Gary leans back in his chair and crosses his feet on top of his desk. He sighs. This is the first time in his adult life that he doesn't feel like visiting any of the women he knows. Not Defne, not the beautiful Selvi, not even Baroness Edman.
'What is wrong with me?'
He suspects the answer to that question is a blond, blue-eyed fierce woman, but he refuses to accept it. After his impulsive kiss, she probably doesn't even want to see him. He sulks while looking out of the window by his desk. The town center is bustling with people as usual.
'I need to go see Ragna.'
His body doesn't move though, he continues staring at the merchants outside and people buying from them.
"Boss, there is a letter for you." One of the new recruits barges into his office without even knocking. He can't even remember his name.
"Would you mind knocking next time?" Gary says with a monotone voice that takes the man by surprise.
"Of… of course boss." The man hesitates for a second before advancing to Gary's desk and placing the letter in front of him. He immediately rushes out.
"The idiot didn't even tell me who brought it." Gary sighs again. He puts his feet down and picks up the letter.
'Of course there is no sender.'
He opens it and starts reading it. It is from the dowager duchess. His eyes scan through the letter as her words sink in. He pushes to his feet suddenly, burns the letter, and heads to the Blue Tavern.
As he gets close though, he hears a commotion; dogs barking inside the tavern. As soon as he sees the royal guards outside the establishment, he hides and watches the scene from the shadows of an alley.
"Let's go back to the Inn, we might find more clues there. Move it, we have a fugitive to catch." he hears Brandt bark before leaving.
After the way clears, he hurries inside the tavern and finds Ragna standing in the back next to a woman he has never seen before. She is dressed in men's clothes and her black curls fall on her shoulders. Her dark eyes meet his as soon as she notices him and relief washes her face.
'Am I imagining things, now?'
"Oh, you finally decided to show up?" Ragna turns to him. "I thought you were stopping by in the morning."
"I had things to do." He lies as he approaches the two women.
"Well, you just missed… the crown prince."
"What was he doing here?"
"Looking for your friend, Siv." Gary stiffens.
'That was way too fast. He even called her, fugitive. He is probably planning on accusing her for treason.'
"Also, this lady is here to see you." Ragna motions to Siv.
"Good afternoon." Gary greets her. "How may I help you?"
"Can we speak somewhere... more private?"
"Unfortunately, that corner table is as private as it gets in here." Gary shrugs.
"I think that'll work."
"I will leave you to it, then. I have to check on Erico." Ragna disappears to the kitchen while Gary guides Siv to the corner table.
"So, what can I do for you?" Gary has people come searching for him all the time. They usually either have issues with one of his men, or they need help with something. He has become quite famous in the poor areas of town, especially in the past few years after he started helping.
"I was sent by… a mutual friend." Siv starts. She has thought over what she would say to him hundreds of times. "Lady Siv." Gary's eyes widen.
"Do you know where she is?"
"I don't, but she is safe." Gary sits back in his chair.
"How do you know that she is safe, then?"
"Because she is in hiding."
"Hmm." Gary is starting to get suspicious. "And why did Lady Siv send you to see me?"
"Well, I need to travel somewhere as soon as possible, and she thought you might help." Gary is silent for a moment.
It is odd that as soon as Siv disappears, this woman shows up to try to get him away from the capital.
'Maybe Siv is in trouble and this woman is working with Brandt to get me away so I am not able to help her.'
Gary's cautious thoughts make sense to him. It is too convenient, too perfect of a coincidence. He studies the woman for a moment. Men's clothes, a sword hidden under her cape, tanned skin. She is not nobility for sure, so how can she know Siv?
'A servant, maybe?'
"How do you know Lady Siv? If I may ask."
"We are both from Lohja, we met years ago when her mother passed and we kept in contact." Siv tells him the story she had practiced all night, last night. "I arrived at the capital a few days ago and was surprised by everything that has happened to her."
"She hasn't mentioned you at all."
"I didn't think you were that close."
'Touché.'
"Anyhow." Siv tries to read Gary's face, but it is unreadable. "I helped her escape the palace last night." She continues. "She said you were the one who showed her the secret passage we used to sneak out."
'Well, that is something only Siv would know about.'
"She asked me to find you and entrusted me with finding a friend of hers before we parted ways."
"How do you know that she wasn't captured after you left her side?"
"Because the prince was just here searching for her."
'Good point.'
"Why should I trust you? I don't even know your name."
"You don't have to trust me. I was instructed to get there by any means. If you are not helping me, I will find someone else to take me there."
"And where is 'there'?"
"Bluevale."
"Bluevale?" Gary almost squeals and another crashing sound comes from the kitchen. Both Siv and Gary look in the direction of the noise. "Erico must have heard me." He sighs.
"Why does he do that everytime Bluevale is mentioned?"
"Do you even know what you are asking of me?" Gary ignores her question. "Do you know where it is? How to get there? What is in there?"
"I know that Siv's friend is there, and I need to rescue him."
"Rescue?" Gary scoffs. "You are way over your head, and I am not sure I want to be part of your journey to death." Gary pushes to his feet.
"Actually, I'm afraid you will have to accept." Ragna puts a hand on his shoulder.
"Excuse me?"
"You wanted a job, right?" The redhead pats his shoulder a few times. "Well, you got a job. Meet your patron, Miss Gene."
"What?"