Ch: 232 The Birds And The Bees
Kelli liked Carlos and Jerry, she felt safe with them on the road, despite her general fear of travel. Now that she knew them and more importantly, that they were friends with her new friend Shai and her kids, much of her anxiety had drained away.
She wore the robe of a master of the Oddsman’s guild, without the obscuring headpiece and veil as they rumbled up the River Road for Wheatford. Kelli bounced along beside the young carter on the driver’s bench enjoying the fine spring weather and empty road.
Since he had seen her face, Carlos had become much more friendly, that was nice. Jerry was still a little scary, when he wasn’t smiling… he was almost always smiling.
They kept a steady pace and camped early, beside a tall willow tree of truly enormous width. “These are called cottagewillows, because of the size and the way it’s always dry and still inside.” Carlos announced cheerily. “I like to camp under these whenever possible, but feel free to bunk in the cart if you wish.”
“Bugs…” Kelli whispered softly, her voice filled with primal terror.
“That’s all right…” He smiled patiently at his passenger and nodded. “Will you feel safe sleeping out here with my donkey friends?”
She nodded excitedly and smiled, as joyous, excited and innocent as a child. “It’s going to be a clear night… lots of stars!” She whispered.
“If you need me or get scared, just call, ok? I’ll hear you through Bigelow and Whitney.” The young carter rigged up the bunks, tended his familiars and made a simple dinner of stew and biscuits from the supplies Shai had given them when they parted at the inn.
“Thank you apprentice Carlos, journeyman Jerry, goodnight.” Her two escorts ducked into the canopy of the huge tree and vanished, leaving her alone… ish.
“You are being very brave, Kelli.” Her shadow whispered softly.
“Wilf said I could be brave…” She whispered back with a wide smile. “He’s smart!”
“Yes, dearie, now let me help you get ready for bed. Do you need to go?” Elli asked with faint hope in her nucleus. Kelli’s ‘biologicals’ were the most trying part of her day.
“I think I can do it myself…” She whispered, with a steely look in her eyes. “I can.”
It turned out, she could… Even in a primitive trench in the bushes near camp.
“Can I stay up late, and watch the stars, Elli?” She asked, when dinner was finished and she’d washed up from the water barrel on the cart.
“Big girls don’t have a bedtime, sweetie. Just remember, we have a long ride tomorrow.” Elli whispered proudly.
Sundown came slowly by the eastern shore, but the colors and lights were entrancing. She sat on the tailgate of the wagon and watched the show, until her beloved stars wheeled up from the horizon.
The moon slid up from the southeast, carving his graceful course through the sky… followed by a small, sly, green and blue body, shedding its own strange glow over the landscape. This odd moon wandered in the trail of his bigger sibling, sweeping from one side of the sky to the other on its slow progress. It shed little light, but felt strangely warm and welcoming, like the gaze of a familiar friend from across a crowded street.
“Another moon…” She sang in delight.
“Remember, I told you there were two… you couldn’t see the other one before…” Elli mused, mostly to herself. “How odd. I wonder what changed.”
“That’s Gary.” She said with absolute surety. “He’s less scary in the sky… I like how he doesn’t block the stars.”
That gave Elli pause, as she looked at the world through Kelli’s eyes. Sure enough, the small, colorful moon cast no actual light, it shed something less obvious, possessing a subtle and familiar warmth, to those who could see and feel it.
“I think our new friends are very special.” Ellie murmured softly.
“All my friends are special.” Kelli answered with a smile even warmer than whatever was in the sky…
#
Mishra the willow welcomed Carlos back in his dreams with a hug, pulling him close for a moment, then pressing him back so that she could offer a terse warning to the young Draymans’ apprentice.
“The being you travel with is possessed by a spirit from beyond…” She began earnestly.
“We know, lady Willow, I don’t really understand, but it was made clear that they are not hostile.” He shrugged and smiled. “Shai and Ivy say that they are just people, making their way, the only way they know how…”
“Hmm…” The dryad murmured in his dreams. “Sadly, that’s just a little bit more than the law will allow…” She shook her head, seeming briefly confused. A stray snatch of sweet, twangy music drifted by in his dream, along with a passing urge to shout ‘Yee Haww!’ and ‘floor it’ in his wagon.
Willow smiled at her young friend and settled in beside him in a swaying hammock. “These are times of great change and upheaval, Carlos. Visiting you like this is invaluable, you help me remain focused on these events.” She leaned close and rested her head on his shoulder, with a sublime smile.
“If the pleasure of your company were not enough inducement…”
“You need no excuses with me, lady Willow.” He sighed happily. “It’s so good to be home.”
“Yes, sweet Carlos, it is… now assume the position, boy.” She snapped, with a smile and an imperious wink. He sat down against the boll of her tree, as she climbed into his lap and made a nest for herself in his arms. Within moments she was asleep, smiling blissfully.
The young cart driver sat up, rocking her in his dreams, until natural sleep called him away.
#
After a leisurely trip down the coast, Moonrise anchored for the night in the town wharf of Port Sunderland. For the princely sum of a copper mark, the long pier with the yellow square on the leeward side was theirs for a week.
“No refunds for early departure, all fare paying passengers and cargo must embark through the customs pier.” The dockman said quickly, eager to be off for home as the sun went down.
It was only seventh bell, but the shadow of the mountains loomed over the lower parts of town early. Gulls wheeled and screamed in the sky, above a deep, sheltered bay. Moonrise was tucked in among the river boats and shore traders in a shallow, still basin.
Bounty rode in the bay, anchored a hundred yards out, distinctive with her colorful glowstone markers and navigation lights. Nico distributed hugs all around, pried Miggs away from Rio’s grip and set out in the tiny canvas boat for home.
Liam motored him over, enjoying the weird, bouncy and squishy ride of the tiny ‘inflatable’. He gave the motor as much as he dared on the way back, skipping through the wavelets, as his Mana plummeted.
The young warrior savored the feeling of expenditure and general exhaustion that washed over him from the inside out, as he depleted his internal resources mercilessly. He could feel himself, riding on the edge of exhaustion as he let the motor power down before he passed out.
Just as with Seahorse and Moonrise, a faint wake of luminous, shining foam drifted in the churning wake behind, fading after a dozen yards or so. Close to the tiller, the glow was almost enough to read by, if one wished to hang over the gunwale, upside down. Gary claimed it was tiny water plants, glowing while magically and physically disturbed, rather than any output of his motor… Liam remained unconvinced, despite Tawny’s assurances that his suppositions were largely correct. “Invisible tiny water plants indeed…” He muttered, while enjoying the pale, bluegreen shimmer.
Back alongside Moonrise, Gary helped Liam haul the canvas boat out for refurbishing. Together they unbuttoned all the compartments and removed small bags of soil and long puffy loops of balloon vine, rooted in the dirt packets. They potted the plants and lined them up along the rail for later distribution on some calm, silty waterway. They hung the canvas hull up to dry and ducked below for an early dinner in the galley.
“Tomorrow morning we’ll explore the town in groups. No solo wandering and no trouble.” Liam spoke very firmly and totally didn’t single out Gary… much. “We’ll firm up our plans and decide our next step then. Vacation starts now, brothers and sisters.”
A soft cheer rose from the group, halfway between a sigh and a joyous whoop. As the mild ruckus wound down, Rolf stood, bowed and smiled. “On that note, I’ll be heading off to the palace, duty demands that I present myself to the duchess or her delegates on my arrival.”
“Uh huh, and Angie’s probably at the palace.” Becky opined.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
All three little ones cheered at that news, though their excitement was short lived. “Nae, tis near tae bedtime an ye may well see Angie in yer dreams, an she be able tonight. Elswise, we should see her taemorrow. Now off tae bed, ye scheming whelps.”
Shai delivered the bad news, so it fell to Gary to enforce the ruling… Teamwork! “Come on kids… I’ll read you a very special story… it’s got pirates, revenge, giants, a beautiful princess…” He gathered up his little charges and hauled them upstairs, with a boy in each arm and Amy clinging to his neck. “...best of all, it’s got true love… what could be better than that?” He asked the tired kids.
Becky followed along, smiling like the cat that got the cream. She sighed happily, on the way upstairs. “True love is the greatest thing in the world… Except for a nice M.L.T. Mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe. I love it, they’re so perky!”
“I love you kiddo…” He murmured.
#
Shai watched her little family troop upstairs and smiled as well. The poor boy’s silliness never seemed to run out, much like his stores of songs and stories… “Fie, he’s a passable cabin boy in all… mayhap I’ll nae kill him in the morning.” She murmured softly to herself.
“That’s the attitude Shai…” Luna cheered from nearby. “My perception gift just ranked up… I think I can hear my hair growing…”
Shai headed upstairs to join the bedtime ritual too late, storytime had already ended. She finished prepping for breakfast, just as Becky headed out with Rolf, Tawny, Liam and Dannyl to visit the palace and check in.
Becky and Liam drew communication earcuffs from ship’s stores on the way out. Ivy and Tallum were already wearing a pair, since they had the evening watch. “Comms check… all good?” Liam spoke briskly and received the expected replies from the watch and his detachment in good order.
Rolf had donned a voluminous cloak before leaving, despite the fine weather and mild evening; he carried a small pile of clothing in his hand as well… The young knight stepped onto the shore, paused, closed his eyes and smiled. His cloak twitched and bustled for a moment, before Ester stepped out, still adjusting her dress. She looped her arm through Rolf’s and nudged him with her shoulder. “I can’t wait to meet her in the flesh!” The tiny, albino girl giggled in excitement, releasing a soft neighing laugh into the evening.
Together they trooped off into town, headed for the palace, glowing golden in the sunset, still lit from behind in full daylight above the city.
#
“No, you disconnect…” Grace cooed into Julius’ portrait.
“You first…” His image mumbled back, smiling foolishly.
From somewhere nearby Julius, someone wheezed in exhaustion. “My lord… I can’t keep…-” With a soft crackle, the duke’s image stilled, becoming a simple portrait in her gallery, once more.
Lance, duchess Sheng’s court mage gave a small groan and leaned forward to cradle his forehead in his palm. “Your grace… I thidk my brain id gedding waterlogged.” He murmured, as he dabbed at the trickle of blood running from his nose with a hankie. “I appreciate your patronage…” He held his forehead more tightly and sighed again, now that his nosebleed had stopped. “Perhaps you could contact duke Rummel every other night…”
“Yes… I’m sorry cousin Lance… you know how it’s been…” She hugged her cousin and vassal and sighed along with him. “The heart wants what it wants…”
“He is damnably handsome.” The stout, rumpled wizard mumbled appreciatively.
“Hands off, Lance…” She muttered fiercely, with a wink and a smile. “That boy is going to be mine!” She poured a steaming cup of tea for her shaken vassal, before sitting down across from her cousin, mage and confidante.
“Am I mad? How could this even work?” She moaned, tumbling into a moment of introspection and despair.
“It will work, how you say it will work. You’re the bloody duchess.” He grumbled sourly. “Stop mooning like a child and set things in motion.”
“But how…?” She whispered.
“Well, when a boy likes a girl very much, a very special part of him will begin to…”
“Enough, Lance. You know what I mean.” She giggled and glared at him at the same time; that had been Lance’s favorite of all her mannerisms since they were small, growing up together in the palace.
“Choose an heir, then you can resign and go pop adorable little Rummels out til you can’t take a step without tripping over a deliciously cute baby.” Lance grumbled offhandedly. “Or he can do the same for you… except for the baby part… you should probably still handle that.”
“Would the people accept that?” She asked softly. “Will I plunge my home into turmoil?”
“If the people are safe, fed and at peace, what cause have they to complain?” Lance demanded. “I am outside the line of succession, so perhaps it is easy for me to say so, but you have done your duty…” A knock at the door interrupted their quiet discussion.
“Forgive me your grace, lord Lance… a party from Wheatford has arrived. Sir Rolf Belen and lady Trelawny Belen beg an audience at your convenience.” Master Dougal, her head butler frowned ever so slightly, an expression Grace had never seen on the man’s impassive face before.
“A… cleric has come with them, one Becky… who styles herself the ‘high priestess of Marduk, the god of Knowledge’…”
“Oh! Yes! I had hoped she would come in person! Forgive me Lance, duty calls!” She bustled over and smiled with undisguised delight. “Well, guide me to them!”
“Err… Yes, your grace…” Dougal mumbled.
The duchess smiled and followed her highly distraught butler out into the hall. Watching Dougal struggle and twist in the wind warmed her heart in ways she wasn’t proud of… but continued to enjoy, regardless.
The private audience chamber was a well appointed and decidedly extravagant room. Velvet and gilt vied with hand rubbed oak for space everywhere one looked. It was opulent without seeming cold or imperious, with potted trees and flowers scattered here and there, as were a few small sculptures and a book or two.
Most of the room was taken up by a large conversation pit, liberally scattered with cushions and throw blankets. Duchess Sheng strolled into the parlor, followed by Angie, resplendent in her uniform of indigo and gray, her Adventurer’s badge pinned on her breast. “Lady Trelawny, sir Rolf, how pleasant to see you again!” Grace sang happily.
The small crowd in the pleasant little chamber all rose and bowed to the duchess, save for a young, shockingly pale, white haired girl, who stood staring around in wonder at her sumptuous surroundings. “Where are the children?” Grace demanded petulantly, with a cheery sparkle in her eye.
“It’s their bedtime, your grace. They will attend you tomorrow, if you have time for them.” Becky swept in for a hug from the duchess, enjoying the look on the butler’s face as much as Grace did.
#
Most of the gang came home a little after eighth bell, Rolf, Tawny and Liam took lodgings in the palace, as Grace’s guests, as was traditional when nobles visit. Interestingly, Angie failed to appear in the world of dreams.
Evening landed early in Port Sunderland; by the same token, dawn was an early riser. Gary was up on deck with a mug of coffee and his big bass recorder, greeting the dawn when the overnight party and the tiny form of Ester walked up the pier.
“Good morning!” He sang, as they approached the pier in the morning sunshine. “Ester! How nice to finally see you!”
“Oh sweet Eponna… I can’t with him.” Ester murmured. She hugged Angie and then slipped inside Rolf’s billowing cloak. A moment later, her clothes fell to the decking as she vanished. Mystified, Angie gathered up the bright pink dress and sandals from the planks.
“She vanished?” The young woman asked in wonder as she folded the garment. “No underwear?” She demanded of her embarrassed escort.
“She can disapparate into my aura, when she assumes human form.” Rolf mumbled quietly.
“Amazing… But, where are her underthings?” Angie pressed, sensing deeper wells of discomfort she could enjoy exposing. “No slip or camisole, not even any panties! I’m shocked at you, Rolf Belen!”
Gary put his flute back where it belonged to hide his grin at Rolf’s discomfort and furious blush. Angie needed no help from a fumbling amateur, the boy was already sinking fast.
“I explained as best I could…” The knight whined at his tiny paramor. “It’s hard to talk about…panties…” He mumbled weakly.
Gary giggled into his flute, sending his music off into atonal chaos. Watching as Rolf discovered exciting new colors he could turn, was just too distracting to ignore.
“I’ll explain things to her later… for now, where are my children?” Angie demanded with a dramatic huff.
“We’re going to the orphanage to visit… Tawny said you were going there as well.”
“Gotta start messing around with this side of the Shallow sea now.” He mumbled, before jamming his flute back in his mouth with a wink.
Rolf and Angie both glared at him in mild annoyance. “Tawny was hinting at some mischief you were planning.” Angie grumbled at her big friend.
“Mischief? Me? Never!” Gary complained. “I’m just gonna set up my house in the compound. And the baths, of course.”
#
The city sprawled over the foothills of the coastal mountain range, where it nearly touched the sea. To the north, inside the curving arms of the foothills and mountains, lush semi tropical forests climbed gradual inclines and wide valley sides. The landscape by the sea to the south was low and flat, crisscrossed by canals and rivers in an intricate quilt of paddy farms and bright green fields stretching into the misty distance.
The Port Sunderland orphanage was on the western, uphill side of town, across three of the city’s districts. Dockside, the houses were simple wooden affairs, not exactly hovels… things were a little grotty and worn though. Desperation showed on some faces, as a crowd of would-be day laborers jostled for position near the main docks.
There were no heaps of rubbish or filth, but sensitive noses found the dockside district had a certain pungency, the scent of poverty and struggle.
A few ragged children scrambled about, playing in the streets or watching the strangers march up the road to the tune of Shai’s bells and Gary’s little mandolin.
When a gigantic brown destrier disembarked, gently thudding her hooves down the pier, the children found a new and more interesting distraction. Mounted on the huge horsie, a small white blonde girl in bright purple jodhpurs and a billowing white blouse and sash smiled at the children enthusiastically. Her gigantic red gold doggie companion whuffed and chuffed excitedly when he hit solid ground. Otho was still struggling with his sea legs and the ship’s decks were a little slick for his taste.
“Ooh! More little ones… you were right Annie… They’re adorable too!” Ester cheered, while Rolf and Angie supervised from the deck of Moonrise. The giant horsie and her unicorn friend trotted to a wide stretch of sandy wasteland for a bit of exercise, drawing exactly what one might expect from the nearby urchins.
“Is she a warhorse?”
“Can I ride too?”
“Ooo! Pretty!”
Together, the beautiful albino girl and her massive playmates drew a small swarm of bored kids into their game of tag on the strand.
When a delegation of concerned parents appeared, Rolf and Angie smoothed things over with a little charm… The young man’s status as a knight of Order and a noble cut through their resistance with surprising ease. That Angie was in the livery of the duchess’ personal guard probably helped too.
The young couple enjoyed a quiet morning together, with their noisy friends in town. Khan and Luna had their own business in town, they vanished into the docks givinging the duo a little privacy.
#
Gary hopped over a huge horse turd on the street; on the way to the city gate there had been a good bit of poop scotch, skirting rubbish piles and crossing slightly dodgy bridges over canals that were little better than open sewers.
“Gross…” Gary mumbled as they crossed another sluggish ditch filled with murky, mucky water and floating ‘stuff’. “What’s the deal?”
“Wheatford is unusual in a few ways.” Tawny said softly as they walked along. “Nearly all of the major cities are on the Shallow Sea or on the coast… As such, waste disposal is a challenge that some lands have not considered fully. Most wharfside districts are unpleasant at best.”
Few strollers or shoppers were moving an hour after sunrise, at least, in the docks. Once through the city gate, after a cursory wave through from the gate guards things got a little busier and a lot cleaner. It wasn’t Wheatford clean, but no one was ruining their shoes and there were no open trench sewers, so that was nice.
Shai and Tallum cast interested glances at every smithy they passed while traveling through the crafts and market districts. Those two nerds were always eager to talk shop and look around to see how their crafts were employed in other towns and regions…
Like Weatford’s, the Adventure guild compound and orphanage lay near the temple district, surrounded by government buildings. War’s cult ran the place and it showed. The gates stood open and red clad forms went in and out regularly. As with most towns, the Adventure guild was a poor second cousin to War, managing the orphanage and compound in name only.
A red robed administrator guided ‘Lady Belen’s party’ to a dusty back lot. The fellow seemed disgruntled at best, with a thick veneer of genteel courtesy for Tawny and open disdain for the rest.
Tawny took Dannyl with her as an escort and slipped away with a smile and wave. “Don’t get up to any trouble while I’m busy at The temple!”
Once she was out of sight, sir Prentiss’ distaste became more obvious. “Her grace sent instructions to comply with any reasonable request… what exactly are you plotting?” He adjusted his knight’s belt displaying the oval golden buckle of a lieutenant of cavalry. His buckle bore three brass pips of rank, putting him in line for a captaincy in the near future.
Liam resisted his urge to ask why a veteran cavalry officer was nursemaiding orphans as an assistant administrator. “As her grace no doubt informed you, she has made certain arrangements with the Orphans League… This is nothing to concern yourself with…” He waved in the general area of where Shai, Becky and Gary were tuning up.
“They are harmless eccentrics, I’m here to talk to you about the duchess’ upcoming reforms.” He led the suddenly very alert administrator away, with comments about ‘reviewing the accounts’ and ‘checking the books’.
Sir Prentiss seemed less confident by the moment, as the youth smiled and walked towards the admin building.
“We don’t want any misunderstandings or unpleasantness when the Orphan’s League accountants arrive.” Liam was hitting a tender spot, Prentiss had a cold sweat on his brow and never even noticed when the music began.
#