The mansion was four stories tall. To access the city lord's office, Tolbar and Lena had to walk up to the 4th floor. To the giant's surprise, the inside wasn't as beautiful as the outside. It had a strict minimum amount of furniture, but nothing fancy.
The 1st floor housed the employees, a banquet hall, and a few other multipurpose rooms. The 2nd and 3rd floor welcomed nobles, wealthy men, and officers passing by for administrative purposes, planning the next missions and small talk.
The barbarian had the time to see some nobles and officers running around like their lives were on the line. Though, they still found the time to greet the little lady. Other nobles or wealthy merchants who were just enjoying their stay were chatting leisurely.
The 4th floor was exclusively reserved for the city lord and his family. An appointment must be taken with Stix, Kabolt's personal steward, to pass the men guarding the stairs.
That's why Lena had to use her authority for the barbarian to be allowed upstairs. After passing them, Tolbar saw nothing in this immense space but a vast corridor without furniture or life. Only five doors occupied the enormous space, the first to the left being Kabolt's office.
Finally, they arrived in front of a wooden door, with delicate carvings depicting vines pushing their way up.
Lena straightened up, prepared mentally, and knocked.
"Lord father, it's me. I've brought you a guest."
The sound of a chair scratching wood answered her. Steps accompanied by an accusatory voice progressively got louder.
"Lena, how many times did I tell you not to talk with strangers!" Kobalt said.
The door opened to reveal a man of common height with broad shoulders, a stern look, and flame-like red hair. He was wearing a red shirt and pants riddled with holes. Kabolt found formal attires uncomfortable and preferred wearing shoddy-loose clothes when he could.
The father was looking at his daughter with an accusatory glare, but Tolbar saw in it a hint of parental love.
"But lord father, he said that he was looking for you."
"Everybody in this city is looking for your father, little lady," Kobalt replied.
"But..."
"No buts. You shall be disciplined... again."
Tolbar's gaze kept switching from the father to the child, intrigued by what kind of punishment Lena had already been through.
"NO!" Lena screamed.
"Yes!"
"NOT THE HISTORY BOOKS!" Lena yelled with horror while running away in direction of her room.
Tolbar almost couldn't contain his laughter when he understood the little girl hated History. Kobalt waited for Lena to leave his sight and finally turned to Tolbar, the parental love in his eyes replaced with his strict look.
"I see you are already acquainted with Lena, ex-sergeant Tolbar." Kobalt declared.
Realizing the lord already knew who he was, Tolbar couldn't keep himself from smiling at the small prank Kabolt pulled on his daughter.
The giant straightened up, lengthening his already impressive height, and gave the man a proper salute.
"Yes, my lord."
"Good. Now come in, we have much to discuss."
Once inside, Tolbar got stunned by the total mess lying around. An immense table stood at the center of the spacious room, covered by a map of Talmera with blue, red, and black pawns added to it. On the wooden ground, piles of books threatened to fall apart with the smallest breeze.
At the far end of the office, Kabolt sat down behind his desk and invited the ex-sergeant to take a sit. The wooden chair, barely fitting the barbarian, creaked in pain at Tolbar's contact.
"So," Kabolt said, "What do you think of my daughter?"
The question baffled Tolbar. But sensing the aura emanating from Kabolt, he felt the sincerity behind it.
"I, I think she's cute." he stuttered while thinking about Lena's smile.
Silence.
"Good. Would you like to marry her?" Kabolt asked, the tone in his voice even more serious.
Silence.
Mouth agape, Tolbar's sweat rapidly formed, sliding down his bulging muscles to tarnish the sit. The stain propagated like a plague to the entire chair until Kabolt emitted a resounding laugh, loosening the tension.
"Haha haha! Relax, I am just jesting."
Tolbar let out an uneasy laugh, trying to imitate Kabolt in vain, who abruptly stopped.
"But, if you have any plan on courting my daughter, I will take your masculinity from you. Understood?" the city lord said with a menacing glare.
He gulped. The man in front of him had defended the city of Cartela for fifteen years without fail. Political power only wouldn't guarantee such a feat. After all, the ex-general Kabolt impeached the previous worthless ruler who had enclosed himself in the mansion, ignoring the undead threat and citizens' needs.
"Yes, my lord." Tolbar replied.
"Good. Now that this is out of the table."
Kabolt took a solemn pose. Tolbar understood the signal and regained his composure, ready to discuss the job.
"I have many enemies, Tolbar. Outside and inside this city. Even under a common threat, human greed still hovers around, in search of new prey to feed upon. My daughter is one of them. "
Tolbar nodded, but couldn't follow the city lord's intentions.
"I have read your files and they are exemplary. You seem to place the safety of your men before yours, charging fearlessly into danger, which made you famous. But this mindset is not one of an officer but a bodyguard. Thus my offer: would you swear allegiance to my daughter and protect her?"
The giant deeply pondered. In Barbarian's customs, once a warrior swears allegiance, he could not go back on his words, even if it meant killing his own family. Pride and honor—the most important values of their tribe—prevented them from doing so. It might sound foolish, but to them, it was an almost sacred matter.
"I know it is not a decision to take lightly for your people, so do not feel obliged to answer now. In the meantime, you can work as an ordinary guard. What do you think?"
A stable income, accommodation, and the honor to work for the city lord while considering his options. Tolbar could not refuse such an offer, and since nobody was waiting for him at home, he had nothing better to do.
"I accept. When do I begin?" he asked.
"Now. Since you have knocked out my gatekeepers." Kabolt said with a smirk.
Tolbar forced a smile, thinking about the two men and the unguarded gate. Because of the constant undead threat, every capable warrior was needed on the front lines. Four, now five guards was the limit of what the city lord's guilt allowed himself to hire.
"Do not worry. I gave you permission to do so, and they needed a beating for growing too conceited." Kabolt explained.
Confused about what to answer, Tolbar changed the subject.
"It would be my honor, but I am not equipped for the job at the moment," Tolbar explained.
The city lord smiled knowingly, stood up, and invited the giant to follow him.
They left the study and crossed the 'T' shaped corridor to arrive in front of a door with a similar pattern to Kabolt's office. The city lord turned the knob and pushed to reveal his private armory.
Awestruck, Tolbar drooled for the second time today. Armors and weapons from every corner of the fallen kingdom filled the room. For a barbarian, it was a true trove.
"My lord," Tolbar contained his awe, "it's a magnificent sight. But why do you keep all this in such an insecure place?"
"If you were a thief, where would you look first? A huge steel-plated door or a common-looking one?"
"Indeed, you are wise," Tolbar said while discerning the wisdom behind those words.
Kabolt nodded.
"Take what you need. Consider it advance payment for future services."
"Thank you, my lord."
"Also, when we are alone, do not use honorifics. I have enough of that to fill the entire city."
"Yes, my lord."
"..."
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