I have to admit that my mouth stands open for a moment at Justyna's sudden question. Of all the things I expected to happen, this isn't one. Sylwia breaking into a giggling fit doesn't exactly help either. I throw her a stern look, but give up as she just shrugs it off and keeps giggling.

In the end I turn to face the young noblewoman again instead. Was I sloppy enough that Justyna noticed me too, there on that rooftop across from the keep? I can't rule it out completely, but I doubt this is why she is here. No, she seemed entirely too oblivious to my presence, focused on the stars and the young lord instead. Which leads me to the conclusion that she isn't here entirely out of her own volition.

I try to stall for a little more time, as my thoughts are still racing.

"My intentions? With the young lord?"

She nods vigorously.

"Yes, what are your intentions towards our young lord? You were there, sneaking around the rooftops, weren't you?"

That doesn't sound like she is very sure of the fact. Now I'm almost certain that she hasn't spotted me herself. I'd still prefer it if she were to say so out loud though. I shrug and do my best to emit an innocent air, as I go fishing for a little more information.

"I might have been close enough to listen in on your lessons on astronomy for a little."

Now Justyna is the one left speechless for a moment. That doesn't last though.

"You … you were close enough to listen in on our lessons?"

I keep acting casual, even if the memory of the head maids piercing gaze still haunts me.

"Well, yes. I wasn't nearly as close as you seem to think though. Just one of the rooftops beyond the keep's walls. I have very good ears, you know? And it helps that the inner city is pretty quiet at night."

The lady in waiting blinks a few times as she processes my words. By now she seems much calmer. Thus she quickly arrives at the most important conclusion.

"You still haven't answered the question! What are your intentions? Spit it out already! Don't make me ask again!"

I roll my eyes, but keep my cool despite her losing hers once again.

"I have no such thing as intentions towards your young lord. Regarding you on the other hand, or possibly maybe even the head maid though. That's another matter."

By now I'm pretty certain that the young noble woman has something romantic in mind when she speaks of intentions. The way she blushes now only reaffirms that suspicion. How long will it take her to figure out that I mean something else? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Sylwia certainly seems fascinated by our exchange. As far as she is concerned this is probably free entertainment. Big drama! And she gets to watch it from the front row!

Well it certainly could be worse. I don't begrudge her a little harmless fun. Let her have a laugh or two. Maybe I can make her fall off her chair by the end of it. That way I can get a laugh out of this development too.

Finally Justyna manages to regain enough composure to speak up once more. She is still blushing furiously though.

"You have intentions regarding me? And lady Izolda?"

Good gods and goddesses! The way she says it makes it sound like I really just suggested a romantic triangle involving her and the head maid I now know to be a lady in her own right. Well, of course she is a lady. Justyna as a noble lady herself wouldn't serve under a commoner after all. Izolda, huh?

"Well, yes. Could you maybe introduce me to her? I can't just scale the keep's walls and drop in for a surprise visit after all. I suspect she might not take that well. She'd probably kill me dead before I even have a chance to ask her to take me on as a disciple."

The warring emotions on Justyna's face are something else, as I make it clear just what my intentions are. She has the decency to look a little embarrassed too, as she tries to find the right words.

"I'm … I'm not quite sure she would agree to something like that. You must have heard already that she studied at the Towers of Midnight, right? I mean, I'm not even sure if she even can take you on as a disciple just like that. It's one thing for her to teach her charge some essential skills. Taking on an apprentice is another thing altogether."

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I nod along with her words and as she falls silent again, I pick up the conversation again.

"And that's why I would ask you to introduce me to her. It probably would be for the best if I were to propose this idea to her myself. Don't get me wrong Justyna, I like you, but some things are best discussed face to face and not through middlemen."

It's curious how the young lady in waiting can look both incredibly relieved and incredibly worried at the same time. I decide to add some incredulous embarrassment to the mix too.

"Since you are already here Justyna, I have another question. Something that has been on my mind ever since the first time I spotted the three of you atop the keep's central tower. Why does the young lord have female attendants? What's up with that arrangement? Wouldn't a young lord usually have male attendants? Or is the lord just trying to foster a relationship between his son and you? Is that it?"

I tilt my head slightly and continue before she can even begin to properly think about it.

"It certainly would explain, why my unexpected presence got you so worked up. You like him, don't you?"

Yes, there it is, incredulous embarrassment. And Sylwia does indeed almost drop off her chair at my sudden change of direction. There is a little surprise for myself too, as this conversation finally makes my [Syld] skill improve a little once more. Honestly, how can it be so hard to level up language skills?

Finally the young noblewoman manages to fight her blush down to the point where she can speak again without stuttering.

"That's none of your business. And anyway, it's due to the old lord's orders. It seems he had some bad experiences in the past. Don't ask me for details though that was well before my time. Every since he hasn't allowed any male servants in the keep though. Not a single one."

Very curious. I look over at Sylwia, if she can provide some additional insights. She just shrugs though.

"Don't look at me like that. It's not like I'm that much older then either her or you. I don't know any more about this. You probably could ask your boss. He might know. He or maybe Wiktor."

Justyna finally gets up. It's clear that she intends to leave. She bows to both me and Slywia.

"Thank you for your time and your honest answers. I'll forward your request to lady Izolda."

I get up too and pull her into a quick hug, as I feel her formality is a little out of place here at this tavern.

"Thanks. If she deigns my request worth an answer you can leave a message either here or with the adventurers' guild."

My eyes follow her as she leaves. Only once she is well out the door do I turn back to Sylwia.

"Definitely the next lady of Riverrun, if nothing goes terribly wrong anyway."

The guild enforcer laughs while making warding gestures at the same time.

"Don't say it like that! Are you trying to curse the two?"

I wave her worries off.

"They'll manage. Anyway, I'm off for the night, or what little there is left of it anyway. Might sleep in tomorrow too. I really need to rest up a little."

Slywia in turn sees me off with one last wave.

I head straight to the boarding house I'm already familiar with. The lady by the door, Ludmilla, is actually asleep herself this time around. She is quick to wake up too though as I draw close, so I don't have to wake her up myself.

She looks up at me as she hands me the key to a room while I drop a penny in her palm in exchange.

"you know the drill?"

I nod and let her lead me to my room in silence. We really don't need to disturb the other tenants after all. There is no reason for it. Once she leaves again I lock the door behind me and fall asleep almost as soon as I have my things arranged for the night and my head hits my backpack which still serves as a makeshift pillow.

And I do indeed sleep in the next morning. Not just a little either. Not even the bustle of the waking town can rouse me from my sleep this time around. Thankfully I still get up and going before I get kicked out though. Never mind the odd look I get from the boy cleaning the rooms, as I check out with the landlady.

My first stop after that is at one of the many small eateries at the roadside, where I get myself a bowl of leftovers. Some scrambled egg with roasted vegetables. It's a hearty meal well worth the penny I have to pay.

Afterwards I head to the upstream waterfront. My next destination there is the shop where I got myself my second hand utility knife. I leave my sword with the shop owner for cleaning and sharpening. The weapon deserves a little extra attention after all, since it served me so well so far. The services of the smith cost me another penny.

To be honest, I almost want to cry, as I see my scarce supply of coins dwindle like that. The worst part is that I can't even haggle for a lower price for these services and purchases. There is no such thing as half a penny after all and won't insult anyone by asking they provide food or services for free.

Taking care of my sword should only take a few hours at most, according to the old man. Thus we agree that I'll drop by again a little later. In the meantime I head to another shop in the neighborhood. The Paws & Pawn, Beldrogar's pawnshop. It's time to ask my favorite dragon, who is also the only dragon I know personally so far, about additional training opportunities.

The shop is quiet as I enter, and about as cluttered as I remember it to be too. No surprising changes in this regard. The dragon I'm looking for is napping on his bed of coin behind the counter with its iron bars. He looks so comfortable, curled up on his pile of coins, but I have to wake him anyway.

"Morning sleepy head."

He cracks a single eye open, but just briefly. He doesn't go back to sleep despite closing it again though.

"Viviona. What can I do for you? Need something special?"

I laugh out loud.

"Ha! As if I could afford anything that actually deserves to be called special. Except, maybe some information. That's why I'm here. Maybe we can come to an agreement. So, say, would you happen to know anything about identification skills or magic items mimicking such skills that don't give you that more or less nasty itch?"

Now the young dragon perks up. It seems I have his attention. He hops off his gleaming and tingling bed and comes over to the counter.

"Oh? Now that's a good question! What's in it for me though?"

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