After another week of Sara and Kurt figuring out how they planned to get everything right. It was about the time to tell Jacob they were leaving. That was an odd situation, Kurt could say his new job needed him somewhere, but Sara at the same time.
Sara had been aggressively selling what Kurt had been able to gather, since they weren't planning on staying in town for much longer, and they needed the cash. Sara had convinced Kurt that getting a good carriage was worth it, and that neither of them really needed to know how to drive it. There were people that could be paid not only to drive but to provide the horses. Stables were used to switching out horses, it was a whole business Kurt had no idea about. They were officially in the market for one.
What really convinced him was that if they did get a big enough carriage, they could put the gate inside the carriage until it needed to be moved again. This meant on long trips, they could make stops basically anywhere, and not have to worry about someone really finding it by accident. However once the gate was there, moving the carriage wouldn't move the gate and ruin the carriage. So it really meant all they needed was to contract someone for a ride and Layla.
They had enough money now to afford one, and really once they bought it, they wouldn't be living at Jacob's anymore, but on the road in this world and at the pillar in the other. It basically eliminated bills for them. And the civilization on Terra wasn't big enough to even support proper currency, less than a hundred people don't have a need if they are self contained with a competent leader like Layla. So they were about to tell Jacob they were leaving at the end of the next month.
"Guys, hurry hurry, we need to clean everything!!!" Said Jacob.
"What?" Midt and Sara replied in unison.
"Dad's coming, I'm not sure why, he's going to be here by dinner, we don't even have proper dinner usually!!" Jacob was panicking, it had been a while since his dad had come. And since the house was sort of, co-signed by his father, he would want things to be taken care of. He was in a hurry to make it look more presentable. Sweeping an already swept floor.
"Umm what?"
There was a knock at the door. Sara opened it, It was Jacob's Father, Arther. He was dressed in a proper clan suit, black with red accents, with some white to pop , buttoned up with a small cape draped to the side on one shoulder, this signified a higher rank. This was probably not the best time to tell Jacob they were leaving. But, unexpectedly Arthur had a few bag of what smelled a lot like delicious food.
"Jacob!" said Arther.
"Dad, ummm….you're early."
"Ohh you're not in trouble, I brought the dinner. The look on your face though. Worth it. Your mother is never going to believe you are actually holding a broom," Arthur gave out a laugh.
"But then why are you…"
"This is a business trip, I volunteered to see my son since it was close. Stop, I was young once too you know. The reason I'm here has nothing to do with you, other than you just happened to be near."
"Kurt, Sara it's good to see you two as well, Jacob hasn't been getting into any real trouble right?"
"Nothing I can't handle for him," said Sara giving Jacob a glance.
"As always," smiled Arthur.
Jacob gave a sigh of relief, "what is wrong with you? The way you sent that message" Jacob followed Arthur's he was laughing to the kitchen to put bags of food in his hand on the table. "Dad, seriously…"
The four of them started to enjoy the meal Arthur had brought, it was pasta and chicken, simple hearty food from somewhere.
"So why are you here?" asked Kurt.
"Ohh, nothing you have to worry about, we think someone's been smuggling, and tracked some of it to here."
"Smuggling?"
"Yeah some illegal mana stone and Admantium ore, probably just some worker that has a friend around here, pockets some of it. I mean there is only one source of adamantium, and it's us. Mana stones, they could come from a lot of places, but together."
"Illegal?"
"Stolen, anyone making adamantium armaments would have to have gotten it from us, and someone didn't. Also it seems there have been a lot more mana stone forged in this town than possible."
Crap, Arthur was looking for Sara and Kurt. They hadn't stolen it, but why would the clan know that? And did that actually matter? Sara had discreetly kicked him, but she hadn't needed to. The absolute worst case scenario was happening. Not only were the clans looking for them, they were in their home.
"Isn't something like this below your station though?" said Kurt.
"A little bit but that's why I volunteered, Can't a father want to see his son, and get paid for it?" throwing up his hands, " it's not like any of you guys are involved with this, actually I may have said too much, don't be gossiping about it. Don't ever forget about family, Kurt. I think of you like a son" turning towards Sara, "and Sara as a daughter, you know you three have always been like a thing. I hope you stay here for as long as you need."
"About that," said Sara.
"Sara," said Kurt, shaking his head at her.
"What? I don't wanna lie to his dad, that I'm going to be here the next time."
"What?" said Jacob.
Sara looking toward Jacob said, "Well, Kurt got this job, and I met his boss, and we sort of have this opportunity and we were thinking, no, we are going to move out. We were actually going to tell you today, but…" looking back at Arthur,"… this happened instead." and panned back to Jacob with a wide fake smile
"It's not like we are leaving today, today, just soon." said Kurt, turning away from Jacob.
"Ohh it's okay, growing up you move apart," said Arthur trailing off.
"What!?!" said Jacob's head seemed to be on a swivel.
"Come on Jacob," said Kurt, having a line he thought about before this, "we know you want to join the clan," pausing looking at Arthur then back at Jacob, "and you know we don't have that opportunity like you. This was always coming. I didn't — want to tell you like this." Giving a mean glance towards Sara who hugged her shoulders.
"What?" Jacob's voice was cracking, staring with yearning at Kurt.
"Jacob, umm , do you need some time with your friends?" said Arthur. "I didn't mean to…but it is true, I was going to talk to you more privately, but if you can help me with this, it is your town. Maybe it's destiny that you join the clan, and won't feel bad about leaving them at the end of everything…it's not like you won't all still be friends."
"What?" said Jacob, it was too much, and he hunched down, "I think, I think I need a drink."
"Me too," said Sara.
"Just make it a round," said Kurt.