When Tiberius finished his fiery speech, Lysaro Rogare—standing beside his father—couldn't help himself. He started clapping.
Damn, that was one hell of a performance.
The second he saw his father's look, though, Lysaro dropped his hands like they were on fire.
[Holy shit… the kid actually said that with a straight face?] Vito's eyes were practically bulging out of his skull.
One sun in the sky… We're sellswords, not goddamn knights! Only those shiny armor pricks swear their lives to some lord's stupid decisions and family honor.
[We're known for keeping our word, sure, but shouting "you are our only sun" to a client? If Lysandro doesn't kick us out for being the cringiest bastards in Lys, the Seven must love us.]
To Vito's utter shock, Lysandro didn't sneer "a bunch of sellswords talking about loyalty?" Instead the banker threw his head back and laughed.
"Tiberius, today you have truly impressed me." Lysandro looked at the twelve-year-old with open admiration for the first time. "Your tongue is as sharp as your spear. You've won me over. Tell my steward to ready the carriage tonight. I will attend the White Company's feast, raise my cup to your bravery, and praise every one of you…"
[Vito's brain short-circuited.]
He's going to toast us? Did I hear that right?
To Lysandro, everything in the world came down to business. Tiberius had just shown him the perfect low-cost, high-return investment: spend half an hour smiling, say a few pretty words, maybe toss around some gold, and buy the absolute loyalty of an entire company that would soon be bleeding for his estates and slaves in the coming war.
A no-brainer.
[We got him!] Tiberius thought, heart pounding with triumph.
Back on Earth he'd spent years dealing with investors. The trick was always the same: make the project look fast, cheap, and ridiculously profitable. Show them the story they could star in.
That was exactly what he'd done—turned "show up at a sellsword party" from a joke into a premium investment.
"We'll see you tonight, then," Lysandro said with a nod, waving for a servant to refill his wine.
Vito, still standing next to Tiberius, felt his jaw hit the floor.
What the actual fuck? Lysandro Rogare—the most powerful man in Lys—is coming to our little company feast? He really said yes?
Seven Hells… what kind of mouth does this kid have?
[But the real test is still coming,] Tiberius reminded himself.
Sure enough, Lysandro flipped the hourglass.
"You have about one minute left. Now tell me—what gift have you actually brought?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"Don't say something stupid like 'the friendship of the White Company.' What I need is my daughter found."
Tiberius bowed again, then lowered his voice.
"My lord, forgive me—this is something I can only tell you in private. It concerns an old matter involving my uncle Jules… and it is exactly why he will accept your request."
He leaned in and whispered a few sentences into Lysandro's ear.
Lysaro watched his father's eyebrows shoot up, his face flickering between shock and disbelief.
Lysandro gave Tiberius a long, searching look.
Then, in a low voice only the boy could hear, he asked, "You're certain Jules has… this history?"
Tiberius nodded hard.
"Yes, my lord. My uncle told me himself."
"And you know how it is… when 'the Honorable' gives his word, he keeps it."
Lysandro's shoulders relaxed visibly.
"I am relieved. Tiberius, you truly have brought me the gift I wanted most…"
He turned the hourglass over again, giving them extra time.
"Your courage already stunned me—a twelve-year-old killing an Ironborn with a spear. Now your wisdom and… your understanding of men have truly impressed me."
Lysandro studied the boy with open interest.
"Would you like a proper tutor? I know several excellent scholars."
Tiberius's heart nearly stopped.
This was the golden thigh he'd been dreaming of. If he said yes—
"My lord, the most important thing right now is finding your daughter," he answered quickly.
Lysandro's eyes lit up with fresh approval.
"Lysaro, escort Captain Vito and young friend Tiberius out through the main gate."
Lysaro had been dying to speak the whole time. The second they reached the front door he couldn't hold it in.
"Tiberius… what the hell did you say to my father? How did he suddenly go from furious to treating you like his favorite son?"
"Can't say, can't say!" Tiberius grinned, climbing into the carriage and leaving his friend hanging.
On the ride back, Vito lasted about thirty seconds before he exploded.
"Tiberius, what did you actually whisper to the old man? That was the 'gift' he wanted?"
"Want to know?"
Vito nodded so hard his neck cracked.
Tiberius leaned in, put his mouth right next to Vito's ear, and murmured a few words.
Vito's face went blank for half a second—then he started snorting, shoulders shaking, until he finally burst out laughing so hard tears streamed down his face.
"Jules is going to murder you!" he wheezed, wiping his eyes. "The man spent his whole life building that 'Honorable' reputation! And now your little scheme… Seven Hells!"
"Tell me the truth, kid—what the fuck is inside that head of yours? You sure you didn't fuck the Crone in your dream while you were unconscious?"
"Vito, one day the Warrior's gonna visit you in a dream… and he'll be the one taking your maidenhead."
Then Vito turned serious.
"Even if Captain Jules agrees to look for Lysandro's daughter… we still might not find her. That's exactly why he didn't want the job in the first place."
"Vito."
"Hm?"
"You know I'm really good at fishing, right?"
Vito nodded. "Yeah, you catch fish like it's cheating. Even the old fishermen can't match you. But what does that have to do with finding the girl?"
Tiberius's lips curved into a small, confident smile.
"The reason I always catch the big ones is simple. I know exactly what each kind of fish likes to eat, where they hide, and when they're most… active. So I give them exactly what they want—and they bite."
"As for all those fools rushing to Bloodwave Cape Road waving their swords and hunting for gold… ha! They're so blinded by coin they can't see straight. They brought nothing but steel. Did they really think solving a mystery is about being brave?"
"You've completely lost me," Vito admitted. "So what's your actual plan to find Lord Lysandro's daughter?"
The carriage slowed.
"We're here," the driver called.
Tiberius didn't answer right away. He just stepped down with a satisfied little smirk.
"After the feast tonight—if everything goes smoothly and Uncle Jules takes the job—I'll tell you everything."