Book Three Chapter Forty Two: TT_TrapHouse

Book Three Chapter Forty Two: TT_TrapHouse

Are they an Evil house? Qube asked Sencha Bard. He considered this.

To that I could not say but, without my lute, my life would not have been worth the living of it, he said eventually.

Perversely, Qube really hoped there were skellies in the house. That way they would know for sure they were Evil. Although now she thought about it

In your memory, how did you get the lute? she asked.

I was given it by a kind, mysterious stranger, Sencha Bard said. I learned much from him, though I never learned his name.

Hah! the Hero gave a bark of laughter.

Maybe they had travelled back in time and were now in the Bards actual memory! Qube felt overwhelmed with the possibilities. Now she understood why the Hero had wanted to determine this maybe they could try and help the small Sencha with some of his strange views on how to speak to women, and help him become more comfortable in his role as a companion!

After all, there werent any mysterious strangers here helping the child except for themselves, so, pending the arrival of a newcomer, it had to be them.

He should wait here while we go ask the owners if we can buy the lute from them, Qube said to the Chosen One. She eyed the child. And then maybe we could talk to him about the importance of not stealing?

The party had exited the back alleyway and were now approaching the front of the manor. The urchin had followed them, and was politely asking Definitely Bad Guy about what his profession was.

I was a researcher, the Mage replied shortly. The child just looked even more curious.

He is a lesson that all people, no matter the deeds they commit, can still be used for greater purpose, Sencha Bard said to his younger self, but without the bite Qube would have expected.

As this gentleman is a lesson that many people, no matter how useless and self-righteous they appear, may eventually learn to be sensible, the Mage also told the urchin. There was the barest hint of affection in his voice which, for him, was a loud declaration of friendship.

The heartwarming episode was cut short when they spotted two guards standing out in front of the manor they wanted. They were magnificently dressed, with extremely tall, fuzzy black hats and, if they hadnt had all the colour leeched out of them, what would have been bright red uniforms. Looking closer, Qube was sure the hats were made from bearskin. They both held long, golden spears. The only difference between them was that the male guard was slightly broader of shoulder than the female. The two of them looked grimly straight ahead, like their lives depended on it.

The Chosen One ignored them and went to knock on the front door, only to have the guards cross their spears to block his path. Neither of them looked at him.

Hey, I wanna ask the owner if I can buy something from them, the Hero said indignantly. With money! My own, hard-earned gold!

The guards, not knowing how impressive this was, refused to be moved.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

Maybe let them know who you are, Qube helpfully suggested. She eyed the gorgeous front of the house, noting the large windows with suspicion. Many moons ago the Chosen One had told her that you could tell that there was Good stuff in such magnificent buildings, which meant either the owners (and therefore their guards) were Good and would instantly let in the Saviour of All Human and Human-Adjacent Beings, or had stolen items of Good, which meant they were probably Evil.

For all her increased understanding of the nuances involved in morality, stealing Good things was generally pretty Evil. Unless they had a really, really impressive reason.

Im the Chosen One! the Chosen One said crossly, obeying her advice. Lemme in! Qube encouragingly gestured for him to continue. I gotta save the world!

They didnt respond. The Chosen One looked at Qube.

Tell them about the Golden Prophecy! she suggested. He did.

They didnt care about the Golden Prophecy.

What had happened to the Royal Guards after the coup?

Of course! she exclaimed out loud. She looked at the others, whod been startled by her comment. Sencha Bard, were you born when the coup occurred?

It happened before my birth, the Bard said. Why do you ask?

They cant be guarding Royalty, since the king and queen are in the dungeon and the Exiled Prince and Exiled Princess wouldnt advertise their presence like that! Which means they have to be guarding either the Evil Emperor, or someone from his court!

She trembled slightly at the thought that they might be about to break into the Evil Emperors personal retreat, but steeled her resolve. Or maybe it was the home of his Dark Prophecy Companion? Qube still didnt have any proof that this person existed, especially with the Chosen One denying the existence of Evil Devs, but she had yet to fully let go of her pet theory.

If they truly had travelled back in time, then it was up to her to try and guide whoever was in that house away from Evil!

***

Their first step in their potential mission to rewrite history to turn someone away from the path of Evil was to finish breaking into the house next door. It didnt take long before the adult Bard had picked the lock under the watchful eye of the child Bard.

The manor they illegally entered (for a greater cause, Qube kept reminding her uneasy conscience) looked remarkably similar to the manor theyd broken into and burned down so long ago. Even the flowers on an elegant side table were the same type. Most likely they used the same decorator. Given how lax people were in the wider world about construction, repairs, and anything house related, it was probably the only decorator who actually bothered to show up to work.

Sexy Screamy Spider Briar managed, with great concentration, to avoid flinging any of the decor around the room when she eventually followed them into the house.

Squiggles, meanwhile, showed no such discretion.

After a few minutes full of Qube taking various traditionally inedible objects away from the omnivorous mascot, they made their way around the back of the house, and were staring at a wrought iron gate and hedge bush that separated the two back gardens from each other. It seemed odd that they valued their privacy so much that they invested in mason-work for the part of their property that backed onto the alleyway, but didnt bother with it between each others private gardens.

She repeated this observation to the party.

Especially, she added as Sencha Bard started picking the iron gates lock, if the place belongs to Royalty! If this is a retreat of theirs from the rigours of court, surely theyd want to get as much privacy as possible?

Perhaps they wanted an easy and discreet way to visit each other, the Hunter said wickedly from the doorway. She was now studying the backyard they were standing in with the same interest shed displayed for the front of the Royal manor. One where the public couldnt observe their secret rendezvous.

But the whole row of houses have the same hedges and gates! Qube protested, gesturing at the other backyards visible to them.

Im not here to judge how many they rendezvoused with, the arachnid said, diverting only part of her attention away from her study of the landscape to smirk at Qube. The half-elf turned bright red. She wasnt entirely sure what the Hunter was implying, but it sounded scandalous.

Your mistake is thinking that they would want privacy from all, Definitely Bad Guy said sourly. I have found that those of the upper class merely wish to insulate themselves from the people they rule, so they do not have to observe the consequences of their actions.

There was a click as the iron gate between the gardens unlocked, and swung open. Qube looked at Sencha Bard, waiting for her fellow staunch loyalist of order and Royalty to spring to the defence of the upper crust. However, the Bard, though the look he shot the Mage proved he was listening to the conversation, instead focused on his younger self.

It may not be safe for you to continue on, he said to the child. You had best stay behind in the back gardens, and ensure we have a safe escape route.

But I dont want to stay in the gardens, I want to come inside with you! the child started to protest before Sencha Bard knelt next to him and put a heavy hand on the childs right shoulder.

A true gentleman knows when hes outclassed, he said to the urchin. When youre up against a potentially stronger opponent, you shouldnt go rushing in. Youre not a Hero from some saga. You are a Bard. Which means you have to fight smart. You stay quiet, make sure you can always escape, you observe, and only when you are absolutely sure of success do you strike.

Yes, sir, the small Bard said, his eyes shining as he earnestly absorbed his lesson.