Chapter Fifty One
Joe woke this morning, once again dissatisfied with his sleep. He wasn’t as exhausted as he feared he would be, having fallen asleep on the floor of Kilniara’s room, but the unease in his heart continued to roil unpleasantly, a low burn that never left him in comfort. His, as usual, early rise left him with a significant amount of time to consider what was bothering him, and when a familiar dead face floated across his thoughts, he realized that he was still feeling quite unsettled about the bandits that had ambushed him in the forest on the way to the city.
He quickly sat up with the realization and settled himself comfortably as possible on the bed and dropped his mind into a meditative state as he began to wrestle his mind into understanding and accepting ‘the what’ and ‘the why’ of that night. He was able to spend a good twenty or thirty minutes mindfully wrestling with it and forgive himself, after which he found himself surprisingly calmed.
Coming out of his meditation, he stood and paused, considering what had just happened then settled into his forms, allowing his mind the freedom to consider the results. His body flowed, and his mind stilled. Huh… guess I’ll need to keep doing that. Really helps. Should be good if I can face it head on for some more.
His mind quickly stilled enough that his thoughts ended and he was able to exist entirely in the moment, focused on the movement and feedback of his body, allowing each piece of the tsunami of information to flood his conscious thoughts and guide him to improve and return guidance back to his body.
Sometime in that long moment of zen practice of his forms, he found his three students awake and moving with him. Seeing the room bright with the just rising sun, he ended his own forms and began focusing on the other three, walking around them, offering a touch here, a shift there, a reset and advice, or simply a nod of encouragement for a form perfected. They really are improving quite quickly, especially Zilnek and Kilniara. Almost… too fast, to be honest. Maybe they are just naturally talented towards the martial arts? Or… is it something in their job? A cloth armorer would likely need really good dexterity, but… that would be more fine motor, right? Would it translate to the broader full body movements of martial arts? Hmm.. I wonder if…
Joe’s mind cut off is meandering thoughts when he caught a slight hiccup in Zilnek’s stance, stepping in to position him correctly before restarting the stance. Forgetting his wool gathering thoughts, Joe once again focused on the three until they’d finished their forms and Joe led the way down to breakfast.
When they arrived at the breakfast table, Joe was surprised to find Kukurnal there, waving them over to his table. Joe nodded in acknowledgement before stopping by the counter to order a breakfast for the four of them. I’ll ask Kukurnal if he wants a meal and send up Garnedell to let them know it’s five if he wants it. But, why is he here?
Joe’s curiosity followed him to the table and he decided to satisfy it immediately, “So. What brings you here so early, Kukurnal? A burning question that needs be answered?”
Kukurnal smiled and shook his head, “I would always take any opportunity to ask and seek knowledge, but today is of a difference concern.”
“Hmm… OK. How can I help you.”
“It may be nothing, but I fear the circumstances and timing have cause to suggest that this has a significant connection to you.”
“And what would ‘this’ be?”
“I had a visit from the clan guardians last night. It seems the clan Lord urgently desires to meet me.”
Joe glanced at the other three when he heard their gasps of surprise at Kukurnal’s statement, but lacking any understanding of the social context, he felt nothing from the statement.
“So, this would be… a kind warning? How so?”
“I may be unavailable for a time, if the Lord seeks me.”
Joe felt himself calm, his entire consciousness falling into stillness as his body simply melted into soft relaxation of ready action. Something, somehow, seemed to be hinting to him that something deeper was going on. He couldn’t quite catch what hints he was seeing that would tell him this, but there was something in the subtle way Kukurnal held himself that told him that this was actually a convenient lie. What does he actually want to… oh.
Realization hit him quickly, “The topic of this conversation with the Lord, might it possibly be about a certain adventurer that has been spreading cores to the dungeon guards and showing significant capabilities in the various dungeons?”
Kukurnal seemed to relax, his posture radiating pleasure and relief, “Oh, I certainly have no idea what the Lord would seek me out for as I was not told. I simply find the timing to be quite interesting.”
He doesn’t know, but he sure does seem certain. “Hm… That would certainly be an interesting conversation then. I’ll be here tonight if you wish to continue our evening conversations,” Joe replied with a smile.
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It was Kukurnal’s turn to be a bit surprised, it obviously showing on his face with raised eyebrows and his posture which was taken aback, “Ah… then… I will certainly continue our wonderful debates if you are willing.”
“Of course. I fear nothing.” I haven’t done anything wrong. I haven’t kept a very low profile, which might have been a bit stupid, but I wasn’t going to let Kilniara die, so… But then, it might be a good idea to try to figure out the healer job.
Ooh! Healer job! Might as well ask. Is there a healer job? … Yes.
Right… sweet… Ok, got to figure out that one then. But… first, Kukurnal.
“So, is that all you wished to see us about, warning that you might not be available for our meetings shortly?”
“Oh, it was certainly something that might come up, so I truly wished to inform you. Since if I am unable to continue meeting with you or sharing information, you might wish to ask me any last important questions before I’m unavailable.”
Joe’s eyes narrowed at this, uncertain what this could mean. If he was simply meeting with the Lord and was asked to work with him, then it could just be a friendly offer. But if the meeting is about him and his actions with Kilniara, then it would be unlikely that Kukurnal would be leaving the city. In which case, he should still be available to meet with them regularly as usual and so then... Wait… he’s afraid the Lord might ask him to stop talking with me! Well then, that would… ok, time to ask questions then.
“I believe I can think of some questions then! Some I would greatly appreciate answers, too.”
“Certainly. You have been more than kind in answering so many of mine.”
“Hmm… may I ask some questions about the current situation?”
Kukurnal nodded, smiling, but didn’t respond.
“Then, your concerns over being able to meet again tonight. Are they concerns that you will be called away or concerns that you might no longer be able to converse with me?”
Kukurnal’s eyebrows rose at this question but smiled and shrugged, “I’m not sure.”
“You don’t know,” Joe replied slowly, pausing to think before glancing up sharply, “but it’s possible he may …” Joe let the sentence die out, only hinting.
Kukurnal nodded quickly at this point, “Yes, she may.” A lady? Why didn’t the translation magic work right? Nevermind, not important! Joe once again took the moment to consider more questions. The table was unusually silent as all three others didn’t engage in their own conversation, listening in avidly instead to what Joe and Kukurnal were discussing.
After careful consideration, Joe continued, “Do I have need to be… concerned or worried?”
“I do not believe so.”
“She is a good person?”
“She is a good Lady, as far as Ladies are concerned.”
OK… weird… now the translation thingy is working! What is... stop… not important! Joe tore his mind away from the distraction and focused, taking some time to consider his next question but then decided to withhold it for later, taking the conversation in a different direction.
“Then, how would you describe a good lady or lord?”
Kukurnal took a moment to consider this before answering slowly, almost carefully, “She… A good lady or lord makes sure that the city is protected and business continues. They do not take too much from the people and do well enough … controlling those clansman who would. They do well maintaining the peace, the city, the defenses, and business.”
Kukurnal stopped rather abruptly, and Joe waited for more before realizing that he was done. It was then that Joe realized he had very different ideas of what a public servant was. That’s the bare minimum! You don’t call an able bodied person a good sportsman because they have two arms and two legs. Joe stifled a sigh of frustration, keeping his focus on the conversation.
“And … she is a lady that matches this… this description.”
“Quite well.”
Joe let his grimace shine at this point before shaking his head, “Remind me to talk about governance at one of our nightly meetings. That will be an interesting conversation. I hope I don’t get my head chopped off for sedition!”
Kukurnal’s eye’s widened in excitement, leaning forward even as his mouth opened to ask a question before his face quickly shifted to shocked horror as he sat back. Joe saw his face and quickly waved his hand away and shook his head.
“Alright… we can talk later. I really want to get this sorted first, though. Last question on the current situation. If you were in my position, what actions or steps would you take to prepare yourself or protect yourself.”
Kukurnal’s face quickly shifted from shocked horror to surprised glee and began to quickly speak, listing several different options available, but Joe found most of them meaningless, as he already had most things packed in a rather small and convenient single backpack. Despite the pleasure and satisfaction of knowing that he’d already planned well, he grew quite alarmed when Kukurnal seemed to be very cautiously, but quite explicitly, warning him to be ready to run. Even as his worry grew, though, he felt himself calm somewhat as Kukurnal then ended his monologue by agreeing with Joe’s intent to stay, stating that there was no need to be concerned if all was as Kukurnal knew.
Joe threw in a couple questions throughout the conversation, but it actually wrapped up pretty quickly, in only a few minutes, and both fell silent for a few moments before Joe decided to try to push his luck.
“Well, then, in case I am unable to ask you any questions, may I continue?”
Kukurnal quickly nodded, waving his hand onward, “Please do.”
Joe took a deep breath to consider before continuing, carefully plotting how he would describe his current circumstances, “As you know… I… am quite far from home. I know little of the people here, or of the ways and how things should… be done.”
Kukurnal nodded at this, accepting his statement but didn’t interrupt verbally.
“For example, I am quite concerned over any … taboo issues I may accidently encounter. One such thing that seems to… surprise me is criminals. We do have criminals where I live, but… criminals… aren’t really a job. I saw… some of the guards… around the temple catching a criminal. They said something about him having a criminal job. For my people, being a criminal is not a job, but a state of being driven from a choice or a poor circumstance. Could you explain to me a little on this? What affect does having a criminal job have upon… well… everything: working within a city, going into or out of a city, going into a dungeon, going to get a job change from a priest, buying food, sleeping at an inn, even… traveling from city to city. Could you explain such to me?”
Kukurnal seemed to stare at Joe for some time, his mind considering carefully before sighing deeply, “Please. I do not wish to… offend, but could you be willing to … show me your status window?”