Harper’s first steps of exile were not steady ones. The ground seemed to roll as she almost stumbled away from the ship. Regaining her balance, she glanced back at her prison for the last few months, The Warm Breeze. The merchant ship was floating alongside the dock, lacking any noticeable distinctions from all the others among the fleet. It was by all accounts a pleasant enough ship; it wasn’t dirty or crowded. The crew was polite and unobtrusive. Any unpleasantness could be attributed to her lack of choice in boarding it.
Not bothering to bid farewell to anyone, she strode into the harbor city. Harper made her way towards the center of town. She passed fellow pedestrians, a few horse-drawn carriages, and, to her surprise, a core powered carriage. Maybe this continent is more civilized than I gave it credit for. The crowd was mainly human, though she did spot a few labuntans running errands for their masters and some tetrans going about their business.
She received a few stares, especially from children. Harper knew this was due to her hair. The rest of her that was visible was fairly standard for a human. Brown eyes, average height, olive skin and athletic figure. Her hair though was a platinum blonde color. It wasn’t nearly as metallic looking as her ranva ancestor’s likely was, but the color was unusual.
The harbor city’s architecture followed her home continent’s style. It was a mix of wood and stone buildings in a blend of straight lines and curves with a propensity for spires. The churches in particular having crown-like outcroppings above them. The roads were stone and mortar that looked very well worn in by the thousands of feet walking over them every day.
Eventually, she caught sight of an official-looking building. The words Porvus City Hall were engraved over the entrance. Walking into the building, she joined the line for the secretary''s desk. Upon reaching her, the secretary asked, “How can I help you today?”
“I would like to speak with the governor please,” was Harper’s reply. Suspecting that wouldn''t be enough, she added, “I am Harper of House Waspen, I have come to inquire about employment.”
The secretary arched an eyebrow, “No one sent ahead to announce your arrival. Where is your retinue?” Scanning her, she questioned “Do you have proof of your relation?”
Harper nodded. “I have this.” She removed a ring from her finger and passed it to the woman. It was a copper signet ring with the symbol of her family’s crest; it was a lunar dragon with a partially eclipsed sun in the background.
The secretary studied it for a moment. She stood up and bid Harper to wait for a couple of minutes. After she left Harper considered what she knew about the governor. Her name was Estella Mavian. Her family is distantly related to the king; they were sent to govern the Orosburgh colony a few generations ago. From what she gathered in the little time she had before her departure; she was an ambitious woman who dedicated all her efforts into mercantile pursuits.
Estella used the last thirty years to turn Porvus into a center of trade. By building a fleet of merchant ships, she was able to sell all the products and luxury resources uncommon in the tri-continents. The returning ships then brought back both needed supplies for the colony and slaves. She had drastically raised her family''s wealth in the past few decades. The rumors were that she wished to accumulate enough of a fortune to move her family back to Magnon and establish a major noble house.
The secretary soon returned, motioning Harper to follow. She led her down the hallway and gestured to an open door, standing outside of it expectantly. She thanked the woman as she passed her, finding another woman working at a desk. She spoke without looking up from her desk. “Sit down. I’ll let you know when the Governor is ready to see you.” She sat down.
After waiting half an hour, the Governor’s assistant instructed her to go in. Harper complied, studying the office and the two inside as she walked in. The governor was a wealthy woman, and it showed.
The walls and desk were heavily decorated, curiosities from around the world displayed. Precious jewelry from Magnon. A chunk of meteorite and a living-bow from north and south Zecura respectively. A large violet crystal that must be the from the Crystal Spires on the southmost end of this very continent.
The governor herself was outfitted in a dress that skirted the line between practical and aesthetic; her fingers were adorned with rings and her neck a silver necklace. An earring denoting her as a Luxalian sat on her left ear; a symbol of the sun being part way covered by the moon, not too dissimilar to her own. Her ornaments were enough to show her wealth and prestige, without looking ostentatious, as some tetran ambassadors she’d met in the past had.
The woman was caramel colored, and had long black hair streaked with grey, but her face was clear of wrinkles, and she still portrayed the energy of someone in their prime. Potentates were gifted with long lives and plentiful vigor even well into their elder years.
The only other person in the room was a labuntan girl a couple years younger than herself. She was sitting in a chair in the corner. She had pale skin with dark stripes, wheat colored hair, and nearly white irises. Her elytra were not visible, nor could Harper tell if she still had her gliders. The girl was wearing a dress of better quality than most of the women she passed, much less the other slaves.
The girl gave her a glance as she walked in, then averted her eyes and stared at the ground in front of her. Harper guessed the girl was one of the governor’s handmaids. It was odd that she sat in the room with her and wore such quality clothes. She must treat her servants and slaves well. That boded well for Harper if she’d be working for the woman.
Ideally, she’d secure a position as an intermediary for the woman’s mercantile ventures, or as a manager of some portion of her finances. She’d even take a job in the governor''s elite guard if offered. She knew she’d be starting near the bottom at any of these due to her lack of experience and the need to earn the governor’s trust, but she was confident she could move past apprenticeship within the year.
Governor Mavian studied her as well, then gestured for her to sit. She cut right to the point. “Greetings, Lady Waspen, you are seeking my patronage? Why did your family not send a letter warning of your coming? Where is your retinue?”
Harper grimaced. Seeing as lying would be a poor idea in the long run, she answered honestly. “That would be due to my circumstances. My parents have seen fit to send me here after a costly mistake of mine made in anger.” If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
She continued quickly, moving past it. “I was exiled from my House, but not disowned. I may not have a retinue or any resources, but I still have my training. I can speak fluently and write in Quilinish, Destonish, and Tavinish; I also know enough Osetenish and Skjoldese to communicate. I have been trained in the tetran fluentum combat style and am familiar with most weapons, with a specialty in rapiers. I also have a noble’s level of education in a variety of subjects. I am very good with finances in particular.”
The governor considered this. She seemed briefly curious at Harper’s admittance of a costly mistake but elected to ignore it. She nodded “If that’s true then you do have the background and qualifications to fit my standards.” The woman then asked the most important question of all. “Have you manifested any Domains yet?”
Harper knew this question was coming and replied, hoping for the best. “No, but I am close to the Aerial Domain, I have consumed a handful of Sky cores and can feel it close, I am only a few months past my seventeenth, I should be getting it any day now.”
The woman shook her head, “Not good enough. If you haven’t gotten it yet with the help of cores and are not well on your way to your second, then taking you in wouldn’t be worth the risk. I am not short on help, and someone without either Domains or a house backing them would not be of much use to me.
“I can offer a position as a clerk, but that is it. You’d have a biweekly salary of five shillings equivalent in our colony’s paper money. If you excel there and manifest a Domain or two, then maybe I can find a place for in my upper workforce.”
The younger woman paused to consider this before she shook her head. With only five shillings worth, she would have little coin leftover after paying for her necessities. “Thank you for the offer. and I will consider it, but for now I must decline.” It just wasn’t enough. That wasn’t even mentioning that it was in the local equivalent, which was much less stable and wouldn’t be worth much outside the colony.
“If that is all then please be on your way. I am very busy. If you change your mind, speak to my secretary.” The governor turned to the girl in the corner. “Shatra, see Lady Waspen out, give her directions for the nearby inns.”
Harper frowned but nodded; she thanked the governor for her time and followed the labuntan girl out disappointedly. Well, I knew chances weren’t high, but I didn’t expect to be practically shoved out the door.
Once they reached the entry room, Shatra turned to her and spoke in an accent Harper recognized from slaves that were brought from south Zecura instead of born into captivity; Her tone though was despondent and flat. “The inn down the street is very nice but expensive. If you keep going down that way, you’ll reach one that’s reasonably priced called the Lucky Seagull. If you want cheaper you need to go to the outskirts, but I hear those can be uncomfortable.”
Harper gave a polite smile and thanked her for her help. Before retreating to the governor’s office, the short girl hesitated and looked around discreetly; she spoke quietly to Harper. “You don’t want to work for the governor. Many of her people are unhappy, but they find it... difficult to leave.” She then turned and scurried back before giving Harper a chance to respond.
Harper watched her disappearing back in surprise. She walked outside and thought over the encounter. That was odd. I shouldn’t take her at her word, but I will be more wary of the governor in the future. It was enough to dismiss any lingering thoughts of taking the clerk position. She still felt a hint of both gratefulness and sympathy towards the labuntan girl. Hopefully she’s not being mistreated, nothing I can do about it though.
The exiled noble took stock of her situation. On her person, she had a purse with enough coins to last a couple weeks, her cloak, and a few sets of practical clothes, all in her house’s colors: vermillion and silver. They were some trousers and tunics like she was currently wearing, and a dress and bodice. She also had her rapier in the scabbard attached to her left hip. In her aetherspace, she had a mystery egg with a burgundy coloring. Not much. Anything that didn’t serve a practical purpose was taken before her exile.
She set out to find an inn while she considered her options. Dismissing the most obvious idea as a near last resort, she thought about finding employment in the city. Lesser pay, and few opportunities. Finding a layman’s job might as well be resigning myself to spending decades here before going home, if ever. Harper would not be able to afford the cores she needed without the pay and benefits of a richer patron.
After arriving at the Luck Seagull and paying for a night''s stay, a meal, and a bath, which was shockingly cheap with Quilish currency, she inquired with the innkeeper about employment suited towards her skillset. She learned of a few establishments and merchants that would probably employ her, but nobody stood out as being able to help with her goals in a timely manner.
Another nearby customer that overheard the conversation had a suggestion though. “You''re not going to find employment that fits such high standards here, lass. Any jobs like that are long taken by the elite that have decided to expand their fortunes here. You’re better off going further inland to the colonies near the wilds, less competition.”
Harper turned to him confusedly. “Why would those be so different? I didn’t think it would take more than a few weeks to reach the frontier?”
The man shook his head, “Distance isn’t the problem, those are dangerous lands. Domain creatures haven''t been culled to safe levels yet, the constables don’t have as much presence and lawlessness runs rampant, and that’s not even mentioning the savages attacking folk.”
The innkeeper scoffed, “The efferans haven''t been a problem in years, Old Tebour gave them quite the beating. He’s even got crime well in hand, can''t think of the last time bandits have been a real problem out there.” The innkeeper looked back to Harper, “Other than that, he’s right. You''re better off heading to Mentril in Arboren or to Hesukar in New Golvoran. Be careful of the creatures though.” Harper asked for a few more details and thanked him. She picked an empty table and sat to wait for her food.
Tapping her fingers on the table she went over her options. Safe and slow, or faster but riskier. She wasn’t a fool; she knew that she didn’t stand a chance against a trained fighter or creature with even one Domain. She wouldn’t even have a good chance against many mundane creatures.
On the other hand, she refused to take a common job and begin the arduous process of pinching every penny. If she chose that she may as well settle down and forget about running her house. The only other option was to send letters to her family apologizing and begging them to take her back. I would rather die. So that left setting out to the frontier. It was a risk, but a calculated one. She would travel to her destination in a reputable caravan and find a job with enough benefits to project her forward.
Her dinner arrived and she dove in; it was a hearty beef stew. It wasn’t quite as good as her usual meals back home, but it was better than the dry foods or even the occasional fish that she had gotten used to aboard the ship. Once she was done eating, Harper went to find her bath. She was directed to a private room with a tub already filled for her. She was slightly relieved when she found a device within that had a Solar core fitted to it. No cold bath tonight.
After bathing and redressing, Harper headed to her room and meditated on the Sky Domain until it grew dark, then she went to bed. She had a surprisingly difficult time falling asleep without the gentle rocking of the ocean that she had grown accustomed to. Worries about her future didn’t help either. While she would have preferred to go home, she was surprised to find in herself a slight bit of excitement for the path ahead.
Many of the stories she was raised on included this very continent. While it had been some one-hundred and fifty years since it was colonized, it was still considered to be untamed by many. Vanax, they called it. The New World. Harper was ready to prove herself within it.