The streets of the Northern Kingdom's capital had quieted by nightfall, though the ever-present soldiers and looming war machines cast long shadows across the city. Lumumba, Amara, and Jon returned to their rented quarters, a modest inn on the edge of the market district. The day had been eventful, and their encounter with William still lingered in their minds. The loud, brash barbarian had been entertaining, sure, but there was something more to him, something that didn't quite fit.
As they sat down to plan their next move, Amara broke the silence.
"There's no way that guy's just some random mercenary," she said, arms crossed. "He knows too much about the city, about the nobles."
Lumumba leaned back in his chair, resting his boots on the table. "He's definitely hiding something. But whatever it is, he's useful for now. We just need to keep our guard up."
Jon chimed in, still clearly amused by the earlier events. "Useful? Sure. But he's like you with no filter, Lumumba. That's dangerous. He talks too much, and in a place like this, that's bound to get us noticed."
Lumumba grinned, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Yeah, but that's half the fun, isn't it? Keeps things interesting. Besides, there's something about him I like. He's not playing the usual game."
Amara raised an eyebrow. "You think he's just being used, don't you? That he doesn't even know how deep he's in."
Lumumba's grin widened. "Exactly. A guy like him, he's muscle. He's not the brain behind anything. If there's a game being played, it's over his head. And I want to know who's pulling the strings."
The next day, the group set out once more to explore the city, gathering more information about the Northern Kingdom's caste system and its inner workings. As they moved through the upper district, they overheard bits of conversation that confirmed their suspicions: the noble families here were deeply intertwined with the kingdom's economy, politics, and military, much like in their own home.
But it wasn't until they saw William again that their questions began to have answers.
They were passing through one of the capital's more opulent streets, the kind lined with grand estates and guarded gates, when they spotted William in the distance. He was talking to a group of soldiers, but he didn't look like the carefree, joking man they'd met before. His posture was straighter, and his expression more serious, even if his wild appearance didn't quite fit the setting.
"Well, would you look at that," Jon said, nodding toward William. "Our friend's in with the soldiers."
Amara frowned. "Something's not right."
Lumumba smirked. "Let's go say hi."
As they approached, William noticed them and waved them over with a grin, the serious expression vanishing as quickly as it had come.
"Oi! Fancy seeing you lot again," he boomed, as if they were old friends. The soldiers near him looked uncomfortable but said nothing, their eyes flicking nervously between William and the group.
"Didn't think we'd find you mingling with soldiers," Lumumba said, raising an eyebrow. "I thought you were more the independent type."
William shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, they're just family friends. Nothing serious. Just keeping the peace, you know how it is."
Lumumba smiled, but his eyes stayed sharp. "Family friends, huh? Must be some important family."
William waved it off, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something he didn't want to talk about. "Eh, nothing you need to worry about. My old man's got connections. I just go where the fun is."
"Your old man?" Jon asked, catching the slip.
William hesitated for a moment before flashing his usual grin. "Yeah, my father's involved in all this noble business. I don't care much for it. That's why I stick to the streets. Less rules."
Before Lumumba could press further, a sharp voice interrupted their conversation. A tall, armored figure approached, his face hidden by a silver helm with intricate designs. The soldiers immediately stood at attention.
"William, your presence is required elsewhere," the figure said, his tone cold and authoritative.
William's smile faltered for the first time, and he gave a small nod. "Right. I'll be along in a minute."
The figure didn't move, clearly waiting for him. William sighed and turned back to Lumumba, his grin returning, though it was strained.
"Looks like I've gotta go. Duty calls, or some such nonsense. We'll catch up later."
Lumumba watched as William walked away, his carefree attitude slipping as the armored figure led him toward one of the grand estates. Something was definitely off.
"Family friends, my ass," Amara muttered. "Whoever that was, William's more involved than he's letting on."
Lumumba nodded slowly, piecing it together. "He's not just a mercenary. He's tied into all of this. The nobles, the soldiers, maybe even the Sovereign's plans."
Jon glanced between them, frowning. "But he doesn't seem like the mastermind type. He's just muscle, right? A guy like him wouldn't care about politics."
Lumumba's grin returned. "Exactly. Which means someone's using him. And I want to know who."
Later that night, while back at the inn, they began to plan their next move. They knew William was more than he appeared to be, but the key question was how deep his ties went. Was he just a pawn in his family's game, or was he more involved in the conspiracy that loomed over the Northern Kingdom?
Just as they were discussing their options, there was a loud knock at the door.
Lumumba opened it to find William, grinning widely, though he looked more disheveled than usual.
"Miss me?" William said, stepping inside before Lumumba could even respond.
Amara and Jon exchanged glances as William plopped himself down in a chair, looking uncharacteristically serious for a moment.
"Listen, I gotta level with you," William said, his tone lower than usual. "I'm… involved in some stuff. Family stuff. My father's got me running errands, dealing with nobles, soldiers, whatever. It's not really my scene, you know? But I gotta do what he says."
Lumumba leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Errands? For the nobles?"
William scratched his head. "Yeah. Mostly keeping the peace, handling a few skirmishes here and there. But there's something bigger going on. I don't know all the details, but my father's connected to some high-up people. Even talks about some guy called the Sovereign."
Amara tensed at the name, and Lumumba's grin grew sharper.
"The Sovereign, you say? Sounds like we've got more in common than I thought," Lumumba replied. "So, what's your deal, William? You gonna play the loyal son, or are you gonna start thinking for yourself?"
William laughed, though it was strained. "I don't know, man. I'm just trying to survive. But I like you guys. You're different. Maybe there's a way to work together."
Lumumba pushed off the wall and walked closer to William, his voice quieter now, but full of intent. "Maybe. But if you get in my way, we're not going to be friends for long."
William's grin returned, though it was more guarded this time. "I get it. You've got your thing, I've got mine. But if you need someone who can crack a few skulls, you know where to find me. Just… don't expect me to pick sides."
Lumumba studied him for a moment before nodding. "Fair enough. For now, we'll keep it casual. But sooner or later, you'll have to decide which side you're on."
As William left, Lumumba turned to Amara and Jon.
"Looks like our new friend's tangled up in this mess more than he realizes," he said, his voice low. "And I've got a feeling it's only going to get worse."
Amara nodded, her eyes narrowing. "We need to watch him. He's useful now, but his loyalty is to his family. When push comes to shove, we'll see where he really stands."
Jon sighed. "Great. Another wildcard. Just what we needed."
Lumumba smirked, the glint of chaos back in his eyes. "Hey, the more pieces on the board, the more fun it is to knock them down."