Work Text:
When Bren studies him, there is no recognition in his eyes. Seemingly no recollection of their previous dealings.
An opportunity presented to Essek on a platter.
"And this is Caleb," Jester, the blue tiefling, says cheerfully.
'Caleb' nods his head to Essek. "Thank you for playing tour guide. I'm sure you originally had more pressing matters to attend to." The man's Zemnian accent is rough, voice pitched low in deference to Essek's station, most likely.
"I do as my queen bids," Essek responds demurely. "I am but a vassal of the Dynasty."
"Are you always so formal?" Beauregard, the other Empire human, asks, arms folded over her chest.
Essek has noted her Cobalt robes. Something to remember as he makes his moves on the board. "As the situation calls for it. You are all heroes, as it were."
"I didn't expect such fanfare," Caleb admits, "I was just hoping we could make safe passage for ourselves."
"And you did," Essek says simply. "Although it makes me curious what it is you're running from in the first place."
Caleb meets his eyes again for a moment, searching for something. Essek holds his ground, smooths out his expression outside of one raised eyebrow.
Caleb looks away first, flushing slightly. Interesting, Essek thinks to himself. "We're looking for Nott's husband."
"And we've had some strange pursuers from the Empire," Fjord, the half-orc, adds.
"Strange?" Essek asks.
Fjord and Beauregard look at each other before Caleb speaks. "When we collected the beacon, we ran into some shady figures who seemed to recognize me."
"Did you?"
Caleb shakes his head. "No."
"Maybe you have an evil, cleaner twin out there!" Jester says excitedly.
"Maybe," Caleb murmurs, frowning to himself.
Essek's seen that expression a handful of times, as Bren puzzled over the piece mealed information Essek would give him. Something tugs in his chest before he smothers the feeling. "For now you have the city's protection from pursuers of any kind. They will not pierce through the outer walls."
"Didn't someone before? When the beacon was taken in the first place?" the goblin, Nott, asks.
"Those points of weakness have been evaluated and strengthened since," Essek says. He turns his back to them, resisting the need to keep an eye on the newly named Caleb, and heads towards the door. "Come, I will show you to your place of rest."
With some murmurings and shuffling they Mighty Nein follow him. Essek burns to know more about what happened to Bren but the end result will not change.
In his experience, one makes their own luck, not gifted by any deity. So as he leads the group on he starts meditating on the different aspects of what Caleb Widogast is to him.