To trust, or not to trust. (1)

James sifted through the clothes Hansworth had managed to bring back from town.

'Hmm, its a bit inadequate, but I can work with this.'

He was going to have to hope he finds the rest of his clothes in the capital, otherwise it was going to be a more hectic visit than he'd planned for. Besides, he'd basically invented a new way to use leather.

The carriage was waiting when he and the kids stepped out. They'd insisted on walking out with him. He didn't mind so much anymore. They'd snuck into his bed the last two nights as well, and waking up with their itchy discarded fur all over his body...argh.

There were lots of people to see him off. His parents were there, and his siblings, and at least half the servants in the mansion, and all the knights, including a familiar blue lined face. James winced.

"Good morning father."

"James...You look—"

"Different?" the Duchess finished for him.

"Thanks," James smirked. "You guys really know how to give a man confidence."

He clasped hands with his father, then hugged his mother. The woman stiffened at first, but then she leaned in to hug him back. He kissed her on both cheeks, and then he was facing his siblings.

"You don't look terrible," Crest said. "But still, would it kill you to just behave conventionally?"

James winked at the boy. "Then I wouldn't be myself anymore, would I?"

"True," the young boy commented as he stepped forward.

He hugged him first, then the rest of his siblings joined in. Lilia was crying. James pretended he didn't notice. There was a chance he might not be back to the mansion for months.

He stared back at the artfully painted white behemoth that was said to even be bigger than some palaces. It really was something. And his father was planning to install magical lifters (basically elevators but powered by mana in this world).

James had never gone past the second floor where his room and the library and his father's office all were. He suddenly felt like that might have been a mistake on his part.

"Alright, you guys have warmed my frizzled old heart. I'll get you souvenirs. Come on, anything you like."

"I want a jacket just like yours," Harry said at once.

"I want a magical dagger," Lily's tears weren't apparent in her voice.

"Cool leather jacket. Magical dagger, check."

"You can't promise that kind of stuff. The jacket I get, but where are you going to find a magical tool?"

"And what do you want Crest? Oh, let me guess, you want that rare treatise on magic and politics by Brandon what's his name?"

James shared a laugh with Harry. Lilia also giggled through her tears. But Crest seemed to be deep in thought.

"So, um, can you get it?"

James mussed up his hair. "Sure kid."

And then he was waving to the servants and knights. The captain stood next to the door to his slight carriage. It did have a symbol of the Halden house, but that was it. It was small and new and made of the best wood and not too tucky.

It was perfect for James. Hansworth stood a little besides the captain, talking to two men who looked a little under thirty. The two servants he'd be traveling with?

"Young master, I'm captain Ferdinand."

"Well met captain," James scratched the back of his head. "Allow me to apologize for how things went a few days ago. I would have come to your bed, if I was sure I'd be welcome."

"I'm sorry for how my men have treated you, my lord..." he threw a disapproving glare toward the assembled knights.

"...and for how I handled things that da—"

"Its fine. I overreacted a tad. But why are you here? You look like you can barely stand."

"I had to make sure I was here to apologise on behalf of my men. And...to see if you'll reconsider."

"I will not."

"I've selected five of my best—"

"I already organised protection for myself, so don't worry."

"But if something happened to you—"

"Nothing will happen. I'm pretty confident. I'll see you when I get back in a few months. I hope you heal up well."

And he walked past without giving the man another chance to try and change his mind. The gates opened, horse hooves clattered along the cobbled road and soon he was part of the winding roads going through the town.

The kids sat with him in the carriage. He'd had about four extra mounts brought. Two would take over for the leading horses, and two were for him to ride when he got sick of being cooped up.

The carriage stopped. He'd been starting to dose off, but the ceasure of motion jolted him to wakefulness. A knock on the side of the carriage, and the two foxes stirred as well. 'Why do they always transform when they sleep? But gods, do I need that spell.'

"Stay here," he instructed them. "I have some people to meet."

"Hmm? You never did say it be the lordling himself we're escorting."

James smiled at the menacing man, but it wasn't him he addressed.

"The six claws, huh? You look every bit as scary as I'd hoped you would."

"You're ignoring the boss, eh?"

James shrugged. "I don't know. I guess it's just my nature. My eyes are more readily drawn to women than men."

"Is that so?" her smile was all teeth.

"Talia of the claws. And her not blood related sister Mania. The two of you warm my heart. You have no idea what I'd be going through if I'd been forced to endure the company of only men for a whole journey."

"Flattery? And you just made it sound like you'd settle for us if there was no other option."

"You must have heard wrong. In truth, I think you one of the prettiest women I've seen in ages. And your body's shape is nothing to be scoffed at too."

"Careful lordling, you might just make me swoon."

"As long as you don't raise the price of the contract we already agreed upon, you can do whatever you like."

"Smooth. But we already told you I'm not the boss."

James offered her a knowing smile. Her expression didn't change.

"Talon, was it?"

"I didn't give you my name yet, lordling."

"Didn't you? Funny name that. Talon of the claws."

The man growled. James surveyed the rest of the group.

"Jonas, Aric, and Rob. I'm curious, what does Rob stand for? Is it like Robert, Robbin—?"

"Robber," said the sand hair coloured young man.

He was the smallest of the group. Talon was big and tall, and carried a mace. Talia was slim and tall, athletic and pretty with peach hair. Mania was black haired, and had a tough looking face, always masked by a scowl just as the novel had described her.

Talia was the face of the group because she was the prettiest and had the least scars. Jonas on the other hand had a gush running down the left side of his face. He had an eye patch, but James knew it didn't cover a grotesque hole where once an eye had been.

Aric was the gentleman of the crew, only because he was the quietest. He tended to treat everyone they met with respect if he talked to them at all.

"Right then. My name is James Halden. I will be in your hands for the rest of this journey."

He turned around to reenter his carriage.

"Wait just one second, where the hell are you going?!"

James tilted his head at the question. "Now that we're all well aquainted, I thought I'd go have a nap in my carriage."

"Weren't we supposed to be negotiating a new price?"

"But...Talia, I thought you weren't the boss of this tiny little crew?"

There was a growl of warning from Talia's left. Mania looked like she wanted nothing more than to be let lose on his ass. James frowned in her direction.

"We shall negotiate new terms at the end of my journey, I suppose. Unless you'd like to come into the carriage with me—?"

Mania moved half a step forward. James's eyes flicked to her foot, then to the parts on her body he knew she'd likely concealed her daggers. She was a former assassin after all.

"Who are the others in the carriage with you?"

James stared at Jonas for a moment, letting his gaze trace the line of the scar, and pause unapologetically at the eye patch that covered... something.

"Well now, friends. A man should have one or two secrets, don't you think? I'll appreciate it if you left this matter alone. And no doubt so would my friend over there."

He pointed to where Hansworth stood glaring at Jonas from a distance away. This time when he turned, no one stopped him. 'Could they somehow sense how strong Hansworth was?' But still, no matter how strong he was, he couldn't possibly fight a whole party of veteran mercenaries.

***********

"Who the heck is that kid?" Jonas turned to Talia once the brat was gone from their midst. "How does he seem so well informed?"

"I haven't got a clue. I thought James Halden was supposed a waste of a noble. Well, based on the way he was dressed, he really is an unconventional noble, but—"

"There is something about him. Did you notice how he didn't seem to flinch when Mani tried to threaten him? He even traced a few of the places she keeps her knives."

"And he is definitely suspicious about my eye."

"Should we kill him?" Talon asked.

"No. At the very least, we need to study him first. Tell the commander and the boys to extend the ambush site. We need to observe this enemy first."