‘I wonder what’s up with Yellow Turban…’ Adam returned back to the guild, slipping coins to the walkers. Once the rolls of fabric were placed away, Adam retreated to the corner of the guild, relaxing as he sipped away at his light ale. ‘I guess the war’s been rough for them too?’

“Drinking already?” Dunes asked, dropping opposite the half elf, leaning back as he drank.

“I don’t think you’re drinking milk in that cup.”

“This is fruit wine,” Dunes replied, sipping the fruit wine. “It’s different.”

Adam smirked, sipping his light ale slowly. “So… we’ve been here a couple of days now…” Adam raised his brows expectantly.

Dunes smiled, slowly sipping his fruit wine. He lifted up the pitcher to refill his wine, but before bringing it to his lips, he smiled wider. “I have completed my business.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Adam said, raising his mug towards the Aswadian, the pair drinking together. ‘I should get some fruit wine myself.’

“Korin wished to buy a set of knives,” Dunes said. “They are crafted by master smiths within Damikus."

“Master smiths?”

“Smiths who are the best of the best, and those who have earned the right to work the metal known as Damikus steel. Many generations ago, there was only one such master smith, but as Damikus has grown, the number of master smiths number over one hundred.”

“They must be an expensive set of knives.”

“One hundred gold.”

Adam whistled. “How many knives are there?”

“Three.”

Adam almost choked on his drink, originally expecting each knife to be around ten gold, but they were closer to thirty gold each? He had no idea how the smiths could charge such an outrageous price for the knives. “That’s a lot of money for a set of three knives.”

“They are good knives. It would be an investment into the quality of tools for the chef.”

“I guess it makes sense for the business to pay for it,” Adam said. ‘It’s a lot of money, but we’re spending more than that just by relaxing in East Port for a few days.’

“Assisting with the cost would be good enough,” Dunes said. “I have offered some gold, but Korin will not accept much.”

“Since he’s been taking the role of the chef, I should probably get him something nice as a gift. A hundred gold for a set of knives is quite a lot, but since it’ll go to allowing us to eat good food while on the road, it’s a pretty cheap price to pay.” Adam pulled out his book, adding in a note. He was already several pages within the book with all the notes he had made over the year.

‘Speaking of knives, I need to go buy some gifts for the others,’ Adam thought.

Korin returned with Sara and Amira. Korin’s face was full of both satisfaction and stress. He greeted Adam and Dunes, though raised his brows towards Dunes, who smiled in return.

“How was the shopping?”

“Good,” Korin replied awkwardly. “I found a set of knives from Damikus.”

“So I’ve been told,” Adam repleid. “Did you buy them?”

“They were too expensive.” Korin shook his head. “I brought a knife set from a local smith.”

“Oh yeah? Were they cheaper?”

“Only twenty gold,” Korin replied. “I bought a Damikus cleaver. It should serve me well.”

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“Well, mark down how much you spent on the knives and hand the slip to me, I’ll put it in my book so the business can refund you.”

“I paid for them so I can own them,” Korin replied, shaking his head lightly. “I thank you for your offer, Adam, it is very kind of you.”

“Alright, sure, but mark it down anyway. The business will refund you some of the money since you’ll be using them for the business in the meanwhile. If you’re buying food to feed the business, make sure to come to me, and I’ll…” Adam paused for a moment to think about how annoying it would be to constantly be bothered for business affairs he trusts others to do.

“Let’s not do that, actually. I’ll just give you a hundred gold, and you just keep track of what you’re buying with that coin. You don’t have to be exact, but, you know, spices are this much gold, meat is this much, bread stuffs is this much, vegetables are this much. Keep track of it, and if you need more money, then you can come to me or you can spend your own coin and you can let me know and I’ll refund you the coin.”

“I do not intend to become a Manager,” Korin replied.

“That’s fine,” Adam replied, waving his hand. “You’re in the temporary position of the business’ chef, and once you don’t want to be the chef, let me know and I’ll figure it out. Until then, since you’ve been so wonderful to us, just enjoy spending the business’ coin. You can also use some of the coin to buy yourself some personal spices too.”

“Very well,” Korin replied, flashing a warm smile. “Thank you, Adam.”

“Any time.”

Amira’s eyes remained glued to Dunes, who had yet to speak to her about the matter of becoming a manager of the business. There were other matters Dunes had yet to enlighten her of too. Dunes could feel her glare against the side of him, but he remained with the group so that he could avoid speaking to her about the managerial position he was going to take in the business.

Dunes sighed, glancing between his trio of companions and their expectant gazes, before allowing them into his room. He sat on the bed while the others crowded around the room, Korin leaning up against the side of the wall with the window overlooking the guild’s courtyard, while Sara leaned against the wall opposite Dunes, and Amira stood at the door, her arms crossed, trapping Dunes inside.

“We are no longer on the road,” Amira began. “We are no longer surrounded by monsters. We are no longer in dangerous lands. We are not in the presence of the Divine or their children.”

Dunes remained silent as Amira simmered with her annoyance at him denying her for so long.

“So why in all the sands have you chosen to become a Manager for a company in a distant land?”

Dunes reached up to his face, rubbing along his forehead, before smiling with as much charm as he could muster. “I travelled to Aldland because someone was foolish enough to travel through Aldland while a war was brewing before she disappeared. I travelled through the land to try and find her, going from city to town to try to find her. I met Adam and…” Dunes slowly shook his head, and no more was said about such a topic, for the all knew, having spoken about him in length.

“Everything which has happened… I believe there to be a reason. My faith has led me here, Lady Arya has led me here. She had guided me to this land, guided me to find you, and guided me to Adam. He is someone, something, which causes and shifts even the Divine. Who else should remain with him to watch over him?”

“Is that all you have?” Amira snapped. “You will abandon the family which took you in, Morn Dunes, and raised you? You learnt how to read and write, to speak not just the tongue of our great land, but also the neighbouring empire of the Aldish. Weapons, armour, magic, the faith of our Lady. For years, Dunes, years.”

“Would you allow him to remain within only the hands of the Iyrmen?” Dunes asked. “With all he can do? The Iyr and the Aldish watch over him, if we do not, we will find ourselves caught with our sheaths unpolished!”

“Don’t try it with me, Morn!”

Dunes inhaled deeply, pulling back slightly before he crossed his arms. “There are things I have yet to tell you about Adam. You would understand why I’d want to remain with him, but if it is not because it a good idea to keep an eye on Adam, who is a force of chaos, it is because Adam is my friend, and I am his.”

“Are you so close that you would abandon Black Mountain?”

“No,” Dunes replied, letting out another sigh. “I will speak with the Priest Commander. Once I speak with him, and explain to him why I wish to join the business, he will understand. Even if it is a trade of my body for the access to such a great enchanter, it is a trade which is best for us.”

“You are not a good to trade, like that of a steel blade.”

“No, but it is the best way to repay Black Mountain. With one priest, Black Mountain will know only an age of gold and magic for generations to come. I can advise Adam, and when I speak of Black Mountain, such advice will prove valuable.”

“You are a damn fool, Dunes.”

Dunes smiled. “Yes.”

Amira grit her teeth together, glaring at Dunes. “How can you abandon us like this? Do you believe you will find greater glory with him?”

“I will, but that is not why I would join him,” Dunes replied. “It was Adam who found my father.”

“What?”

“Adam helped reunite us together, but he helped reunite my father and I.”

“You…” Amira hadn’t heard about that in the almost year she had reunited with Dunes. “That’s wonderful, Dunes.”

Dunes inhaled deeply once more, wondering how she was going to take it once she knew who his father was. “I have a debt to repay, and I intend to repay it.”

“Is this about your father?” Amira asked. She couldn’t help but feel it was because of the children instead.

Dunes, wanting to change the topic, decided to reveal who his father was.