Glancing up from the piece of armor he was working on, Max blinked, seeing Tom there, both lips drawn tight and his eyebrows scrunched together. The trainer nodded once and opened the door. “I’ll be outside the door.” Max glanced at the pieces he had carefully set on the stone table, stored the tools in his hands and stretched. “Do I want to know?” Tanila asked, one eyebrow raised as she closed her book. “You know already. Only one thing would cause Tom to come in and leave like that.” Storing her book, she rose from the padded chair she had sat in, pushing away the small stool on which her feet had been propped up. Max nodded, picking up the pieces on the table and quickly storing them. “I hope I am,” he whispered. The man who stood before him shifted under his gaze. At first, he wasn’t sure how Caleb would react upon seeing him. Not much had changed since they met in Rumstant. His head was shaven, and the clothes he wore were much finer, but beyond the extra muscle and inches, surely his friend could tell it was him. “Caleb, you look well.” That fool… did he really shave his head like you… His childhood friend stood there, dressed in clothes he knew Tom had given him. They were a good fit and his friend shook his bald head, still blinking and unable to speak. “It’s you… You’re really… that voice. I’ll never forget your voice.” “Take a seat, Caleb. We need to talk,” Max said, motioning to the cushioned chair his friend had been sitting in. He watched his friend reach backwards, feeling the arm before plopping down. Summoning a normal wooden chair, Max spun it around and leaned against the back, arms resting on top of it. “Tell me, how goes the adventuring?” “Uh… good? I mean, fine. I found a party and we’re almost ready to move to the next dungeons. Soon I’ll be level twenty-three and…” Caleb stopped talking, shaking his head as he leaned forward. “You’re really about to defeat the tower… I heard the rumors… tried to ignore them. You were nothing. You just wanted to be a baker and now… you’re the hero of the kingdom. I… I even got a haircut like you because… well, everyone else was doing it.” Clearing his throat, Max held up a hand. “I’m glad you’re doing well and have a group,” Max said. “I don’t have a lot of time and wanted to ask you a few questions before I decide what to do with you.” It took effort not to chuckle as his friend’s voice squeaked. “My sister. Did you ever love her?” An assortment of facial expressions played out over a few seconds on Caleb’s face and had someone not known the question that had been just asked and by whom it had come from, they might have thought the poor boy was having a seizure. “She’s the only sister I have.” “I… I liked her… I mean you knew that. Why?” Standing up, Max lifted his chair and drew closer, just a few feet from the one who had broken him out of a cart and saved his life. “I’m going to ask a question and don’t lie. I can tell when people are lying and while I owe you for saving my life, trust me when I say that won’t help you here.” Caleb’s heart beat like a hummingbird's wing and his friend nodded, sweat beginning to form on his bald head. “Did you know my sister was pregnant?” “What?!” Caleb exclaimed, his head moving back and eyes widening. “What are you talking about?” There was no doubt his friend was confused at that question. “She sent you letters, you replied.” “What letters?! I never got letters! After Thomas vanished, things went crazy, and well, Trina told me that returning home for a while was a bad idea—a really bad idea. So we went south to a few of the other towns and began grinding out in those dungeons. It was slower, and the group did not want to risk anything. About three or four months ago I returned to Peltagow and found a new group. It took time but… I’m sorry, Stacy is pregnant? What does that have to do with me? I haven’t seen her in so long that it couldn’t be–” Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Caleb’s eyes widened and Max saw that his friend had finally realized what was happening. “Wait!” he exclaimed, rising from his chair before Max’s outstretched hand stopped him. “She was pregnant? She had a child? My child?!” “Sit,” Max said slowly. “We need to talk and you’re going to not like how this conversation goes. If you pass, you’ll get a chance to see your daughter. If you don’t…” He shook his head and pointed a finger at Caleb as he started to try and talk. “If you don’t, I’ll make certain you never see her or try to.” The look of defiance on his friend's face almost made Max laugh. He had seen Caleb’s eyebrows furrowing and his mouth grow small when upset all his life. “Or I’ll have someone kill you.” The tan color on his friend's face vanished and Caleb went limp in the chair. Well done, Max. Well done. Laughter echoed in his head as Max sighed. Summoning a waterskin and cloth, he moved to wake up his friend. Stacy grunted, both arms crossed as she stared at him. “You should have given me more time! I told you the last time you asked I wasn’t sure.” “I know,” Max replied as he tried to touch his sister's knee again, only to get his hand slapped away again. “But as I told you, Mom and Dad, I’ll be gone in a few more weeks. Time is running out and I wanted to ensure that you were protected if he came.” She scoffed and shook her head, glancing at Tanila, who was sitting in her chair, sipping on some warm tea and not saying a word. “Do you hear him? Like I’m some damsel in distress and need him to protect me?” Max could sense the slightest change in Tanila as she looked at his sister, watching Stacy shift on the couch. “Do you want me to answer as a third party or remain silent?” Clearing her throat, Stacy growled. “Why do I think you’re going to side with him?” she asked, pointing at Max accusingly. “I’m not siding with anyone. I came simply to ensure that he didn’t act like a fool. At no point was I planning on having to give wisdom to his sister as a woman should be smart enough to know that when our emotions get involved, logic often goes out the window.” “Loves you and your daughter very much,” Tanila said, an aura of power radiating off her. Gods, I love when she does that. It’s not fair, I can’t be there to witness any of this… I mean Bob gets to… Really? A dragon complains about not being trapped inside someone when they can soar across the lands. “You think Max is worried about you being able to kick this boys arse? No, he’s worried that you’ll do something foolish and make a decision you’ll regret because you don’t know all the facts. He went and ensured that Caleb had no idea you were pregnant. He told him more than I would have, but he wanted his old friend to understand his position. “The woman who captured your brother, had him locked up, and then lured Caleb away, most likely kept those letters from him. I do not doubt that she did everything possible to keep you two separated for sick pleasure or some hopes of finding Max. So, when you’re allowed to consider letting the father of your child have a chance to meet his daughter at least, don’t act like a woman scorned. Instead, act like the adventurer you claim to be, who makes good decisions during battle when lives are on the line.” Stacy sat there quietly as the aura around Tanila began to fade, and she took a small drink from her tea again. Max wanted to reach out again but waited. He knew she had to come to this place on her own and not because he forced her. “You really believe he didn’t ignore me?” Sighing, Max rubbed his eyes. “I’m good at what I can do. I can tell when most people are lying. He wasn’t. There were things not related to you that he didn’t tell the whole truth, but I believe Caleb had no clue you were pregnant. That is the only reason why I’m here today, telling you to consider letting him at least meet her. It would be better for her if she knew she had a father and perhaps one day could know him. “If Callie ever found out that you kept her from him, even knowing he didn’t know and had the chance, it would destroy her trust in you. No one wants that.” “Fine, but I don’t want you there when he’s here,” Stacy said. “Send Tom in. I’m unsure I could handle it right now if you were there.” Stacy chewed on her lip a few times, glancing down at her lap. “All my life I wanted to hang out with you two. Growing up I watched you two play and do everything together. I knew he liked me and when I could flirt, I did. What we did… I said yes and played the willing role. But with both of you in the room together… I’d feel… like a lesser person.” “But you’re not,” Max stated. “It doesn’t matter. Some wounds run deep and it will take me some time to get past that one. Even now I’m struggling with things I thought I was over because all these wounds have been reopened. I’ll be fine. Trust me. Even without Tom’s help, I can kick his arse.” Tanila snorted and Max turned, seeing her turn a little red. “Sorry, that was just a funny thought.” Nodding, Max smiled and reached for his sister’s knee once more. This time, she didn’t slap it away, and he squeezed it, laughing when she squirmed. “I only did what I did because I love you and Callie,” Max said. “And if he hurts you or her, I already told Caleb I’d have someone kill him.” Stacy burst out in laughter and shook her head. “You’re a goof, but I’ll claim you as my brother every day of the week.” Standing, Max shrugged and held his hand out toward Tanila. “Well then, I’ll let Tom know, and you just tell him when you’re ready. Until then, don’t worry about Caleb. I’ve got someone special taking care of him.” “Who?” his sister asked. Both women burst out in laughter, and Max couldn’t help but chuckle. “Oh yeah, and one last thing, sis…” He grunted, not caring about the face he was making. “What? Just spit it out already.” “His haircut. I’m a big fan.”