Erin poked her head out of the kitchen, “Ya be serious?”
“Yes,” Alburet turned to Erin who came out of the kitchen. “Honestly serious, thirty gold a year paid in advance.”
Alistern put his hands flat on the bar, “Ya are tryin’ to take me daughters.”
Lilith came out of the kitchen sighing, “Husband?”
Looking over at Lilith, Alistern frowned, “It be a trick…”
Alburet dropped thirty gold on the bar, his face calm, “No trick. I will swear any oath you want that I will not touch Erin in any way that is inappropriate.”
Shaking her head, Lilith replied, “There is no need. Stacia told me that you are a monogamous sort. Which is too bad, all of my daughters could use a strong man in their life.”
“Wilbur is a good man,” Alburet replied without thinking. “A little stubborn and prejudiced maybe, but still a good man.”
Erin nodded, “He also be strong enough to defy his family.”
Lilith looked at her daughter, her lips quirking up, “Oh, is that so?”
Looking away Erin muttered, “We are talkin’.”
Lilith set her hand on Alistern’s shoulder, “They all have to go their own ways, love. The other two will stay a bit longer, and Emily will be around for quite some time. Let Erin try to find her own way. We will be here if she needs to come back.”
Seeming to deflate some, Alistern sighed, “It’s too soon.”
Erin looked over at her mother and father, her eyes starting to glisten. “Iffin thin’s do nay work I will come right back, I promise. Let me try to find me own wings, Da’.”
Looking at her with sad eyes, Alistern nodded once. He turned to Alburet, his face hardening. “She be in ya care. Iffin she gets hurt…”
Nodding, Alburet agreed, “She will be safe, Alistern. My word.” He turned to Erin, “Go change your clothes, we need to be going.”
Erin paused, “I do nay have other clothes.”
Alburet took the coins from the bar and handed them to Erin. He then marked Silken Needles on her map, “Go there and get some clothes then meet me at the guild hall.” He handed her two more gold, “That is for your clothes. Also, take this to the city hall.” He handed her a scroll that would allow her to join the guild. “Now get moving. We have work to do.”
Erin scampered out of the building, all three of the others watching her go. Lilith spoke up a moment later, “You are truly something different, Alburet. First you cause my eldest to fall in love with you, then you make her a succubus, giving her the dream she held dearest. Next you convince the crown to ease its restrictions on Infernals, and now you give my daughter more money than most people will see in a year.”
Alburet could only shrug, “Coin for me is easy. As for Stacia, well she ensnared me just as much. I got to get going. We’ve already had so many people showing up at the guild house.”
Alistern snorted, “Of course ya did. Ya got a royal charter added to ya guild. Not many adventurer guilds manage that, and ya be a two-souled guild to boot. Stewart left just before ya showed up, said he was goin’ to ya home.”
“Gah, so busy today,” Alburet sighed. “I will see you again at some point. I wish you both a good day.” He used his Homestone, vanishing from the bar to appear before his home. A couple of carriages were outside. “Oh, goody more of them,” Alburet muttered. The crests on the carriages indicated noble houses, though he didn’t know which ones.
He went to his home door first, pulling out the sign for it and wondered how to attach it. He pressed it to the door then accepted the pop-up asking if he wanted to attach it. When he moved his hand the sign stayed in place. He went to the other door, which was open. He glanced in to see Stacia talking to two well-dressed men. He gave her a brief nod before he attached the sign to the door, then joined her.
“Why can’t the leader of this guild see us today?” The one standing a little forward of the other asked with clear contempt in his voice. “Are the two-souled going to have issues with meeting potential clients?”
“No, I would think my guild won’t,” Alburet cut in, speaking from behind the duo. “I had things that needed to be done, still have things that need to be done in fact. What business do you have that is so urgent as to need my personal attention right now?”
Both men turned to look at Alburet, with the speaker again taking the lead. “It has been said that you have information on the Forgotten Prison. We would like to obtain all the information you have on it?”
Shaking his head Alburet replied, “Nope. Is there anything else?”
“What do you mean no?” The noble asked incredulously. “Do you know who I am? I am Sir…”
“You could be the Duke of Earl, I don’t care. I really hate it when people think they can pull the ‘know who I am’ card. Get out of my building and don’t come back.” Alburet kept the polite false smile in place even as he let his eyes go cold.
The second noble gave a small bow of his head, “I apologize. Might I call upon you in the future?”
Alburet gave a small nod, keeping his eyes on the first noble. “If you leave in the next minute, then yes.”
The second man walked out of the room unhurriedly, pausing to hand a small card to Alburet. “My card, sir. Please, accept my apologies.” The first one balked, watching the other leave. “You might be able to convince him that you can order a nobleman about, but I know better.” The man puffed himself up haughtily.
“Tiny, come to me,” Alburet said simply his finger pointing behind the noble, his eyes still fixed on the man before him.
Tiny appeared with a small puff of smoke behind the nobleman. His rumbling voice causing the noble to start. “I have come, master.”
“What in the name of the gods?” the noble said as he spun around then looked up at Tiny. “A Demon in the city? The guards will have you in chains for this.”
“No, they won’t. The proclamation said I can summon my demon in self-defense. You are threatening me, so I brought out my protector. Now leave or get physically thrown from the building.” Alburet didn’t even attempt to mask his contempt of the man before him.
“You will be hearing from the guards,” the noble said as he stepped quickly to the door. “Just you wait, I’ll be laughing when they put you in chains.” With that, he left.
“Did you need me to protect you, master?” Tiny rumbled.
“Nope, we’re good now. Thanks for the assist Tiny, you are free to go.” Alburet gave Tiny a thankful smile.
“As you wish, master,” Tiny replied before he vanished. Alburet looked down at the card in his hand. The title Sir Cody Carter of House Carter was embossed across the face of it, along with an address.
“They be nay the first in today like tha’,” Stacia said, getting to her feet. “Where be the help?”
A knock came from the door, “So this is the place?” Kim half asked as she came inside. “It’s a bit lackluster, I can see why they’re giving you issues. If you want, I can arrange for some things that will help impress your guests. It will only cost a double handful of gold.”
Sighing, Alburet put twenty gold on the desk and waved Kim over, “Come on over, Kim, and here’s the gold. Please do what you think needs to be done. Also, the trainee will be along in a bit. She had to get some clothes first. Can we leave you to this?”
Kim took a seat as she pulled out her Mindstone, “This is what you are paying me for, sir. If anything dire happens, I will let you know.”
The couple thanked her and quickly retreated to the house. Shutting the door behind them just as another carriage pulled up, Alburet sighed. “Holy fucking hell,” he sighed as he leaned against the door. “I did not expect anything like this.”
“Master?” Stacia said, waiting for him to look at her. Once he did she continued, “Do we have the day to ourselves now?”