"Well, hello, everyone. Seems you've added another to your ranks." Haril said.
"This is my Mommy, Haril. We went and got her from Ymir's Town." I told him.
"Ah. Adelaide. I hadn't recognized you." Haril replied. "How are you?"
"I'm doing fine Haril. I hear you've been promoted." Mom said.
"Yeah, a little while ago. They gave me the post to manage the rest of this lot. It's not been easy, I can tell ya. Had some pesky interlopers. Your boy here helped me shift them out." Haril said.
"Oh, he did? You have been a busy, boy Isarial." Mom said.
"Mm? Is that when Plight said that about surprises?" I asked. I was still pretending to be a normal child around Haril.
"Hmph. Your Uncle has already sold you out boy. Speak your mind." Haril said.
"Well, isn't it more comforting if I don't? Cause you're a talent I want to poach." I said bluntly.
"My talent? For what do you want me for exactly?" Haril asked.
"For Hearthstone Town as Guard Captain and a trainer. There's many resources and less restrictions for guard standards, in way of training that is, because the lax nature that allowed them to be bought by Denoir was ridiculous." I said.
"They hardly receive what I would call training at all here. If I'm in charge of training as well, I could have a guard force worth while. Where is this Hearthstone Town?" He asked.
"Thirty minutes East of Dueling Rivers." I answered, then I confessed. "Simon has been there. We ran the training course. He beats me sometimes."
"I would need to investigate this place first. Also pay is something I would need to know about." Haril replied.
I shrugged and said, "I pay my people what they are worth. Thirty gold monthly salary is the starting rate I'd give you. Half that for someone else. You'd get paid vacation every three months and have to take at least a day off work, though, I'd prefer two. If you or Simon got sick, you'd be entitled to medical leave, which is also paid. Your medical benefits would apply to Simon, too. Which means medicine, and healing if necessary, though I hope Simon will never be so hurt."
"That.. is.. a lot." He said. "That is not what I was expecting to be honest."
"What were you expecting?" I asked.
"Ten to twelve gold. Around the same as I am making now." He said.
"Hold up, you're telling me you're making ten gold right now?!" I was gobsmacked.
"Yes. I am actually one of the highest paid guard captains they've had in years." Haril said.
"How much did Uncle tell you bout me?" I asked.
"Enough to where I didn't believe it until you started talking." Haril admitted.
"Ok, well, I can tell you, in twelve years you still made only ten gold monthly here." I replied.
"Well, that certainly makes me think." Haril said.
"Pfft. Maybe my offer is too generous." I joked.
"No take backs. You're offering that, I'm working for a kid, I don't care." Haril said, pointing at me.
"In seriousness, that is my rate to obtain you. My guards that are ex bandits get ten gold monthly." I told him bluntly.
"Hoh. I am paid as much as bandits." Haril said in a defeated manner.
My mom seemed to have blanked out, listening to this. "Since when do you and Uncle chat so well?" I asked.
"I wouldn't say it was chatting well, it was more he was walking through town with a river of- I can only hope- strawberry jam flowing off of him." Haril said.
"You are not asking me to confirm, so I won't." I said. "When is your next off day? Simon would love to show you around Hearthstone, and you needn't worry, Dad has no part in Hearthstone."
"I haven't truly given myself a day off yet." Haril said.
"I can easily pay you up front for a years work, if you'd like." I smirked. "We've just hit the point where we're bringing in orphans and cripples to live there, and inviting talents to move in. We have farms running, already. Simon likes to pick the snap beans and apples to snack on."
"I don't need payment before I do the job. It encourages laziness to get payment ahead of time." Haril said.
"You're much too strict to allow yourself that." I said. "There will be schooling provided for five year olds and older. I have two teachers that have applied so far. Provided meaning free. Just like the medical needs of workers, housing, and food."
"This place is sounding pretty good." Haril said.
"Oh? Thief ran and operated, meaning only stealing happening is done to visitors of the city who act out, like Denoir." I said. "The thieves guild there will have that strict ruling."
"So a town I don't have to worry about thieves." Haril said.
"Correct." I said.
"Do you know how impossible that sounds? Amazing, but impossible." He said.
"Inside policing goes a long way. Thieves don't rob thieves or they get outed to your people, or stabbed and left to bleed out in an alley." I shrugged.
"Well, I certainly hope there won't be any bleeding out in alleyways on my watch." Haril said.
"Paperwork is more lax, too. Will help your head. Or I can get you a secretary." I noted. "But yeah, Dean, Simon and I have talked to some thieves guild people. The rules are clear and Dean and I are not merciful."
"Just to be clear, you've been taking my son around thieves?" Haril said.
"Simon is bigger than me. If I try to leave him in safety, he'll punch me. I can take a hit, but he has your strength." I said.
"I've never known my boy to be violent like that." Haril said.
"It's rare and only when he feels wronged so far." I looked at the quiet boy. "He doesn't want to cause you stress. He's a good son, unlike myself."
"I believe you stand above quite a few other sons." Mom said.
"But I let you think I was dead and go to the arena." I protested. "And last time I didn't get close with my Dad because I was afraid he'd abandon me, too."
"Thanks to that, I can now defend myself and you. And I cannot speak for some other bit of reality that I am not a part of." Mom said.
"It's also my fault Dad won't let you take me." I said.
"That I would rather not get into." Mom replied.
I nodded and looked back at Haril. "I will be setting up a permanent portal in the Capital to Hearthstone soon. But I can set up a glyph to take us to Hearthstone whenever you're ready. There is a secret about Hearthstone, but I'll only share that with you outside of the Capital or in the Hearthry Estate."
"Give me a couple of days and I'll be ready to go have a look." Haril said.
"Alright. So. I'll be honest with you.. I did have an ulterior motive in befriending Simon.." I told him.
"Was your goal to get to me?" He asked.
"No. Or yes?" I tilted my head. "No. You asked me to find and save him. The problem is, I don't know what happened. After the Capital fell in the future, I'd hired you and randomly remembered you had a son. When I asked about him, thinking he'd passed with everyone else, you broke down. You thought you were going crazy because only you remember Simon. No one else did. I'm trying to circumvent it, but I don't know why it happened."
"So somehow my son disappeared and I asked you for help. I couldn't imagine making enemies with someone so powerful that they could remove someone from memories even." Haril replied.
"I wish I knew something. So this is the final benefit to Hearthstone Town. It is a safe place. I have magic on the entrance that those with bad intentions will be slaughtered by statues, or teleported into a water dimension." I told him.
"It sounds like the guards will have an easier time in your town." Haril said.
"Hmm. Maybe. There will still be fights and such like that, and visitors may cause problems. There's also hot shots who think they are big and hope to run the city themselves. Any time you put a bunch of people somewhere there are always problems. That's why I am seeking you to be the captain and guard the city to your standards. The better my people are, the safer the citizens. I don't want anybody to starve, or die of illness, or be victimized like what happens everywhere else."
"Well, depending on the people I have to train, I will certainly make them worthwhile." Haril said.
I nodded. "Made it hard to say 'no', huh?"
"You made it damn near impossible to say no." Haril replied.
"I'm really good at that. I suppose I should say, no belting anyone under fifteen." I said. "Adults are fair game."
"But the beatings are what really corrects the young ones. They fear it." Haril said.
"Nope. Just makes us sneakier. I was belted five times by you before I learned to evade you, and beat the hell out of the ones who turned me in for their crap handiwork." I replied.
"Maybe I went too light. But alright. I'll obey your rule." Haril said.
"I can assure you that you didn't go too light. However, if the choice is to possibly be belted, or to starve, all the guild kids would choose to take the risk. The church does not give out bread or heal people like they are supposed to." I informed him.
"Then I may need to take my belt to a priest." Haril said through gritted teeth.
"If that'll make you feel better. Dean and I are working towards moving the orphans to Hearthstone. Some of the older guild members were already moved." I said.
"So, you're going to have the entirety of the thieves guild here move to this Hearthstone Town and they'll just hopefully get along." Haril said.
"No. I am selective about who I'm moving. Hans and his friends are excluded, for example. Dean will break his knees before he and his get there. It's the redeemable, or the not rotten that are being moved." I clarified.
"Alright. We'll see if we can't help the downtrodden." Haril said.
I nodded. "There are vulnerable people that will be living there, so I have no time or patience to rehab people and get stabbed for it. I can't allow dangerous people to victimize my people."
"I can get behind that. I have a patrol to get to, so we'll have to end our conversation here." Haril said.
"That's ok. I was just bringing my Mommy around to meet my friends anyways." I replied. Then I offered Haril a bag of cookies. "Those are for Simon after dinner."
"No cookies for me then? Alright. Fine." Haril said.
"Did you want some?" I asked.
"Yes." Haril said.
I shrugged and gave him another bag. "Mommy, do you want to meet Dean? Or would you rather go relax?"
"I'm alright with meeting another friend." Mom said.
So I waved to Simon, telling him I'd see him tomorrow to play, and we headed out as Haril got ready for his patrol. I knew it was gonna be annoying to get Dean to come out, but due to his investing in his home, I was able to direct my mom to it. I knocked in the way Dean and I do, knowing we'd have to wait a few seconds if he was home.
Once Dean opened the door, he said, "Who have you brought to this house?"
"My Mommy. I brought her to introduce her to you, cause you're my best friend." I said.
"I'm your best friend?" He asked.
"Yup. Even if you don't feel the same, you are my best friend to me." I replied.
"I mean.. I don't think I have a better friend than you." Dean said.
"What about Simon?" I asked.
"Ye- no. You are m- that feels weird to say, but you are my best friend." Dean agreed.
I grinned big and said, "I believe you. It's nice to have someone to trust."
"Trust is a hard thing to come by, yeah. So it is nice." Dean said.
I nodded, then looked up at my mom and said, "Mommy, this is Dean. He's suspicious of adults and is as devious as a devil, and my best friend."
"Extremely distrusting." Dean agreed.
"I can understand that distrust. I grew up in the slums as well." Mom told him.
"Where you grew up doesn't matter. What you become does." Dean told her.
"Well, I became the Arena fighter in the desert." Mom told him.
"Well, at least you're not a noble." Dean said.
"My Mommy can become the Champion of the Arena if she wanted to." I bragged.
"Oh, could she? Then why isn't she?" Dean responded.
"Because I went and got her." I said.
"Alright. Is there something I'm supposed to be getting from you? Information perhaps? Or did you just come to talk." Dean asked.
"Both. Cookie?" I offered him a bag.
"What kind is it?" Dean asked.
"Arsenic and slugs." I said, without an expression.
".. Sounds delicious." He said, taking the bag.
"It was made by Kaz up North." I told him.
"They still feel relatively fresh." Dean said.
"Only an hour or two old. He runs out of the strawberry and cream cookies really fast and makes them all day round." I told him.
"Guess I better give it a shot." Dean said, munching a cookie.
"I'm gonna set my Mommy up in a suite at the Inn." I told Dean.
"Oh, lucky her. I hope the bathing suits you." Dean told her.
"I have no idea if I will enjoy it, but I will certainly try." Mom replied.
"Oh, Dean. In a couple of days I'm taking Haril for a tour of Hearthstone. He'll probably take the job offer. The rule is that he's to not belt kids." I informed him.
"Ooh, that must have really riled him up." Dean said.
"He accepted it quickly enough. I told him adults are fair game." I shrugged.
"As long as he still gets to belt someone I suppose he can't complain too much." Dean said.
"I guess. I informed him about the church. He may be intending to belt some of them." I told him.
"Some of who? Priests?" Dean asked.
I nodded. "Yep. He was quite annoyed bout them."
"Wish he'd been annoyed about them a little sooner." He said.
"He didn't know. Like many middle class he assumes his taxes goes to what they are said to." I pointed out. "But if he takes on the job, we can move the kids faster."
"I suppose there is a silver lining to everything. Especially some people's pockets." Dean mumbled.
I patted his arm and said, "It's ok. When we move the kids I'll seek a granny to look after them. And they'll have plenty to eat without having to rely on the guild's mercy."
"Being able to take care of yourself is a real good thing." Dean said.
"Yeah, but you can't tell me Cree can take care of themself." I pointed out, Cree was one of the chronically ill children. "And plenty of kids are like Cree."
"No. Everyone needs a little help when they are ill." Dean said glumly.
"And you're protective towards younger kids. I know you let Ditch beat you up so he wouldn't hit the little ones." I said. "Besides, the independent ones will naturally work or dive into schooling."
"Look, you don't have to sell me on this, I'm already sold." Dean said.
"You could live there, too, you know." I said.
"Maybe one day, but I'm fine where I am for now." Dean said.
I nodded and said, "Alright. Just means you can ask me for help if you're in trouble."
"Yeah, sure, sure. If I need help that just means my info was off." Dean said.
I laughed and said, "Guess I'll let you get back to whatever you are scheming. I'll tell you soon about another mark."
"I am always in the works on something. Stop by anytime, though. I do enjoy chatting with ya." Dean said.
I grinned big and said, "Just another year until I can wonder by myself." Then I looked up at my mom. "Well, maybe."
"We'll see about that when the time comes, Isarial." Mom said.
I waved at Dean and said, "Be safe." He shut the door and I looked up at my Mom. "Did you want to see our old home? Or did you just want to wonder around?"
"Let's just wonder, I dont really have a desire to see it." Mom said.
I nodded. "Ok, Mommy. I'll play some music for you soon, then. I left my lute at home."
"Then we can go get it when you're ready." Mom said.
"Mm. I can play in the square. People like that." I said.
"I used to watch performers there whenever I could. It was the best part of my day when I was growing up." Mom commented.
"I'm not as good at singing as Sienna and Alexion, but I'm as good as them at playing." I told her.
"I think I heard Alex play once a long time ago. And if memory serves, it was an amazing performance, even though he was just sitting on the fountain." Mom replied.
"Probably. Alex is amazing. Sienna is as good or better, well, will be." I said. "And I am being taught by him, his lady, and Snow, who was his student."
"Are you gonna be a bard?" She asked.
"I dunno. I was an assassin previously." I told her.
"What is an assassin?" She asked.
"High paid murderer." I answered, "Often a spy as well."
"An high paid one, eh? I suppose that means you were good at it." Mom said.
"I was merciless, but I didn't kill many people." I told her. "But I was one of Dad's best employees. And my success rate on assignments was 9 of 10."
"I wish I could say I was as successful in my previous jobs. I could hardly keep them." Mom said.
"You were sick, Mommy." I said. "Besides, you don't have to work if you don't want to. I can support you."
She teared up some. "Thank you. The fact that you would offer it, and mean it, because I know you do, tells me you are a far better son than I could have ever hoped for."
"All I know is that you wanted time with me." I replied. "I want my family to all be happy. Even if I also love Snow like a mother, you're my Mommy."
"And you are my son." She said, scooping me up into a hug.
I snuggled to her. I'd gotten more used to such things with Snow around, so I wasn't uncomfortable. I patted her cheek, like I do with Snow. Plight was still dutifully with us, not drawing attention to himself. We had drawn near the square by now.
She let me down after a moment. "Alright. I have composed myself. We may continue." She said.
"It's ok, Mommy. I like to be held and hugged. I lacked affection previously, and after a bad incident started hating being touched. Now I don't mind." I told her.
"Well, that's good. Because you may get more hugs." Mom said.
I smiled at her and said, "Were you close to Haril?"
"We've had pleasant exchanges before. But I didn't want others thinking he was showing favoritism to anyone. So I kept my distance." Mom said.
"Others will talk as they like. Life is too precious to care bout something small like that. The only opinion that should matter is those you love, and above that your own." I told her.
"Says the one who ignores all his friends and families opinions of him." Plight said.
"I have a poor self esteem that came from a lack of communication and really crappy people being around me." I said. "No one can hate the me that I know more than me."
"I believe it's everyone's hope that with time we can help you get past that." Mom said.
"I'm slowly killing that version of me. So there won't be much left to hate soon enough." I informed them.
"That sounds concerning, but alright." Plight said.
"You like the me of now, too." I pointed out to him. "Doubtless, you wouldn't care for the me who enjoyed starting fights for amusement and was needlessly cruel."
"I feel I may have fought that man." Plight said.
"Mm. I would have defeated you and then there would be a worse problem, I assure you. I should tell you his name some time." I commented.
"Knowing the name is very important by who I've talked to, but I still don't what what to do." Plight said.
"Well, I'll ask Sylvia. She knows how to do it anyways. However, I am weary of that other, so I can't tell you the name. He'll probably insist that I don't know it." I replied.
"If revealed without a plan, he'd probably do everything he can to get rid of you." Plight said.
I nodded. "That's why I haven't said much about it so far."
"Until we have a solid plan, it's safer that way." Plight said.
I nodded again. "Then again, he's probably weary since I said I know."
"Doubtful. He's extremely cocky. He probably thinks you're bluffing." Plight said.
"If your sisters eyes were green, and her hair curled, she'd look just like his wife. His second son killed her to kill him." I informed him.
"If that is true, then he will probably do everything he can do to silence you if he takes over. That was foolish." Plight said.
"You've not been knocked out in almost a year. When I see Sylvia next we'll start preparations. It might be painful." I warned him. "Besides, it's a pathetic creature if so threatened by a four year old."
"A pathetic creature indeed to hold onto such a grudge against people who do not even live." Plight agreed.
We were reaching the Estate now to get my instrument. "I sympathize with him, some. If I loved someone so deeply and was betrayed by someone who my loved one bore.. I'd go mad and torch the world, too."
"It is a pain I never wish to know." Plight agreed.
I agreed. Mentally, I told my mother that she could think of Plight having a Quori that takes him over explodes if he becomes unconscious.
We went inside and to the library in the Estate where my lute had been left. I picked it up, and looked at my mom. "We can play anywhere you'd like, Mommy."
"Then, why not right here?" Mom asked.
I nodded and pulled out a chair for her. Then got comfortable where the instrument wouldn't be impeded. I began playing a tune I'd learned from Alex and Sylvia playing together. It was a happy and joyful sound.
I figured it was the best one to play for my mother at the moment. And she seemed to be enjoying it as well. Even Plight seemed to relax some while listening to the music. When I finished the tune, I looked at them.
Mom clapped, "That was very well done."
"I'm not as good as Sienna and Alexion, I only recently began playing." I told her.
"Given time, I'm sure you'd put most bards to shame." Plight commented.
"Might be a better occupation than an Assassin." I said.
"I can agree to that." Mom said.
I began playing another tune that Snow had taught me. I'd have to explain to my mother how I viewed Snow as my mom, too. I wasn't really sure how that'd go over. And I wasn't sure how long I should leave it unspoken.
After I ended the melody, I said, "I could teach you to play, Mommy."
"I could certainly try to learn. I don't know how successful I would be, but I can try." Mom said.
"I guess you could go to my schooling lessons, too." I said. "That way Plight can watch over his sister some more. His sister is gonna have a baby soon. Due in February or March. But Snow is gonna have a baby any day now."
"Babies everywhere." Mom commented. "I hope everyone has an easy delivery."
"I don't think Snow will. I'm really worried about it. I would think it was cute if my little sibling was born on either my or my Dad's birthday." I said.
"I'm sure James will have the best healers to make sure it's as smooth as possible." Mom said.
"Well, I haven't been able to cast magic again yet, so the best healer isn't available." I said. "That was also a joke. But yeah. Dad will do what he can."
"Then we'll have to leave it to him. There is not much I can do." Mom replied.
I nodded and said, "Plight is a healer, but I don't want him to be near Snow's birth. It'd scare him for his sister." I stick my tongue out at Plight.
"Well, that sounds extremely concerning by itself." Plight said.
"I realize it could be different, but as far as I know, Lucretia won't have complications. She's even having a daughter just like by my memory, so it'll be ok. She'll probably have a second baby in the same year, too." I said.
"Phew. Busy, busy." Mom said.
"You know of Phintias, don't you, Mommy?" I asked.
"I vaguely remember meeting him, yes." She said.
"He is Lucretia's husband. The Sultan's advisor." I told her. "He's a decent person."
"By the sound of it, a very important man." She said.
"Yes. I could potentially have a similar job in the future.. if I wanted it." I said.
"Could you imagine the bragging rights I'd have over my f.. that's right. I don't have friends. I should fix that." Mom said.
"I think you're the same age as Ashtar, Mommy. She is a good friend to have." I told her. "I did like her better as Bryna, though."
"I'm not sure I understand that. But next time I see her, I'll see if we can't have tea." Mom said.
"Oh, well, she died a long time ago and her friends recently revived her. If they hadn't revived her she would have been reborn as Bryna, a wolf born girl. I guess they have the same personality, just a few differences that trip me up. Like she treats me like I'm just a four year old. Bryna would have treated me like a mini adult." I explained. "I'm not entirely used to being so coddled."
"Does that mean you don't want to be held?" Mom asked.
"I don't mind it. Kinda like how Plight isn't used to hugs, but is adapting to them." I said.
"So what you're saying is that I need to do it more?" Mom asked.
"If you want to. There's only around a year more that it's appropriate to carry me around. Not that I think Snow cares." I replied.
"Oh, I have time I have to make up. I'm gonna gladly you around until you're fifteen. Someone told me that's called charging interest." Mom said.
"Your life doesn't have to be dedicated to me. More than survival or anything, you can seek hobbies and things that bring you happiness. You're a young woman still." I said. "Perhaps you could even date someone, if you felt like it. I'm not a jealous child, so you needn't worry. You have the right to be happy."
"What's bringing me happiness right now is getting to know my son. And I don't think I'm the best judge of character for dating at the moment." She said.
"That's ok. I'm a fair hand at figuring people out." I said. Thinking on it some, there wasn't many people I would have liked my mother to have been with.
"I don't know how I'd feel if my son picked out my person." Mom said.
I shrugged, "You pick, and if they're no good they'll randomly disappear."
"I don't need random men disappearing. Unless they are bad people, then I suppose that isn't a problem." Mom said.
I chuckled. "There's no need to hurry anything. But Mommy, instead of thinking of yourself as simply a commoner, you should think of yourself as someone of high esteem. Treat yourself as though you are nobility. If you wanted it, I could make it so."
"That's going to be very difficult for me to do. I've never been someone of high esteem or even known anyone of high esteem." Mom said.
"It can be difficult. Even Plight isn't very good at it. Being my Mommy, or friend, comes with perks. You simply need not apologize if you offend someone. Offending others can be considered a right. If they get to uppity, I'll handle it by blackmailing Zinter." I grinned.
"I don't think I want to do that." Mom said. "If I offend someone and they try to get uppity, I can just beat them."
"If you want to do that, then I insist you join the Adventurers Guild. It allows for some political immunity. Denoir will take issue with you if you're seen with the Hearthry's 'pet'." I said. "And likely you will be seen with me."
"Well, it sounds like this 'Denoir' needs to have a conversation with me. But I'll.. join the Adventurer's guild." She said.