Chapter 52

After explaining the whole fiasco to the city guards and making sure Hutch took his post watching over there gear Lara B-lined it to the local tavern the drunken falcon for her usual post-mission drinks. Though her mind was a little jumbled by today's events she none the less took her seat in the back of the bar and waited for the waitress to bring her usual pitcher of mead. Her mind was currently wandering to Ash. A small smile graced her face as she thought of him.

"That idiot better not leave our company he's the only half-competent soldier I got." She said to herself as the waitress dropped her drink off. Don't get her wrong she was ecstatic that his missing sister found him and they were reunited. He spoke so much about her she felt like she already knew the girl like a sister. But that tiny thought couldn't help but pass through her mind... What if he leaves now that she came back.

It would make sense the only reason he joined her company in the first place was to get his mind off his shitty situation as he put it and that he felt like he owed her from saving him from the castle dungeon. Plus the travel and fighting made it hard to wallow in despair when every day could be your last it made you try to live even if that meant finding something to laugh about or getting into some stupid situation with your friends... " Dammit, Ash don't leave!" She drunkenly shouted across the bar at nobody particular.

Unfortunately for her ASh and his two relatives chose that moment to walk through the tavern doors. Ash gave a small chuckle at his captain's red-tinted face not sure if it was out of embarrassment or just being liquored up. " I'm not going anywhere, captain!" He shouted back across the bar making the rest of the patrons yell in agreement while slamming their tankards into the tables.

"Good you big oaf." She said quietly as a smirk crossed her lips. Yuuta took a seat at the bar and ordered something to drink while Ria took her seat next to them. "I'm going to go talk to the captain for a little you two hang out here Macho will help you out with anything you need." He motioned towards the barkeeper who waves kindly at the two.

"Dad should be done working soon we can visit him in the castle. Its kind of a pain to get in working for a Lord has its perks but man do they take security seriously." The annoyance on his face passed as he made his way to his slightly drunken captain, not that, that wasn't unusual. He and Lara had spent many nights getting trashed and getting into the most absurd situations. thinking of one such occasion he laughed to himself before sitting down making Lara notice. " What you giggling about school girl?"

"Nothing just thought about the time we got caught trying to steal the hen from the bakery across the street and ran out of the henhouse with it on your head screaming it was going to poop on you." He could barely finish without laughing as Lara joined in.

"Haha... If I remember correctly you somehow ended up naked and used one of the chickens to cover your chicken if you know what I mean while we ran down the street." At this point they where dry heaving with laughter as they downed another cup.

"Anyways how did Hutch take guard duty I hope he cried," Ash said a little bit of spite in his voice. "You know him to well he wouldn't stop begging me to let him off so now he's on guard duty till our next mission that dumb playboy needs to learn some constraint before he gets himself killed." Her tone started light but ended more seriously as you could tell she didn't take her comrades lightly and only wanted the best for them.

She swirled her drink around for a moment before continuing her mind on another comrade. "So are you serious about what you said you're not leaving." She stopped her swirling and looked up at him. "I am though I might leave for a little while just till I get my family situation under control. My sister coming back was a blessing but she didn't come alone."

"Yea he is a mysterious one. I've never seen anybody close to his power other than S-rank adventurers but those are far and few in-between." Ash nodded agreeing with his captain he didn't know what to make of Yuuta just yet. He knew he wasn't a threat and his sister was clearly in love with him. As much as it pained him to see, he was just as much in love with her.

"From the short conversation, we had I can say with confidence he's a good a guy and at least trustworthy when it comes to my little sister. According to her, she wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for him and if she was... well let's just say she wouldn't want to be." He said the anger clear in his inflection.

Lara grimaced knowing what he meant she knew enough about his backstory to know there were only a couple routes a cute slave girl could go in this world and none of them were great.

"I'm certain he is hiding something I could tell when he talked. He opened up about a lot but there is something he's keeping from me. I'll leave it to him to tell me when he decides that's the least I can do."

Lara gave a devious smile, "You're better than me Ash I wouldn't let him go till he told me everything. When I know somebody is holding back I can't help myself. It's like an itch I can't scratch." ASH laughed at her knowing exactly what she meant. Their company was known for intelligence gathering and that was no mere coincidence. Lara loved a good mystery and she wouldn't rest till she solved or at least got all the clues she could get her hands on.

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"Yea we know Captain once you sink your teeth in there's no letting go till you know whats going on." She picked her up to her cup into the air like she was about to give a toast.

"You're damn right!" Was all she said before finishing off her drink. "Well don't sit here on my account go be with your sister I'm sure you have a lot to catch up on," Lara said trying to shoo him off.

"Yea cap sure thing If it's ok though I would like you to come with us when we visit the castle. I think things would go smoother if we had you with us. You have a good reputation with Lord Grexis. Yuuta is a lord in Hartford but I still feel a little uneasy about us going alone. I know I sound stupid but please come with us." Ash felt a little shy asking so vehemently but he wanted things to go smoothly when he brought his sister. He had been turned away on several occasions when something big was happening in the castle or the guard just felt like being a dick that day.

Lara smiled at his concerned face and nodded her head " Of course I will Ash." Her genuine smile made Ash's heart beat rapidly. 'Damn why is she so beautiful when she smiles like that.' He thought to himself not realizing she was still talking.

"Ash? Are you even listening?" she asked her smile quickly turning into an annoyed look on her face. That question knocked him out of his thoughts before nodding his head. " Yea sorry continue."

"As I said before I think we should wait until tomorrow to visit your father the whole Troll Boar getting so close to the city has them up in arms. I'm sure the castle is abuzz with people and meetings and so on... there will be a pretty low chance of getting in today. Tomorrow will be better." Ash looked a little disappointed but nodded in agreement. He then waved to his sister and her fiance to come over and join them. Which they did happily.

"So you must be Ria I am Captain Lara but you can just call me Lara. Your brother has told me a lot about you." Lara introduced herself as politely as possible. She would never admit it but she wanted to make a good impression on Ash's sister.

"Nice to meet you, Lara!" Ria said a little excitedly before giving a seated bow. "Thanks for looking after my brother. I know he can be a handful so thanks for putting up with him."

"Hey, punk don't go assuming I'm the one being looked after." Ash tried to defend himself but that only earned a laugh from the two women while Yutta awkwardly chuckled and looked elsewhere in the room.

"Don't get me started Ria or I would never stop. But I must say the big oaf has his positive points. He's good in battle and reliable which can't be said for most of my men." That earned another cheer from the men in the bar. Ria only giggled happily that her brother had found someone to rely on as she did with Yuuta.

"Anyways before this taunting continues I spoke with Lara about visiting dad and she said it would better to wait till tomorrow. Lord Grexis is most likely busy with the Troll Boar appearance and won't allow visitors today."

Ria tapped her finger on her chin at the mention of that name, " Where have I heard that name before Yuuta it sounds so familiar?" Yuuta only grimaced it was the Lord who sent his page out to find him and bring him back no doubt wanting to ask for something.

"His page tried to lure me into seeing him earlier today. My guess is he wants something from me." Ash and Lara looked at each other in concern before Lara spoke. " Well I would like to say don't worry about it but if Lord Grexis is looking for you then nothing good is coming your way. I would advise you to stay behind tomorrow if you want to stay off his radar."

Ria gripped his hand tightly her anxiety spiking at them not going to see her dad together. Yuuta squeezed lightly back showing he wasn't going anywhere. ASh spoke up next. " I would say that would be fine but dad isn't allowed to leave the castle. Though technically slavery is illegal here, Nobles have found a way around such laws." Ria's grip got tighter if that was even possible thinking of what was happening to her father. "They call it indentured servitude here the basic premise is simple they pay for you to come to this country or pay to get you out of prison. Then you work it off at the cost of your freedom. It's not 100% above board but not technically illegal." Yuuta gritted his teeth god why did nobles have to be such dicks was all he could think.

"When we first came to this country we where technically prisoners they have these weird auctions though they are not called that. But essentially where lined up and inspected and we get a chance to show our skills and or trades. Of course, I've been a fighter my whole life so Captain Lara paid my bail and I was free to go.

Lara jumped in at that part. "Let me just say I am opposed to this way of things but I do my best to free the useful ones and I let them decide if they want to join me or find there on the path. I would have bought your father's debt as well but Lord Grexis outbid me once he had a chance to taste your father's wonderful cooking." Her anger clear. " It still pisses me off that we missed out on having his delicious food every day." Her anger and drunkenness getting the best of her as she slammed her hand on the table making the cups jump in the air.

"Anyways, dad is stuck in the castle till his debt is paid. Unfortunately, his debt seems to be unknown to everybody but Lord Grexis. He seems to be in a limbo when it comes to debt fulfillment. I've tried to get a number out of somebody on how much it would cost but like I said it seems to bee a mystery to even his most trusted advisors. My guess is he doesn't want to let dad go and is going to keep him there indefinitely. At least I'm allowed to visit. You know dad though he never lets his situation get him too far down in the dumps. He always has a smile on his face just spouting off about how happy he is that he still gets to cook and that people still like his food. He took it hard when we couldn't find you and mom I'm sure cooking saved him from the despair like Lara save me from mine."

Ash's breath hitched when he realized what he said he looked to Lara who was just as dumbfounded. Lara went slightly pink once his words registered in her mind how could she not be happy that she helped a beloved comrade from the abyss known as despair. It being Ash secretly made her happier but that was for her to know and no one else. "I Have even tried to persuade Grexis to let Amrik free but he shuts that down anytime I bring it up," Lara added.

Everybody at the table had a look of anger on their faces Even in another country nothing changes people abuse there power and prey on the weak. Yuuta was already thinking of ways to get Amrik free from his servitude. His first instinct was to slaughter this Grexis and drain him till he was nothing but a sunbathed raisin. Ria noticed that look in his eyes not mention him crushing the wood armrest into tiny splinter. "Calm down Yuuta we will figure it out." She whispered into his ear. " I know Ria we always do."