The royal house fed Kelton well while he waited for his master to meet with the King. Roast bird, duck he assumed, slivered thin with a thick fruit topping. A rare treat, indeed. He wondered if it had once been meant for the King and the new security needs had rerouted it in case it contained dreamvine. Kelton had already taken a few bites before the idea dawned on him, so there was no reason not to finish it.
It was a silent ride back through the city. Master Tarvakian had demanded no conversation after he had finished his consult with the King. Zello was sitting in the wagon next to his father with impatience painting his face. It pained Kelton not to be able to tell Zello what had transpired with his talk, but he couldn't risk speaking and jeopardizing what had transpired. He was equally curious about his master's meeting and the final decrees from the King.
Alas, it wasn't until they were back at house Tarvakian, and safely in its walls before Master decided it was safe to speak. Vasco had been waiting with the same look that painted Zello's features.
"All-Father, Kelton," Tarvakian began. He wiped the sheen off his brow with his sleeve. It had been a tense day. "What transpired on the road to force such things. Filgot only told me of bandits."
"What things?" Zello asked before Kelton could speak.
"We are to absorb house Barrenkee into ours, and act as liaison for a new house between here and Mila," Tarvakian replied. Kelton smiled in relief. The King may be pompous, but his word was as good as solid coin.
"Barrenkee is done?" Zello asked.
"Aye, by morning. Until then, we are not to speak of it outside of this room. He won't even make it to the mines," Taravakian said. "Treason of the highest order," he added with a shake of his head.
"I knew he was vile." Zello smiled and slapped his fist into his palm. He looked at Kelton as if they had just won some great war.
"It is happening too fast," Tarvakian continued. "On the morrow, we must claim the house and soothe those who will become ours. Filgot will have to seek out new guards to employ while spreading his current staff thin. We must learn transportation skills and feed twice our number. It is an overwhelming task, at least at the start."
"What of Barrenkee's guards?" Vasco asked.
"Complicit, or at best tolerant of the treason. There is no place in our house for men such as those, and many will find themselves in the mines by the end of it. There was no mercy in the King's words."
"Felicity could help, Master," Kelton said. "She is known to those in the house. Her words will carry weight and help to gain the cooperation needed for things to transition smoothly."
"Aye, aye," Tarvakian agreed. "She is pleased with my house and I with her. It is a good thought, Kelton. It is easy to see why the King desires you."
"Desire me, Master?" Kelton asked.
"Aye, and I think I greatly disappointed him, though it was hard to tell. His anger of Barrenkee's plot was mixed into all his words." Tarvakian sighed. "He offered me ten thousand gold for you. I may have put my house in jeopardy by declining."
"Ten thousand?" Zello asked with wide eyes.
"Aye," Tarvakian nodded. "It was hard to say no. But my vow is my vow. I can not be assured of the King's care, only of ours." He smiled at Kelton. "Besides, your vow to me ends when house Tarvakian relinquishes ownership. I can't have you running about dismantling the kingdom and killing ship captains, now can I?"
"Ten thousand," Zello repeated. "It is a great sum."
"Would you have sold?" Tarvakian asked his son.
