Jaden
Friendly!
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Jaden sighed and leaned back in his chair. Before him, a manuscript in the dragon's tongue seemed to swim before his eyes. His mother had taught him to read and to count, which were skills she deemed essential. Apparently however, his level was not up to Emerus' standards. After two weeks of planning and learning, Jaden felt that all he had done was translate scripts and stumble through equations. Emerus was nothing, if not a hard taskmaster.
The older man was out at the moment. He had said something about gathering information, before he had shoved the manuscript into Jaden's hands, telling him to have the first five pages deciphered on paper when he returned. Jaden had stumbled through the first two pages, and he wasn't even sure his translation was correct.
"Draconic was not meant for humans!" He exclaimed wildly, tearing up a blank bit of parchment and hurling the pieces into the air, where they drifted maddeningly around him. One landed on his nose. Growling, he blew it off and got up. Stalking out of Emerus' study, he began to pace around the living room. He hated being cooped up like this. Emerus hadn't let him participate for nearly any of the planning.
"I don't even know what the plan is! Well, aside from putting my head on the chopping block!" He muttered angrily, his pace increasing. The inner voice of reason within him rationalized that it was his fault that all this had started, but he pushed it away. "I don't even know if that amulet belonged to a Dragonlord! What if that old man is crazy? What if I'm getting sent to my death over nothing?"
His ranting was interrupted by a sharp rap upon the door.
Freezing in place, all of Jaden's anger and pent up energy gave way to apprehension. The door was locked, but Emerus had a key, so there was no reason for him to knock. Maybe he lost it? Maybe his mother had come to take him home? He pushed that last thought away. Emerus gave his mother frequent updates on his progress, and she didn't seem very worried about Jaden. No, this was someone else.
Another sharp rap, this time more insistent.
Jaden took a breath. He'd have to answer it sometime. Walking up to the door, he undid the bolt and opened it a crack.
His heart leaped into his throat when he saw who it was.
The woman who had bought the amulet was standing on the threshold, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.
"Hello, Jaden," she said, her voice giving nothing away. Did she know?
"U-um- Well," Jaden had stammered. He had grown increasingly wary of the Family as the weeks had passed, and now it looked as though the game was up.
"I've noticed that you've spent increasing amounts of time here," she observed. "This is Emerus' house, is it not? Why would you go anywhere near the house of a person you robbed?"
Jaden's mind raced. "I didn't talk to him," he blurted out. "He doesn't know anything. He's- he's a friend of my mom's and he offered to tutor me. I-I didn't want to go, but I swear he doesn't know anything!"
The woman regarded him for a moment, a small grin appearing momentarily upon her face, then disappearing so fast, Jaden wasn't sure it had been there in the first place. "Relax, kid. You wouldn't have the guts to talk to anyone. Is he here right now?"
Jaden couldn't believe his luck. Being a kid certainly did have it's advantages. Everyone seemed to underestimate his penchant for raising cain. "No, he's off somewhere else, I dunno what he's doing right now."
"When'll he be back?"
"I-I'm not sure. two hours, maybe more?" That was the usual time that it took for Emerus to finish his errands.
"Good, our boss wants to meet you."
Jaden's heart, which had settled back down, leaped upward once more, and he was afraid it would pop out of his mouth.
"If you're being truthful, we don't have a lot of time before the old man gets back, so let's get going."
Jaden was backed into a corner that he couldn't escape. Wordlessly, he followed the woman, closing the door behind him. As they walked, his mind started to race once more. Why would the head of the Family want to see him? The woman had said that he wasn't suspected, but was she telling the truth? What if the boss wanted to deal with him personally? What if this was all a trap?
As he continued to worry, he noticed that the general shabbiness of the buildings within the residential district were giving way to cleaner and more refined structures. That could only mean they were entering the upper residential district, where the wealthy merchants and politicians lived. The streets were cleaner, and people dressed in fine, expensive looking clothingwalked past. Several turned their heads to look at Jaden curiously. He shifted self consciously. His attire wasn't as shabby as the beggars in the marketplace, but it certainly looked out of place here, among the rich.
"It's just here," said the woman, turning towards one of the larger houses. Stairs lead up to a threshold which looked to be made of marble, with two large pillars on either side, which appeared to support a balcony on the upper levels. A set of double doors loomed before them, and the woman stepped forward and knocked. Almost immediately, they opened. A man wearing a sharp tunic and trousers stood before them.
"Miss Kara, do come in."
As they stepped into the house, Jaden couldn't help but admire his lavish surroundings. A thick carpet, intricately woven with red and gold threads was spread out into what appeared to be the entrance hall. A coat hanger was situated right beside the door, although the mild weather this time of year negated it's usefulness. A large set of stairs, covered in the same carpet as the floor, lead to the second floor, which appeared not to have a solid floor. Rather, a small balcony stretched around the room. Doors dotted the second floor, and Jaden couldn't tell why one would need that many. Then again, the Family's lieutenants might be stationed here as well, not just the boss.
"Come on," Kara, for that was apparently the woman's name, had already started up the staircase. Jaden was jolted out of his reverie, and hurried to keep pace with her.
They reached the second floor, and Kara led him all the way around, until they were just above the main entrance. Another set of doors, this time studded with pains of glass, lead out to the balcony that Jaden had spotted before.
As they stepped onto the sun warmed wood of the balcony, Jaden noticed two chairs. One was empty, and on the other sat a figure who's face Jaden could not see from where he was.
"Is that Kara?" came a deep, but surprisingly gentle voice.
"Yes, sir."
"Kara, we've been over this," the voice remained gentle, but Kara stiffened.
"Sorry. Yes, Vildren, it's me."
"Very good. And I assume this is young Jaden?" Jaden felt a chill run up his spine. The man's voice was so friendly, but there was something else....
Kara nudged him. Jaden started. "Um-Y-yes sir."
Kara nudged him again.
"V-Vildren. Yes, Vildren."
Jaden still couldn't see the man's face, but he could almost feel him smile.
"I'm glad that we're on first name turns. Why don't you sit down?" a hand waved him towards the opposite chair.
Jaden sat down. Glancing over, he finally got a good look at his host.
The man had deeply tanned skin, but not in the sense of being sun burnt, like many lower class dockworkers. His complexion was more even, as though he had spent time perfecting the color. His blond hair was long, but was well taken care of. It looked as though it had been brushed often. Complimenting it was a neatly trimmed goatee. But the most striking feature, like so many other figures in stories, were his eyes. They were a bright green, and seemed able to see right through Jaden. He hoped this wasn't the case, as it would mean both his and Emerus' necks, no matter how friendly this man seemed.
"Good, now we can talk. I understand that it was you who retrieved the amulet for us?"
"Yes, Vildren."
"You have my thanks. It turned out to be very profitable. I'm sorry the rest of my Family isn't here to thank you. They are out on...other business."
"Your Family?"
"Yes. Many members of my organization are of my blood. My Father started this whole thing, you see. He believed that Family ties strengthened our organization, and I'm of the same mind" The man chuckled. "Of course, not all who work for me are my actual Family. Case in point: You, and Kara here," he looked fondly at them both in turn.
His smile faded, but he managed to keep his features pleasant. "Of course, I must address why you are here. You performed admirably in retrieving the amulet. However..." his expression darkened momentarily. Jaden stiffened, and he could feel Kara do the same. "Before I go any further, I need to know that you are with me on this. Kara tells me that you have spent time with Emerus, the original owner of the amulet. Forgive me, but I can't help but be suspicious. Kara assures me that you are loyal, but it's always good to see for myself."
He turned his eyes directly to Jaden's. "Are you with me on this?"
What Jaden said next would decide the fate of him, Emerus, his Mother, and even Kara, who had supposedly vouched for him.
Hoping against hope that Vildren would connect his nerves to simply meeting the head of the Family, Jaden forced himself to meet the man's eyes.
"I'm with you," he said.
Vildren regarded him coolly for a few seconds. Then his face broke into one of the warmest smiles Jaden had ever seen. Too warm. "Excellent," the man said. "Now, down to business. As I said, you did well in retrieving the amulet, and we have received ample compensation from those that requested it. But, it appears that those same people have neglected to inform me of it's true properties."
Jaden repressed a shudder. He knew. How?
"Apparently the amulet is much more powerful than we thought. And this brings me to your assignment. The buyers are the priests from the Dragon Temple. I would like you to go to the temple. Familiarize yourself with the priests, and see what you can find from them. I'd like to know where the amulet is being kept," his voice seemed to soften. "I understand that it may be a daunting task, but I assure you that I wouldn't send you in unless I was absolutely assured of your safety. You are young. As such, they will not suspect that you have a sinister purpose. Not that you do, of course," he chuckled. "I care about this city, and I don't wish to see it become enveloped once more into the folds of the priesthood."
Jaden didn't believe any of his sentiments for a second, but he nodded. "Okay, I can do that."
Once again, that smile. "I knew I could count on you."
"Vildren, with respect, our time is almost up," Kara said hesitantly.
Vildren looked towards her. "Ah. It would imagine that means that Emerus has almost finished his business. We'd better make sure you're at his house before he arrives. In regards to your payment, 100 gold coins sufficient."
Jaden nodded, and stood up. This man was incredibly wealthy, and he doubted that 100 gold was a lot to him. Even so, it was a hefty price to Jaden. In addition, it appeared that he was keeping an eye on Emerus. He'd have to warn his new tutor, in addition to telling him everything he'd learned.
"Farewell Jaden, I trust you won't disappoint," Vildren said, before turning to look out over the city once more.
< Message edited by Jaden -- 8/2/2014 15:47:53 >
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