Hanni and I decided to hit the Queen’s Way the following morning then head for Osea the next. I still had enough gold to indulge Hanni and Jibel and if it wasn’t I’d just have to take an advance from the future king’s reward.
With nothing else to do for the day, Hanni and I debated about where to put an inn, or whether it was a good idea to open one. She was supportive of the idea of having a home for the children, beyond that I could not get her to comment or commit to anything else.
“Do you have anything that you’d rather be doing?” I asked, over food at the anteroom before the archives.
“You know better than to ask me such questions Jorj.”
“Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. You’ve been with us the entire time and have paid your debt many times over, not that I considered it a debt in the first place. While I’m thankful you are with me, with us, I can’t help but think I’m being selfish. Like when I sent you to get Besien.”
“This is foolish talk Jorj. What is it that you really want to know?”
“Anything. Everything. I don’t know.” I shrugged, careful not to push too much.
“If it’s about me, you’re better off not knowing. If it’s about why I stay, it’s because I find it… pleasing? That’s the word, I think.”
Hard woman is hard.
“Are you the word is not entertaining?”
“That too.” She confirmed offhandedly. “I will leave when I need to leave. Not sooner, not later.”
“Will I know when?”
“No.”
I was about to add something when I noticed a messenger heading our way from the music room.
“Lord Jorj, His Highness, The Prin-”
“No need for all that,” I interrupted, “just say it.”
“Lord, the prince requests your presence. Says it’s urgent.”
Hanni and I exchanged glances.
“We can find our way. Go.”
I waited until the messenger disappeared before speaking.
“I am out of ideas. What else could be urgent?”
“Whatever it is, I don’t think you’ll like it.”
“And you?” I asked.
She gave me a shrug. I wiped my hands on a cloth and stood up. A dozen thoughts ran though my head as we made our way up again, most of them bad. My only comfort was the person walking beside me. If things went south, she would always have my back. As long as it was still… entertaining.
We reached the corridor just in time to see the loremaster and his coterie of white-clad people go the other way. I purposefully tread lightly not to give away our approach to Jakeli and Litoc inside the room. Upon nearing, I signaled to the soldiers to not announce our arrival. The two were still debating inside but it obvious it wasn’t just about the plan anymore.
“… an’ ‘es done so much already!”
“If we are to do this, we need to be appraised of the situation as soon as possible. You know we can’t wait for rumors, elim. That would be too late.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s late, so long as it ‘appens.”
“We need to be ready if it doesn’t pan out. You know how things can go wrong.”
“Ye send someone else Jak! I’m not ‘avin it. It’s simple ‘nough, send one o’ yer nobles.”
“It’s his plan!”
“An’ that’s why ye can’t afford ta send ‘im. ‘es worth more than all o’ your useless nobles combined!”
I glanced at Hanni. Her blank expression told me nothing. It was obvious they were talking about me. Regarding what, however, I was dying to know.
“It’s impolite to talk about a person behind his back you now.” I said as I swung the door open.
The cousins looked like children who had been caught doing forbidden things. They exchanged glances as we approach, neither appeared willing enough to say the first word.
“Well? Out with it.” Hanni urged.
“Jorj, we don’t mean ta put any more on yer shoulders an’ we are indebted ta ye fer what ye’ve done an’-”
“Litoc? The short version please?” I interrupted.
“Right, right. So, I uh, I want ye ta understand that I am against this but Jak ‘ere, ‘es got some concerns an’ I think ‘es right.”
“You’re still not telling.”
“Ha, ha. See, we think it’s a good thin’, ye knowin’? A good idea ta give ye an inn…” Litoc trailed.
“But we need it to be in Khevernak.” Jakeli finished.
Bitch, what?