STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Brothers

"Well, they most likely are still in the city."

"Possibly. Where do you propose we start?"

"Some of them had to move to serve other Nobles. My mother had good relations with some of more....open-minded Houses, including yours."

"Indeed, she did."

Janus checks his watch.

"Speaking of my House, I should return to it. What are your plans?"

"I will stay in the Palace and ask a bit, I would be grateful if you could do the same in your House, my friend. Do you think that we could arrange meeting with some of our friends." -Melkor wonders on whom else he can count for help.

He still has his old quaters in the Palace?

You can recall several friends within Maurenburg that would side with you. The students on Erengard are open-minded, though not so much as you.

"I will, friend."

He starts to walk away, then turns back to you and comes close.

"Listen, Melkor. I'm not one for tradition, but I think that our investigating should wait until after your mother's funeral, in order to respect her memory."

He pauses, examining your face.

"Should you find yourself...'removed' from the palace, either by your brother's will or your father's orders..."

He presses an old brass key into your hand.

"...my apartment in the city is just down the street. You remember where it is."

Melkor looks at him solemnly.

"I understand Janus, and again I am grateful for your help. We shall meet again soon."- He nods respectfully.

Janus takes his leave of you.

After his footsteps fade, you shiver as you realize that you cannot hear a single sound in your mother's wing.

-

It is evening.

Wearied by the travel to Erengard and the shock of your mother's death, you managed to find the Library of the Countess and succumb to sleep in a high-backed chair by the auto-light fireplace. Never before has the study felt so awkward and despairing.

Thunder crackles outside, startling you from your restless sleep.

Melkor awakes from a nightmare that involved Einar killing his mother. Sweating, he walks to the window, seeing the storm outside. It doesn`t improve his mood at all.

Erengardian storms are very fierce, especially in Maurenburg. Thunder and lightning batter the mountainside for hours at a time, relenting only when it has rained itself out or given way to a snow storm. Unpleasant...

When you started, you knocked a silver platter from your lap. You don't remember it being there when you nodded off.

Surprised, Melkor will check the platter carefully.

A envelope had been on the silver platter, sealed with wax pressed with the family crest.

I will read it, of course.

It is a letter, written on parchment in black ink.

Dear Melkor,

Your room is available, if you so choose
to stay within our walls. It has been
maintained by your mother's maids
since you departed for Coruscant.

In addition, you have inherited
your mother's wing of the house,
meaning that it will be your
responsibility to keep it maintained.
The greenhouse, particularly.
Her belongings may not leave
these halls, however. They are
not trinkets to accompany you
to Coruscant. Keep this in mind.

The funeral of Countess Milena
will be held in a few days.

Sincerely,

It ends with your father's signature, written in gold ink.

Melkor sighs. Indeed, his mother wouldn`t like to see her greenhouse destroyed like this....or maybe she would? If she really killed herself....could she did it to herself, and him?

He decides to check his old room.

As the letter said, your room is just as you left. Perhaps cleaner than you left it, maybe.

I am royalty, surely I can order some servants around to take care of my mother`s wing? I will speak with chiel servant, or someone like this.

You have to go elsewhere in the house, out of your mother's wing, before you can find servants. It becomes painfully obvious that Einar has forced them all to sign over their souls in loyalty to him, for they do not even look at you.

Frustrating. You may have to search outside of the Palace walls for more servants.

Okay, I quess than Esgabath will go and look for them.

The thunder storm has become a snow storm, the wind whistling through the peaks of the mountains and the towers of buildings as it rushes through, carrying snowflakes and hail on its wings. It is very early morning, still dark, when you set out to search for an old servant of your mother, one you remember well.

Her name is Gurthka, an elderly women that attended to your mother since her infancy on Alderaan. She followed Countess Milena to Erengard to continue her service, but having sworn an oath of loyalty to the Countess and none other, she left the Palace to take up a dwelling in the city.