[hider=Sending a Message]
Kiseo had just finished serving her mistress’ afternoon meal. 

She juggled the tray as she trailed down into the main room. Subtly, she noted the aftermath of lunch hour. Several occupants remained seated and their eyes casually drifted into the feline humanoid’s direction. She quickly noticed then ducked into the kitchens. The hinged door thwomped behind her. It caught Kiseo squarely on the romp causing the mao to grit in silent suffering. She glared briefly at the offending thing as she set it the dishes into the basin with the rest. 

A human female turned about. At spotting Kiseo, a grin cracked across her lips. Her hands wiped off the four staining them, flipping the towel across her shoulder. She placed her hands on her hips when she spoke out loud. 

“Kiseo, what cha doing ‘ere?” She asked in an accent stemming from the slums. 

She paused long enough to push her frizzly red hair out of her face, her shape ideal for childbearing and thicker than most. It was obvious she kept from starving by skirting herself on the filthy streets for petty coin. Thankfully, it seems the fates had smiled on her when she landed employment in the Little Reed Inn. 

“Cleaning up Híril Elian’s meal dishes,” Kiseo explained. 

She then made a swift, customary bow before ducking back out. At her back, the Mao caught the cook scolding her with a loud shout.

“Donnae bow to me, Missy! Tis isn’t the Imperium!” 

Still smiling, Kiseo quickly ducked out to head back upstairs. Her eyes widen and her gait grounded to a halt when she spotted someone conversing with the innkeeper. 

It hadn’t taken Jain long to located the home of Kiseo’s mistress. Unbeknown to her he had followed her back to the Little Reed Inn the same day he had first met her. He had started talking to the innkeep in the hopes of asking after Dyril, though it seemed unnecessary now, his presences had already been noted. 

“Greetings” He said as he turned to face Kiseo, waving the innkeep away as he did “I am guessing you didn’t expect to see me again so soon”

Kiseo’s tail curled about her lower leg, anxiety swept through her figure quickly. She bit her tongue while she sized him up. There was little reason he would be here unless… The thought clicked into place causing her to voice her question. 

“What do you want?” 

Jain just smiled in response, “I have business with your beloved mistress, be a good kitty and fetch her at once. If she asks tell her it has to do with her goods, and if she hopes to hold on to them she would be wise not to keep me waiting”.  

Kiseo’s ears pulled back slightly. Her eyes narrowed while her black lip curled, briefly revealed her right canine before dropping back down. She wasn’t about to increase her mistress’ issues through her actions. With her tail tucked about her leg, the Mao twisted on her foot then began to ascend the stairs to her mistress’ room. 

She gently pushed the door open to reveal Dyril sitting on her bed. Her head was bowed down and examined a parchment letter, her hand turned it over to the back. It informed her about the land acquired in Ralda. They had begun to till it, preparing it for the seeds, meaning shortly she would have to leave in order to supervise. 

Feeling eyes on her, Dyril turned to her servant with a small smile. Her expression melted into surprise as she placed the letter down into her lap, noticing the irritation in Kiseo. 

“Is something wrong, Kiseo?” 

Kiseo shrugged off the question with a head shake. She moved deeper into the room as she spoke to Dyril, carefully wording her statement. 

“A man has come to address you about your goods.” 

Dyril frowned, then rose off the bed. She snatched up a shawl on her way out, carefully leading the way down the stairs and back to the main room. Her almond eyes scanned across the room in search for the man that summoned her. 

While he waited for Kiseo to fetch her mistress Jain had pulled up a chair beside one of the tables, gesturing to one of the serving girls to bring him a drink. He waited until a elven woman, who he heavily assumed was Dyril, appeared in the room seemingly looking for him.

“Over here” He yelled trying to draw Dyril’s attention to him. 

Upon hearing him, Dyril’s eyes narrowed and she closed the distance. Her figure halting near the table with Kiseo in her wake. She inhaled, then addressed the man ordering a drink. 

“Kiseo has been kind enough to inform me that you wanted to see me? I apologize for not knowing your name, but you seem to have known mine,” She admitted, with a slight hint of false regret. 

“My name is Jain Surya” Jain said with a smile as Dyril approached the table though his smile disappeared. A strange anger started to swell within him the closer Dyril got to him, an anger he couldn’t explain “I have the unfortunate job of informing you that your goods are being held for payment given they have been kept in the warehouses of William Finn for just over a month now” though he tried to hide his unexplained anger, it was clear in his face and voice. 

Dyril was silent for a moment. Her eyes caught the uncalled for wrath within Jain’s face, brief confusion crossed her mind. She shrugged it off as she pushed forward with the conversation. It wasn’t the first time she was hated for reason at all save for her appearance. 

“I’m confused. I recall having Kiseo deliver the payment shortly before I withdrew my goods. There was no issue then. What has changed?” Dyril asked, suspecting a trick or ploy to milk more money from her. 

“I am afraid not” Jain replied as he reached under his coat a produced a scroll “based off our record, no payment has been received by you or anyone under your employment,” he said as he handed Dyril the scroll, trying his best to contain this growing rage inside himself. Was this Marid’s doing, if so then why?

Dyril and Kiseo, briefly, exchanged looks. For the first time, Kiseo spotted Dyril’s distrust in her ability to perform. The Mao’s heart spiked in her chest and her fingers dug into her fur. Fear seemed to wrap about her whenever she recalled other Mao receiving similar looks before the worst happened. Something warm and wet drew her attention down to her hands. They were clasped together, but she caught her own blood faintly seeped through self-inflicted wounds. Casually she pulled her hands behind her back to hide the evidence. 

Noticing the scroll, Dyril cautiously took it from Jain’s outstretched hand. She hadn’t noticed she had briefly made contact with the skin. She quickly unrolled the scroll and scanned the contents. The half-elf finally rolled it back then passed it back over to the man. 

“I do not see a total amount due. I assume you have tacked on additional fees that have been building up since then?” Dyril asked calmly. 

“Indeed we have, I trust you have enough coin to pay for these fees, otherwise I fear we may have to take your supplies to cover the cost” Jain said flinching slightly as his skin came into contact with hers.

“I can’t tell you until I see the official total. Even if I did, I find it odd you would’ve waited nearly over two months before getting in contact with me over the back payment. I’m surprisingly not difficult to locate as I’ve been here after the incident at the last Inn,” Dyril’s tone took on an unamused tone, keeping it clear of outright accusing the man. 

“I assume you have an explanation for this?” 

“If you have an issue with how we conduct our business I am afraid you will have to take it up with my superior, William Flin as I myself have only assumed control of his operations here in Nyhem recently. However you may have difficulty doing that, given he left Nyhem shortly after that fancy celebration the emperor hosted”. 

“Kiseo, did you receive a note of payment from the individual you delivered the payment to?” 

Kiseo jerked into attention then nodded her head, “Yes Mistress. Do you want me to fetch it?” 

“Yes and quickly, please.” 

Without another word, Kiseo rushed up the stairs and disappeared into their assigned room. When her servant was gone, Dyril turned back to Mr. Surya with an indifferent tone.  

“I have to see the complete total or I haven’t any idea what to pay you. On a side note, is there a possibility to work this out into smaller payments over time?” 

 From under his coat Jain produced another piece of paper, significantly smaller than the last one he had given to her. On it was the total amount due, with Jain’s own interest added onto it. He placed it on the table this time, in an attempt to avoid making contact with Dyril’s skin again. 

Dyril picked up the paper just as Kiseo’s figure came bounding down the steps. Her chest inhaled heavily, evidence she had been in a rush to retrieve the item. At Dyril’s head gesture, the Mao stepped forward then casually offered the receipt in her hand to Jain. Her eyes held distaste at his presence though her face and body language showed nothing beyond obedience. 

She stepped back when he took it, resuming her place next to Dyril. 

“I see” Jain said, his voice revealing no hint of anger or surprise “it is strange to me that I was not informed of your payment by Mr Flin, or that I could find no trace of your receipt our records”. This was of course a lie, though the moment Jain had found proof Dyril’s payments he had used them to feed his fireplace “If you wish I can investigate this matter for you, though I must warn you if nothing shows up the time spent looking into this will continue to increase your interest”. 

“My faith in your business practices are a bit rattled from this experience,” Dyril admitted openly. 

She turned to him, still holding the parchment in her grip while she continued. 

“I feel it might be more suitable to have a third party to investigate it. Someone that lacks connection to your company or myself, ensuring pure neutrality in the matter,” 

There was a pause before she then said her thoughts out loud. 

“Perhaps the Emperor might have a suggestion since part of his purchase is in the wares you’re withholding from me.”  

Jain seemed unfazed by this threat as he stood up from the table, “I am sorry to hear that your faith in me is shaken, though I understand. Rest assured I will get to the bottom of this. I thank you for your time”. Before Jain left he gave Kiseo a smirk, he had already accomplished what he had come here for, continuing to smile even after he left the room.

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