judgement in his tone. "But I knew the man myself. Not all Monetarists are against us. Some do support the good of the Sultanate. And I too have noticed his sudden and strange absence. Are you going to tell me that going after a Brass Blade captain that Jameson put into position himself has nothing to do with it?"
Coatleque raised her hand to her chin and contemplated something before taking a deep breath and moving the hand to the side of her face, then looking down to rub her forehead. Her motives may have been a tad more transparent than she thought. "Perhaps... I may have wont to... interrogate him before returning him to the city for another trial."
Jenlyns nodded. "As this is entirely your investigation, you are at liberty to conduct it as you see fit."
She looked up then as if having been struck by another idea. "I do not suppose you have any idea what happened to him?" Him being Jameson of course.
He shook his head. "Taeros? Nay. He has always been his own man. Charming when he wants to be, and extremely private in almost all things. I always attributed that to his employer."
"Yes, but which one?" Coatleque muttered to herself.
"But his line of work, the power within that circle... it was always a dangerous game he played, and I suspect he knew it." He paused. "Wherever he may be, I suspect he is no longer here because he cannot be. Whether he still draws breath or not... I have always thought the place in our lives to be fleeting. At the mercy of the tilt of the scale."
"I dare say he liked... likes the game more than he'd let on." She snorted and shook her head, refusing to speak of him as if he was gone in that way. "I will not let this distract me from what I have proposed, however. The Sultanate comes first."
Jenlyns let out a long sigh. "These past many moons, we have seen much change and turmoil. But I trust there are those of us who would stand steadfast against whatever rises to threaten what we hold dear." Coatleque closed her eyes and turned her head away again, crossing her arms as well. "You have grown and learned much since your first promotion, Ser Crofte." He continued, "Whether it was out of necessity or this is who you were meant to be... I believe you will stand strong for the Sultanate. Here or up north."
"Thank you, Ser." She stammered quietly before taking a deep breath and standing to face him once more. "I have taken too much of your time though. I have a team to assemble."
"I trust I will receive reports on your progress." he said before turning back towards the window to watch the last semblances of dusk settle over the city.
"And I shall be just as thorough as you are accustomed from me." She saluted him once more regardless of if he saw her. "For Coin and Country."
"For Coin and Country, Ser Crofte."
Saluting the guards, she stepped up to the door of the Captain's office and wrapped the knuckles of her gauntlet off the wood. She waited for the familiar voice to respond from within. "Enter". The captain was out of his usual seat, standing and looking out of the window to the setting sun. His eyes squinted but his expression was absent the usual lines of worry and weight of his office. She closed the door behind her but did not stand to the side like usual. She saluted him as well before crossing the office straight for the first chair in front of his desk. He gave her a sidelong glance and a nod only. "Late. Unusual for you."
She stopped with one hand on the back of the chair mid-pull. "Aye, i was held up by a situation down at the palace gate. Just a drunk who wouldn't leave. He's sobering up in cell three for the time."
Jenlyns gave a small short, looking amused. "If that is the worst of our troubles as the day closes, let us consider our day a fortunate one, hm?" He turned from his view to face her then, an odd expression curling his lips as he regarded her. "You asked for this meeting. What can I do for you, Ser Crofte?"
She had meanwhile resumed her motion without waiting for the seat to be offered. Crossing her legs and brushing a string of hair from her eyes nonchalantly. "I did, didn't I? Ser, to be frank, I would like to request permission to take a detachment to Coerthas. A few squires at least, perhaps more. What with diplomacy opened again I think it prudent to have agents ready to secure trade for the Sultanate."
Both brows raised into a look of surprise. The man scratched his chin in consideration before answering her. "I am impressed, Crofte. Forward thinking. I was just pondering on what to do with our new allies since Her Grace herself had made the trip recently. I have always thought you were one of those who did not wish to leave the sands."
Coatleque's mouth twitched slightly. "I prefer stability." She replied calmly. "Recent events prove it may not be wise to remain so rooted though. The alliance is rather fragile right now, we may be more comfortable having agents close by to respond. And since I have been barred from La Noscea..."
The captain shifted positions at her words, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall with his back to the window. "The Noscean affair has cooled considerably. I suspect perhaps in a few moons even your exile may be reconsidered." His voice dipped. "A lot has happened."
She looked away. "Yes well, it is not as if I will be blowing up an Ishgardian cathedral. I'd be interested in seeing how these knights of theirs compare to us. I've also heard rumor of a wanted man in the area; I'd hate to think of him escaping justice still."
He smirked and nodded. "Very well. You make convincing arguments, Crofte. I cannot say I have any arguments with any part of your proposal. Besides, I think it would be good for you to get out of the Jewel for a bit."
It was Coatleque's turn to look surprised as her head turned back to face him. "O-of course, Ser. I do not think more than five squires will be needed. I'll continue their training myself while we are there of course. I'd like to take Ser Tarry as well. I think we will be spending most of our time in the outer settlements at first, just learning to integrate. I will be discrete."
The man regarded her for a moment longer, his thoughtful look passing. But he did nod again. "You and Ser Tarry worked well together in that Pearl Lane debacle. I think it prudent to have someone trustworthy and competent by your side. I do not see much getting done if you are busy with squires. Besides, Ser Tarry has already taken the initiative of seeing our new allies for herself, if reports are correct."
Coatleque chewed the inside of her cheek when she heard of such 'reports'. She knew Sharla had left Thanalan already but not on orders. If the Captains caught wind of her ture intentions it may be considered desertion. But not now. "Ah, yes... I will be sure to inform her of the assignment and new orders. Hopefully she has found some beds already. I will have the squires set about some low-risk tasks until we are established enough, then I will start looking for Anden Anduron. I believe he is somewhere in the outer reaches of Coerthas, and I would rather see him reeled in before he can tarnish Ul'dah's reputation further."
"Hmmm," a crease bent above the captain's brow. "Yes, the Brass Blade captain, still wanted for murder if I recall." He rubbed his forehead. "He had some affiliation with Taeros, aye?"
"Aye, murder, among some of his transgressions." She replied flatly. "I wouldn't know of his affiliations, though..." She did not look away, but her eyes refused to meet his any longer.
A long pause fell between the two. The sun at last dipped below the skyline bathing the room in shadow. When Jenlyns finally broke it, he was quiet. "I am not deaf nor blind, Ser Crofte. The rumors of you and Taeros were on the lips of many."
She fidgited uncomfortably in the chair. "It's not nearly what it may seem. Besides, I am sure you heard such things of Natalie before me anyway."
"Natalie was a wild cannon. You were held in a much different regard. And those rumors, I cannot say most of those who spoke of it did so favorably." There was no judgement in his tone. "But I knew the man myself. Not all Monetarists are against us. Some do support the good of the Sultanate. And I too have noticed his sudden and strange absence. Are you going to tell me that going after a Brass Blade captain that Jameson put into position himself has nothing to do with it?"
Coatleque raised her hand to her chin and contemplated something before taking a deep breath and moving the hand to the side of her face, then looking down to rub her forehead. Her motives may have been a tad more transparent than she thought. "Perhaps... I may have wont to... interrogate him before returning him to the city for another trial."
Jenlyns nodded. "As this is entirely your investigation, you are at liberty to conduct it as you see fit."
She looked up then as if having been struck by another idea. "I do not suppose you have any idea what happened to him?" Him being Jameson of course.
He shook his head. "Taeros? Nay. He has always been his own man. Charming when he wants to be, and extremely private in almost all things. I always attributed that to his employer."
"Yes, but which one?" Coatleque muttered to herself.
"But his line of work, the power within that circle... it was always a dangerous game he played, and I suspect he knew it." He paused. "Wherever he may be, I suspect he is no longer here because he cannot be. Whether he still draws breath or not... I have always thought the place in our lives to be fleeting. At the mercy of the tilt of the scale."
"I dare say he liked... likes the game more than he'd let on." She snorted and shook her head, refusing to speak of him as if he was gone in that way. "I will not let this distract me from what I have proposed, however. The Sultanate comes first."
Jenlyns let out a long sigh. "These past many moons, we have seen much change and turmoil. But I trust there are those of us who would stand steadfast against whatever rises to threaten what we hold dear." Coatleque closed her eyes and turned her head away again, crossing her arms as well. "You have grown and learned much since your first promotion, Ser Crofte." He continued, "Whether it was out of necessity or this is who you were meant to be... I believe you will stand strong for the Sultanate. Here or up north."
"Thank you, Ser." She stammered quietly before taking a deep breath and standing to face him once more. "I have taken too much of your time though. I have a team to assemble."
"I trust I will receive reports on your progress." he said before turning back towards the window to watch the last semblances of dusk settle over the city.
"And I shall be just as thorough as you are accustomed from me." She saluted him once more regardless of if he saw her. "For Coin and Country."
"For Coin and Country, Ser Crofte."