After a hot bath, Jack sat on the edge of his bed, towel-drying his hair. “I’m going to have to track the four of them down,” he muttered to himself. “Six days before I start work. I can’t afford to let this threat hang over my family.”
He planned to stake out the Adventurers Guild, watch for any sign of the four adventurers, and trail them one by one. With months of experience tracking Greaves in his past life and his new assassin skills, he knew how to move unnoticed.
Jack dressed, pulling out the dark cloak he’d taken from the rat-faced rogue. When worn, it would cover most of his clothing. “That’ll do for a start,” he murmured, rolling it up and storing it in his pack. “I’ll need to buy a mask… and figure out how to hide the bow’s colour… I should’ve done this before.”
He picked up the white oak bow, frowning at the bloodstains. “Wait… wasn’t there a stain on one of the durability runes?” He remembered a smear of blood that should’ve been impossible to clean off without damaging the rune’s delicate etching.
“Where did it go? Did it… fade?” he muttered, puzzled. He’d tried washing those stains days ago with no luck. He double-checked the durability rune. “Still intact. That’s so strange.” He half remembered the Baron stroking the bow and a bloodstain fading. No, it couldn’t have been.
Shaking his head, he focused back on his plan. He slipped into Polly’s room and rummaged through one of her tailoring supply boxes for something to wrap the white oak bow shaft.
“Nope… nope… ah, perfect.” He pulled out a thin strip of black material. “Probably just an offcut. Polly won’t miss it.” As he was about to leave Polly’s room, he spotted his sister’s box of jewellery supplies.
Jack opened the box and rummaged through the items. “Perfect.” He grabbed a strip of leather cord and a metal clasp that could hold a coin. He hurried back to his room.
A few cuts with a pair of scissors, and a little time later, Jack had wrapped the bow in the cloth and tugged on it to tighten the knot. He held it up like he was about to nock an arrow. “Hmm… needs to be tighter.” He unwrapped the material and rewrapped it; this time, making sure to pull the cloth taut with each wrap.
Minutes later, Jack admired the result with a grin. “Much better. They won’t recognise it now.”
“Jack! Food’s ready!” his mom called from the kitchen.
“Be there in a minute!” he called back, hanging the now black bow on the valve where he kept it out of reach of little hands. He glanced at Hermes’ grinning face held in PenDragon’s claws. I’ll deal with you after food.
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***
The kitchen table was already set when Jack arrived, his cheeks still flushed from the bath, hair still damp. A large steaming pot of ramen noodles sat in the centre, fragrant with herbs, garlic, and rich broth. Alongside it sat a basket of fresh-baked bread; Zia’s bread, judging by the lumpy shapes and the proud little smile on her face.
“Delicious, Mom,” Jack said, slurping up another mouthful of noodles. “Zia, did you help with this?”
Zia nodded. “I made bread!”
Anna ruffled her silver hair. “She did. Kneaded the dough, shaped the loaves. Zia did everything herself. They came out beautifully. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Zia said, her cheeks flushing pink again.
Jack tore off a piece of crusty bread and dipped it into his broth. “Tastes amazing. You’re a natural baker.”
Zia beamed, her little feet swinging under the table.
Nearby, baby Richard lay in his cradle, gurgling and waving tiny fists in the air. Every so often, Anna leaned over to tickle his tummy or make a scrunched-up face, drawing delighted squeals and little kicking feet.
“Look at you, little dragon slayer,” Jack said, reaching over to tap Richard’s nose. “One day you’ll be running circles around us all.”
Richard responded with a gummy smile and a happy burble.
Dinner was filled with easy chatter: Zia recounted how the dough had puffed up ‘like magic,’ Anna shared a funny memory of when Polly was little and tried to bake a cake out of mud, and Jack joined in, teasing and laughing along.
Zia brought over the last loaf. It was shaped a little like a dragon, though it looked more like a fat lizard with stumpy legs. Jack made a show of inspecting it.
“I don’t know, Zia… is this really a dragon?” he said, grinning. “Looks suspiciously like a cow with stubby legs and something odd going on with its udder.”
Zia gasped in outrage. “It’s a dragon! Look, it even has dragon wings!”
“Hmm…” Jack squinted. “Are you sure? Looks like a poor out-of-work knight saddled up a cow as his mighty steed. See. Look!” He pointed at the ‘snout’, “It even has reins.” He leaned forward in his seat and pretended to ride the saddled cow. “Giddy up, little cow!” He waved his arms in the air. “We have a kingdom to save! And a biscuit princess trapped in a wobbly tower of trifle!” He pointed forward like he was holding a sword, about to go into battle. “We have to save her!”
Anna chuckled, shaking her head as she wiped her hands on a cloth. “Don’t tease her, Jack.”
“I’m not teasing,” Jack smiled, breaking off a piece of bread and popping it into his mouth. “I’m complimenting. It’s a brave knight’s delicious cow-steed.”
Zia giggled so hard she almost fell off her chair, clinging to the edge to keep from sliding off.
After dinner, the kitchen settled into a warm, quiet hum. Anna rocked Richard in her arms, humming to soothe him to sleep. Zia, determined to ‘help like a grown-up,’ stacked dishes on the counter, her little tongue poking out in concentration. Then set to work cleaning them.
Jack leaned back in his chair, arms folded behind his head, watching the peaceful scene. For a brief, golden moment, the weight on his shoulders eased. This was what he was fighting for. Dad will be at work now, and Polly is with her friends rehearsing, he thought. I have to keep them all safe.
He’d do anything to keep his family safe. Rising, Jack returned to his room to collect his things. After double-checking his gear, he headed back out to begin his stakeout at the Adventurers Guild.
Chapter 096 Nighthawk And Raven
