Chapter 10 - Can’t be Trusted?

The man leaned in slamming his hand on the table. “I can take that quest right there.” He said. Norman turned to look at the fellow besides him and smiled joyfully.

“I see that you’re still a muscular as ever, you even have a few more scars on your face. It’s good to see you again Jack.” Norman said.

“Likewise old friend. I’ll need a couple of hours for my party to prepare. Let’s head to the inn, tell me the details there.” Jack turned to leave but stopped. He turned and looked at Blake. “I have to assume that this brat is your kid.” Jack said as he pointed down at Blake. Norman quickly looked behind him to see Blake and then back at Jack.

“Yes he is but I didn’t know he followed me in.” Norman responded. Jack turned back and started for the door. Norman grabbed Blake by the hand and started to pull him.

“Are you making him a blacksmith?” Jack asked.

“That is what I would prefer but if he wants to join the guild and become an adventurer when he’s older then I won’t stop him.”

“Sounds just like something you would say.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Norman responded. Blake continued to be pulled but he was curious about this man.

“Hey Aaron, do you know this man at all?” Blake asked. Aaron appeared next to him but he was clearly furious. A sour expression filled his face.

“Whatever you do, don’t trust that man; He killed Father and Mother in cold blood.” Aaron responded.

“Are you sure that you didn’t imagine it? Look at them, they look like old friends.” He asked. Aaron shook his head.

“No, I’m sure of it. This man killed Father and Mother. I saw it with my own two eyes. It’s a sight I wish I could forget.” Blake turned to look at Jack and saw him staring at him. Jack discretely turned away. Blake was weirded out but they left the guild and went back to the wagon. Norman grabbed Blake and put him on the wagon before hopping up front without halt. Jack quickly jumped in behind and sat down opposite of Blake.

Jack kept staring at Blake. Blake felt an uneasy feeling but it quickly went away as Jack turned his attention away to Norman and Esmerelda. Jack directed them in the direction of the inn where his group was staying at. Blake turned to Aaron who was on his right. “Hey Aaron tell me more about how Jack killed your parents.” He thought.

“Well I don’t really know why but I can tell you what I saw. It wasn’t long after the first attack. People were fortifying the cities in an attempt to fight back against the demons. I was traveling to one of these cities with my parents and Jack, who was tagging along. Everything was fine until I left to hunt one day. I returned only to see that man holding a sword that ripping into Father’s flesh. I didn’t even have to look for mother as she was laying right at Jack’s feet. Father’s limp body fell to the ground. Pools of blood gathered around but Jack just stood there silently before he turned to face me.” Aaron responded.

“Did he go after you too?” Blake asked.

“No. Well more like I didn’t stay around to find out. I was terrified so I ran away. For a while I could almost swear that I heard footsteps behind me but I just kept going. I made it to the safety of the city and that’s where I started to train myself, but I never saw Jack again.”

“So you never found out the reason he killed them?”

“No but I can never forgive him for it. No matter how much my parents may trust him, I will never allow myself to trust in him. Stay alert, don’t let him get too close.” Blake acknowledged what Aaron said and turned to Jack in response only to find him looking back in his direction. He was taken aback but upon a closer look he noticed that Jack wasn’t looking at him but slightly to the side of him. He turned his head only to see Anna trying to hide herself behind Blake. He had almost forgotten about her. She just kept poking her head behind Blake.

“Blake who is the scary person?” she asked.

“I don’t know” he told her. She wasn’t willing to say much more with Jack in sight so Blake continued to listen in on their talk.

“Whose kid is that?” Jack asked pointing to Anna. “You guys babysitting?”

“I’m just going to say that you know the parents very well. I guess you could call it babysitting but she and Blake get along so it never hurts.” Norman stated. Jack looked confused. He leaned closer to Norman and whispered something into his ear.

“How did you know? It was going to be that but we suddenly changed our minds.” He responded. Jack put his finger to his mouth telling him to be quiet. Blake gained interest in their conversation but they started whispering everything so he wasn’t able to get anything from it.

It didn’t take long to reach the inn. It was only a few blocks down from the guild. Jack hopped off. “Do you guys want to eat something?” he asked.

“We’re fine.” Esmerelda answered. “We still need to do some things before leaving. We’ll do that while your party gets ready.” Jack shrugged and started for the door.

“Actually Jack.” Norman said; Jack stopped and turned his head back. “If it’s not too much trouble, can you take the kids with you? I have no idea when Blake might wander off so I’d rather if he didn’t get that chance.”

“Yeah sure.” Jack started walking back to the wagon.

Blake just stared in disbelief. “Aaron, is this okay?” Blake thought.

“I doubt that he would do anything right now so it’s fine for now.” Aaron said. Jack tried to pick up Anna first, but she just didn’t want to. She kept running away when he tried to grab her.

“Why don’t you want to go?” Esmerelda asked

“He looks scary.” Anna responded.

“He looks scary but he’s not bad.” Norman responded. “Go or Blake will be alone.” She finally agreed and she went off the wagon. Next was Blake, he didn’t resist but was tempted to. As soon as they were off, the wagon took off.

Jack started for the door once again with Blake and Anna hand in hand. He opened it and they were greeted with the aroma of food and the sight of people. Jack looked around and started walking toward a table with a group of three; two women and one man. They were all eating and laughing. “How nice of you guys to start without me.” Jack said. The man swallowed the food in his mouth; he looked displeased.

“What about you Jack? You were supposed to go get a quest. Instead you come here with two kids. Sorry to break it to you but I’m not babysitting.”

“Oh real funny. I got us a quest but I’m just looking over them while they come back.” The other two finish eating. One of the women speaks up.

“So what kind of quest is it? An extermination? Guarding?

“Goblins.” Jack responds. Everyone at the table start laughing. The other woman starts scolding him after laughing.

“I know I said to pick and easy quest this time but come on. We’re rank B adventurers and you’re sending us on a quest to kill goblins.” She laughed.

“Yeah Jess you tell him.” The man said.

“Jess and Ralph hold onto yours horses; you too Ivy.” Jack responded. They gestured for him to continue. “What if I said that the quest involves over 100 goblins?” They stared back in disbelief.

Blake just kept looking at them, amused by their reactions. Blake continued to look on at their conversation. “Judging by their reactions then this many goblins is probably not a joke.” Blake thought.

“Are you sure it’s one hundred? How many of each rank?” Ivy asked. Jack shook his head.

“I don’t know. The quest was given by an old friend so I offered to take it. But it looks like they don’t know much though.” He responded.

“When do we leave?” Jess asked.

“In a couple of hours.” Both Jess and Ivy bolted up.

“You should have said so sooner. We have to pack our things.” They said in unison. They hurried past the eating area to their rooms. Jack turned his head down to Blake and Anna.

“Do you guys want something to eat; my treat.” he asked. Blake was about to accept his offer but he remembered Aaron’s warning and decided to just decline. He said no but Anna answered yes. Jack raised his hand and a waiter came to the table. “One kid meal and two stakes.” The waiter wrote it down and started to leave.

“Make that three stakes.” Ralph said.

“Sure.” The waiter said as he disappeared into the kitchen. Jack helped Blake and Anna onto the empty seats and then plopped himself down next to Ralph.

“Not going to pack Ralph?” He asked.

“Already packed and ready to go.” Ralph responded.

“You know Ralph, it always surprises me that you’re the one to be ready before they are.” Jack says.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Ralph responded. He turned to look at Blake and Anna. “Do you know if these kids have any potential?”

“I do not know. They might but they might not.” Jack responded.

“Why don’t you check?” Ralph asked. Jack shrugged.

“I don’t know I just don’t think it would be right.” Jack reached over to Blake and put his hand on his head. “Besides the kid’s dad wants him to be a blacksmith.” Jack retracted his arm.

“I mean, I don’t see a reason why he can’t be both.” Ralph said.

“I guess that’s true.”

“I forget, does the royal academy have a section for blacksmiths?” Ralph asked.

“I have no idea but that reminds me that the academy keeps trying to hire us four as instructors. I think I might accept the offer after this job.”