The corner of Manager Kar's mouth raised for a single moment when he heard Mikayla’s question.

  “I shouldn’t be telling you this, but Lady Roselyn is in room 5… With the young master Leonard.” The manager said, schooling his expression back before anyone caught it.

  Mikayla stopped mid step as a hint of fury pulsed from her life force.

  Behind the two Valthar's attention to the two's talk grew a notch.

  “The wannabe hero? Uncle Salazar made it pretty clear Rose would not be married out.” Mikayla declared, leaving no room for counter arguments.

  “The Duskwinds changed their tune after your… ‘situation’, according to Master Salazar soon Leonard will be a Silverfang.” Kar said so quietly it was almost a whisper.

  Mikayla's life force shifted from fury to happiness in a moment.

  However while Valthar’s life force sense felt her true feelings his eyes saw a completely different reaction.

  Mikayla’s ears raised at attention, her brows furrowed and her eyes stared holes into manager Kar.

  “Those thieving rats are plotting something.” She said in a low growl, as if ready to bite someone's head off.

  ‘Why is she acting mad? And why is this manager's life force showing excitement?’ Valthar thought in silence, his eyes jumping between Mikayla and Kar.

  The manager's body tensed, his eyes fleeing to the end of the corridor.

  “Please don't do anything drastic Lady Mikayla, I shouldn't even have told you about this…” Kar pleaded as drops of sweat gathered on his forehead.

  “Just warn the Duskwind spawn not to show his face in front of me.” Mikayla narrowed her and sent a death glare towards the manager.

  “As you command Lady Mikayla.” Kar's tone grew meek even as the excitement in his heart grew strong.

  ‘Is this a test for me? Why else hide their true feelings? Are they not allies?’ Valthar watched in silence, filled with confusion.

  With Kar's confirmation the talk died completely until they reached room 8.

  The transition of occupants was seamless.

  The manager walked in and moments later a woman around her mid thirties walked out followed by a few others.

  Dropping to their knees they prattled a few praises to the Silverfang family before Mikayla stopped them.

  “Your efforts have been noted, talk to Kar and we'll schedule a dinner soon.” She dismissed them with a smile.

  Finally Mikayla and Valthar entered the private room.

  To say the room was well decorated would be an insult to the beautiful painting of a dark forest that covered the walls, yet Valthar’s eyes barely glanced at before falling onto the half eaten plates of food that covered the table.

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  To think one day he would salivate over mere left-overs brought some shame, but weeks of constant travel and simple food made the dozen or so half eaten plates of meats, breads and vegetables look like a banquet.

  “How starved are you?” Mikayla sat on a chair, her judging eyes snapping Valthar out of his thoughts.

  “It’s been a busy day.” Valthar answered and sat opposite to her on the table, trying his best to control the blush on his face.

  Just then the waiters came and went, taking away the leftovers and leaving a basket of breadsticks in its place.

  “It’s good you took the bet seriously.” Mikayla gently pushed the basket towards Valthar. “Can you read?”

  Valthar nodded in response, already nibbling at the breadstick slowly.

  Hunger was truly the best spice, the sticks both warm and crunchy felt so delicious on his tongue a piece of him wanted to devour the whole basket at once, yet Valthar held back, eating even slower as if to prove himself not an animal of necessity but a human in control of his own body.

  In front of him Mikayla pulled out a piece of paper from one of her pockets, with its dark brown color Valthar instantly recognised it as mana paper, a material that could be permanently inscribed when infused with concentrated mana.

  Dim purple light gathered around Mikayla’s pointer finger as it gently tranced the surface of the mana paper, she was surprisingly fast at it, taking no more than a couple seconds to write everything down.

  “These are the basic terms of being under my wing.” She handed him the paper filled with dark purple letters.

  —--------------------

  While this contract stands Valthar (The dark mage - healer) is entitled to and bound to the following.

  Benefits:

  1 - Vassal status. [below nobles, above everyone else]

  2 - Access to all Silverfang’s Vassal exclusive market and discount of 15% for any Silverfang Vassal service.

  3 - Food and shelter subsidized or provided by the Silverfang family.

  4 - Permission to use dark magic within Deep Bonfire, the Underground District and similar areas within the Silverfang's domain.

  5 - Basic protection by the Silverfang family.

  6 - A base pay of 25 silver a week.

  7 - Direct protection by me (Mikayla Silverfang) or my combat teams.

  8 - Direct contact with me (Mikayla Silverfang) and any of my other Vassals.

  Conditions:

  1 - Priority service to any Silverfangs and Silverfang Vassals.

  2 - A tax of 30% of all profits you incur within Silverfang’s territory, sent to the Silverfang family.

  3 - A tax of 5% of all profits you incur, sent to me (Mikayla Silverfang).

  4 - Subservience to me (Mikayla Silverfang).

  5 - Subservience to all Silverfangs within reasonable parameters, determined by me (Mikayla Silverfang).

  6 - Complete confidentiality of anything related to the Silvefang family if taken to trial by the Empire.

  7 - Forbidden to leave Silverfang's land without permission from the Silverfang family.

  8 - Discount of 15% for services done to Silverfangs and Silverfang Vassals.

  This contract is null and void in case of the death of Mikayla Silverfang.

  This contract is temporary in nature with a base duration of 5 years.

  —---------------

  Valthar swallowed the breadstick as his narrowed eyes trailed through the contract.

  Compared to most Vassal contracts this one was both more lax and with more benefits than those offered around the central areas.

  Offering both protection and a good measure of legitimacy even before he opened his healing clinic, all in all it was a good deal that would help him through his first few years in this new place.

  Still, there was a piece of the contract that really ticked him in the wrong way.

  ‘After the Manaborns threw me out and then the caravan ratted me to the church, Am I really going to become a Vassal of the Silverfang family?’ He questioned to himself, a frown growing between his brows. ‘No shot.’

  “This contract is good but I refuse to accept either benefit 1 or conditions number 5 and 7.” Valthar pushed the paper back to Mikayla.