>>6062293>>6062385>>6062690>>6063022Sir Bormin’s reassuring voice sounds from the other side of the door as Hilma shakes off the painful memories “In a moment.” she responds as she finishes dressing. When she steps outside Sir Bormin is waiting for her and wordlessly offers her a handkerchief “Was it that obvious?” Hilma remarks as she gratefully accepts the offered cloth and dabs away the tears in the corners of her eyes.
“No, but I’ve been around long enough to know when a lady needs a little help.”
“Thank you Sir Bormin, is everything else ready to go?”
“Yes, my lady I apologize that we won’t be taking the carriage, but the king insisted we travel a less conspicuously.”
“A wise king my son. A very reasonable precaution during these troubled times.”
“Yes your grace, I have the rest of your escort assembled and ready to depart all of them handpicked for their dependableness.”
“Good, let us go then.”
The trip to the royal mint is an uneventful one and besides a few extra stops for rest and water in the increasing oppressive summer heat, it is a swift one. The mint itself is a rather unassuming building. Outwardly it looks like a mill. its water wheel turning over slowly in the river's placid current. On the inside however is not a mill stone grinding grain, but presses, bellows, smelters, forges, and myriad other things to turn the raw metal and gems into cut and stamped currency.
Coming to the door of the mint Sir Bormin knocks. No response. He knocks again a little louder "Master minter the Queen is here to inspect the premises, open the door." Again, no response. Bormin pounds on the door now with a mailed fist. "Master minter do not keep her majesty waiting!" He shouts through the door. Silence. Bormin tries the handle but the door is indeed locked tight. Bracing himself Bormin rams his shoulder into the door. The solid piece of wood does not budge. This time however a voice calls out from inside. “Go away. The door is bolted and I have crossbow.” The rather shaky voice of the minter calls out.
“Good minter, her majesty the queen has come to check on you. Open the door please.”
“Liar! Everyone knows that the queen is dead, so sod off you no good lying bandits. Unless you want a bolt through the head.”
Bormin opens his mouth again to respond when Hilma steps forward “Master Cozo, I can assure you that I am not dead. Open the door please.”
(1/2)
