I look at him for a moment. He seems tired, with dark circles under his eyes.
"It's not, but I can cook you something for a fee—nothing that wouldn't be standard."
He nods, very grateful. "Can you make enough for two people? I'm expecting company."
I nod and go to work. He seems exhausted, and I can at least offer him a warm meal, since it's cold autumn weather. I think to myself what I can cook that's easy, and then I remember the small stew I had been working on since yesterday. I'll just give him that, with bread. The stew—a pumpkin base with seasonal vegetables and lamb—should warm him up, and whoever he is expecting. I go ahead and plate it up.
Normally, I wouldn't do this, but I'm sure he has no idea where to go in town. I finish plating, and he nods.
"Thank you.". He hands payment not in ration cards but in coins.
He stares at me unnervingly.
"Aren't you going to sit and enjoy your food?" he asks.
I look at him, questioning. "You didn't say anything about me being your company."
He smirks. "Would you have accepted it? Besides, a meal is better shared with another person, wouldn't you say? I need guidance for this fair town."
I sigh, defeated. I am hungry. I won't deny it, and it would be rude not to help as a resident, so I hesitantly sit across from him and pour us both tea.
He eyes me like he is studying me as I hand him a teacup. He nods his thanks. We eat in silence for a moment before he says half-questioningly,
"For a place not open for businesses, there are a lot of people here."
"I teach reading and writing once a week to anyone who comes, including you," I reply.
He looks at me for a moment before saying, "Impressive. And who taught you the skill?"
I look at him between bites of my stew, gauging whether he is genuinely curious or poking fun. After a moment, I simply say,
"I taught myself."
He looks at me with curiosity but says no more and nods.
"Then it is good you teach others. It's not something anyone else would do."
We continue eating in silence. When we are done, he says,
"Thanks for the meal and the company."
I smile and nod, not like I needed thanks. "Do you know where I can find long-term lodging?"
"How long-term?"
"Long enough for me to find the person I'm looking for."
I eye him with baited breath. "The person you're looking for?"
He nods. "Yes. It's part of my job, you could say. I find people. I have connections everywhere to find the people I am looking for—my clients."
I look at him, my breathing uneasy. "And do you charge a fee for these services?"
He looks confused. He leans forward in his chair while I slightly shrink, looking him in the eyes. He studies me for a moment and sighs,
"Depends on my boss and the amount of time I spend on a case."
I don't know if I can trust this man, but he spends time looking for people. Maybe he can help me. I cup my necklace for a moment. All these years searching, and I'm not any closer to answers than when I began. If there is even a slight chance… I rip my necklace off my neck and place it on the table.
"This is all I have left of my parents. I have been trying to find them all my life."
He stares at the necklace, blinking rapidly, caught in some sort of daze. I give him a moment as he examines it repeatedly, taking in every detail.
"Please… please help me find them." I lay my hand on his.
He quickly blinks, snapping out of it, and shakes his head.
"We will discuss this tomorrow. Right now, it's too late to go into this because there is clearly a story here. Where can I find a place to stay?"
I put my necklace back on. "A couple blocks down south. There's an inn—tell them Nyra sent you."
He nods. "Thank you."
He gets up to the door and makes a comment,
"Names Kaelith, by the way. Ask for me in the morning."
As he leaves, I stare at the doorway, reading his expression. He at least knows something, a little, and I pray that he has the answers I seek.