Chapter 115

A Decoy. A Diversion.

Brewer’s Reputation: 409

A slight nudge of my boot turned the dummy’s face and mocking smile away. For as broken-limbed and burst as it was, the smile felt like the intruders on the other side of the mist had put their foot in the door in victory.

“I wish our woods weren’t a destination,” I said.

Abigail turned her gaze up at the flapping mists of the brilliantly colored mist wall. “We don’t blend in very well…”

“Neither by land, nor by sea.”

“Corylus has a similar problem in Hiccup’s garden. There are these bushes that he grows in huge pots. They put out flowers that change color depending on the mood of the person smelling them. People are absolutely fascinated by the effect. They’ve become a main spectacle and draw huge crowds; however, they’re never in the same spot. The thing is, he uses these flowers to his advantage. He moves the flowers away from the parts of the garden where he wants to work in peace. He says they’re fussy and annoying to keep tame, but he still keeps them around.”

“Seems like they’re worth keeping if they make such a good diversion.”

Abigail snapped her fingers and stepped closer. Her eyes held an intensity. “A diversion, yes! Let’s consider the facts. We know people will come, right? It’s obvious they’ll approach the wall once they see it. So What if we made a diversion? A decoy destination?”

“A decoy for a massive bioluminescent wall?”

“What if we made an actual destination that people can go to instead?”

“Like what?”

With a shrug she said, “A fake brewery?”

“And when they find out it's fake?”

“Okay..Well, then what if it’s not exactly fake?”

“We don’t need another brewery, but these people could use a place to stay that’s not my woods. Something like an inn. Nevermind, I’m not sure I want to encourage them to stay.” And if not a brewery, nor an inn… “How about a tavern to keep them occupied?”

Abigail made a face. “Neither of us would want to manage it.”

“Then there must be something else we can do.”

“Well, I know Hiccup is eager to make amends with us. I’m sure he would be happy to manage your tavern. And think about it. It would be a perfect diversion. We could stay completely out of it. You could provide exclusive beer for the place so that people still get their worth having traveled so far.”

“A decoy tavern…”

“You already provide beer to the rest of the world. It would be such a subtle and powerful defense.”

I rubbed my chin, took a deep breath, and stretched. My mind was too full. Stress was creeping into my muscles. “What if Hiccup doesn’t want to help?”

“He will. I’m sure of it. But let’s say he won’t. Why not hire goblins? Look how far Barnacle-eyes has come.”

“Given our options, it sounds like the best defense we can put up. But where? If people are coming through the forest, they’re bound to sail here too. Should we put it on the coast?”

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Looking westward, Abigail said, “We can make a trail that leads to the coast from any direction around the wall.”

I nodded at the mist. “What about them?”

The silhouette of another bent-limbed dummy soared over the mist. Rope had been tied around its waist. It crashed into the trees and took out a handful of branches on the way down. Leaves pelted the forest floor. Branches cracked against branches. Bark rained. The dummy hit the ground on its chest. A puff of dirt flew from its face. The rope was then pulled, and the dummy was dragged through the mist, raking leaves beneath its butt, its heels, its elbows, and its head.

After a moment of silence I said, “What do we do in the meantime?”

“We’ll ask them to help us build the path. That’ll be the condition if they want to talk with you.”

There were a lot of people on the other side. A lot. Altogether managing a forest trail… “It’ll take weeks. But, I’m afraid if we don’t act now, things may get worse later.”

Abigail took my hand in both of hers. “We can do this.”

I shook my head slowly; but I said, “All right.”

I couldn’t take my hand from hers. For a moment too little, we gazed at each other. I wondered if I looked as tired as I felt. Having to come up with an idea like a decoy tavern in such little time zapped the energy straight out of me.

Abigail gave me a small smile.

These people…They were here because they wanted something from me. They were like the kingdom seekers. Did not one of them think that I didn’t want to be bothered? It would be impossible to come upon a wall of mist, whose purpose was so blatantly explained in the Brewer’s Guide to Magic Ingredients and not wonder why it was erected. That only meant that these people were probably just as selfish as the kingdom seekers. And now I had to give these unwelcome guests my time. Ah, it was hard not to be so annoyed.

Abigail slipped an arm around mine and guided us forth. We strolled into the mist. Like the lick of heatless flames and slapping sheets of fog, the mist flapped around us.

We emerged on the other side. The first thing we saw was the catapult arm being cranked back. A young man sat curled up in the bucket. He was hyperventilating, and his eyes were fixed to the sky. He had big round eyes.

We took in the rest of the scene. Adventurers were digging at the base of the wall. Construction had begun on a tower. The trunks of trees were being rammed into the mist. Down the way, balls of fire the size of my cabin rushed into the mist. Blasts of heavy magic-born winds parted the mist for only a moment. Another gush of fire and rush of wind simultaneously attacked the mist. The wind enraged the fire which flew back into the faces of three young men. They threw their arms across their faces, turned their heads, and fell back screaming. Fireflies had been wrangled from the air, and the biggest one was bucking as folks attempted to saddle it. Others tried to hold onto the legs of the next biggest fireflies.

Slowly the chaos began to die down. Folks began turning their heads to the sudden quiet that was spreading.

A scholar before us scuttled closer. “…you…”

“I’m Hawkin. This is Abigail Yak, Diamond rank Brewer.”

In the next few breaths we were swarmed. Abigail and I exchanged looks. I wondered if we were making the right move. Abigail held her arms out to stop the press of the crowd. They shouted in earnest. I couldn’t hear one damn word as they all spoke at once. At the back, adventurers were trying to swim through everyone else.

“Everyone! Wait! Hold on! I can’t understand you! Please!”

They continued. I could barely hear my own voice. Bottles of beer appeared in outreached hands. Bones appeared in some. A scroll appeared. I saw a locket, a box, a bundle, and there was even a firkin hoisted above everyone’s heads. A Collector’s Journal was waved about, and its pages flapped together.

I gesticulated as hard as I could to get the crowd to quiet for just one moment. I shushed them with a finger to my lips, which seemed to finally do the trick. Those at the front of the crowd turned and shushed those behind. Like a ripple, the shushing spread through the crowd until the sounds of the forest could be discerned.

“You’re all here to see me?”

And—Bam!—the crowd was in another uproar. I shook my head and began gesticulating once more, like I was trying to flatten the waves of a crashing sea.

“Guys, please! Hold on!”

At least it was easier to quiet everyone down the second time.

“And I assume you’re here for different reasons?”

The volume of the crowd began to rise, as once more, everyone began speaking at once.

“Hold on, please, just a moment. I know you all want things from me. I promise to spend time with each and every one of you, but first, I need some help. If you all agree to my proposal, I’ll make myself available for the next few weeks.”

Someone said, “Anything! How can we help?”

I closed my eyes and ground my teeth together. There was no going back, especially not without a better plan.