Aegar wasn't sure what he expected, but it wasn't a noble's mansion in the north district. It was a three story manse with over two dozen windows between the ground floor and the third floor. He was sure there were many more windows around the whole building.
Reliefs of dragons and other mythical creatures wound their way around giant marble columns at the top of the steps leading into the manse. A beautiful white balcony with gold trim along the top edges rested beautifully atop the columns.
Dozens of different flowers grew in fields both near and far to the sides, separated by many hedgerows. The path from the front gate that stood before Hawk and Aegar was line with many white paving stones forming an elegant path all the way to the manse.
A beautiful fountain lay lay halfway between the front gate and the manse. A marble white statue of what must have been the most beautiful woman in the world stood in the middle of the fountain, water pouring from a vase she held on her right shoulder.
Pink flowers with spiral leaves were planted in bunches in between benches tastefully placed around the fountain for others to enjoy. He could see paths leading off to the left and right of the fountain.
He followed the left path with his eyes and noticed a gazebo past the hedgerows off to the far left. As for the right side...a maze. There was a maze with hedges much taller than anywhere else.
Aegar didn't think this was much of a hideout. When the word "hideout" came to mind, he always thought of a cellar behind a back alley clinic, carefully hidden by the doctor. Just like the stories he sometimes got to read when Thalia took him with her on errands and they visited the city's only book store.
Aegar thought with how huge the estate was, about 30 acres by his estimate, Hawk had to be high nobility. The land parcel given to a freshly minted Baron was only 5 acres. A Viscount had 10 acres, maybe 15 depending on why they got elevated.
Then you started getting into the upper ranks with a Count having 20 acres of land. Now, there was a strange rank between Count and Duke called Knight. It was a special rank granted by his majesty when he needed a chess piece he could move around that wouldn't be beholden to any rank below one of the four Dukes of the kingdom.
Hawk had to have been a Knight ranked noble. They didn't get the vast territories that a Duke would have received, but in exchange they would be able to move around easier to wherever they were needed.
"Not what you expected huh?" Hawk grinned at him. "Bet you were thinking of a hole in the ground behind some back alley clinic, right?"
"Huh? How did you know?" Aegar was shocked and almost accused him of mind reading.
"Your face is just that easy to read." Hawk replied smugly. "But then again, you haven't had much if any training at all."
"Heh for a second there I thought you might have had a talent for mind reading." Aegar laughed nervously until he noticed Hawk wasn't smiling anymore. "You don't happen to have such a talent...do you?"
"Kid, I have many things, but a talent for mind reading? Nonsense!" Hawk laughed uproariously. "I just have a talent for people!"
"A talent for people huh?" Aegar replied absentmindedly. 'A talent for people could be anything. He could be really good at reading subtle tells or he could be good at reading facial muscles.'
Aegar yelped as Hawk thumped him on the back. "Don't think about it too hard. Just take it as me being able to pick and choose trustworthy actors."
"Uh. Yes, sir." Aegar replied.
"No. No. Drop the whole "sir" thing. Here I am just Hawk." Hawk narrowed his eyes, a distaste for the word "sir" written plainly on his face. "Any ways, time is wasting kid. Let's go see if any of the others are back yet."
"Others?" Aegar asked.
"Come on, I know you are a kid and being in an orphanage you probably didn't have the best education, but did you really think I was running this whole operation with just you and me?" Hawk thumped Aegar on the head lightly. "Think about it a little more, you've probably already guessed my rank haven't you?"
"You're a Knight...aren't you?" Aegar ventured a guess based on what he knew.
"Sharp as a sword this one." Hawk replied. "Yeah you got it right kid. You didn't answer my question, so only half credit."
"Well I guess when you put it that way then no." Aegar responded.
"Smart lad." Hawk said as they finally reached the front doors of the manse. Hawk stood in front of the doors and they begun to swing inward with a heavy groan.
Two maids stood to both sides of the door, bowing. "Welcome back, master!"
"Ugh. Didn't I tell you two to get lost?" Hawk grumbled as he walked inside.
"We apologize master, but the assignment once given cannot be retaken." The maid on the left said.
Aegar stared for a second at each maid before realizing they looked exactly the same! They both had long brown hair and brown eyes, but the maid on the left parted her hair to the right and the maid on the right parted her hair to the left. Their bodies were fit, but still managed to fill out the frilly maid uniforms nicely.
"Can't ever tell you two apart anyways." Hawk kept grumbling as he walked. "Feh. If you two are going to be staying, then do something useful. I and my new colleague are very hungry."
Aegar thought the scene was funny and almost busted out laughing. He managed to hide it with a small snort instead.
"And you, pipsqueak," Hawk whirled around on him. "What do you find so funny?"
"Erm..nothing?"
"Nothing my ass!" Hawk grumbled some more. "Follow me kid. Time to meet the rest of the crew."
"All right!" Aegar bounced on his heels and followed Hawk into the well light hall ways of the manse. Behind them the maids unbowed, smiling. They nodded to each other before splitting off in different directions in less than the blink of an eye. The only thing left behind was traces of a black aura that rapidly dissipated in their wake.