Blades were quick to be drawn out, inches away from the man's neck, but he remained calmed rather he was not bothered at all. The light from fire glinted and flickered on his round spectacles hiding his eyes but his gaze remained fixated on us, slowly his lips twisted to amused grin before spoke.

  "I do apologise if I startled you, my friends."He smiled and gave us a graceful bow again. "Do forgive me for not introducing myself sooner and for my rash remark. Please call me Nic"

  "Who are you? An imperial noble?" Lucas barked, his blade still held steady."And how do you know about us?"

  "No, not all at all although you do flatter me. "He tilted his head slightly to the right still grinning. "Now then I would prefer if you did lower your blades for, I pose no threat." as he motioned us towards an empty table far in the corner with his cane...Wait where!? what? My mind raced he wasn't holding anything a second ago.

  "Shall we then?"

  Lucas although reluctant he returned his blade to its sheath and turned towards us. "I do not sense any hostility from him neither does there seem to be any accomplice of his nearby but don't get too comfortable now. I will rip your windpipe out if you try anything funny"

  "With due pleasure"

  We awkwardly and cautiously made our way over to the table and sat on the opposite side facing Nic who had now for some reason removed his coat and spread it over the backrest and it was indeed very much obvious from the get-go that there was an atmosphere of distrust looming above our heads.

  "Excuse me young miss" Nic waved at the maid and spoke with the polite tone contrasting the glow of the fire flickering behind him making him look like an intimidating shady dealer "Could you please fetch me a lovely cup of black tea and whatever my friends here may need?"

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  The maid rushed over to our table eagerly waited for our orders, Lucas raised his eyebrow and turned towards us.

  "So.... anyone getting anything...?"

  "I'm good"

  "Nope"

  "Alrighty then so me neither"

  And with that we had reached a new higher plane of awkwardness......Gosh this is embarrassing I thought to myself. This was something I had never experienced before.

  "My my, You guys are the most awkward bunch of fellows I've met. How have you managed to reach this far if all of you are so shy?"he sighed and dropped formal tone. "I really haven't done anything"

  "Then how do you know about us?" Uriel was quick to question this unknown man who seemed to have known about them.

  'Well, it is not that secretive when a noble of Rin and the Lucas travels through three countries and especially through the city of merchants and they haven't decided to even leave replacements in their steads. It's quite an easy information to get a hold off."

  "I guess that is true." It seemed after long consideration between them of just staring at each Lucas and Uriel decided they should hear out what this person wanted.

  Nic having seen them making up their minds took a sip of the tea that had been served "That alone is enough for the day, you all must certainly be fatigued after all that travelling I shall brief you tomorrow and rest assured nothing will happen"

  Lucas and Uriel knew better than to argue, they were indeed very tired and not to mention still soaked and this man did not seem to harbour any ill intention not to mention he definitely was hiding more than he let on so even if something were to go down we would be at a disadvantage and so Uriel got a small room to herself whereas Lucas opted a larger one for us to share.

  "Could I speak to you for a moment?" Nic called out me as we had begun tmoving to lodge for the night. Uriel had already made her way to her room it was now only Lucas, Me, Nic, and the staff. "Just for a second..privately." He ushered.

  I gave Lucas the 'it's alright' nod and he made his way up the stairs, but I knew he was still there prepared if anything went wrong. I guess we all knew since Nic came right beside my ears and whispered five words, at which my head dropped to the floor.

  "Meet me by the stables before dawn, before the birds awakens, meet me there alone. Now then good night." and with that he left, he walked past Lucas to his room.