Chapter Three Hundred and Seven - Hiring a Professional Cleaner

Chapter Three Hundred and Seven - Hiring a Professional Cleaner

Chapter Three Hundred and Seven - Hiring a Professional Cleaner

Okay, I said. But Im bringing my friends with me.

My friends and I were spread out a bit more. This part of the dining hall had a good number of comfy chairs to slouch on and wed moved a few of them around a central coffee table (or was it a tea table? I wasnt sure if they had coffee in Sylphfree). Mine was right across from the Kings seat, and I had Amaryllis and Awen on either side on their own big, poofy seats.

The King was sitting on a big loveseat, with wooden arms covered in carved animals and little scenes of mountainscapes. Next to him, his wife sat, still in her armour with one leg crossed over the other. She was knitting what looked like a teeny tiny jumper.

Caprica and her sister were sharing another loveseat and neither looked like they were enjoying it.

You know, the King said. Im not used to people making demands of me.

I frowned, then tapped my chin. I guess that makes sense, being a king and all. But still, I want my friends to come with me if they can.

The dungeon in question is important to our nation, the King said. What if we determine that its location and layout are sensitive information? Sharing that with one person who has earned our trust is well and good, but several people?

I nodded. That makes sense, I said.

So youll go on your own? he asked.

I didnt say that, I said. I still want to go with my friends.

The King didnt pout, that wouldnt have been very kingly of him, but I had the impression he really wanted to. Youre very obstinate.

I dont think I am, I said.

Caprica sniffed. If anything, Father, you should take it as a sign of Broccolis good nature. She is fiercely loyal to her friends.

Well, I mostly want Amaryllis and Awen to be with me because it sounds fun, and fun should be shared.

If it helps any, Amaryllis interjected. Broccoli cant keep a secret from her friends. Shed spill the location of the dungeon and everything she learned about it the moment one of us asked.

Thats troubling, the King muttered.

Secrets arent part of a healthy relationship, I said.

The queen looked up from the jumper she was knitting. Let the girl bring her friends. The dungeon is hazardous enough, even with trusted comrades.

Were not sending her down there alone, the King countered. The Knights of the Long Rest are jealous of their dungeon. They wouldnt allow strangers in without an escort at the best of times.

Ill see if any paladins are free, the Queen said.

Or we could send some of the royal guard, the King said. I suspect the Paladins will be a bit much for this. Though... those who will want to see Broccolis Cleaning magic in action might want to send their own observers.

We cant send an entire platoons worth of people in the dungeon, the Queen said. Let them pick one each, perhaps, make sure that theyre aware of the risks, then let the Knights of the Long Rest pick out a pair of guides. At that point, youll already be stretching the number of people you can safely send into the dungeon.

What kind of Dungeon is it? I asked. Id been in my share of them already. It didnt make me an expert or anything, but I imagined that I knew more about dungeons than maybe the average person.

The King chuckled. Very well then, I have been swayed by your incredible negotiating ability.

He definitely expected Amaryllis to try and squeeze a bit more out of him. But Amaryllis looked appropriately smug, so I dont point out that she tripped right into the Kings trap.

One hundred gold each. Which I suspect is a bounty worthy of such a task. You will also be granted the right to take the class you earn from the dungeon, if you so choose. And I will sign a writ granting you rights of first choice on any items dropped during the excursion.

Is that special? I asked.

Stephania was the one to reply this time. Its not impossible for someone outside of a knightly order to take on an orders dungeon. Usually, the order will ask for a fee, but because the dungeons belong to the kingdom first, they dont have a legal right to refuse a citizen access as long as the citizen has permission to access the dungeon. What they will do is force those attempting the dungeon to be escorted through it. It prevents untrained people from dying in a dangerous environment. Part of that contract gives the guides rights to anything found within the dungeon.

Oh, I said. That didnt seem entirely fair. Okay, well a hundred gold is a whole lot, so that seems fine to me. I could recall a discussion with Amaryllis a long while ago, where she told me that a small airship cost about a thousand gold. Wed earn enough in one day to purchase a third of a ship! That was pretty huge!

Wonderful, the King said. He clapped his hands, and a new butler bowed next to him and extended a piece of paper on a wooden board with a pen fixed to it. The King took the board and wrote something on the page pinned to it with quick, easy grace. He folded it up after signing it at the bottom, then the butler poured warm wax onto the front of the letter which the king touched with a big ring. And now its quite official. We merely need some witnesses and your own signatures.

Caprica and Stephania both agreed to act as witnesses, which seemed fine. I guessed that three royal signatures on a contract made it pretty official.

The contract was passed to Amaryllis, who signed it, then to me.

By my will as King of Sylphfree, ruler of Goldenalden, and rightful liege of the lords and ladies of sylphkind and those within our rightful lands,

I hereby decree that the following persons have permission, officially obtained, to carry with them the classes and possessions they have rightfully obtained from the Dungeon of the Lullaby Knight; Lady Amaryllis Albatross of the Harpy Mountains, Lady Awen Bristlecone of Mattergrove, and Captain Broccoli Bunch, of lands beyond the Rift.

For the inestimable task of ridding our nation of the Evil Roots which infest its dungeons, they shall be awarded one hundred Sylphreen ducats for their brave work.

By my name,

Reggie IV G. Sylph

As witnessed by

Caprica B. Sylph

Stephania R. Sylph

I stared for a moment, pen in hand and poised to sign. Wait, your name is Reggie?

My friends both sighed. Awa, Broccoli, can you not insult the king, please?

I wasnt! I said. Its just, I didnt expect his name to be Reggie. I thought hed have a fancy name.

Caprica was notably not looking in my direction and had a hand over her mouth while her sister snickered quietly.

The King actually pouted when his wife started to chuckle.

Well, so much for that, he said.

***