While Sara helped their cause by looking around for information, Caleb was helping customers. He thought medical books might be a niche market, but a kind woman had bought a text on how to make casts earlier, so maybe there was more demand than he expected. Now the boy was waiting patiently as a thin, tan man with a swirly mustache examined a different book. He was shocked out of his complacency by what the guy said though.

“This book is fake,” he declared as if he were stating the meaning of life.

Caleb knew this wasn’t the case; Roger was way too smart to not know if his book was real. “With all due respect sir, it’s real. The, uh, seller is well educated and a good man.”

“Well, boy,” the adult responded in a kindly way, “it isn’t your fault you got fooled, but let me do you a favor - I’ll buy it off you for a gold piece.” Based on Roger’s price sheet, that offer was 100 times smaller than what it should have been.

“No thank you, sir.”

Now the man’s tone of voice became more stern. “Alright boy, enough games. The authorities won’t take kindly to phonies. Trying to scam the people of this great city will not end well for you. I’ll give you a silver and we can forget this ever happened.”

Caleb was nervous now, but not because the book was allegedly fake; rather, he didn’t want to jeopardize the mission over something fairly small like this. Still, knights didn’t back down from doing the right thing, so that was what the boy intended on doing.

“The book is real. I’ll have to ask you to leave now, sir.”

“GUARDS!” the man started to yell, “THIS CHILD IS-”

Suddenly, the man stopped - not because of any moral enlightenment, but because another man had punched him square in the face. Caleb recognized the attacker; it was Alan, the guy who had helped them find the spot earlier.

Alan scolded the man for his actions as well. “Curly, you oughta be ashamed of yourself, trying to scam a child. What is this, some back alley in Thorn?”

“But Scarman, he-”

“No excuses.” Alan loudly declared as he pulled out his sword. “Now get out of here, and if I hear of you scamming anyone else I’ll gut you like a fish.” Saying this, he kicked the chastised man as he scurried away.

Caleb was relieved; the farmer had saved him from a potentially awkward situation. Edward and Rainbow were relieved as well, having just been spared from potentially having to reveal themselves.

“Thank you, sir” the boy said to the man, “I wasn’t trying to cause any trouble.”

“I know. Don’t worry about it, Caleb,” the scarred man said in response.

The child had to wonder if he had let his name slip at some point. “It’s Calvin, actually.”

The older man smiled in response, as if something about that was funny. “Now Caleb, if you lie any more, Ms. Ardia will wash your mouth with soap.”

At this, the boy’s face became a shade of pink as he tried to maintain his false identity. “Uh, I don’t know who that is. Maybe you have me confused with someone else?” Whether it was on a dwarven island impersonating a bear or in a dragon empire, Caleb apparently was not very good at bluffing.

Fortunately for the child, this farmer was apparently kinder than the failed scam artist, as he looked like he had remembered something that was important. “Alright, all things considered, maybe that was a little sudden. Just...listen please, okay?” Caleb nodded, figuring he could at least do that much after the man had helped him earlier.

“Thank you. I don’t know why you’re here, and you don’t have to tell me, but I’m happy you’re okay. Like I assume you did, I grew up in Eagletown at Red Twig, with your father.” At the mention of a parental figure, Caleb’s eyes went wide and he looked at the man intently, but said nothing. “I get it if you don’t trust me, but I’d like you and your elderly friend to join me for dinner tonight. Maybe I can help with whatever it is you’re doing here? Anyway, I live at the Crimson Ridge farm; take a right on the main road and take a left on the first dirt road, then my house is the first farm on the right. I won’t bother you if you don’t show up, but I hope you do. Take care, Caleb.”

Saying this, Alan waved and took his leave. Caleb felt torn; on the one hand, he would do anything to know more about his parents and what happened with them. On the other, he didn’t want to abandon Sara, his village or Lydia. He had to ask himself: what should he do?