Everyone was silent as we were escorted out of the palace by Liam. It wasn’t until we were piled back into the carriage that I remembered I should’ve used the foraging ability on the inner garden.

  But hopefully I’d get a chance again.

  Arriving back at the house, Liam bowed.

  “Thank you for following through with the agreement. We’ll have guards at your property until such time as you hire your own. However, if you’d like them removed, you need only ask,” Liam said.

  “Thanks, Liam,” I said happily. “Hopefully, we’ll see you again.”

  He shook everyone’s hand, including Crisplet’s, which was really nice to see.

  Entering the mansion, we were met by Micca, George, Darren, and Archie, who stood just behind them.

  “Well? How’d it go?” Micca asked, studying us as we entered.

  I turned to face Hari, noticing I wasn’t the only one—Jen and Liane did the same.

  Hari let out a chuckle. “I’m okay. I just need a little while to collect my thoughts, and Trevor, I’ll fill you in as well. These guys already know about my family.”

  He then headed to the right, in the direction of the library.

  “Will he be okay?” I asked.

  Milo nodded. “He’ll be fine. Give him some time—he’s got a lot to think about.” He turned to Archie. “Archie, it’s good you’re here. We’ll likely be getting a lot of messengers and visits. Ensure we’re not disturbed, and just let them know you’ll pass it on.”

  Archie bowed. “Yes, sir.”

  “We’ll talk in the living room,” Milo said, pointing left.

  Opening the door, Crisplet dashed forward and dove into the fireplace. It erupted into flame, and only a second later Lily appeared, having not been able to travel in the carriage, and lay down in front of the fire.

  “Well?” Micca asked impatiently.

  “It’s hard to say,” I shrugged.

  “It went as well as it could have, honestly,” Jen said, falling into her seat.

  “We’re keeping the house, then? I thought for sure Trev would say no.” Micca laughed, causing George and Darren to snicker as well.

  “I’m not that predictable, am I?” I asked, shocked, because it was my first thought.

  “You are,” Darren and George replied immediately, causing laughter from everyone.

  “We’re keeping the house,” Jen added, “and Trev even asked the King directly to provide you with a shop, so I’d expect something ridiculous tomorrow.”

  “What?!” Micca said, shocked.

  “We don’t have enough supplies for an entire shop. What are we going to do?” Her laughter turned to panic.

  “It’s okay—don’t worry. It actually works out well.” Milo leaned forward. “You just have a closed shop where your patrons need to organise a booking. Come in, sit down, make it an experience instead of the buying-off-the-shelf type shop you’re imagining.”

  “That type of shop is more common among the nobility anyway,” Jen added. “Leads to less conflict in the store and maintains privacy.”

  It didn’t seem to solve Micca’s panic entirely.

  Looking around, I asked, “Anyone want to tell me about Hari’s family, then?”

  Milo shook his head. “It’s best Hari tells you himself. I’m sure he will sooner rather than later. It’s likely about to affect you.”

  That confused me. I’d gathered enough to understand Hari was from one of the noble families here in the capital, but how that involved me, I didn’t really understand.

  “So besides the shop and something with Hari’s family… what else happened?” George asked.

  I began recounting events, only making it as far as Gerald before I was interrupted.

  “Do you think he’s trying to cause trouble?” Micca asked.

  Milo shook his head. “Doubtful. But it’s not uncommon for someone in his position, for as long as he’s been there, to rigidly stick to tradition. Usually, when visiting the king—or any royal—there are customs that must be observed. We didn’t do any of them.”

  It had crossed my mind that Gerald seemed hostile, but it was a relief to hear Milo didn’t suspect it was deliberate.

  “So if I were to guess, in all future interactions he’ll either be instructed not to engage with you at all, or he simply won’t be present. You know, to avoid further conflict. But I don’t think he was particularly out to get you,” Milo finished.

  When I continued my story, there were several gasps as I explained how Henry and Oliver got called out.

  “Do you think they’ll change the orphanage system, then?” Darren asked.

  Liane shook her head. “Not easily, no. He said he will, but to actually change it he’d need to change the opinion of every noble family in the kingdom, and I don’t see that happening.”

  Jen tried to be the voice of reason. “He will try, though, I suspect—if only for appearance’s sake.”

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  Milo nodded. “He’ll try to, and most likely fail. We’ll see.”

  “Well, what else did he offer you then?” Micca asked excitedly. “I’m sure there was something.”

  I blinked, trying to remember. I hadn’t really been paying attention—I’d been mostly worried about Hari.

  “You’ve forgotten already?” Jen laughed.

  I shrugged helplessly.

  “He got offered a commission from the phoenix smith for some armour,” Jen said.

  “Oh yeah. That.” I snapped my fingers as it came back to me.

  Milo laughed. “Just that, he says. Like it’s nothing.”

  I felt like I was missing something again. “I don’t really need armour, do I?”

  Milo just shook his head, while Jen muttered, “Hopeless.”

  After a deep breath, Milo said, “Yes, you need armour if you wish to be an adventurer. Have you already forgotten the ambush? The galvonson? Boltron? The bear? The treants? The assassination attempt? And we’ve not even done anything actually dangerous yet.”

  He leaned closer. “Also, Trev, that’s no regular smith. If anyone could use drake scales—or perhaps even a dragon scale—it would be him.”

  “Won’t he need a phoenix feather, though?” I asked, remembering the conversation with Elder Peter way back.

  “No,” Milo said. “He could infuse it in if he had one, sure, but he’s still a rare-class smith and can produce amazing work.”

  “Lily could probably get you a feather if you asked her. I bet she’d love stealing one from Alira,” Liane said with a chuckle, catching Lily’s attention briefly.

  “No, it’s okay,” I replied. “I don’t want Lily to vanish for a week again—not while we’re here in the capital.”

  “Smart,” Milo said sternly. “Don’t think there won’t be someone stupid enough to attempt to hurt you and blame a different party. Politics is a ruthless game, and they won’t consider the death toll until it’s too late.”

  Micca yawned. “Well, I’m going to go to sleep… though I’ve still not chosen a room.”

  Liane vanished.

  “I guess she hasn’t either,” Milo said, amused. “You’d better go or you’ll lose the good ones—and if anyone tries to steal the one next to the library, you’ll end up buried in the dirt outside!”

  Darren and George immediately rushed out, chasing after Micca.

  “Not going to rush for a room?” Milo asked Jen.

  She laughed. “No. I already picked mine. They’ll find a spare bow on the bed.”

  “Mine’s covered in books,” Milo said with a grin.

  I stood. “I’m going to head to sleep as well. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  After letting Crisplet and Lily know, we made our way upstairs and into the bedroom.

  It took me seconds to fall asleep. Noble beds really were too comfortable.

  ***

  The next morning I was awoken by a knock at the door.

  “Trev, wake up!” Liane called.

  I tried to throw a pillow in her direction, but the room was far too large, and it didn’t get close.

  “Listen, Archie’s too polite to wake you up, but you’ve got visitors you can’t ignore. Get out of bed.” Liane laughed, then picked up the pillow and tossed it back before vanishing from the doorway again.

  “Fine!” I groaned, rolling out of bed. “Who’s here anyway?”

  “You’ve got two people waiting for you. First is Prince Luis, and the other is Gabriel Lindberg,” she said from the other side of the door, letting me change out of my bedclothes.

  “Wait—Hari’s father? Why do I need to see him?” I asked, shocked.

  “Because Hari won’t,” Liane said. “And as the master of the house, he has requested an audience with you.”

  “I don’t know what’s going on between them. How can I possibly talk to him about it?” I asked.

  “Don’t worry—Milo, Jen, and I will go with you. Just hurry up.” She chuckled. “Also, why didn’t you care that the prince is downstairs? You know he’s a far bigger deal than Hari’s father, right?”

  “Oh… yeah, I suppose,” I mumbled.

  “You have the strangest sense of importance and power I’ve ever seen in anyone in this kingdom, you know that, Trev? Now hurry. I’ll wait by the hallway door.”

  A moment later I left the room with Crisplet. Lily refused to leave the bed, but I at least got one eye open in acknowledgement—so she was probably still watching somehow.

  Heading downstairs, I saw Archie serving tea to an older man seated near the doorway, while Luis wandered around inspecting things. He noticed us coming down the stairs.

  “Do you always sleep in this late?” he asked with a laugh.

  I was caught off guard. “Uh… only when I’ve got a really comfortable bed.”

  It wasn’t until after I said it that I realised there was probably a title—or some particular way—I was supposed to address him.

  “I’m sorry, I should have said… Your Highness, right?” I looked at Liane, not really sure.

  “It’s fine.” Luis waved it off. “Do you have somewhere private to talk? I’ve been sent with details for you, plus I want to look around a little. I don’t get to leave the palace often—especially with permission to come!”

  Gabriel didn’t protest. He stayed seated, sipping his tea.

  “Uh, sure. I’ve got a study around here somewhere,” I said, once again looking to Liane for help.

  Archie stepped in. “Follow me, sir. The others are already waiting.”

  I sighed in relief as I reached the bottom of the stairs and followed Archie down the hall, past the library entrance, and into the large study Hari and Archie had used yesterday.

  Inside sat Hari, Milo, and Jen, locked in a tense conversation.

  “Ah, good. Everyone’s here!” Luis said, entering and taking the main chair behind the desk.

  I was pretty sure that was supposed to be my chair, but… did him being royal mean it was his while he was here?

  After we were seated and Archie took his leave, Luis began, “I came to drop off a couple of things. First is a deed for a shop in the upper noble district—my father said the last tenants won’t be needing it anymore. Then I have this writ, which you can give to the phoenix smith. His name is Max. He’s a bit grouchy, but not bad to work with.”

  I took the two scrolls and handed them to Hari, who stored them immediately.

  “Oh, that’s it for me,” Luis said. “I just don’t want to go back to the palace yet. You don’t mind if I hang around here for a bit? I won’t get in your way.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s fine. There’s a training yard out back if you like.”

  “Oh, Darren and George are there now,” Hari said, distracted.

  “Great! I’ll go spar with them—whoever they are.” Luis popped up.

  “Uh… wa—” Hari stammered, but the prince was already moving.

  “Go easy on them,” I said quickly. “They’re still really low level, and they nearly got killed on the way to Portland, so they’re still learning.”

  “Oh, it’s those two.” Luis nodded. “Yes, I heard you had two survivors. No problem—I’ll give them some pointers, then.”

  A moment later he was gone.

  Hari stood and was nearly out the door after him.

  “Not you.” Milo’s voice stopped him cold. “Come back here. We need to discuss the other guest who won’t leave the house, and you’re not running away from it.”

  Hari’s shoulders sank. “But the boys—”

  “They’ll be fine,” Jen said. “You, on the other hand, cannot outrun this.”

  Liane nodded once.

  “I really don’t want to have a conversation with your father when I don’t even know what happened, or what’s going to happen,” I added.

  “Fine,” Hari said, coming back into the room and dropping into his chair.

  His gaze flicked up to me.

  “I will tell you, then.”