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Remis blinked back his confusion and went to find new clothes. When he’d dressed from what was a well-stocked wardrobe, Meira was already waiting for him by the door, her hair neatly pulled back into a thick ponytail. She offered him a new cloak.
“The house seems to be adequately stocked,” she mumbled.
A nervous sort of buzzing was building up in his veins. It was different from the almost pleasant worry that came with the curse and hung over whatever his and Meira’s relationship was becoming. This was the unsettling feeling that had haunted Remis most of his life. An ever-growing need to appease his father strangled by the knowledge that it would likely never happen. Now he was going to negotiate on his father’s behalf. One mistake could cost him everything. If he managed to tarnish the Lexmore name he didn’t doubt his father would find a way to make him pay even further. He thought of his sister then. Had to swallow down the guilt of not writing to her yet. Said a prayer that their father was leaving her to her studies and not taking out the anger he had at Remis on her instead.
Cloaked, with clammy hands, and Meira walking at his side, they headed toward The Bearded Maid’s Tavern. The horrible feeling tightening in his chest and clogging up his throat followed them the entire way. He’d hardly given the great city of Croughton a second glance, only stumbling along the sidewalks looking for their tavern.
Eventually though, the orange sign with a beard painted below the tavern's name came into view. Remis tried to breathe through the terrible knot in his throat but found he couldn’t quite fill his lungs no matter how he tried. Meira was watching him now, eyes narrowed. He tried his best to give her a smile, to put on the face of confidence he always wore, and forced his shoulders down away from his ears.
“Are you okay?” she asked, placing her hand on the door when he tried to open it.
“Of course.”
His future depended on this meeting. This would be where he saw his hopes and dreams either secured or squashed.
Reluctantly, she dropped her hand, let him open the door, and they both entered The Bearded Maid. The scent of stale mead immediately assaulted him. After a second, Remis’ eyes adjusted to the dim lighting revealing private booths along one wall and several filled tables across the main floor. A hum of chatter filled the room.
He didn’t know what the man they were meeting looked like, only that his name was Austious Bromade, a curious name indeed, and that he’d have with him a yellow carnation. Sticky liquid under his boots made his footsteps noisy while he walked further into the establishment. His eyes scanned over worn painted wood and strange unfamiliar faces. Remis stopped as he spotted a yellow flower set at the end of a table.
“There.” He pointed. “Find a seat at the bar and I’ll get you when we’re done?”
Meira was frowning but she nodded, looking over her shoulder once before leaving him alone. His stomach flipped, but he ignored the feeling, refusing to give in to it. Giving his best grin, he slid into the booth across from the man who’d been shuffling through a stack of papers. He didn’t even look up when Remis sat, only sighed loudly.
“Austious?” Remis cleared his throat.
“Yes?” He turned another paper over, eyes scanning the ink.
“My name is Nikremis Lexmore. I’ve come to discuss business on behalf of my father, Artemis Lexmore.” Remis held his hand out across the table.
Austious set the papers down and looked up at Remis over the rims of his glasses that had fallen down his crooked nose. Lantern light that hung overhead reflected off the man’s bald head. He wore a white robe over a loose white shirt, and while Remis wondered how he kept the garment so clean in a place like this, it was not unusual for someone who worked closely with the emperor himself to wear the family's color.
He dropped his hand but leaned forward. “We would like to offer our service in all lines of business pertaining to fabrics and dyes.” Swallowing the rest of his nerves, he added, “as well as filling the need for ‘Project Empire.’” His father had not given him any explanation of what this Project Empire deal was only that he wanted to procure it.
With one finger, Austious pushed his glasses back up his nose and sat taller. The borderline annoyance that had darkened his features melted away to outright surprise. He smiled at Remis, leafing through more papers that were next to him in the seat before handing a small stack to Remis.
“Fabric and dyes may be harder to get you into. There’s been interest in those particular avenues that Mr. Hamza had—god rest his soul. Project Empire though…” Austious’ hazel eyes were large as they took Remis in. “Do you know a mage?”
Remis stiffened. Why would he be asking of a mage? That feeling that had been haunting him was growing tenfold. “I’ll be off to the School of Magestry in the spring myself,” he answered.
Austious beamed. “A true patriot then! Wonderful. Yes, this particular business pays quite handsomely should your bid be accepted. Did you know Mr. Hamza had a special interest in the prestigious school? He donated money every year to ensure that they could offer their students the very best. Over half the students also received jobs in his employ. You’re a very lucky man.”
Nodding along, Remis did his best to hide his confusion. What did his wish to be a mage have anything to do with patriotism? What did it have to do with this Project Empire? And what sort of business was his father readying to partake in? He hated mages. Hated that Remis had ever discovered his connection to magic and wished to build upon it.
“All the information is here.” Austious patted the stack of documents. “What was your name again?”
“Nikremis Lexmore.”
The man picked up a quill, dipping it in ink, then snatched up another paper and messily wrote down his name. “Yes, right. Review these documents. Complete the necessary bid at the end of each and be sure to have it delivered to the address here.” He tapped a finger at the top corner of the page. “Hopefully, I’ll be seeing you—”
“We need to go.” Meira appeared at the end of the booth. She’d pulled the hood of her cloak up over her now puckered features.
“What’s wrong?” Remis clasped the papers, ignoring Austious’ scowl.
“I—” Meira looked carefully over her shoulder and dropped her voice to a whisper, “We need to leave. Right now.” Her pale green eyes were wide, conveying the urgency of her demands. He felt a trickle of unease passing from her, coming from that bond that kept them tied together. That he felt it at all must be a testament to how deeply she was feeling the emotion.
Holding the documents against his chest, Remis nodded and turned back to Austious. “Thank you so much for your time. We will be on our way and I will get the bid completed and sent. Do you need anything else from me?”
The man only waved a hand at them and turned back to what he’d been doing before Remis had sat down. Quietly, Remis slid out of the booth and followed Meira’s cloaked form, but before they’d even made it a couple of steps someone called out her name.
