Jack – POV

  The noble girls I met this evening were undeniably beautiful. It’s astonishing what a touch of makeup, a well-fitted gown, and the confidence of noble birth can do for a woman’s appearance. Their poise, their practiced smiles, the way they carried themselves; it all felt like stepping into a different world. A world I was not entirely sure I belonged in.

  If only my sister Serena would trade her tomboyish habits for a ribbon and a corset. I refuse to believe she’s beyond hope. She’s pretty enough when she tries...rare as that is. But imagining her standing among those noble girls tonight? I can already hear her scoffing and threatening to punch someone.

  Still, meeting those girls left me more nervous than I had ever been. More than the day I left home to enroll at the knight’s school on the old baron’s estate. More than my first real sparring match. More than facing down a charging boar during training.

  I was grateful, deeply grateful, for the etiquette lessons Mother had drilled into me. Without them, I would have been a complete embarrassment. Even so, without Anda’s quick thinking, I might have made a fool of myself anyway.

  When the blonde noblewoman offered me her handkerchief, I froze. Completely froze. My mind went blank, my tongue turned to stone, and I stood there like an idiot staring at the delicate embroidered cloth as if it were a venomous snake.

  It was Anda who leaned in and whispered the proper response: “Thank her, you fool.”

  I felt my face burn so hot I thought I might ignite. How dense I must have seemed. How painfully obvious my inexperience must have been to them.

  By the time Anda and I reached Father, Nathan, and Belle, I was still buzzing with leftover nerves and embarrassment. Nathan greeted me with his usual smirk, the one that said he already knew something amusing had happened.

  “So… did everything go well?” he asked, voice dripping with mischief.

  “Err… yeah. Anda saved me,” I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck.

  “What do you mean?” he pressed, eyebrows raised.

  “One of the girls handed me her handkerchief and I didn’t know what to do with it.”

  Nathan burst into laughter. “It could have gone much worse,” he said between chuckles.

  “What do you mean?” I asked, frowning.

  “You could have blown your nose with it,” Nathan said, laughing even harder.

  “I am not that stupid,” I snapped, though my ears were burning again. His laughter only grew louder, and soon Anda and Belle were trying to stifle their giggles. Even Father’s lips twitched.

  Before long, I found myself laughing with them instead of at them. The tension melted away, replaced by a warm, shared amusement that made the embarrassment feel almost worth it.

  Our revelry was cut short when Father approached, his expression shifting back to business. “I’m glad you’re enjoying the party, but we must leave soon. Where is Krizek, Nathan?”

  “He went to look at some things. Don’t worry, he’ll catch up,” Nathan replied casually.

  I still find it unnerving how easily Nathan commands his demons. It’s not merely their obedience that unsettles me—it’s the fact that bloodthirsty creatures, monsters capable of tearing a grown man apart like parchment, bend to the will of an eight-year-old boy. They look human. They behave kindly toward us. But I have seen what they truly are.

  I know Nathan would never turn them on his family. I trust him. But the thought of such power resting in a child’s hands… it terrifies me in ways I cannot fully articulate.

  And yet, he carries that power with a strange maturity. A calmness. A certainty. As if he were older than all of us.

  Belle – POV

  Lord Nathan is quick-witted and funny. Hearing him tease his brother about the handkerchief incident, I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing aloud. Anda was right in his assessment of the boy... he is different. Different in a way that is better. As if he were not a child but an adult wearing a child’s body.

  If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  Was he always like this? I have met many seven-year-olds, and none of them spoke or acted like Lord Nathan. Was it because he grew up as a peasant? No… that doesn’t explain it. Peasant children are often more mature, yes, but not like this.

  I don’t find his peculiarity negative. In fact, I find it refreshing. Endearing, even.

  Lord Jack, on the other hand, is different in his own way. Serious. Earnest. Trying so hard to be proper and knightly. Hearing about how he almost bungled his meeting with the noble girls made me think about my own relationship with Anda.

  We have been lovers ever since we started adventuring together. When I brought up the idea of marriage and family, he agreed, he wanted that too. But he insisted we would have to stop being adventurers. He didn’t want to leave our future children without parents. The life of an adventurer is perilous, unpredictable, and often short.

  He was right. So, we delayed our plans until we could save enough to retire.

  That was five years ago.

  Five long years of scraping by, taking dangerous jobs, saving every coin we could… and still being nowhere near retirement. No matter how hard we worked, no matter how carefully we saved, it was never enough.

  When Lord Jakob asked us to become their retainers, we thought long and hard. In the end, we decided to tie ourselves to their family, newly established though it was.

  Yes, the land we are heading to is fraught with uncertainty and danger. But that is no different from an adventurer’s life. And if we succeed… we will finally have a chance to settle down. To build a home. To have a family.

  Opportunities like this do not come twice.

  I was also glad that the others in our party saw the same rare chance. We all knew the risks. If the house fails, we will suffer, perhaps even die. But if it succeeds…

  My musings were interrupted when Krizek suddenly appeared from the corner of the street as we exited the count’s castle.

  “I’m glad you were able to rejoin us, Krizek,” Lord Jakob said.

  “I bring bad tidings, my lord,” Krizek replied. “It seems your recent host has nefarious plans for us.”

  I wasn’t surprised. We had encountered corrupt nobles before during our adventuring missions.

  “What did you find out?” I asked, brows furrowing.

  “He is planning to ambush us a few kilometers from the city. I counted a hundred men. Also, I discovered he is a slave trader. He intends to enslave the survivors.”

  A chill ran down my spine.

  “Aside from enslaving us, what compelled him to do such a thing?” Lord Jakob asked.

  “Greed,” Krizek said. “He guessed correctly that your lordship possesses tremendous wealth. It is simple robbery... with a side of slavery.”

  I was startled when Lord Jakob didn’t deny the claim about his family’s wealth.

  “This is bad, my lord,” Anda said. “Although our present retainers are many, not all are combat-ready. Aside from my old party and the Hellblazers, we don’t have enough trained fighters. A hundred men will be difficult to handle.”

  “I assume our camp is being watched,” I added. “Even if we change direction, they will catch up.”

  “Is the count using his own soldiers?” Lord Jakob asked.

  “Yes,” Krizek replied. “His own soldiers, led by some of his knights.”

  “Knights!” Anda spat on the ground. “More like mercenaries.”

  “Knights acting as bandits? Where is their honor?” Lord Jack exclaimed.

  “Son,” Lord Jakob said gently, “not all knights are honorable, just as not all nobles are noble. Remember that Jack… Nathan.”

  Both boys nodded.

  “What are our options?” Lord Jakob asked.

  Anda was deep in thought. Krizek, however, looked at Lord Nathan—who was strangely calm. Something passed between them. Krizek nodded slightly.

  “We will take care of the problem, Lord Jakob,” Krizek said. “You need not worry about the ambush.”

  “What do you mean?” Lord Jakob asked.

  Krizek glanced at Nathan, then back at Jakob. “We will infiltrate the count’s castle and barracks while you travel to our next destination. We will also liberate any items of significance and add them to your collection.”

  “You mean to strike them first... and rob them?” I asked.

  “Yes,” Krizek replied. “He has no immediate family. He eliminated all his siblings. Only his son and heir remain. He is alone except for his loyal knights.”

  “No other children? What about the mother?” Lord Nathan asked suddenly.

  “None, master. Just the heir. The count has no wife. The boy may be the product of indiscretion with a servant or slave.”

  Nathan’s eyes hardened. “In that case, eliminate the count and anyone tied to his power structure, commanders, loyal retainers.”

  “Nathan,” Lord Jakob said sharply, “doing so will collapse the governing authority of this countship.”

  “My lord,” I added carefully, “it would be wiser to eliminate only those involved in the slave trade. Not all of the count’s people are guilty.”

  Anda looked at me in surprise. “Forgive Belle for her candor, she didn’t mean to overstep...”

  “Anda, Belle, it is fine,” Lord Jakob said. “I prefer my subordinates to voice their opinions. And Belle’s suggestion is the wiser course. When the count is removed, his son will take over. There will be no total collapse of authority. Do you understand, Nathan?”

  Nathan nodded. “You are right, Father. Belle’s plan is more sound.”

  I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. I had expected reprimand. Instead, I was heard. Respected.

  Masters who allow their subordinates to speak freely… that is unheard of in this age.

  Our decision to join House Mayweather?Abensberg feels more and more justified with every passing moment.