It took me a while but I did find my way to the diner from the other day. I pushed the door and looked around. It seemed full to the brim today too; I hope Lark managed to get us a table.
I noticed something move from the corner of my eyes, I turned to look to find Lark seated at a table in the corner of the diner waving his hand. I nodded and made my way to him.
"Are you alright? Any injuries? Chases or chasers?"
"Nothing like that. I don't go searching for trouble Lark." I chuckled.
"I'm sure you don't," he muttered sarcastically.
As we ate our lunch, we spoke of what we did. Of course, I had changed back but I did tell Lark what happened. He ended up glaring at me the entire time.
"I told you…" he started angrily.
"I know, I know," I said calmly, "What about you? What did you do?"
He stilled for a second before averting his eyes away and saying, "I may have made a friend…" A friend? Well, that is interesting but why look away?
"What kind of a friend?"
"No one important really, just a bunch of children." Children? Hmm, odd.
"Commoners?"
"Something of the sort…" I waited for him to continue, "From the slums; I asked them about the Black Ghost and may have created a network."
I looked at him blankly for a second, he did what? "You did what exactly??"
"Think of it as an information center"
"Spies."
"Depends…"
Oh gosh, well this could be helpful, really helpful actually; but this is Ares's territory.
"The good news is, you have two secret organizations now." He added later. Wait, two!? Which two!? I might have said it out loud or maybe the question was obvious to him because he answered, "The one is the Capital and the new one here, except that one is made up of children."
I looked at him like he grew two heads, "Lark I don't have anything like that in the Capital."
"Oh you do, just that you did not know of it" I looked at him like he was going crazy, "Completely," he added. I waited for him to. elaborate further; I'm running organizations I don't know about. I think I'm getting a headache now.
"Miss. Ginny Sol and Mr. Danny Vit together formed a committee of sorts with some other commoners, they help me to gather the information you need most."
Information other than about arrogant Nobels at debutante balls?" I asked just to clarify further.
"That's right."
"And why was I not informed of this? Are they doing this without getting anything??"
"They asked me not to unless I had to or you asked specifically, they were of no harm so I agreed. And you only asked now so there's that too. And of course, I'm paying them." He shrugged and continued as I just silently sat there, "the money you give to gather the information I give to them, of course, that depends on the amount of information and quality of it all."
We sat there longer discussing this further but we didn't have as much time as I would have liked, plus there is more to talk about but there's the stupid picnic to attend too so we had to return and continue this another day. We have a lot to discuss.
The spot chosen for the picnic was beautiful. It was a bit of a hike away from the manor but we soon came to a beautiful meadow. Everything was already set up by the time we arrived. A round table and chairs all around, the table filled with treats and a pot of tea. Honestly, it was more of an outdoor tea party than a picnic compared to what I knew of but that was the way things worked around here.
I sat in between Ares and Lady Hale, the nicer and less weird member of this family. She was nice to talk to as well, friendly but distant; exactly how I was hoping this day would go. I wouldn't count on that though.
"I do hope you enjoyed your time here Your Highnesses, even if you were here for work." Lady Dellen started.
I smiled at her, "Of course Baroness. The town is wonderful and bustling with life."
"The portside is not exactly my favorite though, the smell among other things is just…" Lady Iris commented.
I just smiled silently. I noticed Lady Hale try to inconspicuously nudge her to try and silence her; Lady Iris simply brushed her off, nose high.
Everyone ignored her as we avoided souring the mood and instead enjoy the picnic and the wonderful weather. We all stayed out until the later moments of the setting sun before we decided it was time for us to go back in. All in all, it was fairly pleasant, we walked around the fields of blooming wildflowers; ate delicious sweets and snacks, and drank some Earl Grey; avoided/ ignored Lady Iris for most of it and showered Baroness Dellen with enough compliments about the setting to last her through many parties, salons and balls.
Tomorrow morning, we would finally head out, and back to the chaos of the never-ending packing all for an Academy but, most importantly away from here which means away from Lady Iris another plus!
Then the thought of all my piled-up work and now the knowledge of two groups under my name… haahh~ Will I get fined- oh- no- wait, am I going to be in trouble for this?? Can I even get in trouble for it???
Another headache.
It was near dawn by the time we were all ready to set out once again. Ares and I walked out the Baron and his family following us not more than three steps behind. Once out, Lark and Justin stood awaiting us with the horses, I tugged on my riding gloves as Ares spoke to the Baron and wished them farewell. When he was done, I said a short farewell and got on June patting her neck once I got comfortable. She neighed along with Frey as Ares got on as well. We pulled at the reins shifting the horses around and tugged, signaling them to start moving.
As we rode the way back home at last.
The winds ran against us as I took in all I could before I would be leaving for the Academy. It would be a while once I enter there until I can come back here. I wish I could make time run slower if only magic existed here in this world as some novels would suggest; I let out a small laugh at the image of Raven as a 'magical girl'- sparkly wand, a cute dress full of frills and bows; she would make a cute and wonderful magical girl, fighting the evil for the sake of world peace.
"What are you laughing at?" Ares questioned.
I immediately silenced myself, unknowingly I had started laughing aloud. "Nothing, nothing." I waved the words back to him, "Just remembered something."
They all stared at me questioningly, probably hoping I would elaborate further, instead I stared ahead and rode a little faster hoping they would let it go.