Provocateur

Provocateur

                "Have you two heard about the ball Andrav's holding?" asked Vanna, returning from what Tadyel assumed was a midday check-in with her superior.

                "Of course," replied Tadyel. "Mostly because he doesn't want any of the 'riffraff' there. The refugees in town have been complaining almost incessantly."

                "I've heard a couple of things as well," added Mavnen. "Are you attending it?"

                "We are attending it," stated Vanna. "I should receive our invitations later today."

                "Uh," began Tadyel. She was pretty sure she was part of the 'riffraff' - the refugees.

                "He's been convinced to allow you two - my new assistants - to attend. I would leave the decision to attend up to you, but we have orders relating to the event. We're to attend and attempt to alter the attitudes of those there towards the refugees," said Vanna.

                "In what way?" asked Mavnen. "Working towards some kind of unity would damage our efforts."

                "Our mission is the opposite, with a little bit of nuance. We've been ordered to increase suspicion of any refugees that are simply hanging around - Ormgus's people and leeches. Those that find work, such as yourselves, are 'just fine'. What exactly you say to change the minds of the attendees is up to you, but you should have plenty of chances to do so on the night of the ball," explained Vanna.

                "First thing first, however," Vanna continued, "There's two weeks until the ball, and you both have absolutely nothing to wear. Let's take your measurements. Gel, you first." She held up her measuring tape with a happy grin.

                Finally, something non-violent, thought Tadyel. She smiled herself, and chuckled at Vanna's strange joy.

                Attending the ball meant that some of their evening training swapped from combat to dance. Tadyel learnt the 'strong' parts of each dance, and Mavnen the 'weak' - Vanna, of course, knew both. Learning the basics of a few dances was a nice change of pace from the complicated intricacies of advanced combat (though Tadyel sadly realised that advanced dancing would be just as complicated).

                It was also nice to be doing better than Mavnen at something new. It was weird, though. Tadyel worked hard during their training (as she did for everything she was being taught); but Mavnen seemed uninterested in learning to dance despite it being important for their mission. Well, almost important: Vanna had said that she could cope with the embarrassment if they made a complete mess of the dancing. But she would prefer not to.

                During the day they worked on their outfits when not busy with other orders. Vanna had decided that due to changing styles and her role as chaperone she needed a new dress herself. Tadyel had found their normal working pace quite hectic, but with numerous fancy outfits to be made (they were, after all, not the only ones attending the ball) their working hours managed to eat into their training time! Without Mavnen providing an extra pair of hands, they might not have been able to manage it.

                Mid-afternoon of the day before the ball they finally completed their work. Vanna's dress was truly exceptional. It was sleeveless and with only a small collar it reached down to her mid-thigh. The deep sea colour went well with the ocean blue of Vanna's eyes - like the shallows above and the depths below. The outfit also included a wide sash to be tied around the midriff and a matching pale blue coat. Vanna modelled it for her apprentice-agents; to Tadyel she was the image of a powerful noble.

                Mavnen's outfit consisted of a knee-length red skirt, a ruffled pink blouse and a red shawl that matched the skirt. They'd also made her some long white socks to cover (and warm) her legs, which completed the outfit. Unlike Vanna, who wore her outfit like she was born to it, Mavnen seemed out of place when wearing hers. Vanna noticed as well, and apologised. "It suits your size but not your attitude, I think," she said.

                Tadyel, however, beamed when she saw herself in Vanna's full-length mirror. I look like some kind of lordling, she thought. Her outfit consisted of slim-fitting almost-black pants, a leaf green blouse similar to Mavnen's (but less heavily ruffled), and a dark green jacket. Wearing, owning, something nice made her feel good, despite the looming mission.

                Lined up together they made quite the trio, identical dancing shoes completing their outfits. They had all dressed up together, to ensure their outfits were right and ready. Combined the outfits seemed to evaporate Mavenen's slight out-of-place-ness, and they just looked like three women ready for a ball. Which was, of course, the entire point.

                The ball was being held in Andrav's mansion, in the northern part of Green Creek. Most of the 'important' townspeople - the town council, shopkeepers, those with holdings outside of town, and a few rich socialites - were invited. Many were bringing spouses, relatives or children along. It would have been the biggest event that month even without Andrav's anti-refugee stance causing a bit of a stir.

                Andrav's mansion was a grand structure, three stories tall with a large ballroom at the rear that looked out over his garden. Andrav himself was a 'businessman', managing the affairs of his numerous inherited holdings spread near Green Creek. Tadyel found the idea of someone dedicated solely to managing the large number of places they owned quite odd - the Thrath had never organised, only demanded.

                The trio arrived at the mansion right on time along with several other guests. Mavnen and Tadyel received a few curious looks, but after their invites were checked and they were allowed inside the looks abated to an extent. Still, some were curious as to why known refugees were allowed as guests given Andrav's stance on 'riffraff'.

                "Wow," murmured Tadyel as the group entered the ballroom. She'd seen some nice dwellings in Green Creek (much better than what she had left behind), and the Magi's fortress had been very grand, but the ballroom was the first place her mind immediately called 'opulent'.

                The floor was tiled with smooth, deep red stone with what looked like cracks of yellow running through it. Rugs were scattered about the room, adding dashes of other colour and softer flooring. Atop some of the rugs sat plush couches, some already occupied by guests in a wide variety of clothing - some similar to that the trio war, others quite different.

                Towards the exits to the garden there was a slightly dipped area tiled with pure white stones. Vanna had mentioned it earlier; it was the dance floor. In one of the far corners a band was setup and playing some music, although it wasn't anything Tadyel had been taught to dance to.

                Throughout the room small and tall round tables gave guests places to rest finished drinks and uneaten nibbles taken from Andrav's servants, several of whom were making their way around the room. Lighting was provided by several quite regal chandeliers, and flowery decorations had been placed throughout to add some extra flair. All in all, it took Tadyel quite a while to take in; time the trio spent wandering inwards slowly.

                "Should I pick your jaw up from the floor?" asked Vanna, amusement in her voice. "I guess you've never seen the like."

                "No," said Tadyel, "Not even in - in the places we went past on the way north. The Thrath had destroyed any beauty." Vanna's eyes had widened for a moment when Tadyel almost mentioned the Magi.

                "So, are we to begin mingling immediately?" asked Mavnen. Vanna glared at her.

                "We shall greet the host first, then I will begin introducing you both around," said Vanna. "Come!"

                Vanna led the two women across the ballroom and towards a man who was by far the most colourfully dressed. His clothing was broadly similar to Tadyel's, but his pants were loose and cream-coloured, his shirt white and as frilly as Mavnens, and his jacket a strangely vibrant deep green. Capping it all off was his hat - a small white tricorne, with feathers of each colour of the rainbow spilling forth from the back. Tadyel was unsure of whether she found his outfit impressive or ridiculous.

                "Ah, the general clothier arrives with her two minions," said the man as the women approached. "Well-dressed as always; and I see you've used your two apprentices to complete a colourful trio."

                The man paused, examining all three closely before continuing. "Very well done."

                "Thank you, Andrav," said Vanna. "These are indeed my apprentices; Mavnen and Tadyel."

                "Hard to believe they came here as refugees," said Andrav, squinting as he inspected the apprentices closely. "Then again, I can't really tell myself. Perhaps some sort of marker is in order."

                Vanna sighed. "Your ball seems to be picking up rapidly," she said, looking over at the entranceway. Guests were arriving in large numbers, almost a constant stream of colour.

                "Indeed it does," said Andrav. "I'd be delighted to chat with you some more later, Vanna, but for now I must see to my duties as host. Oh! And of course, welcome to all three!" Andrav made his last comment as he began heading away from the group, as if he had just remembered at the last moment.

                "Time to introduce you both to some of the prominent villagers," said Vanna. "Ven, hover here for a moment."

                "Alright," said Mavnen as Vanna took Tadyel's arm.

                Tadyel was dragged by Vanna right across the ballroom to a trio of couches. Two were unoccupied, while the third was completely occupied by a middle-aged reclining woman. She was huge - at least a hundred and eighty-five centimetres tall, and broader than Tadyel. "Who's this?" she asked, as the pair approached.

                "Hello Juke," said Vanna. "This is one of my apprentices, Tadyel."

                "Oh, yes, one of the strays. I never thought you were one to be so kind, Vanna. What did bring about this recent charge of heart?" asked Juke.

                "Too much work at once, mostly," said Vanna. "I probably should have taken an apprentice years ago, but... I guess I wanted to push myself."

                "You always have been a hard worker, dearie. I'm probably one of the few that remember that you haven't always been here. We'd certainly not have someone reliable making half the clothes in this town," said Juke.

                Her comments made Tadyel realise that Juke was wearing the very long wrap Vanna had been working on for the past few days. It moved through several different colours, but rather than being in sections seemed to flow between them. Getting the dyes just right had taken Vanna quite a bit of time.

                "Thank you, Juke. Would you mind keeping Tadyel company for a while? I have-" began Vanna.

                "Oh yes, of course. This is a very good thing to bring them to, what with all the anti-refugee sentiment these days. Show everyone your little birds aren't a threat and all," Juke said with a chortle.

                Vanna smiled, then nodded her head and left Tadyel behind. "Well, don't just stand there, take a seat!" exclaimed Juke, waving a beefy hand towards one of the other couches.

                Tadyel took a seat, then said, "It's nice to meet you."

                "Good to meet you too! Vanna's been very busy of late training you and that other one she's taken in. Actually, a bit longer than that; she's been scarce socially for the past three and a part months. Quite unusual for her, I must say. It's good to see her out again - she always dresses to amaze," chattered Juke.

                "She did make herself quite the outfit," said Tadyel. "A new one, too."

                "It helps her drum up business, I'm quite sure. Why, if I hadn't seen some of her creations, I'd never have had her make my shawl here! I might have gotten the same from the dress-maker or the tailor, but never quite as quick. Truly I don't know how she does it."

                "I thought I recognised it," said Tadyel, short on things to say.

                "Oh, of course. Enough about Vanna. Tell me about yourself. How was it down on the Peninsula? And the journey, my, that must have been something."

                Cover time, thought Tadyel. "The Thrath are monsters. They delight in ... anything that hurts people. They only let us live so we could farm and do everything they don't want to. We weren't slaves - the Thrath didn't seem to care if we just left. But we had nowhere to go unless we risked the journey north, and... It's a long journey, and it's not remotely safe.

                "I only made it because of a cache my family had hidden. There are still people who will take jewels and other riches, if you can find them. I made my way along the mountain line - far out of the way of the Thrath - and crossed the desert alone. Only a little of it is real desert, so someone well prepared like I was can make it. Most... Aren't so well prepared."

                "Oh, I see. That must have been... Well, rather dull for you, my dear! How did your family manage to leave such a cache? Why not just leave?"

                "My family were hereditary counts, and my grandparents put the cache in place. As for why they didn't leave... It wasn't always as bad as it got, especially for my class. For quite a while we were trusted to manage our lands. That ended two decades ago. My grandparents were killed in the turmoil, and my mother injured too severely to make any journey.

                "In the years that followed my father died, and when my mother finally passed I took my chance and left. The walk was dull at times, yes, but I saw... horrible things, even along the mountains," explained Tadyel.

                "You poor thing. I must ask though, is it not odd to take up as a trade as a former noble?"

                "My family was relieved of our duties when I was very young. I've spent most of my life farming, though my parents made sure I was better behaved and taught than the common rabble," replied Tadyel, mixing some truth in with the lies.

                "It's a tragedy that one like yourself has been brought so low. But there is good in honest work!" exclaimed Juke, attempting to sound wise.

                "I have no other choice; pressing my claim against the Thrath would be... Difficult. I'm very grateful that Vanna decided to take me on as an apprentice. Otherwise I would have had to move on without a coin to my name."

                "You could always hang around like most of the refugees are."

                "I could not bring myself to beg, or expect endless charity."

                "Oh yes. It was alright to start with, but it's as if they expect the tap to never dry. They should be finding work or moving on!"

                "I - agree, actually," Tadyel said, surprised that the view she was supposed to espouse was one Juke already had. Then again, Tadyel's agreement would reinforce Juke's ideas; and she was certainly a boisterous one.

                "Swell! Now to get the damn leeches to as well." Juke huffed.

                "I'm not interrupting, am I?" asked Vanna, suddenly appearing between the couches.

                "Oh, just asking about her time down south," said Juke, "And complaining about the endless charity we're seemingly obliged to dispense!"

                Vanna smiled. "It sounds as if the two of you got along well. Unfortunately I have to steal my apprentice away to speak to a few young men and women now," she said, her smile shifting to a sly one.

                "Oh, daren't let me keep you. I could use a bit of young love to lighten my mood," said Juke. "By the by, you're never going to meet the right one yourself, are you?"

                "No, I don't think so," said Vanna, taking Tadyel by the arm and steering her away. Tadyel managed a quick wave to Juke as they departed.

                "Small secret," whispered Vanna to Tadyel as they navigated the ballroom, "I'm engaged to someone elsewhere."

                Before Tadyel had time to (inadvisably) ask for clarification, she was face to face with the next person Vanna wanted her to meet.

                The many conversations Tadyel had that evening quickly became a blur in her memory. Vanna would introduce her, she and the person would talk briefly (and always manage to talk about the other refugees, giving Tadyel the opportunity to slip in her 'views'), then Vanna would reappear to move her to the next person. In the background, she saw that Mavnen was being pulled about similarly. Tadyel hoped that she didn't look quite as lost, though.

                In fact, she thought she was doing rather well. Most of those Vanna had her speak to had (or at least, expressed) the 'correct' view during conversation, and the most exceptions were soppier types who thought not enough was being done. Only one individual had something against the 'peninsula people', and she was somewhat offputtingly vile. Vanna had apologised after that one when she saw Tadyel's expression.

                A handful of the chats were conducted while she danced with a partner, words briefly exchanged between the moves of the dance. The one that amused her most was a conversation with three others during the only larger group dance she had been taught; she spent so long laughing she forgot to bring up serious topics at all.

                It was a fun evening, despite it being a mission. Meeting new people was entertaining. They often made her laugh or oooh in interest. Andrav's guests - or at least, those Vanna wanted her to speak to - were mostly top notch.

                Late in the evening, Andrav appeared with Vanna by his side and asked her to dance. Vanna gave an almost imperceptible nod when glanced at, so Tadyel smiled and said "Sure."

                They made their way to the dance floor, and with a mutual bow they began the dance.

                "Apologies for interrupting you mid-conversation, Tadyel, but I long ago decided upon dancing with all the ladies in Green Creek at least once; and Vanna has convinced me that you are here to stay," he said as they began the dance.

                "For a few years, at least," said Tadyel, as their movements took them by one another. "Perhaps longer."

                "It's an honour to have one of noble blood such as yourself here. We sadly don't have a real nobility in our loose alliance of towns; just families with long histories and power." Tadyel stepped around behind Andrav.

                "That's often what nobility is. Sadly, the history of my house is now a pile of ash." Facing one another, the dancing pair joined hands.

                "But you will build it anew, no? Even if it takes generations." They stepped close, then apart, and released hands.

                "I will focus on building a new life here, but I doubt Green Creek greatly craves the control of nobility." Andrav stepped around behind Tadyel.

                "True, true. It is good to see that some of the refugees start building a new life. The others are growing tiresome. I having nothing but disdain for a man that does not work." As they span each other twice apiece, Tadyel noticed that Andarv was eyeing a rich, jobless heir he'd had no choice but to invite.

                "The others should be building new lives, finding work, if they stay. None of us can return home. I'm really worried about the... 'Followers', though. They don't work and they're not going anywhere. They want to fight the Magi! How can they do that with just what they're given?" Joining hands again, they span around, moving to another position as other pairs did the same.

                "Yes. Many of us find them quite worrying, even with their leader more than two months dead. If it were my choice, I'd see them gone." With a bow to one another, the dance was over.

                "Thank you for the dance," said Tadyel.

                "My pleasure. Savannah has taught you well. Or did you learn in the south?" asked Andrav.

                "I had no time to. The little free time I had was spent learning of my country, and my family," replied Tadyel.

                "I see. Savannah impresses as always. Please enjoy the rest of the ball - I do believe I shall track down your fellow apprentice for a dance," said Andrav.

                "I shall," replied Tadyel. With mutual short bows, the pair split off.

                The remainder of the evening passed quite quickly. Vanna appeared almost immediately after Andrav left and steered Tadyel onto the next conversation (and dance). By the end of the night Tadyel was pretty sure that she had talked to at least half of those attending the ball.

                The trio of provocateurs left as the ball was winding down, saying goodbyes as made their way out. While they walked, Tadyel snacked on the nibbles she'd plundered. They were delicious.

                "That was fun," she said, between mouthfuls.

                Vanna smiled, but Mavnen said, "That was pointless. They already hate the followers plenty."

                "It was still fun," said Tadyel.

                Vanna looked up and down the street, then said, "It reinforced what the already believed, which is important."

                "Important for what?" asked Mavnen.

                "Ensuring they keep hating the followers. Enough hate and they'll do our work for us and drive the followers out with fire and bloodshed," explained Vanna.

                "That's, um," said Tadyel, "Kind of horrible."

                "At least there is a point," said Mavnen, as she cracked her neck noisily.