Chapter 29

After dinner Jay and his two friends loitered around the dining hall unsure of what to do. It was roughly six in the evening and they had at least a few hours before bedtime.

“Let's go play Putt-Putt!” M'redith begged after no one else came up with an idea. She jumped up and down once before she caught herself.

Aiden didn't look thrilled, “Why? Its boring! You just slap balls in to a hole with a stick!”

Jay looked at M'redith sideways, “Is that like golf?”

“What the heck is golf?” Aiden asked.

“Nevermind. Putt-Putt just reminds me of something similar from Earth.” Jay replied.

Shrugging M'redith turned to Aiden. “You have a better idea?”

“Fine. We can grab slushies from that cart across the way. We're going to the one in the crafter's district, right?” Aiden asked as they all started walking towards the main gate.

“Sure. I don't have a preference. I mean its just whacking a ball in to a hole with a stick, I guess which place we go to doesn't matter.” she answered. Her and Aiden waited as Jay flagged down a cart that had been parked across the way from The Guild.

Jay offered M'redith his hand and she grinned as she took it and stepped up in to the cart. Once everyone else had followed they were off.

This cart had padded seats and Jay sighed in thanks. The wooden benches used by most of the passenger carts in the city weren't comfortable at all.

M'redith pulled Jay over to her and he leaned up against her side as the cart rocked them back and forth. She smelled of sandalwood and her own skin's scent and Jay smiled as he breathed her in.

“What do you think Jay?” Aiden asked.

“Huh?” he said, startled. He had been focusing on M'redith's features completely and had lost track of the conversation.

Aiden groaned. “Oh come on man, don't let love rot your brain so soon! Stay with me man!”

M'redith laughed and gave Jay a squeeze.

“I'm sorry! Really, what was the question.” Jay insisted.

“I asked what you would think of getting matching outfits. It was a joke, its not funny now. Thanks a lot Jay.” Aiden said dryly. “Ruining my jokes..” he muttered under his breath with a lopsided grin.

They were all in good spirits when they exited the cart. Jay paid and they went across the street to a cart set up with a large wooden sign posted above it. “Magical Slushies Made Here!” it read.

The cart had a long counter with a young man standing behind it. He wore a black and white striped shirt and black pants. He wore a wooden name tag that read simply Todd.

Each of them got one slushie, each a different flavor. Jay's was green apple. The slushies were served in a cup and was entirely made up of tiny little spheres of ice which were then mixed with a flavor juice.

“What's the magic part? It seems just like a regular slushie?” Jay asked.

M'redith wiped her mouth with one delicate finger before answering, “The ice. Its made with magic. You have any idea how to make ice like that otherwise? Plus, its frozen. That cart has no freezer.”

Aiden was sipping his slowly and appeared to be trying to make it last. Jay and M'redith were finished by the time they had paid and walked over to their assigned putt-putt fields.

They used sticks that were a lot like a golf club except the bottom of the club was like a round fat orb and was used to strike the ball. Other than the club looking weird it worked just like mini-golf. Putt the ball in to the hole.

They played for a while taking turns taking score. Each person got three shots. First to 11 wins. The field wasn't smooth the way a putting green would be but was marred by dips and valleys that threw off any attempts at predicting a ball's path.

It was however just a closely-cut grass field with a hole in it.

M'redith won every time. No matter how many games they played neither of the men could beat her. She had an almost preternatural sense of where the ball would go each time.

“That's spooky.” Jay said in an impressed voice. “You just destroyed the two of us.”

“Thank the Goddess we didn't wager anything on these games. I'd be broke,” Aiden said with a grin while straightening his belt and patting his money pouch.

They had finished and were on their way out when they were greeted by a young looking man about Aiden's age who thanked them for coming. He had been greeting each person as they left, thanking them.

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“I had fun, looking forward to doing this again,” he told the man.

“Ooo. That might be tough. I'm afraid we're going to have to close after tonight. We just haven't had a good enough turnout to keep the place open.” the man said sadly. As if not entirely seeing Jay in front of him he said, “I've tried everything I can think of but none of my ideas are drawing a crowd. I'm ruined.” he finished with a look of horror on his face.

M'redith and Aiden shared a look of embarrassment for the man. He was clearly not doing well even with all of his effort.

Jay paused for a moment, thinking. He could smile and continue on his way without feeling bad at all. Or, he could give the man some help. Jay preferred to help when he could, especially when it might create a big splash.

“That's awful!” he finally said, looking down towards the young man. “You know, back where I come from we have another version of this game and it is very popular. Its different in a few ways and is called something else. Still, it might be just what you need if you're looking to keep the place open.”

“Do you have time to tell me about it? I'll do anything to save this place, its all I have!” the man said. His shirt was rumpled and he looked like he hadn't slept well in weeks.

“I do. My name's Jay by the way!” Jay said with an honest smile.

“I'm Toren, pleased to meet you all. I'm sorry it has to be under these circumstances.” the man said but was still not allowing himself to hold any hope of rescue.

Aiden smiled in resignation as they walked over and sat down at a nearby picnic table. Jay just did this sometimes, he would meet someone and decide to try and fix their problems, change their lives even. He just enjoyed helping people.

M'redith smiled tiredly as she sat with an arm wrapped around Jay's and watched him work.

He'd asked Toren for some paper and drew as he spoke. The group all leaned in to watch as he drew and wrote.

“The game,” he began, “is called Mini-Golf.”

After an hour had passed Toren was presented with a sheaf of papers containing drawings with call-outs and little explanations drawn alongside the photos. The group now all knew how to play mini golf along with how to design and run a mini-golf course, including clubs.

Toren smiled sadly as he ran a hand through his hair, “Thank you for all of this, I'm truly in your debt, but this is still useless to me as I have no more money. I spent everything keeping this place open.”

Jay looked out over the vast putt-putt fields and sighed. Once it was torn up a good-sized mini-golf course would easily fit in the space. Maybe sell something to drink and make a small spot to sit. It would be visible from the street and Jay was absolutely sure it would be popular.

“I'm willing to go in to business with you. I can provide the money needed to start things up while you run the place. We split the profit after salaries and expenses are all paid. How's that sound?” Jay asked slowly, not wanting to rush him.

Toren nodded, anything was better than losing the fields. The land had been in his family for generations and he did not want to lose ownership of it due to poverty. A half share was better than nothing. “Deal,” Toren said as he took another paper and wrote up a quick contract which Jay read over carefully and after finding nothing worrying he quickly signed.

“Do you have a bank draft?” Jay asked while Aiden and M'redith looked on with interest. Having a friend just casually take on a stake in an entertainment venue wasn't something they were used to.

Toren wandered off for a moment and returned with one.

“Now, how much do you think you need to get all of this done and set up?” Jay asked.

Toren now looked more nervous than worried and stuttered out, “Maybe.. a gold?”

Jay shook his head, “Are you sure or do you think it'll cost more?”

Now Toren looked worried, “If it's too much that's ok,” he began before Jay interrupted him.

“Take two gold, just to be sure,” Jay said as he filled out the bank draft and signed it. Two gold was a lot of money and probably more than what was needed but Jay wanted to be sure things were done right.

Aiden and M'redith's eyes grew wide at Jay's casual mention of 2 gold as if it didn't represent a massive amount of funds. It would cover the creation of the clubs, 8 holes each with a hazard, a water feature, transformation of the grounds themselves, new signage, new seating, a new entrance structure for club rentals, drinks, entrance fees, and more. Still, it would more than likely not cost the full 2 gold.

“Make sure it looks professional. Get the grounds done up nice too just like in the drawings. Think up-scale, something for the well-to-do crowd to enjoy on a night out. I'm at The Guild in room B4 if you need to reach me, ok? Any questions on this don't hesitate to send me a message.” Jay insisted as he finished and stood up.

That signaled the end of the conversation and they all shook hands and bid each other good night. Toren would begin work the very next day.

The three friends rode back in a less well padded cart and all three looked exhausted. Aiden's head rested on his chest until Jay tapped him to wake him up.

“Up and at 'em, we're here.” Jay said softly.

“I can't believe you just did whatever you did. Mini-golf, huh?” M'redith said as they walked towards the dorms on The Guild grounds.

“Yup. I'm going to need some sort of solid income, maybe this will be it. Besides, I can find money just by being near it with my Treasure Sense. I have a feeling I'm not going to need to worry about finances but it's good to have a fallback.” Jay said as they walked along the moonlit path.

Insects chirped and would go silent as they approached, taking up their songs once again after the humans had left.

Aiden gave them each his half hug/back thump and left the two alone.

Jay thought, “Screw it,” and after M'redith gave him a hug he gave her a kiss on the cheek which made her smile and blush furiously. “Goodnight M'redith.” he said as they parted.

Back in his room Jay got in to bed and fell asleep with dreams of him running through a giant mini-golf course, only with monsters and traps. His dreams gradually morphed in to a memory of M'redith dressed as she had been at the play. He remembered nothing after that.