Hugo and the Council, Part 2
This log takes place in the days leading up to Hugo's return to Budehuc, and immediately after this log.
Taking a deep breath, Hugo stepped through the door from the meeting room into what looked like a common lounge. A few Councillors were drinking coffee and talking amongst themselves. Nervously, Hugo scanned the room - which one was Councillor Jordash?
Finally, his eyes settled on a lone Councillor seated close to the fireplace. Of all the Councillors in the room, this man was the only one going over notes while drinking his coffee. Purposefully, Hugo walked across the room. "Councilman Jordash? I have something of grave importance I must speak with you about.," Hugo said in a hushed tone. Without waiting to be invited to sit down, Hugo took the nearest chair.
Jordash looked up from his coffee and his eyes narrowed at the boy. He looked familiar, somehow and his gusto at approaching him was remarkable. "Yes? Do I know you?"
"I'm Hugo, Chief of the Karayans and son of Lucia. But I don't come on behalf of my clan," Hugo leaned forward, his eyes straying briefly to the other councilmen in the room. He might have to make a quick get away and it would pay to know where everyone was. "I come on behalf of Budehuc Castle and the Castlemaster, Thomas."
"Budehuc you say," Jordash raised a brow as he sipped his coffee. "Do tell. We've had reports of some problems out there."
"I would call it more than 'some problems', Councilman." Hugo regarded the Councillor for a moment, trying to take his measure before continuing. He didn't know this man, Sarah or the Innkeeper - but it was a risk he had to take for the castle. "Councilman Lowma and his marshalls have come to the castle under the guise that the Castle Master treated some Zexen Merchants unfairly - which did not happen - and has threated to lay siege to the castle if Thomas does not turn it over to him."
"He has also ordered the arrest of Louis Keeferson. He claims that Louis is a spy, but that couldn't be further from the truth."
Jordash pulled at his beard in thought. "We did not authorize Lowma to take such action. He is acting of his own volition but that doesn't mean it's right nor does it mean he's wrong. We did hear that some members of that castle were causing problems in Zexen. As for Keeferson...that information troubles me greatly. I am good friends with that family."
Hugo shook his head. "Lady Chris and Sir Percival tried to arrange to see Louis, but they were denied access. No one knows how Louis is ...." licking his lips nervously, Hugo went for the sucker punch, " ... not even his pregnant fiance."
Rubbing his forehead in torment, Jordash sighed. "I don't what I can do about Lowma until I bring the matter in front of my colleagues, but I can certainly order the release of Keeferson. I do hope his mother and his fiance will forgive this. I can't imagine what that idiot Lowma was thinking."
Hugo nodded. "One of Councilman Lowma's men was caught stealing from the castle infirmary. Thomas has said that he would be willing to release the man to Zexen authorities for punishment."
Jordash nodded and stood up. "Our meeting will start shortly and I can address that, as well as Lowma. For now, I'll give you a paper that will authorize the release of Keeferson."
Hugo stood as well, his heart leaping to his throat - Louis would be released! "Will this authorize his immediate release?"
Jordash scribbled something on a sheet of parchment and handed it to Hugo. "He'll have to stay in Zexay until this whole mess is resolved properly, but here. And please, tell him I apologize."
Accepting the paper, Hugo folded it and tucked it safely into his tunic pockets. "Thank you, Councilman Jordash. If you need to reach me, you can send a message to me at the Inn here in Vinay del Zexay."
Jordash nodded and began to walk towards the meeting room.
Slightly shocked at how easily the conversation with Councilman Jordash had gone, Hugo watched the man leave for his meeting. And then, before anyone could question him, Hugo walked as quickly as he dared to the Zexen jail.
Taking a deep breath, Hugo stepped through the door from the meeting room into what looked like a common lounge. A few Councillors were drinking coffee and talking amongst themselves. Nervously, Hugo scanned the room - which one was Councillor Jordash?
Finally, his eyes settled on a lone Councillor seated close to the fireplace. Of all the Councillors in the room, this man was the only one going over notes while drinking his coffee. Purposefully, Hugo walked across the room. "Councilman Jordash? I have something of grave importance I must speak with you about.," Hugo said in a hushed tone. Without waiting to be invited to sit down, Hugo took the nearest chair.
Jordash looked up from his coffee and his eyes narrowed at the boy. He looked familiar, somehow and his gusto at approaching him was remarkable. "Yes? Do I know you?"
"I'm Hugo, Chief of the Karayans and son of Lucia. But I don't come on behalf of my clan," Hugo leaned forward, his eyes straying briefly to the other councilmen in the room. He might have to make a quick get away and it would pay to know where everyone was. "I come on behalf of Budehuc Castle and the Castlemaster, Thomas."
"Budehuc you say," Jordash raised a brow as he sipped his coffee. "Do tell. We've had reports of some problems out there."
"I would call it more than 'some problems', Councilman." Hugo regarded the Councillor for a moment, trying to take his measure before continuing. He didn't know this man, Sarah or the Innkeeper - but it was a risk he had to take for the castle. "Councilman Lowma and his marshalls have come to the castle under the guise that the Castle Master treated some Zexen Merchants unfairly - which did not happen - and has threated to lay siege to the castle if Thomas does not turn it over to him."
"He has also ordered the arrest of Louis Keeferson. He claims that Louis is a spy, but that couldn't be further from the truth."
Jordash pulled at his beard in thought. "We did not authorize Lowma to take such action. He is acting of his own volition but that doesn't mean it's right nor does it mean he's wrong. We did hear that some members of that castle were causing problems in Zexen. As for Keeferson...that information troubles me greatly. I am good friends with that family."
Hugo shook his head. "Lady Chris and Sir Percival tried to arrange to see Louis, but they were denied access. No one knows how Louis is ...." licking his lips nervously, Hugo went for the sucker punch, " ... not even his pregnant fiance."
Rubbing his forehead in torment, Jordash sighed. "I don't what I can do about Lowma until I bring the matter in front of my colleagues, but I can certainly order the release of Keeferson. I do hope his mother and his fiance will forgive this. I can't imagine what that idiot Lowma was thinking."
Hugo nodded. "One of Councilman Lowma's men was caught stealing from the castle infirmary. Thomas has said that he would be willing to release the man to Zexen authorities for punishment."
Jordash nodded and stood up. "Our meeting will start shortly and I can address that, as well as Lowma. For now, I'll give you a paper that will authorize the release of Keeferson."
Hugo stood as well, his heart leaping to his throat - Louis would be released! "Will this authorize his immediate release?"
Jordash scribbled something on a sheet of parchment and handed it to Hugo. "He'll have to stay in Zexay until this whole mess is resolved properly, but here. And please, tell him I apologize."
Accepting the paper, Hugo folded it and tucked it safely into his tunic pockets. "Thank you, Councilman Jordash. If you need to reach me, you can send a message to me at the Inn here in Vinay del Zexay."
Jordash nodded and began to walk towards the meeting room.
Slightly shocked at how easily the conversation with Councilman Jordash had gone, Hugo watched the man leave for his meeting. And then, before anyone could question him, Hugo walked as quickly as he dared to the Zexen jail.