The Spare's Empire - a Lilium volume

[lum]

This was the awkward moment where she couldn’t understand what this man was.

“I said I don’t make a habit of it,” his voice remained calm, but his eyes had grown hard. “If someone brings me an animal that belongs to another person, and I have reason to believe it, I want the matter settled before money changes hands. I have worked too many years to have my name dragged through the mud because some fool thought he could make a quick coin.”

Lilium considered that.

“So… if someone were to bring you a cat of which you know it’s stolen… you’d send them away?”

“I’d send them away with a warning on top. And if I knew for certain who the rightful owner was, I’d send that animal personally to the owner’s home in the case where I already bought it.”

Lilium could see where this was getting to. She nodded once.

“With a reward, and adding to your reputation.”

“Indeed. Now, I have to be absolutely certain all this isn’t some coincidence.”

Lilium lowered her voice further. “So… have you seen a grey cat? Green eyes, darker markings around her ears and tail, a little silver charm?”

The Baron did not answer immediately.

Behind them, a cage rattled. They both glanced over.

The thin man had stopped pretending to inspect it.

“Perhaps I was about to. But I’ll need to compare that fur, without scaring off the supplier. Give it to me. And do you happen to have anything else that proves that lady Cassalanter sent you?”

She could show him the ribbon. But the thin man might be picking up some words, and she had no intention of letting him see it. She didn't know whether it would be enough to identify Maribelle, or whether it might give him another reason to interfere.

“Lady Cassalanter gave me something that belongs to the cat,” she said. “Something she likes.”

The Baron's gaze sharpened.

“Good. Keep it hidden for now.”

“W...why?”

“Because that fellow over there has interest in our conversation, likely with what you said out loud earlier.”

The thin man turned away at once, but not before Lilium caught the quick glance he sent toward her pocket.

A cold little knot formed in her stomach.

“H-how are w-”

But before she could continue the Baron straightened and raised his voice just enough to carry.

“Now, young miss, I can't help you find a missing cat without knowing more about the circumstances. But if you believe someone has stolen an animal and intends to sell it, then perhaps you'd best leave the matter to people who understand how these transactions work.”

Lilium stared at him.

What… was this?

For a moment, she thought he was dismissing her after all. She believed it at least.

Then she noticed that he had shifted half a step, placing himself between her and the thin man.

It was a sign of sorts. She wasn’t sure if she got it.

“Oh,” she said,”... of course, I wouldn’t want to cause trouble to anyone.”

“Quite.”

At that point the thin man approached before either could say more.

“Everything alright here?” he asked, wearing a smile that looked decidedly uncomfortable on his face.

“Perfectly” the Baron answered. “The young miss is just looking for a missing pet.”

“Oh, it’s a pet,” the thin man looked at her with ‘sudden’ interest. “It may be a coincidence, but I may have heard something about a certain cat.”

Lilium’s heart gave a hard thump. This guy was clearly after a reward. The cat might be found real soon now.

The Baron didn’t move.

“You do?” she asked.

“I believe it’s a grey-ish thing. Green eyes… perhaps. There are often cats around the yards, but if it’s the one I’m thinking of, I might help.”

For the right price, probably.

“How fortunate,” the Baron said.

It sounded dry, but only Lilium seemed to have noticed that.

“Of course, finding it takes time. And time is worth something, isn't it? Especially when a noble household is involved.”

There it was.

So, either he didn’t have the cat… yet. Or he was pretending he didn’t have her, perhaps in order to dodge the offer he had been trying to make to the Baron earlier?

He probably had already begun calculating from the moment she had announced herself.

Question was, how legal did this guy operate?

Lilium looked from him to the Baron.

She could tell the man was waiting for her to offer a reward. Perhaps he expected her to promise payment on behalf of Lady Cassalanter. Perhaps he thought a frightened girl would be easy to persuade.

She took a careful breath.

“Lady Cassalanter asked me to find her cat,” she said. “She didn't ask me to negotiate a price with anyone who claims to have heard of it.”

The thin man's smile faltered.

The Baron's expression remained unchanged, but something in his eyes suggested he approved. “If I didn’t knew better, I’d say you are a merchant’s daughter.”

“I am a merchant’s daughter.”

The Baron nodded. “Then, you understand the value of a good name.”

“I do. And how important it is to keep it.”

It didn’t make them more friendly, but at least she and the Baron shared some common ground at this point.

The thin man’s smile had returned at hearing that, though said smile had lost some of its confidence.

“Well then,” he said while rubbing his hands together, “since you are a merchant’s daughter, you know something about time and money.”

“Usually,” Lilium replied.

“And finding a lost animal takes time. A good deal of time, sometimes.”

“Now that you mention it,” she said as she suppressed a smirk.

The man glanced at the Baron but didn’t get anything from him. He just looked at them for now.

“So, I believe I may know where this cat of yours is. It would take a little effort to bring her here, of course. And some arrangements would have to be made then, of course.”

“Of course. Only, what sort of arrangements?”

“Oh,” he shrugged,” nothing unusual. Just a fair compensation for the trouble and time.” He held his hand out.

Lilium crossed her arms in front of her chest. She had seen Father deal with men who wanted to be paid before they had done anything useful. Sometimes they had a legitimate reason. Sometimes they simply wanted to see how much they could get away with.

“I’d have to know if it’s the right one.”

“Grey fur, green eyes, silver charm… it should be right.”

Her stomach tightened a little.

It really could be Maribelle. Had to be.

The man noticed her expression and smiled as though he had just confirmed something important.

“We're talking about the same animal.”

The Baron had been watching him with an expression of mild boredom. Now he straightened slightly.

“You've seen this cat, then?”

“Possibly.”

“Well. Neither of us is paying you until we've seen the cat.”

“Well, I wouldn't want to promise something I couldn't deliver.” The thin man spread his hands. “But I know people. I hear things. An animal like that doesn't go unnoticed for too long.”

This guy was acting really odd. Lilium looked at him carefully. He was speaking as though he had only heard rumours, but there was more to his body language.

He already knows where Maribelle is. Probably even has her.

The thin man took their silence for uncertainty.

“I could make inquiries,” he offered. “I can bring the animal here, if she's the one. But naturally, I can't be expected to do that for nothing.”

The Baron gave a quiet, humourless chuckle. “Of course not. Gods forbid you should lift a finger without being paid for it.”

The thin man's smile stiffened. “Hey. I'm only trying to help here.”

“I'm sure you are.”

The thin man turned back to her. “Tell you what, young miss. You wait here. I'll see what I can do. If fortune favours us, perhaps we'll have your little cat back before the evening is out.”

He was already stepping away when the Baron spoke.

“Just one moment.”

The thin man stopped.

“If you… find this animal,” his voice lingered a moment, “bring her directly here, and don’t make any arrangements or promises to anyone in my or Lilium’s name.”

“Of course, of course.”

The Baron raised his finger higher. “And if the cat is injured, you'll tell me before we agree to anything.”

The thin man gave an impatient little nod. “Naturally. But honestly, I think she’s gonna be just fine. Maybe a little bit… uuhmm… well, you’ll see… we’ll see.”

He turned and hurried between the wagons, disappearing behind a canvas-covered cart.

Lilium watched him go.

“He knows exactly where she is,” she said.

The Baron kept his eyes on the gap between the wagons.

“I suspect so.”

“So, what if he comes back with the right cat?”

“Not if, when. He’s after money. In any case, then we’ll have something to discuss,” he said, eventually turning to look down at her. “And now that I know you are a merchant’s daughter, I may go less easy on you.”

She raised an eyebrow but didn’t panic.

All she could think of now was a frightened animal sitting in a dark cage somewhere, uncertain about its fate.

[lum]

The Baron watched the yard silently.

“What you think he’ll ask?” Lilium wondered.

“Money. Almost certainly money.”

She hesitated and briefly looked at her hands.

That is what she feared for. She had a few coins in her pocket. Enough to buy a meal, perhaps, or pay for some small necessity on the way home. Certainly not enough to purchase a cat from a man who had already begun calculating how much a noble household might pay to get it back.

Great. A lady sends me after her cat. I find it, eventually. And now I need money to get her back.

She certainly couldn’t go back and tell lady Cassalanter that she had found Maribelle, but had been unable to afford her return, could she? And she couldn’t travel home and ask her father for coin without explaining why she needed it? Not unless she wanted him ask a lot of questions, and with that waste the window of opportunity.

She glanced at the Baron.

He stood tall with a straight spine, his arms folded, looking quite content to wait. He had the air of a man who knew he had the upper hand, and he probably had already decided how the next part of the business would go.

Probably fair.

After a moment she cleared her throat.

“So, are you going to buy her?”

The Baron looked at her. Likely he had been assuming she’d turn to him.

“If she's the cat we're discussing, and the price is reasonable, I may.”

“And if the price isn't reasonable?”

“Then the seller and I will have a disagreement,” he looked meaningful at her.

Lilium glanced toward the wagons.

“And if you agree on a price?”

“Then I pay it, and the animal becomes mine.”

He said it plainly. No boast, no threat. Just the simple terms of a transaction.

Lilium considered them.

“And what happens with the cat?”

“That depends.”

She looked up at him. “Does it?”

“One doesn't generally buy something without deciding what to do with it.”

“No, of course not.”

She had meant to sound casual, but the answer came out a little too quickly. The Baron noticed. She could tell by the slight lift of his eyebrow.

“Something troubling you, young lady?”

“No.”

He waited.

Lilium sighed. “Yes.”

“Much better. What is it?”

She glanced around. “I don’t have enough money on me to buy her in order to take her back to Lady Cassalanter. I never expected to end up in this situation.”

The Baron regarded her for a moment.

“I had rather suspected as much. Only few people schedule such things in advance.”

“Few?”

“As in almost nobody.”

Despite herself, she almost smiled at his reaction.

“But you can afford her,” she started, growing more serious again, “and… and if he wants to sell her, you could buy her, he gets his money and you get the cat and… and…”

“An accurate summary,” he smirked. “And then?”

“And then…” she stopped.

The Baron waited.

Lilium had rehearsed the idea in her head while the thin man had been talking. It had sounded rather clever then. Now, with the Baron watching her, it seemed a little less certain.

“And then,” she continued, “perhaps you and me could come to an arrangement.”

“Oh? What sort of arrangement?”

“I… I haven’t decided on the details yet…”

“At least that is an honest answer, young miss Lilium.”

“But I know what I want.”

“That you do. You also appear willing to pay a price or make a deal over a noble’s cat, without knowing how they will repay or reward you.”

The Baron looked at her for a long moment.

Then, to her surprise, he laughed. Not loudly, but with genuine amusement. “Well, you want the cat, so that saves us a great deal of negotiation.”

Lilium couldn't tell whether he was making fun of her. “I mean it.”

“I don't doubt that. But you understand, I hope, that once I have purchased an animal, I cannot simply give it away because someone else wants it.”

“I know.”

“You do?”

“Yes, I do.” She straightened a little. “That's why I suggested an arrangement. I just don’t want you to take or sell the cat elsewhere.”

The amusement faded from his expression, though not the interest.

“Very well, merchant's daughter. Let's hear what you have in mind.”

Before Lilium could answer, a voice called from behind the wagons.

“Here we are! I told you I could find her!”

The thin man emerged from between the wagons, carrying a small cage by its handle.

He was breathing a little harder than before, but he had returned in less time than Lilium had anticipated. The cat had been very nearby and already caged the moment this guy pretended he’d check around and bring her if he found her.

He held the cage away from his body, as though he wasn’t particularly keen on whatever was inside.

Something grey moved behind the bars. Lilium’s heart jumped.

Suddenly a paw reached through a gap, briefly catching a wire from the thin man’s coat.

For a moment she could see the cat.

“Oh…” she said, for a moment forgetting the men.

Maribelle was a mess.

Her fur stuck out in every direction, with little tangles along her flanks and a particularly dreadful knot near the base of her tail. One of her ears was flattened while the other was turned sideways. She sat hunched in the corner of the cage, hissing as the man attempted to pull back the wire. Green eyes were open wide and watchful, while a silver charm still hung around her neck.

Likely no one ever managed to take that off of her. Not without fearing the cat’s temper. And by the looks of it, she had already lashed out before.

All in all Maribelle looked frightened, furious, and thoroughly offended by the world.

Lilium felt a pang in her chest. For some reason, she had to think back about her time in prison.

She wanted to take a step forward but stopped herself from doing so. The cat had already endured enough strangers trying to get their hands on her.

The thin man set the cage down a little away from his feet. Like he didn’t trust the cat at all.

“There. See? As promised. Fine little creature, isn’t she? Hehe.”

The Baron crouched beside the cage and inspected it without touching the bars.

“Fine?”

“Eh, a little dishevelled maybe?”

“A little?”

The thin man gave an uncomfortable laugh. “Cats have a way of getting themselves into trouble, and when someone then tries to do what is best for them… well…” he scratched the back of his neck.

“Funny,” the Baron said. “I was under the impression that people generally helped them along.”

The man's smile faltered.

Lilium barely heard them talk. Her attention was on the cat, on the charm, on the familiar markings around her ears and tail.

She slipped her hand into her pocket and found the ribbon.

Carefully, keeping it low so the thin man couldn't get a good look at it, she drew it out and held it near the cage.

“Maribelle?” she whispered.

The cat's ears twitched.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then the green eyes fixed on the ribbon.

The animal rose somewhat unsteadily, slowly stepped toward the bars, and pushed her nose through the gap. One paw followed, carefully reaching for the ribbon. When it couldn’t reach it, the paw produced a small, impatient movement.

Yes, this was Maribelle alright. Had to be.

The cat gave a short, rough meow, then pressed her face against the bars as if she had every intention of forcing her way through them.

“Easy,” Lilium murmured. “I've come to take you home.”

Behind her, the Baron nodded.

“Well,” he said, his voice now quite businesslike. “It seems we now know what animal we're dealing with.”

The thin man rubbed his hands together.

“Then I suppose we can discuss price.”

[lum]

Maribelle had retreated into the corner of the cage again. The Baron didn’t answer the thin man immediately, and instead studied the animal as he crouched. Maribelle tucked her tail close to her body, almost protectively.

“Tell me something first,” the Baron eventually said. “When you approached me earlier, you had an unusual animal to sell. Remember?”

The thin man shifted his weight.

“Eh… of course, I deal in all sorts of things. Animals too, as they come and go.”

“Indeed they do. Now, before we move any further on this… where is this particular animal you wanted to sell to me?”

The man glanced at the cage, slightly nervous playing with his fingers.

“Ah, that… well… as it turned out, I had to make a few inquiries. Things change, you know how it is.”

“I know they do, but this fast? You only went out to fetch me this cat.”

And it didn’t take him long, Lilium nodded to herself as she thought that.

When the thin man didn’t answer immediately, the Baron rose slowly to his feet. “So, I think when you spoke to me earlier, you already knew about this cat.”

“I wouldn’t say that exactly.”

“Wouldn’t you?”

The thin man gave a nervous laugh.

“Hey, look, I hear things as people talk. Someone mentioned a cat, and I thought I might help. That’s all.”

“Then how fortunate that you happened to find her so quickly.”

The other man’s smile tightened now.

“She’s been around the yards. Cats wander, heh? Sometimes someone catches them, and someone else might know someone who might be looking for them. Nothing unusual, right?”

“Oh no, nothing unusual at all,” the Baron said as he folded his arms. “Except you offered me an unusual cat before miss Lilium arrived here. Last time I checked I haven’t grown senile yet. You returned with the very same sort of animal we had been discussing. So tell me, and better be honest… was she the animal you offered me earlier?”

The thin man opened his mouth, and then closed it again.

The Baron nodded. “I see.”

“I.. I.. didn’t have her with me then, I… I…”

“Save it. You’ll only make things worse.”

The Baron hadn’t raised his voice. He didn’t need to. The thin man was already doing a fine job of making himself look foolish without any assistance.

Lilium glanced at Maribelle. The cat had begun washing one paw, apparently deciding that the conversation was beneath her attention.

The Baron looked from the thin man to the cage and back.

“Now, let’s be clear about something. I don’t care whether you caught this cat yourself, bought her from someone else, or found her sitting on a barrel near your favorite pub. That’s your business. I do admit you had a role in bringing this cat here, and I’m prepared to reward you just for that, no more no less. I will also forget the whole conversation we had before.”

He let that settle.

“H.. hey… I never said I knew she was stolen.”

“No, you didn’t. And nobody is accusing you from stealing anything. But if you decide not to accept my deal and take this cat…”

“It’s my brother’s children, they found the cat. They brought it to the family, and I told my brother that I might know someone who could take care of her.”

“For the right price,” the Baron said sternly.

He held up one finger before the thin man could speak.

“So,” the Baron continued, “now let's discuss what this animal is worth to me. What your… services are worth to me.”

“... it’s a rare animal…” the other man added weakly.

The Baron glanced meaningful at the tangled fur, then back at him.

“She may well be, once someone has spent an afternoon untangling her.”

Lilium pressed her lips together. She wasn't sure whether the Baron was deliberately trying to provoke the man, but it was becoming increasingly difficult not to smile.

The thin man noticed.

“You think this is funny, girl?!”

Lilium took a half step back.

“Your business is with me,” the Baron reminded him.

The thin man stood dead silent as the Baron looked at him like a magistrate who was to pass a final judgment on a questionable soul.

“If this were entirely up to me, you'd leave here without a single coin. You've wasted my time, attempted to sell me an animal without being forthcoming about its circumstances, and then come back expecting me to pay you as though none of that had happened.”

The thin man's jaw tightened. “Then perhaps I'll take her elsewhere.”

“You may certainly try.”

The Baron had clearly counted on that answer.

“There are likely other buyers indeed. But if you take this cat elsewhere where she may be identified as lady Cassalanter’s cat while trying to sell her… you may find that questions could become considerably less comfortable. For you, for your brother, and anyone else involved.”

The thin man looked genuinely uncertain now.

“On the other hand, you did bring her here. Your family caught her, and you've made the effort to transport her to… someone who might be of assistance. I am willing to acknowledge that much.” The Baron’s tone had shifted to almost appeasing.

The man looked up hopefully. “So… so you'll buy her?”

“At a price that reflects what you've actually brought me. Nothing more.”

The thin man swallowed. “How much?”

The Baron wrote something down on a note and handed it over.

Lilium didn't know the exact value of an animal like Maribelle, but she knew enough about bargaining to recognise a low opening offer when she heard one.

The thin man's expression confirmed it.

“… you can’t be serious?” he then blurted.

“I assure you, I am.”

“She’s worth at least twice th-”

“Then you should have taken better care of her, established her ownership, and…” the Baron paused before adding smoothly, “...found a buyer who was willing to pay it.”

The thin man stared at him in disbelief.

The Baron waited.

Lilium remained quiet. She understood what was happening though. The Baron pretended he was leaving some room for the other man to negotiate… without leaving him much room, or any other options. This wasn’t about winning. It was about being certain the cat would remain here.

And indeed.

Finally, the thin man looked down at the cage.

Maribelle looked back at him. She had stopped washing her paw, and was staring at him with an expression that suggested she’d always remember his involvement in her troubles.

The man sighed and looked back at the Baron.

“You drive a hard bargain.”

“I drive a fair one. There is a difference.”

The Baron counted out the coins. The thin man took them, weighed them in his palm, and slipped them into a pouch with a dissatisfied grunt.

“No hard feelings I hope and until the next time?” the thin man asked.

The Baron just nodded at him.

The thin man offered Lilium a brief, sour look, then turned and disappeared between the wagons.

The Baron watched him go before looking back at the cage. “That’s settled.”

“I think you could have made him leave without anything.”

“True, but guys like this may end up doing worse crimes when they are completely cut off. Also, a man who leaves here with nothing may decide there's no reason to bring me anything tomorrow,” he said as he offered Lilium a sidelong glance. “And a man who leaves with less than he wanted might think twice before trying the same trick again.”

She smirked. “Wise lessons.”

“I know.”

He bent to inspect the cage's latch. “Now. We have a cat, and I have paid for her.”

He rested a hand on the cage's handle.

“Which brings us back to your arrangement, miss Lilium.”

[lum]

The last bit of sunshine had left the world for some time now. The heavens were already pitch-dark by the time Lilium finally arrived home.

Winter had a way of making the days feel shorter than they really were. Streets were quite early left to the lanterns, the occasional glow of a shop still open, and the footsteps of those who had to be somewhere before they, too, ceased working.

She had to be somewhere herself. And she was running late.

Thankfully she had a transport that brought her safely to her doorstep. Yet by the time she reached the house, the day’s business was finished. Merchants and clerks had gone home, workers had collected their belongings, and the last of the deliveries had been dealt with. And thus there was no one to watch her step from the wagon that brought her here.

“Thank the Baron for me again,” she said to the driver before waving goodbye.

When she turned to the business house and looked at the left, she saw there was still light at the main warehouse. Porter was probably seeing to the final chores before closing up.

And when she peeked around the back she could see there was still light in the kitchen. Cook was still preparing for the next day. Or, finishing dinner? She had no exact idea of the time, but the house had seemingly settled into its familiar evening silence.

She opened the front door and entered, carrying a cage…

Inside the cage sat a rather dishevelled cat wearing the expression of someone who had been thoroughly disappointed by the world.

And anyone who would only have a glance at the animal would think of a stray street cat Lilium had picked up somewhere.

Lilium however, by contrast, looked positively delighted.

She hurried inside, afraid if she’d stopped moving, someone might notice just how late she was.

Her father was already in the dining room, seated at the table with his supper before him. He had only just begun eating when he heard her footsteps.

“Lilium?”

When he looked over, his first gaze first went to his daughter’s face, then to the cage in her hand, to the cat, and then finally back to his daughter.

For a moment he looked confused, uncertain which of the two required an explanation.

“Yes…?” Lilium smiled at him.

He tried to read that smile. It wasn’t her usual polite smile, nor a mischievous one she sometimes produced when she had found her way around a rule. No… it was something brighter. There was satisfaction in it, and the unmistakable expression of someone who had spent the day doing something she had found unexpectedly enjoyable.

Her father slowly set down his fork.

“Well… I see you’ve brought home a guest.”

“Good evening, Father.”

“Good evening, little lady.”

She put the cage carefully down, slipped into her chair, and began helping herself to supper as though returning home with a strange cat after dark was entirely normal.

Her father watched her for another moment.

Then he leaned slightly back in his chair, observing his daughter’s appetite.

“I imagine you have a story to tell.”

Lilium swallowed her first mouthful.

“Oh, yes!”

And so she began, telling him every detail. The meeting with lady Cassalanter, the search along the docks and through the streets, the entire trial she had followed into South Ward, until the point where she found the man at the caravan yards. She did leave out slipping inside a workshop and limited it to ‘standing nearby’. She described the conversations and the various turns her search had taken. Her father asked a question from time to time, which Lilium answered with the earnestness of someone who had been waiting for a sympathetic audience all day.

Then he inquired about the conversation with the Baron, and the negotiations.


Outside the dining room, the house remained quiet. Fires all around had burned low, and somewhere in the kitchen Cook put a pot away. Porter checked the front door and the shutters. The sound of the city had faded beyond those windows, while winter pressed against the glass once more.

Then, quite suddenly, a booming laugh burst from the dining room.

It was so unexpected, Cook stopped doing what he was doing. He looked toward the door.

Another laugh followed, louder than the first.

Porter, who had just finished checking the entrance, appeared in the kitchen doorway.

“Was that…?”

“I believe it was, yes… I never…”

They looked at one another.

Both then hurried toward the dining room.

They found Corvin leaning back in his chair, one hand pressed to his face as he tried, unsuccessfully, to recover his composure. His eyes were watering. Lilium on the other hand, sat opposite him, looking thoroughly pleased with herself.

The cat watched them both from her cage, as if wondering when it was her moment to receive some attention.

“What… happened?” Cook asked. “Is everything alright?”

“Quite alright,” Corvin managed to say.

He tried to continue, but then he shook his head, wiping at the corners of his eyes before he looked across the table at Lilium with an expression that was half disbelief and half admiration.

“You have to tell them,” he then said.

Lilium glanced between them all.

“Go on,” her father waved his hand. “Tell them exactly what you told me.”

Porter frowned.

Cook folded his arms, his initial concern giving way to curiosity.

Lilium took a moment to compose herself. She sat a little straighter in her chair, looked from one man to the other, and started her story again from the very beginning.

And somewhere in the middle of her explanation on the conversation with the Baron, Corvin started laughing all over again cause he knew what was coming.

Moments later, the dining room was filled with the laughter of the three men, while Lilium sat at the table, bringing another spoonful of food to her mouth.

A rather bedraggled grey cat observed the whole affair with the air of someone who had expected better accommodations while for once… laughter carried beyond the dining room and into the rest of the house.

The sound travelled through the hallway, reached the kitchen, bounced into the walls and rose towards the upper floors where rooms lay dark and still. It reached the front door, and the windows looking out over the streets. It filled quiet spaces between old furniture and personal family belongings, …chasing away… if only for one evening, the silence that had settled there too often lately.

With it, the house hadn’t become a different place.

There would always remain and empty place at each table in their home, and there would still be quiet days to come.

But not tonight. Tonight, there was laughter, there was joy. There was the unexpected surprise of a girl who had experienced an extraordinary day, and the laughter of three men who had found themselves caught up in it.

For a little while the house felt warm in a way that had nothing to do with the fires.

Instead… it was almost as if a little sunshine had found its way inside…

[lum]

The cat had been given a comfortable place in her room. Or rather, she ‘pawpicked’ it herself. A soft blanket which happened to lay neglected on the floor near the hearth. In front of it stood a bowl with fresh water and another one with food, offered like it concerned a deeply venerated Mulhorandi cat.

The place wasn’t perhaps the accommodation Maribelle had been accustomed to, but Lilium had done her best.

The cat, however, hadn’t decided yet whether she approved it, or not.

The first evening she had spent inspecting her temporary surroundings with a certain suspicion. The basket, which Lilium had tried at first, had been sniffed, the blanket within tested with a single paw. And the food had been examined as though Lilium might have been trying to poison her. She eventually ate, but only after Lilium had stopped watching her.

The following morning, she discovered the windowsill.

It was apparently an acceptable place to sit, provided nobody disturbed her and the sun shone directly on her fur.

Lilium saw it as progress. The cat’s appearance on the other hand… remained a bit of an issue.

The fur was entangled in several places, particularly around the tail and the hindquarters. Some straw sat still caught in it. Dirt made the grey look less grey in several spots, and one ear seemed to have trouble with the direction it wanted to face.

According to Lilium this cat was in desperate need of a proper cleaning.

Maribelle however… disagreed.

Lilium stood beside a small table, examining the collection of things she had gathered. A bowl with warm soapy water, a few clean cloths, a brush she borrowed from the maid, and a tiny pair of scissors.

She looked at the cat.

The cat looked back with an expression that was frighteningly human.

“I cannot have you return while you looked like this.”

The cat blinked her eyes once.

“I know you think you look perfectly fine.”

The cat turned her head away.

Lilium nevertheless approached Maribelle slowly, and held out her hand so the cat would smell it. At first Maribelle took a careful step back, lifting her head up and down as if trying to gather information on Lilium’s intentions. Then, she leaned forward, sniffed the fingertips before rubbing her cheek against them.

“Yes, that’s a good start.”

Lilium ran her fingers carefully along the cat’s back. The fur, so she judged, was still soft beneath the dirt, so it was merely an unwanted layer that had to come off. The knots on the other hand would make her work difficult. She reached for the brush.

Maribelle saw it.

Her ears flattened.

“Oh, don’t be like that. I’m not going to hurt you.”

The first stroke went reasonably well. The second however earned her a warning growl. And the third was seemingly treated as an act of unforgivable aggression.

Maribelle twisted around, caught the brush with one paw, and gave it a sharp bite.

“Wow, hey…” Lilium said as she quickly withdrew it.

“This isn’t easy for either of us like this.”

The cat had settled down again, looking rather pleased with herself.

“Alright then, let me try something else.”

Lilium dipped one of the cloths into the warm water. She figured a little less brushing and a little more patience might be needed.

She wrung it out and tried to clean a patch of fur along the cat's side.

Maribelle immediately moved away.

“Come on.”

The cat moved even further away.

“Maribelle...”

A pair of very green eyes looked back at her.

Lilium put the cloth down.

There was something strangely familiar about the cat’s expression. One she had seen on people, on stubborn merchants mostly, and on people who refused to answer questions. There was also something confrontational about her stance.

Lilium folded her arms.

“Alright then. I can wait.”

Maribelle stared at her.

So did Lilium.

For a while, neither moved.

Eventually the cat seemed to lose interest in the contest and sat down to wash one paw.

Lilium took that opportunity to approach again.

This time, she managed to clean a little more of the dirt from her coat before Maribelle decided she had endured quite enough. A quick twist and a hiss later, the cat was off and under the bed.

“I suppose that’s enough for one day,” Lilium muttered, slightly disappointed.

From beneath the bed came a low, displeased sound.

“Yeah, I know. We’re done for today.”

She picked up the brush and cloth, putting them away for another attempt. It would take some time. That much she figured.

But later that day, when Lilium was seated at her desk reading, she noticed something beneath her feet.

Maribelle had emerged from beneath the bed. She circled around Lilium’s feet, paused, and spotted the blanket near the hearth. Not much later she settled on it, gazing up at Lilium.

Lilium glanced over. “Have you forgiven me then?”

Maribelle closed her eyes.

Lilium smiled and returned to her book. It wasn’t much of an answer, but she accepted it.



Over the next few days things improved gradually.

Not without the necessary disagreements, of course.

Lilium had discovered that Maribelle was considerably more cooperative when she wasn't approached with a brush in hand. Which at some point seemed regarded as a weapon.

A little petting first, some gentle strokes along her back, and then, when the cat seemed sufficiently comfortable, a few careful passes with the brush. That seemed acceptable. Or was it more a give and take thing?

It sure was a slow process. Which was occasionally interrupted by a disgruntled meow, or a paw raised high and lingering in warning. But eventually Maribelle began to tolerate it.

The worst of the tangles had been worked loose, the last bits of straw removed, and the dirt washed from her coat. Maribelle started to look like a whole different cat. The fur looked like fur again, grey and soft, and rather lovely when it caught sunlight.

Even the troublesome ear had finally settled into something resembling its proper position. Perhaps that had just been a stress thing.

The cat, meanwhile, developed habits of her own.

She preferred the windowsill whenever the sun was out, while the blanket near the hearth remained her place for something longer than a nap. But she also had begun following Lilium around the room. Just not whenever Lilium wanted her to. And sometimes Maribelle moved from one spot to another as though making sure the girl remained somewhere in sight.

On one occasion, Lilium had returned from washing her hands, only to find the cat curled up on her bed.

There were a couple of incidents as well…

One time she found Maribelle sitting on top of an open book Lilium had been reading. The pages were all messed up. The incident had resulted in a rather lengthy one-way discussion about the proper use of books. Maribelle had listened with very little interest.

During another evening she had found Lilium on a shelf, and beneath it on the floor was a broken vase with its pieces shattered all over the place. Maribelle had flicked the very end of her tail just once, with a challenging look at Lilium.

Nevertheless, there was progress.


She put the brush aside and ran her fingers through the now-clean fur.

Maribelle stretched, then settled down again.

Lilium smiled.

“You know, you are actually a very pretty lady when you aren’t covered in half the contents of a workshop.”

Maribelle looked up at her.

Then, without much ceremony, she stepped forward and rubbed her head against Lilium's hand.

Lilium paused.

“Well, hello to you too.”

Maribelle purred.

It was a small sound, but a rather promising one.

[lum]

Lilium stood on the corner of Delzorin and Diamond street. Through the gate the villa in front of her looked exactly as she remembered it from a long time ago. A walled compound featuring four separate buildings between three to four stories high, and a large garden or gardens. She couldn’t tell as she never had been inside before. Like most places around here, the stonework was immaculate, the windows clean, and even the ironwork of the gate here at the entrance was polished until it caught light. Even the cobblestones that lead towards the buildings seemed to have been scrubbed recently.

She waited at the gate, holding Maribelle’s basket. The cat looked less impressed than her. And during the journey here Maribelle had spent her time curled in the basket, occasionally shifting position or giving a displeased meow whenever the road became particularly uneven.

Lilium had no idea if Lady Syllul Cassalanter actually lived here, but this was the place where she overheard the lady had travelled to after arriving this morning by ship. She adjusted the handle of the basket.

She had considered making an appointment, which would have been the proper thing to do. Perhaps even what was expected. But the moment she heard Lady Cassalanter had returned, the thought of keeping Maribelle longer to herself had seemed rather unreasonable.

Maribelle wasn’t her cat, and she imagined Lady Cassalanter would want Maribelle back as soon as possible.

A servant happened to pass at the entrance and looked curiously at her.

“Eh, good afternoon. May I help you with anything?” He looked at her as if she were a beggar of sorts.

“Oh, hi, my name is Lilium, and I believe Lady Cassalanter may be expecting me any time soon. I’m the one who was asked to look for her cat while she was away.”

The servant's expression changed slightly. His eyes moved to the basket.

"Seriously? Hmm. One moment, please."

The man walked down the path toward the nearest building and disappeared inside.

Lilium waited, slightly nervous, she shifted her weight from one foot to another. Maribelle peered through the opening in the basket, her green eyes fixed on the direction where the servant went.

A few moments later, the servant returned.

"Lady Cassalanter will receive you. If you would be so kind as to follow me."

“Eh, I was actually waiting for someone but… okay.”

She nodded and followed the man through the garden. In spite of the dreary season it looked rather clean, well-kept, even with only the ivy providing a steady structural green backbone.

The entrance hall was every bit as grand as she expected. There was no clutter, no smell from cooking, no stuff that needed to be hauled around. Out here everything had a steady place, and even the servants moved quietly through it all as if not wishing to disturb the peace.

Lilium was led past a small staircase and toward what appeared a small sitting room, a typical spot in houses like these to receive guests.

“Wait here, please,” the servant said as he motioned to a chair.

Lilium placed the basket carefully beside her chair as she whispered to its occupant. “You’re almost there now…”

Maribelle blinked once at her.

The wait was not long.

The door was opened by the servant again, and Lady Cassalanter entered.

For a moment her gaze lingered on Lilium, and then she noticed the basket at the girl’s feet.

She crossed the room, scarcely waiting for Lilium to lift the basket onto her lap. The cat gave a small, questioning meow as Lady Cassalanter opened it.

"Oh, you poor thing."

Her hands moved gently over the cat’s head and neck, checking her as if she couldn’t believe she was really there. Maribelle leaned into the familiar touch, rubbing her cheek firmly into her mistress’s fingers.

Lilium watched them quietly with a smile.

Maribelle still looked a little disgruntled, but there was no mistaking how pleased she was to be back in familiar arms.

Lady Cassalanter let out a breath.

"Thank you," she said, still looking at the cat. "You have no idea how relieved I am."

"I am glad she's home, my lady."

Lady Cassalanter looked up at her then.

"You found her?"

"Yes, my lady."

"And where was she?"

Lilium inhaled. She had gone over the story multiple times on the way here, but somehow it hadn’t seemed that important to tell every detail.

“It’s a bit of a longer story, but to be honest I had a little help. He was on his way here as well, and he was involved bringing things to a good end.”

Lady Cassalanter's eyes moved briefly towards the door.

"Someone?"

"A merchant, my lady. He deals in unusual animals and travels through the caravan yards. I believe it’s best he gets an opportunity to explain his part in the matter himself."

Lady Cassalanter studied the girl for a moment, and then offered her a nod.

“Very well, but let us first hear your part of the story then. Come, sit down with me here.”

The servant received instructions on the arrival of the merchant, and to bring him in when Lady Cassalanter was ready.

Lilium sat and began her little tale.

…

The Beast Baron had learned a long time ago that making money was often the easy part.

Keeping it and preserving a steady income however was another matter. And meanwhile keeping a good name while doing so was even harder.

He had spent years building his trade, buying and selling animals most of the time that most merchants didn’t know what to do with. Some were tough to handle, others required specifical care or accommodations, and some could be downright dangerous. Yet he learned there was a market for everything and also a market for these. He knew there were wealthy collectors, curious nobles, travelling showpeople, and eccentric wizards about who all wanted to find something ‘different’, and who were willing to pay a lot for it.

The trick was to figure out which opportunities were worth the risk. Also, his business passed through too many intermediaries, some shady, and some just driving up the prices a whole lot. When he as merchant paid too little, he might find himself one day without suppliers. If he paid too much, he had no idea if he could ever compensate or would remain a merchant for very long. And if he sold unusual animals without any proper background knowledge, who’d trust him that his investments are worthwhile? Respectable customers would come knocking.

It was a balance he had never found particularly easy.

For a few years the caravan yards had provided one sort of business. There, his reputation went a long way. People around knew what he was doing, how he paid promptly and how he was not easily cheated upon. There, they brought him the creatures of which they didn’t knew where to sell them otherwise. Occasionally they brought him things they probably shouldn’t have caught in the first place.

For some reason he had acquired his nickname here, in Waterdeep. And he had never particularly liked the sound of it. Especially not the full nickname. Like he was some travelling spectacle, surrounded by cages and snarling animals, rather than someone who understood a rather specialized trade.

And yet, even said nickname had its use, time to time.

Respectable households of Waterdeep were a whole different matter however. Those had their own interests, their own private collections, and their at times rather extravagant ideas on what belonged in a personal menagerie. There was good money to be made, but getting one direct foot in the door wasn’t always as straightforward as it sounded.

A man from the caravan yards did not simply walk into the homes of Waterdeep’s nobility and expect to be taken seriously.

And yet, here he was, combing his hair one last time before he’d be summoned into Lady Cassalanter’s place.

He hadn’t expected this much when a young tiefling girl approached him at the yards. A merchant’s daughter, but still a teenager. She was nevertheless someone who understood his business, and him. More than he’d admit to her.

And she had been careful during their negotiations.

She had not promised him a reward on Lady Cassalanter's behalf. She had not claimed to know what the lady would be willing to offer. Instead, she had arranged for him to be present when the cat was returned, and had given him the chance to introduce himself properly.

He had been instructed not to bring up his own reward, not in this case. If Lady Cassalanter wished to offer one, he was to let her ask first.

Yeah. Lilium was a smart girl.

And thus he had agreed.

He glanced toward a servant approaching the gate. The fellow looked him over once, from his travel-stained coat to his hastily cleaned boots. The Baron just returned the inspection with a perfectly ordinary expression.

He was accustomed to this. Part of the business, part of the world in which he operated.

“Good afternoon, sir, lady Cassalanter will see you now. If you want to follow me.”

“Very good.”

As the servant led him into the villa, the Baron took in what he could, without looking impressed. The quality of the furnishings, the quiet efficiency of the staff, the general condition of the building, there was definitely money here. Carefully looked after money.

Would the lady herself be looking for another cat? Or starting her own private menagerie?

The Baron folded his hands behind his back.

He had no intention of rushing things. He was curious though on how Lilium exactly had painted his role in the matter of Maribelle. And if Lady Cassalanter asked what he wanted in return, he would make sure she understood that his interests extended beyond a purse of coins.

A good name for starters.

Perhaps some good connections.


“Please, sir, step inside.”

The Baron straightened his coat and stepped inside.

Lady Cassalanter was seated with Lilium nearby. The cat was no longer in its basket. Instead, it had found a comfortable position close to its mistress, looking rather pleased with itself.

The Baron offered a polite inclination of his head.

“Lady Cassalanter.”

“Ah, the…” she glanced at Lilium briefly,” the Baron I presume?”

“Erh, that is just what some people call me, my Lady.”

Lady Cassalanter regarded him with a faint smile.

“You have an interesting title, nevertheless. Perhaps one day you could explain how you earned it. Or is there no impressive story behind it?”

The Baron allowed himself a small smile.

“Not quite as impressive as one might think, I assure you. It’s a name that has followed me through the caravan yards, and I most certainly didn’t invent it myself.”

“How unfortunate,” Lady Cassalanter’s smile lingered.

“That it is, my Lady.”

She looked him over, slightly amused. “But surely you have a name besides this title. Or should I continue now addressing you as Baron?”

The Baron offered another inclination of his head.

“No, of course not, my Lady. My name is-”

[lum]

Gideon Horn nodded once at them.

“Gideon Horn?” Lady Cassalanter repeated the Baron’s name once, as though committing it to memory.

“Yes, my Lady.”

“Master Horn, then.”

“That would be quite fine, thank you, my Lady.”

"Very well, Master Horn. Now, perhaps you could tell me how you became involved in the recovery of my cat."

Gideon glanced briefly towards Lilium. The girl sat quietly in her chair, watching the exchange with an expression that gave little away.

“Well, as you probably heard, I deal in unusual animals. I buy and sell them, mostly through travelling merchants and caravans that pass through Waterdeep. It’s a bit of a specialised trade, as you can imagine.”

He paused, choosing his words.

“In this case, I had reason to believe that a particular cat had come into the possession of people who intended to sell her. But when I learned that the animal might belong to your household, I thought it would be best to establish the circumstances before deciding how best to proceed.”

Lady Cassalanter's expression became a little more serious.

"And thus you found her?"

“Eventually, yes, my Lady. She was in a rather poor condition, but unharmed as far as I could tell. I was able to secure her, and see that she was safely returned.”

“And you have my gratitude, Master Horn.”

Gideon inclined his head. “It was only the right thing to do, my Lady.”

The lady looked down at the cat, who had settled comfortably beside her.

"She seems to have taken quite a liking to you, Lilium."

Lilium smiled. “I assure you, it hasn’t always been like this.”

Lady Cassalanter smiled back. “I imagine not. Maribelle can be rather particular about whom she allows near her. It surprises me that you two were able to bring her back.”

Gideon glanced at the cat. He had seen her in a cage, frightened and furious, and now she looked as though she had never experienced a moment of discomfort in her life.

Some creatures, he thought, were remarkably good at recovering their dignity.

Lady Cassalanter looked back at the Baron.

“You said you deal in unusual animals, Master Horn?”

“Yes, It has been my principal trade for several years. Along with that, I have gathered knowledge of the particular care most of them require. Sometimes I offer advice to people who I assume maintain their own menageries.”

“I see.”

Gideon kept his expression neutral, though he was paying close attention now.

"Do you deal with private households yourself?"

“Not very often, no, my Lady. People… buyers, usually send agents. Most of my business is conducted at the yards whenever I’m in Waterdeep.”

"That is understandable. But I imagine there are households in Waterdeep that might find your services useful. There are certainly people who take an interest in unusual animals."

Gideon nodded. “Very likely, my Lady.”

Lady Cassalanter considered him for a moment.

"I may be able to help with that. I know a few families who maintain collections of their own. Some might be interested in what you have to offer. And, of course, I would be interested in hearing more about your business myself."

For the first time, Gideon allowed himself a slightly warmer smile.

"That would be most welcome, my lady."

"Then perhaps we can arrange a meeting at a later date.”

“Naturally. I would be happy to provide you with any information or examples of the sorts of animals I can source.”

“Good. We’ll have to work a little on your wardrobe too then.”

Gideon remained still. Then he simply nodded once. “As you wish. That is very kind of you.”

He remembered Lilium's advice. Let the Lady ask and run the show.

“Well then, if you’ll excuse me. There are other matters that demand my attention. Edward will see you out,” the Lady hesitated and then turned to Lilium.

“I’d like you to keep the ribbon, as part of your reward.”

“My Lady?”

She smiled. “You do know it’s magical, right?”

Lilium blinked. “It is?”

“Yes, it helps you whenever you search something.”

“S… so when I found Maribelle, I didn-?”

Lady Cassalanter held up her hand. “Dear girl, it still requires skill to do what you did. But the ribbon did enhance a talent that was already there. So now, good luck with that, and I’ll see you both in the near future.”


They left the sitting room together, Edward leading them through the entrance and toward the front door.

Gideon walked beside Lilium, his hands resting comfortably behind his back. For a moment, neither spoke.

It was only when they had passed through the entrance and into the garden that he finally broke the silence.

“You know,” he began, “there is something I still haven't quite settled.”

Lilium glanced up at him.

“Oh?”

“Your opening remarks during our negotiation back at the yards.”

She looked at him, waiting.

“I didn't particularly appreciate being treated as though I were no better than that thin fellow. Comparing me to him was hardly the most flattering way to begin a conversation.”

She considered that for a moment.

“Good,” she eventually said.

“Good?”

“Yes, good. That meant that you didn’t want to be compared to a thief.”

He offered her a questioning look.

“When you made it clear that you didn't appreciate being put in the same company as someone who was trying to sell a stolen cat, I decided I could proceed with our conversation.”

“Quite the test there,” he said slightly impressed.

“I've learned something from everyone. Including you.”

“Did I now.”

They continued through the garden down the steps toward the gate.

“I still don’t like how you opened, but I suppose I can appreciate what it led to.”

Lilium glanced at him again.

“Even without an immediate reward in your hands?”

“Sure.” Then he gave her a sidelong look. “Though I am beginning to wonder what the rest of your reward might be.”

Lilium's smile grew a little.

Gideon chuckled as she didn’t take the bait. He shook his head.

“Your father must have his hands full with you.

[lum]

Scott had changed his shirt. Again.

The first one had been perfectly acceptable. Clean, well-fitted, suitable for visiting a noble household.

The second one had been a little more refined. He had put it on, looked at himself in the mirror, and decided he was perhaps trying too hard. So he had changed back to the first.

Now he stood before the mirror again, wondering whether he had made the right choice after all.

It was just ridiculous.

He knew that.

After all, he wasn’t attending to an entire royal audience, nor was he being presented before one of the Lords of Waterdeep.

No, not at all. He was going to meet a young woman. A woman who already knew him a tiny bit.

Her father somehow tracked him down, and had kindly arranged a meeting for them to become further acquainted.

That was all. Nothing more.

Scott straightened his collar.

Then he adjusted it again.

And again…

He glanced at the small sidetable next to the mirror, where his leather gloves lay neatly folded. He picked them up, turned them over once as if assessing them for any flaws, and put them down again.

Perhaps he should bring something with him?

Flowers maybe?

That seemed appropriate. Or was that slightly presumptuous for a first meeting? He didn’t even know if she liked flowers. Arriving with a bouquet simply because he had decided it would be a charming gesture…

What if she found it awkward?

He frowned at the reflection in the mirror.

No. Better not.

He would arrive, meet and greet her properly, and see where their conversation led.

That sounded sensible.

It wasn’t the first time he had managed a conversation with a stranger. And he was perfectly capable of making a good impression.

No reason why this should be any different.

Except… that he remembered her. And how he remembered her.

He remembered the way she had spoken to him, and how easily their conversation had flown. He remembered being rather reluctant to leave her a moment to get some drinks… only for her to vanish.

And now, after all this time, he was going to see her again.

Scott smiled faintly.

Would she remember him as well as he remembered her?

Would she be pleased?

Or maybe surprised?

Would she…

He caught himself shyly smiling at the mirror and quickly composed his expression.

“Get a hold of yourself, you look like some creep,” he muttered at his reflection.

A final glance convinced him that he looked presentable enough. His clothes were neat, his hair was in order, and there was nothing out of place in his appearance. Nothing remarkable either.

Probably for the best.

He collected his gloves and made his way downstairs.

Outside, the air had that pleasant freshness that came with the change of wind and the start of spring. The worst of the winter chill had passed, and sunlight was beginning to feel warm once more.

A rather suitable day for a garden meeting.

Scott drew a breath.

He was ready. At least as ready as he could be.

And with that thought, he set off towards the arranged meeting. Alone.



The estate wasn’t too hard to find. Its entrance stood along a quiet street, set back behind a long stone wall and an elegant iron gate with the family’s crest neatly added upon.

Beyond it, he could see a well-kept garden, while the house itself stood partly hidden behind the branches of a few budding trees.

He stopped in front of the gate.

This was the place.

He looked down at himself briefly. Everything seemed in order, even as he adjusted this and that.

You still have time to turn around.

He nearly laughed at his own unexpected thought.

No way. Absolutely no way.

He had come all this way, the meeting being the result of months searching and visiting places where ladies gathered.

A servant stationed near the entrance noticed him standing not far from the gate.

Scott straightened, drew a quiet breath, and offered a polite greeting.

“Good day. My name is Scott, and I’m here for an arranged meeting.”

The servant nodded. “Of course, sir, we were expecting you. Right on time.”

Scott followed as the servant motioned him in.

The garden was pleasant, with neatly trimmed hedges, and a winding stone path leading further into the outdoor property. Early spring had begun to work its way through the estate, with fresh green shoots along the flowerbeds, and with a few smaller trees that had already started to blossom. Sunlight fell warm upon the pleasant lawn, while only a minor breeze gently stirred the branches overhead.

It was a lovely place.

Yet, he barely noticed.

His mind… was elsewhere. He had tried to imagine how the meeting would begin. Would she greet him first? Should he offer his hand? Or would a bow be more appropriate?

He had met her before, so that should make things a little easier, right?

Well, it should… if it weren’t for his heart beating faster than he would have liked. He was also becoming increasingly aware of each step bringing him closer to this meeting.

Just a conversation, he reminded himself.

A perfectly ordinary conversation.

The servant led him along the path toward a small terrace that overlooked the garden.

“Please wait here, sir. I’ll inform the young lady of your arrival.”

Scott nodded. “Thank you.”

And with that he was left alone.

So he looked around, took in the garden once more. Slowly he paced around the terrace until he spotted someone, a little further in the garden.

A young woman facing away, not far from the house, and seemingly occupied with something in the flowerbeds. At this distance he couldn’t quite make out her features.

Nevertheless, a sudden, intense tingling heat in his chest made it impossible to breathe. And it was as if his heartbeat was climbing up to his throat.

Scott swallowed.

See! I should have brought flowers!

[lum]

The garden was quiet. Scott remained where he was, watching the young woman from a distance.

Was it… her?

She was dressed rather nicely, different from the lady he remembered, but that had been on another occasion. This lady was dressed in a fine gown, though not extravagantly. Her hair was carefully arranged, and she stood with a posture that suggested she was quite comfortable in her surroundings.

There was something familiar about her stance, even as he couldn’t see her face yet.

So… was it her, or was she perhaps an attendant, waiting for the young lady to arrive? Or a sister?

He couldn’t quite tell.

The woman leaned forward to inspect something in the flowerbed, then straightened again. She brushed her hands together, apparently satisfied with something.

Scott glanced back at the house.

Surely that servant would return soon?

He adjusted his gloves, then looked towards the woman again. She was moving slowly through the garden, and the way she walked was familiar as well. He had seen her before.

Then she turned, and their eyes met.

Scott’s expression changed from curiosity to recognition.

He knew her alright. They had met on a few occasions, and on one his friend had been teasing him a little about her.

It was a pleasant surprise nonetheless, and quite the coincidence that he met her here.

He smiled and offered her a friendly nod.

She smiled back at him, offering a slight curtsy in return.

He already took a step forward, preparing to greet her. But then he paused.

Wait.

He was supposed to meet someone else here. So he couldn’t just go walk to this lady and talk to her.

Scott glanced around the garden, looking for the servant to return with the young lady he had met at the Hawkwinter party.

Any moment now, along one of the paths…

There was no one.

The young woman, meanwhile, had begun walking towards him.

Scott turned and looked back at her.

Then towards the house.

Then at her again.

Was she the young lady’s chaperone? Was she here to welcome him while they waited?

It made sense. Quite the coincidence these two ladies knew each other. Or maybe they were related?

He watched her.

She was still coming towards him. And there was no sign of anyone else yet.

But then, something in his mind shifted.

His smile faltered slightly.

Oh…

Oh no…

Ohhh no!

He looked at her again, more closely, how she was dressed, her expression… and pieces began to fall into place.

She… was dressed for an occasion like this. And the servant didn’t return because the lady he was to meet… was already in the garden.

This lady!

Not…

His eyes widened just a fraction.

It was too late, however. The young woman was now close enough to greet him.

Only… it wasn’t ‘her’.

His finger briefly tugged at his collar.

Where… was she?


…

Spring had finally arrived. And it was really a welcome change after a rather long winter. The days were growing noticeably longer, and the sun remained a little higher in the sky. The air was losing its bite as there was also warmth in the sunlight again, and an occasional breeze carried the promise of something new.

Lilium found herself enjoying it.

Which wasn’t too hard as the return of light and warmth always seemed to lift one’s spirits. The streets felt less gloomy to her, and people also seemed inclined to linger outdoors. A certain liveliness returned to Waterdeep.

Yet, to her, the arrival of the new season also came with other feelings.

Winter was now the period during the year in which her mother had died. It wasn’t something she thought about constantly, and she most certainly didn’t wish to spend every moment of every day dwelling on it.

But there were moments when the memory found its way back, forcing itself into her mind without warning. A particular cold morning, the scent of a familiar dish, or simply the way the light fell across an empty chair, was enough to bring the grief back.

She was learning how to live with those moments.

And perhaps, to her, that was what spring now meant. Not that everything was suddenly better, or that a missing person had become less important. Just that life continued, and there were still new things to learn and to discover.

With those thoughts somewhere in her mind, Lilium entered the business’s main warehouse.

She was greeted by the familiar smell of wood, rope and stored goods. A few crates stood near the entrance, waiting to be sorted. A couple of others had already been marked for their next destination. Some of them contained goods in transit. Somewhere in the back she heard a couple of workers rolling a few drums out through the backdoor.

It was an ordinary day.

At least, until it wasn’t.

A large box standing among other goods caught her attention. And it was hard to overlook that one. First of all, it had dimensions considerably different from those of the usual containers, but what really stood out was how its exterior was decorated in a rather unusual fashion.

Lilium slowed down and stopped near the box.

This was certainly not something she remembered seeing before.

She leaned in, looking over its colorful surface and the markings along its sides. It seemed rather well-made, though not like an ordinary shipping container. There was something peculiar about it.

She tilted her head.

What in the world was this sort of box?

The bright colors didn’t give her much information. Nor did the intricate patterns running along the sides. She had no idea what they were supposed to represent.

One thing was for sure. The box didn't look like something intended to be stored in a warehouse for very long. Perhaps this one too was merely passing through? Or maybe it belonged to a travelling merchant or some kind of company?

She moved around to the other side.

The wood it was made from seemed quite solid, with metal reinforcements along its corners. It also seemed sturdy enough to withstand a long journey. Effort had also been put into its appearance, and even the metal fittings were shaped and decorated to stand out rather than simply being practical fittings.

Lilium ran her fingers lightly along one of the painted patterns.

Curious.

The fastening mechanism was rather unusual too. She crouched a little to get a better look at it. How had this metalwork even been fitted into the wooden frame? She reached out and touched the latch.

Click.

Lilium paused.

A moment later, she heard something from inside the box.

Not the sound of a spring or some other mechanism. Something diffe-

There it was again!

A very faint scraping sound, this time followed by what seemed like a small shift or movement.

Shocked, she withdrew her hand.

…What?!