Chapter Twenty

“Man in finance. Trust fund. Tall. Blue eyes” Harmony muttered to herself. [Recall] wasn’t working properly. Maxwell dumped the information on tonight's guests to her as Ambrosia dashed to their room to change into her maid uniform. At least all she had to do was pull off the flower dress in a private room and equip Night.

It’s not that [Recall] wasn’t working. It was playing Harmony’s greatest fails, but combining them. Being strangled by vines now moments after being caught naked. Overwork, pull a muscle, and don’t quite walk right the next day, this was the equivalent of that. Trying to calculate Len’s address and boosting it had been too much. Embarrassingly this was not the first time she’d done this, what she needed was sleep and rest, and not a bones-cursed social dinner.

“Man in Finance.” Betrold Gothheim enjoys having people be in debt to him. You don’t have to worry about paying him back because you’ll never manage to. If you can stand his company he might be a source of needed funds. “Trust fund.” Jenny Waller lived off her parents' money and was a friend of Prince Adric before his death, so she probably wants to see him again. “Tall.” Billy, the lumberjack, started out as a woodsman and managed to evolve into his signature profession which he used to help with Nae's Garden. He was a minor local celebrity. “Blue eyes.” Sara Stiller, an associate of Lady Coodly’s garden parties. Harmony had served her tea half a dozen times, but they’d never spoken. The old gray-haired dame liked to gossip.

Ma Bell’s calming effect failed even when she tried to accept it as [Recall] reminded her of all the times someone’s influencing skill crossed her mind. Memories of her mother. Memories of Hemlock. Memories of random acts. [Renew Spirit] synergized with [Mend] might help, but it wasn't something to risk without a good night's sleep first.

“Adric when I heard what happened I thought I’d find you a bit rotting and smelly, but you’re more beautiful than ever.” Jenny gushed.

“It was only a minor inconvenience. I'm as good as new.” Adric said uncomfortably.

“Could you make me immortal too?” Jenny followed up.

The whole table stiffened at that. Ma Bell even cleared her throat. Most people avoid bringing up the taboo nature of Adric’s existence. The idea of being able to grant immortality was rooted in the mythical Midnight Empire and how they recruited heroes to their side. Jenny was publicly asking if the prince had an ability that would earn him a death sentence.

“Aren’t you all curious?” She asked.

“Ms. Waller, I rarely need to disinvite people from my table. But please leave.” Ma Bell announced. Two of the Dragonfly Inn staff were already clearing her plate.

“I did nothing wrong! I even visited Hazeldown for his funeral. You can’t ignore this!” Jenny was ushered away, but not before one final word. “I’ll tell my father about this!”

The silence of the other guests at the table lingered, understandably so after bringing up something tangentially linked to a threat that nearly ended the world even if it was before this kingdom was founded.

“I’m sorry, Prince Adric, for her rude behavior. I never imagined she would bring up such a delicate topic. We are grateful that you survived that fatal curse. If it helps, none of my scryers or fortune tellers saw anything harmful or malicious about you. My time interacting with you has shown you to be an outstanding, loyal, and caring young man.” Ma Bell apologized.

“It’s okay. We can’t control our guests.” Adric accepted gracefully.

Beneath whatever calm he was showing, Harmony knew her pet was stressed. She brought him home, but it was no longer his home.

“I wouldn’t worry about Ms. Waller’s father. He knows better than to enter into politics that are above his station. I’ll drop a hint that a gift might smooth things over.” Sara said. “Lady White, my dear friend Lady Coodly would love for a social visit since you are so close. Her Naewauld manor is lovely this time of year.”

Harmony opened her mouth to say she was far too busy, but she wasn’t. Until she resolved her second-floor problem, speed-running the first floor wouldn’t take much time at all. Lady Coodly had always been valuable with her advice even if she was subtle with it. “I’d like that. I’ll make sure to inquire what time is best.” Which actually meant Bates or Ambrosia would contact them. Having servants to do such work was a little refreshing.

“I wouldn’t mind a private social visit myself,” Billy said with a smile birthed from the face of a man with charisma but no social skills.

The lumberjack was clearly flirting. Harmony stared upwards at him, he was a tree to her, but he’d make nearly any woman feel small. Even Adric’s aunt, the Countess. Why go after small women when you’re already so tall? “I’m sure you would.” Harmony non-answered.

“May I ask where you got your armor?” Bertrold asked.

That was not a question she expected from the financier. [Recall] reminded her of the embarrassment of receiving the gift from Lord Tyler, all the time it took to buckle each individual piece, and the amount of skin it showed off before it became Night.

“Gear and Wex.” That name meant something at least. She’d neglected to visit their Hazeldown branch. It might be time to visit the master shop. So many things to do now that she had a little more free time.

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“Fascinating.”

Was it? It’s not like Harmony could replace the armor she’d paired with. It was one more decision taken off her plate. No stress around upgrading armor. Gear and Wex was one of the few places that did unique custom work. It couldn't be that interesting or unusual.

“I wasn't aware of any unique pieces out of there.” Bertold Continued.

“That was from my Lady’s magic touch.” Adric bragged.

“Purely an accident,” Harmony assured him.

Betrold's eyes darted Between the two of them. “And are these accidents common?”

“I've never created another unique item if that is what you mean,” Harmony answered with a hint of [Poise and Bearing] allowing her to give a self-assured smile.

A staff member, out of stealth, whispered into Ma Bell’s ear before disappearing again. He was also flushed and slightly out of breath.

Harmony’s maid sense tingled. Something was happening. Best not to be here when it does. A little more tedious conversation then she could bow out early and leave Adric to handle the rest.

Ma Bell rose from the table. “Guild mistress Thorne, what a pleasant surprise.”

Rotting weeds! Harmony twitched and followed the host's gaze over her shoulder. A tall woman with auburn hair stood between four guards. Their approach had been silent and sudden. The look on the guild mistress' face could be described as extremely irritated. Harmony didn’t want to get caught up in any more guild shenanigans.

“Lady White, Hemlock has released the guild to announce the Ascendant Games in Hazeldown. Whereas he has neglected to provide you with guards commiserate with your role in the opening, I will not fail you in that respect. These four are to keep you safe and help guarantee your safety.”

[Poise and Bearing] straightened Harmony’s spine. “I don’t desire your bodyguards.”

“Thorne, you know I have a respectable business. No harm will come to my guests when staying here.” Ma Bell added.

“She will not always be at your inn. And the guards are not refusable. I don’t believe the trial will open without you. While Hemlock might not take this seriously I do.”

Harmony had thought that there was a chance Hemlock would keep her name out of it. Not that people couldn't add two and two together with the announcement and the episode at the Colosseum. Weird things happened all the time. These weren’t bodyguards they were babysitters.

“Then you know I have to evolve before I can participate.”

“The Guild will provide you with any resources you might need to accomplish that.”

Gifts that were sure to have gilded chains. That was how politics operated. They needed her. At least until the Ascendant Games opened. Harmony, go open Old Bone's cellar and help clean out the rats. You're the one with the key. Here are some gloves, and a knife. Be grateful we have them for you.

“Send what you think I'll need to my room.” Harmony leaned into her social skills with that response. What they send would provide a map directing her on how much they need her and perhaps a perspective on advancing she hadn’t considered.

Thorne's eye twitched at that. “As you request.” With a slight bow, the woman turned and left, leaving the bodyguards there.

“Maybe I should have invited her to sit and join us at the table?” Ma Bell mused aloud.

Sara, the old gossip laughed at that. “Don't be silly. The woman will be busy handling her big announcement. Ascendant Games, Lady White?”

“Something guild master Hemlock set up with the dungeon spirit Haz’el Ri to distribute titles. That poor Duke Darren's sacrifice and all. Because of my connection to Hazeldown, I'll be opening the games, once I reach the requirements.”

Knowing this was coming, she did her best to accentuate the proper words to focus on downplaying her role. The lady in her screamed for attention, yet helped her navigate the social balance of her words. That and years of experience watching high-level subtle politics from the shadows of servitude.

“Titles?” Billy asked with a hint of greed.

“Restricted to those who are level twenty-five. Limited spots too.” Harmony answered with a sympathetic voice remembering from the dossier that he was in the thirties.

“Rot and weeds.” He cursed.

Bertold pushed out his chair and stood up. “I have some business to handle.” He gave Harmony a short bow. “Lady White, it has been a pleasure. I look forward to our future relationship.” With that, he departed.

Future Relationship? He certainly wasn’t wooing her in any way she was used to. She had no plans to borrow money, nor did she expect to see him again unless he managed to arrange another spot at Ma Bell's table. Perhaps it was a turn of phrase on a pleasantry?

“He’s just going to find a way to get an advantage out of having early news of the games. My Boris, before he died, was the same way. Never saw an opportunity he didn’t want to leverage.” Sara chuckled.

“As he should. One progresses by making the most of every opportunity.” Adric concluded.

Harmony disagreed with her pet here. He had a very privileged start. It was easy to take opportunities when you knew you could fail and be fine, with support, items, or back-up. There was also a difference between being given one and fighting for them.

“I find opportunities often have unforeseen consequences,” Harmony responded politely.

“When you get to be my age. You’ll see everything has unforeseen consequences.” The old gossip chuckled.

She wasn’t wrong. Authority trickled in, causing the hairs on the back of Harmony’s neck to stand up. Rumors were starting to spread. The announcement was coming. Whatever temporary relief from the pressures of peerage would soon be erased. Through [Familar Bond] Hyacinth was having his own dinner, feeder beasts released into the park for him to hunt. His hunger and strain trickled through. Pressure piled on them both. After a few more conversations this dinner would be over, and then she could ponder some options.