Queen Queen Angelina lifts the booth’s bar. Mint stays beside her as a wounded harbor clerk staggers from the lane, clutching a bloodied satchel and a royal seal.
Tomas Vey, a lean middle-aged man with windburned skin, thinning black hair, and a salt-stained blue coat, braces himself against the doorway. His sleeve is torn, but his grip on the seal remains firm.
Tomas Vey
Queen Angelina. I am Tomas Vey, harbor clerk. I escaped the hidden postern moments ago. The Crownless Tide is inside the lighthouse.
Queen Angelina catches Tomas by the elbow before his knees give way. Her gaze drops to the satchel, then snaps toward the dark lane behind him.
Queen Angelina
What did you see beneath the lighthouse? Speak plainly, Tomas. Every breath matters now.
Tomas Vey
Their leader carries a list of names. Yours is written first, Your Majesty, and the seal proves the order came from within the court.
Distant bells begin calling guards toward the harbor. Their measured peal rolls between the buildings, while Tomas’s satchel creaks open just enough to reveal folded parchment within.
✓ Quest Accepted
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✓ Quest Accepted
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““My liege may I shrink and be carried with you?””
SUCCESS (Fair Willpower, rolled +0)
Mint
My liege, may I shrink and be carried with you?
Queen Angelina
You may. Do it quickly, Mint. I will keep you close and Tomas between us and the street.
Mint’s amulet warms beneath his hoodie. Silver light folds around his small fox-kin form, drawing him down until he is no larger than Queen Angelina’s hand, his ears and tail tucked close.
Queen Angelina opens her crimson cloak and settles Mint securely against her inner shoulder, one broad hand shielding him while the brass key and map remain safe at her belt.
Tomas Vey
The lighthouse stairs are watched, Majesty. There is a lower gallery beneath the lantern room, and the conspirators use it as their command post.
Queen Angelina
Then we take the lower gallery. Tomas, lean on me and keep the seal hidden. Mint, stay still until we reach the postern.
Queen Angelina guides Tomas Vey into the lane as bells toll over the harbor. Hidden against her cloak, Mint travels with them toward the lighthouse, unseen by the riot.
Quest Complete
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Quest Complete
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