Poor Ruler

"Well, that was fun, but uhhh why are we—I mean you—hiding?" Petyr finally asked. "And why did you say that the palace emissary would not want to see you here? Where are you supposed to be?"

"You ask a lot of questions," Alaron muttered ominously, sending a chill down Petyr's spine.

"And I don't think you are ready for those answers," Renat said honestly. "With a little more time and a little less alcohol, you may just figure it out on your own."

Pete licked his lips as he processed the information. His mind was still quite sluggish even if his peddling prowess was not hindered. "I understand, but if I am coming on your adventure with you…I should probably be filled in sooner or later…"

Alaron jerked his head, nearly losing his hood. "I'm sorry, what? No one said anything about…"

The shopkeeper returned to the back room. "The advisor is gone. I peeked and watched him head down the street. You are safe." He, like the others, spoke barely above a whisper until he realized that there was no longer a reason to be quiet. "I only hope that your claim is true, and you mean the Empire no harm."

"If it makes you feel any better, I have never been very good at overthrowing Empires." Alaron shrugged.

Mairwen glared at her brother and inhaled deeply through her nose. "What the strange hooded figure means to say is that we are Empress Aurora's biggest champions. We are simply misplaced champions. That is why we needed the map."

The sincerity in Mairwen's claim resonated with the shopkeeper. Without knowing exactly why, he bowed his head. "Then I wish you all the luck in the world. Glory to the Empress!"

After one last scan for Junayd, the company headed out into the street. The afternoon was getting late, but their task was not quite done for the day.

"What's the plan now? Come on, don't leave the newest member of your group out of the loop!" Petyr was becoming more energized with each step. This would be quite a story to tell when he eventually got home.

Maybe with time and a fantastic tale, his family would overlook his losing all of his earnings gambling and welcome him with open arms. It was worth a try.

"We are heading toward the commercial stables. We are going to hire a coach." Mairwen said briefly.

"Oh! I had no idea we were leaving right away. It's a good thing I have my pack with me." The short man clung to his bag and patted it gently. What little he had left was contained in the fabric satchel. "I will see if I can send a letter to my family with someone before we head out. You know, to let them know I am going on an important mission."

While Petyr continued to make plans, the rest of the group moved on in silence. They reached the stables and found a coach that was able to leave right away. Eira settled the accounts as the others waited outside on a bench.

Petyr could not stand the quiet. "You don't like to talk much, do you, Renat?"

"Not when there is nothing to say," the scientist responded.

"Yes, yes, as kids, Amaki and I did all the talking unless it had to do with learning and discovery. When you found something new, you would not be quiet about it even if we begged you."

"Or threatened me," Renat added blandly.

"That too," Petyr agreed easily. "And now we are going on an adventure together. Does that make you my boss?"

"My wife is the brains of this operation." The lanky man wrapped his arms around the blue-eyed woman and kissed her cheek. She blushed and touched her nose against his.

"Ew." The cloaked figure crossed his arms and turned away.

"And you three are all special agents for the Empress?" The short man asked. The couple exchanged a glance and nodded hesitantly while the Guardian ignored him completely. "Impressive. Little Renat is all grown up!" Petyr fell silent for a moment before looking toward the stable. "What is taking so long. We are losing daylight."

"Patience." Renat chided him. "Here comes Eira now."

The soldier walked toward them as a coachman pulled around with a carriage from the back of the building.

"I paid them in full. Everything is in order including provisions. The carriage will go directly there." Eira gave the slightest bow to her mistress.

Petyr elbowed the lanky man. "You weren't kidding, were you. She really is the brains."

Eira opened the door. Mairwen stepped away and motioned for Petyr to climb the stairs.

Petyr gasped. "I get to go in first? What a great honor! This is one small step for me, and one giant leap for merchants everywhere."

The coachman gave the rest a wary glance, but they could only shrug. Eira shut the door behind the short man and released the handle.

"We hope you have a wonderful trip home, Pete." Renat hopped up on the carriage step and peeked his head inside. "Say hello to my family when you see them. I suppose there is no use acting like you did not see me."

"Wait, what?" Petyr was confused. "I thought I was going with you on a grand adventure." His countenance fell, making the scientist feel the slightest bit of guilt.

"This adventure is too big for you, Pete. I'm sorry. We have paid for your passage home." Renat ran his fingers through his hair, but would not meet the other man's eye. They had tricked him in a sense, but it was for his own good.

"I can't go home! I have nothing to show for my time here. I'll be a laughingstock. My family's business will be ruined." Panic filled Pete's voice.

"Maybe you shouldn't drink and gamble," Alaron suggested from the ground. Petyr leaned forward slightly so he could see the Guardian.

His heart clenched at the realization that he had ruined himself. "Yes, yes you are right. I suppose I must suffer that humiliation. I cannot blame you for wanting nothing to do with me. My mistakes are my own."

A bag of coins came flying into the cab of the carriage. Alaron grunted. "Don't make me regret that. I better not see your face in any tavern in Valiant ever again."

Petyr opened the bag and his eyes widened. "Thank you! Thank you, Guardian." He dipped his head repeatedly. "You have given me another chance. I will not disappoint you. Who would have thought my saviors would be a cloaked man, a stalwart soldier, my best friend's brother and his beautiful wife. It is better than a storyteller could have written. Are-are you sure I cannot join you?"

The blue-eyed woman shook her head gently. "Be safe, Petyr," The princess stepped up to look into the cab as well with a face full of hope for his future.

"Mairwen and I wish you well," Renat wrapped his arm around his wife.

"Mairwen and Renat? That's funny that you and your wife share the same names as..." Petyr stopped and paled.

"Let that sink in for a moment, Pete. Turns out my father is not such an exaggerator after all, at least not on this." Renat winked and pecked his wife on the cheek.

"You mean." he whispered. "This whole time I have been traipsing around with royalty? I'm going to tell everyone I know." He pressed his lips together excitedly.

The scientist rolled his eyes upward. "Good luck getting anyone to believe you, Pete. Your track record with the truth is questionable at best."

"True, true. Perhaps I should keep this story between us." Petyr acknowledged. "Till next time. We should share a drink together sometime...of water I mean." His cheeks turned slightly crimson.

"As long as I don't find you drunk in a tavern and have to dump you in the water, it's a deal. Goodbye, Pete."

"Goodbye, Your Highness."

The prince and princess stepped down from the carriage and Alaron pressed a coin into the driver's hand. "Don't stop for anything other than necessities. Here's a little extra for your trouble."

The coachmen did not need more encouragement. He flicked the reins and headed toward the closest city gate.

"That money you gave Petyr and the driver...that was not from the money changer. It was from your own private store, wasn't it?" Mairwen turned on her brother with a critical eye.

"So what if it was?" The Guardian turned his head away, disinterested in her accusation.

Noticing the discrepancy as well, Renat crossed his arms. "You said we were soft and would be terrible rulers for helping the man yesterday when he was drunk, yet just now you did the exact same thing," he grumbled.

"And? It's true; you would be." Alaron would not recant his words.

"But!" Mairwen began to argue. The cloaked figure held up his hands.

"If you are questioning my ability to rule, we have already established that was a bad idea. So, I have nothing to prove. Stinks to be you, I guess." The Guardian shrugged and ambled back toward the inn, leaving Renat and Mairwen slack jawed.

"Did he just insult himself and somehow still make us look bad?" Renat asked his wife.

Mairwen nodded. "Yes, honey, yes he did."