Timeline

29 122 Venna 22th Jerrid's arrival at Othala (tavern)
29 128 Gwion 02th Jerrid's arrival at Monsegor (a curious letter)
29 152 Rayda 02th Jerrid visits McBlein (a small visit)
29 153 Rayda 03th Jerrid pledges allegiance to the House of McGreggor (the chest)

The Arrival

He was coming to a stop. It had taken him 3 days journey by horse, since setting foot on this earth. ……But it had taken him nearly 2 years, before he purchased this beast.

He had been lost too long. Much too long to just show up and declare himself found. The plan was still unfolding.
His horse had stopped now, and the drizzle of rain that had accompanied him all day was still there. It was a good feeling this rain. One thing Shavina was giving him which made him take comfort in. Just like the rain from his home. He fancied a thought. It must be raining also, on a world near the edge of this galaxy. A small smile surfaced on his face. “Sure, why not”, he thought, “It always rains at this time of year.”

Yes, Othala was nearly identical. But much different. That is why he was here. The rare smile slowly faded from within. He missed his father. He could recall it, like it was yesterday. His father’s kiss.….and the look in his eyes. The look a father gives his only son. His only hope and salvation. The Blessing of his journey that must be taken. Jerrid knew who he was now, and what he had to accomplish. There was never any thought of failure. It was never even contemplated.

He was still mounted, and read the old sign on the tavern. His horse shook the rain from its head. Out of the shadows and rain, a figure started to approach him (a servant). Jerrid dismounted and gave the reins to this hand. His horse would be put in the keep and out of the rain. He gave his mare a pat of reasurance, as it was led away. Walking up to the doors, he swiped back the hood of his soaked cloak. …And entered, as a commoner.

Jerrid Syn entered The Tavern of the Seducted Soul. He removed his overcloack and hung it to dry among the others. His neck hairs tingled and rose, as he felt eyes probing and sizing him up. He casually turned and gave the place a look around. He was careful not to make any prolong eye contact with the patrons, but stopped his glance to nod and acknowledge one of the keepers. A good evening was applied. With this, he spotted a small table and made his way over to it, gesturing for warm ale.

He had picked one not too far or near of what he perceived would be the most obvious place men of worth would gather. Yes, he was here for a reason. .....And the information he was seeking, he'd have to find, without asking.

It was early in the evening and Jerrid had gathered that these were mostly common folks (such as what he represented), chattering about local events. Receiving his ale, he then ordered a small bite to dull the cold that was still upon him. He started to look around a bit more. .... But now, without the hairs on his neck alarming him. He'd been sized up enough already and posed no threat or interest to anyone here. He was now fading into the woodwork and was nothing more than a man (commoner) in a tavern.

As another round of ale seemed appropriate and welcomed, Jerrid sensed more men making their way into this place. As the evening wore on, Jerrid could tell the rain had stopped (by the dryer clothes these patrons wore). He gestured to one of the keepers walking by his table and beckoned her forth. Logging for the night was arranged and settled. Jerrid Syn sat at his small table throughout the evening, drinking another ale, but with his ears wide open. This would be a long night.

Jerrid spent his evenings at the tavern. Moving about, drinking, and eating amongst the common folks. He would do this till the early hours just before dawn. At which time he’d sleep till nearly midday in his quaters. Then he would take to the ez-ways that bordered the territories of Lords. Such ez-ways were the common roads that were a way to travel these lands, without trespassing on any Lords properties. His mare was a strong healthy beast and did her part until they returned back to the tavern in the early evenings. He'd be gone all day, always heading in a different direction. Always returning by early evening. Jerrid did so, for many days.
All along, getting bits and pieces of information from the local small talk he would pick up at the tavern. It seemed that each evening, he was getting closer and closer to what he needed to know. This was also sparking a fire within him. A dangerous flame, that if unchecked, may overwhelm him. He couldn't think as clearly with this fever rising. He was also becoming impatient, and this was one of the symptoms.

This one night, a heavy rain had started to fall. This was good. For now the fever within him was effecting his thoughts. The dragon fire was burning too hot. He would not stay tonight and listen to these old men and their whispers. This night, the rain was beckoning him to cool his thoughts. All he had heard here, he'd have to sort it out. But his mind had to be clear.
He had called for his horse again and it was still saddled and ready outside the tavern. She was tired from the day’s ride and she didn’t welcome the rain. The servant hand of the keep held out her reins to Jerrid and he mounted her again. With a nod he swung her to his left and took off into the night.

Jerrid rode her hard. The force of the cold heavy rain at full stride was working. The fire within had stopped spreading. Now it only had to be extinguished. (It was a cursed thing to give into the dragon fire. It should not consume and take over your spirit.) Jerrid had thought he would be free of such spirits when he left his home......but here, when it sparked, it seemed to burn with a hotter fuel. (It was a cursed thing. It had once consumed his people and nearly destroyed them. It was never to control them again. So was it decreed. So it was law.)

He pushed the mare harder. The moonless cold night and the heavy rain was taking its toll on them both
The fire within was dying and fading out. The mare was struggling now. There was no thunder to be heard. The pitch of darkness held no flash. The rain felt like stones and his horse was loosing its grip. The frantic breathing below him was faltering but Jerrid pressed her on.

As the last of his spark faded within, the mare suddenly broke under him....
...The darkness and rain was still beating down on Jerrid, as he stood over his beast. It lay there in the mud, not moving nor breathing. She had paid the price in serving this master. Jerrid fell to his knees and lowered his head. With his hand outstretched, he laid it now on her mane and let out a sigh of regret. Yes, his fire was out. He'd have a long walk back now. That, and the rain which seemed to pick up. He raised himself up, turned and walked away. He didn't look back, as he left his mare (lifeless) by the edge of the woods.

...Housr later, a lone figure was approaching the tavern. Jerrid entered and made his way straight to his quarters. He paid no heed to the stares that fell his way. This was the last night he would spend in The Tavern of the Seducted Soul. He had barely enough feeling and strength to discard his wet clothes before passing out on his bed. His father’s words would soon visit him.

Opening his eyes to darkness, Jerrid realized how long he had slept. His mind was clear now and in order. He'd have to wait till dawn again. He'd slept for nearly a full days cycle and would take this extra time to plan his next move. He'd have to aquire a new horse. ( This is why he'd have to wait till light would break.)

...Jerrid settled the matter of the horse and saddle with the keep. All this done with the credits he had aquired during his 2 year journey to reach Shevina. He had been in the services of a few professions. Some were questionable, but not compromising to his codes of honor. At the same time, learning (what needed to be learned) to move about in the Core Worlds. And learning a great deal of this rulling government they call The Empire.

"Know your Enemys, Enemies"...The words of his Father. All was still clear to him, as the day his Father kissed his son. The day he was Heir to the House of Zarkan.

...It was another mare. Jerrid took the reins and mounted her. Well...befitting enough, he thought. He was no Lord here. She would also serve her purpose. This journey would take him to Monsegor. The man he seeked, he'd see in person. "Well fitting", thought Jerrid. He gave her a nudge and was off on his quest.

EPILOGUE
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(detail of an event)

He had taken on the hand of the keep at the Tavern of the Seducted Soul as his servant. It was Jerrid's keen eye for detail and an old familiar dask (amulet) that a hand of the keep possessed, that made this happen. It was the first morning, that he noticed the dask hanging low on the servant, when he mounted his mare. She had been saddled and ready for him, as he had arranged with the Tavern the night before.
Upon his return in the early evening the same hand came up to meet Jerrid as he dismounted to take the mare to its keep. As Jerrid handed him the reins, he thanked this man by his sir name, "McBlein." Hearing a patron addressing him by family name, made him look onto Jerrid's eyes and gazed there for a while (longer than one of his stature should do, to a paying patron of his employer). Jerrid gave him a small friendly smile and directed, "This' be the name of thy house?" And continued without a demanding tone, " May I ask of thy birth name?....That I may thank thee of thy services?"

The man was still somewhat stunned and replied, "Eye, my name is of McBlein, Sire....Sade McBlein". And with this he took his gaze off Jerrid and still seemed confused, as to how this man had come to know of his family name. "Thank you, for attending to me, Sade McBlein", smiled Jerrid to the man, as he was now leading the horse to the keep.
Jerrid stood outside the tavern door until Sade went out of sight, then entered.

....One last stormy night as Jerrid walked back drenched to the bone, it was Sade that meet him a few yard off with a cloak to shed the rain from this young man he had come to call Sir (and mean it). He lead Jerrid to the Tavern doors, and asked,"What of thy mare, Sir Syn?" Jerrid nearly frozen and exhausted was only able to mutter, "Lost....she's lost. I'll need another." He entered and slept off the excurtion.
The following day (actually 2 nights pass) just hours before the dawn, a knock at his door presented Sade. He looked confused and anxious to speak with him. It was odd for this time of night, but Jerrid bade him enter and inquired what was puzzling this young lad such as himself.

"Sir Syn, I beg not to offend thee ,as to my inquiry as to how....", he stopped, as Jerrid was now pointing at the dask that hung around Sade's neck. "The dask, thee carry....Is it not of the old McBlein House?", saying this with a small fascination.
Sade was looking down upon his chest as he slowly touched it and held it against him. "Eye, it was....Sir Syn. Son of Jerrid?", replied Sade.

Jerrid smiled and confirmed this, as Jerrid was just a first name amid Syn meant son of. As long as this man didn't think more to ask at this time and assumed Jerrid was a family name ,then all was still in game.
"The House of McBlein was rooted here once, in the valley of The True Mountains", Jerrid said as if it was common knowledge. "Is this not so?" The man's jaw looked like it dropped.

"I mean not to confuse thee" said Jerrid. "I've been interested in old family names of old in this world." Now smiling, continued. "It is a name I have gotten familiar with" ..And Jerrid gave an old history of the House of McBlein that had at one time, lands by The True Mountains. This sparked Sade to trust Jerrid Syn and take him into confidence. Thus Jerrid lead the man to exchange more inf. to him willingly, than Jerrid was perceived to give back. (it was all old history, and wasn't compromising Jerrids mission to speak of it.

Also, apparently not too well remembered here.). This new inf. also lead Jerrid to seek out Wallace McGreggor instead of his father Gavin, as he had planned earlier that evening. This man Sade was a good source and Jerrid new his ears had been listening to these parts longer than his. Besides, the mans eyes were easy to read as they spoke of the truth, as far as this man knew. It was apparent , Sade was befriended and could serve Jerrid, as he needed someone here to take care of small matters. He had other pressing details to attend to "Would thou be interested in serving my interests why I visit these lands?" asked Jerrid as the dawn was now only an hour away and he must not let time get too far ahead of him.
"In what way, Sir Syn?"

"I'll be staying in these parts for a while and will be in need of someone to care of my keeps that shall soon arrive. It is a chest of my belongings" saying this, as he reached for his credits. "I'll gladly pay for thy services beforehand, Sade McBlein."

At this, Sade put up his hands and kindly refused the credits. "Ney Sir, Syn. I'd be happy to serve thee as thy see fitting. For in thee I see as a noble man that has honored and spoke to me as such."
With this past, Jerrid gave Sade the details of the matter and agreed to be back within 2 months time. He also arranged for a new horse for his next destination. This Jerrid payed for, as the horse belonged to the Tavern's keep.
Jerrid gave this man a good assured smile and saw him off to his duties. He would see him again in an hours time. Now, a letter needed to be written...

Jerrid Syn