110 110. Invitations (5)

The ladies were still finishing their pastries when another man ran into a alley and into a building that did not look like people could enter. He was panting as he was lead to the lower floor where a man was sitting behind a lopsided desk. "Boss, we hit the jackpot."

"What is it this time?"

"Three noble ladies came out of the Lyons estate and the mom sent the guards back into the manor. They are walking around the streets without any type of escort."

"Where are they now?"

"They were at the pastry shop, the old woman runs. I left my partner watching them."

"What are you going to do if they move?"

"Oh, I gave him the token since I am faster than him."

"Seems you are not a complete idiot. Grab another half a dozen men and lets go. With all of those alleys connecting the streets we will wait until thy cross over and then trap them."

The panting man was just getting his breath under control and nodded as he headed out to gather up the men that his boss wanted. They were new to the city and wanted to make a name for themselves as well as making a lot of money. Since all three ladies appeared to be nobles it should not be a big deal to get a lot of money from the families.

The group got up and moved almost as fast as the guards that were trained to do that to react to any emergency. Even Novum might have been impressed by how fast they reacted.

Shannon and the ladies were just finishing up their desserts. "Okay ladies I was thinking about the dress next. I have the location and Novum said that Crystal would perform the ceremony. We still have the dress, the flowers, and the cake from here. I also need to pick up some thing for the chefs so that they can look for some options."

"The dress maker is closest physically. The flowers, well, you might want to talk to Granny out at the manor about that. She has very particular taste and standards when it comes to plants of any and all types."

"Novum did mention her. I have not spoke to her after we decided to get married. I will make a note of that and go talk to her as soon as we get back. The look of the dress might make the flowers a little easier to pick when the time comes."

"Okay then to the seamstress it is. I am not sure that I could fairly judge a cake after these delicious pasties anyways."

"This would make it a lot harder. The sweet taste of this could really alter the taste of the cake. After a savory lunch we will have to try the cake."

"That sounds like a plan then ladies." Lady Lyons smiled at the excited girls. "Now as far as the seamstress is concerned we need to take it slow with her. She is very particular about who she works with and for. If she gets a bad feeling about you, then there is nothing that we can do to change hers. She is amazing but since she is so good she can be picky with her clients and well it has been bad for her ego."

"I will do my best. Perhaps then could you maybe take the lead in speaking with her."

"I will make the introductions but after that she will speak to you to get a feel for you."

"That makes sense. I have no issue with that."

Aureus got up and stretched as she got to her feet. Daisy came out. "Is there anything else you ladies need?"

"Just the bill please Daisy." Aureus gave her a gentle smile.

"Granny said that the deposit was more than enough to cover this meal and that you guys did not have a bill for this visit. She is making all the plans and getting stuff ordered for the pastries or she would come out herself."

"That is fine Daisy. Thank you so much and I, or one of the manor's people will come and speak to you about the final plans for the wedding in the near future. Is that okay?"

"Of course my lady."

The three of them headed out and walked a short distance away and then turned down an alley towards the next street where the seamstress worked. All three of them felt like they were being watched. "Lady do you feel like we are being watched?"

"Yes. I am assuming that there is a group of thugs that would like to capture us and hold us for ransom from our families."

"So, what are the rules on this? I have not been here before and I would rather not get in trouble for killing a few of them on my first day."

Lady Lyons gave her a polite smile. "I will handle them, although if one of them does manage to get away or they are stronger than they feel you can do to them whatever you like."

"You will take care of them?"

"Trust me Shannon just stay out of mom's way. She does not get to do this very often and when she gets the chance she is not very good sharing it."

"If you say so." Shannon had no reason to doubt the two of them but still pulled her magic to the surface to be ready to be used in an instant.

Novum left the Lyon's family manor and headed to talk to his contact to the thieves guild in this city. She was also his magic dealer and he wanted to grab a few things for Shannon while he was there. When he walked in the girl behind the counter smiled at him the same as always. "Hello Baron. I will go and get her."

"No rush. I am going to have a look around for a few things that I might have a use for." The girl was a little surprised at this since he seldom purchased anything. She got up and headed to the back.

Novum walked around and had looked at almost everything and had several thing in his hands as he walked up to the counter about the same time that the old woman came out of the back. "Baron, you are a little early for your normal update."

"I am not here for that, I will take it if there is something that I need to know but I am here to shop and to invite you to my wedding. I will be getting married on the first."

The old woman's jaw dropped. "You married."

"I know that it is a little short notice and surprising but it is true. I reconnected to my fiancé that I was told died in a fire."

"I am going to need to know a little more."

Novum gave her a quick rundown as he put the stuff on the counter. The old lady noticed that almost all of them were targeted to a mage and one with a heavy evocation ability. The diamond rod was a key for a lightning mage and there were not a lot of them around.

"So, I take it that she is a lightning mage. Based on the focus that you have purchased. Am I right?"

"Yes she is a evocation mage that is heavy towards lightning. And without some preparation I would hate to get on her bad side. Even my armor would probably be pushed to the limit since it is lightning."

"That is one of the reasons that a mage goes that route but also one of the reason that there are not a lot of them. They are often hunted by fighters or assassins to prevent them from being a threat later on."

"Thus the extra defensive items. As well as, well me."

"That should take care of it. Since you are here it saved me from sending a new report. There is a new guild that has decided to move in. They are a bunch of petty thugs and no real threat to anyone with any kind of power but they are still trying to target noble ladies for kidnapping. They have not done anything, worse yet, but I have a feeling that it only a matter of time."

"Should I get involved?"

"I do not see a need for it yet. The guards are keeping them suppressed for now but there is a small problem with them."

"Their backer?"

"On point as always young man. I have not figured out which one it is yet but one of the young nobles is funding them for one reason or another. Not sure about that yet."

"Keep you eyes and ears open. If you need any support here let me know and if they start moving my way let me know."

"I will nip them here before they get that big. But I would also let the noble ladies that you know to keep a wary eye out as well as having a few extra guards close by."

Novum shook his head. "The Lyons ladies and Shannon left the Earl's manor earlier without a guard today."

"Are you worried about her?"

"Her no. I am wondering how many she will kill." It was about that time that the two of them felt a huge draw of magic in the area.