Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Four - La Vogue de la Résistance

Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Four - La Vogue de la Résistance

Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Four - La Vogue de la Rsistance

Normally I wouldnt be smug. Really, I hardly deserved the level up. All Id done so far was make lots of tea and try to make sure my friends were happy while tinkering on our new ship.

But Amaryllis looked so put out that Id levelled up my second class faster than she did that I couldnt help but be just a little teensy bit smug as all heck. Maybe youre not practicing enough? I asked.

Oh shut up, she said. I couldnt practice well until now. I dont know how you managed to get such a boring, peasant skill like Teamaking to grind with. Some of us have to work hard to level up even once you know.

Awa, I leveled once already, Awen said.

Amaryllis turned to her, then huffed the most envious huff I ever heard her huff. Youre probably following this idiots example, she said.

N-no? I just worked hard to make stuff with Glass magic, Awen said.

I giggled, a hand pressed over my mouth. Shes just not as lazy, I said, turning the last word into a sing-song taunt.

Amaryllis pouted and crossed her wings. Im not lazy, she said.

Still smiling, I reached over the table with the remains of our lunch and patted her on the shoulder. No, youre not. Were all going to need to work really hard to be the strongest there ever was! Well be a crew together, the three musketeers of... airshipping!

She gave me a birdy glare. With a sigh, she picked a sandwich off her plate--cut in little triangles to taste better!--and stuffed it in her mouth. I suppose Ive been too lax since returning home. Ill have to increase my training time. So will you. You cant let your main class skills wallow or else youll be stuck once your second class hits its evolution.

I nodded, remembering her many lessons on the subject. You got it, I said. Ill have to find a way to practice my Gardening and Dancing skills. Theyre both really close to ranking up. Oh, and my Archeology skill is still super weak even though Ive had it forever. Theres got to be a way to improve that too.

M-maybe you can read about it? Awen suggested. They have a nice library here.

I nodded along. I was about to say that it would be kind of neat to visit some ancient ruins aboard the Beaver Cleaver when I noticed a familiar face bouncing over to us. Rose! I called out.

Hello! Rosaline said before she crashed into Awens back and wrapped her up in a big feathery hug. Are you guys ready for shopping?

Awa, Awen agreed. She was going red, but to my and Rosalines surprise, she actually pushed back into the hug.

Brilliant! Rosaline said with a growing grin. I just ran away from work, we should go now before one of the secretaries they set as my babysitters finds me.

World damn it Rose, Amaryllis grumbled. Im supposed to be the youngest, why cant you act your age?

I do act my age, thats the problem, Rosaline said. She unhugged Awen and moved over to glomp me from the side. Now, are you girls all ready? I have a carriage waiting out front.

I returned the hug as best I could from my seated position, then climbed to my feet when she moved on to hug Amaryllis. Im ready! I said. A wash of cleaning magic across my battle dress took off all the little yellow speckles and stains. It was almost too bad, they added a bright splash of colour to my gear.

Rosaline let go of a grumpy-but-secretly-happy Amaryllis and rushed back to us. In no time, she had one of my hands in her talons and grabbed onto Awens with the other. Lets go!

Soon enough we were climbing into a neat little horse-drawn carriage with some pretty woodwork and a big crest on the doors with a logo that I assumed belonged to the Albatross family.

With a yah! from the driver, we were off and rattling along across the cobbled roads.

I come for the grains, Rosaline said.

The boy nodded. Just the four of ya? he asked.

Yup.

Cmon in. He backed away from the door and let us into a warehouse that was just barely lit by a pair of rune-powered lamps hanging from the ceiling.

There werent mannequins or bolts of cloth around. Instead the place was filled with grimey machines, some of them chugging along and doing... something that I couldnt quite figure out. I didnt have much time for snooping as the boy led us deeper into the building and down a rickety wooden staircase at the very back.

Down that tunnel, maams, he said with a gesture down a sort of corridor with natural stone walls that had a few lanterns hanging from them. The boy reached up and pulled at a cord and I could just barely make out a distant gonging sound from down the corridor.

It would have been a bit spooky if the entire thing wasnt so well lit.

Rosaline took the lead, letting go of my hand--but not Awens!--to slip ahead in the tunnel. I had to fold my ears back else the tips would rub against the ceiling.

A knock at the door at the end later, and a bunch of heavy locks began to clunk apart. After the third heavy clunk of a bolt sliding out of place, a small opening appeared in the door and an eye stared out at us. Rosaline!

The door swung open, revealing a clean white room that had more in common with a lounge than the bunker I was expecting. Standing in the door frame with his arms held wide before him was the biggest harpy I had ever seen.

Patrice! Rosaline cheered as she crashed into the hug.

Patrice was a big guy, without an ounce of fat showing on his well-toned body. He was wearing a white outfit. Tight britches, a button up shirt and a vest with silvery trim. All very fancy, and so pale that it made the bright red of his feathers stand out. Who are your little friends? he asked as he pulled out of the hug. Three of them at that!

Rosaline stepped in with a quick nod. Yep! This is Awen, thats Broccoli, and that over there is my cute little sister Amaryllis. You cant call her Amy, it annoys her a lot.

Patrice bobbed his head up and down. The beautiful Awen, the ravishing Broccoli, and the cute Amy, I see, I see. And which one is your newest girlfriend?

Rosaline had the good graces to blush. None of them. But Ill be asking Awen out later.

Awa-what?!

I see! How wonderful! He clapped his wings together. I dont suppose youll allow me to work on the humans? I dont often get to make dresses for non-harpy physiologies. It would be an interesting test.

Rosaline nodded. Thats exactly what were here for. Theres this big diplomatic thingie going down in a few days. Theyre sending all of their best out west to kiss the sylphs behinds. We figure its going to end in disaster, so were sending our own diplomatic mission to show them up.

Rose, that was a family secret, Amaryllis hissed.

Bah, Patrice is trustworthy.

Oh-hoh, when it comes to showing up the nobles, youll find none more willing than I, the rooster harpy said. So these two cuties need to look their best, I take it? he asked.

I looked over to Awen and quickly placed an arm over her shoulder. I dont think she had caught the last bit of the conversation, not judging by the way she was swaying on the spot.

Maybe Id need to tell Rosaline to calm down a bit. Awen was a very delicate girl, she needed to take things nice and slow.

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