Chapter 1.6:

As I lay frozen on the ground eyeing the club in the larger boy’s hand, he jumped down from the back of the caravan and slowly approached.

I noticed that this boy was also tanned and had the same sharp eyes as the burly man. They had the same brown hair combed tidily to the side. He was a lot lankier, but the disdain in his eyes made him look more formidable, especially with a drawn weapon.

“You looking to die today? Why are you just sitting there?” The older boy said with a cold look.

My instinct for self-preservation warred with my desperation and frustration to come up with any lead about my parents.

In a panic, I held up my sheathed knife to try to defend myself in case he swung his club.

The older boy appeared taken aback, and inspected the knife on my hand.

“Is that the crest of the Valera family?”

My head snapped upwards to look at him. His familiarity with the crest on the knife dumbfounded me to my core.

Valera…? Someone who knows my parents…?

“Did you steal this?”

The question jolted me out of my own thoughts. I looked at the older boy who was even angrier now, club raised again.

“No! Family…” I sputtered out.

Hardly a satisfactory explanation. But there was something about the older boy’s rage that muddled my thoughts.

“Hmph… We’ll see.” The older boy said with palpable suspicion.

The older boy laid down his club and extended his hand towards the knife. He closed his eyes and a soft light started to emit from his finger tips. The same light started to come from the knife.

“Well, it is definitely bound to you. It appears to be a fairly new artifact too. Maybe two generations? But I can’t tell as accurately with my level of Appraisal magic.”

He studied me for a while then his expression softened.

“Sorry about that yah? New city and all, what with us uprooting our lives from the Roost to come here.”

There was a sadness to his voice as he spoke.

“Ha.. don’t mind me. Sorry about the aggression. Dad told me to guard the caravan and told me there were a lot of thieves reported in this town. I mean the guard at the gate told us that there’s even a kid pilfering things. So I kind of panicked when I felt someone climbing the back.”

The guard probably meant me.

I looked down with a sheepish grin. That’s when I noticed that his club-wielding hand was shaking.

Ah… He was just as afraid as I was.

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“Sorry” I murmured.

“Ah, no no. I should be the one apologizing. Anyway, where are my manners. Paul Finch, apprentice appraiser and merchant to Abram Finch, formerly of the Roost Collective.”

The older boy spoke in an elegant and refined manner and his accompanying bow made me think that he spent quite some time rehearsing his introduction. For some reason though he stayed bowed. I looked at him for a while until he glanced up.

“Aren’t you going to introduce yourself?” He asked with a bit of embarrassment in his voice.

“Oh! I’m Adi. Just Adi.”

Chapter 1.7:

“Adi huh? Guess you might still be too young to have gotten etiquette lessons. All merchants and noble houses need to know those. It’s good for business. My dad always says, ‘manners are all a man has!’” Paul said with a knowing smile.

“Um…Why would I know that? I’m not a noble or a merchant?” I asked with genuine curiosity.

Paul’s face went from smiling to confusion to surprise.

“Waddya mean? You have an artifact with a crest of the Valera family! That means your parents are nobles and so you’re one too!”

Paul said this as if it was the most common sensical thing in the world.

I’m a noble?

Paul looked on as my face continued to ponder these things deeply. Suddenly, a look of comprehension dawned on him.

“Ah geez... Sorry, did you uh... did you not grow up with your dad around?” Paul said hesitantly.

“I grew up in an orphanage. But getting this knife was the very first thing I remember.” I answered meekly.

Paul suddenly looked very sad and started shaking his head.

“Who would of thought that Lord Chase had a bastard this far away from the Roost...” Paul said under his breath.

“Sorry, what was that?” I asked, barely making out anything other than the name “Lord Chase”.

“Ah nothing! Nothing! Not my place to say. But that doesn’t make any sense... Let’s wait for my dad and maybe he can clear things up. I think we may know your parents. Well, at least your father for sure.” Paul said, clearly embarrassed.

We leaned on the side of the caravan as we waited for Paul’s dad to come out of the brick house.

“Hey Paul, your dad’s a merchant right? What’s he doing inside? The house has been empty for a while now. I’ve never seen anyone turn on the lights or anything.”

Paul turned to me and he had a sad look again.

“You’re right. This place is empty, no one lives here for now. But we might soon be. My dad’s been asked to open an appraisal shop in North Haven. That’s why we left the Roost. He’s probably inside with the owner trying to negotiate a fair price for it.”

I felt a lot of sympathy for Paul. He clearly loved his old home. But at the same time, I felt very jealous that he had a home at all. Probably with a lot of happy memories, a loving family, and friends all around.

I didn’t know what to do, so I just gently patted the side of his arm.

“Thanks. You’re alright, Adi.” Paul said appreciatively.

Just then the door swung open and the burly man came out with a huge grin on his face.

“Thank you again, my lord! Happy to do business with you.” The burly man said to the figure inside the house.

He walked down the steps of the house and saw Paul and me leaning on the side of the caravan. His grin slowly disappeared and was replaced with a stern expression. I started to get self-conscious about my dirty clothes and grimy appearance from the sharp look he was giving me.

“Aye Paul, who’s this then? Made a friend did we?” The burly man asked.

“Sort of dad. This is Adi of the Valera family.” Paul answered.

Paul’s brief explanation seemed to stun the burly man and breathe a whole new person into him. His stern look was replaced with a warm smile.

“Ah, of the Valera Family! Well. The pleasure is mine then, young master. Abram Finch, adept appraiser and master merchant, formerly of the Roost Collective, now the shopkeeper of the fine house you see before you.” Abram said with a similar low bow.

The last part of his statement made Paul visibly flinch and he looked away. Remembering Paul’s words about manners, I decided to copy his introduction.

“Nice to meet you, good sir. I am Adi... Valera... Not really good at anything, but I run pretty well! And I can make some fire sparks.” I said, while matching his bow.

Abram straightened up and laughed aloud.

“That’ll do, young master. Not a bad introduction at all! Indeed, when we are young, it is the earnest efforts that truly set apart the nobility. After all, manners are all we have.” Abram said with a wink.

I smiled at him and felt assured.

He’s a pretty nice guy. Different from the other adults I’ve met here.

As if remembering something, Paul signaled his dad to the side.

“Dad, could I have a quick word in private?”

Abram looked at him inquisitively and turned to me.

“Young master, you must excuse us. If it would please you, why not wait inside the caravan while we speak. The sun at midday is pretty unforgiving after all.” Abram said kindly.

I decided to take his offer. I did another small bow and proceeded to climb into the back of the caravan.

I heard Paul whispering something to Abram. I tried not to listen in since I thought they would consider it very rude if I eavesdropped. I looked around the inside of the caravan and all the items they brought with them.

“WHAT?!” I heard Abram yell suddenly. I turned towards the sound, and started to grip the side of the seat, fearing that something bad was about to happen.