Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Three - An Old Name

Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Three - An Old Name

Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Three - An Old Name

Awa... who? Awen asked.

I scratched the edge of my nose. Rainnewt was a guy who worked for the Exploration Guild over here. He ran away after setting up me and Amaryllis to be kidnapped by some very rude deer people.

I think they were aiming for me, Amaryllis said. She bent down closer to Big Green. Tell us about Rainnewt, she demanded.

Big Green shook his head. I cant. Hell kill me. Hell kill all of you. Ive never seen a sylph zat was zat scary.

A sylph? I asked. Rainnewt was a handsome older man, not a sylph. Can you describe him, please?

Big Green shook his head until Awen waved her wand in his direction. S-small! With wings and mean eyes. Brown hair?

I nodded while eyeing the wand. Why is he so nervous about that thing? I asked.

Awa, I think maybe he has hysteria and wants to keep it? Awen wondered.

I... guess. That doesnt seem healthy. Why would you want to keep that? I tried to wipe my frown and smiled at Big Green. Are you sure you dont want my friend to poke you with her wand?

Dont touch me! Big Green shouted.

I raised my hands before me, palms out in surrender. Alright, alright.

I was about to ask the girls if we should call the guard when Big Green leapt to his feet with surprising spryness, shoved me back a startled step, then started running towards the nearest alley.

Amaryllis brought up a crackling hand, and Awen pulled her crossbow up and around, the glassy tip of a bolt pointing at the grenoils back.

No! I said.

My friends looked my way and I winced.

I mean. Dont hit him from behind like that.

Broccoli, he ambushed us. Did you hear some of the things his goons were saying? Amaryllis still lowered her hand as Big Green spun around the corner, the pitter-patter of his boots echoing out for a few moments. Your bleeding heart will be a serious problem one of these days, she said.

Ah, Im sorry? I said. They had been pretty bad. But to hit someone from behind like that was... wrong. We should still report everything to the guards.

The same guards who are in the pockets of the Morepoles? She gestured at the street which was in a bit of a state. The same guards who will probably arrest us for the mess weve made? Do you intend to spend the night behind bars?

Awa, maybe we should go? Awen asked. She dropped to her knees and started tossing her things into her shoulder bag.

I nodded. Yeah, okay. We can go. We still need to talk to these mob boss people, and then... that thing with Rainnewt, Im not the only one that thinks thats suspicious, right?

Youre not, Amaryllis agreed. The Rainnewt are an important Sylph family. I never made the connection with Mister Rainnewt because hes, well, he was, a human.

Could he be a shapeshifter? I asked.

If he is, then why not change his name? Amaryllis wondered. Its possible, but it sounds like a needless risk. Then again, his plan to kidnap me was hardly well-thought-out.

It nearly worked, I pointed out.

She huffed. Id have gotten out.

The moment Awen was ready to move, we started heading away from the crime scene. I felt a bit guilty, but Amaryllis was usually right about things like guards and such-like. So, theres a second person causing trouble called Rainnewt. It could be a total coincidence.

Its, its not true, don Grenouille, Big Green said. Zey came onto our turf and ze--

The don whapped the big grenoil on the head with his cane again. Shush, you. Ze young lady was talking.

I held back a very inappropriate giggle. Ah, yeah. We were on our way here, actually, when Big Green blocked our path, and then he and a bunch of others tried to capture us. They said some very mean things too.

Hrm, the old grenoil said. Lets set zat aside for ze moment. Ze issue is complicated somewhat by you being on our territory without permission. Zough, as ze saying goes, might makes right. You are obviously in ze right in zis situation as you won ze ensuing fight.

That... was so wrong. At the same time, if the old grenoil wanted to let bygones stay that way, I was okay with it, for now.

Now, you mentioned zat you were on your way here? I doubt it was to enjoy ze comforts of my gardens.

I looked around at all the pretty flowers and the well-trimmed hedges. Its not for that, no, but you do have a very nice garden, I said. I have the gardening skill, though its not at a very high level. Yours must be really good if you can keep so many flowers in a place like this.

Don Grenouille grinned. Why zank you.

Ah, but youre right. Were actually here because of a bit of a problem we had. See, one of our friends owned a nice little bookshop in Port Royal, and she lost it because she couldnt meet your security payments.

Don Grenouille tapped his cane on the ground. Are you speaking of miss Booksie?

Thats her, I said.

We offered her ozer ways to pay off ze debt, he said.

A debt that should never have existed and which was little more than extortion, Amaryllis said.

The air grew thicker, but we were saved by some goon arriving to deposit a table and some chairs next to us. One of them placed a nice tea set on the table before stepping back.

I moved to the set and started preparing a few cups. There was a kettle that was already filled with boiling water, and a few little jars of honey and sugar and a cup of cream. How do you like your tea, Don Grenouille? I asked.

Straight, he said.

I mixed in the leaves and made sure everything was just right before pouring him a cup. Then I prepared cups for my friends. Awen liked hers with lots of honey, and Amaryllis liked a splash of cream in hers.

I liked mine with honey, sugar, and cream.

Don Grenouille waited until we were all sat before taking a sip from his cup.

His eyes widened.

I have the tea making skill, I said before taking a sip of my own. The Don was watching me strangely as I drank. Ah, this is pretty nice. I waited a moment before continuing. So yeah, if you really were extorting our friend, that needs to stop. Its not nice at all to do that to someone. You really hurt Booksie when you made her lose her shop.

Im afraid you dont seem to understand how zese zings work, Don Grenouile said. In zis city, if you expect to have ze protection of ze Morepoles, zen you need to pay.

But protection from what? I asked. No offense Don Grenouille--and I do have the utmost respect for you and your cool hat--but rackets like that just arent very neighbourly.

Dont bother, Broccoli, these sorts dont understand decency. Just look at how they play dress up and try to hide behind an image of nobility. Its really quite sad, Amaryllis said.

I wanted to press my hands over my face. Amaryllis really was keen on insulting everyone she met.

Don Grenouilles face was going a nasty shade of red, and all the goons around us seemed ready to fight.

And then Cholondee landed on the fountain.

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