I, the slave boy, awaken with the most potent seed!!

Back at the house, matilda and Cordelia stood by the kitchen, tension gathering up as both women were locked in a conversation.

Cordelia leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's about Zafron's test results."

Matilda's brow furrowed. "What test results?"

Cordelia hesitated, her usual poise faltering. She took a deep breath, eyes darting nervously. "His... potency test results."

"An XY test?!" Matilda blurted out, her voice rising sharply.

"Shh, please, keep your voice down," Cordelia pleaded.

But Matilda was beyond consolation. Her eyes flashed with fury. "How dare you test Zafron without my consent? And wait—" She paused, realization dawning on her face like a thunderbolt. "How did you even get the samples?"

Cordelia reached out to calm her friend, but Matilda recoiled. "Don't touch me!" she hissed. "I thought you were my friend, Cordelia. But now I see you for what you truly are – a bitter, old wretch hiding behind your family name and false pretenses of nobility."

Cordelia absorbed the verbal lashing, a sad smile playing on her lips. "I deserve that," she said softly. "I hope to earn your trust again, Matilda. But right now, I'm here to help."

"You've done quite enough," Matilda spat. "You should leave."

Cordelia's expression turned grave. "I'll go, but you need to know – there's a bounty on your head, Matilda."

The words hung in the air, heavy and ominous. Matilda fell silent, her breathing shallow.

"Blackthorn," Cordelia continued, her voice barely audible. "He put a bounty on you."

The color drained from Matilda's face, her porcelain skin turning ashen. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

At that moment, Malachi sauntered into the kitchen, his trademark smirk firmly in place. "Ladies, I hate to intrude on what seems to be a rather intense tête-à-tête, but perhaps I might be of some assistance?"

Matilda's eyes darted between Cordelia and Malachi, her mind reeling from the revelations. The kitchen suddenly felt claustrophobic. In that moment, she realized that her carefully constructed new life was balancing on a knife's edge, and one wrong move could send it all crashing down.

***

Earlier on, Right outside the house where Matilda lived, Brutus and Ratface loitered in a nearby alleyway, keeping a watchful eye on the residence. They had successfully trailed Mara and Zafron back to this very spot the day before, and now they were settling in for what promised to be a long stakeout.

Ratface leaned against the grimy wall, his lanky frame fidgeting with nervous energy. "Blimey, Brutus," he muttered, his British accent thick with annoyance. "How long do we have to stand here like a couple of right fools?"

Brutus, a burlier man with a face that looked like it had seen its fair share of scraps, grunted in response. "As long as it takes, you nitwit. Gustavo wants us keeping tabs on the place, does he not? We report anything unusual, that is our job."

"Right, right," Ratface nodded, scratching his stubbly chin. "But we have been here since yesterday, have we not? Followed that Mara bird and her bloke back to this very spot."

"Aye, and now we wait," Brutus replied, his eyes never leaving the house. "Tonight is when we make our move. Grab the Matilda girl, and it is payday for us lads!"

Ratface perked up at the mention of money. "Cor, that is right! Cannot wait to get my hands on that cool cash."

Their conversation was interrupted as they noticed two figures approaching the house. Brutus leaned forward, squinting. "Oi, that is Malachi Vex and that Cordelia woman, is it not?"

They watched as Malachi and Cordelia entered the house. An hour ticked by, with no sign of them leaving.

"What do you reckon they are up to in there?" Ratface wondered aloud.

Brutus shrugged. "Do not know, but it cannot be good for us, can it?"

As Malachi and Cordelia disappeared into the house, Brutus and Ratface settled in for what promised to be a long wait. The alley fell quiet, save for the distant hum of arcane-powered carts and the occasional grumble from Ratface's stomach.

"Oi, Brutus," Ratface whined, breaking the silence. "Remember when we used to be big shots here in Drakoria? Now look at us, hidin' in alleys like a couple of mangy cats."

Brutus snorted. "Big shots? You was about as big a shot as a peashooter, you daft git."

"Oi! I'll have you know I had me fair share of admirers," Ratface protested, puffing out his chest.

"Yeah, mostly the local strays lookin' for scraps," Brutus chuckled.

Ratface scowled. "Speaking of scraps, remember that bird I was seein'? Esmeralda?"

"The one with the lazy eye and the pet iguana?" Brutus raised an eyebrow.

"That's the one," Ratface nodded. "Ran into her cousin last week. Turns out Esmeralda's married now, to some fancy pants merchant. Won't even look my way when I pass her in the street."

Brutus shook his head. "Can't say I blame her. You smell like you've been usin' that iguana's litter box as aftershave."

"Oi! I'll have you know this is me natural musk," Ratface sniffed indignantly. "Besides, what about your ex? What was her name... Helga the Horrible?"

Brutus winced. "Harriet the Heartbreaker, you numpty. And don't remind me. Last I heard, she was arm-wrestlin' guards at the local tavern for drinks."

"Blimey," Ratface whistled. "Drakoria women are a different breed, ain't they? Tougher than old boot leather and twice as chewy."

"Aye," Brutus nodded sagely. "Remember that time Harriet caught me sneakin' out to the pub?"

Ratface cackled. "How could I forget? She chased you down the street with a rollin' pin, she did. Never seen a big lug like you run so fast!"

"Shut it, you," Brutus grumbled, but there was a hint of a smile on his grizzled face. "At least I didn't hide in a rain barrel for three days 'cause I forgot me girl's birthday."

"It was a strategic retreat!" Ratface protested. "Besides, how was I supposed to know she'd set the dogs on me?"

Just as they were going back and forth, the front door opened again. Malachi and Cordelia emerged, making their way to a parked arcane-powered cart that hovered slightly above the ground.

"Well, there they go," Ratface observed. "Did not bring anyone out with them. Reckon everything is kosher?"

"Looks that way," Brutus nodded. "Nobody else came out, so I would say we are still in business."

Their relief was short-lived, however. Brutus's eyes suddenly widened as he spotted something down the street. "Blimey! Ratface, do you see that?"

Ratface craned his neck, following Brutus's gaze. "See what? I do not... oh, bugger me!"

A group of men in white and red uniforms had appeared, patrolling the street with an air of authority that sent a chill down both men's spines.

"Enforcers!" Brutus hissed, already inching deeper into the alley. "We have got to disappear, now!"

"Bleeding hell!" Ratface panicked. "Not another run-in with that lot!"

Brutus pulled Ratface further into the shadows. "We will circle around and come back later. Cannot risk them spotting us."

As they skulked away through back alleys, Ratface nervously glanced over his shoulder. "So, Gustavo is still coming tonight with the others, yeah?"

"That is the plan," Brutus confirmed, a grin spreading across his face despite their close call. "We grab the girl, and it is pay dirt for us, mate."

"Lovely jubbly!" Ratface rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "Cannot wait to get my hands on that dosh. We will be living large, we will!"

The pair disappeared into the labyrinth of alleyways, leaving the Enforcers none the wiser as they continued their patrol. Brutus and Ratface knew they would be back later, when darkness fell and Gustavo arrived. Then, they would make their move and claim their prize.