“Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there. Please, have a seat,” Joe stepped around the table and pulled out two seats for the two ladies and sat back down beside Kilniara.

“How can I help you?”

The Matriarch and Gwenvair both seemed to be uncomfortable, sitting stiffly within their seats while looking at Joe. Behind them, several guards stood at respectful distance, one Joe recognized from previous meetings with the Matriarch, along with several new ones.

They remained silent, the Matriarch unwilling to engage and Gwenvair proved to be nervous. Joe found their discouragement or worry a bit confusing so tried to offer them some comfort.

“You seem quite concerned. Please relax. Just speak. It’s all fine.”

Both of them seemed to relax fractionally and Gwenvair finally sat forward, speaking quickly, “My m…” She stopped immediately, even as her mother tensed and stopped, restarting quickly almost quickly enough to hide the faux pas.

“The Matriarch wishes to be able to speak with you privately, if possible.”

“Oh. Uh… sure. That’s fine. Where… would some place here be fine or do you need a bit more security and meaningful privacy?”

Gwenvair relaxed quite a bit at Joe’s obvious willingness to work together and smiled subtly, “We would likely need a location that has security measures in place. I doubt this inn has the security necessary.”

Joe smiled at that and nodded, “True. If you are concerned, then I’m willing. Uh… Let’s head out?”

Joe’s statement was simple and forthright as he stood and pulled out the seat for Kilniara. But as he did so, both their guests tensed once again and Kilniara seemed to realize the situation quickly.

“I think I’ll stay behind and head to your room. I can wait for the guys and make sure they aren’t worried if you come home late.”

“You sure?”

Kilniara nodded, smiling, “Yeah. It’s fine.”

“Oh. OK,” Joe replied quickly, if a bit disappointedly before nodding to her and turning towards the other two.

When he did so, he saw their relief and realized they wanted a private conversation with him. He paused a bit, considering, before he turned back to Kilniara, speaking to her quietly but firmly enough that the two clanners and their guards heard him.

“I’m fine if you wish to stay. And in this time, it is probably wise that I go with them personally… alone, since our relationship is still new. But I want you to know that if we marry and join ourselves together, I expect and hope and am willing that you be a part of all my business. My business is your business. And I hope you will allow me the same with your business. You have no need to hide or retreat from being involved in my life and my activities, even if others do not appreciate you being a part of it. You and I will choose if you are involved, not others. OK?”

Kilniara tensed up at this, a bit of fear flashing through her eyes even as she flicked a glance towards the Matriarch and her daughter before quickly releasing her tension and smiling brightly in return.

“Thank you, but you do not need to be overly concerned.”

“Family is always my primary concern. If you wish to be a part of my family, then… yeah.”

Kilniara relaxed even more and giggled before hugging him, “But still it is polite to offer other’s what they want.”

“Yes. Which is why I am offering it to them. I’m not offended by them. I only wished they would have simply asked. But again, you are my primary concern. Make your decisions for the best of us, not others.”

Kilniara’s smile only grew more and she nodded, “OK. OK! I understand. Now go before you bother them even more.”

Joe laughed and leaned down, pressing a kiss onto her lips, stunning her completely even as she froze in place, not moving with arms stiff at her side. He maintained the kiss only for a second, a simple closed mouth firm and slightly longer lasting peck on the lips before he stood.

“You are important. Not this!”

Joe, leaving a beat red Kilniara behind him, turned back to the Matriarch and Gwenvair, a polite neutral look on his face.

“Shall we go?”

* * *

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

Gwenvair stared at the Eccentric as he kissed a poor weakling of a cloth armorer. The sight of it sent both shock through her mind and a subtle shiver of melancholy through her thoughts. If it was me, I… we … the clan would… She ended her jealous thoughts quickly, not wishing to betray anything, although it was likely too late given the insane abilities of the Eccentric. Besides, would he ever accept a Queen? She hid her dismay, as few ever would.

Again, she quashed her thoughts and focused on Joe, blinking in a bit of surprise to see him facing her again.

“Shall we go?”

Gwenvair looked to her mother as the Matriarch almost always led in all things, especially in public settings. It was expected, as First in Line for Matriarch, to take the lead as well, but rarely in the presence of the Matriarch herself, unless asked to do so. That her mother had asked her to lead in this case surprised her, but she took to the challenge readily enough, grateful to practice her leadership in front of her mother.

“A place that offers meaningful privacy would be agreeable.”

“Excellent. As this is your city, I assume you know of such places better than I?” he questioned politely.

Gwenvair nodded politely in response as well, “Certainly. The easiest and quickest would be to return to one of the guilds for an evening meal.”

“Is that preferable to you? You have been quite kind to visit me here often. I’m willing to go where you wish as well.”

Gwenvair paused, in concerned thought even as her mother tensed at her side. They both were driven to the same thought. Does he seek access to the clan… She shook off her thoughts once again and truly looked at the Eccentric. He’s plain spoken. Blunt. Honest… he made sure of that for his woman. That play was for her, not us. And this… The honest simple look in his eyes betrayed purity and no hint of subterfuge. Gwenvair relaxed once again, and her mother reacted to her. Although less stress-free, her mother was still obviously concerned with the Eccentric’s hidden motives. In that moment, clarity struck her, a moment of epiphany so surreal that time seemed to warp around her. He has no hidden motives! He… doesn’t live with… he’s…

That moment of clarity struck her with such force that it left her both breathless and unable to properly parse thoughts for an appropriate response. But decades of training left her prepared to respond immediately and rapidly to any situation as appropriately as possible and found herself replying with a slightly neutral if haughty question to give her the time necessary to respond.

“Are you concerned with our choice?”

His response was immediate, “Of course not. I’m only worried that you always visit me. I’m willing to go wherever, but I know the inner city and nobl… clan homes must be much more comfortable and relaxing for you. I feel bad that you always come out here.”

Gwenvair relaxed completely, her epiphany more certain and supported. He truly is as he portrays himself to be. She felt both shocked at the realization, and concerned at how any could live in such a guileless way. Others could so easily deceive or abuse him that she feared how he would react if it was… Ahh… any who would do so… She shivered, wondering how he would react to being used. Her thoughts restored, she was able to quickly respond.

She laughed politely in her response, letting just a bit of her real self shine through as she said, “Honestly, we are comfortable either here or in the inner city. The quality of the inner city is certainly greater, but the guilds here are closer.”

She ignored her mother’s surprised and calculating look when she glanced at her, knowing that being so revealing was incredibly unusual. She didn’t respond to her mother, but focused on Joe and his response.

Joe’s bright smile in return gave confidence to Gwenvair that she was doing well, remembering both their previous meeting deep in the slums and their last meal together.

“Then, choose a place you both would prefer, enjoy, and feel most relaxed in. I would prefer to offer you both a moment to rest from the duties and stress of leadership where you can truly relax without concern, if possible. That way, it can be meaningful on several levels. We can accomplish whatever task has driven you here, and we can offer you a moment of respite from your troubles.”

“You want us to relax?” Gwenvair asked, teasing slightly.

Joe chuckled and shrugged, “Of course. Both of you are always so stressed when you meet me. How could we become friends if you are always so worried or second guessing anything?”

Gwenvair kept her face schooled, hiding her surprise at his willing revelation of having read both a Matriarch and the First in Line for Matriarch so easily. Maybe he isn’t so easily used after all?

“Then could we offer you an enjoyable meal at one of my favorite restaurants? It is in the inner city.”

“That would be more than agreeable. I will be able to make it back here after, correct? Are the inner gates locked like the outer gates are at night?”

Gwenvair blinked with some confusion with that, even as her mother stiffened slightly, both trying to hide their shock. He could leave at any time. Why does he…

“See. Like that. Both of you just clenched up so tight it was like I threatened you or something.”

Gwenvair relaxed quickly, even as her mother tensed up more and she placed an arm on her mother’s forearm, a light trail of fingers that attempted to convey peace but did the exact opposite as it was such a breach in protocol. Her mother’s increased tension echoed through their body guards as all of them shook from the shock while flickering eyes away in surprise, attempting and failing to look away so as to give privacy to the family in this moment of intimacy. The Eccentric, however, did not fail to notice all of this and stiffened slightly. His next statement was much more carefully spoken; measured and cautious.

“Obviously, something is happening here that is beyond my understanding. Some form of relationship or … action. I mean no harm, offense, or problem. If I am such a cause, I’m more than willing to withdraw. I do not wish to be the cause of harm or a problem for you and your family.”

This statement caused the guards to redden in embarrassment almost immediately, and Gwenvair bit down on a curse, promising herself a word with the commander after this. Her mother, however, relaxed imperceptibly and she spoke for the first time.

“You have caused no harm, Eccentric.”

Joe nodded at that but still continued cautiously, “I hope I haven’t as it was never my intention, but I still have caused a great deal of tension, but had no intention to do so nor do I know how I did so.”

Gwenvair smiled at that and chuckled, “Honestly, we don’t know really how to interact with you.”

Gwenvair’s blunt statement shocked her mother, and she could feel it through the fingertips she still had rested on her mother’s forearm. Despite this, her mother proved her trust in her and remained silent, her eyes widening only slightly to stare at the Eccentric in some concern.

“Me? Really? You have… how do you treat a … a brother… or a … an uncle… or aunt… a nice one. Someone you like.”