Book 3: Chapter 34: What Gose Around...

Book 3: Chapter 34: What Gose Around...

Copperpot and I decided to retire for our little chat as soon as the wrestling demonstration started. As much as I really, really, wanted to try doing an arm-bar on my current favourite luchadorf, I did have responsibilities to take care of first.Th.ê most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m

We left Richter and Johnsson attempting to tag-team the charismatic red-headed dynamo while Kirk filled in for a corner post.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay?” Copperpot said, as we made our way out. “You seemed quite taken with that Draconic fellow.”

“Draconic fellow?” I replied, bemused. “You don’t follow wrestlin’, do ya. That was Dwarf Draconis, one of tha most famous wrestlers in Minnova. And he likes our beer!”

“Well, that’s certainly impressive, but he’s no Raspberry Syrup!”

I rolled my eyes at his obvious jibe. “Berry’s well known, but she still isn’t professional-wrestler famous.”

“Ah, well. I’m more of a fan of the golem arena myself. How did he end up at the party tonight? You lot seemed just as surprised as me!”

I grinned. “We were surprised. It was all Johnsson. I took him aside and he said that he used some of the ‘make friends and influence people’ budget we gave him to buy some backstage wrestling tickets. He brought all the wrestlers kegs of Barista Brew, and Draconis now swears by it before every match.”

Copperpot laughed. “Better Barista Brew than Assblaster!”

“Heh, tha new and improved Dwarf Draconis! He shoots fire from both ends!”

We both guffawed at the image, though mine was tinged with strain at the thought of what was coming. This was going to be a difficult conversation.

As we shut ourselves in the study, I pulled a bottle out of my pocket and showed it to Copperpot.

“What’s that?”

“Some of the non-sour gose.”

“Hah!” He chuckled. “I knew it! You’d never let a goat decide your fate!”

“Eh, yes and no. We’re only going to sell the other one, but I am curious.” I took a swig, and nearly spat it out. It tasted pretty much exactly as I’d expected – like overly salty beer. It was acrid and tingly, had the consistency of sea water, and left me desperate for something to take the aftertaste away.

Copperpot watched as I spat the small sip out. “That bad?”

I nodded, pulling a keg of Barista Brew from its place of honor on the lintel. “Seems our trust in the little Princess isn't misplaced.”

Copperpot nabbed the fluffiest chair in the room and pulled it up in front of the fire while I grabbed a simple stool; I wanted to be on top of my game tonight.

“Well Pete,” Copperpot mused, as I poured the drinks. “Things are certainly moving. We released Pink Brew to great acclaim the other week, and Berry’s been having a lot of fun with the costuming for her advertising. I don’t think I’ve seen so much pink chiffon since my daughter was twenty! Ha ha!”

I couldn’t help but smile at the mental image of my own little Sammy dressed up like a ballerina and screeching, ‘LOOK AT ME, DADDY!’

“Aye, children are a blessin’. Here.” I passed over his glass and he took it with thanks, taking a sip with a sigh of pleasure.

“We almost sold out of our first run of Pink Brew,” he continued. “I finagled the ratios a bit, and we found that leaving it to ferment for a few extra days gives a better flavour.”

“Mhm.” At least someone liked the umqombothi. I was going to wait a couple months then try making some Liquid Gold or even gose with sorghum extract and see how it tasted. Right now the general mood around the brewery was pretty anti-sorghum, which... was quite similar to Earth come to think of it. I'd need to explore rice as an avenue too. “How’s the cleanup after each brew?”

“It’s horrid. But Pete,” Copperpot leaned in, “that gose is going to be an even bigger hit, especially if we splice it with some wheat malt. It was delicious.”

I raised an eyebrow. He teally was becoming a craft brewer through and through. I felt a pang of pride. “You really think it’ll be that popular? We hope so, obviously...”

“The salt really made it; especially in a city like Kinshasa. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but everything is salty in this bloody city.”

“Because they came from the rival countries of Britain and France. Is that right, Professor?” I said nonchalantly, continuing to write in my notebook.

“Yes, correct. Now, when Lucky Jean first discovered Greentree dungeon, he brought back samples of several different dungeon plants. He gave some to Teapot, who made the now world famous Lord Grey using them. Lord Grey was the tea that catapulted the Pot family into prominence as it sold extremely well within Dujin and the human lands....”

He trailed off, realizing what he’d said.

We stared at each other in silence for a solid minute. Copperpot was smart. He knew, he knew I knew, he knew I knew he knew. Thankfully, he didn’t bother to insult my intelligence or damage our relationship further with avoidance and lies.

“So you know,” he said, flatly.

“Yes. I know. The question is, how long have you known? Was it from when we first met? Was any of this,” I snapped my notebook shut and gestured between us, “real?”

Copperpot sighed and sunk down in his chair, the large dwarven seat practically enveloping him. “No. I didn’t even suspect anything until much later. It was actually Berry that gave it all away; she’s not exactly subtle.”

“Slaggit!” I held my face in my hands. “I was worried about that.”

“Yes. If there are any other powerful families with Chosen ancestors or who know of the Chosen Catalysts, they’re likely already watching her. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been doing my best to keep you at arms length with her. Is it the Gods’ Great Game, by the way? I was never quite certain.”

“Yes.” I growled. “Some GAME.”

“As an [Engineer] and scientist, I can appreciate the purpose,” Copperpot said wryly. “Even if I dislike the need. But Peter, I assure you that my decision to support your gnomish brewing idea and use Boomdust had nothing to do with it. I’d just assumed you were a smart, if odd, dwarf.”

“Gee, thanks.” I rolled my eyes, and Copperpot chuckled.

“Trust me, in engineering, odd is normal. But, It did influence the decision to send me along to Kinshasa; the board wanted me to keep an eye on you. And let me tell you, all that rigamarole in Minnova would've been much simplier if the company had realized you were a Chosen at the time.”

We each drank our beers in silence for a while, Copperpot draining his in several gulps before pouring himself a fresh pint. Eventually, I was the one that spoke first. “So, what now?”

Copperpot hesitated. “Ah, friends?”

I shook my head. “I’m not sure I’m ready to jump right back to something as close as friends. You should’ve told me you knew. You deliberately kept it from me because, from what I can tell, you wanted to profit off of our friendship without me realizing. As a businessman, I can accept that, but after everything... I’d kind of thought we were more.”

“... Does Whistlemop know?”

I shook my head, and Copperpot winced. “I’d guessed that he already knew. I was miffed that you’d told him but not me, actually.”

“No. Our relationship is fully built on mutual corporate interest an’ dirty secrets. I don’t think either of us considers tha other a ‘friend’, our history isn’t really compatible with that. We certainly never fought for our lives together – multiple times.”

“Then why – “

“The only reason I hadn’t told you yet was because I wasn't sure if you'd put the Pot Corporation first, and didn’t want to put you in that position. Seems I was right. And speaking of telling, you’re going to need to tell Berry about this. Tomorrow. You owe it to her, and I think she’s going to be really, really, hurt.”

Copperpot actually looked distraught, and this time it was my turn to sigh.

“But I am willing to give you a second chance. Time heals all wounds, and apparently I have a lot of it,” I finished.

“So... business partners?”

I held out a hand for a gnomish handshake. “Business partners.”

We shook hands, then sat in silence watching the fire as the muffled sounds of screaming and suplexes echoed through the manor.