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Upon reaching the city, I ensured that my men were settled into an affordable inn. It wasn’t much, just a modest establishment with creaky wooden floors and dimly lit rooms, but it was comfortable enough for us to rest. Manes told me he would go to the governor’s castle to claim the bounty money for Radagos while I could take the time to rest and prepare for our next quest. However, Silvana’s words from earlier echoed in my mind, specifically her admiration for Nadea, who she claimed was a great person, completely different from the nobles I had in mind. That curiosity tugged at me.

I decided to ask Manes if I could accompany him to the governor’s castle. He glanced at me but agreed without hesitation. As we walked toward the inner castle, the tall stone walls loomed above us, casting long shadows in the late afternoon sun. The air was cool, and the narrow streets were busy with townsfolk rushing about their business.

After a stretch of silence, Manes spoke, his tone serious. “I’ve heard what you did with Radagos in the cave,” he said. “I can’t say I approve of your methods. If you act like that often, it could hurt our reputation.”

I raised an eyebrow and replied, “So you want to build a good reputation among *bandits* now?” My words were sharp, and I could see Manes’ jaw tighten as he shot me a look of disdain. He didn’t respond, and we continued walking in silence, the tension thick between us.

When we arrived at the castle, it was everything I expected from the seat of a governor in a city as large as this. The architecture was Roman-inspired, with tall pillars of white marble supporting an arched roof. The courtyard was paved with smooth stone, and guards in gleaming armour stood at attention near the entrance. Their expressions were stern as we approached.

Manes handed over our papers, which had been issued by the city administration in Zeonica, along with the belongings we had taken from Radagos as proof of our claim. The guard examined the documents, asking us a few routine questions, likely to verify our identities in case anyone challenged our legitimacy later. Satisfied, he allowed us to enter the governor’s chamber.

The chamber was grand. Marble floors gleamed beneath our feet, and rich tapestries hung from the walls, depicting scenes of battle and the prosperity of the Western Empire. At the far end of the room was a large, ornate chair carved from dark wood, the governor’s seat. But something was off. I had expected to see Nadea, the woman Silvana had spoken so highly of. Instead, a man around my age, perhaps 23, sat in the chair.

He had a sharp, angular face with neatly trimmed black hair and a thin, twisted smile that seemed permanently etched onto his lips. His eyes were cold, calculating, and held a hint of malice. I glanced at Manes, hoping for some explanation, but his face had gone pale. He looked like he had just seen something terrifying.

Before I could ask, the man in the chair spoke, his voice dripping with mockery. “Look who we have here, a deserter who ran away from peasants.”

I frowned, confused, as the man stared directly at Manes with that same twisted smile. Then he turned his gaze to me, his expression hardening. “You! Don’t you know to lower your head in the presence of a noble? Or are you some idiot who’s never learned proper manners?”

The sharpness in his voice caught me off guard. I quickly lowered my head and muttered an apology. He ignored me, focusing entirely on Manes, who stood rigid in front of him.

“So, what brings a deserter here?” the man sneered. “I let you go once, but now you dare to come before me again?”

Manes hesitated, his voice quieter than usual as he answered. “My lord, I’ve completed an assignment. We killed the bandit Radagos, and I’m here to claim the bounty.”

The man’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “Ah, so you’ve turned into a bounty hunter now. Quite the fall from grace, don’t you think?” He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “And how many bandits did you manage to kill aside from Radagos?”

“Seven, my lord,” Manes replied.

“Seven, you say?” the man chuckled. “Well then, you’ll receive 4,500 denars for your efforts. No need to verify it; I know you well enough.”

Manes and I were about to leave when the man suddenly called out, his voice laced with malicious delight. “Wait. I have an interesting task for you.”

We stopped and turned to face him. The man’s smile widened as he continued, “I know how much you love saving villagers, Manes. So I have the perfect opportunity for you. I need you to save some villagers… from me.”

He laughed darkly, clearly enjoying our discomfort. “I’ve recently been assigned as governor to deal with some illegal poaching in nearby villages. The locals protect these poachers in exchange for meat and hides, all while the crown receives no taxes. I’m too busy here to deal with such a trivial matter myself, so I’d like you to handle it for me. Confiscate their goods, capture the poachers, or I’ll send my garrison instead. And trust me, my men are… difficult to control. If I send them, I can’t guarantee what will happen to the villagers. Best you get it done quickly. I’d rather not dirty my blade with peasant blood.”

His words were delivered with such casual cruelty that it sent a chill down my spine. Manes nodded stiffly, clearly unwilling to argue. “We’ll complete the assignment, my lord,” he said, giving me a subtle signal to bow and leave. I did as instructed, feeling a strange mixture of anger and unease.

Once outside, I turned to Manes. “Who was that man?” I asked.

Manes’ face was grim. “His name is Tadeos. He’s the nephew of the king. I served in his army once… before I deserted. As you heard, he hasn’t forgotten.”

I was stunned. “And Nadea?”

“She was the governor here, but it seems she’s gone. I don’t know what’s happened, but whatever it is, we don’t have time to dwell on it. We need to stop this poaching before Tadeos decides to slaughter those villagers himself. I trust you can prepare the squad by this evening. I’ll gather more information and meet you back at the inn.”

Manes left, and I stood there, contemplating the situation. Tadeos had played us well, using his power to intimidate Manes while assigning us a dangerous task without even mentioning the pay. His manipulation was obvious, but we had no choice.

I returned to the inn and informed Silvana and the others of our new mission. The weight of the assignment settled heavily on my shoulders, but I knew we had to succeed. Lives were at stake, and failure wasn’t an option.