“Oh, Jack, you look lovely. So handsome.” Jack’s mom beamed as she made her son parade up and down the kitchen in his new work suit. “You look just like your father.”

  Only a few minutes after getting home from the tailor’s, his mother had insisted he show off his new clothes. He felt like a circus bear performing tricks as he paced back and forth for Mom, Polly, and Zia… little Richard had no interest in the spontaneous catwalk event.

  Polly smirked. “You’re right, Mom. He does look old, boring, and stuffy.”

  Jack rolled his eyes at the weak insult. “Not your best work, Polly.”

  “Pollyanna, don’t be mean to your brother.” Anna gave her daughter a look and said, “Jack cuts a handsome young gentleman. As does your father.”

  “Sorrrry, Mom,” Polly replied, but her grin betrayed her amusement.

  “You look nice, Jack,” Zia whispered.

  “Thank you, my lady.” Jack gave the little girl an exaggerated, deep bow. “Will you grant me the pleasure of a dance?” He held out his hand to Zia with a flourish.

  Zia flushed pink and glanced at Anna, who gave her an encouraging smile.

  So cute, Jack thought, grinning. “Give me a moment,” he said to Zia, who was still looking embarrassed. “We can’t dance without music, can we?” He’d had an idea.

  Jack leaned over to whisper something in his mom’s ear. Anna chuckled and pointed to one of the kitchen drawers.

  Jack gave Zia a thumbs-up, went to the drawer, and pulled out a brass wand-like utensil. With a flick of his finger, he activated one of the embedded runes and made a spreading motion as if buttering bread. A moment later, the enchanted spreader burst into song, a whimsical, ridiculous tune about ‘Joy to the world, the mayo is king.’

  Zia giggled, recognising the familiar tune from when she first saw the odd little device.

  Polly snorted at the lyrics. “That’s awful. What is it?”

  Jack turned back and, with a theatrical bow, repeated, “My lady.” He extended his hand again with a big smile. “Will you give me the honour of dancing with you?”

  Anna clapped her hands in encouragement, nodding for Zia to accept.

  Zia turned an even deeper shade of pink but, summoning her courage, placed her small hand in Jack’s. As the spreader belted out the chorus—Joy to the world, the mayo is king—Jack scooped the little girl into his arms and twirled her around the kitchen.

  “Joy to the world, the mayo is king!” Jack sang, laughing as he spun in circles; Zia’s silver hair, which was tied back in a faded blue ribbon, flared out like a little silver halo.

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  Zia giggled and joined in, singing between laughs, “Joy to the world, the mayo is king!”

  Polly, unable to help herself, let out a laugh at the ridiculous scene and hummed along to the silly song.

  Jack and Zia sang the silly song as they danced. “Joy to the world, the mayo is king!”

  Little Richard gurgled as they passed him by, singing, “Lettuce rejoice, and all the people sing!”

  When the tune moved into its even weirder lyrics—So pickles, get your buns, for the creamy condiment fun—the pair of them switched to humming, “La, la, la, la, lalala…” laughing and dancing their way back to the catchy chorus end, “For the creeeeamy, dreeeeamy condiment fuuuun!”

  The kitchen filled with the sounds of laughter, silly music, and the light clatter of feet on the tile floor, and for a while, it felt as though the heavy shadows chasing Jack outside the house had been left far, far behind.

  ***

  Jack’s heart pounded as he stepped into the Adventurers Guild, his cloak drawn tight and his mask in place.

  “This sucks,” he muttered under his breath. “I shouldn’t have to hide like a damned criminal.”

  For the past twenty minutes, he’d navigated the labyrinth of Lundun’s backstreets and alleys, avoiding any routes he imagined the remaining three adventurers might take. Relying on [Shadow Veil] to keep him hidden in the shadows and [Assassin’s Intuition] for forewarning of an attack. He wasn’t ready for another run-in, not yet.

  As Jack entered the main hall, he slowed, his eyes scanning the space beneath his hood. “Not as busy today,” he whispered with a small breath of relief. “And no sign of them…” His gaze caught on a familiar figure. “Toma.”

  A smile tugged under Jack’s mask as he spotted the boy sitting alone at one of the smaller tables, as he fidgeted with his bow. The lad’s eyes kept darting to the main entrance, his small face set in a hopeful expression, as if waiting for someone.

  Jack made his way over, weaving through the hall. Without a word, he pulled out the chair opposite Toma and sat.

  Toma blinked at him, his frown deepening as he eyed the cloaked and masked stranger now seated across from him. His hand instinctively gripped his bow and gave a weary look.

  Jack stifled a chuckle under the mask. In his deepest voice, he said, “Nice bow, friend.” He leaned forward and looked to his left and right like he was checking for eavesdroppers, then in a whisper, he added, “The Orion Syndicate sent me to hire the best.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “One job… 100 gold upon completion.”

  Toma’s eyes widened in panic, and his mouth dropped open. “No… I’m-I’m no. I’m not what… not.” He’d let go of his bow and was waving his hands in front of him.

  Jack couldn’t hold it in any longer; he leaned back laughing.

  This shocked the boy further. “I’m fourteen. I… I don’t.”

  Jack chuckled and lifted his mask just enough to reveal his grin. “Hi, Toma. Not interested in a big job? It pays well,” he joked.

  Relief flooded the boy’s face. “Jack!” Toma broke into a wide smile. “You almost scared me half to death. What’s with the mask? You look like you’re about to kill someone!”

  Not today. Jack gave a small shrug. “Trying to avoid someone, let’s leave it at that.” He gestured at the boy’s bow and new makeshift quiver. “How’s the practising going?”

  Toma straightened, his excitement bubbling over. “Really, really good! I can sometimes hit a small target now! And… and the arrows you gave me are awesome! Really awesome! I drew a target on a tree and practised like you said until my arms ached and Mom made me stop.”

  Jack grinned beneath the mask. “Glad to hear it.” He leaned back. “Have you seen Nessa and Ella around today?”

  Toma’s shoulders drooped a little. “Yeah… saw them earlier. They booked Training Room 13 again.” His voice quietened. “I wish I had some coin. Dad says I can only train at the Guild once a month.”

  Jack frowned. “That’s rough.” He glanced over at one of the glowing display boards embedded in the wall. “Hang on. I’ll check if there’s still space.”

  Toma watched as Jack strode to the nearest free display board.

  Chapter 109 Outside Training Room 13 With New Friends