Caj walked along beside the small palanquin that carried Natalia. He doubted that Natalia really wanted to sit in the bloody thing, but she did anyways, for appearances sake. Just as she had sat in the high-backed chair this morning. Caj kept a professional demeanor as he walked by the palanquin, just as Natalia did while riding inside of it. Caj didn’t know exactly what a guard was supposed to do, but he guessed that chatting up a storm with his master’s daughter probably wasn’t a part of it. Besides, it wasn’t really as though he had anything that he wanted to say. Natalia was nice enough, sure as sure, and in their limited social interactions she had always demonstrated a subtle since of humor, but Caj didn’t really know the woman.

Natalia, for her part seemed content to keep the silence between them as he walked, and she rode. The four men carrying her occasionally shot him curious looks, but nothing threatening or rude, so Caj paid it little mind. As they were walking along, Caj heard the sounds of shouting. As they rounded the next corner, he could hardly believe his eyes and ears.

“Reaper Scythe and Sickle boy, just give me the blasted sword!” A guardsman yelled.

“No, I won’t do that! It’s mine! Get yer bloody damn hands of me sister!” a familiar voice rang out. It took Caj a moment to recognize what was happening. Half-head stood before him, gripping tightly to the hilt of a short sword. Caj recognized it as one of the ones he had tossed to the boy the night before and groaned at his own stupidity.

I should have told the blasted fool boy not to wear it. He thought to himself. He cursed under his breath.

“By the Reapers threshing floor...” He trailed off as his eyes took in the rest of the scene. Rai looked ready to draw his short sword on one of the guards who was holding Mute. Caj was relieved to see that the guard wasn’t tormenting her, but rather holding her in place. Caj tried to think of what to do to salvage the situation. If Half-head was accused of stealing for a second time, it would be the noose for him, regardless of age. Caj’s feet carried him forward before he even knew what was happening, and when he spoke there was not a vestige of guardsman or undertaker left to him. He looked every inch the young lord, even in his worn leather armor.

“Rai!” He barked, his tone hard and clipped. He walked up to the boy and firmly cuffed him on his non-melted ear. “What did I tell you about playing with my things. Swords are dangerous tools, and you were supposed to come right back from the smith to give that to me!” Rai looked confused for a moment, no doubt struggling to reconcile the unexpected face. Caj hissed a whisper before continuing. “Play along Half-Head.” He raised his voice again “And dragging you poor sister into this mess too! I swear boy, I’m going to have you scrubbing pots in the kitchen with Percilla until you are old and gray, and you’re lucky I don’t do worse!” Rai, admirably, adapted to the situation rather quickly, adopting a shamefaced expression and hanging his head, while rubbing at his jaw with his stump.

“I’m sorry, master, I just-” Caj cut him off before he could continue. Rai was a surprisingly good actor, but he was liable to make their situation worse by ignorance of proper address.

“The proper address is ‘sir’, Rai,” Caj snapped, really getting into character now, “How many times to I have to tell you that? And look at you, you’re covered in filth! What did you do, roll in a pig sty? Reapers Harvest boy, I told you, we’ve a meeting with the magistrate today!” Caj pinched the bridge of his nose theatrically. Rai opened his mouth to speak again, still with the doe-eyed look of repentance, but Caj held up his hand. “Not another word Rai. Get your sister and go stand by the palanquin. If I hear a peep out of you for the rest of the day, it will be my switch instead of kitchen duty, no matter how distasteful I find it. GO!”

Half-head shuffled shamefacedly over to Mute, who was looking between the two of them with wide-eyed confusion. He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her over to the palanquin, where Natalia was watching with a raised eyebrow. Caj ignored the look and turned back to the guards.

“Gentlemen, I simply must express my most heartfelt apologies for my man’s conduct. He is new to this station in life and not yet acclimated to it. I must beg your forgiveness. A crown each to drink away your troubles.” He flipped them each a coin, nearly wincing at the amount of money, but it was necessary. While an undertaker might be stingy with coins, a warrior of unknown, but presumably high station, would not. He turned on his heel and marched back to the palanquin. As they rounded the next corner, Rai spoke up.

“Oi, big-man, what in the name of the Burning Chaff just happened?” Mute nodded and pointed her thumb at Half-head as if to say:

Yeah, what he said

Natalia smiled coyly at Half-Head’s words.

“I believe, young master Rai, was it? Yes, I believe you were just hired.” Half-Head looked confused.

“What?” he asked, alarmed. Caj groaned. To think, he could’ve had a properly trained serving man, not that he’d know what to do with one. Instead, he would have Half-head, or Rai as it were. He had no doubt that Rai would be excepting the position, the pay was too good for him not to. He was proven right.