"Hey, hold on for a moment."

He and the other three soldiers stopped at Jamie's word. Well, it was more of them stopping at their companion's word. He had to stop in his tracks because they were right in front of him. Villagers had to move around them—five young men were a blockage in their own way.

"What is it, brat?" Tom raised a brow.

"Is something troubling you? The Captain is expecting us…" Cedric frowned.

"We don't have to go right away, you know?" The young boy grinned conspiringly. "Come on, let's go sightsee some more before we leave!"

"I don't think that's a good idea." Liam found himself speaking up.

The three of them threw a look at him, startled no doubt at his sudden input. He felt his palms sweat at their attention. I shouldn't have really spoken up.

"I have to agree, they called us to help them with the luggage or something." Frank chimed in.

He felt air return to his lungs, the others attention now on their friend.

"Geez, why do the rest of you have to be sour plums." Jamie pouted and rested his hands on his hips. "We'd be on the road again after this, so don't you want to take advantage of our stay while we're here?"

"We should listen to the pipsqueak over here." Tom placed his arms over the boy's head, "They don't need our help, they've got it all handled."

"Hey, get off me!" The lad whined and moved closer to Frank.

"Thomas." Cedric rubbed his forehead, as if he was dealing with some day-to-day occurrence. "I'm sure we'll be having some briefing of some sort. It doesn't matter if we—"

"I know, Cedric, my man. I got an idea, how about you, Frank and this chum run back over to Captain while Jamie and I explore? I'm sure that's not a problem."

"That's exactly the problem." Cedric sighed. "You two run off as if you have no responsibilities or whatever."

Liam wasn't sure if he liked being called chum, despite the acknowledgement of his presence. He could leave the four if he wanted to, why was he even waiting for them? Things seemed to be heat—

"And off I go!" Jamie zipped right past them, a gleeful look on his face. "I'll deal with the punishment later~" He turned left to a corner of a store and disappeared.

"Frank!" Cedric gave a look at the other soldier.

"U-uh, he was too fast." The taller man scratched his head with a winsome smile.

"Besides, it's not like you guys were slacking off." Tom lifted up his hands in conciliation, "It was more because you had trouble finding me?"

Cedric gave him a blank stare.

"And you could bring this guy!" Tom bumped shoulders with Liam, "I'd say you did a great job bringing him back while Jamie kept searching for this awesome and cunning self."

Liam tried not to crack his head against the nearest building. So I'm the sacrificial lamb?

* * *

It had been quite some time since Gus found himself in a village. It was not his hometown, but it was good enough. He thought he got used to the bleaky stonewalls of the Falcon Fortress—but here he was, enjoying the rustic sights of the village—a figure recoiled against him.

The young man stumbled but maintained his footing, gawking up at him.

"Mister Butler guy!" He cried.

Gus looked everywhere but the person in front of him. It was like his peaceful days were coming to an end. Sir Hyde's friends seemed to have a knack into getting into trouble.

"Ah, hello." He greeted, "Aren't you supposed to be heading back to the Captain with your friends?"

"O-oh, about that. Heheh, I..uh, took a detour!" The soldier fidgeted in front of him, practically rolling on the balls of their feet. "Because… you! Yes, you! I thought, maybe the butler guy needed my help so I came running back."

It took some willpower not to slap a hand over his face, it was a blatant lie. Still, he really could use some help. Who knew what kids their age liked to eat nowadays? Even more that it was for a certain noble lady. No doubt her palate required something delicate. What did she used to eat? He couldn't remember, or really didn't bother to remember.

"So uh, earth to butler?"

He blinked and stared at the kid. They were a kid in his eyes anyway and using such odd choice of words too. "What is it?"

"Can I, uh… stick around with you and help you?"

"What was your name again? I forgot." Or he didn't really bother learning their names. In the best of circumstances, he'd never have to meet soldiers and would have solely served the Falcon family.

"Oh, I'm James. But my friends call me Jamie."

"Well then, James, I'm off to get Lady Falcon something to eat before. Help me out."

"That sounds easy enough."

He eyed the young man for a moment.

"...and fun! I wonder what kind of delicacies we'd find in this village~" Jamie fist pumped.

Gus sighed inwardly, he may have done more harm than good by relenting with the kid's shenanigans.

* * *

"You're not going anywhere." Frank grabbed the back of Thomas' shirt to prevent the soldier from scampering off. But Thomas simply slipped out of his shirt and hurriedly ran off.

"See ya losers!" He waved at them.

Liam wasn't sure if it was pure genius or simply an act of impropriety. Regardless, the shrieks of females could be heard along with angry shouts. "Things aren't going to end well are they?"

"That cretin. Such acts of indecency won't leave a good impression on behalf of the Falcon family." Cedric exchanged looks with him and Frank. "Let's retrieve him now."

"Least we could do is clobber some sense into him before the Captain hears of this." Frank chuckled humourlessly.

And then they were off.

Liam scratched his head, watching the two speed off into differing directions. A notable effort to cage in their friend. Now what about him? What was he going to do? He could help. Or he should get back to the soldiers' temporary settlement. He didn't fancy chasing off after someone who didn't want to get caught.

* * *

What to get for Lady Rhine? it was more mind boggling than he thought it would be. They stood in front of a store with a misshapen board nailed over an open window. 'Helen's Baked Goods' it said. What was supposed to be a window box planter held loaves of bread. It was incomparable to the bakery in the capital or even towns but the waft of bread fresh out of an oven made his mouth water.

"A loaf of bread and cheese?" James gave him a look. "Are you an oaf or a rat?"

"That was what the family served and your friend, sir Hyde ate it along with milk."

"It's because Hyde is nice!" The boy in front of him rolled his eyes. "He'd eat a rat if you convince him enough."

Gus quirked his lips, taking note of what the young man said. "Hmm, how about a steak then? During the festival they roasted some boars, a nice delicacy."

"Do you want her stomach to ache? That's too heavy for a light breakfast! We're leaving today aren't we?"

"Then what do you want me to get her?" Gus felt his eye twitch, his airs of being a butler tapering off. "Glistening raindrops and the essence of moonbeans?!"

"Would you two buy something or move aside? You're scaring business!" A woman leaned out her window. Nearly covered from head to toe in what seemed to be flour, she looked nothing short of a mess.

"Lady, I don't think it's us who's scaring the business." The younger man coughed.

The butler gave him a look, "Apologies, um, do you sell anything besides these bread?"

"Of course I do! Can't you read the sign? It says baked goods!"

James chuckled and stuck out a tongue while he apologized to the lady. After a moment or two, the woman pulled something out of the oven. "Here, gooseberry pie and that'll be four silvers." She handed it over to the boy.

"W-wha—warmest thanks! I think my Lady will be pleased." Gus coughed up the required money and handed it over.

"Thanks for the business, now scram."

Finding themselves considerably out of earshot's length, Gus sighed in relief. The Lady had a thing for desserts like her mother, so this would be fine.

* * *

Garret slouched at his station and used his wooden spear to maintain his posture. He sighed as he watched people pass by him. Why did he get stuck here? It'd be fun to watch the entrance with other Watchers but now he was stuck in some dead corner of their place.

"Garret! Help!" A familiar voice cried out, running towards him. Lily was rushing over towards him.

He tightened his grip on the spear, "What is it?"

"Some idiot is running around naked!"

"Naked, naked? Is it a girl?"

She threw him a glare, "Half naked, but he's disturbing us so get him to put a shirt on!"

He made a face and looked at her, "Alright—"

"Freeedoooom!" a guy laughed as he ducked from a slipper and pressed his back against a wall. His gaze settled on them and waved, "Hey, nice stick." His torso was completely bare just as Lily said.

Garret recognized him at once, "Thanks, I carved it myself." He spun it amiably, digging its sharp edge on the dirt and leaned over it. This was the guy who accompanied Hyde's sister last night. Rhi...Rhian or something.

"Garret!" She wouldn't understand what he was doing.

"Oh, you're good at craftsmanship, that's neat." Thomas nodded his head, before glancing back at the street he had escaped from. "Huh, the old lady left—"

The butt of the spear crashed into the soldier's chest and rammed him on the wall. Thomas groaned, "What the hell was that?"

[Unerring Throw] but he didn't need to know that.

She covered her mouth, "Did you need to hit him that hard?"

Garret picked up his spear and held the butt over Tom's chest. "Not really, I expected this guy to move fast."

"I was distracted." Tom winced, "But what's with the brutal treatment! I'm just wandering around and not bothering anybody."

"You're scaring the kids."

"The kids here run around butt naked, how can they be scared?" Tom lifted a brow.

"I guess you're just making the people uncomfortable." Garret shrugged. It was more of a chance to test his skills against a soldier really.

"I'm guessing Miss here can't help but gawk at my muscles." Tom chuckled.

He rolled his eyes, "She wouldn't need to stare at some skinny boy lik-" a look at Lily confirmed, her face was entirely red. "What the? I have more muscle than him." He dropped his spear and pulled off his shirt. "Now feast your eyes."

"Get your shirt back on!"

"E-eh." Garret frowned at the difference of treatment. This was injustice.

"You guys are funny." Tom winced as he massaged his sore muscle.

She wordlessly picked up his spear, "All I wanted was for you to wear a shirt, now this idiot decided to join you."

"U-uh… I suggest we start running."

"Sounds like a plan."