[center][h2][b][color=20B2AA] Jandar Varan[/color][/b][/h2][h3][color=20B2AA]Sharon, Shalador[/color][/h3][/center]
Jandar huffed in response to Fatima calling him ‘mom’ jokingly. He wouldn’t have needed to do such a thing if the Queen possessed at least a pinch of the usual womanly sensibilities! Still, he knew her well enough by now that there was no need to truly reprimand her or question her childishness. She could be serious and proper and Queenly when she needed to be, but otherwise, she was very much a free spirit, and considering everything, it was just as well.

Half ignoring her playful shooing, the Warlord happened to catch the young thief inching away from him, ducking his head. The Kaeleeran cocked his head to the side. Was there any need for the boy to avoid him, especially when the likes of Xandar were around? Thom was unfortunate enough that his attempt to blend in and avoid attention backfired. Jandar hadn’t paid much mind to the thief beforehand, as he had been focusing on his companions, but the lad’s awkwardness drew his eye and made him curious about him.

So, the Warlord approached the mixed-blood, and crouched down in front of him, peering closely at his face. [color=20B2AA]“Huh, so you are that thief from Dhemlan. Feels like a year rather than a week has passed since then…”[/color] he muttered, just loudly enough for the youth to hear. [color=20B2AA]“Thom, was it?”[/color] he asked rhetorically. He only knew the adolescent’s name because Mikhail mentioned it. Only now, that he got a closer look at the thief’s face, did Jandar recall the brief encounter with this same trouble-maker in that one inn back when.

[color=20B2AA]“I see you have not yet learned how to avoid getting yourself into trouble,”[/color] he scolded mildly. [color=20B2AA]“Did you not even warn your companion to keep an eye out for guards? If Mikhail hadn’t taken a liking to Dunny, who knows what would have happened?”[/color] he queried, the words an obvious warning, though a well-meaning one. Jandar was a tad unsatisfied that the boy had not learned his lesson, but then again, simply having failed to steal a pouch hadn’t brought many consequences to the boy. However, there had indeed been plenty of ramifications, and if Thom was not yet aware of that fact, Jandar was about to enlighten him.

[color=20B2AA]“Remember that pouch you [i]oh so carelessly[/i] stole?”[/color] he asked, voice silky and ominous. [color=20B2AA]“Turns out, it belonged to a noble. By the time I happened upon the owner, he and his lackeys were threatening a poor serving girl, ready to raise all the fury of a vile Queen upon that whole inn. Do you understand what I’m getting at, [i]Thom?[/i]”[/color] he uttered, eyes dangerously gleaming, lip corners raised into a vicious smirk. [color=20B2AA]“[i]Actions have consequences.[/i] One theft, and not only you, but a whole establishment could have been doomed,”[/color] he stated. [color=20B2AA]“Are you ready to shoulder such a responsibility?”[/color] he wondered. [color=20B2AA]“Speaking from personal experience, it is quite the heavy burden to carry,”[/color] he concluded quietly, staring at the youth earnestly.