A broad cobblestone road drew a path through Wyvern’s Rest, the clacking of hooves a rhythmic tick among the rolling whir of cartwheels. A murmurous choir of voices poured from swaths of travelers on foot, their continuous roar loud enough to compete with the songs and cries of colorful street performers. Sturdy houses and towering buildings lined the sides of the road, casting shadows along the way.
Riding along at a leisurely pace, Jessa basked in the gentle breeze which swept across her cheeks as it rustled the leaves of trees and hedges. Just as it stirred all life in its path, so too did it carry with it an array of fragrances from flowers and lavish cooking herbs—as well as the stench of stable waste and bodies moving through the crowds.
Hills rolled in the distance to the north. At the highest peak stood the castle which housed the royal family presiding over all of Nelthemar, imposing its inescapable splendor upon every corner of the city. Jessa had seen the castle countless times and, given her father’s status, had even been welcomed as a guest within its halls, yet it never ceased to win her attention and admiration with each visit she paid to the Wyvern's Rest.
As her horse continued trotting along, she took a turn where the road split eastward to the more affluent districts. Market stalls and crowds began to thin, and buildings separated to more private distances with wrought iron fences sprouting between them.
While less crowded than the market, the noble quarters of the city was still alive with movement. This way and that, servants of the many noble houses darted between horses. Adorned in the standard work attire indicative of those managed by the Servantry Union, they appeared as flashes of silver and white, similar to the ones worn by the twin Fenvar maids. As the road stretched further, houses grew bigger, more opulent, and spaced further apart.
After taking a turn where the road split once more to the south, Jessa continued for quite some time until lush green grass faded into sand and cerulean waves glittered on the horizon as they rolled gently to shore. Gulls cried out overhead, circling fishermen and their catches in hopes of an easy meal, and Jessa breathed in the salty air and smiled.
A short while later, the road came to its terminal point. There stood an imposing gate, almost identical to the one which guarded the entrance to her father’s chateau. Tucked away within beyond the cover of trees was a manor of similar build and style, despite being a quarter the size. It was more stylistic, however, with statues and gargoyles dotting the façade and intricate carvings depicting wyverns along the fasciae.
The gate groaned open as an Apo’nari man with a graying muzzle released the latch. Jessa dismounted her horse and handed the reins to the servant and made her way to the front door where she gave a loud knock. A pair of azure eyes, the same color as her own, peeked through a small crack before the door opened further.
“Father,” she said, her mouth hanging open. “I can’t remember the last time you answered the door on your own.”
“I’ve only one servant here as of yet,” said Pierron. His calm, baritone voice echoed behind him as the sea breeze swept at his hair—waves resting just below his chin, the very same chestnut brown as Jessa’s. “Kasi, I believe his name is? The others are awaiting their papers from the Union.” Jessa nodded along as he spoke until he motioned for her to enter. The interior was open, spacious, and mostly unfurnished. Natural light which streamed in through a bay window absorbed into the dark walnut color of the floor and walls. Pierron continued as his daughter took in her surroundings.
“I would have liked to have the place a bit more polished before your first visit. It was meant to be a gift, a little vacation home. For you, that is.”
“Me?” Jessa asked. Her surprise had reduced her voice to nearly a whisper. She suddenly felt dwarfed by the tall ceilings, overwhelmed by the possibilities of having her own home. Her father smiled.
“Of course. You’ve managed to juggle your studies and managing my other properties for months. I believe you can handle it. Consider it my thanks.”
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“Oh,” Jessa said, at a complete loss for words. “Why?”
“Does a father need a reason to reward his daughter for hard work? I gave you a task, you accomplished it, and now you are being compensated,” His pointed nose wrinkled with confusion and agitation. “Is that not how the world works?”
“I-I suppose so. You're right, I should know not to look a gift hou—horse in the mouth. Thank you.”
“It’s no matter." His stern, pursed lips ruffled a bushy mustache. An abrupt stomp anchored him as he turned away, deep teal robes flaring behind him. Jessa followed him beyond a short archway leading into the tearoom, and they took their seats at a small, round table.
“The kettle is already on for tea," Pierron said." Kasi should be inside any moment now. How was your trip, though? You spent quite some time in Kho’gul, it appears. I try to avoid spying, but you were gone for much longer than I expected.” Jessa’s face flushed as she brought her hand to her opal ring. The creaking of the front door echoed from the foyer, and padded paws patted on the hardwood floor as Kasi drew closer.
“It was fine,” Jessa said, omitting every excruciating detail of her first adventure with Valorforge. She figured it best to avoid mentioning the dangers on the road as well. “I managed to collect those payments from the Brass Tusk and the guild that rents out the basement.”
“The delinquents?”
“Y-yes, they paid everything they owed for the past few months, and… Um, they also paid the next month in advance.” Jessa set down a sack of coins on the table after a few moments of rummaging through her bag.
“Perhaps not quite as delinquent as I thought.” Pierron raised a brow and twisted his mustache. “They must have landed a decent contract.”
“I’m not sure. They seemed busy, but Anna can be quite secretive about the details of their contracts, so I let them be. I figured the money was more important than where it came from.”
“And the Dronvar?” Pierron asked. “Has he had a change of heart? It’s rather generous of someone with a distaste for landlords to pay a month in advance.”
“Maybe,” Jessa said, her pitch rising in thought. Pierron tapped his fingers on the table.
“Very well. I was almost looking forward to evicting them. But that wouldn’t bode well for you, would it?”
The kettle began to whistle. Cabinet doors opened and closed, and porcelain clinked as Kasi gathered the teapot and cups.
“As for my time spent in Kho’gul,” Jessa said, having taken the sudden distraction as an opportunity to concoct a story. “I met with someone from the Mages Association. They need help identifying an artifact, which I have here.” she searched her bag once again for the necklace. Before she could place it down on the table, however, Kasi brought over a silver tray with two cups and a fresh pot of tea. She gave a shy wave of her fingers to the Apo’na, who responded with a heartwarming smile before scurrying off.
“One would believe a guild full of mages would be able to do what mages do best, and yet…” Pierron trailed off, his nose once more wrinkling in annoyance. His eyes were drawn to the necklace Jessa had placed beside the tray of tea. “Interesting.”
“You know how they are,” said Jessa. “I can bring it to the university if you don’t have time to—”
“No, no, I’ll certainly take a look at it.” Pierron cupped his palm over it and slid it toward himself. “That’s quite an unusual enchantment under your lock. Powerful, yet subtle, almost undetectable. I’m not surprised they need my help, yet I am surprised you do.”
Jessa’s face turned as white as linen. Her father did not handle disappointment well, and as he picked up the necklace, she found herself wondering why he’d spared her his usual lectures.
“My apologies, Father,” she said as she stared at the ground, a finger threaded through the handle of her teacup. Pierron examined the piece of jewelry, holding the pendant in his palm and draping the chain over the back of his hand. Maintaining his concentration, he took a sip of tea.
“No need to apologize,” he insisted, his voice flat. He hummed in contemplation before continuing. “Nothing to be done if such an enchantment is too advanced for you, aside from studying harder. Does the Association need this back by any particular date?”
“Not that I'm aware of."
“In that case,” Pierron said, glancing at Jessa. “I would like to take this to one of my workshops in the city. I’m afraid I don’t have any of my tools to identify this here.”
“Thank you, Father.”
“Was there anything else you needed?” He asked, now staring at her intently. Despite having nothing else to address, she couldn’t help but feel anxious while underneath his penetrating gaze. She touched an index finger to her throat as she cleared it. His generosity raised suspicion, but of what, she couldn't begin to imagine.
“No, Father.”
“Good. Are you planning to head back to the university?”
“Yes. Though I was planning to stay in the city overnight beforehand.”
“You are welcome to stay here instead if you’d like some peace and quiet away from the inns,” Pierron said. “There is only one bed, however, so I will be leaving tonight to get an early start on my research.”
“Oh, are you sure? I don’t mind staying in the city.”
“Of course. It is your house, after all.” Pierron sipped his tea once more. With a deep inhale, Jessa nodded in understanding.
“Very well. Thank you again, Father.”