42 Cain Ward (2/2)

I nodded my head, ”About that.”

I pulled out the three tokens and placed them on the table between us. Morrow's eyes shot up in shock as he grabbed the tokens and flipped them over confirming their authenticity.

He looked at me and asked, ”How did you get these?”

I leaned forward and retold the events that surrounded the three men.

After I finished Morrow asked, ”Why didn't you come and inform me before?”

I then explained about the follow up attack by Sylvia and bringing her back to the Captains Manor. He would no doubt find out from Matilda eventually if he didn't already know.

”After all of that it was so late I figured it could wait till now.”

”That's understandable. Nothing more could have been done anyways.” He responded.

He stroked his chin for a moment, ”What are you going to do with the girl?”

I had left out remarks about her abilities and parts of conversation with her this morning. We had spoke soft enough that I wasn't worried about the guards overhearing. At best they only heard the part about me killing her brother.

”With your permission I'd like to keep her at my manor for now. I haven't decided what usefulness she might have yet.”

Morrow seemed to like this answer and gave me a sly smile, ”As long as it stays hidden you are free to do what you want with her.”

I almost involuntarily had a look of disgust show on my face but was barely able to reign it in. Clearly Morrow had misunderstood my motives. While good for me, his cavalier towards the possible abuse of Sylvia completely disgusted me. I quickly gathered my thoughts.

”Naturally, I will act in the utmost secrecy.”

”Now that we have handled that matter let's discuss another topic.”

I leaned back and took another sip of my juice. The flavor was quite good, like a cross between orange and mango juice but slightly sweeter.

”Have you noticed that some things about Black Lion Village seem a little too convenient?”

”What do you mean?” Interested in where this was going I leaned in.

”I mean, why does it seem like the people that appeared in this area seem to be exactly the ones I needed to develop Black Lion Village quickly?”

After thinking about it for a second I realized he was right. Without a large amount of carpenters and other tradesmen even after months he couldn't have developed this fast and smoothly. Black Lion Village was already self sufficient and flourishing. There is no way that many people, with the proper occupations had been sent close to here. Agartha is a huge place so they should have been more spread out.

”It does seem awfully unlikely it happened by chance.”

Morrow nodded his head, ”At first even I thought it was just the heavens smiling down at me since I too was told arrival in Agartha was random. However, just last night I received a missive from the new government, The United Human Federation, explaining everything. Since you are my brother I thought you would want to know and we can work together to develop this village even faster.”

My heart began to beat rapidly. What could it be? Had the government found a way to place people where they wanted? Conspiracy theories abounded in my past life, but no one ever confirmed if any of them were true.

”I would like to know! I never imagined they hid something like this from us.”

Morrow chuckled at my enthusiasm, ”Ok. You must swear you will take this secret to your grave. It must never get out. If the common people discovered it they would almost certainly riot.”

”I swear I will never reveal this secret to a single person.”

”Ok I will tell you.”