Hot stew on a bitterly cold evening, a blessing. It certainly beats eating dried meat every day for every meal. Dried meat, soon that's going to be the only thing on the menu when I'm travelling again. Hilde's stew is one of the first I've experienced that's not a blessing. It tastes as if it has been boiling for a week; everything in the pale liquid looks the same and the lack of spices makes it even more like a form of gruel. I'm not ungrateful. Hilde is not a terrible cook. It's me, not her. Protsvetanian home-cooking must generally not tickle my fancy.

The dining room is just as dim as the passage. There are candles on the table and the hearth behind the head of the table is burning. Knut is sitting at the head, it's his place. These people don't seem to like ornaments. Except for the recent family portrait hanging above the hearth, there is nothing remarkable in this room except for the furniture.

"Forgetting something, lad?" Knut's palm is stretched toward me. Two silvers, that's almost a quarter of my daily wage. He looks elated now that he received his due.

"Moose stew tonight." Hilde isn't as interested in money as her husband. I can tell by the reproachful glance she shot him, she doesn't approve of what seems to be his main interest in life. I think she was trying to be discreet. I still noticed. Her attention is back to me. She's smiling.

"Thank you, madame."

"Thanks, Mommy."

"Actually I cooked it." Knut is so proud of himself. "She just announced it."

Oh, perfect. Everyone has redirected the thanks to the correct party, now to eat. Knut's cooking is slightly worse than Hilde's. It's rather disappointing he cooked tonight. Siv looks a little disappointed too. The first bite tasted bland and could have passed as sawdust, at least I knew what to expect. The stew is hot, that is something to be thankful for. Seems I'm the only one who's solely grateful for the warmth. To the others, the meal seems to be tasty.

"How was studying today?" Hilde and Knut show a strong interest in Siv's academics.

"Fascinating, I read about alchemy, the transmutation of base metals into noble ones."

"Turning base metals to gold is a useful skill. It's just too bad there's hardly anyone who can do it these days." I'm sure Knut regrets that he can't do it. "Maybe you will be the one to do it! You will have a monopoly, be ridiculously rich and then your mother and I can retire!"

"Maybe, maybe." The smirk is spreading across Siv's entire round, freckled face.

Knut is right; such a service would be invaluable. The gradual disappearance of people gifted with magic has left people wanting. I can only imagine how much her services would cost if she had such a gift.

"Siv is studying hard and getting closer to being the greatest smith in Protsvetania. Are you just going to remain a courier, boy?" Knut is speaking to me now. Why can't he just go on praising Siv instead? His moustache jiggles when he speaks. The thing is massive, looks something like the handlebars on my delivery cart.

"Don't ask questions like that Knut!" Hilde hissed at him. She's looking at me now. Is that sympathy? "For goodness sake, stop calling him boy. His name is Rakesh."

"I don't mean to be rude but surely he must have some ambition other than boarding here, wearing a fake moustache and being a pack mule." Knut is twisting a clump of gray hairs in his awe-inspiring, black moustache. It's fascinating in a weird way. "You might as well make running away from home worth your while."

"Daddy!"

"It's fine." I hope shifting my gaze from Siv to Hilde has the reassuring effect that I take no offense. "I will be leaving for Auvatica soon."

"Why?" It's still a while before the Sivr'alnadir tournament is underway. Why else would you want to go to Auvatica?" The look on Siv's face says it all, she thinks going to Auvatica is a stupid idea.

"It's a land of opportunity." I barely know anything about Auvatica but I can't think of a better answer.

"It's a dysfunctional country of hooligans." Knut clearly doesn't intend to pay Auvatica a visit any time soon. "Protsvetania is where the opportunities are. Use the resources you have at your disposal to generate wealth. It worked for us, we rose through the ranks and someday we'll buy a mansion in Ishtragrad."

Well, I can't honestly say I disagree with Knut. Auvatica is said to be dysfunctional in Vishaar as well but it must have some redeeming qualities, I hope. The Khurvies always used it as a worst-case-scenario when they were talking about conduct. My only hope of redeeming myself is by attending the tournament so I don't have much choice.

What was that? Everyone else heard it to, sounded like a cry. It came from nearby. Silence, surely the commotion can't be over already. Maybe that drunken woman fell over. "I know you're not from around here, Patulzak! What business do you have in Ishtragrad?!" The voice is female and it's snarling ferociously. I'd hate to be on the receiving end of this interrogation. The other three are creeping to the window by the front door, I should follow them. What is going on out there?

A Patulzak man is slumped with his back against the wall, appears to be catching his breathe. Someone is standing over him, must be the woman we heard. It's dark, I can't tell if she's a soldier. "I'm from the country! I'm just visiting my cousin so I can find a new job! I've never even been to Ishtragrad, I swear!"

"We received reports of a suspicious Patulzak consorting against the crown in this area! You still meet the profile!" The assailant is screaming now.

"Leave him alone!" A Patulzak woman darted toward the assailant. The assailant turned and delivered a backhand that knocked the little lady off her feet.

"Enough!" Looks like the assailant has a companion. "This man doesn't seem to be the one we are looking for. Let's go, we're wasting our time."

"You're too soft!" The assailant's voice brings new meaning to the phrase, "Dripping with venom". She kicked the Patulzak woman back down. They are going away.

Knut appears to be in some kind of trance. He snapped himself out of it. "Tonight will be your last here, boy." He's speaking very quietly. "I don't know what sort of business you've gotten yourself involved with but it's dangerous. I can't have my family caught up in it."

"I understand." Hilde looks regretful but she isn't saying anything. Siv's protests commenced, can't hear exactly what she's saying. I can barely focus my thoughts. Who were those people? I have a feeling they were Maya and Nika. I hope I'm wrong. How did they find out about me, if the Patulzak they were talking about even is me? The assailant said she received a report. Who delivered it?

"Good night." The three of them probably want to discuss something privately. I was never told to go to bed before, I might as well comply. If only I got a look at those people's faces. I would have known who to look out for and avoid. I have no choice but to go to Ishtragrad tomorrow, Father said King Rodion's conference regarding Auvatica will take place at midday.