In Search of Kasena (ONC 2024) | ✓

Chapter 9

"Mr. Sarfort, I demand your presence at the Manor as soon as possible. There is an urgent matter I need to discuss with you. This invitation is extended to your companion. I expect to see both of you soon.

K. R."

The message found them in the morning, right as they were finishing their breakfast, mere minutes before Alarie retreated to her room to grab her belongings and leave. She promised she would stay for another day at least, and she did. But when he showed her the letter Kardin sent, the look of confusion on her face was no different from his own.

"What do you think he wants?" she asked.

Niel had no answer for her. "It sounds... off. I don't know if he's mad at me for some reason, because he's usually much more cordial in his letters." He scratched the back of his head as he stared at the paper.

Alarie leaned in closer, casting discreet glances across the dining room. "Do you think he could be mad because he heard I won in the tournament?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "I don't see why he would be."

"Oh, come on. Look at it from his perspective. He hires a bounty hunter to find someone for him, some random adventurer joins him and promises to help, they suddenly decide to see if the person they're looking for might be participating in this tournament, and the next thing you know, the adventurer somehow won. I can't say I'd blame him if he thought I was some sort of a scammer that led you there on purpose."

He didn't mention that he didn't present the trip to Villart as her idea when he wrote to Kardin. After all, he was the first one to consider that option—even before he crossed paths with Alarie—he just discarded it at the time. "Well, are you?" he teased.

"Of course! I swindled you of all your money," she retorted, rolling her eyes. Their laughter was short-lived as the offending letter still stood between them, mocking them with its odd tone. He was aware of just how unfortunate the timing was for her—she was just about to leave and visit her family after months of not seeing them. "I'm not sure what to do now," she finally said.

"Kardin invited you as well."

Alarie huffed. "I don't think it's a good idea for me to tag along if I'm really the reason he's mad at you. And if that's not the case, he might've invited me just as a common courtesy. It's not like I've ever met him before."

"If he didn't want to see you as well, he would say he was expecting both of us," Niel explained. "Besides, you're much better equipped for meeting all these rich people, given your fancy education and all."

His attempt to make her laugh worked, if only for a brief moment. "Oh, come on, the Ravillet family is far out of my potential social circle."

"Don't worry, you'll be fine. Could you send another letter to your family to let them know there's been a change of plans? As far as I'm concerned, you can go and visit them after we talk to Kardin. I can keep investigating on my own for a few days like we originally planned." If he was still on the case by then, but he didn't mention that. Whatever Kardin wanted of them so suddenly... he didn't have a good feeling about it.

"Alright," she said with a dejected sigh. "Let me know when you're ready to leave."

He needed to get all of his things first, which was—fortunately for him—not a complicated ordeal. When they arrived in Villart, all inns were full, so he had to camp out in the nearby forest for a few nights, and only managed to find an available room the day before. They were sure Kasena was nearby, so he didn't expect to leave that quickly.