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"Proposition" (Gregminister) " Not another one?!" Coates shook his head in disbelief. Tyler, an employee of his father's trading center, had just brought in the groundbreaking news of the day...and it wasn't good. " Yessir!" Tyler nodded repeatedly, " They found this woman with her hand chopped off near the fountain...and I heard the City Guard are gonna put a ban on the selling of runes from today onwards!" Coates grimaced. This has been the 3rd 'Rune Mutilation' incident in the past month. The twilight attacks were brutal, with the mysterious assailant obtaining runes from his victims violently and leaving them to die in their crippled state. Even with increased security after the first attack, another citizen was assaulted not long after, and as expected, his runed hand was taken away from him. And now with the latest occurrence of this vicious deed, Coates expected that unrest in Gregminster was a possibility if something is not done soon to stop this source of fear. " The ban itself wouldn't do much though," Coates said as he got up from his seat, moving towards the new shipments Tyler had brought in," Too many people in Gregminster already own runes to begin with." " Including you, sir." Tyler was referring to the Water Rune Coates had on his left hand. " Yeah..." " Shouldn't you remove it for now, sir? Just as a precaution." " I'll consider it," Coates said as he inspected the items before him," I haven't been using the thing lately...but then again I heard the ones taken so far in the attacks are the rare ones, isn't it?" " It seems so...a Fury, Double Beat, and Flowing...but you shouldn't leave things to chance, sir. You'll never know what these crazy bastards want...and Mr. Gordon wouldn't want you to get hurt." Coates smiled, appreciating the employee's concern. Tyler was right though; his father wouldn't want him to get hurt, since he was the one to inherit the family business when the time arrives. So far, working as an assistant in the city's trading center has been a breeze for the bright young man, learning and understanding the various responsibilities that form the foundation of the business. After all, his father's success was not something that was achieved overnight, and Coates knew that he must accept and appreciate the role bestowed upon him as a beloved son... " OY, COATES!" ...a concept that was pretty much ignored by the person standing at the entrance of the building. Coates raised his head in surprise, and his face immediately melted into a frown, as what he saw confirmed the identity of the voice. The lanky person at the entrance waved his hand, flashing Coates his youthful smile. " How is my pal today?" He grinned cheekily. " Your pal?" Coates squinted, unamused with the merry greeting," Oh, you mean the pal whom you decided to humiliate in the tavern last week? I'm VERY fine, thank you." " Oh man..." The visitor groaned as he stepped into the building,"...You still can't let me off that one? I was only giving my best pal a treat..." " With a bevy of dancing-girls breathing down my neck?!" Coates growled," Sheena, YOU of all people know I can't handle that kind of thing!" Coates still remembered that particular event that transpired in the week before; under the pretense of a quiet dinner between friends, Sheena had hired a group of dancing girls to amuse the young trader with their graceful moves and wily ways, making quite a merry scene as they set on doing so. However, despite his friendly personality and considerable good-looks, Coates was shy in nature when it comes to women...and to be forced into such a 'heavenly' situation only succeeded in making him extremely nervous...which caused him to panic...and then faint unceremoniously in front of the crowds of people that were present that night. It was not an experience Coates would care to remember. " I really am sorry, Coates," Sheena's grin turned meek as he approached his fuming friend," And to show how sincere this apology is, I'm going to make it up to you today with lunch at this fabulous new restaurant in town." " THAT is supposed to make me feel better?" " Come on...I swear, the food there is to die for!" <Since when did Sheena actually LIKED anything?> Coates thought. After all, his friend was the ultimate pampered poodle whose pickiness, especially when it comes to dining, is legendary among grumpy and fuming cooks that had served him before. It's amazing that he is singing praises for whatever this new eatery is...maybe it is worth Coates' 'forgiveness'. " I take it I can bleed you dry today?" Coates smirked. " Uh heh heh..." Sheena chuckled, a slightly nervous tone present within it," For the sake of friendship, I would gladly let you do so...just be gentle on poor me, eh?" Coates threw his head back as he laughed, tossing his hazel pony-tail backwards. It's hard to stay angry with Sheena, he being a good friend and all...and to be honest, he didn't feel like holding onto the memories of that night any longer. Time to make up, as they say, and let the good times roll! " Tyler! Tell my father I'll be back after lunch!" Coates had to admit...this was one of the most strangest things he had ever seen in his life. He couldn't help but stare at Sheena, who was gleefully tucking into his food. The strawberry-blonde lad was munching away without missing a beat, picking up morsels from different dishes like lightning. Just like the way he picked up girls. " Oi, oi," Coates waved his chopsticks," Slow down...you'll choke on something at this rate." " It's just so good!" Sheena explained, his voice muffled by his chewing," Don't mind me." <And he was supposed to treat me, huh?> Coates rolled his eyes, grudgingly accepting the fact that his friend was, without a doubt, hopeless. " Oh, yeah...before I forget," Sheena paused, his hand reaching into his crimson coat. He pulled out a gold card, one slightly bigger than his hand, and handed it over to Coates. " Something special for you." Coates set his chopsticks aside, and turned his attention towards the card. His eyes read the writings present on it, and cocked a brow as he reached the end. " The Gregminster Ball?" he said as he looked up. " You're invited, buddy." " Are you serious?" Coates said in disbelief," Going ahead with the ball despite the 'Rune Mutilations'? It's not the proper time for this --- your father should consider canceling it this year!" " It's as good a time as any, Coates," Sheena responded, his tone suddenly serious," We need to turn the people's attention away from the attacks, especially now when it seems that unsettling sentiments have emerged here and there." " The people voicing out their concern for action, you mean?" " The City Guard are doing whatever they can right now, but they need more time to investigate..." " Three attacks, Sheena! People need an instant solution, not delays..." " Believe me, everyone's doing their best to track the bastards down, but we're not going to let this be a chance for an unrest to happen in the city...remember, Toran is still young, and some loyalties are still uncertain." Coates sighed. What Sheena said made sense; Toran was indeed a new country, and the process of truly unifying the factions under its flag was still on way. Not everyone was content over how the road to this goal was being taken, and some have been known to seize any opportunity to divert it to their own advantage. Even the 'Rune Mutilations' could be used as a tool to question the capabilities of the current government, since they occur in the heart of the country itself. " That is why high-profiled members of the public must attend this ball, to give a sense of security for everyone that will buy the City Guard the time they need," Sheena continued," And that includes you and your dad, Coates." " Great..." Coates groaned,"...I suppose we can't choose otherwise?" Sheena shook his head. "Sorry. Just co-operate with the Guard for this one, eh? If you can't do it for them, then do it for my sake, eh? I'd hate to disappoint my dad with bad news since he'll take it out on me." " Oh, you have my sympathies, Sheena," Coates muttered sarcastically. " Besides," Sheena smiled, ignoring his friend's jab," Lady Attha will be there as well." Coates suddenly moved forward in attention. " What?" " She agreed to co-operate," Sheena grinned widely, knowing that he had gotten his friend's full attention," Her brother is one of the Guard's commanders, after all. But I suspect her eagerness was more due to the 'Rune Mutilations' itself..." " When did she come back? What do you mean?" Coates asked in all his wide-eyed expression. No one attracted the attention of the young trader more than news of Lady Attha Mari Albion. The daughter of the late Lord Farazar Albion, a famous trader since the days of the Scarlet Moon Empire, Attha heads the family's trade activities since her brothers opted for other lines of occupation; Juntha Albion, the oldest, as one of the three commanders of Gregminster's City Guard, and Gibraltha Albion, the second son, as a priest in a temple not far from the city. Only 23 in age, the brunette was capable as she was beautiful, and had so far managed to maintain her family's reputation in expertise and shrewdness in her trades; in fact, she was so good that Gordon regards the young woman as a formidable rival to his own business. What Gordon didn't know was that his son was already smitten by his adversary; Coates has been admiring Lady Attha from afar since he settled in Gregminster. He couldn't do much other than that since he hadn't the courage to go up to her, much even to convey his feelings about her. Besides, her rivalry with her father was a big problem in itself... Sheena was one of the very few who knew that fact. " She arrived early this morning," Sheena explained," She was quite angry too, since the ban on rune sales had effectively made the supplies she brought in worthless. And she had so much of them, it seems." " Aw, man!" Coates cringed. " I heard she crashed in during a City Guard briefing, and actually beat her brother up in front of all his men, since he was the one who declared the ban..." At this point, Sheena began to laugh," Alen and Grenseal had to really pull her off Commander Albion! What would I give to see that spectacle with my own eyes!!" " SHEENA!" " Ha ha...sorry, pal..." Sheena stifled his chortle, knowing his blue-eyed friend was annoyed with his amusement with the embarrassing situation,"...well, the point is, she will be there at the ball. Here's your chance to talk to her." " You think its okay? You know how my dad and Lady Attha are..." " Coates, it's a social gathering, for God's sakes!" Sheena exclaimed," Even your father knows better than to object to acts of etiquette, right? I'm even staying away from her so that she won't be charmed by my sheer good looks!" " Hah!" Coates scoffed, waving his chopsticks from side to side," Believe me, she still won't be charmed even if you trailed her everywhere." Sheena only laughed, for his friend knew him only too well. Despite the jab, he was glad to know that his friend had agreed to co-operate, so his task for the day was done. He turned his attention back onto his food, and at the same time changed the subject of the conversation. " You know, the chef of this place came from the North." " Really?" Coates chomped on a piece of meat," So he's from Jowston, huh?" " Sort of...honestly, I think his cooking is fabulous..." Sheena pushed a bowl towards Coates, which was filled with creamy liquid with cubed meat and vegetables, "You have to try this Spiced Venison Stew...it's the house specialty!" Scooping in his spoon, Coates then brought the stew to his mouth. He savored the rich flavor that definitely was agreeable to his tastebuds; indeed what Sheena claimed was true...the chef was truly a good one. <The venison tastes different though> Coates noted as he chomped on the meaty filling. Then again, he had not eaten venison for quite a while.
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