Being that we were well known on this route, the guards of the city let us in without any fuss. Petras, Jeran and I were residents of the city. We legitimately lived here. As for Casone and Enetes, we vouched for them. They were not going to randomly attack people or incite some crazy rebellion. I led them to the manor we had purchased. I was happy to see Evan. He waved at us and alerted the rest of the house of our return. Fabien and Anthony were both there. So was Lord and Lady Swiftheart. "What happened, Sir Rhombus? I thought that you would take more time with your family." he said. I sighed deeply. "It seems that time flows very differently on each side of the portal. We went straight there with no detours or delays. However, over 40 years had passed. My mother died in an accident and my father was an old man. Being a long pronounced dead phantom thief, he did not want me there in his house only to watch him die. He sent me back after a 10 minute conversation. I went up to my stashes and brought back more gold and jewels. By now, my father is long dead."
I had made my peace with that knowledge when I made my way through the portal again, but it still hurt. My ties to my old world were all severed. Walking to him, I knelt down before Lord Jeffery. "I am yours for the rest of my life. I serve the noble Swiftheart Family and no other." I swore to him. "A phantom thief you called it, eh? Able to sneak through guard and trap alike without a trace. And I should take this oath of loyalty seriously?" he asked with his signature quirk of the lips. I simply looked at him. I said "You knighted me. You might as well take some responsibility for the cat you collared. It's not like my ideas were meritless." It was a joke. He scoffed. "Then maybe I should. I don't like it when pets run around like they own the manor." He then looked at Casone and Enetes. "It seems your centaur companions have doubled." I got up and happily introduced them to the Swifthearts. "Casone is a fellow tribesman to Petras and Jeran. He is no less fearless and battle hardened. They decided to live together. We also have Enetes the intrepid shaman. His powers are great."
Casone walked up to them and said "I can be a knight too. I've killed a lot of bandits and my kin seem to like following you. Let me be a part of your tribe." Lord Swiftheart was not amused. "We are a noble family. Not a tribe." he said firmly. I wanted to smooth things over. "Well, a tribe is a collection of families that work together to survive in an area and dominate territory. I'm sure the knights in your service will all have children that will swear similar oaths of loyalty to your children. And your children still nominally owe loyalty to your uncle until your new rank is conferred after the resort is inspected and handed over." His eyes slid to mine. "You certainly are a noisy cat. It was more peaceful here without you. I don't want to have to beat the yowls out of you." he warned. I knew it was time to shut up. Returning his attention to Jeran. "I reward good work. Your kin saved my life during an ambush. It is very rare for non humans to be given high status in this kingdom. I better see some good results out of you 2 if you want to be knights in my service." he said. They both nodded.
