Point of View
Chapter 180
Jalla didn’t appreciate being chosen to go into the town by the other Elders. It was proof they thought her obedient unlike Gretch and Sellus who’d gone on without waiting to discuss the matter. That and possibly that her knees were better since she was the youngest among them.
“You shouldn’t have to do this,” Tella muttered in worry. She’d chosen to help get provisions and bring them back to the band. It was a brave choice, but it seemed like it had taken all of her courage to do it.
“I was asked and didn’t refuse,” Jalla said evenly. Like it or not, she’d agreed. So had the two bucks accompanying them.
Really, she’d have refused if her skills weren’t needed. They needed medicinal plants though and hopefully the seeds for them too. They’d be important to make the elders plan to settle in the wilderness work.
“You're our only midwife,” Tella said too loud. Ewen looked back at them and then away in embarrassment. They were still among their own rather than strangers, but it wasn’t a good thing to advertise. The more skilled had been targeted first during the chaining.
“Mind yourself,” Jalla said sternly. Without anyone pregnant in the band she was the one with the least work to do. Tella’s ears drooped dejectedly.
The rest of the trip into town passed quietly and remained so because aside from Ban and Ewen everyone was too shocked to speak.
The buildings were fancy enough to belong to merchants or nobles. They were all two stories and had windows. Most were paper, but a few were even glass. The cloudy bubbled stuff that was beyond expensive even in small amounts. It was a shock to say the least.
That everything seemed well kept and was painted in pretty colors only added to the surreal feeling of the matter. Even the streets and walkways were wide with pavers in the orange and pink hue’s of the surrounding cliffs.
They contrasted against the frequent shady green spaces. Between the look of things and the unexpected quiet, it felt like they’d wandered into an elaborate garden rather than a town. The town folks themselves were few and far between. Only a trickle of them were on the streets or congregated around the shops and fountains.
“Nice, eh?” Ban asked with a hint of a grin as they walked. Jalla turned up her chin at that but didn’t refute his words. It was pretty at the very least.
More to the point, it seemed Ban was right that the town had lost many of its citizens. Citizens that as he’d said didn’t seem entirely human. The bouncy little halflings seemed to be like them, beast kin of some kind though she didn’t know what.
The short broad ones Ban identified as dwarves were human-like but built very differently and smelled of earth and metals like an elemental might. The elves were more varied, pointed ears and thinner builds being the only truly common feature among them. They too smelled of nature and the elements in a way humans wouldn’t.
Those most human in appearance clearly weren’t entirely. They had strangely vivid eyes, some seeming almost to glow. A feature which would have been sufficient enough to have them reduced to slaves during the chaining along with the Lepusan and other beastfolk.
The strangest thing though was the quiet and the scent of the place. Jalla could hear people talking but they weren’t loud in the ways she was accustomed to. The place also smelled mostly of nature and food rather than waste like most towns would. Even Lepusan communities couldn’t avoid that so well despite trying. It was strange despite its pleasantness.
Rather than go to any shop or seek out someone, Ban guided them all to the green at the heart of the town. A pretty spot with benches and tables aplenty as well as a few pedlars selling trinkets and food. Ban and Ewen went over to them, leaving Jalla with a moment to think
Jalla couldn’t be certain yet that she had the full count, but the band didn’t seem so badly outnumbered as she’d expected. They’d make up a decent amount of the town's population if they stayed, enough that they couldn’t be ignored in decision making if it were done fairly.
She shook the idea off, knowing that rarely were such things fair even if they weren’t as bad as things in Stromholt. Power was not easily obtained even in small matters. That was when Ban and Ewen returned with platters of roasted vegetables and loaves of hot herbal bread.
“What exactly is the plan?” Jalla asked, not touching the food. She was hungry, but she wanted information more than a full belly.
“Well, to wait. The townsfolk will have let the Mayor know we're back by now and she’ll send someone,” Ban explained.
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“And we don’t go to her ourselves, why?” Jalla asked. It wasn’t exactly strange to wait on a summons. She was just a bit confused as to why they weren’t expected to wait somewhere like the town hall.
“Ah, well, she gets around and likely isn’t there since we don’t have an appointment. So here's as good a place as any,” Ban explained. The logic of it didn’t exactly track for Jalla but she shrugged and decided to just eat. Seeing how the mayor responded to the unusual choice would be telling.
With the first bite, Jalla had regrets. The food was absolutely delicious and it took an effort for her to finish it with any kind of decorum rather than just wolf it down. The bucks had no such issues and ate at a nearly alarming pace. Ban and Ewen didn’t comment, just getting more after a bit and letting everyone at the table eat their fill.
As they all sat full and content for the moment, a man approached. He looked mostly human with unnaturally intense blue eyes. His were the kind that almost seemed to glow. They stood out against his otherwise common features. Tan skin, middling height, longer brown curly hair, and a sturdy but thin build. He had an odd scar over one eye, but scars were hardly rare.
His clothes were different from the other townsfolk though, done all in black, blue, and silver. Fancier with a matching broad brimmed hat and a symbol on the right breast of his coat. A blue rose with a pair of silver swords crossed behind it, though one of the swords looked only partly finished. It had to be a noble crest marking him as one or the servant of such a person.
Jalla hardly needed to see the slim sword at his hip to feel herself start to freeze in fear. People like him had worked with the seekers and came for them during the chaining. Ban got up and intercepted the man a few paces from the table thankfully.
Jalla could keep her fear in check but the bucks were looking like they were only a hair off drumming in warning. As much as she wasn’t keen on staying, they needed supplies. Starting a fight wasn’t going to make getting them easier.
“Ban, I’m glad to see you returned safely!” the man said cheerfully.
“Henry! Good to see you again,” Ban said, getting up to clasp wrists.
“Dawn and Icarus asked me to invite you to dinner at the guild this evening,” Henry added. Jalla didn’t know anyone named and kept quiet for the moment.
“That's kind of them,” Ban said neutrally.
“Hardly, everyone who doesn't feel like co-cooking dines there or the inn,” Henry offered with a laugh. He looked the group over for a moment, a brow raising. Jalla expected he’d ask after where the rest of the band was.
“Joss already off making trouble?” Henry asked.
“Joss?” Tella asked in surprise. Jalla wanted to sigh but kept it in. She was well aware that Joss was an upjumped kit and prone to causing trouble. Tella though had eyes for him and was prone to take offense on his behalf.
Unlike before when Henry ignored the group, he turned to the table. He took all of them in with his strange eyes but his expression didn’t change much.
“Pardon madam, I’m Henry James Clavicle, at your service,” Henry offered with a little bow.
“Henry this is Tella and beside her is Jalla. The bucks are Attem and Dallen,” Ban offered.
“Jalla, Tella, Attem, Dallen,” Henry replied. He offered Jalla the deepest bow and the bucks shallower ones, which she could admit was a little amusing. Normally it went the other way around from what little she’d seen of the custom.
“Not to rush things, but is there any chance the Mayor can see us today?” Ban asked once the greetings were done.
“You needn’t worry about that, she’ll be in the town hall in an hour or so,” Henry explained.
“Why not now?” Tella asked. She seemed a little confused rather than hostile but Jalla could see trouble brewing as she asked the innocent question.
The bucks were already on edge and Attem fancied her. He stood up and was half a head taller and much sturdier than the human man. Worse than simply menacing him from the spot, he stepped toward Henry and into the man's space.
“And who are you to tell us that?” Attem demanded. He clearly saw the moment as an opportunity to impress Tella. Jalla regretted letting him come along but he was one of the strongest of the bucks. She’d been thinking practically and forgotten to consider their delicate situation as fully as she should have.
“The Mayor is presently occupied with-” Henry started speaking like Attem hadn’t moved. It wasn’t until the young buck tried to put a hand on him that he did. There was a faint flash of blue and suddenly Attem folded, sitting back down on the bench. Henry had him by the paw, holding a digit oddly.
“The lady asked me a question,” Henry said sternly as he let go. Attem clutched his paw but just nodded, wincing but not in pain so bad as to howl.
“As I was saying, the Mayor was alerted when you entered the town. She’s presently busy with finishing gathering supplies for your people, as she agreed to do when she last spoke with Ban,” Henry explained calmly. He gave Tella another little bow as he finished.
“As for who I am? Henry James Clavicle, tailor by trade,” Henry explained.
“Most people would lead with being an iron ranked member of the guild,” Ban said flatly.
“I prefer to be known for my passions,” Henry replied, gesturing to his clothes. “I have to go, but please enjoy yourselves.”
Jalla just nodded as did the others aside from Attem. She didn’t know how strong an iron ranked adventurer was meant to be, but clearly they were formidable. She couldn’t help but wince as Henry started to leave only to pause beside Attem and put a hand on the young bucks shoulder. If he decided to hurt him or worse, there wasn’t anything to be done.
“A lady rarely enjoys brutishness from a man. Think a little more before you act next time,” Henry said, stern again. He patted Attempt’s shoulder before continuing on his way.
Jalla got up and quickly inspected Attem’s paw. No damage had been done thankfully. She let out a relieved sigh then cuffed Attem right on the ear.
“Ah! Why!?” Attem asked, curling in pain.
“Because you deserve it, igit,” Jalla said bluntly. He could have been harmed or worse, not to mention causing a fight might have cost them the supplies they needed.
“Be glad she did, else I’d have,” Ban added with a glare. “That man is the mayor's buck.”
Attem curled further and just nodded, paws up to protect his sensitive ears. The rest of the group looked at eachother. It wasn’t a slight to send a messenger rather than appear herself. The Mayor sending her man though was a sign of respect among their own people.
That Attem had challenged a buck of such standing and only been dealt a warning was a further courtesy they didn’t know how to interpret. Jalla sighed, she felt like the strangeness would only intensify when they finally got to meet the mayor herself.