Chapter 114: Gerald


    W-what did you two do to me? Gerald sputtered while sping at his throat.


    nah looked at the man, confused. Mr. Torith, I have no clue what you are talking about. You wanted to have a conversation, face to face, with nomunication crystals involved, so that is what we are doing. I must say, you limated quite quickly. Very impressive.


    N-no! You made me stab myself in the throat. I I remember it all. The man screeched.


    Now, now. Think back on what you remember. I only told you that you should apologize. You are the one who went above and beyond and tried to maim yourself. Which, might I add, is quite interesting. You may want to ask yourself why you would subconsciously decide to act in such a manner. You might learn a bit more about yourself and your nature. I know I sure have. nah said with a knowing smile.


    Y-you you He stuttered.


    Have a seat Gerald. Avery spoke up. You wanted a meeting with my mistress, now you have one. Her time is quite valuable. You better use it wisely.


    Gerald took a deep breath, calming down. He cautiously approached the table and sat down, eyeing nah wearily.


    Now. nah said. What was so urgent that you had toe to my establishment and cause a ruckus. I was in the middle of a very important conversation when you arrived. This better be good.


    Gerald, now calm, stared daggers into nah before answering. Im sure you know exactly why I havee here, but since you are acting ignorant, let me help jog your memory. He spit out.


    Careful! Avery warned. Your position in the Kingdom may be higher than mine, but you are not in my league. I will not tolerate you talking to my mistress in that manner.


    Its fine, Avery. nah said. Let the man do as he pleases. If he goes too far, you will not be needed to defend my honor. I am perfectly capable. In her head, she spoke through themunication crystal. <em>Thats enough. Hes already reeling from the other actions, no need to add on to his stress.</em>


    Avery bowed in servitude. Yes, mistress. Inwardly, he sent back. <em>I know hes just trying to gain back a little control of the room, but if nothing else, he should know better than to insult you.</em>


    <em>Better in my face than behind my back. </em>nah replied.


    Gerald flinched at Averys outburst, but smirked at nahs reprimand. Yes, <em>Avery</em>, she is perfectly capable. There is no need for a dog like you to bark. Listen to your master.


    Watch it. This time, nah warned. I gave you some rope, and now you try to hang yourself? Get on with it. What do you want? Her friendly demeanor was thrown out the window at his remark. nah was as protective of her people as they were of her. She would not hear them being insulted.


    Gerald clicked his tongue. Whatever. He said. I know you know of this Derek Hunt person.


    Yes, what of him? nah replied.


    He attacked my family yesterday! Gerald yelled.


    nah shook her head. No, he didnt. I know exactly what happened yesterday. He warned your family after they made an egregious error by offending him. They are lucky that I talked him out of attacking your family. Otherwise, only you and your wife would remain.


    My grandson is in aa! The man spat.


    That was news to nah. It seemed like the boy hadnt been able to withstand Dereks aura at all. Of course, it had only been a day. He would most likely wake up and be fine. Well, physically, at least.


    And whose fault is that? I cant believe that your son actually raised a child who cant even withstand a little aura. How pitiful. She said. Besides, it only happened yesterday. Im sure hell be fine in a few days. You can use this as a learning experience for him. It will teach him not to offend those he cant afford to. Of course, with the way this meeting is going, maybe it would be good for you to gain some of that experience, as well.


    Still! How dare he barge into my sons, the City Lords, manor and threaten him. And over amoners life. Gerald said.


    nah looked back at Avery. Avery, which noble house is it that youe from again?


    Avery tilted his head. None, mistress. I am but amoner orphan.


    Ah, I see. nah said, then shifted her focus back to Gerald. Gerald, as my assistant is but a meremoner. Im sure you wouldnt mind having an exchange with him, maybe learning the worth ofmoners in the process?


    Geralds face paled slightly, but he scoffed. I will not lower myself to spar with a filthymoner. Besides, one outlier does not prove anything.


    Oh? Well, since you wont lower yourself to spar with amoner, then how about me? I wont even use a weapon. nah said.


    His pale face contorted in fright. I wouldnt dare. He said.


    Then shut the fuck up and get to your point! nahmanded, still careful not to put any energy into her voice. Commoner this,moner that. None of that matters. What matters is that your family offended somebody that they shouldnt have. That somebody just happens to be a friend of mine. Now, youre here making excuses. What is it that you want?


    I want him held ountable! Gerald yelled. He threatened my family. The family of the Kings Advisor. Just that should be enough to put him to death, but he even put my grandson in aa.


    nah sighed. I really dont know what the King sees in you. Derek let your family off lightly after what they did. Yet, you stille in here demanding he be held ountable? How could someone like you possibly advise the king?


    Y-you! Geralds face flushed red in anger.


    Little Gerald. nah spoke softly. Let me give you a small bit of advice. Derek is a friend of mine. He is also somebody that I would never want to offend. She said. And, if the King were to ask me, I would tell him the same thing.


    It took a moment for the realization of what her words meant to kick in. Finally, his eyes went wide. Hes but one man. How can you have such a high opinion about a single person that nobody has ever heard of before? What has this man done to receive such respect?


    nah smiled. Im sorry, but that is all Im willing to discuss with you about Derek. Take my advice or ignore it. Its up to you. I will not reveal any more details about him than I already have. I suggest you count yourself lucky that Derek has agreed to let your family off with a warning.


    Gerald sat in silence. asionally, he shook his head and muttered, Just one man Finally, Gerald finished thinking to himself. The man should still be punished. Nobody is above thew. He definitely broke many of the Kingdomsws by threatening a City Lord.


    nah snorted. Laws? You should know better than anyone thatws are for the weak. How could any of your family be alive if thews of the Kingdom were followed? I, for one, know of at least a dozenws that you or your son have broken that have the punishment of death attached to them. Im sure the King knows as well, but he has decided to overlook these transgressions because he thinks he owes you.


    I dont know what youre talking about! Gerald shouted from across the table. Me and my family do everything openly and honestly.


    nah stared at the man, bbergasted. Did you seriously just say that? Youre literally here because your grandson tried to ambush and kill a thirteen-year-old so he could steal the boys storage ring. And you say that your family doesnt break anyws? Are you delusional?


    Thats just a mistake made by the young. You cant hold that against him. Besides, he was amoner and my grandson is a noble. Thews are different.


    nah shook her head. No, they are not. Thews are the same. Actually, it is the nobles who are supposed to set an example for themoners. If anything, nobles should be punished to a higher extent thanmoners. But that is politics, and you are not here to discuss that. Are we finished? I have many things to do today.


    We have to do something about this. Even if he is one of your friends. Gerald said.


    I agree. nah said. Ill probably congratte him on a job well done, thank him for not causing your family too much damage, and buy him a drink when he arrives at the capital. She nodded.


    The man sneered. At least tell me why you hold him in such esteem.


    No. nah answered simply.


    Gerald pushed himself back and stood from his seat. Fine. I knew this was going to be a waste of my time. I only came here out of courtesy. Ill be reporting this matter to the King.


    Courtesy? nah scoffed. You came here because you thought you could pressure me into betraying my friend. Or, at the minimum, have me beg for my friends life. Well, Im sorry to say, but Derek can handle himself. Im sure youll send some assassins after him after this. I know how you operate. Go ahead and tell Edward. Ill be sure to contact him once you leave to let him know youreing. Think of it as a courtesy to you.


    Gerald stomped across the room to the door.


    Oh, just so you know. nah spoke, and he stopped. Ill let Derek know that he doesnt have to hold back because of me anymore. Id like to see your manor in Torith after the first failed assassination attempt.


    Gerald opened the door, walked out, and mmed it.


    <em>I didnt make anything better, but that man was set in his ways the moment he entered the room. There was no changing his mind. Hes actually happy that something like this happened. Hes always been jealous because of the respect Edward gives me. </em>She couldnt help but think as the Kings Advisor left her restaurant. <em>At least Phillip isnt a total idiot like that one, even if he is overbearing.</em>


    nah shook her head. Looks like I have even more on my te today. She took out two redmunication crystals. One had Dereks contact information, along with a few other runes, and the other had but a single rune, the Kings.


    Are you going to warn Derek? Avery asked.


    You do it. She tossed him the crystal containing Dereks rune. The old man always talks my ear off. No telling when Ill be able to get out of this conversation. It was ironic. If only she knew that Ste had the same thoughts about her.


    Avery smiled wryly. Well, I wanted to talk to Derek, anyway. He took the crystal and began hismunication.