Subscribe to Talien's Tower on Facebook, Twitter, email or via the Site Feed

Tuesday, March 3

Brothers: Part 2 – Colombo’s Office

They set out for the Navigli in the late afternoon. Paulo negotiated the journey with a carriage driver.

Once aboard, the vehicle moved away from the city center on the small roads and bridges of the community. It was foggy and there was no other traffic. Rain had set in, falling in a steady drizzle.

For much of the journey the carriage had to crawl, at other times it pushed slowly through crowds of local residents. The driver frequently stopped to give Colombo’s name to passers by.

Finally, they pulled up to a rather squalid terrace.

”This is it,” said Paulo. He told the driver to wait and stepped out of the carriage. The others followed behind him.

A faded legend above one door announces: OFFICE. Sebastian knocked on it.

Upon his knock, someone called, “Vieni qui!”

“That means enter in High Coryan.” Sebastian pushed the door opened.

The door gave into a room about ten feet on each side with a desk, two chairs, and a single shelf of books. On one wall was a painting. Although it seemed to be a supper with Illiir at the center, the artist had painted the scene from the back and no faces were visible. On another wall was a very faded painting of a young priest with a cardinal.

Behind the desk sat a toothless, bald man with one milky white eye. He wore a sour expression. In front of him sat a slim man with a gaunt face and longish straight black hair. A small cup of coffee was set before each man.

“Hello,” Sebastian said with a slight smile. “Are you Thomas Villiers?”

“Che?” asked the older man.

“Thomas Villiers?” Sebastian repeated.

The older man looked to the younger, who just smiled and shrugged.

“Thom-as Vil-liers?” Sebastian repeated slowly for the third time.

Finally, the younger man laughed. “I’m Thomas.” He pointed at the older man. “This is Giuseppe Colombo. I can speak both Low and High Coryan fluently. You must forgive my rudeness. I was just admiring your efforts, it reminded me a great deal of myself just a few years ago.” [MORE]

Labels: arcanis

posted by Mike Tresca at 6:37 AM

Want more? Please consider contributing to my Patreon; Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and the web; buy my books: The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games, The Well of Stars, and Awfully Familiar.

---