Crimson Crown

The docks were an hour's drive out from the city center. In older times the capital city stood proud along the coasts of the Blackhail Gulf, but the old Drakestone Castle that once stood vigilant atop the cliffside was but a ruin of its past majesty. Now it was a sorry excuse for the Port Town's best tourist attraction. The antique architecture was replaced by a uniform block of buildings all sporting washed-out hues. But the ships that dotted the water's edge stood in stark contrast with their myriad of vibrant colors and bold insignias. Guildsmen sure were a lively bunch.

"We're here, sir." Anita cruised along the main coastal road, windows down to welcome the salty breeze and crying gulls. The car was parked on the roadside. Gabriel did his best to keep count of each and every guild brand he'd seen pass on trucks and cargo ships. He wasn't sure when the guilds began having such an oppressing presence in any part of the capital.

The glances they received were weary, tracing the lines of the crests and badges displayed on the breasts of their Knight's uniforms. Gabriel wondered privately when was the last time they had a formal patrol around this area. The records back at headquarters were confusing at best.

The docks were lined with freight ships, cranes creaking as precious cargo was lifted onto the mainland. There were so many possible candidates to suffer Gabriel's impromptu check, but he was instantly drawn to a familiar guild insignia dawning a ruby crown adorned with two blooming roses. Since when did Crimson Crown operate in Edenea? He wondered as he approached the looming black ship that flew Crimson Crown's flag.

A man intercepted his approach, "Good day High Paladin. An odd face to see around these parts, what can I do for you?" The man, skin reddened and speckled by long hours under the sun gave the two Knights a gap-tooth smile. He was tall, even moreso than Gabriel himself and with muscles straining the thin fabric of his shirt and fists resting on his hips. A bandanna with Crimson Crown's brand was worn proudly on his arm, but Gabriel had no name to match with the face.

"I'd like to see who's in charge around here. We are here for an inspection."

"Yours truly. I'm the one running things around here, you can call me Sautern." He held out a calloused hand covered in soot and dirt with a grip that was much stronger than strictly necessary.

"We actually just had an inspection the other day. Did you want to see the paperwork?"

Gabriel maintained an unreadable countenance. "The paperwork would be a good start."

"Alrighty just you wait there while I go fetch 'em." With a loose salute, Sautern wandered off.

"You're not actually going to wait around are you?" Anita asked with a playful giggle.

Gabriel clicked his tongue, "Do I look keen on wasting my time?" As soon as Sautern was out of sight, Gabriel took the liberty to wander to one of the trucks mid load. He pulled aside the first unsuspecting worker that nervously glanced away upon Gabriel's gaze.

"You," He barked, "What is Crimson Crown bringing in? It seems like quite a big haul today."

The boy blanched at the High Paladin's words, "N-nothing sir!"

Gabriel's glare was unimpressed. "You might want to give him a little more than that so he doesn't bite your head off." Anita chuckled before being lightly kicked in the ankle.

"Rather busy for nothing, aren't you? Crimson Crown wasn't even active in Edenea a few years ago. I wonder where all the business came from?"

The boy was frozen, wide-eyed and fearful.

"I don't think you'll get much out of this one, I'm afraid." Anita nudged Gabriel's arm, ignorant to his annoyance. Since when did Crimson Crown allow terrified fools like this join their ranks?

"It's just spices and such." Sautern's voice came booming at their side, loud enough to elicit a yelp from Anita. His face was set in a deep frown, "What happened to staying put?" This gave the frightened boy a chance to scurry off.

"Forgive me, I couldn't help myself but take a look. As you can see, I didn't wander too far." Gabriel's excuse was a poor one but he didn't particularly care. He took the inspection report from Sautern's hands and skimmed the document.

Surprisingly, it wasn't the jumbled mess that he'd witnessed from Retre. Instead, all the necessary information was meticulously given, written in accordance with Adrosian laws.

Gabriel couldn't help but feel unnerved. He passed the files to Anita to hold. "Do you mind if we take a look?" He asked.

Sautern's frown deepened. Gabriel surmised that if he wasn't the High Paladin, that man would have been happy to try giving him a shiner. "Is there a problem with the document, sir? I don't see why it would be necessary. I mean, I don't need to be rude but we're kind of busy here if you didn't already gather…"

Gabriel wasn't one to surrender easily, "It won't take much of your time." He insisted.

Tension boiled between them until it was thick enough to cut. Anita shuffled awkwardly on the side, for once she wasn't certain if it was safe for her to step in between.

Luckily, someone else came to disperse the confrontation.

"Is there a problem here?" A female voice called, drawing their attention. Her skin was tanned and hair fashionably short. With heels, her tall stature was even more overbearing, standing nearly eye to eye with Gabriel. Anita felt herself shrink away from all the giants that surrounded her. "Ah, if it isn't Gabriel. High Paladin now, huh?"

Gabriel blinked, uncertain how to feel about meeting Camilla in a place like this. He did his best to hide the surprise, "Camilla, it's been a while."

She smiled but her eyes were hallowed. There had been a time when Gabriel could read her like an open book, but now her gaze revealed nothing but an unnerving aura. Ever since a few years back, she'd been like a completely different person and Gabriel had to admit, he didn't particularly like it. "It certainly has."

Still, despite the odd feeling blooming in his gut, Gabriel stood his ground, "I'm surprised to see you here."

"I could say the same." She snickered. Anita gave them both wide-eyed looks. Gabriel wasn't looking forward to answering his assistant's questions later on. "Is there anything I could do for you?"

"We are here for an inspection," He said, feeling like a parrot of himself, "Allow us to check your wares and we'll be on our way. It's merely protocol."

Camilla nodded, "Of course, I understand." She bowed and lead them towards one of the trucks being loaded by large, heavy crates.

Anita poked her head around like a mischievous child and Gabriel couldn't help but scold her like one, "Anita, stop that."

"Hehehe…" She shied away from nosing around and hid back behind Gabriel's form.

Camilla chuckled, "I don't mind." She lead them towards one of the loading trucks and ordered a worker to open up the crate. A waft of something sharp hit Gabriel's nose that made him think of exotic eastern delicacies that the nobles were so intrigued by.

"Star anise, freshly imported." Camilla supplied.

"Right." Gabriel answered dryly.

Anita instantly squeaked with awe, "My mother would surely love this! She's always been fond of exotics like this!"

Gabriel inspected the state of the crate, uninterested in the spices. There was just something that didn't sit right with him, but when he couldn't find anything there was nothing the High Paladin could do aside from grit his teeth and pull away.

Camilla smiled, with eyes that were disturbingly knowing, "Would you like to see our other products?" She asked.

"Certainly." Gabriel nodded.

A whole hour later they had seen roughly a dozen different spices, majority of which have origins in the east and a small handful locally grown. Gabriel couldn't help but feel like he learned a lot of useless information.

"Have you only been dealing with spices?" Gabriel asked, cutting off the guilds woman from a long boring ramble.

Camilla gave the sample she was talking about to Anita who happily picked up the small container to smell its contents. "No, we do mercenary work as well, just as we always have." There was an empty ring to her words, cold and calculated.

Gabriel nodded.

She inspected him for a moment as if waiting for some sort of reaction before adding, "If you have more questions about that, you can always ask Frode."

Now that was a name that Gabriel wasn't expecting to hear, and didn't want to hear either. There was no way he could hide the way his eyes furrowed and lips tense, "You know I can't do that."

"Of course you can, he's in town after all."

"What in Solas is he doing in-" He took a deep breath, "Never mind. You're just going to tell me to ask him myself."

Camilla chuckled, "You know me well."

Soon the drivers were pulling away from the parking lot, guildsmen ran about to tidy up the chaos that was just taking place. "So, do we pass your inspection, Lord High Paladin Gabriel?" Camilla asked.

"Don't call me that." He responded immediately, despite the title being appropriate. He sighed. The truth was, Gabriel didn't want to admit it but there was no way to avoid that evidence in front of his eyes, "Yes." He said, holding back another sigh, "I'm sorry for taking your time, it appears that everything is in order." Perhaps he was wrong after all, the years living in the capital made him paranoid. Still, he was going to keep that inventory report, just in case.

"You worry too much." Camilla echoed his thoughts. "I understand it's not my place to interfere but really it's been years since you've spoken to Frode. Surely you've put aside those petty differences of yours?"

"Who's Frode?" Anita asked.

Gabriel could already feel the oncoming headache. While he was unwilling to say more on the topic he knew that if he didn't, Camilla sure would, "Frode Hagen is the current head of Crimson Crown. He's also known as the Mad Dog. I'm sure you've heard of him."

The girl gasped, "The Mad Dog! Is that so? You know him? What's he like? I've heard tales of him being likened to a terrible beast. Is that true?"

"Rumors are oftentimes exaggerated." Camilla was kind enough to escort them off to their car, away from the buzz of the docks. While Crimson Crown's ships pulled away, new ones came to take their place, sporting different flags but Gabriel found himself without interest to dive into their wares. "Frode is just a man like any other. Not very different from your High Paladin here."

"You're wrong." Gabriel's voice was cold, "That man is deserving of his name, he is a rampant beast that sees no reason."

"He's matured," Camilla argued, "Just as you have, Gabriel."

"Fine." Though Gabriel wasn't going to believe it until he saw it with his own two eyes. To him, Frode would forever be a child. Though, he wasn't about to engage in an argument about it with Camilla, especially not in front of Anita. "Thank you again, Camilla." He nodded his head in thanks as they arrived at the parked vehicle.

"No need, Gab. It was good to see you again." She tilted her head, "I suggest you go round to some of the old bars around here. They're very different than those pretentious places in downtown Edenea. It's more like back home, you know?"

"Edenea is my home." Gabriel corrected.

Camilla shrugged a shoulder, "Sure. Just know you're welcome back to Xillandra whenever."

"I highly doubt that." Gabriel thought, but Camilla didn't give him a chance to voice it because she simply turned around and walked back towards the docks with long strides.

"She's pretty cool." Anita said once Camilla's figure disappeared across the street, "Colour me surprised sir, I feel like I've learned more about you in one day than I have in years." She smirked towards him, "Looks like the High Paladin had quite a flock of beautiful girls in his past."

"Spare me from your wild imagination." Gabriel rolled his eyes, "Take that report back to headquarters. See if you can dig up some more information on Crimson Crown's history in Edenea. Also, see if you can find anything strange with the records for guilds' shipments in and out of the city."

The girl blinked in confusion, "You're not coming back?"

"No. I want to check something out," He supplied cryptically as he shrugged off his Knight's coat and tossed it in the car. "Do not wait for me."

Anita frowned, "Will you really be alright on your own? How will you get back home? Are you sure you'll survive in a taxi? Does the Lord High Paladin even know how to get around town on your own, sir?"

"Anita."

"What is it, sir?"

"Shut up, and drive safely for once."

She laughed, cheeks lighting in pink, "Ok fine! I'll stop teasing you and get out of your face. Have fun with whatever it is you're doing, sir!" The car whizzed off, barely bracing in time for a red light. Maybe he really ought to start considering a new chauffeur. The corner of his lip lifted ever so slightly at the thought before he was reminded of his current task and his expression immediately fell.

Right. Local bars. While there was still a sword strapped his hips and he wore those signature imperial black and blue trousers, without the coat, it wasn't nearly as conspicuous.