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[sub][color=8E939E]✧     Location: Soft Haven Bounty House     ✧     Purse: 12 copper     ✧      Collab with [@McMolly]     ✧[/color][/sub][/center]
Kyreth wasted no time heading back downstairs, tome clutched to his chest, and found that Aleka and Cerric had finished their speech by the time he reached the foyer. Aleka was still at his desk, and Kyreth took the opportunity to skirt around the others toward him, brandishing the name book. 

[color=8E939E]“Um, the Lord asked me to bring this to you,”[/color] Kyreth offered, quietly enough that the others wouldn’t hear. Aleka continued writing in a different book, not acknowledging Kyreth’s presence until he had rocked his blotter over the last word. When he finally did look up, he fixed the Tainted with a long, indecipherable look. Kyreth shrank under his gaze, and for a moment thought the man was going to refuse the offer. But he didn’t; after what felt like a silent interrogation, Aleka finally cleared a space for the tome on his desk and went back to work, apparently satisfied. Relieved, Kyreth left the desk with haste, making a mental note never to give Aleka another clerical problem ever again. He didn’t make it very far before a hand took him by the shoulder.

Lilann pulled him aside into the same tenuous seclusion they’d had before. Even unmasked, her expression was difficult to read, but in those icy eyes there were embers of concern. 

[color=skyblue]“Well?”[/color] she asked, voice a conspiratorial whisper. [color=skyblue]“Are you alright? What happened?”[/color]

Kyreth whirled to find the source of the hand, but was relieved to find it was just Lilann, allowing her to pull him aside. He was a little surprised by her concern, but not unpleasantly so. 

[color=8E939E]“I’m fine,”[/color] Kyreth stooped so Lilann could hear his whisper, eyes darting the room. He tapped his chest, the signet ring and letter beneath, but struggled to think of an answer. Where would he even start?

[color=8E939E]“It’s a long story, but…”[/color] he began, searching for a way to phrase the situation. [color=8E939E]“...Well, the Lord of the House tasked me with running some errands. I’ll explain more later.”[/color] In practiced Tainted fashion, he flipped the conversation on Lilann. [color=8E939E]“What about you? Did you get assigned a ‘trial’?”[/color]

If she was dissatisfied with the answer, she didn’t show it, though it was clear enough that she had more questions to ask. He beat her to the punch though, and she took a deep breath. 

[color=skyblue]“We did. They have the lot of us escorting some Red Fern heiress on a delivery. Doesn’t sound particularly exciting on the face of it, but plenty of good stories have slow beginnings. And besides—”[/color] her eyes flicked across the room, to the others, and she smirked. [color=skyblue]“I won’t want for interesting company. Ten days, Cerric said—he’ll be joining us. Will you still be here, you think?”[/color]

[color=8E939E]“Ten days? Wow,”[/color] Kyreth murmured. Not that Lilann seemed unfamiliar with traveling, but it seemed like quite the trek for a trial contract. Especially in a party with their gruff new friend Ceolfric. 

As for her question, Kyreth nodded. [color=8E939E]“Yeah, I’ll still be here - Selene willing,”[/color] he replied, a bit of leftover disbelief sneaking into his voice. He was still wrapping his head around this whole apprenticeship arrangement, and the thought of it lasting anything more than ten minutes still seemed far-fetched. He cleared his throat. [color=8E939E]“When do you leave?”[/color]

[color=skyblue]“Tomorrow morning,”[/color] she said, a thoughtful look coming to her. [color=skyblue]“Gives me time to look more closely into the…stranger aspects of this place. I was going to ask Cerric more about this ghoul—the one that left the claw marks, not Ceolfric. I’m not sure I buy all that business about a demon, or a spirit or what have you, but it could still be worth checking.”[/color]

[color=8E939E]“Oh, right,”[/color] Kyreth cringed at the mention, recalling the claw marks those poor graveyard attendants were probably still trying to cover up. [color=8E939E]“I don’t know, seems wise to maybe leave well enough alone…”[/color]

Another look at Lilann’s face, however, reminded Kyreth that she probably wasn’t the type to let sleeping dogs lie. [color=8E939E]“Or, be careful, at least,”[/color] he added, eager to change the subject. [color=8E939E]“Anyway, I need to head into town soon, but… meet me back here sometime tonight, okay? I’m rooming in the House for now, and I’ll explain everything then.”[/color] 

She seemed pleased by his concern, rather than annoyed, and nodded when he asked her to return later. 

[color=skyblue]“Suspense, I like it,”[/color] she said, smiling. [color=skyblue]“I’ll expect a good story, Kyreth Bertasson. See you tonight—and good luck.”[/color]