Chapter Three Hundred and Seventy-Four - Late to Bed and Late to Rise

Chapter Three Hundred and Seventy-Four - Late to Bed and Late to Rise

Chapter Three Hundred and Seventy-Four - Late to Bed and Late to Rise

We ended up waking up late.

I dont know why, but after coming back to the Beaver after a whole day spent shopping, all of us loaded down with bags and bags of stuff, the tiredness walking about had just... evaporated, and it had been replaced by a sort of manic energy that had the bunch of us throwing an impromptu party.

Not a very loud one. Though there was music! Clive had a harmonica and the Scallywags had fashioned some drums out of bits and bobs laying around. As it turned out, that was about all we had needed to get a sing-off of sorts going.

Awen even ended up coming out of her shell a little to, as she put it, put a few years of singing practice to use.

Caprica also had a rather pretty voice, but all the songs she knew were about how grand and mighty the sylph were, which was kinda funny, but not as funny as the songs Abraham had taught Awen about adventurers and getting into trouble.

There wasnt just singing, of course. We discovered some late-night stalls in the megadock that sold bitter dwarven food, and Calamity and the harpy boys returned with a little keg of strong dwarven ale that got shared around.

By the time we all flopped onto bed it was well into the next day, so I wasnt too surprised when I woke up just shy of noon feeling a bit creaky and dehydrated.

I stumbled out of bed, got undressed from the night before, then redressed in my new comfy clothes before making my way to the dining room.

You look like your egg was left out in the sun too long, Amaryllis said from the dining room table. She was twisting a spoon in a bowl of grey goop. I made oatmeal. Enough for... well, everyone, I suppose. She gestured to a big pot nearby that was filled near to the rim with oatmeal.

Huh, I said. Did you forget the oatmeal rises when it cooks? I asked.

She didnt deign to answer me, instead choosing to take another mouthful.

Thanks for the breakfast, I said as I served myself a bowl. It was a little bland, especially compared to all the savoury and bitter things Id eaten the night before, but maybe that was for the best. It would help settle my tummy.

Could have been improved with some maple syrup, but I chose not to complain.

So, whatre we doing today? I asked.

Not shopping again, thats for sure, Amaryllis said. We might have... a surprisingly full coffer of gold from all that work we did for Sylphfree, but we still made a dent in our reserves spending the way we did.

Will we be okay? I asked.

She waved the concern away. Ill let you know when we need to tighten the belt. Truth is, we made nearly enough working for Sylphfree to buy an entire airship, crew and all. It should keep us going for a year or more if were careful.

Oh, thats good to hear!

Only if were careful. If we spend gold like we did last night, that years going to be shortened to a month.

I laughed. Well be a little more discreet, then! Besides, if we want more, it feels like adventuring and explorings been pretty good money so far.

Only because we picked up some... strange missions. Dont go thinking most explorers get into the kind of trouble we do, Amaryllis said.

I shrugged. Tharval and Willowbud seem like the kind of people that would do fun things too.

Theyre exceptions to the rule, she said with a mighty huff. But, speaking of those two, we should probably visit them and see if Willowbud was able to find any info about Vonowl.

I nodded along and scooped up another spoonful of oatmeal just as Awen zombied her way into the room and collapsed in her usual seat. She didnt move, and I suspected that she fell asleep so I left her to it. Do you think all of us should go? I asked.

Im that close friend! Tharval said. And I say its not good enough! Youre insulting me and everything I ever built by ambling about in that rusty half-baked mess.

Um, I said. Now I wasnt sure what to think.

Willowbud sighed and tried to explain. Hes embarrassed, you see.

I am not! Though you ought to be, wearing that thing.

Because, Willowbud continued as if Tharval hadnt spoken. This suit of armour was one of his earlier creations, and he has improved greatly as a smith and artist since. But I still think its a fine piece and I hardly need to commission a new one.

Ill give you a good price, I already said!

I held back a giggle. Ah, so its a bit like... youre walking around showing people the equivalent of Tharvals first ever poems and hes embarrassed about them?

Willowbud ruminated on the analogy for a moment before smiling. Yes, exactly.

Oi! Its nothing like that!

I think the armour you made is very pretty, I told Tharval.

He pointed a fat finger at me. Dont you start, little miss.

I worked hard to hold back my smile, but it wasnt an easy thing to do. Alright, I wont say anything, I said.

Your pointless argument aside, Amaryllis stepped in, did you discover anything about Vonowl?

A few things, Willowbud said with a nod. As it turns out he is, in fact, related to our old companion. Wesley was his grand-uncle. After Wesley founded the first Harpy-Mountain branch of the Exploration guild, he went on to marry and essentially retired from the more demanding side of the exploration work. He spent most of his time after that doing administrative tasks.

Thats the harder side of things, Tharval muttered. Give me an unexplored ancient dungeon any day over a stack of unsigned papers.

Anyway, his family used their ties to the guild to grow somewhat more prominent, from what I gathered. Which is only fair I suppose. The barony came soon after, and the new Vonowl is its head.

Interesting, Amaryllis said. Yes, I can see someone using a good rank within the Exploration guild as a way to propel themselves into lesser nobility. That would make this Baron Vonowls grasp on his position somewhat tenuous.

That may be so, Willowbud said. In any case, I did discover hes staying at the Grand Mami Hotel."

He waited expectantly, but Amaryllis and me only gave him a blank stare.

"... It's one of the smaller towers sticking out of the main Storm Tower complex. Though its tower is mostly for show and for when diplomats arrive aboard private shuttles. Most of the hotel is within the complex.

Bah, they dont care about that. They care about catching this moron, Tharval said. He punched his hands together, knuckles striking with a clang. Were gonna catch him and string him up by his toes.

I dont even know if harpies have toes, Willowbud said.

But you do! Maybe I ought to string yours up instead, huh?

I had the impression that working with these two was going to be an experience.

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