170 At a corner coffee house

"Sure. Let's find a place to grab a bite around here." Mindy glanced about.

"Actually, let's not do it here. Why not take a look at the new industrial district while we're at it? There were a few eateries starting out, last time I was here." Remian mentioned.

"Uh… if that's the case, how about we take a little detour, check out a few popular places before stopping in at the district? You know, just for comparison's sake?" Tim suggested smoothly.

Too smoothly. Mindy peered at him sideways. "Tim? What is it you want us to see?"

"Nothing! I'm not asking you to see anything!"

"Then…" Mindy paused. "What DON'T you want us to see?"

Tim sighed. "It's just… there's an ugly sight around the district entrance nearest to here."

"What ugly sight?" Mindy immediately shot off to look for it.

Tim exchanged helpless glances with Remian and shook his head. "I did NOT want her to see it."

"See what?" Remian asked.

"I guess you'll see for yourself, soon enough."

***

They really did. They couldn't miss it. Hanging upside down from an archway over the district main entrance was a naked man, very battered, very bruised, and still bleeding.

"AIEEEE!!!!" Asda shrieked and took off running. She disappeared around the corner in ten seconds flat, her voice sharply echoing throughout the streets for twenty more.

"This man… what happened to him?" Mindy asked, dazed. "What happened to his jaw?"

"Is that… a steel jaw?" Remian blinked. "Tim, is that the guy they call Steeljaw Sarlash?!"

"Yes, that's him." Tim grimaced. "Please don't interfere."

Remian eyed him sideways. "You did this?"

"It's… complicated." Tim grimaced.

"Who is he? What's going on?" Mindy asked.

"He's the one who forcefully bought out the Burning Steel before." Remian mentioned. "Doesn't he work for the Underground King?"

"He used to." Tim shrugged.

Remian glanced about. "Tim, you have to come with us. If the Underground King comes after you, at least he'll have a harder time reaching you in Kara-Goth."

"No, he won't, and no, he won't." Tim said softly. "He won't be reaching anyone or anywhere any more."

Mindy perked up. "What did you do to him?"

"Um… that is… also complicated." Tim scratched his head. "But don't worry. I handled it."

Remian hesitated. Then, "Tim, are you in any sort of danger, now?"

"Me? I'm not the one in danger." Tim assured him. "Don't worry about me."

"That only makes me more worried." Mindy grumbled. Then, she took a step directly towards Steeljaw Sarlash.

"Mindy…? What are you doing?!" Tim gasped.

"I'm just going to add a little decoration to the ugly sight…" Mindy said, taking out a marker pen.

"No, no, please, don't! Just… leave him alone. Please." Tim requested. "In fact, I'd rather you didn't go anywhere near him, or even let him see you."

"Fine." Mindy scowled. "Let's go around to the next entrance, then. Any idea where Asda went?"

Remian and Tim both paused for a moment, then said at the same time, "Home."

"What?" Mindy blinked.

"She's run home." Remian explained, glancing at Tim. "You're getting good with Psionic scans."

"I didn't scan anything. I just asked the lynxmice." Tim explained. "They're all keeping an eye on her."

"Why?"

"That is… also complicated."

In any case, Tim seemed to be doing fine with whatever it was he was up to. Remian didn't ask any further and they went around looking for a place to eat.

***

They settled for a corner coffee shop near the main smelter, and picked a rough sturdy table at the window, then ordered food.

"This place is looking quite a bit better." Remian observed. "It's tidier, and busier, and there's a lot more people around now."

"Some of them look a bit… sneaky." Mindy frowned. "I think those two are beggars."

"They are." Tim acknowledged.

"And that boy over there… I think he just stole something from the passer-by."

"He did." Tim grimaced.

"Is that crippled guy… a beggar?"

"Usually, yes." Tim answered.

"Tim, are you sure you're not in danger?" Mindy asked in a low voice.

"Totally sure." Tim told her.

"But those guys might be the Underground King's people!"

"Don't worry about them. They just want attention." Tim shook his head.

"I don't know. I mean… they might try to rob us, if nothing else." Mindy said warily.

Tim snorted. "No, they won't. I won't let them."

"Mindy, there are fifty lynxmice surrounding us right now." Remian advised her. "With roughly a hundred more in the area. If anything goes down, I dare say we'll have the upper hand."

"Oh." Mindy subsided.

"So… what do you think Asda wanted to see us for?" Remian asked, glancing about. "Do you think she's going to find us?"

"Let's make sure she does." Tim glanced about idly. He waved to the waitress, and gave her a coin, then whispered some instructions. The waitress gave him a quick bow and a quick grin, then scurried off.

Then, they ate and chatted while waiting for Asda to show up.

***

"Your majesty! There's a woman here who reports seeing a lynxmouse!" Asda's secretary informed her. What was his name again? Asda wasn't too sure, but he did his job well enough, and managed to keep most of the tedious chores from overwhelming her day by day.

"Where?" Asda asked.

"The woman? She's waiting outside. She said the lynxmouse was sighted at her workplace, a coffee shop in that new industrial district."

"Call out the guard!" Asda ordered. "We're going to investigate!"

Asda brought out her honor guard in force, fully armed and ready for the terrors of war. But of course, they didn't find any lynxmice. They did, however, find Remian, Tim and Mindy.

"You lot, keep an eye out. Raise the alarm as soon as you spot a single lynxmouse!" Asda ordered.

"What about the woman?" her secretary asked.

"Pay her if we spot any. Otherwise, she won't get a single lir." Asda snapped.

Just then, a furry head popped up from above them.

"LYNXMOUSE!" Asda shrieked.

The critter immediately dashed up to Remian's table and hid behind his leg.

"You brought it!" Asda pointed at Mindy.

"Me?" Mindy gaped. "Why are you pointing at me?"

Remian forestalled her. "Yes, this is one of mine. What's the problem?"

"Lynxmice are FORBIDDEN in Fal'herim!" Asda shrieked.

"On what grounds!"

"On the grounds of them FREAKING ME OUT!" Asda cried. "By order of the queen, no lynxmice are permitted in the city! Secretary, make a note! I want that written into LAW!"

"Uh… your majesty, creating a law that cannot be enforced is just…"

"Have all the guards enforce it!"

"But then they'll be too busy to do anything else! Even if they tried, I'm not sure it can be done…"

"Enough about that." Tim cleared his throat. "You wanted to talk to us about something? What is it?"

"Oh. Right." Asda said, distractedly. "Your airships are ready. Pay up the rest of the money, and you can take them with you today."