"Why didn't you come with us, Grandpa?"
"Because there's no one I can trust to manage the shop in my absence. It's a family business so it needs someone of the family to take care of it." Zekell threw a final reproachful look at Senton before turning to Lith.
"It's nice to have you back, even if just for a little while." The two men shook hands.
The difference in treatment made the poor Senton wonder if he had been adopted.
"Do you have new work for me? Because I have some for you. The stocks of chessboards are running low and once we sell the last pieces, we'll leave the market open to counterfeits." Zekell handed Lith a report of the sales and an inventory of what was left.
"Not now, sorry." Lith examined the numbers and was quite pleased of them. "As for the chessboards, I'll send you a new batch as soon as possible. I can work on them even in the Desert so it shouldn't take long."
