The man called Kado Nard sat in front of the reception’s desk. His tight braid of crimson hair was sliding over his left shoulder to rest on the table, amber eyes concentrated as he studied the last notes in the huge notebook in front of him. His pose and manners matched unconsciously his aristocratic features and stylized fingers. He was tall, with his well-shaped frame covered by a fashionable black shirt and matching trousers. A bunch of rebellious freckles over his nose gave him a mischievous air every time he smiled.

“Mr Nard, sir?”

Kado looked up from his notes, vaguely amused at the sight of the nervous page. Lifting an eyebrow, he waited for the boy to calm down before saying,

“Is there anything I can do for you? I though you were in control of things, I certainly remember you saying that to the other pages just before I arrived for my shift.”

That had the virtue of setting the boy’s poor nerves even more on edge.

“Well… hemm… we found this… beggar… sleeping at the door sir, we were moving it away but…”

“But…?”

“The thing is… well, he apparently has a… Key.”

That was a surprise, yet he did not doubt his words. The young page tended to be over proud, that was true, and definitely intelligence was not his stronger point, but had a comforting lack of imagination which made him incapable of coming up with a decent lie.

“I see. Definitely, that’s worth a look.”

With curiosity making a smile appear on his face, the man called Nard rose from his chair and walked towards the front door, the boy following him sheepishly. Another figure waited for them at the other side, impatiently jumping from one foot to the other while casting nervous looks at the dirty rags on the floor.

The smell was like a slap on the face. Frowning, he took a few seconds to get closer. Ignoring the feeble explanations and excuses of both youths, he concentrated on the rags, and the weak sounds escaping from them. Blood, mud, sweat, poison, and fear. Lots and lots of fear could be smelled. But it was something else that made him stride forward to kneel beside the broken figure, a soft but unmistakable scent he knew very well. A low growl escaped his lips as he pulled back the rags. It was a boy, tiny due to the extreme thinness that made bones visible even through dirt and dry blood. Long, dark tendrils of hair, the colour of which was impossible to recognise, had to be pushed aside to let him get a better view of the high cheekbones and pointy chin. He was unconscious, in a state past simple weariness and well into extreme fatigue. Yet the weak sounds at the back of his throat proved that even that forced slumber wasn´t peaceful. Kado could smell poison and see open wounds that the body had been too tired to take care of. A human would have been dead hours ago. This was no human. He snaked a hand under the dirty clothes, caressing the skin of his belly button with the delicacy of a feather. His frown deepened. Not from a clan, nor even burns or scars that would probe the removal of a Naevus. Not only a stray then, but the devastated cub of another stray.

The object that had made the pages doubt was held to his neck by a chain. It had escaped from under the clothes, probably while the boys were trying to move him. It was old, made of steel. The simple design was adorned with symbols engraved over it on both sides. Familiar all right, although the one in the desk’s drawer was not full of scratches.

“We… we think it´s the Runic Key. But the last owner left just a couple of weeks ago, I thought the Key was still here.” The shy suggestion of one of the pages made him stumble out of his thoughts, his eyes narrowing dangerously. Paling, both boys cowered at the scary sight. It took a couple of seconds for his face to change back to a calm expression.

“Obviously you were wrong then. Which, by the way, leaves us with a single possibility. At least until I discuss this with Lord Aedon.” Taking the boy in his arms he stood, ignoring the looks of both pages. “Well, are you on holiday, gentlemen? I thought you had garden duties, kid, for which I presume you are already late.”

Said boy paled and ran away, happy to escape the penetrating gaze. The other looked more uncomfortable every second. “When you manage to tear your roots off the floor you might as well get one of the healers and tell him his services are required in the Runic Key’s room,” he continued with a smirk, walking inside while carrying his dirty cargo. He glanced at the ceiling, half amused, half desperate, as a thump was heard behind his back. “And please mind the carpet Lil, let´s try to lower your record to a fall per day.”

Contrary to others, the dwellings that held the Runic Key were fairly simple, which didn’t mean they lacked style. The wood panels and soft carpets gave a sober but elegant air to the four inter-connected rooms. Many vivid canvases on the walls gave a very welcome touch of colour that, combined with the light thrown by the fireplace, gave it a welcome homey quality.

Other rooms had fantastic detail, so delicate you were afraid to touch anything in case it broke. Not this one. Every piece of furniture was elegant, of course, but that didn’t mean they weren’t practical, or comfortable.

In the main room, sprawled on a large sofa, a young man read a book, one of the many that occupied the shelves at the side. He was tall and kept himself in a very good shape without being on the bulky side. The slim body was only covered with loose black trousers. It was enough since the place was warm. If asked about it, he would simply comment that shirts were much too uncomfortable for his taste. Besides, what did he want them for anyway? It wasn’t as if he was going anywhere or anything.

Engrossed in the thick volume, the Key also called Lodan didn’t even notice the door opening, which Kado found particularly amusing. Shifting the light weight in his arms, the clerk glanced at the pleasure slave, whose deep blue eyes were set in concentration on his reading. Absentmindedly, Lodan brushed back a platinum blonde strand of hair.

The amber-eyed man took notice of everything, from the classic features enhanced by two black symbols on his cheeks, to the uncovered feet, his eyes resting on the pierced nipples connected by what, at a first glance, you would assume was a simple chain.

“Hope I’m not interrupting, young Lodan, seems you are quite busy.”

All things considered the key took the surprise rather well, managing not to look too startled and suppressing a yelp. However, he could not quite conceal his intrigue at the unexpected visitor and his strange cargo.

“Good morning Kado, pleased to see you. What brings a clerk to my room? Is that a friend of yours?”

“A Master of yours actually. Thought you might enjoy a little challenge.”

“That’s my new Master?” Unbelieving, Lodan stood up with wide eyes, the book lying forgotten on the sofa as he walked closer. He folded back the hood that partially covered the head, and caressed the dirty face, trying to guess how the features under all that dirt looked like. “Looks like he hasn’t had a bath in weeks, probably longer. Part of it does look like dried blood,” he mused absently. This was more than strange, even though he knew already that masters came in all kinds. “This poor kid should be in a healer’s temple, not in a whore´s house.”

“Whore´s palace if you don’t mind, rules are rules kiddo. He got here and had a Key. That makes him a Master. Your Master to be more precise, since by now I’m sure you imagine which Key he had.”

“No, really?”

“Good try, boy, not a bad sarcasm for an amateur,” congratulated Kado, amused as he placed the `Master´ in the surprised key’s arms. “The healer should be here any minute now, with a page. I’m sure between you three you’ll be able to wash the boy and patch his wounds. I highly recommend the washing part before putting him on the bed. The little guy really stinks.”

Before closing the door on his way out, Kado turned his head again with an amused smile, yet there was an odd light in his eyes. “Oh, and, of course, have fun. I trust you’ll be more than able to take care of the little one. Looks like he really could use a bit of protection.”