A few days after we had started making plans about Valeria's gift she approached us during dinner.
"Koyuki, Helena, Cassie and Skadi, I would like to invite you to my birthday party! I will make sure that there are no incidents this year!" She seed a bit nervous, maybe because there had been the poison incident last year.
"It was not your fault." I tried to assure her. "And we would be happy to attend."
"Koyuki gets ambushed wherever she goes, that is normal." Helena teased.
"I will have better security this year!" Valeria said. "Actually, I would not mind if your undead could help."
"I would be delighted, if Mistress Koyuki allows it." Kaito stated.
I scratched my head. "Uh sure, but what exactly did you have in mind? Do you want them to patrol the building?"
"I believe Hatsumi and myself could oversee the staff. We have enough tier threes to keep soone close to you, like the cats. That would allow and Hatsumi to keep an eye on the servants." Kaito proposed.
"We should station Iron Beaks at the doors!" Cassie suggested.
Valeria winced. "I am not sure that is necessary."
"Where is your party going to be? The sa mansion as last year?" Skadi inquired.
"I have rented a different building. My mother will send so of our personal guards and they will coordinate with you, if you are willing. The city guard will be inford about the event but I will handle security privately." Valeria clarified. "You will have access to the building a few days before to check it out, and my n will search it thoroughly to avoid any surprises. I will pay you for your help, of course."
"I am happy to negotiate the price." Skadi offered.
"Perfect! I will let you know when my people arrive. Enjoy your al!" Valeria said.
After she left I looked at Kaito. "You were rather eager to help."
"It is a splendid opportunity, for us and for her. The incident last year reflected badly on her family, so she must be eager to avoid anything this ti. By including us we share the bla if soone manages to attack Koyuki, since it would be our failing as well. However, if things go smoothly it will further Koyuki's standing and our ties to the Barkworths." Kaito explained.
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I sighed. "Things always go wrong…"
Helena patted on the back. "Just try to not get hurt this ti."
"If we help with the security it will reduce the risk." Hatsumi said. "It will be a great exercise and we wanted a closer relationship with the Barkworths."
"Maybe we should create a security business on the side." Skadi mused.
"We don't have enough free ti for that." I countered. "And we would have to visit way too many fancy events."
Skadi shuddered. "Good point."
"I can discreetly sniff people to look for poisons." Garm suggested.
"Sadly I am too well known to really blend in with the maids but I can keep an eye on them and supervise the kitchens." Hatsumi suggested.
"We should bring so antidotes. Can you handle them, Cassie?" Kaito asked.
"Huh? I usually bring poison to parties…" Cassie mused.
"You really don't need that, you have Skadi to beat up anyone who gets too pushy." I pointed out.
Cassie grinned. "I guess I do."
Skadi even blushed, slightly.
"How much are we going to be in charge anyway? Do you think she really wants our involvent or does she simply want closer ties and this is a formality?" I wondered.
"It is possible that she just did it to be polite, or for politics, however we should seize the opportunity." Kaito said. "I suggest we bring most of your undead goblins and use the money she is willing to pay to make them look like a proper force."
"It is her birthday party, not ours." I pointed out.
"There are nobles who specialise in security and provide protection services. Since we are not inside her duchy it would be normal for her to hire local security for an event. It would even be great advertising if Koyuki wants to start such a business in the future." Helena explained.
"I do have a long military service in front of ." I replied.
"There are military units who handle security, developing such skills and getting a reputation for it will help your career options." Kaito replied. "Besides, you will still be young even after your service."
"That is a good point, the military provides security for the royals. Maybe Princess Olivia will assign us to the palace after we graduate." Skadi suggested.
"Assuming there is not a war, Koyuki would be way too powerful to keep her inside the palace." Cassie said.
"We will see what happens, but you have convinced that this is a good opportunity and I should take it seriously." I said.
"Do you think we can get extra credits for this? Does this count as an exercise, maybe a reason to reduce our howork?" Helena wondered.
My eyes widened. "Oh no! The headmaster would likely give us extra howork to help us prepare!"
Helena sighed. "Damn, you are right. We always get extra classes."
"We would need a day to inspect the location, that can be handled by a few of us undead, or perhaps you can get a day, or half a day, off." Kaito suggested.
"Unless we can check it a week in advance, that would be best." Hatsumi stated. "That allows us to make a proper plan and coordinate with Valeria's people."
"Does this change anything concerning her gift? Are we still going with an undead horse?" Cassie asked.
"Uh, I think so. Since she is paying the protection won't be a gift, or should we change that?" I wondered.
"No, I think we should have an actual gift but we can give it so thought while Kaito looks for a corpse. Maybe we will think of sothing better, if not we are prepared." Skadi suggested.
We kept discussing the party a bit longer while we finished our als but we did not co up with a better present. We still had a few weeks left though, so perhaps I could ask Garm to find out what Valeria liked. He was rather good at gathering information after all.
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