Jasmine sifted the weight of the vessel's handle in her hands, the weight of container pulled the handle into her hands, that pain increased as the cold wind cut through her thin gloves like a knife. The physical discomfort however was minor when compared to her recent past.
Her future was her biggest worry this morning, she feared she wouldn't have one. She could only watch helplessly as that future was discussed just out of earshot by Duke Bogho Lord of Snow Snow Harbor, Jaral representative of the Dread Prince himself and some Rinden Duke that had weighed anchor in the harbor last night.
One of the duke's squires approached the group; she stood just behind her duke, as if getting the rhythm of the conversation. The foreign duke turned to the squire, and in a move that surprised Jasmine, nodded for her to join in.
The squire seemed to ask a couple of questions, then, the bargaining began in earnest. Jasmine turned toward the dukes other two squires to see if they were also approaching, but they and the young page with them, seemed content to stay with the duke's luggage.
Unlike the Duke and their fellow squire, they seemed uncomfortable. Whether it was Snow Harbor's cold damp morning or the fact that they were not used to being close to a necromancer of Bogho's stature, Jasmine couldn't say.
Any further observations were forgotten as the vessel began to jostle and bump against her legs, inside the glass and metal container was a small snowman two and a half hand spans tall. It silently screamed as it bounced against the walls, causing Jasmine to set it down, she kept a hand on the top to keep the occupant from overturning it's prison.
Bogho's booming laugh startled Jasmine, it was shortly followed by it's shockwave stirring up the dust and snow. The grin on the squire's face told Jasmine that she was responsible for Bogho's sudden good mood, Jasmine's respect for the squire went up several notches. Bogho's immense meaty hand was engulfing the much smaller hand of the squire, and the foreign duke had the proud look only a father would have.
Jasmine's heart dropped into her stomach as the dukes, squire and Jaral approached, and she wasn't the only one, even the snowman ceased it's struggles. Jasmine resisted the urge to shrink in on herself and did her best to stand up strait and meet them with her best attempt of a curtsy.
"Good mourn, lords, lady?" Jasmine greeted, barely managing to keep a quaver from her voice as she presented the miniature snowman. "May I present former Governor Alayal Nightspire."
"And you are?" the squire inquired, returning the curtsy with a grace that even in her tomboyish clothing made Jasmine's look clumsy.
"I am..." Jasmine recovered quickly, " I am, Jasmine Underwood, the governor's last remaining apprentice."
"I am sure you are familiar with Grand Duke Bogho" Jaral gestured to the massive necromancer, he then turned to the foreign duke. "This is Duke Lycan Stone and his daughter Cassandra of Rinden."
"It is a honor to meet you're grace." Jasmine replied, her suspicions on the squire were now confirmed.
"So this is the infamous Alayal Nightspire." Duke Lycan mused, studying the newly struggling snowman. "Why not execute her and be done with her?"
"Rather then just reaping her and leaving her inside a snowman?" Jaral finished the duke's though. "Quite simply, it would allow her to reanimate with a new body or take over someone else's, and after her crimes that is not something that the Dread Prince wants."
"The containment vessel she is in, was made by my top apprentice" Duke Bogho bragged, "It will hold both her icy body, and her spirit. It is also proof against any magic that she might try, although I doubt she can perform any in her current state, but, I didn't get to become the Duke of Snow Harbor by making assumptions."
"What happens if she melts?" Ducal-princess Cassandra queried, "Wouldn't she be able to escape then? We are headed into warmer regions."
"Ho ho! Very astute observation lass, you will make a fine Duchess one day" Bogho boomed again in delight, Jasmine was again buffeted by swirling snow. "The container has alchemical properties designed to keep it cold, it should have more then enough power for the trip to Naumgard."
Jasmine's blood ran cold at the mention of the Sindra?s famous wizard?s prison, was that to be her fate as well?
"Very well," Duke Lycan announced "While I can not officially accept this task due to responsibilities I already have, I do believe that as a favor I could lend my squires to the task, as you pointed out we are headed that way on other business. Now I think we should discuss the terms of the transport and have full disclosure of her crimes and abilities."
"Yes," Jaral agreed, "Full disclosure, I know a tavern a block from here that has some of the finest Dreed cuisine. Shall we convene there to hammer out a gentleman's agreement?"
"Ah yes" Bogho grinned, "I know that place, the food there is heavenly enough to raise the dead!"
"Cassi." Lycan turned to his daughter, "See to it that our gear and the supplies are loaded onto the Emerald Dawn, also, see to the prisoner and her apprentice, I believe after all is said and done they will be leaving with us."
