Harald
Woodhearth was on the other side of Isca. It was a humble estate, with what looked like large tacts of natural land filled with forests, pastures, fields, and several large creeks flowing through it.
Lord Braden Woodsmith welcomed them to his estate, and introduced them to his family, and other members of he household. Lady Mildrith his wife fused about them, while Harald met his children who remained at home while Lady Mildrith encouraged them all to wash, and change into fresh clothes, and to eat.
Harald knew he wasn’t the only one with wide eyes at all the food that had been set out. The table was filled to over flowing of different dishes, fruits, and veg, and the smells made Harald mouth water and realize how long it had been since they had real food. It had also reminded him of that last time, when he had watched the death of his family in the great hall of Stonehill.
His eldest Isolde served in the local militia of Isca, and had stood with her father during their first meeting, while his second born Meagan attended college. Yaara Woodsmith was as beauiful as Nena, and looked almost like a twin of her cousin. The nineteen year old was preparing to join the militia like her eldest sister, but Rosaleen and Brock were a closer age to Harald and the others. Rosaleen was sixteen, and Brock fifteen.
Harald ate food after everyone else had rushed in, and filled thri plates and mouth. Lady Woodsmith had laughed, and rubbed the heads of some of the younger ones, but Harald had seen the sad smile in her face, and he wondered how they must have looked to them, and worse, how they must have smelled.
Brock stared at the Harald’s Bot companion before he finally spoke. “Thats an XB-S7, one of the newer models from Furse Space,” he said in awe.
“I don’t know much about Bot models,” Harald said after a moment of silence.
“I can take them apart, and put them back together,” Brock said with a grin. “Kinda have to here, but we only have old Tutha models, and mostly rebuilt so many times that they aren’t like anything else. This though,” he whistled. “This is a beauty. I’ve only seen them on the Net, but this is a killing machine.”
“Yeah,” Harald said softly.
“In Furse Space they would be controled by advanced A.I., but even their basic functions are impressive. Used from everything from local security to combat forces. I would love to get inside it,” Brock said.
“That will not be possible,” Echo replied but remained still.
Harald rubbed the back of his head. “Yeah, it’s got some… defense programs in place,” he said.
“Of course,” Brock said, and looked to Harald. “Your lucky, it seems to be in bodyguard mode.”
“Yeah…,” Harald said slowly. He didn’t want to say that it was self aware, not here, not yet. It was illegal in the Commonwealth.
“If you ever want to make a trade,” Brock said before he was cut off by Nena.
“Harald, come here,” Nena said as she called out to him.
“Yes,” Harald asked.
“Lord Woodsmith has gotten us all new identification chips. I want you to study yours so that we can prepare to learn your new cover,” Nena told him.
“Cover?” Harald asked confused. He never thought about using a fake name.
Hyrum nodded. “It’s a measure we must all take.”
“Whats my name?” Harald asked.
“Albin Woodsmith. Distant kin to Lord Woodsmith serving at Woodhearth as a ward,” Nena told him as she handed him his new ID chip.
