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Second Tier Sorcery
Chapter 60: A Royal Welcome

Chapter 60: A Royal Welcome

Chapter 60

"Rangers, how good of you to come. I'm Filvas chief steward to our most gracious Lord," Said a spindly man, all arms, legs, and harsh jutting angles.

His robes hung off of his six foot three inch frame, and his eyes seemed to hide within their sockets. Clasping his hands together, his garish smile cut across his face like an open wound.

"What's the situation. We were told Lord Gaius would receive us?" Cid snapped, showing little time for civility.

"Is he ok? He's like a skeleton wearing a skin suit," Riley whispered to Tobias, who held out his hand just off his hip, drawing his index finger and thumb closed.

Riley cocked her head in acknowledgment and shut up.

"He is, regretfully, indisposed; however, in his stead, I have been instructed to provide you with the full welcome of this court. As to why you have been summoned, was that not made clear in your orders? Attacks are up, and our gracious Lord cannot do it all, even as a first tier, nor should he. As you well know, his time is precious and valuable," Filvas sneered.

"It's been a busy year," Cid echoed thoughtfully.

"No doubt, however, after a number of monster attacks, the dukes and knights of our land need reassurance that the central government is doing something about these attacks. The rangers are a symbol of our valiant struggle against the chaos of the magical world, and so our gracious Lord sent for you," Filvas smiled graciously.

"I smell bullshit," She glowered to herself.

"So it's the standard meet and greet. I assume there's to be a dinner? I suppose I can't convince you to hold it off while we do a standard patrol and cull?" Cid asked, rubbing at his chin.

"While I admire your dedication to meeting the problem head on, that will not help the politics of this... um... situation. It is no longer about this simply being handled, but also that the right eyes see it being handled. I'm certain you understand, and yes, you will be provided with a grand meal in return for your...inconvenience. If I may suggest, sir, before any further pleasantries, we could start with a bath?" He turned his head and dramatically hid a sniff.

Riley's ears perked at mention of the word.

"Fair enough; just point us in the right direction and provide us with a time," Cid grumbled, his voice dripping with a pained reluctance.

Filvas clucked, "Oh my dear Ranger, perish the thought. You and your entourage are our honored guests," he clapped his hands twice, and a servant scurried up, "Take these men to the baths, and see their animals are stabled."

"With respect, our companions stay with us," Cid spoke with all the intention of a threat.

The steward pursed his lips, eying Riley and Zorna, "Of course! Of course! How silly of me it would not do to be deprived of your companions."

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Riley cocked her head, feeling a twinge of suspicion, but kept it to herself.

Filvas waggled a long finger in joyful acknowledgment as the canyon like smile crawled across his face again, garish and gaunt.

"Stable his mount, and see that their companions are made presentable as well. Now carry out my commands," Filvas ordered, making a dismissive motion with his hand.

"This way, sir," said the young man, keeping his eyes down. To Riley's eyes, he seemed no more than sixteen and was in the standard rough hewn linens of the peasant class.

"I'll leave you to it; dinner will begin promptly at seven bells in the grand hall. Thank you again for gracing us with your presence," Filvas bowed low, his long, craggy nose almost scraping the ground, keeping his eyes down before turning and scurrying away.

Cid relaxed, letting out a long, slow breath as the servant led them on.

"Hold the line; it's going to be a long night," He warned as they entered the massive tower.

The walls were close. Tobias and Cid barely had any headroom. Riley reasoned Filvas would have to stoop, but the walls appeared impossibly smooth. There was not a joint or a ripple in their construction, as if the tower had been created that way by erosion or some other natural phenomenon.

A blue crystal set into the stone glowed every three feet, providing a perfect amount of light.

The floors were carved out of the same stone and worn smooth under the weight of years, with channels worn into them by daily traffic and nightly patrols.

"It reminds me some of the antlion den. It feels too natural to be artificial; it's creepy," Riley said, chattering to Tobias.

"It is," He replied, projecting back as they made another left, the hallway growing even more narrow.

Up ahead was a heavy door made of banded wooden beams that had to be at least hundreds of years old. Gripping a pitted iron handle, the servant pulled, only for a gush of steam to rocket out, blasting over them, revealing a room with a number of recessed stone pools carved into the ground. A brass pipe waited at the far end of each with a chain pull valve.

"The Timbergarde Hot Springs have been channeled here and used for centuries. Our Lord Gaius hopes you will take this as an offering of welcome," The servant bowed and clapped his hands twice.

Two more servants entered from a door opposite them and began filling four of the small pools.

Riley saw the steam and bubbles as her heart skipped a beat.

"I'm going to be clean and warm, and it's safe here. A bath is harmless," she closed her mouth, fearful she might be drooling.

Tobias looked towards Cid, who had already taken off his belt, holding his sword in his hand.

"You may disrobe behind the screen and will find robes waiting. Do you require help with your companions?" A servant asked.

"No, we'll attend to them ourselves," Cid answered as the servant bowed.

"Tobias, please help me with my harness, I wanna get in!" Riley bounced on her front paws, an eager grunt escaping as she saw one pool overflowing with bubbles.

Target acquired.

Just the idea of getting all the dirt and days out of her fur worked like a balm, cutting the stress with a knife.

"We will leave you to it. I am Sylv; call if you need anything. We will be just beside the door," The servant bowed again and left.

Five minutes later, Riley's head barely poked out like a valley between two mountains of steaming bubbles, her eyes half lidded with pleasure.

Zorna sat like a statue, with a mountain of suds upon her head, enduring it all bravely.

"I told you you were missing out," Riley projected, to all, as the Kraus cocked its head, causing a small avalanche of foam over her left ear.

"Don't go letting your guard down. Even here," Cid yawned, "The sweetest meats hide the poison.

"It's still good to relax," Tobias said drunkenly, his words slurring.

"You must really be tesh..." Riley tried to project, but it was all feeling strangely slippery. The heat was soaking into her tired and battered frame, but there was also a strange fog drifting down upon her mind, making consciousness difficult.

Zorna wavered as a loud snoring noise drew her attention towards Cid. His tongue was hanging out, arms stretched out wide across the tub.

“Oh shish... somtings...” She worried before sleep dragged her down into an inky blackness.