Chapter 30: Chapter 30

"Then suddenly, this chap jumps out of nowhere and hits me."

"You? But why you?"

"Beats me, I think they mistook Callum for a girl back then and didn't want to hit a lady."

"They did not," Callum muttered grumpily.

The three of them laughed and Oliver poured more gin for each.

There were different glasses, scattered all over the table and he wasn't sure which was whose anymore.

After they’d told everyone in the manor they were going on a short visit in the countryside, they had left for Kent the same day at noon and Xiao was waiting for them there in a small inn in the evening.

"It tastes awful, almost worse than the food," Xiao said, tasting the alcohol.

The food they'd brought them was, indeed, quite bad but neither of them had voiced any protest. Oliver had long ago learned not to be picky about his meals. It literally never mattered what he had, as long as it was food and he could have it at least once every two days.

Callum's plate remained untouched.

"I wouldn't say we had to get into the role so much as to buy the cheapest," Xiao said, making another face at his glass.

"It doesn't matter." Callum finished his own drink in one sip. Oliver and Xiao exchanged a look and the Lord asked.

"What?"

"Nothing, " Xiao said, only half-serious " Now, before we've really wasted ourselves..."

"I'm perfectly fine, and Oliver seems to have taken the role of my caretaker, so rest assured. "

Xiao rested his elbows on the table and pointed his fork at Oliver

"Listen. I've known him for ages and he's never trusted someone the way he does with you. I was honestly sure I would never see you again after that time at Ella's. And I don't know what your deal is, but I don't know trouble."

"You won't get one, " Oliver said.

"I assumed so but had to make things clear. Although Callum has a terrible sense of judgment."

"He's right, " Callum poured himself another gin and Xiao smiled.

"I always am, "

Oliver took the man in.

He had most likely been acting out whatever they'd been supposed to last time they'd met, but Xiao seemed to be here as a real friend this time.

Oliver guessed he must be somewhere close to them age-wise, and he was a bit taller than Callum. Xiao wasn't bulky the way Oliver was, but the man’s tight muscles could be easily noticed from under the plain shirt he was wearing. Last time he’d seemed tense and alert, but seeing he was as jumpy as he had been that time, Oliver decided this was not part of the act.

There was this constant expectance, hanging over Xiao. It was like he was thinking of five things at the same time.

He could be your protector, the one who was always ready to react in time in case there was a threat, while on the other hand- he could easily be the scariest man in the room. One you’d better have on your side, rather than the opposite.

"Right," Xiao said and turned to Callum. "What I found is he was last seen in Jiangxi."

Callum's expression sobered up in an instant.

"He is alive, then?"

"He is."

They exchanged a smile and Oliver thought that was again the genuine, honest smile so rarely showed on Callum's face.

"That's...well. Is he all right?"

"He is. Edward's fine and well. "

"Your men are absolutely sure it was him?" He continued asking.

"There aren't many who fit the description. And I'm sure. "

"How did he get there?"

Xiao spred his arms.

"I don't know, Callum. He can't really be followed constantly by the people working for me. "

"No, of course not. Do you know what he's doing there?"

"As far as what I've found out is concerned, he left for the place a few months ago. Another thing I was informed about was that there was another person with him."

"Someone from his garrison?"

Xiao shook his head thoughtfully. "I wouldn't think so."

"Why not?"

Xiao moved in his chair.

"Edward's left the ...respectable circles a long time ago, Callum."

Callum paused and his expression clouded.

"Of course. "

"I'm sorry. "

"No, don’t. It runs in the family, look at me." He forced a laugh and took a sip from his drink.

"I can still investigate further if you want?"

"Maybe, I don't know. It would probably be more useful if you just continue watching out for him."

"I will. And I'll let you know if I find something else. But that's all I can promise for now. "

"It's more than anyone else does."

Neither Oliver, nor most likely Xiao missed the emotion, that briefly passed Callum's face, so Zhi said, trying to somehow cheer him up in his own peculiar way.

"Besides, you owe me enough money as it is to afford to ask for more favors of the kind. "

Callum turned to Oliver "He never forgets to mention it, I told you. I should've never trusted a smuggler."

"Hey!" Xiao faked being hurt. "A smuggler sounds....derogatory."

"What is it that you do, by the way?" Oliver decided it was safe to ask. "I don't mean to pry. "

"No, you don't. But I would prefer the word trader, Oliver. As long as a human being hasn't been hurt by my doings, or a poor man been taken from, I'd think you agree a smuggler or a criminal does not fit my description entirely."

Oliver tipped his glass "I wouldn't argue with that and I'm definitely not one to judge."

Xiao tipped his in return and continued.

"I trade with everything. And I have a gambling den, but you probably already know that. " Oliver thought that Xiao was most likely closer to Callum than he'd thought at first, considering the man knew his real name.

That, of course, didn't in any was mean Callum had shared with Oliver anything about  Xiao, so he explained simply.

"No, I didn't really. But I figured some parts of it."

"I feel left behind," Callum complained.

"You're a lord in the company of... " Xiao made a  gesture around the place, pointing at the people on the next table.

Some of them turned, but the sight of Xiao and Oliver most likely discouraged them from picking up a fight, or anything at all, plus the place was loud enough for them to have heard, so they turned back around and Xiao finished "rouges, Red. No offense, Oliver. "

"None was taken."

"I thought so. Besides, we're in a godforsaken inn in Kent. You shouldn't feel bad about being left behind. We are behind the rest of the world here, anyway. "

Their laughter was eaten out by all the noise in the place, which was brimming with movement and voices.

It was late and his companions seemed to be getting really into their cups. Oliver was still with his head, but he couldn't miss noticing how much Callum's eyes had started to gleam in the candlelit tavern. He didn’t see the usual small devils, dancing in his eyes, they were lit by something more innocent.

More honest, perhaps.

Calum was sitting sideways in his chair and had draped an arm over the backrest. He argued heatedly with the other man whether the last time they'd gotten into trouble had been because of Xiao.

The lord was openly laughing, giving the stupidest arguments and examples anyone could possibly ever think of imagining and Xiao still refused to give in.

It was the first time Oliver saw the Lord with someone he was actually that close to. Мaybe he was close to Liam, but he rarely saw them laugh together- partly because Liam was always serious. The man was like a ball of nerves all the time.

There was something different about the was Callum was acting now. Being related to someone by blood changed things, probably, while Xiao was a friend, or at least something very close to it.

A sensation blossomed and began spreading its roots up Oliver's body- it wasn't envy or jealousy.

No, not in the least. He knew that feeling had begun taking shape quite some time ago.

At first, it had been the aim to see Callum more often like that; then- it had become the readiness to do anything in his own power to achieve it.

The feeling completely bloomed when he realized- Callum's openness was not something many people saw, and the ones who did were important to him.

And Oliver would never deserve to be among them.

The thought startled him and he quickly looked away. The Lord straightened up and leaned towards Oliver, placing his hand lightly on his tight under the table.

"What is it?" He said quietly and Oliver shook his head,

"Nothing, just. It's a bit hot in here, don't you think?"

The lord frowned and was about to say something when Xiao said.

"About the other thing..."

Even if their companion had noticed the gesture, and most likely he had, he didn't show it and instead changed the subject.

Oliver had already learned there was a lot more than met the eye in this man, which explained why he was Callum's friend.

"I have to be back in London."

"When?"

"I'm leaving tomorrow, so you two will have to meet them by yourselves. I mean, Oliver is coming with you too, right?"

"I ...I haven't exactly told him yet."

Callum said and glanced at Oliver.

"Then either do it later, or you go alone. Which I wouldn't recommend, but you're stupid enough."

Oliver knew Callum hadn't asked him to go all this way with him only to meet his friend, even if this friend had turned out to be the only one in power to find and know where Edward was.

No, but there was something else.

"We can discuss it later. " Oliver provided. "And no, he won't go there alone."

"Good. It's settled, then," Xiao said.

Shortly and efficiently. Well, that way of going about things was deffinitly something Oliver was more used to.

That, and Oliver could swear for a short second Callum seemed relieved at their agreement.

They stayed until everyone else left and the innkeeper announced the last rounds. They finished their drinks and headed out.

"I will see you back in London, "

Xiao said and tipped his head once they were in front of the tavern.

There was a carriage waiting for them and Callum asked

"Are you sure you don't want to stay in Easterwell with us? "

"God, no,. I don't want to come to another of your manors, Red."

Xiao pushed his friend lightly on the shoulder "Besides, I have to be somewhere."

"Meet you in London, then. "

"You will. Nice meeting you, Oliver. “

“You too. “

Oh, by the way, “ Xiao said. “Ophelia keeps asking if I have seen you since our short rendezvous at Ella's."

Oliver heard the groan, coming from his lord and Xiao looked between the two. "I guess I'll just tell her no. Good. Now you two get away from here."

They said their goodbyes and the two of them got on the carriage, while Xiao's tall figure melted away in the depth of the night.

They slowly headed for the place where Oliver would have to take decisions he'd never thought he would need to;

And some of those decisions would entirely change the course of what he was doing.