Location: Kotal kingdom.
POV: Provost Zenith.
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"Provost, we've just received another letter from Lafayette." Julian waved a handwritten letter with a grin.
I looked up from my desk and pushed aside my work. "Already? I figured it would take some time for him to write again."
Julian chuckled. "Well, it doesn't help that we're stealing the letters as soon as he posts them." He handed it to me.
"We intercept them, there's a difference." I snatched the letter and cracked the seal.
Inside was a short neatly written message.
— — —-
To Zenith.
I figured this would reach you and fast considering you guys keep an eye on everything I do.
I'm asking for help. I want to bring Jashen back here but I need to help with getting a residence.
In exchange for your helping me with that, I'm willing to align myself with your interests. Plus, I got some information about Lilith and I wanna discuss that with you.
Honestly, I need to see you in person.
Also, can you tell Jashen I miss her? Not like in a sappy way though. Just like, yo, Lafayette thought about you.
Thanks.
-L
— — —
I smile softly as I read and reread the letter.
Julian raised an eyebrow and I quickly straightened my face. This boy, he was a mess. A powerful, interesting, mess.
"So?"
I folded the letter and pocketed it.
"He's willing to talk about Lilith with us in person. He likely wishes to expose her plot with Darya to overthrow Ren. In exchange for that, he wants us to bring Jashen and help him buy a family home."
Julian whistled. "Our little Lafayette asked for that? It felt like only yesterday he wanted to end it all." He chuckled softly. "So obviously we're helping him, right?"
I stood to my feet.
"Obviously, even if he doesn't know something we don't, his potential is off the charts. A close relationship with him is practically a necessity for our security interests."
Julian crossed his arms as I grabbed my coat.
"You sure that's the only reason we're intervening?" He leaned forward and teased me.
I ignored him. "Have the local agent purchase a large isolated property."
Julian saluted. "Yes ma'am."
I exited the room and walked down the busy halls of the RBA office building.
Agents rushed past me with stacks of paper and coffee.
As I effortlessly made my way through the office my mind circled back to Lafayette.
If I were to be honest with myself, there is a reason beyond security as to why I care about his development.
He reminds me of the son I never got to care for. And the love he has for Jashen reminds me of my relationship with my late husband.
He too was a brooding liar and like Jashen I could always see right through him. Before this job consumed my life, I hadn't always been this mission-oriented woman.
I was a love-sick idiot.
And I'll be damned if I let these idiots lose their relationship.
A soft smile crossed my lips as I exited the building and entered my personal carriage.
It was self-propelled with a loud engine and high wooden wheels. I slipped my key inside and cranked it up.
The engine roared to life as the car itself rattled. The scent of burned Ouro began to waft as I pressed down on the gas pedal.
The self-propelled carriage lurched forward and I was off to the city outskirts.
— — —
It was well into the afternoon when I arrived at Jashen's safe house.
When I got there, I saw her playing outside with someone who looked to be a member of the maintenance staff.
He would throw a ball and she'd chase it down to bring it back.
I parked on the lawn and stepped out. The staff member paused mid-throw. Jashen slowly turned to look at me. Her orange tail wagged with excitement.
"I have news for you."
Her ears perked up as she rushed towards me. "News? You brought news? Is it about Lafayette? Is he coming to get me?"
"No," I answered dryly.
Jashen's ears and tail drooped. "Oh."
"We're going to meet with him."
Her eyes lit back up. "Really?! Can we go now?! Please? I really miss my mate, you know?"
I nodded and gestured a thumb at the mansion. "Gather your things. We're heading out as soon as you're ready."
Jashen scrambled back towards the mansion without a word.
I watched her go with my arms crossed before I turned my attention towards the sky. I had taken this self-propelled carriage to give Julian enough time to buy the property.
But that meant I'd be riding to the empire through the night. That should make it easier to slip inside undetected though.
Especially if I fly low.
Still, if everything goes right we should see Lafayette in the morning. It's best to catch him while the iron is hot and he can't easily back down.
He'll be forced to cooperate with us now that his lover is in his hands.
It'll make our relationship more official.
Plus, a little part of me is tired of seeing these two separated.
Jashen emerged from the mansion with two bags. "I'm ready!"
I stepped away from my self-propelled carriage and raised a hand in the sky.
And summoned my dragon.
— — —
We must've been flying for hours at this point.
Jashen had fallen asleep so I wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her close. As for her bags, I looped them over my shoulders.
That aside, we were close to Berdun.
I could see the massive towers of the academy. I brought my dragon low and landed on the city outskirts.
Near a large, lone tree on a hill.
Julian made his way over.
"Have you secured a property?" I asked as I handed Jashen over to him. He gently took her in a princess carry.
"Yes ma'am. It's nothing fancy but it's modest. Though more importantly, it's near the academy and an apartment building. We'll have an agent able to keep an eye on the property."
I dispelled my dragon and dropped to my feet with a thud. "Good work, let's go check out his new abode."
We entered the city and walked the quiet, early morning streets. There weren't many people out. However, we did come across a student from the academy.
He looked to be an elite scholar, and a fire user at that. In his hands were a bunch of parts. And he was headed toward a large shed of some sort.
I glanced at Julian.
"Anything to worry about with him?"
Julian shook his head.
"No, he's just building a self-propelled carriage with a steam engine. It's inefficient, but he understands that. Whatever the case he'll be important for the empire's modernization."
He looked at me with a knowing grin. "He's also Lafayette's elite scholar. Well not yet, but when the time comes he will be."
I nodded in approval.
Eventually, we reached the property and as described it was modest. Certainly not a mansion but big enough to hold a family of nine if necessary.
And there was an apartment building right across the street, just like Julian mentioned.
Julian poked his hip out at me. "The key is in my pocket." I rolled my eyes and reached into his coat pocket to retrieve the key.
Then I slowly marched up the stairs and unlocked the door. Inside the place was empty.
Just polished wood floors and wallpaper with flowers.
I sighed as I walked over towards a corner and set down Jashen's bags. Then I reached into my own pocket to produce my coin pouch.
I opened it. Inside were a few gold pieces and a lot of silver. "This should be enough for Jashen to buy furniture with. And some crystals to power the lights and bath for a while."
Julian sighed. "Still, Lafayette will need to earn his own money to deal with her. Especially if they have kids before he graduates."
I nodded.
"I'm sure he'll figure it out." I pocketed the pouch. "You stay here, I'll go have a talk with our elite scholar."
"Yes ma'am."
I exited the property and made my way over to the shed I'd seen earlier. It was a little further out but still close by.
The closer I got to it, the louder the dings and clicks became. Until eventually I was right at the shed doors.
I gave a hard knock.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
The work in the shed ceased followed by the sound of footsteps.
The large double doors then creaked open as a soot-covered face poked out. "Uh… hi?"