Adam exhaled, allowing his annoyance to leave through his lips. The carriage driver kept his mouth shut when his pockets were heavy with gold, while the inn keeper, annoyed by all the urchins making their way into their inn, also kept her mouth shut when her hands were full of gems.

Arcane Recovery: 1 -> 0

Mana: 16 -> 20

Mana: 20 -> 17

Spell: Sending

“Jurot, when you’re done with adventuring, and you’re done with dealing with the guild, head to the Mother’s Rest, an inn near Market Road, around-,”

Adam felt the magic fade before he could finish his sentence. ‘Oh, right.’ He rubbed the side of his neck, feeling the annoyance of the day filling him up. ‘I need to relax, otherwise I’m going to get into trouble and they’ll all make fun of me.’

‘Okay,’ came the response.

Adam thought about casting his spell once more, wanting to hear Konarot’s voice, but he decided against it. ‘Okay, just this once, I’ll let you grow up quickly so I can send you messages.’

Even if the Iyr had opened its gates once more, Konarot was still far too young to receive such messages into her mind, while Jirot would cause too much trouble if Adam sent her a message. Adam could see it, the rampage Jirot could cause because she heard her father’s voice in her head.

‘Even if you’re cute, you can’t do that, okay?’ Adam thought, before hiding the smile on his face, though he was alone in a room he had rented. ‘I’ll forgive you, just this once.’

A knock came at the door.

“Yes?”

“There’s a problem,” Fred said.

Adam made his way out of the inn to find a group of heavily armoured guards, each adorned in breastplate over chain, while another wore full plate from head to toe. Each wore blades at their side, kept at bay by Vonda, who had politely met them at the front.

‘What did I do this time?’

“Do you intend to obstruct us from our duties?” the heavily armoured knight asked, whose armour was made of darker steel, engraved with the image of one of the noble symbols which seemed vaguely familiar to the half elf.

Adam was sure he had seen it previously from the letters with all the offers.

History Check (Intelligence)

D20 + 3 = 9 (6)

‘Must not be anyone of importance if I can’t recall the sigil,’ the young half elf thought.

“If that is how it appears, then you may send word to the Priest Mother of the Order of Life,” Vonda replied.

The knight remained quiet for a long moment as the young woman invoked the name of the order. “Are you truly a member of the order?”

Vonda revealed the back of her amulet, which held the detailed patterns and symbols which mostly confirmed her identity as a member of the order.

“This matter has nothing to do with your order,” the knight urged. “The Marquise wishes for the boy to enter her employ, as was promised.”

“That is a difficult matter,” Vonda replied, before falling silent.

“What’s going on?” Adam asked.

The heavily armoured warriors all turned to face Adam, who wore his axe at his side, and a shield at his back, though wore no armour.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Executive Adam,” Adam replied. “Who are you?”

“I am Sir Olivia Seahill, and I have been sent under the authority of Marquise Amelia Tiderock.”

‘Marquise?’ Adam thought, trying to recall what the title meant. ‘Doesn’t that mean she’s got some sway with the military or something?’

“They have come for Alex.”

“Alex?” Adam asked. “Why do you want the boy?”

“That is a private matter of the Marquise,” Sir Olivia Seahill replied sternly.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“It is a shame, but young Alex is currently under the protection of the United Kindom,” Adam replied. “He is considered a VIP.”

“Whatever he is considered, the boy must return with us to the Marquise.”

“Perhaps you’ve misunderstood something,” Adam began, only to be interrupted by the knight.

“I have misunderstood nothing,” the knight said. “By the authority of the Marquise, you must give up the boy, or we shall be forced to act.”

Adam tilted his head slightly, feeling the rush of heat going through his head. He reached up to rub the side of his neck. While resting at the inn, he had managed to gain much of his strength, from his Health, to Onward Soar and Tough Spirit. Unfortunately, Fighting Spirit was something he needed a deeper rest to regain, which meant he was currently not as full strength. ‘I’m glad I brought my shield.’

“If the Marquise has an issue with this matter, she may send an official request to the Priest Mother of Life’s Rose,” Vonda stated once more, still smiling politely towards the group of guards.

“What protection does the child have with the holy order?” Sir Olivia asked.

“I am currently in the employ of the business, and therefore he is under my care,” Vonda replied.

“What is the connection between this United Kindom and the Order of Life’s Rose?”

“I work as a Manager of the business, and I am a Sister of Life’s Rose,” Vonda replied, still smiling as politely as she could. “I am within my rights to claim him as a child under the protection of Life’s Rose.”

“Are you willing to go that far?” Olivia asked, her voice still firm, even under the name of the order.

“I have been in the business’ care for some time,” Vonda replied. “They have assisted the order greatly.”

‘We have?’ Adam thought, his face contorting into confusion, though he did not speak up. ‘Is she lying for Alex’s sake?’

Cobra remained deathly silent. She had no idea that a Marquise had taken interest in Alex. ‘Fuck.’ She had rested up well enough, though wasn’t as fresh as she would like to have been. ‘I should take Alex and run.’ Her eyes met Python’s and Viper’s. She looked to the priest beside her, the young Aswadian man, who was watching the scene as though it were a play.

“He seems like he’s in a tough spot,” Amira said in their tongue. “How will he get out of this?”

“He will do it in the way he does things,” Dunes replied, his arms crossed as he watched the scene.

“What if it blades are drawn?”

“If blades are drawn, then blades are drawn,” Dunes replied, almost casually.

“Should we be causing such a mess in East Port?”

“If your blade is too heavy, don’t pick it up, but I will do what is expected of me as a Manager,” Dunes replied, simply.

“Ha!” Amira almost clicked her teeth, before noting the attention of the guards had turned to the pair.

“What are you plotting?” Olivia demanded from the Aswadians.

“We are merely speaking of the scene, Sir Olivia,” Dunes replied. “In Aswadasad, we cause little trouble for merchants, for they would not do business when there is trouble in our lands.”

“The Marquise’s authority surpasses that of any merchant within this land.”

“I would not state otherwise, publicly,” Dunes replied. “I would not suggest any merchant wields greater authority than the Marquise, not even Yellow Turban, who sells such fine yellow fabrics.”

“I would not even speak his title in the same sentence,” Olivia replied. “Yellow Turban may be well respected in his lands, but in these lands, he is but one merchant of many.”

“It is wonderful you think that way,” Dunes replied, smiling politely towards the knight.

The knight remained silent for a long moment, taking in the silent threats of the priest. The symbol of Lady Arya hung down against his chest, while three others near him wore the same. “Are you members of an order?”

“We are members of Black Mountain,” Dunes confirmed.

“Will you say Black Mountain has put the boy under its care?”

“No,” Dunes replied.

“Then you are wiser than you look.”

“Though the boy is not under its care, the boy is under my care.”

“Just who are you to put the boy under your care?”

“I am Manager Dunes,” Dunes replied, flashing a charming smile as he bowed his head lightly.

“Just why is the boy so important to your business that he is under your care?” Olivia asked.

“Executive Adam has stated the boy and his siblings are VIPs.”

“VIPs?”

“Very important persons, or people if you prefer,” Adam stated. “It means we will stake our reputation to protect them.”

“What reputation do you have?”

“My reputation is that I’m a crazy fool of a father who will find trouble with everyone, from the poor, to the rich, commonfolk and nobles, and even the fine folk of the Iyr. Though, I try not to do find much trouble with the Iyr since they’re so…” Adam fell quiet, glancing to the side, Kitool standing silently like a statue, waiting for him to continue. “The Iyr is the Iyr.”

“So you will find trouble with the Marquise for the sake of the child?”

“If the Marquise wishes to find trouble with us, that’s fine,” Adam replied. “However, should she find herself in the mood to procure magical weapons from our business, you can politely inform her not to spend the effort, for we will do as she request and place her upon the blacklist.”

“Blacklist?”

“It means the Marquise shall be banned from procuring magical items from our business,” Adam stated, firmly.

“A small business such as yours has no bearing upon the Marquise’s mind,” the knight retorted, almost glaring at the young half elf.

Fred watched as the knight and his boss continued to verbally argue between one another. ‘He’s not crazy enough to pick a fight with the Marquise, is he?’ Fred’s eyes fell onto a young boy who had appeared, a child of seven or so, quietly shuffling through the group. He was a dirty young fellow, quite thin too, who had been beaten recently. ‘Poor kid. Must have gotten caught trying to snatch some food. I’ll get some silver for him once we’re done with the situation.’

“Sure, then you can tell the Marquise that she should look elsewhere for magical items,” Adam replied. “Since you intend to-,”

Kitool and Vonda were about to call for Adam to calm him down, seeing as how annoyed he had become, but he wasn’t interrupted by them.

Health: 91 -> 82

Adam felt a sharp pain at his side, causing him to wince, before he turned, looking out to see the rest of his companions staring down at him in shock, before he glanced down to see a little boy, a child of seven or so, dirty and beaten, with a dagger in both hands, the blade hidden within the half elf’s gut. The boy’s eyes burned with hate.