Chapter Thirteen: Importance

Sage gave a hard look at Lyle then burst out laughing.

Folding her arms after laughing, Sage said, "I have other job for you."

Sages emerald eyes darkened, though her smile remained unchanged, "Yesterday, I got a letter from someone named L. He or she told me to go the old windmill at the outskirts of town."

Lyle looked at Sage with repoarcful eyes, "Don't tell me you went."

"I went." Sage smile widened as she looked him in the eyes.

With a sigh he asked, "So, what happened."

"A letter was all I saw when I reached there." Sage looked at the sky a she continued. "But what makes me unnerved is that, I sent that letter to you, but someone was able to intercept it, and send me that letter."

"But that's impossible! no one can bypass the Argent Duchy securit!" A tight frown appeared on Lyle's face.

"Haha, right 'tight security'. I, a currently weak person, was able to seek out at peak hour. Sure tight security," Sage laughed.

Suddenly she stopped laughing, "That's right, I'm currently weak, and no one noticed me sneak off!"

"Okay calm down, just tell me what you wanted me to do,"

"Ah yes. I want you to investigate it," Sage waved him off. Then turned toward the training Raiders.

"Very well. Jackie will be coming soon. So do be warned," Lyle sighed before he warned her.

"Jackie? How's Jackie?" Sage turned towards Lyle as she asked. Only to see no one behind her.

"Hmm, odd. My eyes are twitching," Sage just shrugged as she walked off. Suddenly, a chil ran up her spine.

She hurriedly took a huge side step to the right. A thump was heard no soon after.

"Oh come Captain, that's was rude," a honeyed voice aggrievingly complained.

Sages expression stiffened. This was the first time her expression had changed since waking up.

"Said the person who launched themselves, towards a stranger!"

"But I'm not a stranger," the person got up from the ground. "Its me, Jackie!"

The person exclaimed with a wide smile.

Sage looked the person up and down the bluntly said, "I thought you would be a woman?" Jackie's smile faltered.

With her eyebrows raised Sage asked, "What?"

"Looks like you don't remember much," Jackie scratched his shoulder length brown hair as he looked Sage up and down.

"That's the nickname you gave when you found 10 years ago. You mistook me for a girl and gave me that name."

A click sounded off in Sages head when she heard that. "I did rename you when I found out, but you liked Jackie better,"

"Nope, but you did like seeing my face contort in shame," Jackie sighed.

Sage laughed as she remembered. "Fine, fine. Joshua, you happy."

A bright grin enveloped Joshua's face as he kept towards Sage for a hug.

Sage quickly kicked him in the stomach. Her disdain evident.

Joshua doubled over, gasping for breath. "Captin, your kicks still pack a punch!" He wheezed, a mix of pain and laughter on his face.

Sage's expression had regained its gentle smile. But her eyes had a threatening look in them.

Sage said, her voice sweet as honey, but with a hint of venom. "I see some things haven't changed, Joshua."

Joshua, still catching his breath, looked up at Sage with a mixture of admiration and trepidation. "You're as beautiful as ever, Captain," he said, his voice laced with a hint of worship. "But I see your temper is still as short as your... patience."

Sage's smile never wavered, "If I truly had short patience, then nobody in the continent has patience."

Joshua held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, Captain,"

"Let's go to the office. I have something important for you and you division to do," Sages smile became tamer and more dignified as she said.

Joshua rained in his expression as he nodded and followed behind her.

***

*Night Duchy*

"Ragnelle, give it back!" A dainty voice cried out.

Ragnelle looked down at his sister as he said, "Just reach for it. What's so hard?"

Beatrice stomped her foot on the ground as she yelled, "You're using your height against me,"

"Ah, so you admit your short?" Ragnelle asked with a smirk on his face.

Beatrice shouted in annoyance, "I'm not short, you're just too tall!"

"Ragnelle, stop bothering your younger sister," a low voice said.

Ragnelle looked towards his right as he said, "Give me something more entertaining then I'll stop,"

Luke, the eldest son, glanced at Ragnelle. Ragnelle sighed then passed his sister, her book back.

Ragnelle sat on the couch as he asked, "When will father actually meet us? We've been coming to his office for the past 3 days now, and he never shows up due to excuse like, 'I'm to busy, so let's meet on a later date'. By now I would be with Sage."

"Me too?" Beatrice added.

"Is she my friend or yours?" Ragnelle questioned, looking at his sister with a annoyance.

"Hmm!" Beatrice ignored him as she look down unto her book.

Luke looked at his untouched tea as he said, "We may have a crisis on our hands from now on."

Ragnelle raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What are you insinuating, Luke?"

Luke's gaze drifted towards the window, his eyes narrowing. "I'm saying that, the information you got has turned the nobles families peace upside down."

Beatrice looked up from her book, her eyes wide with concern. "What do you mean?"

Ragnelle snorted. "Those money grabbing baffons did this to themselves, so why drag us in. Plus how does the Argent family avoid all these problems. I wish I was an Argent sometimes."

"Maybe, stop making trouble?" Luke commented.

Ragnelle chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Where's the fun in that, Luke? Besides, someone's got to keep things interesting around here."

Beatrice shook her head, a small smile on her face. "You're impossible, Ragnelle."

Luke's expression turned serious, his voice firm. "This isn't a laughing matter. If the noble families are at odds, the Empire will suffer. And this is a bad time since the war against the Mumford Empire is coming,"

Ragnelle's grin faltered.

Luke continued, "So, we must avoid internal stifle in the Empire,"

Just then, a soft knock at the door interrupted them. "Enter," Luke called out.

A servant bowed, their face solemn. "Forgive the intrusion, but... there's been a message from the Argent Duchy. For Lord Ragnelle."

Ragnelle's eyes lit up with curiosity and delight. "Ah, perfect timing. Give it here."