Page 5 of Quest of Fools

Making a face, Marian replied, "I'm only doing what I'm supposed to as the son of an earl.No one deserves compliments for doing their duty.Anyway, I am more than happy to accompany you."

"No, please, while it would be a pleasure, you've things to do here.My tasks are boring, and frankly, I don't want us getting robbed as we traipse through Low City."

Marian wrinkled his nose."I hate that naming convention.All it does is reinforce the biases and prejudices already in place."

Though he didn't know all those words, Warf thought he got the general idea."Not sure what else you'd call them."

"I'm pretty sure 'north' and 'south' would be fine," Marian said with a sigh."Are you certain you don't want me to come?"

"Better if one of us is here if something happens with the children."

Marian pouted slightly, but conceded with a sigh."Very well.Send word if you're going to be out after dark, though, and I'll see to it a carriage is sent, so you don't have to walk all that way."He laughed."Though I can't imagine anyone would be stupid enough to cross someone of your size and ability.Oh!Hang on one moment."He moved around his desk and opened a drawer, drew out a small bag that jangled with coins as he dropped it on the desk.Then he turned and pulled down a handsome wooden case from one of the bookshelves immediately behind the desk, unlocked it with a key pulled from his pocket.

Taking something from the case and retrieving the coin purse, he crossed the room to Warf."Here, some coin should you need it, and don't try to go returning it when you get home either.This is your signet ring.It arrived this morning, just after breakfast."

"How did you get my ring sizes?"Warf asked, as it proved to fit as perfectly as his engagement ring.

Marian smirked, clearly pleased with himself."I had the tournament staff borrow your gloves to take measurements."

"Clever," Warf said."I'll have to be careful of what other wily mischief you might get up to."

"I do like mischief," Marian said, and fuck if the gleam in his eye didn't send Warf's thoughts to places it shouldn't be going yet.

He stepped back before he did something supremely stupid and presumptuous."Um.I'll be back as soon as I can, then.Thank you for all this."

"Of course," Marian said, looking faintly disappointed, but still smiling brightly."Come home soon."

Home.This was his home.How long would it take for that realization to truly sink in?"I look forward to it," Warf said softly, then all but fled, the back of his neck burning with how stupid he must have sounded."I look forward to returning home."Who said things like that?

Well, plenty of people said "can't wait to be home," but still he felt silly.

Outside in the bustle of the city, the familiar scent of the salty breeze, he felt a bit more on steady ground.It would be a long walk to his old house in Low City and back again, but well worth it to never have to see that place again.

He lingered on the steps to take stock of the coins Marian had given him, which proved to be enough to pay rent for two years.Mercy of the gods, he would never get used to this new life.

Coins safely stowed, he headed off, stifling a sigh at the way people gave him a wide berth, immediately intimidated by his size and muscles, even though he'd never engaged in violence that wasn't provoked by others and he hadn't been able to escape from.There was also the tournament, of course, but that had been something entirely different.

Once he was across the bridges, he stopped at a cart for food."Hey there, Malka."

"Warf, heyo," Malka greeted cheerfully, already at work getting Warf's usual together."Word on the street was you won yourself an earl's son.Didn't think we'd be seeing you again."

"I'm not that much of a snob yet," Warf said with a laugh."Anyway, have to go empty the old house."

"How are the kids?"Malka handed over the little paper basket filled with pickled eggs, toast slathered with fatback, and grilled mushrooms.

"Enamored wholly of their new, great big house and more toys than they could count even if they knew how," Warf said with another laugh."Have a good day, Malka."Warf handed them a coin that was far more than the food cost, and headed off, digging into his food with zeal.Once every couple of weeks he'd woken up early to come this way to treat himself, when most days he simply got food from the temple charity carts and didn't eat again until dinner, if there was any left after feeding the children.

He finished the food as he turned onto the street he'd called home for most of his life, living first with his parents in a hovel at the very end of the street, and then in an even shittier hovel after their deaths, and finally to a slightly better hovel after he'd gotten married.

Flax Street, named for all the processing it did of the plant, especially the seeds, turning them into oil that was then used to produce paint, inks, and other items, many of which were also made on that street, meaning it was full of dangerous substances and unpleasant smells.He was eternally grateful his children would no longer have to grow up in all this.

Unlocking the door to his home, Warf stepped inside.The place should feel familiar, welcome, and it had after long, hard days at the docks or delivering goods all over the city… But now he could only see all that was wrong with it.All that he'd worked so hard to escape.That hehadescaped.He would never forget all that his life had taught him, the good and the bad, but he wasn't sorry he'd never see this place again.

Closing the door, he went around the single room gathering up the precious items he wanted to keep, and neatly arranging everything else for the next inhabitants.Folded blankets, rolled up the straw mats the girls had slept on, stripped his bed, put everything away in the battered chest at the foot of the bed.Made certain the little kitchen area was clean, the dishes put away, the table thoroughly scrubbed.Next he cleaned out the stove in the middle of the room, piled up plenty of wood.Into the depths of it, where only the next tenants would find it, he tucked the coin purse filled with most of the money that Marian had given him.Whoever found it, they wouldn't have to worry about much for a long time if they were frugal.

When everything else was done, he gave the hardpacked floor a final sweep, left the broom on its hook by the door, shouldered the battered knapsack filled with mementos and trinkets, and locked up.Still holding the key, Warf headed one street over, to Carver Row, where a good deal of woodworking was done, finished with varnishes made on Flax Street.

Going around to the back of house number three, he rapped on the door and waited.As usual, several minutes passed before anyone bothered to open the door."Whattaya want?"the woman, Jan, asked."He's busy."

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