The Silver Spoon was packed to the rafters on their first night back. Gusteau sat at a table in the back with Hoden, Ana, and Xolrun and they were a few beers down already.

He tried not to think about poor Khlen out in the stables. She’d pulled the short straw and had to sit in the cold, draughty stables until the contractor arrived.

As concerned as Gusteau was about Khlen, he brimmed with excitement with the idea of the contractor. They were none other than the famed mage, Viera Courfelt.

It had been years since Gusteau had seen her. They’d only known each other when she was a young post graduate doing her first magical proposal in the Academy and he was a lecturer for Botane Studies department. Before she’d become a national hero and risen through the social ladder that was. Now, she was having dinners and weekends away with the Queen in her off-time and making magical discovery after magical discovery when she was working directly for the Houses’ elites.

Gusteau swirled his cup and watched the beer slosh to and fro. He was full of nervous energy and failed to concentrate on whatever conversation was happening at the table around him. Viera and he had been good friends years back. She’d actually joined his office for several years when he was doing his third and final grant before the war. By his count, only seven and a half years ago but it felt like a lifetime.

He had had everything back then. His marriage was organised for the following year and it placed him into an influential Second Family for the noble House Nohlan. He was two unfinished papers and one year away from a life of luxury, research, and high society. Such was his plan and trajectory since his first year at the Academy.

And then, in a month everything had changed. He got drafted like all the other mages to put a stop to the northern invasion. Gusteau stopped swishing his beer and downed it all.

“I wasn’t afraid. I got blinded when Gusteau flash-bombed the entire village!” Ana grumbled indignantly.

Hoden laughed and nodded furiously, “Yeah, you have to know that when Gusteau raises his hands like that, there’s a real good chance he is using one of those rings.” Hoden grinned at Gusteau when he talked about the rings. There was a good chance Hoden loved Gusteau’s rings more than even he did.

The rings had bijou charms built into them underneath the gaudy stones or insignias on their face. Fitting the bijous were an absolute pain to fit in the rings, forcing him to incredibly careful with how he shaped the bijous in their creation, but they were, quite literally, life savers. He had several bijous stored on each hand and the precious seconds it saved him when he needed magic as soon as possible.

Hoden put up his two hands and pretended to be Gusteau, “You shan’t proceed, pap pap pap,” he mimicked with little hand movements for the flashing lights.

Gusteau leaned over and grabbed Hoden's beer. Half-drunk already, Hoden was slow on the uptake and tried to swipe his ale drink back off Gusteau, “Hey hey, Gust. None of that.”

Gusteau let him have the cup back and leaned back in his chair.

“So what did the Board say about the bandits, then?” Xolrun asked Gusteau.

Gusteau waved it off, “Not much really. They’d already had reports of them but hadn’t drawn up the contract yet. The village was furious that we’d stolen the boat and left the bodies but the old lady had been their village mayor. So it meant the Board are more angry at her than us.” Not to mention the fact that they’d technically been acting in self-defence. The fact that they had been at the house and then the thugs had come to them had painted a pretty picture that Gusteau could use.

“And thugs, let’s not give the benefit of a title like bandits or renegades to that pack of incompetents.” Gusteau followed up.

“Thugs, bandits. Don’t matter now they are dead in my mind.” Hoden reasoned.

Gusteau shrugged back at him.

Xolrun leant in and quietly asked, “And the gear from their bodies?”

The lightbulb went off in Gusteau’s head. That was Xolrun’s angle. Gusteau leant in as well.

“Finder’s fee, it seems. We won’t be getting paid for taking them out because it wasn’t formally a contract but the Board didn’t ask about the gear and I don’t think we tell.” Gusteau answered just as quietly.

On the bodies, they’d found one hundred and forty silver coins and an assortment of food and gear that was usable. It was a good amount of coin with each of them getting twenty each and forty for their adventuring kitty. Gusteau had no mind to give any of it to the Board that had sat on the news of this village and its thugs for three weeks without putting the bill up.

The four of them grinned at each other like big old idiots and they softly clinked their glasses. Hoden and Ana downed their drinks with the cheers.

Hoden belched and then stood up, “Well with that, next round is on me.” He moved over to the bar and none of his friends made any attempts to stop him. They had a few days close to home to recover before they needed to head to their next contract. The news had been welcome at the table when Gusteau had returned from the Boardroom.

Gusteau was glad for time as much as any of them. His left hand was bandaged tight at the moment and he couldn’t wait to see the physician about fixing his back. Some quality time to rest his weary bones would go a long way, he felt.

And there was the fact that he had a date with Khlen. He felt giddy from even the idea of another night for them to catch up. They’d connected in the last month or so but it wasn’t dating per se.

“Look at you, uncle. Grinning like a fool again,” Ana teased him when he looked across at her.

“I personally miss grumpy Gusteau,” Xolrun said brusquely.

Gusteau stuck his tongue out at her and she snorted back at him playfully.

“So, we have a few days off but I did have a bit of a look at the new contracts on the Board on the way past. An old haunted temple that has some cultists, there’s a mysterious tunnel blockage a day or so hike down south, or maybe a trip to the mountains of House Hilan to hunt down a pack of exceptionally big wolves?” Gusteau asked the two of them.

Both of them took a moment to think and Ana suddenly plonked her cup on the table.

“We won’t be getting either of the contracts for a good four days so you can resupply and get some proper time in a real bed.” Gusteau added to sweeten the deal for the longer trip.

“How much more is the trip down to the mountains?” Xolrun responded sceptically.

Gusteau came clean, “It is thirty extra silver more than the mysterious tunnel problem, but think of the walk there. Those mountains are gorgeous.”

“Those mountains are freezing!” Ana retorted immediately, “And we damn near died the last time we were up there.”

“Oh dear, we haven’t seen real danger since you’ve joined.” Xolrun playfully countered.

Gusteau said nothing but put his elbow on the table and waved his bandaged left hand in front of her. Xolrun used her cup to cheers his arm and took another sip.

Gusteau scowled at her and shook his head.

“Well, I vote for the mystery tunnel. Quick in and out in half the time and the same sort of price.” Ana put forward to the group.

Xolrun grunted her agreement and Gusteau searched for his only ally without Khlen in the tavern.

To Gusteau’s delight, he spotted Hoden returning to the table with four more mugs.

“There he is, big man. You love a good adventure, yeah?” Gusteau primed.

Hoden was immediately suspicious, “I don’t know where you would get that idea. I hate adventuring.”

“Oh, you love a good romp in the mountains. A nice hike up to the snow and then a fight with a wolf about twice your size?” Gusteau proposed with exciting sweeping hand gestures.

Hoden plonked the beers down on the table, “Twice my size? The hells if I do like that!” Hoden exclaimed.

“Well, maybe just one and a half your size, you’re a big lad and so very strong.” Gusteau backtracked. There was no way he was getting the contract he wanted through this time.

Hoden frowned and shook his head playfully, “Nuh uh, still too big. I vote with whatever the other two chose.”

“Very brave,” Xolrun quipped but stopped suddenly.

Someone behind Gusteau cleared their throat all of a sudden. Gusteau jumped slightly. He’d not heard them coming.

Gusteau peered over his shoulder and behind him stood two imposing-looking folk. Oh, here we go, Gusteau thought.

“Gusteau Vent?” one of them asked. The man was dressed head to tail in expensive-looking black clothing. He looked noble or, at least, noble adjacent. Behind him was a serious looking woman who had somehow managed to sneak a whole Gods-cursed axe past the tavern security somehow. She looked like someone who relished a good tavern brawl and she watched them impassively from the man’s right side.

Gusteau raised his hand, “That would be me.”

The man’s face relaxed somewhat, “Good. I am here for the delivery.”

Gusteau turned his chair around to get a better look at the man. The man looked like Viera’s type; strong, confident, powerful. He stood confidently in the middle of the Silver Spoon despite so clearly being out of place. He looked all business and Gusteau was inclined to believe he was there on Viera’s orders. It didn’t change that it was a disappointment for Gusteau that Viera had sent someone to get the owl cub instead of coming herself.

“What delivery are we talking about?” Gusteau responded innocuously.

With that, the man tensed up again. He looked at Gusteau impetuously and responded, “Let's not play this game, Gusteau. Viera is indisposed.”

With a long sweeping motion, he pushed his cloak back from his chest to reveal the insignia of the First Family Shipeur of the House Ahlaf.

It clicked suddenly for Gusteau. He knew this man. He’d seen him grow up from a whelp to a cutthroat sword for hire in the court. Thredrin Shipeur.

Gusteau had taught Thredrin in the first few years of the Academy and he was yet to have taught a lazier and more ignoble student. Thredrin had always looked for the quickest, easiest ways to get good scores in his magic and never bothered to listen to Gusteau when he’d explained the theory of Creation Magic. He’d latched onto Viera right as the war began and leeched off of her meteoric rise.

Gusteau’s mind reeled as it clicked to him that he’d actually seen Thredrin several times in the Northern War but hadn’t recognised him with his black hair now long and slicked down and a surprising growth spurt despite how lanky he was as a youth.

“Alright, Thredrin, I believe you. It’s just sad that I didn’t get the chance to see my old friend, Viera.” Gusteau stood up and stretched.

Thredrin replied without skipping a beat, “Funny, she’s never mentioned you.”

Classic bratty Thredrin. Gusteau sucked his teeth and decided to drop it. Instead, he motioned to the back of the tavern so they could hurry up with their transaction.

Without another word, Thredrin and his goon walked through the busy tavern to the backdoor with Gusteau following close behind as they weaved through the tavern’s busy tables.

At the back of the tavern, there was, mercifully, only a few tables near the kitchen and the back door. Thredrin opened the door outside and Gusteau went first with Thredrin’s large companion stepping through close behind him.

A light rain created a gentle melody on the paved floor of the courtyard as he hurried towards the stables in the gloomy light. It wouldn’t be long before this rain was replaced with a storm, Gusteau suspected and he wanted to be back inside before it started really falling.

In the south, it never seemed to be a light rain for very long in the rainy season. Gusteau threw his hood over his head and tried to get a bit of space between him and Thredrin before they got to the stables.

He didn’t look back to see if the two of them were following but focussed intently to hear their footsteps. He wouldn’t show them any sign he was nervous; he was a threat, not them. His heart pounded in his ears and hindered his attempts to figure out where his two companions were exactly.

Time stretched out cruelly as they walked to the stables and he tried to figure out the perfect pace to walk quickly but not suspiciously so. Relief washed over him when noticed Khlen sitting inside of the stables.

She was lazing back on a hay bale with her feet resting on the covered cage and wrapped snugly up with her large runed cloak. When Gusteau came through, her steady gaze pinned him to the doorway until she recognised him.

Gusteau felt a pang of guilt when he saw her. Being cold blooded, doing guard duty was especially cruel for Khlen in cold weather. That being said, she would have been furious if Gusteau ever suggested overruling her guard shift when she’d been chosen. He’d tried once to be more lenient and she’d made sure he never tried it again.

Gusteau walked towards her and quietly signed caution with his right hand. She made no reaction but got up promptly.

Thredrin and his companion followed Gusteau but took a moment to scan the stables carefully before they entered.

With a nod from Gusteau, Khlen lifted up the blanket that lay over the cage to reveal a quietly sleeping owl cub. It stirred as soon as the blanket was lifted and anxiously peered out at its captors.

“Voila,” Gusteau motioned theatrically towards the cage.

Thredrin gave no reaction and walked over to inspect the cub.

“It looks like it has only been out of its egg for a few weeks now. It’ll grow fast if you get it cow’s milk,” Khlen offered to the group.

She was met with silence while Thredrin moved around the cage and intently examined the cub. His friend sat just out of range and Gusteau could feel her scrutiny at every move he made. No doubt about it, she was keeping a tab of how to kill both him and Khlen most efficiently. As much as he didn’t enjoy her stare, he respected her diligence.

“Good, you have done well.” Thredrin complimented them unexpectedly.

“Thank you?” Gusteau replied hesitantly.

“Yes, “ Thredrin clarified for him, “This is for you and yours. I will be in touch with you in the future when needed.” Thredrin handed Gusteau a surprisingly hefty cloth pouch. The contract had been for one hundred silver but the pouch felt pleasantly heavy.

Without another word, Thredrin motioned to his friend and she walked up, heaved the thirty-odd kilogram crate onto her shoulder and walked out of the stables. Gusteau opened his mouth to warn her about the owl club in the crate but thought better of it.

Thredrin bowed his head slightly and followed her out.

“Well, they seemed fun,” Khlen began playfully.

Gusteau’s heart started to beat again. She moved close to him and endorphins rushed through his body. Khlen leaned close to look at the pouch, ever so gently pressing her body against him. Her hand snaked its way to the pouch and she poked it suspiciously.

“Should we have checked that all one hundred was in there before we let them leave?” She asked Gusteau curiously.

“I certainly wasn’t going to tell them to stay,” Gusteau responded lightheartedly, “In any case, we can complain to Viera if they short change us, I am sure.”

Khlen’s eyebrow raised with the name Viera, “Oh yeah, where was this infamous Viera I keep hearing about?”

“A no show apparently. I guess she’s a busy person these days,” Gusteau shrugged and did little to hide his disappointment.

“So long as she is a well-paying absentee, I will forgive her.” Khlen proposed while carefully sneaking the pouch from Gusteau’s hand. Gusteau leaned into her presence and watched her open the pouch.

His eyes widened slightly when he saw what was in the pouch. There was a collection of silver to be sure, quite probably more than the one hundred promised, but there were also some number of gold coins that glinted in the stable’s torch light.

“Oh wow, what in the Nine Graces?” Khlen exclaimed quietly, “I thought we were contracted for silver?”

“We were contracted for a bonze,” Gusteau struggled to offer an explanation.

Khlen balanced the open pouch in her right hand and used her left to sort the gold coins out. She quietly counted them until the count of six.

“Six gold and it's got to be at least eighty silver.” She confirmed.

“I’ll touch base with the House representative in the coming days, but the silver is ours no doubt.” Gusteau proposed nervously.

As much Gusteau could say about Thredrin, he was smart enough to not just give them extra coin for nothing. But they could get into a lot of trouble for spending any House’s coin without its consent. Especially if it was the House Hiford gold.

Khlen agreed and turned to look up at him, “Tell you one thing though,” she began.

When their eyes met, Gusteau’s heart quickened and he tried to remain cool despite a heat rising from deep within him.

She smiled devilishly at his discomfort and continued, “The next few drinks are on you, old man.”