There really hadn't been much on Alec, Chrost's son. He had been good friends with Shino and they occasionally went on missions with him, but. . .
He had died in a demon attack pretty early, and vanished from the pages.
Alec was holding the handkerchief, looking at it all over, "or did he? Did you steal this from him to wiggle your way into the keep?"
"No!" he lunged forward, snatching it back and holding it close, "he gave it to me!"
"Oh, I doubt that, a little brat like you!" Alec was pulling his fist back when a firm voice said behind him.
"Hey."
They both looked, there was Shino, arms crossed and frowning, "what's this then?"
Alec collected himself, straightening out his sleeves, "Shino! There was a little thief trying to bother you."
Shino looked over and his eyes lit up, "Kaidan! You came!"
A nasty frown crossed Alec's face before he spun on his heel before taking off into the keep in a huff.
Shino patted Kaidan's back, "come on, let's get you in."
Kaidan let himself be led into the keep, the distrustful glares hot as they scanned him over and watched him as he passed.
The keep was an interesting mashup of stereotypical British type decorations, or the Hinterlands as it was called, and Doushi decorations.
It was actually a bit guady, lots of red and gold in bright showy pieces.
Shino led him past halls and showrooms and dining halls, and to a chapel room, before knocking on the curtained door to the side.
As they waited for an answer, he looked around, while the red and gold continued even here, it was a lot more tastefully done, less showing off and more meaningfully done.
The dark wood beams and benches and the like really broke up the red and gold.
It smelled of burnt incense and green tea.
"Saishi?" Shino called, and a voice called out.
"Come."
Shino opened the door, guiding Kaidan to the cushion in front of the low desk once Kaidan was sitting he took the next cushion.
"Sorry to disturb you, Saishi Tomo, Kaidan here has something very important to tell you." he gave a deep bow to the man.
Kaidan opened his mouth and it all came pouring out, the illness and the lack of money. By the end of it he was crying again, trying to hold back sobs.
"Oh my child, this is a deep concern, I will see want I can arrange."
That just made the tears worse, could he, would he, help?
Shino tentatively patted him on the back and the priest stood and gently pat him on the head, "don't worry, I'll consult with my lord and we shall take care of this."
A wave of relief at first, then a little doubt, take care of how?
"But how? It must be so costly. . . ?"
The priest gave a low chuckle, a feeling of warmth and care radiating out from him, "you will find the coffers reach deeply for the right reason."
And despite his doubts, he trusted him, while the priest of the keep did not feature much, other then a couple of throwaway lines, there had been no indication of maliciousness.
Kaidan decided to trust, at least a little.