Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Six - War Talk

Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Six - War Talk

Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Six - War Talk

Mathilde the scary director dragged us to her office. All of us. The fact that there were only two chairs before her desk didnt seem to bother her at all. She just sat in the big plush chair across a desk that had more square feet than my room back home. She made herself comfortable, crossed her fingers together under her chin in an arch, then looked towards Emeric. You begin, she said.

Amaryllis, Awen and I stood off to one side while all the members of the grenoil exploration party stood off to the other. Emeric stepped up and gave the director a shallow bow, his hands rubbing over the pommels of his swords.

Do you mind if I give some... perhaps unnecessary details, maam, for ze sake of making sure zat were all on ze same page?

I dont, the woman said.

Emeric nodded his thanks. On arriving here from our last exploration mission to Threewells, master Leonard left our party in order to more properly investigate ze destruction of ze Threewells dungeon.

I shifted on the spot.

The director looked my way like a cat that spotted a laser pointer. Do you have anything to say, or are you just fidgeting?

Ah, no? I tried. I was, um, just curious about where Leonard was?

Hmph, the woman said. Continue.

Yes maam. So, as I said, we returned and... I zink we just missed Miss Bunch and her friend departing wiz Lord Bristlecone. Zere were a few missions left in ze books, but one caught my eye. I zink you might have read its report already...

Go over it nonetheless, Mathilde said.

Emeric nodded. A harpy airship on a return trip to Port Royal noticed a wrecked vessel in ze north of Deepmarsh, or perhaps across ze border into ze Nesting Kingdom. Ze exact location was difficult to pinpoint, but zey reported it anyway. Zen an urgent report came in from Goldenalden about a Sylph ship going missing.

So we were tasked with exploring the wreck? the Director said. I think at your level in the guild you were to figure out how to undertake the mission yourself?

Yes maam, Emeric said. We questioned ze captain of ze harpy merchant ship about ze location of ze wreck he had seen, zinking it might have been ze Sylph ship. And when he mentioned returning to Fort Sylphrot, I zought it wise to hire him as transport. Ze idea was to retrace ze path his ship took, and hope zat we would find ze wreck again.

Clever.

Zank you, maam. Emeric said. I saw Arianne stand a little taller at the praise. Had it been her idea? We did find ze ship, maam, ze Bronze Falcon was laying at ze base of a large outcropping from one of ze mountains. We marked its location on a map.

The director perked an eyebrow. I would like to imagine you did more than that.

Most of my team landed near ze ship. Valerie stayed aboard ze Merchant ship to return to Fort Sylphrot to hire another ship to pick us up in passing. We didnt know how much time we would spend near ze wreck.

I saw Valerie crossing her arms. She didnt look too happy about it.

On arriving at ze wreck we had to fight off some mountain meeses.

At least ze meese meat was nice, Donat muttered. Fighting zem wasnt.Upstodatee from n(0)/ve/lbIn/.(co/m

Emeric coughed. After clearing ze area and giving ze ship a quick examination to find survivors we set up a small camp. Most of ze bodies... ze meese got to zem. But we found some within ze ship itself. It seems like some of ze crew survived ze crash, but were killed soon after. We found... feathers, maam. Harpy feathers.

Harpy are the most adept pilots in the sky, why would that be bizarre? Amaryllis asked.

Ah, ze crew manifest suggested zat zey were all Sylph. And some of zem died wiz zeir zroats slit. Emeric sighed. Ze cargo manifest was also messing some zings. Ze ship had a cargo of documents and some luxury goods destined for ze Sylph embassy in Deepmarsh. Zose were missing. So were some of ze other, more expensive zings in the hold. Ze rest was all cloth and some barrels of alchemical mixtures.

The Director shifted back. Anything else?

Amaryllis raised her head. I think it would be safer for everyone involved if that kind of information was compartmentalized for now. Though I will be writing to my clan to inform them of what is going on. As things are, I suspect that someone is trying to start a war.

The proclamation made the room go frigid for a moment. The grenoil looked at each other, and I felt myself itching to shift nervously again. Even the director looked unhappy. More so than usual.

The Exploration Guild will also be sending out official documentation pointing out that someone, or someones, have been interfering with international politics in such a way as to ignite some conflicts, the director said. War would be bad for everyones business.

Thank you, Amaryllis said. On that note, I think we ought to be leaving. The harpy gestured towards the back of the office.

Mathilde looked my way some more, then glanced at Awen for a moment before sighing. Youre dismissed. Emeric, you and your team as well. I suspect Ill be quite busy for the next little while, so please try to not do something utterly ridiculous, such as fly into the city on dragon-back.

Actually, its better if you let the dragon carry you. Flying on their backs is hard because of all the spines and... and Im going now, bye! I said before skipping out of the room and away from the directors gaze.

Did you really fly into ze city on a dragon? Arianne asked as soon as we were all in the corridor out of the directors office.

No, like I said, we were carried by the dragon.

And how did you get a dragon to carry you in its arms instead of in its stomach? Emeric asked.

It was easy, I said. We gave it dating advice. And also we had a sleepover.

Donat was staring at us in something that I suspected was awe, but the others were wearing much more incredulous expressions. I dont think they actually believed me.

Awa, its true, Awen said. Um, even if it doesnt sound that way.

Its okay! I said. So, did you guys have a fun adventure? I asked.

We did, Emeric said while Donat shook his head behind him. The mountains were a bit cold. Its not that far north, but the altitude will make the air freeze. Theres even smoke when you breathe!

Vapour, yeah, I said. It can be fun! I love the snow.

You love everything, you dimwit, Amaryllis said.

Everything deserves to be loved, I countered with an irrefutable fact.

Amaryllis rolled her eyes. I think we skipped the introductions earlier. At least, proper introductions. Broccolis idea of a greeting is... well, unique.

I frowned. I just say hi and ask people to be my friend, whats wrong with that?

All of it, Amaryllis said. Im Amaryllis Albatross, of clan Albatross.

Awa, Im Awen Bristlecone, and I wasnt kidnapped.

The grenoil were suddenly paying Awen a lot more attention. Are you related to Abraham? Valerie asked.

Aw, yes? Awen said. Hes my uncle.

Pierre, usually rather stoic, scoffed at that. Hes a legend, is what he is. You take after him any? Arianne, whats her class?

Pierre, thats rude, the mage said. I still saw her eyes dulling for just a moment. She was being sneaky!

I didnt mind though, I was just happy that some old acquaintances were making nice with my new friends!

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