Ch: 220 I Have Been Worth The Whistle
“Lady Miriam of Craft is definitely under some malign external influence, though we are unsure how to deal with it. I’d hoped to get some help here… but I think neither Gary nor Shai can be relied on to be… I would feel unsure of their conduct under the…” Tony shrugged helplessly. “I would hate to slander my friends…”
“Oh, no… If you asked them to help her tonight, you might get your codpiece rung with a boot.” Dannyl grinned wickedly. “I’ll get Becky for you. You did come for the aid of Becky, high priestess of Marduk, god of man’s Knowledge… right?”
“Dannyl, please. You know I can’t make a request like that… Her clerical status and cult are still under review by the council of clerics and elders. The pantheon can’t even seem to…” He shut his yap after a moment looking sheepish.
“So this is an unofficial request… a secret and completely unauthorized request from a friend.” Becky stood in the doorway in her robes of office, hood down and smiling warmly at the giant knight.
“She tried to take my little ones, sir Thelonius.” Her smile remained warm, but her words were glacial.
“I will see what can be done for her… within the limits of such a request. I will not absolve her of any debt to my kin, not even a little. This could come to a blood feud, sir Tony.”
“House Ward is not a noble house, Becky. It’s not even a recognized common house… He can’t call down a blood feud legally.” Tony muttered, completely lost.
“No, sir Thelonius Dunham… I am talking about the cults of Knowledge and Secret, Ipet, Eponna, Thirp and more… A holy war on house Shariq. Their offense against those cults occurred on these sacred grounds, that is not so easily forgiven.”
“None of those cults are officially recognized…” He stammered, growing pale.
“No… Did ancient and revered Ipet fill out any forms in triplicate with your office, before sending sweet Lester off chasing skeeters?” She asked sweetly. “Their crime is more grave, having committed it under the color of their cults’ authority… something War, Order and Healer would certainly not approve… Craft remains elusive and silent.”
“I… had not considered those… ramifications.” He muttered softly.
“Very well, Dannyl, if you would accompany me?” Becky asked brightly.
“Certainly, High Priestess Becky Ward.” He said boldly… and far too loudly.
“You are going to make this difficult.. Aren’t you?” Tony asked, with a long sigh.
“Certainly!” Danny relied brightly, bobbing his head merrily.
“I was talking to Becky.” Tony was beginning to feel a little light headed, perhaps it was all the sighing.
“You mean… Becky Ward, High Priestess of Marduk, Keeper of Mankind’s Wit and Lore, god of Knowledge and the Light of Man’s Reason? That Becky?” He asked sweetly, while she put up her hood, making her joyous smile vanish into crawling shadows.
“Duty… heavier than a bloody mountain…” He whispered as they strolled along accompanied by Dannyl’s guitar and sweet ringing voice.
I have on-ly come here, seeking Knowledge…
Things they would not teach me of, in Co-llege!
I can see the destiny you sold,
Turned into a shining band of gold!
“Dannyl, please stop drawing attention… This is a secret request for aid…” Tony whispered harshly.
“Becky Ward, High Priestess of Marduk deals in the light, openly where all may see and share in the light of mankind’s collected wisdom.” He declared, loudly. “If you need the aid of the cult of Secrets, you will need to ask Gary…”
“Dear gods… help me…” Tony muttered as they walked the awfully long way to the temple ward.
#
In the depths of Healer’s temple, in the cells, Miriam of Craft was bound into a padded bed, completely restrained and wearing a silencing collar. “She will only wail blasphemies and try to injure herself and others if unrestrained… but she is harmless at the moment. Please do not attempt to release her bonds.” Tony said firmly.
She was a dark haired, dark eyed woman of very early middle years, perhaps less… everyone looks older when strapped to a hospital bed and staring in wild eyed fury at the world.
“I will need access to the entire room for a few minutes, to work my arts.” Becky murmured, with a velvet bag in her hands.
“You won’t do anything… unnatural, will you? This is Dana’s temple.” Tony asked nervously.
“Don’t worry, it’s all very benign and low energy. I’ll just be isolating a small space from the magical flow of the world for a short time.” She murmured as she circled around the bed, laying a series of small wooden pylons out. “Like putting up an umbrella in the rain…”
She laid a braided cord of silk on the little pillars, a cord decorated with very familiar bone and metal tags and charms.
The Circle Of Fifths, enchanted tool, spiritual, etheric enchantment. Rank, unranked. Quality, rare. Elemental affinities, none.
When properly installed, the area defined by the tool’s perimeter is considered a secure ritual space. All magical, esoteric, or subtle forces and intent will be blocked from exiting or entering the ritual zone.
Spiritual entities contained within the tool's boundary will be unable to exert any forces on the outside world.
External forces will be unable to penetrate the ritual zone, save by mundane or physical means.
Once the circle closed, she sealed it with a small wad of wax Becky had kept in her pocket to remain soft and malleable. She moistened her thumb with a tear from her eye and impressed the print into the little clot of wax. As soon as her thumb left the wax seal, Miriam stopped thrashing and straining at her bonds.
“She is currently isolated from any outside spiritual force. Physically there is no effect, this just suppresses all metaphysical interference and clarifies the magic inside.” Becky murmured happily. “It’s a handy little tool.”
“Should I remove her collar?” The big knight asked, looking nervous.
“Go ahead… though it will all depend on how much of what’s in there is still her.” Becky said quietly, still concealed in her hood.
The giant stepped over her little fence and carefully removed her collar. “Thelonius! Thank the gods! Where am I? Are these the cells below Healer?” She sputtered when the tiny band came away from her throat.
“Don’t release her, Tony. If she upsets my magical tool or leaves its circle, she will once more be subject to external control.” Becky said firmly.
“Who is this creature, to instruct a knight of the realm?!” She snapped at the cowled girl and her small ginger escort. “Oh, an orphan… Thelonius, what are these children doing here? Eject them immediately!”
“I cannot, lady Miriam… you and lord Ali are accused of significant transgressions against the civil code and are under suspicion of demonic influence.”
“What crime?” She spat. “What crime has been committed that I am bound like a common criminal?”
“Theft of public property, unlawful search under color of authority and corrupt use of public resources.” He said firmly. “Civil matters, but serious.”
“Wait… what about the unprovoked abduction of three children from their home?” Becky demanded.
“Three orphans… Becky. They are considered public property until released from indenture.” Tony said calmly.
“Gods… when you say it like that… as though this were anything but plain old slavery… I kinda see Gary’s point.” She grumbled.
“So what’s the charge if I’d been home and they slew me to take the kids? Damaging public infrastructure?” She asked hotly.
“No, destruction of public goods… you aren’t a building or a bridge…” Tony paused for a moment and really thought about what he was saying.
“Ohh.. I think I see…” He murmured, flushing bright red and looking super awkward. “We’ll talk later, kids. Please, excuse us, I must ask the priestess some uncomfortable questions, privately.”
“I’ll work on a more permanent solution, you can keep that device in place for now.” Becky said just a little coldly. “The public chattels will be headed home… Sir Thelonius.”
Out in the hall, Dannyl draped a consoling arm around her and gave a squeeze. “Yeah… this sucks ass.” He grumbled as they walked home.
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“His weird ‘protest songs’ are making more sense every day.” She griped in the market ward. “Ali is out on parole, cause he’s a noble… she’s only locked up for being a danger to herself and others…”
“It’s the way things work…” The artist said sourly.
As they approached the market gate, with the bridge in sight, a lanky man in black stepped out in front of them calling for the pair to halt.
“Ohh, no… Not again. Take it for a hike bub.” Dannyl barked at the beak nosed man with the lank black hair. “You have a few seconds at best, before Gary falls on you like six tons of crazy, brother.” He unsnapped the case on his whip and shook it out.
“Please, I just want to ask a few questions…” He sighed sadly. “This town is shut up tighter than a… never mind. I can’t even get any meaningful gossip… It's all lunacy and wild fairy stories.”
“Have you considered that you might have stepped into a wild fairytale?” The hooded girl asked softly. “Not all knowledge is literal, fables and stories can have much to teach us about the world… and ourselves.” She placed a concealed hand on the young man’s arm, stilling him swiftly.
“Peace, Dannyl. Brother Hertz is seeking knowledge, it is our duty to guide him.”
“I dunno…” Dannyl muttered, as his chain coiled and slithered itself back into its case like a live thing.
“I will answer what I will, of what I can answer. No more no less. Ask away, brother.” The hooded girl said in a tone that seemed immovable and inviolable. “I am Becky Ward, high priestess of Marduk, the moon, god of man’s Knowledge.”
#
On a bench in the little park beside the fountain, Becky chatted with the dour faced man in black for just a few minutes.
“Cursed into becoming a swarm of venomous spiders and flew away on the wind to do his penance in the wilds? Do I look like a child in need of a bedtime story? There is no goddess ‘Ipet’ in the pantheon!” He snorted.
“The bath makes this so much easier…” Dannyl sighed.
“Nope. no easy bathtub solutions for any of these problems… Gary would go off like an eclair if we brought any of these people in for a dunking.” Her casual mention of volatile pastries made the pale man flush a furious red.
“That is another matter that needs redress…” He snapped.
“Poisoning me with that despicable concoction…”
“That was no poison nor spell, simply a humiliating prank by a foolish and very angry young man. I recommend that you consider it an object lesson in humility.” Her impenetrable shadow hood turned to face him more fully.
“Humiliation only causes suffering, but if you embrace humility, it will have no power over you. Can your ego withstand this crucible?”
“Gods blight my eyes, you are a damn cleric…” He mumbled sullenly.
“I am… I am the high priestess of Marduk… we went over that already.” She turned to her escort, who had yet to button his strange weapon back away fully. “Gary says I should have little cards made…”
“Meh… I think you should just lean harder into the whole spooky priestess thing.” He mumbled.
Poor Hertz sat there looking very tired. He’d been trampled and run over by a whole caravan of crazy, with little forewarning.
“If he’s an orphan and those are ‘his kids’, then they are orphans too.” He grumbled. “I should simply requisition them for the afternoon at the Adventure compound…”
“Requisition them, like borrowing a shovel from the quartermaster…” Becky said calmly. “Consider what you just blithely declared as your intent…”
“What? I’ll make a request, pay the fee… it’s traditional.” He mumbled in confusion. “It’s my right as a citizen!”
“Your right… to take three tiny little children, simply removed from their home on your whim, subject to your every command.” Her voice was harsh and bitter, coming from her hood as though from across a frozen lake.
“They would be yours. For the day, or a few days, for whatever purpose you wish… just for the asking and a few coins, you see no problem with such a system?”
“It’s how things have always been…” He stammered, confused and distraught in the face of this strange, mysterious girl.
“What if I told you that was Not ‘how it’s always been’... Rather that we have been the victim of a terrible crime?” She demanded sharply. “That practice has been banned in Wheatford duchy for three centuries now, for good and obvious reasons. That this has gone on elsewhere for so long does not make it less horrific.”
She stood, sketched a slight nod to her stunned and befuddled interrogator and walked away in a silent bustle of robes, followed by her escort.
“Thank you for following my lead Dannyl…” She whispered. “I don’t think resistance and threats will deter that man. Best we get him to see what is in play and at stake.”
“Yeah… he seemed pretty creepy at first, but I dunno… maybe he needs to visit Gunnar.” The young lad murmured. “That black fringe was not working for him.”
“We really should try to be less superficial… but yeah, his tailor should be charged with an offense against style.” Becky’s familiar giggle drifted out from under the hood. “Let’s get home before we get waylaid… again.”
Gary stepped out of the shadow cast by the market gate, as they approached. “I didn’t get close enough to hear… Just close enough that if he tried anything…”
“He’s not an enemy, Gary… He’s one of us, an orphan; just from far away, where things are a bit different. We’ll talk later…” Becky tucked her arm through his and Dannyl’s as they walked home. “You are going to learn some things that will make you angry tonight, but please try to stay calm.”
#
“Ohh… That’s fucking… Oh, you undersold the angry, Becky…” They were down in the workshop, with the kids busy upstairs, while Gary got a lesson in the traditions found in some other duchies.
“Honestly, that practice is very highly regulated and strictly controlled in the places where it is still allowed… mostly.” Becky patted him on the back, at a loss for what else to do. “Abuses do occur…”
“Not helping Becks.” He grumbled.
“House Belen outlawed the practice centuries ago, most others followed suit or enacted strict regulations shortly thereafter…” Tawny added.
“That guy thought he could just roll up and get three kids to go…” Gary snapped, too furious to contain himself.
“As a journeyman Adventurer he would probably be allowed far more latitude than some ordinary commoner off the street…” Tawny soothed him, poorly.
“Ahh, but a noble would get the same, or better treatment wouldn’t he… so lord Pervy McTrenchcoat could pull up in a panel van and take a brace of toddlers without much trouble.”
“I don’t know that lord, but yes… subject to the administrator’s approval… What is a ‘panel van’?”
“Never mind… You don’t wanna know.” He grumbled. “Otho would have to sign off for him to… Requisition… my kids, I guess that’s why Ali went for a snatch and grab.” He ground his teeth angrily.
“This is probably not the best time to bring it up, but the three warriors tasked with carrying away the kids have come to apologize…” Tawny said grimly.
“Though please remember, the orders they were given were legal. If the adult caregiver is arrested, children can’t be left home alone…”
“Yeah… they messed with Ranza too…” He fumed, heating back up to a full boil.
“All right, into the bath with you.” Becky said in her high priestess voice. “Go soak your head, while I talk to our brothers and sisters.”
#
“I’m feeling… unappreciated in Wheatford… maybe we should take a few weeks and clear up some old business… out of town.” Gary mumbled in the bath.
“That squid wizard is trapped in Lake Caldera… Jules has that undead situation, whatever is in the hills above the abandoned city is still out there.”
“Ye would abandon Wheatford, lad? I kinnae.” Shai’s flat refusal and sudden stillness startled him.
“No, no way… no chance, babe.” He stuttered. “But have you noticed? As things heat up, they’ve started coming for my friends… my kids…” He remained calm, almost distant as he spoke. “The enemy, sure… and monsters… That’s the Adventurer’s life.” He shook his head sadly.
“But Fargni, Ali and Miriam… we’ve been working to protect the town and them, for what?” He sneered at the uplands district, to the north of town, His own garden and the town itself stood between the target of his derision and his cruel gaze.
“That was my only hard rule, ‘don’t fuck with my family’. They’ve broken it again and again.” He sat back thoughtfully.
“Maybe we just go on strike for a little while, make them sweat some… get caught up on our work and maybe learn some new tricks…”
“Yer stated plan were tae take the time while the council deliberates an work tae convince them of our value as free Adventurers…” Shai muttered softly. “Tis good tae work fer the protection of the people.”
“Yeah, but it seems we’ve convinced them we’re too valuable to not enslave. I should’a seen that coming.” He grumbled. “Now more Oddscunts are sniffing around, the government and clergy want to steal my kids and the cult of Order thinks I’m their personal sleuth.” They climbed out of the bath and robed up, as they talked, heeding the silent call of bedtime.
“Wha be a ‘slewth’?” Shai wondered, scratching her head.
“A detective, someone who tracks down criminals and solves crimes… usually with brains and evidence. I’m not really qualified for the job.” He yawned and stretched. “I’ll show you some episodes of ‘Scooby Doo’, then Thirp will probably rope you into watching ‘Murder: She Wrote’ until morning.”
Amy an Rio did mention this ‘Scuuby Duby’ thing… We shall see if it be as relevant as ye say.” She murmured as they went upstairs together.
“Oh, yeah… it’s super on topic and really important, culturally… How do you feel about bulky sweaters, short skirts and long socks?” He asked gently. “Say ‘jinkies’ for me, baby…”
“How dae ye feel about some shorts such as Jennah wrought fer Liam?” She cooed right back.
“Shortie gym shorts? He can barely keep the mouse in its house in those… ohh, right!” He hip bumped her gleefully. “Maybe we can revisit ‘The Sexy Skipper and her helpless cabin boy Giligan’?”
“Aye, mayhap… Perhaps I will swat our ‘Little Buddy’ wi yer silly captain’s hat after all.” She cooed, purred and goosed his backside to get him upstairs.
“Those two are really weird…” Rolf whispered to Angie, in the quiet after their hosts left the common room.
“I don’t know… maybe they are on to something.” She murmured. “Last night’s pajamas were so much fun… I might find I enjoy dressing you up.”
“Angie!” Rolf whispered.
“I already know we both like dressing me up…” She dashed forward and stole a kiss, before slipping off down the hall to her room, leaving him gasping and confused.
“Oh, my…” Left to his own devices in a dark, quiet inn, he went to his chamber and changed into a fresh set of the same kind of sleeping trousers, these in dark green… Last night’s were in need of laundering.
Rolf slipped into his bed, half expecting to be joined, once again by the tempting, beautiful, wicked girl of his dreams at any moment… Any moment… surely soon…
Long silent minutes passed until, with a sigh his hand crept down to attend to certain matters that were keeping him awake.
No sooner had he had come to grips with his foeman, than the door slid open almost silently and a soft voice whispered: “Rolf, are you still awake?”
“No! I’m not!” He squeaked in mortified shame and terror.
“Oh, Then you won’t notice if I join you… since you are sleeping so peacefully. I think I saw a spider in my room, I couldn’t possibly sleep alone.” She murmured softly as she slipped beneath his covers.
“I’ll feel so much safer, even if you are still fast asleep.” Her wandering hand began roaming his abdomen, where she promptly encountered his own forearm, leading down. With a joyful squeak of delight, she gleefully finger-tiptoed down his arm, to the hand that was currently gripping Rolf the younger, in a stranglehold.
“Is this a new game? It seems a bit risque!” She chucked sweetly. “Until a few days ago… before I met Shai and Thirp, those wonderful children and that sweet mad friend of yours…” She whispered softly, her lips brushing his.
“I would never have had the courage to pursue you this way… or at all really.”
She rested her head on his chest, listening to his desperate heartbeat, hammering away.
“I would have tried to hide from you in shame and hobbled away on my wretched old pegleg, shattered inside.”
Back in the contested zone, inside Rolf’s Pj bottoms, her fingertips danced across his tense knuckles, tapping each one in turn, then at random, playing a merry tune on the ‘Rolf Organ’, without actually touching anything… technically.
“I like who they are helping me become… and who I may yet be.” She gently kissed his trembling nip and gripped it betwixt her pearly teeth for just a moment. Just long enough.
Her sprightly, dancing hand emerged, clean and dry from the battle, resuming her patrol of his tenders. Rolf found less success in his hand… and more other stuff. A terrible quantity of other stuff.
The awful girl curled up beside him, one leg thrown over his and her soft, sweet hand… still tippy tapping sassily around, just inside his waistband.
She kissed his tender nipple very gently and settled in to sleep with a contented sigh. “The other girls say that boys are often a handful… You seem perfectly sweet to me.” She whispered, with her other hand gently gripping the wrist of shame, imprisoning his despoiled hand.
#
“On strike?” Leopold Belen asked in confusion. “What is that?”
“It means…” Tawny took a deep breath and set her jaw at her amused papa. “We will not undertake any contracts for the duchy of Wheatford until such time as our demands are met.” She said firmly. “Any tasks we undertake together or severally will be chosen based on our agendas and plans, not yours.”
“Wait… are you saying that you are… am I fired?” Leo asked Celeste. “It feels like she just fired me as her boss.”
“Suspended, I think… they will presumably stop this nonsense once their ‘demands’ are met… She has demands!” The duchess giggled.
“Dear gods, have you been smoking Liam’s… Mother, you are with child!” Tawny fumed at her silly eyed, giggling parents.
“I didn’t smoke anything…” Celeste protested lamely. “We did receive these samples of a new confection this evening… they have a funny hreblal… Hruble… Her-bal, herbal flavor…” It took way too much effort to talk, so Celeste clammed up and smiled… that was easier.
“Gary…” Tanwy growled through gritted teeth. “Yes, Papa, you are fired as my boss.” She barked loudly enough to get through the haze.
“Yes we have demands, mother. We will allow no more interference in our family! Our team has proven again and again that we will work tirelessly for you and what did we get for our pains and risk? Our home was invaded, our children snatched and our guests abused… for no cause!”
“Now Trelawny…” Celeste began.
“This is not a negotiation. You are at real risk of losing what loyalty and trust we have managed to build, not just with Gary, but with all of them, especially the little ones!” Tawny stormed out calling back over her shoulder as she left.
“Prove yourself an honest employer, if you want us back at work.”
“I’ve never been fired before… It’s an awful feeling.” Leo muttered sadly, while reaching for another chocolate in the shape of a silly seven pointed leaf.
#