5 Ch 5: The Duke's Son

"Thank you for the compliment. If you'll excuse us, we have to meet my husband." Levanya said.

She grabbed Baldeur's hand and began walking faster towards their intended destination.

"Surely you can't be in that much of a rush. Any man that would leave such a fetching gem to wander alone, isn't worth a faster pace." He said.

The man had caught up to them and gave a falsely warm smile. Levanya moved Baldeur way from the him and tried to not engage with him.

This wasn't the first time Baldeur had witnessed a man openly flirt with his mother. She was a stunning beauty and often had to turn men away at their door while Vivek was away.

They made good practice for using his abilities stealthily.

This was the first time that Baldeur sensed fear from his mother as she rebuffed him. She had an idea of who this was and didn't want any part of this man in her family's life.

"Perhaps I could take you and your son out for a bit to eat?" He stepped in front of them forcing Levanya to stop. His guards loosely surrounded them and made it clear that leaving would be difficult.

"I'm sorry but that wouldn't be appropriate. We don't even know each other." Levanya said.

"Then allow me to introduce myself. I'm Pantal Nievok. I'm sure you've heard of our family." Of course they had heard of the family of the district's Duke.

This confirmed Levanya's initial fears. This name was a known womanizer that would stoop to underhanded tactics to attain women he found attractive.

After pushing down her fear she responded. "My name is Levanya Aslanbek. We're on our way to meet my husband Vivek Aslanbek."

While there was something to fear from this man, she knew that the Duke didn't have absolute control over the district and just as she couldn't openly offend him, he couldn't openly offend anyone connected to one of the other major powers in the district.

As she saw Pantal's smile slip she knew she wasn't in as much danger anymore. Vivek was among the top echelons of the Explores Union and was known throughout the district. The Duke's son knew that if he took things too far he'd have to deal with his father's wrath.

Then his smile grew and Baldeur could feel this man's ill intent increase. Even though she didn't have the ability to easily read people like her son, Levanya's upbringing had taught her well enough. She had to be careful of this man.

"Well, why don't I accompany you to meet your husband. I have been meaning to meet the strongest Cultivator in my father's Explorer Union." Pantal said.

Levanya knew that the Explores Union was an independent entity that spanned all of the districts but didn't want to correct him.

"You don't have to go to the trouble. You seemed to already be on your way somewhere else." Levanya said.

"It is no trouble. I can't let a mother wander alone with a… vulnerable son." Pantel's smile changed as he looked towards Baldeur.

Since his father was among the elites of the district, it already came out that his son was Sourceless.

Levanya didn't say anything but continued forward. Pantel took this as consent and walked next to her.

A few people that knew who Pantel was, saw them and already considered her his next conquest. Some even felt she and her son were lucky, since he would shower them with gifts until he found a new target.

"Have you been to the Golden Clam? It has some of the best seafood one can get from a gate." Pantel said.

Levanya gave the smallest acknowledgement to his statement.

"Daddy brought back this Hugh tuna and these tiny octopus one time. They were so good." Baldeur said with as much child-like innocence he could muster.

He knew his mother wasn't interested but was in a vulnerable position. So he took the role of rebuffing his advances.

"Oh but half the taste comes from the skill of the chefs." He replied to Baldeur before focusing back on his mother. "Perhaps I'll take one day when you're feeling lonely."

"Mommy loves daddies cooking. Do you cook?" Baldeur inquired.

"I can but only for people I find special to me. Maybe I can cook for you if that is what you're interested in?" Pantel said.

'Damn this guy thinks he's smooth.' Baldeur thought.

"Why does she need you to cook when she has daddy?" Baldeur said.

"Why not both? Variety is the spice of life. You'll understand when you're older." Pantel said.

"Hmm. You just don't really look like a good cook. We'll just stick with daddies cooking." Baldeur turned his attention away.

Pantel forced a smile while Levanya tried to keep from giggling.

The rest of the trip continued in a similar fashion. Pantel would try to start a conversation and Baldeur would interject with something about his father in such a manner that it had to be the innocence of a child.

Baldeur wanted to use any and all of his Sources to curse the bastard in any way possible, but his guards had enough variety of Sources that it would be impossible to do anything with them around. At least at his current capacity.

When they arrived at the courtyard for the gate Levanya was able to breakaway and join the representatives of the Explorers Union. Baldeur could see Qi, Anodular, and Infernius Source energy coming from the gate.

The courtyard wasn't as built up as the others that they had passed on the way here. Its gate had only been active for 14 years and the wall of mist was only a mile and a half away.

Relations with the world on the other side were still being normalized, so trade was very limited.

"Is there a problem?" Hogart Branhou, the leader of the Explorers Union, asked as they approached.

"It's nothing." Levanya wanted to discuss it with her husband before seeking aid from the Union. It was possible that Pantel would leave her alone after today.

Pantel went over to the other side of the courtyard, and started talking with the captain of the Gate Guard. They fell under his family's jurisdiction.

Hogart gave the Duke's son a serious look. He knew what the man was capable of and didn't like the trouble that would come if he pursued Vivek's wife.

They only had to wait another half-hour before the mirror-like energy of the gate began to ripple and a group of explorers came through pulling a large wagon.

Baldeur recognized most of them as good friends of his father. Last out of the gate was the man himself.