Noodle's heart dropped into his stomach. He was in front of the door and there was no place to hide. Lord Aubet would find him snooping around in his hall for sure, and only execution awaited him, he just knew it.
The door opened fully, and Noodle felt a brief moment of relief. It was not Lord Aubet who had opened the door, but one of the servants—a woman with brown hair and freckles holding a wooden bucket and a mop.
His relief was short-lived, for she narrowed her eyes in suspicion, "You're one of the lord's guests. What are you doing here?"
Words abandoned him, and all he could do was stammer out the excuse he had used last, "Th-the privy…"
The woman's eyes narrowed further, "This is not the privy."
And then, Noodle's brain leapt to life. He'd always been good at excuses; he could do this!
"No, I, er—I was just returning from the privy, and I wanted to speak to Lord Aubet—" Details! He needed details! "—Lord Wulf brought me along at the last minute, you see? I don't have a change of clothes."
"A change of clothes?" The woman said disbelievingly, "You're not a noble, you can't bear wearing the same clothes for more than one day?"
Noodle put on a hapless smile and shrugged, "What can I say? I've been spoiled for the finer comforts in life."
"Okay…" The woman said slowly, "But why did you enter then?"
"Sorry?"
"Why did you enter the room?" The woman asked, "You presumably saw that Lord Aubet wasn't here when you opened the door, so why did you enter anyway?"
Noodle resisted the urge to tear out his hair; why was this woman so unusually sharp? Didn't most servants just go about their work, not caring what was happening around them? He surreptitiously glanced around the room, and the statues at the side wall caught his eye.
"The Mother and the Father," he said, gesturing at their statues, "I was here earlier, but I couldn't pay my respects then. When I saw them again, I decided to do it now."
The woman frowned and cast an eye over the whole room, as though searching for anything that might be out of place. When she didn't spot anything, she said, "Okay. Please leave now, ser. You're not allowed to be here."
"I understand, my apologies," Noodle said, sheepishly bowing his head a few times as he rushed to leave.
"Before you go though, I must say," Noodle froze, waiting for the woman to finish, "You're a pretty boorish subject, entering halls without being invited and asking the lord of a whole territory for clothes of all things. You'll cause a lot of trouble for your lord acting like this."
"I'll work hard to improve myself," Noodle promised, finally leaving and letting the doors close behind him.
*
"The Hog," Noodle said annoyedly as soon as he entered Kenric's room. Elizabeth was gone by now.
"The Hog," Kenric repeated thoughtfully, "I see, so that's the bandit lord Lord Aubet is chasing."
Noodle sighed, "Why would he even hide this? What does it matter if you know which bandit lord it is or not?"
"Glory, I imagine," Kenric said, "He wants the glory of bringing in a bandit lord himself, and he doesn't want to risk sharing the credit with anyone else."
"Right…" Noodle said, "I was caught, you know?"
Kenric gave him a sharp look, "Explain."
"A servant girl. She probably came to clean, and she caught me in the lord's hall," Noodle said, "And she wouldn't stop asking questions! I had to pull one excuse after another out of my ass! I barely got away! The guy outside was curious why I took so long as well, but I just told him I got sidetracked and he didn't ask anything else."
"Does this servant girl still suspect you?" Kenric asked.
"I think so, but I gave valid enough excuses so we should be good," Noodle said, "Do you know what she said as I was leaving? That my behaviour will cause trouble for my lord! Yeah, it's me! I'm the one causing trouble for you!"
Kenric smirked in amusement, "And yet I put up with you." He looked out the window, at the dark sky, "Go get some rest. Let us see how Lord Aubet greets us tomorrow."
Recognising the dismissal for what it was, Noodle bowed and left the room. He'd done as asked. The rest was Lord Wulf's problem.
*
The next morning, Kenric, Elizabeth, and Noodle were led to the solar, where Alain Aubet awaited them with a table full of food.
"Ah, good morning, Lord Wulf! Lady Filangris." He said when they entered, "Come, join me for some breakfast."
Kenric was about to say that he would prefer just talking about the deal they'd made yesterday, but perhaps Elizabeth was getting used to the way he did things, because she jumped in, "Certainly, you are a most gracious host, Lord Aubet." She took a seat, and after a moment, Kenric nodded and followed her example.
He remembered what she'd said to him yesterday evening, and what he'd realised. Even if it was annoying, diplomacy was an art he had to practice.
Alain turned to look at Noodle, who had remained standing, as was expected of him, "I've been informed that your bodyguard was found in my hall after I'd left."
Kenric remained silent, and Elizabeth suddenly gasped as though hearing this for the first time, "What?" She looked angrily at Noodle, "You went inside Lord Aubet's hall? Without permission?"
Kenric had already told her of everything this morning, so this was act was undoubtedly for Alain. And, judging by the surprised expression on his face, it was working.
"You… didn't know?" He asked.
"No! He didn't tell us anything!" Elizabeth said, sounding scandalised, "How could you do such a thing, Ned? And then to keep us in the dark after? Despicable!"
Noodle caught on quick and bowed remorsefully, "A thousand apologies, my lady. I went to go ask Lord Aubet if he could spare any extra clothes for the night, and I was about to leave when I saw that his hall was empty, but when I saw the Mother and Father, I felt I absolutely had to pay my respects. It will not happen again."
"Of course it won't!" Elizabeth said sternly, "Don't think you've escaped punishment with your apology! We'll decide your sentence once we return so you never forget your mistake!"
Noodle bowed obediently once more, "I understand."
The matter had moved too fast for Alain, and it seemed he'd gotten swept up in the pace of Noodle and Elizabeth's act. Sensing the resolution of the matter, he said to Kenric, "You've got quite the brazen bodyguard, Lord Wulf."
"…Yes," Kenric said. He very much abhorred lying, but he had been the one to send Noodle on this clandestine operation, and he would follow it through till the end. That was his responsibility, "I apologise on his behalf as well."
Alain waved his apology away, "No matter, no matter. Nothing was stolen, so I'm inclined to believe your bodyguard's explanation." He grinned at Noodle, "Do be a little more sensible with your zealousness next time, and observe propriety."
"Yes, my lord," Noodle said, bowing apologetically once more.
"Now, onto the matter of our agreement," Alain said, turning back to Kenric, "My soldiers have confirmed that the evil in the Forest of Antome is slain. They are currently in the process of recovering the corpses of all those who fell to it. You do fine work, I would be overjoyed to have you as my vassal."
"I apologise, but I cannot accept that offer," Kenric said.
Alain laughed heartily, "Don't take it so literally, my boy! It's simply praise. Now, as we bargained, I will send over a year's worth of food to Blaidd. Don't worry, I will send my own troops to guard the delivery. You just need to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your efforts."
"Thank you," Kenric said simply.
He took a plate of eggs and began cutting into them. As he did, he glanced up and noticed Alain's thoughtful frown.
"Can I help you?" He asked.
"…I met your father, you know?" Alain said, "It was only once, and it was long ago, but it's still a meeting I remember."
Kenric paused, "Is that so?"
"Yes, and whenever your father spoke of his territory, he had this… shine to him. A great pride, a great love. Had he secured a year's worth of food as you have just now, he would have been aflush with joy right now."
"I apologise, I am not my father," Kenric said, focusing on his food once more.
"No, I know," Alain said, he peered at Kenric as though trying to see through him, "I sense none of that from you. Tell me, Lord Wulf, do you even love your land?"
Kenric had been as diplomatic as he could be, hiding his harshness behind a façade of civility. But that question broke through his already painfully thin veneer, and he smiled coldly, "Not even a little bit."