Elizabeth Nonata had just finished logging her account of the situation pertaining to the tall redhead she had learned to be called Finlay Ashowan, and the Royal Mage. That being said, she was beginning to question if Lee really was a mage, or if he just liked to wave his fancy stick around and claim he was...

Either way, she didn’t like that castle business was finding its way to her doorstep, and hoped that after the nuisance had his legs broken, he’d be less inclined to drag further attention to the establishment.

Standing and stretching, she strode over to the window, and noted that the festival was winding down.

‘Gods, I can finally go to sleep. This was not supposed to be a busy night… Ah well. They’ll be happy that we had a sudden profit wave.’

Momentarily closing her eyes, Elizabeth took a fortifying breath, and then turned to exit her office.

The woman was deep in thought over the goblet of wine she was going to savor before gratefully crawling underneath her crisp linen sheets as she exited her office. So deep in fact, that she didn’t notice anything amiss at first.

No, it wasn’t until she had nearly reached the first corner that she realized the normal chaos that deafened her was at a tolerable hum.

Peering down onto the bar floor, she noticed that several patrons and her women, were all facing something that was under the balcony walkway. Something Elizabeth couldn’t quite see from her position.

Worry fluttered in her chest as she quickened her step, lifting her skirts ever so slightly in her hand to make sure she wouldn’t trip.

Lithely she descended the steps, only to find that she was then too short to see what was happening, and too far to hear who was talking. It sounded like a woman weeping and a man asking questions...

Frowning ever so slightly, her eyes sought out one of the guards she paid handsomely to keep business running smoothly. When she eventually did manage to find them in the crowd, she was deeply irked when she realized that all of them were watching whatever attraction was occurring with exclusive interest.

Muscling her way towards the nearest guard named Sing, a brick wall of a man, she faced him with cold fire leaping from her eyes.

“What is the meaning of this?” she hissed.

“Your new head of housekeeping is solvin’ our patron’s marital disputes.” He lifted a finger to point to the scene, his eyes still transfixed.

“My new what?”

“Head of housekeepin’. That guy the mage keeps callin’ ‘Ashowan’?”

“Sing?”

“Yes?”

“Break his legs in front of everyone.”

“The mage?!”

“No, Ashowan’s!” she snapped.

The guard’s attention finally fell down to his boss, his expression one of surprise and sadness.

“But, they’re just gettin’ to the part where we find out whether or not Mrs. Keedle is having an affair with his brother or not!”

“Now!”

The reluctance Sing was unable to hide, did not help Elizabeth’s mood in the least as she watched the man gradually muscle his way through the crowd.

Once he had disappeared, she waited for the screams to start, for the crowd to gasp and shift awkwardly away, but that didn’t happen. The longer she waited, the more concerned she was, and it didn’t get any better when she saw Sing slowly making his way back to her, his face pale.

“What happened?” She demanded as soon as he had returned to her side.

“T-The Royal Mage says he would like to speak with you in your office. He’s comin’ through now.”

Elizabeth’s lips pursed. The entire situation was spiralling out of control, and if there was one thing that was guaranteed to put the assistant in a black mood, it was problems with meddling patrons.

Mage Lee slowly made his way towards the stairs, the moment he laid eyes on the infuriated woman, he cast his gaze downwards. Unable to properly face Elizabeth’s wrath, he wordlessly gestured to the staircase as the crowd suddenly broke out laughing over something Fin had said.

Upon entering the office, Elizabeth could feel the rage she had kept under control downstairs begin to peak. Slamming the door firmly after the mage had cleared the threshold, she descended upon the elder like a murderous banshee.

“What the bloody hell do you think you two are doing?! We’ve had an arrangement since the beginning Lee, you do not interfere in this house’s business, and word never gets out about your visits.” Hands on hips, she loomed over the man who was doing his best not to cower.

“I know, and for that I am grateful. I promise however, that if you try to break that man’s legs, it will only mean bad things for your establishment. Ms. Nonata, I would not intervene lightly. If you break Fin’s legs in front of a room full of wealthy merchants and Knights, the King himself might become involved.”

That quelled her rage enough to make her pause.

“Lee, who the hell is Mr. Ashowan?!”

“An idiot who-”

“No! No ambiguous replies, I want an honest to Gods answer. Who. Is. He?”

“He’s… He’s a cook!” The mage floundered while trying to properly explain without letting on just how important Fin was.

The redheaded was the embodiment of a headache, and was helping advise the war council for the Kingdom, his mother was saving the life of the King's unborn - and by extension possibly the Queen.

And worst, yet most important of all…

He was a Godsdamn House Witch who also happened to be a hero that helped save hundreds of people from Hilda…

“A cook.” Elizabeth stared back at Lee flatly. Despite her placid expression, Lee wasn’t fooled. He knew an even greater storm was brewing inside the woman. “You risk my wrath by trying to convince me that, the King of the continent, would become involved should I discipline a cook.”

“Ms. Nonata, please there are some things I cannot say!” Lee was beginning to back up as the woman drew nearer.

“Mage Lee, you are henceforth banned from ever returning to the house after this evening. You and that meddlesome redhead aren’t to even sniff in this direction. I am breaking that man’s legs tonight, and you, Lee, are going to be grateful that I don’t do much worse to yourself.” Her eyes were wide and had a mad gleam in them that had the mage swallowing with great difficulty.

The office door opened then, and in stepped none other than Finlay Ashowan. Carrying a wine bottle and a single glass, he knocked gently on the door while surveying the drama with a sunny smile.

“Ah, sorry to interrupt. Ms. Nonata, I believe this is your favorite beverage? Your bartender seemed to think so.”

“What happened downstairs?” Lee jumped in, unable to hide his curiosity.

“Oh, Mr. Keedle needs to go home and have a long talk with his wife, but I think they’ll be alright. I don’t think she actually slept with his brother, but he needs to apologize for taking to bed anyone he can pay to.”

The assistant slammed her palms on the desk, silencing the two men before she stalked over to Fin, the shadow of death following on her heels- eager for whatever carnage she was prepared to create.

“You. Don’t expect to be needing your boots for quite some time.” She growled up at his infuriating face. She knew the drugs were making him more careless, but this was ridiculous.

“While I am all for preserving my footwear, I’d like to ask you Ms. Nonata, is it your business that I have intervened with?”

The silence that rang in the room was deafening. Lee doubted he’d be able to save the git no matter what he did.

“Just as you are angered and ready to do me considerable bodily harm. This all began due to my inquiring to speak with the one responsible for doing the same thing to me. Do you see now how you mishandled the situation since the beginning?”

She punched him in the groin.

Fin doubled over and collapsed on the floor at her feet.

“Now that you’ve had time to reflect on your words Mr. Ashowan, would you like to reconsider what you’ve just said?”

When he was unable to do anything but wheeze, Elizabeth turned her back on Fin, and strode swiftly back to her desk. Now she just had to wait for the guards to do the last bit of dirty work and the whole situation would be-

“Ms. Nonata!”

Both Sing and Gord burst into the room, both of them nearly tripping over Fin who was still curled up on the floor.

“Godsdamnit what now?” She exploded furiously.

“T-There are Knights serving under Viscountess Jenoure’s house h-here to retrieve Mr. Ashowan. They were quite adamant that he not be harmed. ”

This time, it wasn’t only Elizabeth Nonata who was stunned. Lee looked to Fin on the ground completely perplexed. When the assistant and mage shifted and locked eyes, the elder shrugged.

“Even I don’t know about this one.”

Stomping back over to Fin who was slowly picking himself up, she grabbed him by the front of his tunic and gave him a firm shake.

“WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!”

Mage Lee was rubbing his face and trying to convince himself that he was actually asleep back at the castle, and none of the absurdity had actually happened.

It was then that two lines of Knights marched through the open doorway. Both Gord and Sing were easily shoved aside, and Elizabeth stared dumbstruck at the group before turning back to Lee looking more than a little helpless and unhinged.

“First, he knows you. Then you say the King would become involved if his legs are broken, now Knights serving the Jenoure household are in my study. Did the King have a bastard I’m unaware of?!”

Mage Lee shook his head, his hand covering his mouth as he genuinely had nothing left to say.

Releasing his tunic, and storming back to the desk, Elizabeth collapsed into her chair and watched Fin finish standing with a deranged expression.

Wordlessly, the redhead walked over to the desk, and set the wine goblet on its surface. Uncorking the bottle, he filled the glass until nearly the brim, and then set the bottle down.

“Have a good evening Ms. Nonata, it’s been a pleasure.”

Smiling, Fin turned and followed the Knights out of the room with the mage following hastily behind him, clipping his heels as he went.

Instead of descending the stairs back down to the main room, the guard named Gord guided them to a back stairwell away from prying eyes that lead to the alley beside the establishment, where only a few drunkards lay on the ground unaware of the world around them.

Exiting the alley, the Knights opened the door to a sleek black carriage that sat waiting for them. Stepping into the cushy interior, Lee was about to follow Fin in, when he turned sharply and stopped him.

“Er Lee… this is taking me to Lady Jenoure’s estate, not the castle.”

The mage stared blankly up at him.

“I just saved your hide in there and you are telling me you are not going to give me a ride back home? Also, why in the name of the Gods, is Lady Jenoure sending you a rescue team?”

Fin had been concocting the lie ever since learning who exactly was sending in the cavalry on his behalf, and so he answered prepared.

“I came to town for his majesty and was looking for a place to sleep. Lady Jenoure’s maid Clara offered me to stay with the Viscountess and serve as a cook in exchange for the room.”

The mage frowned. That much made sense, but still…

He glanced back at the row of Knights.

“Why did the Viscountess concern herself with rescuing you? Furthermore, how is it she knew you needed rescuing?”

“I’m not entirely certain myself. I’ll let you know if I get the chance to talk to her. Thanks for your help Lee!”

Without waiting for the mage to say anything, Fin ducked inside the carriage and closed the door hastily.

Annika sat with her arms crossed and a glare on her face. Her expression visible thanks to a candle that was held in a glass bowl in a small compartment behind Fin that had a glass door.

“Hi love,” Fin greeted weakly.

She said nothing.

“It really wasn’t all that bad I-”

Annika said nothing, but somehow Fin still cut himself off.

“Look, I know I-”

Once again feeling the words die in his throat, Fin wondered if Annika was secretly a witch capable of stealing his voice.

“The situation was in hand, it just-”

The carriage jostled them around as it moved, but Annika continued staring stonily at him.

“I’m sorry,” his shoulders slumped forward.

An odd noise that almost sounded like a laugh drew Fin’s attention to the small window behind Annika where she could shout to the driver if need be.

“Fin, you do realize the mess you’ve created tonight?” Annika demanded quietly.

“I don’t think it’s that bad!”

“You just painted a massive target on your back with Madam Mathilda’s business. I’m guessing you didn’t find out any information on the two men you were watching, and you- why in Gods name are you smiling?!”

“I was drugged.” Fin continued grinning. While the effects had lessened since he had initially taken it, he still found his face naturally collapsing into a grin.

“Do you even know what they gave you?!”

“Not a clue!” Fin began to hum as he watched Annika’s beautiful face in the faint glow of the candle.

The Viscountess began rubbing her eyes furiously, the black hood of her cloak falling back to reveal her shining dark tresses.

“How did you know I was in trouble?” Fin tilted his head as he asked, easily becoming mesmerized by her.

Peeking up at him for a moment, Annika sighed and leaned back into her seat.

“That’s a story for tomorrow morning when I’m not ready to kill you,” her eyes strayed to the carriage door wearily.

“If it makes you feel any better you’re probably the third woman tonight to feel that way!”

With a long moan Annika straightened in her seat and stared defeatedly at Fin.

“There’s someone other than Elizabeth Nonata?”

“Yes- I’m also curious how you know about her, but I guess we’ll come back to that. Yes, I hired a new kitchen aide! Her name is Chloe, though she isn’t too happy with her career change. I kind of insinuated she was a lad with a spot or two to the man who was trying to sleep with her back at the house.”

“You… Good. Gods. Why?!”

“She is only fifteen,” Fin remarked shaking his head.

“There are prostitutes younger than that Fin! Why in the world would you… Godsdamnit. You’ve really made a mess of everything.”

“Hardly, she gets a new job, and it’s one less young prostitute having to do something they don’t want to do. I know if we had a daughter with no options I’d want someone to step in.”

That made Annika pause. Fin gazed at her warmly, and next thing she knew she found herself blushing.

With another sigh, she conceded for the night. The bleeding heart of a man sitting across from her was still smiling, and it was a problem as his smile was a weapon against her anger. As was the bone collapsing fatigue she felt. Dawn was only an hour or two away, and all she wanted was to be in bed with Fin beside her.

“Annika?”

“What is it Fin?”

“Thank you for saving me.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I got punched in the groin so I might not be able to-”

“No more talking for tonight.” Annika closed her eyes and leaned her head against the wall of the carriage.

“Good Gods… man of my dreams… man that I love…”

With a smile Fin slowly moved over next to her, and pulled her head onto his shoulder. Kissing her hair, he shut his eyes with a smile that may not have had anything to do with the drugs in his body.