The Queen's Suite: Royal Palace of Andor, Caemlyn

You find yourself in an immense room, with a white marble floor and the same white stone walls that make up the rest of the Palace. The ceiling is a high, vaulted arch and wide, fluted columns line the east and west sides of the room.

Red-and-white liveried servants busy themselves with dusting tables and sweeping the huge expanse of floor. Vases of colorful Atha'an Miere porcelain grace low-lying tables, filled with freshly cut red roses. A tall, arched stone doorway, curtained in thick red velvet, leads further into the chambers. A pair of huge double-doors, gilded in gold, lead out of the room.

Aislynn

"Your Majesty." Rennar greets, giving the proper honorifics and shows of respect. She rises a moment, murmuring quietly, "I have something you might wish to hear. It was oddly interesting, and while I don't know the verity of the information, something I felt you should hear."

Aislynn glances up from writing a letter, and inclines her head, "Good day, Rennar...I am glad to see you...." She pauses a moment, listening to your further wordsd, and tilts her head to one side, "Please...have a seat. What is it?" She looks concerned.

Rennar pauses a moment at the Queen's words, uncertainty over taking her. Seems she's still not quite all that confident in Aislynn's presence, again with good reason, "It's about the man Jules Morden..." She moves forward, taking a seat as directed, "He and another merchant, going by the name of Chuck were speaking in the Aboretum about many a thing last evening. I happened to be in the woods and in a position to listen to the conversation." There is a brief pause, before continuing, "Is it true that you gave the merchants money for the reconstruction of the city? If so, I fear they are just sitting upon it... yet that's not what has me concerned the most."

Aislynn tilts her head to one side and nods, "Yes, I did. Since that time, Nicodemus has been greatly upset with me. It is his wish that I recall the Merchant's Guild and give them specific areas in which to spend the money. And see to it that it gets done." She arches a brow, "What do you mean 'sitting on it?'"

"From what I understand, they have not yet started any of the reconstruction. In fact, Jules Morden asked why he should spend it, it wasn't like you were paying any attention to how it was being handled." There is a faint frown that follows Rennar's words, seeming as if this caused her great aggitation before. "He said he could use the money as he pleased, though not in those exact words, and you would not be the wiser... though, the reason why that's not a major concern of mine, but might be to you, is he plans on starting as soon as his 'workers' get into gear, but it's clear they are taking time. My concern is much greater than this."

Aislynn nods and lifts a brow, "What is your concern, Rennar?" She starts to look a bit dismayed at this prospect, and perhaps realizes that--in her time of weakness, just after hearing about what her child is to be--she might have made a grievous error.

"That somehow, somewhere, he has an anonymous backer who has decided to match anything you give the guild in terms of money and donations." Rennar's brow furrows deeply, "I can't imagine any noble having enough money to match that of the Andoran treasury."

Aislynn's pale brows draw together in a frown. "I would not, either. This bodes not well, Rennar." She rises and begins pacing. "Why do I feel as if something is constantly nipping at my heels and that there are forces conspiring against me?"

"I have that feeling a well, your Majesty." Rennar murmurs quietly, eyes going to one of the windows within the room, "Only, I add to that the feeling of being hunted."

Aislynn nods, looking at you speculatively, "Do you think these past occurences fit together somehow...." She trails off and shakes her head, "No....I refuse to accept that.....Forget I spoke, Rennar..."

Rennar blinks slightly, surprise showing on her features, "I can't say... not entirely. I would not know how this Morden figure would fit with these other men... but..." A slight shiver runs up her spine, "It could be possible. I don't know how though."

Aislynn inclines her head, looking strangely vexed. "You know nothing else of him?"

Just then the conversation is interrupted by a matter that immediately needed the Queen's attention. Later, returning home....