Chapter 113: A Small Escort

Joe remained at the dining table after Edwin finished describing the reports from Blackwood. The commercial disputes concerned him, but he was more interested in whether they explained Simon's decision to send Mira away.

"You mentioned that Francis has been involving a true Martial Artist in its business affairs. Has anyone connected him directly to Simon or Mira?"

"Not that I've heard," Edwin replied. "He isn't newly advanced, but he's begun appearing at negotiations and disputed properties where someone of his cultivation would ordinarily have little reason to involve himself. Merchants who were willing to resist Francis a few months ago have become more cooperative. Whether that has anything to do with Simon, I can't say."

Edwin had spent enough years managing commercial relationships in Blackwood to recognize deliberate pressure. The merchants reporting these incidents could describe what happened at their warehouses and negotiations, but few knew what the families intended to accomplish.

"Francis may be trying to strengthen its position against the Black family without provoking an open confrontation," he continued. "The magistrate has little reason to intervene in an ordinary commercial disagreement, even when one party uses its influence to obtain better terms. That gives both families considerable room to cause trouble."

Joe remembered the difficulties Simon had faced under Garrick. Individual decisions could appear reasonable while the pressure they created became increasingly difficult to withstand. The difference was that the present dispute involved two established families rather than a senior guard exploiting his position.

"Mira belongs to the Black family, but Simon has never been involved in its commercial affairs. I don't see why Francis would trouble itself with them unless something else has happened."

"Neither do I. My position within the family was already weakening before I moved to Ashbourne, and Mira isn't part of the central line. They wouldn't be my first choice if I wanted to pressure the Black family. But Simon knows far more about the situation than we do, and his letter suggests he's concerned about something he isn't prepared to explain."

Edwin had received no report of trouble in Green Hollow. That offered some reassurance, although it did little to explain why Simon wanted to remain near the village while sending Mira to her father.

Joe looked at the letter again. His brother had been unusually restrained, particularly in the final paragraph requesting secrecy. Simon ordinarily had no difficulty explaining his grievances at considerable length. Even when he was wrong, he generally preferred an argument to leaving matters unsettled.

"I'll return to Blackwood and speak with him," Joe said. "If he wants Mira to stay here, we can arrange that. But I want to know why he's unwilling to leave and whether the rest of the family has anything to worry about."

Edwin had clearly anticipated the decision, although he appeared no happier to hear it.

"A fast carriage with good changes of horses should reach Blackwood in roughly two weeks, provided the roads remain passable. You'll lose close to a month travelling, even if you spend very little time there. More importantly, you don't know what you'll find when you arrive. I'd prefer you didn't involve yourself in a dispute between those families without understanding who is responsible."

"I intend to speak with Simon before approaching anyone else. If there's no immediate danger, I won't interfere. But I can't remain here merely because he doesn't want me to interrupt my cultivation."

"I'm not asking you to ignore him. I know you were stronger than your official cultivation suggested before you left Blackwood, and Simon knows it too. Neither of us knows how much you've advanced since then. I'd rather you didn't assume that strength alone will settle whatever has happened."

Joe understood the concern. Edwin had no reason to suspect that he had completed nine Internal Organ temperings, much less the strength produced by Great Completion. Revealing those accomplishments would create complications of its own, particularly in Blackwood, where people remembered his earlier cultivation.

"I won't involve myself unnecessarily," Joe assured him. "I'll speak with Serena about my arrangements at the annex. If you can contact your acquaintances in Blackwood before I leave, we may learn something useful."

"I'll write to two of them today. They're involved in different parts of the medicine trade, so their information may help us establish whether anything unusual has happened recently."

With that settled, Edwin returned to his correspondence while Joe collected the research materials he had prepared for the afternoon.

He had reserved laboratory time at the annex and already completed the preparations for an experiment involving degraded spiritual herbs. Cancelling it would accomplish little while Edwin waited for replies from Blackwood, so he decided to finish the work before arranging his departure.

At the laboratory, however, he found it difficult to concentrate.

Joe had been comparing measurements from two processed samples when he discovered an error in his calculations. He checked the figures and realized that he had entered a value from an earlier experiment while thinking about Simon's letter. Rather than continue with unreliable measurements, he put the records aside, examined the samples again, and restarted the comparison.

The material came from damaged spiritual herbs whose higher properties had deteriorated during processing. His previous experiments had produced several altered residues that behaved differently from intact spiritual substances. Although he had learned to tolerate some of those preparations in limited quantities, he had not established whether the remaining material could provide useful nourishment.

His recent Foundation experiments offered another possibility to investigate. Combining Static and Dynamic Foundation had improved the distribution of ordinary medicinal concentrates, and he wanted to determine whether the same effect occurred with a degraded spiritual preparation.

Joe examined a previously prepared sample whose response he had already studied, then conducted a limited trial under controlled conditions. The residue produced an unfamiliar sensation around his abdomen, distinct from the warmth he associated with ordinary nourishing medicines.

He entered the experimental Foundation state, maintaining Static Foundation's bodily stability while allowing the principles of Dynamic Foundation to adjust his breathing and circulation as his posture changed.

The altered material began dispersing through his body.

In earlier trials, similar preparations had remained concentrated around the digestive system before weakening. This time, Joe detected the effect spreading more evenly through his strengthened internal pathways and reaching his muscles sooner than expected.

He maintained the combined technique and observed the response without attempting to increase the circulation.

The improvement became clear as the remaining effect gradually faded. The residue had distributed more efficiently, but his body retained little of its unusual properties. Most dissipated during circulation, leaving only a small contribution to ordinary nourishment.

Joe ended the trial and reviewed the measurements.

His pharmaceutical processing had altered the material enough for limited use, while the combined Foundation technique had improved its distribution. Neither had enabled him to retain much of whatever potentially useful energy remained.

The distinction helped narrow his research. He could continue refining the Foundation technique, but further progress would also require a better understanding of how the body assimilated unfamiliar energy rather than merely transporting it.

Joe recorded the findings and secured the remaining samples. He had intended to examine another variation, but that would require additional preparation and a more careful comparison with the present result. He left it for a later session and returned to Edwin's house.

Serena was working at the dining table when he arrived. Three folders lay open before her, containing his cultivation schedule, resource authorizations, and correspondence from the annex. Edwin occupied a chair near the window, reviewing the letters he intended to send to Blackwood.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from NovelPhoenix. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Joe removed his coat and approached the table.

"I need to arrange an absence of several weeks, possibly a month. Something has happened involving my family in Blackwood, and I'm considering returning."

Serena looked up from the schedule.

"That will affect your medical reviews and training authorization. I can arrange a temporary suspension, but the development office will want to know why you're leaving so soon after your latest assessment. Has someone in your family fallen ill?"

"No. My brother wants to send his wife here for an extended visit, but he's keeping the reason from us. Edwin has also received reports about a dispute involving the Black and Francis families. I want to make sure Simon isn't being pressured and that the trouble hasn't reached Green Hollow."

Serena turned toward Edwin, who briefly explained the circumstances. He described the growing commercial pressure, the involvement of a Francis true Martial Artist, and the absence of any confirmed threat against Simon or the village.

She listened without interrupting, then asked Joe how he intended to handle the matter once he reached Blackwood.

"I'll speak with Simon first," he replied. "He knows what's happening better than anyone here. If Mira needs to leave, I'll help arrange her journey. I also want to visit Green Hollow before returning."

"Those are matters we can investigate without requiring you to travel there personally," Serena said. "You're looking at nearly a month on the road, and you may discover that Simon simply needs reliable assistance with a problem he hasn't been willing to describe in a letter. My branch maintains household guards for assignments involving our interests outside Ashbourne. I can arrange for some of them to go in your place."

Joe knew the difference between a household guard in Ashbourne and the ordinary guards employed by merchants in Blackwood, but the involvement of a true Martial Artist made him cautious.

"Francis has someone at Internal Organs involved in the dispute. I don't want to send people who can investigate the situation but can't protect Simon if they find something serious."

"I wouldn't recommend that. My branch can spare four Internal Organ practitioners for the assignment. They'll travel under our household's name and carry letters introducing them to the magistrate and the Black family."

Edwin lowered the letter he was reading.

"Four true Martial Artists? You can arrange that through your own branch?"

"Yes. They're household guards, and my branch maintains several teams for assignments outside the capital. I'll need authorization to adjust their duties, but nothing you've described requires the involvement of Montclair's main family."

Edwin exchanged a glance with Joe.

Renford's advancement to Internal Organs had changed the balance within the Black family. The arrival of four true Martial Artists from an established Montclair household would attract attention in Blackwood, even if they travelled without ceremony.

Joe was more concerned with what they would do once they arrived.

"I'd rather they not confront Francis or approach the magistrate before speaking with Simon. We don't know whether he's involved in the dispute, and an official visit could make his position more difficult."

"That's sensible. I'll instruct them to contact him privately, explain who sent them, and establish why he wants Mira to leave. They'll carry introductions in case they need cooperation from the local authorities or the Black family, but those letters won't give them authority over the town guard or the magistrate's office."

Serena brought the relevant folder closer and continued.

"If Simon is facing a credible threat, the guards can remain with him or arrange protection for Mira. They can also escort her to Ashbourne. If the dispute has nothing to do with him, they'll report that and return once they've completed their other inquiries. I won't instruct them to interfere in Francis's affairs without sufficient reason."

Edwin approved of the approach, although he raised another concern.

"Simon can be stubborn when he thinks someone is doing him a favor he hasn't earned. If four Montclair guards arrive offering protection, he may refuse simply because he doesn't want Joe indebted to another family."

"Then they should explain their presence as part of the arrangements for Mira's visit," Serena replied. "You're her father, and you've been asked to receive her. It's reasonable to send trusted people to establish whether she needs assistance travelling. The guards can examine the wider situation without making Simon publicly dependent on Montclair."

That explanation would be easier for Simon to accept. Joe also preferred an arrangement that allowed his brother to decide how much assistance he needed.

"And Green Hollow?" he asked. "My parents and the others shouldn't be disturbed unless there's a genuine reason for concern."

"The guards can visit the village after speaking with Simon. They'll verify your family's circumstances and leave them undisturbed if everything is normal. If there's a credible threat, they can arrange temporary protection and discuss relocation with the people involved. I won't have them move anyone merely because the dispute in Blackwood has become unpleasant."

Joe considered the proposal.

Four true Martial Artists could provide protection that would be difficult for either Simon or Edwin to arrange independently. Their affiliation also mattered. Anyone contemplating action against Joe's family would have to consider the consequences of interfering with guards operating under the Montclair name.

Sending them would avoid another difficulty. If Joe returned personally and the situation became dangerous, he might have to reveal abilities that his former acquaintances could not reconcile with his earlier cultivation. He had spent years concealing the full extent of his progress, and Blackwood was the last place he wanted to explain it.

"How much would the assignment cost?" he asked. "I'm willing to cover the expenses, including their travel and any arrangements they need to make for the family."

"The initial assignment can be covered by my branch. We already have guards available, and establishing your family's circumstances is a reasonable service for someone receiving our support. If they need to remain in Blackwood for an extended period, we'll discuss the additional cost before committing further resources."

Serena had been direct about her branch's interest in Joe since their first meeting. Providing assistance now would strengthen that relationship, particularly if he continued developing within Montclair's program. Joe had no objection to accepting support on terms both parties understood.

"Then I'd appreciate it if you arranged the journey. I still want to know what's happening, but sending your guards will give Simon more immediate practical support than having me arrive alone after two weeks."

"I'll request the assignment tonight. If the household office confirms the available team, they can depart tomorrow morning. In the meantime, I won't suspend your cultivation arrangements. We can reconsider your travel plans if their investigation shows that your presence is necessary."

Edwin looked surprised by the proposed schedule.

"Tomorrow morning is soon for an assignment involving four true Martial Artists."

"They're already employed by the household," Serena explained. "I'm not trying to hire independent practitioners and negotiate individual terms. Our branch maintains guards for exactly these responsibilities, and the administrative office can arrange temporary replacements for their regular duties."

She began preparing the instructions while Joe supplied Simon's address and the location of Green Hollow. Edwin provided the names of his Blackwood contacts and identified the family representatives who might cooperate if the guards needed information.

Serena recorded the details, separating the arrangements concerning Mira from the wider investigation. The guards would contact Simon first, establish whether he or his wife faced any danger, and visit Green Hollow to confirm the family's circumstances. They would approach the magistrate or the Black family only when necessary and avoid involving Francis unless their findings justified it.

Joe also asked that significant developments be reported directly to Edwin rather than passing through the annex's ordinary administrative channels. Serena agreed and arranged for her branch office to forward the correspondence as soon as it arrived.

By the time they finished, Edwin had prepared a letter confirming that Mira could remain at his house for as long as she wished. He included a request for Simon to explain his circumstances privately to the visiting guards, making clear that neither he nor Joe intended to interfere in Blackwood's affairs without understanding the situation.

Serena took the letter with the other documents and left to arrange the assignment.

The four guards arrived shortly after sunrise.

They wore practical travelling clothes reinforced for long journeys, with small Montclair branch insignias near their collars. Their equipment was packed in an enclosed carriage waiting outside Edwin's house, and the oldest carried a locked case containing the letters of introduction.

Serena introduced the team leader to Joe and Edwin after completing her final review of the travel arrangements.

"The guards have their instructions. They'll contact Simon before discussing the matter with anyone else in Blackwood, then visit Green Hollow if circumstances permit. I've provided letters for the magistrate and the Black family, but they aren't to use them unless necessary."

Joe addressed the leader directly.

"My brother may be reluctant to accept help if he thinks it creates obligations for me. Please explain that Edwin and I are concerned about Mira's proposed visit and want to establish whether the family needs assistance. I'd rather you speak with him privately before anyone else knows why you've come."

"We've been instructed to handle the matter discreetly," the guard replied. "We'll speak with your brother, assess the circumstances, and report what we find. If protection becomes necessary, we'll explain the available arrangements before making decisions involving his household."

"Please also make sure Mira knows she's welcome here regardless of what happens. Edwin has already prepared a letter confirming that."

The guard accepted the letter and secured it in the administrative case. He then confirmed the location of Green Hollow and the names of Joe's relatives before returning to the carriage.

Once the driver completed his preparations, the four men boarded and departed. Joe watched the carriage move into the morning traffic while Edwin remained beside him beneath the entrance awning.

"I expect Simon will have plenty to say when he discovers we've sent four Montclair guards to his door," Edwin remarked. "He'll probably be more annoyed with us than with Francis, at least until they explain why they're there."

"He may be, but he'll understand that we're concerned about Mira and the family. I'd rather hear him complain afterward than leave him without help if something serious has happened."

Edwin agreed and went inside to finish his correspondence. Joe remained outside until the carriage disappeared beyond the next intersection. He would still have to wait for news from Blackwood, but Serena's arrangements meant he could continue his work in Ashbourne while experienced practitioners investigated the situation.

He returned to his room, collected the records from his latest pharmaceutical experiment, and prepared to visit the annex library. The altered residue had responded to his combined Foundation technique, but the problem of assimilation remained unresolved, and he wanted to examine the available research before conducting another trial.