Chapter 165: The Plan

So that's it, Ned thought. Moving his other leg across the other. Leather rubbed against each other making a squeaking sound. The room doesn't have any window, which forces Ned to look at Twali. "He never gave up," Ned said under his breath.

"Please refrain using he when you're not a House member," Twali said. "He's always Lord Sven to the outside. Blood of true heir to the throne."

"Did he—your Lord," Ned said, back still leaning against the soft cushion. Eyes pointing at Twali. "Told you why to go to such length to recruit me?"

Twali shifted leg, he shrugged and tapped a finger on his elbow. "If you work with Lord Sven," he spoke. "He will help you find Roy. He will provide you with the resources to become a hunter. But first, you need to join an academy. Your House merging to his—"

"No," Ned said in a quick response. So Sven told him about my search. Ned thought. How big is his trust toward the servant? "I already told him no. Now, if you still insist, just because I broke his stone then... "

Ned flicked a wrist, the wrist where his ring he wore. Mana stone then appeared on the flat of his hand. He then reached for the table to his left, putting the stone. Blue light shone against the glassy table.

Twali jumped off his feet, long-legged servant skipped toward the table. He then leaned, eyes gawking in awe. "By the Maker!" he said, breath formed a vapor on the stone. "Mana Stone. And—"

Twali paused, he then looked at Ned. And pulled something inside his suit. A monocle: copper ring and chipped surface. He fixed the eyewear to his right eye and turned over to Ned, then sat beside him. Too close. Ned raised a forearm, blocking Twali's ecstatic response.

"Let me see it," he said. He was sitting yet he was towering at the same time. He looked down at Ned with his pawnbroker's eyes. Monocle reflected light from the ceiling. Dark eyes twinkled and dilated.

"See what?" Ned said cocking a shoulder.

"Ring."

Ned sighed, lowered his guard, and stretched his left to the servant.

Without delay, Twali grabbed Ned's hand. He narrowed his eyes, inspecting Kamma's ring. "Gurrat'uhllumaki," he said in his dialect and was shocked by his response. He lowered his hand as he let go of Ned's wrist. And moved opposite of Ned sitting back at the red sofa.

Ned arched a lip and remembered something his Master told him once: "There is a place above the continent," Master Will had said. Remembering him with messy brown hair while lifting a finger trying to prove a point to the ten-year-old Ned. "And was divided by mountain ranges. This is the place that the Kingdom gave up on conquering. The Northern Kingdom; humans of different ethnicity. There, they lived with different kings. Mostly barbaric, but highly intelligent people."

Just like elves, people from the Northern Kingdom were forbidden to enter the Griffith Kingdom. Yet, one had slipped through. And manage to gain status. Why would Sven be affiliated with the people of the North? Unless...

"Kid," Twali said, pulling the monocle off his eye and hid it back in his inside pocket. He then crossed his arms against over chest. '"Ned. I will give you the time. So that... You and I will have time to think these things through. I—after what you have shown, it seemed that resources weren't your problem. But I am curious how would you find this Roy without our help."

He was right, losing leverage—which was resources—against Ned, he needed to formulate a new plan to put his Lord's request in a new motion. Second, Ned sighed. He was right, he thought. I need to find Roy, but me being alone to do it will take time. And I'm not strong enough to venture the Middle and Inner Area of the forest. Also, I've encountered only one settlement. Yet, the result was almost wiped out of the Quickfall team. If I go there alone, I might find a new settlement crowded with those beasts, and maybe hunters that were in control by those parasites—

Ned's eye gleamed silver. "Tell me about yourself," Ned said, leaning back to the red sofa. "As you have guessed by now, I'm no ordinary kid. But first, if I wanted to work with someone, I need to trust them. So tell me, why break an Oath to save me?"

"What do you mean work with someone," Twali said, surprises after surprises his eyes narrowed. He smiled but seemed to be worry as well, his voice lowered. "I only save Lord Sven, that is my primary Oath. The Oath that I broke was secondary but wasn't necessary. I am not allowed to be a Hunter, be associated with Hunter's Guild Association, or any other Guild. Simply because I'm—"

"Slave," Ned said. His voice was proud, without any hint of mockery or disdain. "Or was a slave."

Twali paused and nodded. "Yes," he said in agreement with Ned.

Ned leaned his head back at the sofa, making him relax his muscles while gazing at the constant light of white. The ceiling was white, cleaned to shine. "Master," Ned whispered. Remembering something from his Master:

"And if one was caught," Master Will had said, about the people of the Northern Kingdom. "They'll be branded as slaves. Stripped off their titles—if ever they have one, and to work until their death. Claiming back their lives is near to impossible. Unless the King himself pardoned them."

Ned stood, clipped his arms to his sides, and gave a full bow. After Twali carried him back to Lord Sven's manor, Ned hasn't give Twali full gratitude. "Thank you," Ned said. "For saving me back then."

Twali stood in a haste, surprised to see Ned giving a full bow—he a slave. He bowed a slave in response.

Ned retracted and gave a tap over Twali's shoulder.

"Your Master is lucky to have you," Twali said smiling. "You sure know things a fourteen-year-old kid like you don't. And your Master?"

Ned's lips formed a line. He took in a breath and said: "I want your Hunters; not your best but the right ones. I will choose them myself. I want a raiding team, able to maneuver in different kinds of situations." He paused, trying to deduce the latter's reaction—he seemed pleased. "Payments will be handled by me. Do you have healers?"

"No," Twali said, shaking his head. "She wasn't in the region now. She was sent by the Association to the other Great Houses to heal some Great noble. That is why I instructed Mond to do raid with utmost care."

"It's fine," Ned said, nodding. "I want all the resources to keep the raiding party alive. Again, I will pay for all the expenses. How much would that cost me?"

Twali turned his head toward the Mana stone resting over the table. "That is not enough. But I need to know where would you take the Hunters? And on what purpose?"

Ned leaned forward, angled his hands to support his chin. He then towered his fingers across his face. "We're going to visit beasts settlements, until—" Ned paused. "Until I find Roy."

"Wiping settlements is not enough to find Roy, Ned," Twali said in disagreement. "You need to flip all stones there is. Also, it will signal the Association, they might not give quests too frequently. It will also cause other Hunters outside House Tarragon to be wary of us, they might even cause trouble if they find it out. Hunters were... "

"Being Hunters," Ned said. "Competition. I get it. I just need to find certain settlements, preferably closer to the Du'kki mountain. Inner and Middle areas will do. I need to find certain a beasts."

"What was it with the certain beasts you're up to?"

"I need his parasite," Ned said. Again, yes those parasites are the key, he thought. "How many members in your raiding team?"

"Minimum of six per party," Twali responded. "And one raiding team includes at least two to three parties, not including the Companions. Knights, warriors, mages, and rouges are the standard hunting team. Raiding means modification. But the standard raiding party includes at least four warriors: two knights for defenses and luring. Warriors, at least two to support the knights. A single mage is enough for magical attacks and the rest are rouges: a single scout is also enough, maybe an additional archer as a backup. And an added three members for Companions."

It won't work. Ned thought. Too many close-range fighters. It will be easy for the parasites to leech on them, those damn parasites can hide their Mana Leaks—no, it was Moloatiss's doing.

Ned sighed. "No," he said, leaning closer to Twali. "Two knights—that is all for the frontline. I only need one rouge: a scout or archers is enough, I will accompany them for I will register myself as a Runner. The rest of the team will be reserved for Mages. Can they use Detect?"

Twali narrowed his eyes and smiled. Impressed by Ned's skills to manage a team. With only two knights, the raid is going to be a fast hit and run style. The only problem was the scout. Only a single scout for a very squishy raiding team. Twali then shrugged his shoulders.

"Yes, most of our Mages can use Detect," Twali said. "Why are you so eager to find this man, Ned?"

"It is to rescue my Master," Ned replied.

With that, Twali remained quiet and waited for Ned's additional requests.

"I need a solid party here, Twali sir," Ned said, voice determined. "So help me with this one."

Twali nodded. "Lord Sven's requests were to aide you in any way possible," he said "So, yes. As a servant for the House Tarragon. I will heed your request. And after that, you will be a member of the House Tarragon."

Ned smiled, more like a grin, and said: "I told you already, I am no ordinary kid. So—no. Not in my lifetime, I will be under your House."