Both stopped and looked up in some surprise to see the beautiful woman in red and green standing beside them. They actually stared at her for a few moments as she stared back. Joe finally responded.
“Uh, hello? Could we help you?”
The woman cocked her head to the side and looked at him, “We had an appointment for a meeting tonight.”
Joe blinked in a bit of surprise then stood, reaching out a hand to shake hers, “You are the… boss?”
She smiled at that and nodded before shaking his hand. She moved to sit but Joe pulled out her seat for her then he returned to his seat beside Kilniara. He slipped a hand into Kilniara’s, wanting to reassure her and turned back to the mob boss. The mob boss shifted as she sat, pulling something to the side and Joe quickly realized she was arranging her tail to easily sit.
“Welcome.”
“Thank you. It is wonderful to meet again.”
“You’re welcome.”
She leaned forward on the table, resting her head on her hand, “So, what are we eating?”
“We haven’t ordered any meal yet. We were waiting for you.”
She nodded at that, sitting back up, “My thanks.”
Joe nodded then waved towards the waiter awaiting them. The waiter saw his wave and quickly came over and rattled off the menu for the day, all listening to the offered menu. While Kilniara and Gwenvair chose their meals easily enough, Joe found himself asking the waiter a lot of questions about the meals, seeking explanation. After asking about a few meals, Joe finally asked the waiter to point out the meals Joe would enjoy based on his preferences which he explained to the waiter. The waiter listened to Joe’s preferences and quickly pointed out five or ten meals that matched Joe’s preferences and Joe was then able to make a choice of his meal. The waiter collected their choices and left the quickly.
to which all chose an option before the waiter headed out. Joe turned back to their guest and smiled.
“So you were able to get the answers I sought so quickly.”
She smiled and nodded, “You gave me an incentive.”
Joe smiled and said with a shrug, “You needed it.”
Her smile softened and she nodded, “Thank you.”
“Ah… offer an apology to your men. It took me a bit of time to notice them.”
“Oh? They didn’t say anything, but I’ll let them know.”
“Thanks,” Joe replied with a smile.
Things grew quiet for a time and Joe quickly cleared his throat before continuing, “Am I able to ask your name, now?”
Her smile seemed to drop just a bit but she replied quickly enough, “I am Gwenvair Galgandar.”
Kilniara stiffened beside him, and he looked over at her, her face pale and her breathing a bit short. Joe looked back at their guest and offered his own.
“I am Joe McConnell. And this is Kilniara,” Joe trailed off as he realized that he’d never learned her last name, “I’m sorry, Kilniara. I never learned your last name. What is it?”
Kilniara’s pale face flushed a bit red and Joe squeezed her hand. His attempt at comfort did not work and she shrunk in on herself. Joe looked at her and whispered quietly.
“What’s wrong?”
She shook her head and Joe pressed her a bit and she turned to him, whispering in his ear, “I’m no clanner.”
“What does that mean?” Joe replied in his own whisper.
“I do not have a family name.”
“Oh… well, then we’ll just have to get you one!” Joe replied loud enough for everyone at the table to hear. With this, Kilniara’s smile was as bright as her blush and Gwenvair laughed brightly.
“You are exactly as my mother and Kukurnal said.”
Joe looked at her with some confusion, “Who is… oh! Your mother is the Matriarch.”
She looked at Joe with some surprise, “You did not know?”
Joe smiled, “I knew you were of some noble blood, but not which. Is it common for nobles to play the part of mob bosses?”
Her surprise turned considering then shut down completely with Joe’s last statement, her warmth cooling precipitously. Joe saw her shutting down and quickly apologized, raising a hand.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“Ah. I … had no intention to offend. Forgive me. It was genuine curiosity and confusion. The people of my culture would not do so.”
Her stiff shoulders relaxed, falling slightly before she took a deep breath, “I was told you are not of this plane. It is impressive how quickly you adapted.”
“It was… difficult, and I still have need to do so, but I am doing well.”
She nodded, “You are forgiven. This plane is certainly unusual compared to others.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your courtesy.”
Their conversation fell into a lull for a moment, lacking a forward impetus when Joe ended it with a simple thank you. Joe noticed rather quickly and jumped in again, not wanting it to be awkward, looking for a simple conversation.
“so, I know little of clans and nobility of this plane. How well are you and your clan doing?”
Gwenvair tensed, looking at Joe carefully but said nothing. Joe noticed this and grimaced, frowning.
“Apologies once again. It seems I have been intrusive in several ways. I’m only trying to get to know you better, not harm or offend you.”
Gwenvair sighed again and this time laughed, “You are truly too clumsy to be any spy.”
Joe smiled at that, shaking his head, “Well, since I’m not trying to spy, my actions and words would likely be amusing. I’m only trying to understand you and get to know you and your family more. Your mother is as reticent as you.”
“She spoke of you quite highly.”
Joe nodded, accepting the compliment, “Thank you. I’m not trying to be something great.”
Gwenvair smiled at that then sighed, “My family is rather small in the grand scheme of things, but we do well enough for who and where we are.”
“Ambitious?”
“Our clan would not be considered so, no.”
Joe smiled at that, “That makes me like your family more.”
“You do not like ambitious people?”
Joe took a moment to think, nodding his head around in a noncommittal manner, “Ambition for a dream, a goal, or result that is for the good of all, no. I like those kind of people. Ambition for purely selfish gains, I’m less… accepting.”
Gwenvair’s eye’s rose at that, a hint of a smile gracing her lips, “So you do not like the lazy, either?”
Joe laughed at that and shrugged, “I’m a hard man to please.”
Gwenvair echoed his laughter, smiling brightly, “That I might agree on, what little I know of you.”
Joe shrugged and then turned to Kilniara, “So, how well has clan Galgandar done by the city of Coushar?”
Kiliniara looked at him happily when he turned to her, but quickly turned pale with worry as his question proceeded. Joe noticed her fear and then looked at Gwenvair with some concern. Gwenvair was actually staring at him with shock and when she saw him looking, she burst into incredible laughter.
“You have no fear!”
“Fear?”
“You are not concerned with criticizing a clan in their very presence.”
“No? Is that concerning?”
“Not for you, obviously.”
Joe pondered for a bit, then considered examples from Earth where criticism of government and leadership was not acceptable at all. Joe’s relaxed expression fell and he looked to Gwenvair.
“So criticism of leadership is not acceptable in this plane?”
Gwenvair’s smile was subtle but genuine, “No.”
“Hmm,” Joe considered carefully but noticed her genuine smile so continued, “So this is unusual. Should I stop?”
Gwenvair’s smile grew as she cocked her head and, thinking carefully before responding, “Usually, I would advise against ever doing so, but in this time, you may do so.”
Joe smiled and shook his head, “So I do need permission to do so.”
At this, Gwenvair actually seemed confused, “Of course?”
Joe shook his head and laughed, “If I may speak frankly?” Joe asked, turning the rhetorical question into an actual question since Gwenvair seemed to take his attempt at critique quite seriously.
She nodded, waving her hand for him to continue.
Joe nodded, “That seems quite foolish.”
Gwenvair’s eyes shot up at that, surprise and confusion in equal measure, “Really? How could that be so?”
Joe smiled, “Well, how could anyone give you advice or teach you if they are never allowed to critique you? The only words allowed would be words in agreement.”
Gwenvair thought carefully on this before shrugging, “But what difference would it make?”
It was Joe’s turned to be surprised and he was taken aback, “You don’t see a difference? You do not believe that people could know more or offer you advice?”
“How could they? I have much more extensive training and education. They could never match me.”
Joe smiled at this, “Ah. Then you know how to plant and grow potatoes?”
Her eye’s crunched at this, confusion still evident, “No. Why would a noble learn such things?”
“And yet, nobles dictate to farmers, commanding and demanding of them expectations without any knowledge of what a farmer can or cannot do.”
Realization hit Gwenvair, and her mouth dropped open into a ‘oh.’ Joe continued.
“Do nobles know iron and swords? Hunting and meat? Cooking and clothing? Mathematics, numbers, engineering, smithing, metalwork… Just… there is so much a single person cannot learn or know. To command or demand others to never critique, contradict, or advise you seems like the foolish belief of an incredibly arrogant individual.”
As Joe continued describing everything that might be lacking in the training and knowledge of a noble, Gwenvair’s face grew concerned and more serious. By the end, she was nodding, acknowledging Joe’s point.
“I can see your meaning.”
Joe nodded, “You are wise. Many people aren’t.”
“I have met many who are foolish as you describe.”
Joe shrugged, “Yes. Allowing others to speak will take away their fear to speak in moments when necessary. Now, speaking in moments of emergency or when obedience to commands that need to be immediately done… these must be obeyed and done so immediately. But if there is time, listening to the advice of others is only ever wise.”
Gwenvair nodded, “I see your point.”
Joe smiled, “In my plane, there are some na… clans who allow any to criticize any leadership. We call it the freedom of speech.”
Gwenvair’s eye’s brightened at that. She seemed excited but nodded, “Then, does it work well.”
“My clan and the allies of my people still allow it. There have been times when some try to limit or remove this right, but we, as a clan, fight to maintain it.”
Gwenvair nodded and smiled ruefully, “I believe that I now owe you for this.”
Joe smiled and shrugged, “If you have spoken with Kukurnal, you know my people believe that knowledge should be free, so think nothing of it.”
Gwenvair sighed and smiled sadly, “I hope I am able to satisfy your curiosity then.”
Joe smiled, “Then please, offer me what you have learned.”
Gwenvair smiled at this and nodded, “For your first question, it is known that very strong or well-trained monks are capable of changing jobs, although these are rare. There are rumors of acolytes doing so as well, but are only that: rumors. Those who are able to regularly and easily achieve the change job skill are clerics, and to a lesser extent, chaplains, although it is said that chaplains must put forth more effort in gaining the skill than clerics.
“The skill itself is as most skills. The user must simply wish the skill to work, offering the person the job they wish to change to while targeting the individual desiring the job change. The skill can be used on others and on one’s self, as well, although doing so on yourself will remove the skill once the job is changed, if the job you are changing to does not have the skill.”
“So then, the skill is not a character skill… ah… a growth skill, then?” Joe questioned.