"Do you think he'll be there?" Noodle asked.
Kenric, who was idly watching the green scenery pass by through the carriage window, said impassively, "We'll see."
They were on the way back, and Kenric remembered giving Gordon the golem directions to what had once been Rhys Village. Whether Gordon had been able to follow those instructions was a separate matter entirely.
In a short while, the hill that Rhys Village had once stood on came into view, and Kenric peered to see if he could spot Gordon. He could not, so he bid the driver to stop and climbed the hill up on foot.
The elements had largely claimed Rhys Village, but the blackened, broken-down structures still remained, an echo of just one more place in his territory destroyed by the Wereion Empire.
Kenric looked through the once-buildings closely, and there he spotted him; in a house whose burnt walls still somehow stood, Gordon sat on the ground. It was a good hiding place, Kenric felt; unless someone passed through Rhys Village as he was doing right now, those upon the road below would not be able to see him.
"Boss!" Gordon said, spotting him as well. He stood, and even from the front, Kenric could see that his bottom had been coated in soot, "Destroyed village, you said." He gestured around, "I figured it had to be this one."
"Were you spotted?" Kenric asked.
Gordon scratched at his stone head, sounding sheepish, "A farmer or two might have seen me, yeah. But it was really dark, and they didn't get a good view, so we should be fine."
Kenric frowned, but he could not fault Gordon. Unexpected things like this were bound to happen.
He paused in thought for a moment, "We don't want to add any strength to any rumours, and I can't hide you in my carriage…"
"So I guess running beside your carriage is a no-go?" Gordon asked, "I bet I could keep up."
"Like I said, we don't want to add any strength to any rumours," Kenric reminded. He came to a decision, "Wait until nightfall here, and then continue following this path west until you find a city. That place is Blaidd. Come to the main gate, I'll be waiting there."
"More sneaking, huh? All right, I'll rest until night then; I'm running pretty low on juice," Gordon said. He tilted his head curiously, "By the way, before you go, what should I call you? My lord or boss?"
"Whichever one you prefer," Kenric said, "My subordinates usually bounce between the two. I'll see you in Blaidd."
"Right, see you, boss."
*
Once Kenric, Elizabeth, and Noodle reached Blaidd, they made directly for the manor. Once Kenric stepped off, the main doors slammed open to a grinning Aida.
"I saw you from the window!" She greeted, "So, how was your little field trip?"
Kenric had scarcely stepped off his carriage, and he took a moment to shoot her a dry look, "Why are you out here and not working?"
"Ah, they won't miss me," Aida waved his thinly veiled admonition away, "Now come on, how was it? Did you have fun?"
Kenric felt a small smirk pull at his lips as Elizabeth and Noodle disembarked as well, "A year's worth of food has been secured. And a new ally. Take our luggage."
Aida skipped over to the driver's seat, and pulled the trunk with all of Kenric and Elizabeth's luggage off from beside him. Kenric dismissed the driver, and he rode off towards the stables outside the manor.
"Nicely done," Aida said, carrying the lightly packed trunk into the manor without issue, "And a new ally, you say?"
"A freak of nature," Noodle shivered. He waved, splitting off from the group, "I'm going to go get changed."
As they climbed up the stairs, Aida asked, "A freak of nature?"
"A golem made of magic," Kenric elaborated, "He can speak and grow in size."
"Did you just say he can speak?"
"Yes. He even has free will. He's an abnormality, even amongst golems," Kenric said. They reached his room, bare as the rest of the rooms in the manor, and Aida put down his trunk. She opened the trunk and placed his clothes in his wardrobe before pulling out Elizabeth's.
The made of Elizabeth's room next, and Aida said, "And it—he, you said—can grow in size as well? How interesting."
"You'll get to meet him tomorrow," Kenric said as Aida finished placing Elizabeth's clothes in her wardrobe. He paused for a moment, "I need to speak with you tomorrow morning. Come to my office then."
Aida gave a casual bow, "Yes, my lord. More work for the invaluable Aida, huh?" She took her leave, and Elizabeth suddenly asked, "Are you two family in some way?"
Kenric raised an eyebrow, "Excuse me?"
"The way you speak to each other, she almost sounds like your sister," Elizabeth said, "I thought she might perhaps be a distant cousin of yours."
"I already have a sister," Kenric said. He thought on her words, "But… you might not be wrong in a sense. Aside from Gerard, Aida has served me the longest."
"You have a sister?" Elizabeth asked, sounding surprised.
"She no longer lives in Blaidd," Kenric said, and before she could ask any more questions, he made to leave, "Get some rest."
Before he was fully out the door though, Elizabeth asked in a rushed manner, "May—may I join you when you go to the front gate tonight?"
Kenric looked back at her and properly considered her. He had expectations of her, as with any of his other subordinates, but she had proven immensely useful in the three months she had been here—more so than he had expected.
And despite all that, she had asked for nothing in return. He could not quite tell, what was it that she wanted? Or had she just been thrown by the shock of her disgrace, and was now just wandering through life with no purpose? If he wanted her to take up more vital aspects of his work, he needed to understand her better.
"All right," Kenric said finally.