บท 81: The Song

Piers glanced up as we entered, almost jumping to his feet when he saw Drevolan, and was lost for words. I introduced them, and Drevolan looked around.

"If I wasn't aware," he commented, "I might think this was a lawyer's office."

"What did you think you'd find? Poison bottles and hidden weapons?"

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "Maybe that's why I wanted to see it."

"This is my working space," I said, leading him further. We encountered Thorne, whom I introduced as well.

"We've met before," Thorne said.

"No need to bow," Drevolan replied, smiling.

We went into my office, and he took a seat. "So, you need extra time to repay me. Perhaps we can arrange something."

"There's a contrast between what you do and where you do it. Fascinating," he said, studying me as though trying to understand a potential ally or foe. His scrutiny made me uneasy.

"I felt the same way a few days ago."