“Now… Tam… Dear, reasonable, Tam. Think about what your father would do, there is no need-”

“I really don’t know what it is that makes you so concerned about my violent tendencies given that it was your brother who just beat these men into the road.” The future duke gave Jeong a significantly more irritable retort than he had in the carriage prior to the robbery attempt.

“My brother wasn’t the first one to jump to murdering a person, that’s why!”

“I said it was a last resort!” Tam defended before turning away from Jeong and giving a long sigh.

The group of four men that had tried to take the carriage knelt on the road in front of Jeong, Tam, and Eli. Their swords safely apprehended and stowed in the secret compartment under the seat in the carriage Bong and Jeong had been occupying during the trip.

By the time Bong was returning from finishing doing this and gave a bow of his head to confirm everything was fine in the carriage with both the weapons and Luca, Tam was more than ready to get the questioning started.

“None of you,” he began while sweeping his finger through the air at them. “Are bandits. None of you have held a sword in your life, and you’re more terrified of us than we are of you.”

Jeong looked back and forth from the men on the ground to the future duke, his round face dumbfounded. Eli blinked and raised an eyebrow, but otherwise didn’t react as dramatically.

Bong merely watched the men as though he, too, had come to the same conclusion.

“My question is this; is it that you’re all desperate to feed your families? Or did you target this carriage specifically?” Tam’s hand fell back to his side as he awaited their answer.

However, none came.

The bandits kept their eyes and chins lowered.

Tam said nothing as he continued studying them in their stoic silence, until he eventually crouched down in front of them.

“We can either strip you and leave you by the edge of the road while we ride on to the next town and report you there, or you can tell us the truth, and we might be more forgiving.” Tam’s tone was even, but not necessarily kind…

The man that had been the one to press a sword to Tam’s throat was still visibly quaking, and he was the first to slip a glance at his fellow bandits as though asking permission to speak.

“You have until I count to five to let me know what you’ve decided. One… Two…”

“Forgive me, sir!” the bandit caved, falling forward to the ground so that his forehead could press against the road. “We were forced out of our village! W-We had no other options-”

“Who gave you the swords?” Bong asked softly.

The bandit fell silent again.

“Three… Four…” Tam continued counting, his volume rising with each number.

“The traders!” the bandit burst out, his voice breaking. “T-They said they wouldn’t take our women and children if we worked for them.”

It was Tam’s side of the road that quieted then.

The duke barely resisted looking at Eli to gauge how she was reacting to the news.

“Do you happen to know any names of these traders?” Bong spoke up, and while he still sounded gentle, there was an edge in his words that could be heard…

“Who else?” one of the other bandits on the ground uttered darkly while lifting his face to stare at the nobles, the sides of his head shaved. “The one who is friends with Lord Yangban.”

Tam watched Bong’s reaction to the news, and saw a steeliness enter into his face that was wildly unlike his usual happy self…

The Zinferan nobleman stared at the bandits, his thoughts unknown, and just as Tam was about to ask who Lord Yangban was, Bong turned and strode to the carriage while calling over his shoulder.

“I will give you all silver. You will pay the traders, and when they leave, you will take your families, and you will flee to Haeson. You will report to the magistrate there that you are to work for the Ryu family.”

All the bandits looked up with a start. “R-Ryu… family…?” the bandit who had been the first to speak asked faintly. “S-Sir are you…”

“I am a servant of the Ryu family. However, I am capable of hiring men to work for their fishing businesses. You will tell the magistrate Daeba sent you,” Bong cited the lie stiffly.

The bandits stared at the back of Bong, too stunned to move as this information sunk in… But by the time Bong was returning with a small satchel that clinked with coin, two of the men began to cry, though they didn’t make a sound as they gazed up reverently at Bong.

“Thank you, sir,” the bandit who had revealed which traders were responsible for their present fate rasped.

The four men, from their knees, all bowed to Bong, who laid the silver in front of them.

“Pardon us, but we must be on our way,” was all Bong said to them as he then returned to the carriage.

Tam could tell something had greatly disturbed the Zinferan nobleman, and so he didn’t bother saying anything else to the bandits as he, Eli, and Jeong followed Bong back to the vehicle, climbed in, and alerted their driver that they were ready to resume their journey.

Bong didn’t speak at all or look at the group when the carriage lurched into movement, and sensing that he wasn’t quite ready to explain what had him becoming uncharacteristically serious, Tam turned his attention to Luca.

“You’re sure you’re alright?” Tam asked quietly.

Luca nodded. “It was a bit scary… But I guess I have to get used to that, right?”

“Of course not!” Jeong jumped in fiercely. “That is not at all what you should get used to! We will get to Junya, and you are going to spend your time like any child should! Playing games! Eating! Maybe a bit of studying… Tam, have you thought about hiring Luca a tutor to continue his studies?” Jeong directed at the future duke earnestly.

Tam opened his mouth but no sound came out.

Right… Tutors…

They would be in Zinfera for months, it’d make sense that Luca would study while there. It’d probably help him when they went back to Daxaria as well….

“My lord I can see to arranging for a tutor or two for Luca once we reach Junya,” Eli volunteered.

Turning to his assistant gratefully, Tam was just about to issue his thanks when he noticed the tension in Eli’s face…

His gaze flit back to Bong, and seeing how the nobleman was still staring out the window at the scenery distracted, Tam resolved to ask for details about this trader who was apparently affiliated with a noble.

Tam knew Eli had either heard of Lord Yangban or dealt with him directly, and perhaps she was far more closely acquainted with the trader in league with the nobleman than she’d like…

So what grudge did Bong have against them as well?

***

That night, when they had all set up camp at a breakpoint where several other travelers had set up camp beside the Ho River by the road to Junya, after Luca had been put to sleep in Tam’s tent with a lantern lit to keep him warm, Tam sought out Bong and Eli.

Only Bong had retired abnormally early for the night, and Eli…

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Tam found Eli sitting on a flat rock beside the river, the brilliant starry sky spreading its cloak over the desert land and exhibiting its unapologetic beauty for any lonely souls to confide in.

The air had cooled considerably since that afternoon, as Tam had been warned would happen when traveling in the desert. And so when he approached Eli, who sat in nothing but the clothes that Bong had purchased for her that very morning that felt like a week ago, he carried with him a blanket.

Dropping it over her shoulders, Tam proceeded to plunk himself down a few feet away from Eli at her side without a word.

“Thank you,” she said awkwardly.

Tam nodded vaguely. “If you get sick we’ll have to figure out where to find a physician. Better you stay warm.”

“People don’t instantly get sick just because they get a little cold,” Eli countered stubbornly, though she still pulled the dark green blanket around herself.

“Maybe. Maybe not. Why take a chance when you don’t have to?” Tam shrugged.

His assistant let a loud breath through her nose out while returning her attention to the river that rushed by, the sounds of the other travelers behind them talking and laughing wafting over to them.

“I take it you know the trader and Lord Yangban?”

Eli swallowed. “Yes.”

“I see.” Tam paused. “Is there anything I should know about him?”

“He is the one backing the traders and supporting Soo Hebin.”

Tam feigned a casual, receptive air to the news. “Why didn’t Jeong or Bong mention his importance when citing the influential lords we had to sway?”

“Because there is no swaying him. He wants Junya as the capital, and he is most likely the one who gave Soo Hebin the idea to begin with to help her gain power in his excellency’s court. The trader he works with that oversees everything is named Captain Woo. He’s… He’s the one who I spent time with when I was first taken,” Eli explained vaguely.

“Is there anyone, or any combination of people that could be powerful enough to destroy both Lord Yangban and Captain Woo?”

Eli’s upper lip curled disdainfully. “The court is a mess right now, and I haven’t been a part of it in years, so I haven’t a clue.”

Tam pondered this information while gazing up at the Goddess’ Pool constellation.

“Alright. So Lord Yangban is another possible threat while we are in Junya?”

Eli nodded. “He’ll recognize me if I see him.”

“And I’m guessing he and Lord Guk get along well?”

“Surprisingly, no. They compete with each other for power in Junya. It’s one of the reasons Lord Guk could theoretically still be swayed to go against the change. That said, if they both stand to gain a lot by working together, they might.”

“Hm… And I thought hearing about Troivack’s court problems was a headache. This isn’t even all of the palace’s affairs.”

Eli closed her eyes. “That’s right.”

Hearing the tight irritation in Eli’s voice, Tam felt disgruntlement sprout in his chest, making his index finger tap slowly against the stone they sat on.

“How highly ranked is Lord Yangban?”

“Rank four.”

Tam winced.

In Zinfera, as opposed to marquis, duke, or another kind of title, the nobility knew where they were in the pecking order based out of twelve ranks assigned to them either from the emperor himself, or by family inheritance– which the emperor could change if he wished.

Those ranked five and higher could attend court, and weigh in on official matters prior to public announcements. Ranked four meant they could live in court, had access to some of the more exclusive palace buildings and parties, and were most likely distantly related to the royal family. If not, it was assumed they were going to have daughters that married into the family.

Ranks three and two meant you were related to the royal family as parents or half siblings, or lower ranked princes and princesses, and rank one meant you were close in line to inheriting the throne, or on the throne. The higher one’s rank, the more difficult it’d be to fight them… If they had someone as an ally who was a higher rank, there was a far better chance that even a level four could beat, say, a level three or two.

“Rank four is high… but not the worst… Technically by the Zinferan standard, I am ranked between two and four in Daxaria. What was your ranking before you were taken?” Tam pressed carefully. He was well aware he was requesting more information than Eli may be comfortable sharing at the moment…

“I was in the first rank.”

Tam’s head whipped around.

If he had been in the midst of taking a drink when he had heard Eli’s response, he would’ve spit it out.

“Pardon?”

Eli’s grip on the blanket around her shoulders tightened. “I was favored by Lady Chin. I was rank one.”

“Even though you were adopted?” Tam asked bluntly, his astonishment overcoming his sense of manners and restraint.

Eli bobbed her head wearily.

“Then the entire reason you have been scared of returning, and why they want you dead…”

“Yes. Soo Hebin saw me as a legitimate threat, but really, I wasn’t. I had no ambition to take over the throne, and furthermore, last I heard, the emperor hadn’t ever broached the subject with the coven here in Zinfera. So really, I was given the first rank because his mother insisted. He never was going to name me empress.”

Tam found himself at a loss for words.

His mild mannered– though occasionally disgruntled–assistant… Had been named as a highly viable heir to the Zinferan throne.

“Why the hell did you come back?”

At last, Eli turned to look at Tam, her eyes rife with pain and anger. “Someone would’ve found the truth if I’d stayed in Daxaria and then they’d be obligated to tell your king. The only reason I was overlooked in Troivack was because everyone was too busy learning about the extent of Duke Icarus’s crimes, and not many Zinferans wanted to go to Troivack in the first place… Which meant no one knew me there. Aside from Duke Icarus who must have heard from the traders who I was.”

“Then he found out you were kidnapped… Knew about your abilities… And figured you would be useful.” Tam pieced together Eli’s history sluggishly.“Why are you so certain that if you stayed behind in Daxaria someone would’ve remembered you?”

Eli fidgeted, then, reaching some sort of defeated conclusion, gave a bitter laugh.

“Because I’m related to a close family friend of yours.”

While Tam had felt like he was making progress with wrapping his head around Eli’s royal lineage, his thoughts collapsed back into a baffled heap.

“What? You are? Who?!” he blinked, sitting up straighter and leaning forward to stare at his assistant’s face, already his mind racing with who it could possibly be that she was related to…

Somberly, Eli stared back at her employer, prepared to reveal yet another well guarded secret of hers to a man she had only known for a few weeks…

“I’m related to Lord Oscar Harris. Duke Iones.”

Tam’s jaw dropped.

“My mother is Marigold Nam. Formerly, Marigold Iones. Lord Harris’s half sister.”