Sir Mordius Jester frowned as he sat in a carriage on the way to the address his son had given as his hideaway since the ambush. It could understand his son's inclination to not go home.
Mordius' initial impulse had indeed been that his son must have been lax in his combat training, but the duke had supplied him with a rapport on his attack, and even Mordius would have struggled in his son's circumstances. He felt that perhaps he had judged his son too harshly.
Still didn't excuse the brat for not even contacting him for over three days.
"My lord, we are at the given location. Shall I wait?"
"Come back this evening," the knight commanded his coachman as he exited the cabin. The man driving nodded and the carriage trundled down the street.
It was a nice neighborhood, much better than the places his son usually hid away at, and it was unique for him to hide in a shop, especially one that was obviously in the process of being opened. His frown remained as he furrowed his brow - was his son quitting his job with the duke to open a store? How long had he been planning this?
"Dad, come in, stop glaring at the store, people will get the wrong idea!" his son demanded in an exasperated tone as he opened the shop door for the older man.
Sir Jester did as his son asked, still wondering what exactly was going on with his child. His confusion deepened at the sight of the gray haired young woman wearing work clothes and setting up various tools for Artificery on a worktable at the other end of the room from the door.
"Dad, this is Kiava. We grew up at the orphanage together and she recently came to the city. We reconnected after she interfered in a case that Sir Iaska is working on. Her life was threatened and the duke is having me act as her guard while I recover," Kleid explained quickly.
"Hello Sir Jester, we met briefly at the border but I was coloring my hair at the time," the young woman explained with a welcoming smile. "Thank you for taking such good care of my friend." Both Mordius and Kiava ignored Kleids audible snort. "Even though he's a thankless bastard," she continued cheerfully.
Mordius studied her and a light clicked - the girl with the dull black hair. "Ah, I remember, welcome to Yesivan! Have you enjoyed your stay here so far?" He saw his son wince out of the corner of his eye and could have kicked himself. His child would not be here if she had not been in danger.
"It's had its ups and downs, but it reconnected me to Kleid so it hasn't been all bad," she responded though her smile seemed a little more dim. "Sorry for taking him from you after he went through something so dangerous. I have some work to do on the premises today and need Kleid gone, but because of Duke Levast he cannot go far. Would you keep him company?"
Comprehension dawned - this was why his son had contacted him, this blessed young woman had told him off for not even telling his father he was okay. Sir Modius Jester liked his son's childhood friend a lot, and he smiled at her as he wrapped an arm around his son's shoulders. "I'll keep him safe and out of your hair, Miss Kiava, see you later."
"Thank you Sir Jester," her smile was full of energy again.
"Call me Uncle! Enjoy your work."
Kleid protested as he was dragged out of the room without further ceremony. Mordius looked around the street and down at the top of his son's head where it struggled in the crook of his arm.
"Where is a good place to keep watch?" he asked his son who gave up the fight. An arm pointed listlessly down the street and Mordius began to walk with his son firmly in hand. "Now, son, what the hell is going on with City Security?"
"They're trying to nail down the human trafficking group," Klied muttered sullenly.
"Yes, I know, but what the hell is happening? They've never been as overt as they have been lately."
"We suspect new leadership," Kleid responded, pointing to a cafe they could sit at and still see the workshop. "Not that we have any way to confirm since we don't know who the former leader was either."
They sat at the outside cafe and ordered drinks, talking about common niceties until their orders arrived. Once they were settled they tipped the server to leave them be for the time being.
"It may be influenced by the princess' newest consort - they have agreed to adopt reform policies in their human markets with future aid in development from the empire. Trafficking is going to become progressively less profitable with this political union, which is why they are pushing it forward. There have been uprisings and labor shortages in Lesua for decades that have only grown worse over time and the rulership understand that changes are necessary. Doesn't change the fact that there are some very bad people who have been profiting off selling victims for a long time. We disripted a huge shipment after Kiava interrupted a transfer of captives in the streets. Kiava was attacked after her interference, I was attacked after we discovered a full warehouse."
Mordius was frowning thoughtfully. "I had thought Archeus was the reason you have made so much progress of late, is it really because of your friend?"
"At least she got the ball rolling, she's also the one that saved Archeus," Kleid supplied.
"Sounds like divine influence. You guys should probably take her to the main temple to be baptized," Mordius offered, scoffing at his son's surprised expression. "Forgot about that, didn't you? Well, it was a while ago and I have never seen a kid so disinterested in their baptism before."
"Religion isn't really considered at the border, Healers and Priests are only ever in the area during corruption outbreaks. Outside of the existence of demihumans and the prejudice of mixlings the gods aren't talked about often, and never in terms of guardianship," Kleid agreed. "If he can find out it's a god's interference that would be nice, the duke came and practically accused her of being involved in trafficking."
"Sometimes even dukes behave like idjits, son."
"Gods, do I know that," Kleid sighed heavily. "Simon is planning to quit, he got a job offer to be a business manager for Lisconta's workshop. He told the duke that he needs to be replaced in the next hiring round this morning."
"Well, he did take up Lord Proctor with only a single additional hire, he's still learning the ropes. I hope he learns well from all this. Are you and Simon going to announce your relationship after he leaves?"
"We'll give it a couple months to make sure what we have isn't driven by convenience."
"Smart. What have you been up to since coming here?" Mordis asked, indicating the workshop down the street.
"Mostly catching up and helping her get situated and comfortable in the city. The more invested she is the less likely she is to leave."
"Is that a concern? She just bought a shop, Kleid."
"Someone almost killed her. I think she's thought about it, but Lord Archeus helped a lot by giving her a book so she can defend herself better in the future."
"Why do you sound so dissatisfied with that? Most magically gifted people would cut off a limb for the chance to meet that powerful miscreant."
"I think he's interested in her," the young man confided with some strain, "in fact, all of them might be. When we're walking together she is so pretty that people actually stare at her and she doesn't even realize that's why, dad! She asked me if mixlings were hated here, too. I asked her if she'd dated at all after I left and the answer was no, of course, because of prejudice. And now those four seem interested."
"Ah." Mordius understood his son very well and could sympathize. "You have it rough, son. Maybe just tell them to take it slow? Ah no, nevermind, can't really assume the lord's interest unless he states it first."
"A life of service has its drawbacks for certain," Kleid sighed, "then, I never thought in a million years that the duke would catch a fancy for my childhood friend."
"Not to mention she is a newly arrived orphan, things have come a long way but she'll face a lot of scrutiny if they do decide to pursue her."
"She's brilliant, I'm pretty sure she'll be established without much help," Kleid gloated.
"But you have helped her."
"Of course! I got her a stable contract with Galf and Co."
"That's it? A connection with a good Alchemy Workshop?" He was genuinely surprised.
"I also helped her find furnishings for the living areas. I don't want her to think I'm trying to bribe her to not leave," Kleid confided with a self conscious blush.
Mordius was truly fond of his son, and had been from the moment he met him at that far removed orphanage. He was a cute little bastard. "When do you have to go back to the office?"
"End of this coming weekend."
"I'll stay with the little miss, I'm semi-retired anyway."
"Thanks dad, at least Silas won't try anything if you're there."
….
In a distant room a white haired man sneezed fiercely without warning.
"Someone must be talking about you, Sir."