Chapter 163: Master Servant

Ned glared at the hunter, and it seemed not working. Instead, he seemed to be provoked by it, he was now pointing at Ned with his finger as he shouted. Making sure to attract attention.

What do you want? Ned thought, retracting his eyes going to the emblem embroidered into Hunter's right shoulder. "But," Ned said, begging to sound like a kid to avoid unnecessary events. "Hunter, sir, I don't have any knife. Look." Opening his arms. Don't be an idiot, and move on. Ned thought.

"Well," pretty boy said, snorting. "You might have quick hands—and who invited you here? Outsiders weren't supposed to be here."

The crowd nodded. Not all of them joined to witness the ruckus, but sure they were making quite a scene.

"I was in—"

"You know what, kid," pretty boy said, rubbing his nose, cutting short ned. Wooden necklace, his rank, seemed to glow. "If you're here, you might have a business. Maybe applying as Companion. 400 hundred silver is enough for the shirt plus I'll help you find a good party to join as Companion."

The crowd was surprised by the Hunter's thickened face, perhaps his stupidity. But, they seemed to enjoy the scene, it was as if the event was a daily occurrence.

Ned frowned. But to put an end to this stupidity, Ned reached for his belt. Gesturing like he had his pouch, he sighed. Luckily, all the valuable items were put inside his dimension. Without his pouch, he reached for his pocket behind his pants. There, he gave an illusion that he was pulling something out of it. He then stretched his hand toward the hunter, balling something inside his fist.

The hunter was surprised by Ned's gesture. He didn't expect that a kid far younger than him surrendered to his demand just like that. He seemed to be reluctant to receive Ned's silver. Yet, he raised his hand to receive the silver coins.

Ned turned to leave pretty boy. He cut through the crowd, brushing their elbows one by one.

Then a quick tap to his shoulder made his reflexes in motion. He grabbed the hand, twisted it as he turned his body facing pretty boy.

Eyes wide in surprise, he countered Ned's grip by—

Ned pulled pretty boy's hand. He then followed it with a quick knee, hitting Hunter's stomach, he fell on his knees. Hand raised by Ned, his other hand holding his gut. Ned was standing while the hunter was on his knees. He breathed rapidly and looking at Ned with bulging eyes.

"You!" He said, trying to pull his hand off Ned's grip. His pouch hanging to his side. His free hand swept behind his waist, trying to pull something out. It was a knife, short, almost unnoticeable. His hand angled poorly, then thrust the short knife to Ned.

Then a figure stepped inside, reaching for the pretty boy's hand. The figure gripped Hunter's hand, the stab was stopped midway. It was Twali with his signature black suit and vest.

"That is enough, Tand," Twali said. For some reason, Twali seemed to appear imposing with his dark eyes, brows thinned to perfection, and hair but short.

Tand, the pretty boy Hunter, sunk as soon as he saw Twali ending his attack. Both of his hands were pulled wide by Ned and Twali.

"Master Twali?" Tand said, kneeling with arms wide open like a flapping bird. His eyes gawking in surprise, and fear.

Ned let go of Tand's hand as Twali let go of his.

"He is my guest," Twali said, almost a shout to warn the rest of the crowd. Retracting his body away for Tand and stood with hands crossing behind his waist. He then looked at the crowd. "You're supposed to be preparing for the raid."

With that, the rest of the crowd murmured and left the scene. But some of them threw a quick look at Ned before leaving.

"Master Twali," Tand said standing, he bowed. "Please, do not take me out of the raid. It was supposed to be just a game." Throwing a look at Ned and back to Twali, and bit his lips.

With the dispersing of the crowd. The place became wide and open. Hunters stood around the fountain talking with one another, some held a parchment to show something to the rest of the party. While some sat in what appeared to be a coffee shop studying something on the table. Behind Ned was an alley of wooden wall. Above the entrance was a sign engraved in a block of wood: it was a sword crossing a spear, a barracks. Perhaps a training room. The manor was big it looked like a small town, it was also three stories high. Birds flying above the center of the manor, it was visible through the hollow part at the center of the manor.

"No harm was done," Ned said to Twali.

Twali nodded and put his gaze back to Tand. "You will stay at the back," he said. "No—all of your party will stay at the back of the Raid."

Tand almost stepped forward to decline Twali's suggestion. But seeing how firm Twali was, he could only lower his head. "Yes," he said. He bowed and left Twali and Ned without meeting both their eyes.

"Now," Twali said, he wasn't smiling this time. "On behalf of House Tarragon. I, Twali the servant, apologize for what our House member had done." He then bowed by crossing one of his hands against his chest while the other clipped behind his back.

"It wasn't a big deal," Ned said waving his hand.

"No," Twali said and remained to bow. Pulling the attention of the crowd once more.

Seeing how Twali bowed to Ned, Tand went pale. Together with his party member, they murmured.

He won't stop, not until I accept. Ned thought sighing. "Okay," he said with a long breath. "I accepted it. Now, tell me. What's with all the respect?"