Jason

  When Jason came into the other room, Alensar was slicing bread, while his mother brought a pot of water to boil. Julia was up and dressed, probably due to their houseguest, because usually she had breakfast in her pajamas. But she was still bleary-eyed and not very talkative. Some tea would cure her.

  His mother started brewing the drink in a chipped teapot. "Does tea suit?"

  "Sounds wonderful," Alensar said, smiling.

  She poured all of them a mug of it, and they sat on the beds, which had been transformed into couches. The furniture was light and easily moved and tended to be multifunctional. There was a low table, which could be used by sitting on a pad on the floor or from one of the couches. There were worn rugs on the floor, and woven, colorful blankets on the walls. There were a fair number of windows–a real luxury.

  Jason was under the impression that they weren't paying much to live there, if anything. Laude Granthor owned it and felt guilty that his father was lost in protecting her. Jason didn't inquire much about it, preferring not to contemplate the cold cost of his father's life. Laude Granthor had lost her husband then, too.

  Alensar and his mother were chatting. He looked more comfortable than Jason had ever seen him.

  "Shasta, Jason told me you work in the temple?"

  "Yes, I'm a humble servant there. I help mostly with the cleaning, but am an acolyte, so I help with small blessings and the like."

  They smeared lard on the bread. His mother also made some fried eggs with onions, potatoes, and tomatoes. There was a moment of silence while everyone ate. The spices tasted like home, and he had missed it. Alensar finished first.

  "Do not hesitate for more. We have plenty," Jason's mother said.

  Jason's higher income made generosity easier.

  "This is absolutely delicious," Alensar said. "But I'm quite full. I'm sure Jason wants more, though."

  Jason didn't hesitate, and his mother seemed pleased.

  Jason's mother seemed pleased. "I'm glad even a finely dressed man like yourself can appreciate a plain kitchen like mine."

  Alensar didn't offer any explanation of his clothing, ignoring the implied question.

  Julia, now more awake, lacked their mother's grace. "What's your profession, Tsarek?"

  Jason glanced up at Alensar, who responded without hesitation, "Well, I used to be a horse trainer, then fell into some hard times. By chance, I met Laude Granthor, who was a close childhood friend of my father's, so she graciously decided to help me out. Apparently, I'm the spitting image of him."

  Jason shouldn't be surprised that Alensar was a good liar. He had been lying with his demeanor the whole time, even when sick and injured.

  Julia smiled. "Laude Granthor is a great woman."

  His mother chimed in, "She's been giving Jason odd jobs for years, and now a second chance at being a personal servant for a Val. She's also helping to pay for Julia's education. Julia's studying to be a healer."

  "That's rather generous of her."

  "Dad did save her life," Jason said.

  "What happened?" Alensar asked, as graceless as Julia.

  "Because Laude Granthor is a judge," Jason's mother said, "Some outlaws decided to ambush him and kill her. Dear Herrik was one of her guardsmen and made sure she had enough time to get away."

  Alensar's voice was quiet. "I'm so sorry to hear this."

  "It was long ago, and while I miss him, he died making our lives a bit better. I have no doubt the saints hold him tightly in their bosom."

  They fell into silence for a moment.

  Jason asked Julia a few questions about school, but he kept half of his attention on Alensar.

  He had gotten quiet, staring at nothing in particular.

  Jason's mother also noticed, because she poured a bit more tea into Alensar's cup. "May the dark thoughts leave you, dear. This is a house of Helion."

  Alensar started out of his reverie. "Apologies. I just got lost in thought."

  "A wise man once said, 'Your life is what your thoughts make it.' I keep my thoughts in the light of Helion," she said, her smile reaching her eyes.

  "Thank you for your wisdom," Alensar said with the same warmth but not the smile.

  The bell tower at the nearby temple rang with the hour.

  His mother clasped her hands together. "Now everyone, time to start our day. Let us give thanks for the meal and clean up."

  They spread their arms to all hold hands. Alensar joined them, but as they said the prayer of thanks, he was silent. Jason wondered if he didn't pray to Helion or if he didn't know the words. He heard that Karangasz worshiped the evil twin god Nekthor.

  As they started to clean up, Alensar joined them. Before Jason could show his dismay, his mother stepped in.

  "Why don't you rest in the sun outside? A guest need not help clean until they have overstayed their welcome. "

  Alensar nodded and left. The cleaning went quickly, Jason working the water pump while Julia washed. Not every house had a pump and drain. Jason had hazy memories of their old home, and his brother grumbling about hauling water.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Jason's mother took him aside. "He's a very nice young man, nicer than most, but you can't risk your job over him. Things are finally in a good place for you… for us."

  "He's not–"

  His mother's look of scepticism silenced him. "Focus on your work. Don't risk everything for some handsome face. And he's not all he seems. There are some dark secrets in that man."

  He could just tell her who Alensar was, but that would invite even more questions.

  "We're friends, and it will stay that way."

  She looked him in the eyes and nodded. "I just want what's best for you."

  "I know."

  They finished up and went outside. It was good that they were leaving before his Mom had an opportunity for more astute observations.

  Alensar had his face up to the sun, his eyes closed. Jason wouldn't have wanted to interrupt, but of course, the sound of them emerging alerted Alensar, and he got up from the chair.

  They clambered down the stairs together.

  Both Jason and Julia leaned forward as their mother kissed their cheeks. She then took one of Alensar's hands in both of hers. "May you find healing in the light of Helion."

  Their goodbye complete, they went their separate ways.

  Alensar

  Alensar stood there for a moment, not ready for the warmth of Jason's home to end. Jason and Julia already started walking, so he had to jog a few steps to catch up with them.

  "So, will you be able to walk me to school?" Julia smiled at them.

  Jason hesitated, but Alensar answered, "I don't see why not, I'm sure Laude Granthor will understand."

  Julia seemed pleased.

  As they walked, Alensar's sense of unease grew. He stood out, his clothes a cut above anything that people in this area would wear, except for the uniforms of servants.

  As they walked, he saw that there were occasional boarded-up windows, and many of the two-story buildings hadn't been repainted in at least a generation. Some never had been, the wood gone gray from the rain and sun. Jason's family home had been on the outskirts of the area and had been in good condition, with glass windows and unchipped paint.

  Alensar rarely went to cities as an outlaw, but when he did, it was to this part of the city. He knew what types of people were in this part of the city. He assessed every person they passed, watching but not staring. Some of them assessed him back.

  Julia and Jason were talking about some people he didn't know.

  Something was wrong. He could just tell.

  He wished he had more than a couple of throwing knives on him.

  Still, as far as he could tell, there wasn't anyone following them quite yet.

  They crossed the road and went into a small city square. A group of young women was milling around, all wearing the same novice healer robes that Julia had.

  "Serena!" Julia shouted and waved. One of the girls looked up and waved back.

  She and Julia exchanged hugs in the easy way teen girls did, even when they saw their friends every day.

  "Hi Jason," Serena said, smiling. Alensar glanced over at Jason to see how he reacted to the girl's obvious attention.

  Jason gave a tight smile. "Hello there."

  He turned to Julia and put an arm around her shoulder, squeezing her in a half-hug. "You study hard, okay? I have to get to work."

  Quite a few girls were staring at him and Jason, with occasional giggles and whispers. Had he been so obvious as a teenager? Probably.

  A woman came out in full healer robes. Her hair was pulled back, emphasizing her high cheekbones. "Come in, girls."

  She then glanced at Alensar, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "May I help you, gentlemen?"

  Ah, he was still just as obvious.

  "Hello, Delilah, my friend and I were just dropping off Julia," Jason said with a cheer proportional to her scorn.

  He turned to his sister. "Have a good class, kiddo."

  Jason gave a quick bow, and Alensar followed suit. The woman returned it, and they left.

  The moment they left the square, figures started to shadow them. Perhaps Julia's presence as a novice healer had provided them some sort of protection that was gone now.

  Alensar palmed one of the throwing knives Jason had gotten him. Good thing he sharpened it.

  He looked back and saw two men following them. One of the men gave a tip of his broad hat. He didn't care that Alensar knew. They were just waiting for the right moment to strike.

  Jason seemed relaxed, and Alensar wasn't sure if it was an act or if he was unaware.

  "You know we're being followed, right?" Alensar said.

  To his credit, Jason didn't immediately whip his head around to see. He kept looking forward. "No, I didn't know."

  "My clothes are nice, but they aren't that nice," Alensar commented, "So why…"

  Jason looked ready to curse, but he did not. "Someone must have tipped someone else off that we left via the Gold Gate. Maybe even the guard we spoke to."

  City of law and the lawless.

  Alensar noticed a third man joining the two already following. Now that it was two to three, it would be soon.

  "Good thing you know this city. Think we can run faster than them?" He asked.

  Jason swallowed. "One way to find out."

  They bolted.

  Jason led the way through the winding alleyways. At first, Alensar kept up with Jason, feeling the freedom of the ground falling away under his feet. He glanced back and saw the thieves managing to pace them. To be a thief, you had to be good at running.

  And Alensar had been good at running, but too soon, his limbs and lungs started to forget. Each step was just a bit slower, his breathing getting faster.

  The alley they entered was narrow. Alensar stopped and then yelled Jason's name to get him to stop.

  They would have to fight, but first, he had to catch his breath.

  Jason

  Jason looked back at Alensar's shout. Alensar was standing with his hand on his knees, breathing hard. Jason's momentum carried him forward a few more steps before he stopped.

  "Do you think we got away?" He said, walking back towards Alensar.

  Alensar took out his knife. Jason glanced at it. It was one of the throwing knives he had bought. It was tiny.

  Did Alensar even have a plan? Not that Jason had one.

  Alensar seemed to still be catching his breath when the first man, the fastest, came into the alleyway.

  "Well, looks like what they say is true." He panted. "Noblemen are too soft to run."

  Jason and Alensar glanced at each other.

  "I have a knife," said Alensar, and he held the small throwing knife up.

  The man snorted and took a step closer. "You think you're tough because of Daddy's money? Having fun slumming?"

  Alensar seemed relaxed, and his voice had a slight Karangasz lilt. "If you don't step back, I'll kill you."

  There was no menace in his words, but Jason believed him.

  The man stared at them and laughed. "Oh, you're so serious with that threat."

  He pulled his sword out, but hadn't stepped forward yet.

  "No one has to get hurt here," Alensar said, taking a step to the side and pushing Jason back. Jason moved with the push, but his thoughts stopped–his body barely obeying him.

  "The only ones getting hurt are pretty boys." The man was grinning as he stepped forward.

  Then he stopped, making a horrific gurgling sound, the knife embedded in his throat. Alensar rushed him, pulling the sword from his grasp. Another man came into view. He barely glanced at the scene before drawing his blade, which Alensar just managed to parry.

  "Go! I'll meet you at your house," Alensar shouted, not looking at Jason, and catching another of the man's swings on his blade.

  Like the coward he was, Jason ran.