Adventures in Avalon

(Joint writing in conjunction with Todd)
 
 
The ship, Griffin’s Pride, skimmed into port as the gulls screamed at the fishmongers who were preparing the day’s sales. The docks were busy as they were every morning, though the piers for the passenger liners were blessedly less crowded than the commercial piers or fishing docks. Vera and Peg disembarked from the schooner, walking down the gangplank with a tight hand on the guide rope to stop anyone from pitching off during the windy egress. With efficiency, Vera summoned up a carriage for rent and had their luggage stowed aboard so they could head towards the hotel up on the Rise.
 
Vera bounced in her seat, giddy with anticipation as the carriage wended its way up the streets towards the walled portion of the capital. The morning bustle seemed charged from the cold air as people ran about their morning tasks. The sun was rising and adding some scarce warmth to the situation, but not enough yet to stop the breaths of passersby from pouring out of them like little steam engines. The approach through the East Gate was largely uneventful, with the guards allowing them through after Vera and Peg presented their title. There was a pause as they checked Vera’s name against a special list, but once Peg’s name was verified, the carriage was waved through without further hindrance.
 
After a short trip towards one of the larger squares, the carriage was brought to a halt by its driver, and the duo was deposited in front of Victoria’s Grace, a large hotel with grand architecture. The building itself stood at over 8 stories tall, and Peg could see that the marbled tile on the steps was mirrored along the building’s surface as the footmen came to gather the ladies’ luggage. The concierge made sure that their bags were taken to their rooms once signed in, and soon the duo was once again out on the streets ready for adventure!
 
“So, things to do today. I need to go check the postal box for evening invitations. But after that, I think we should be available to skirt around town. I saw an advertisement in the paper about someone conducting tours of the murder sites of Ilnnsaira’s famous serial killer. I don’t even think they have caught him yet. I think he is known as the Leather Apron Killer?” Vera inflects the last as a question.
 
Peg takes all the sites in with interest and enthusiasm. She smiles brightly at Vera’s suggestion. “Ooh…that sounds like quite an unusual diversion!”
 
“Or, we could go and volunteer at the Adventurer’s guild here and see if there is anything that needs doing,” Vera offers. She hops out of the carriage like a sprite and heads into the postal office where the carriage stopped.
 
“Usually I would go for that, but I am intrigued by the serial killer.” Peg replies, following Vera.
 
Vera nods as she heads up to the counter and gives her postal box information. The worker goes and fetches a packet of cards and envelopes tied with a red ribbon, which Vera takes, turning and walking back towards the carriage. “I’ll send a runner then to see if we can get into the tour today or tomorrow, unless you want to stay in town longer?”
 
Peg looks at the packet of cards and envelopes with interest. “You must have made quite the impression when you were here last,” she notes. “Today or tomorrow sounds good. We can extend longer if we want, but this way we have options.”
 
Vera nods and puts the packet in her bag to look at momentarily. She summons a runner to get reservations, then sits back. “I don’t suppose you are interested in looking at Avalonian fashion this morning? I was thinking of looking for some of the new furs. Perhaps they have some Almiraj furs. I have heard they are very sought after this year. Or Wulpertinger.”
 
“I am delighted to do whatever suits you this morning!” Peg replies cheerfully.
 
 
And so the duo spent the morning running around to the various shops on the Rise, looking at new trends, and purchasing various sundry of clothing items to enhance their wardrobes back in Eisen. Vera was extra delighted in finding a Russian fur hat in a bright yellow. The millner claimed it was from a yellow fox from the new world.
 
Peg seemed less interested in purchasing clothes for herself, but more than willing to fuss over Vera, most particularly over how well she looked in her new yellow fox fur hat.
 
The afternoon arrived and Vera guided the carriage to a street corner in the Valley. There, she and Peg disembarked and met with a stately goblin, dressed in a nice suit and cap, who introduced themselves as Garag the Silver Tongued Grogger. Garag led them about the streets in the lower city, showing them various sites and talking in colloquial lingo about the history of the various buildings. Included, of course, were the sites of the grisly murders of the Leather Apron Killer.
 
“Ohh! How interesting. How many murders have there been?” Peg asks Garag curiously.
 
“Oy, there have been thirteen that were attributed to the killer. Might be others, but they didn’t have the ‘signature marks’ if you know what I mean. At this site, for instance, the body of Margarete Jayger was found,” he continues, describing the gruesome scene.
 
Peg blinks and looks over to Vera, then back to their tour guide. “Pardon me, what did you say was the name of the victim here?”
 
“Margarete Jayger,” The goblin replies. “Pretty little redhead from what I remember about the headlines,” he gives a toothy smile.
 
“Right. Well.” Peg coughs. “That’s not at all concerning.” She shakes her head. “You said the killer has signature marks?”
 
“Yes, M'lady.” He describes several oddities that were published in the papers, including how the women seem to have been stalked in close proximity to public locations without anyone hearing it.
 
“I wonder if magic was used as part of the modus operandi,” Vera exclaims, looking somewhat squeamish but trying to hold up with Peg seeming so interested.
 
She nods to Vera and diverts Garag from his explanations, in an attempt to keep Vera from turning green. “I think that is quite likely.”
 
Garag takes the hint and moves them along to a different location, other than to fish out a picture of ‘Margarete’ to pass to Peg. The victim in the newspaper looks remarkably like Peg, were she to wear her hair differently.
 
Peg looks at the newspaper and then to Vera. “Did you set this up?”
 
“What are you talking about?” Vera gestures, clutching her pearls.
 
She squints at her best friend, but lets it go, following their guide to the next location.
 
The rest of the tour passes without issue. Peg is regaled with stories of the Leather Apron killer, and Vera gamely attends as well. After the tour is over, Vera pays Garag, who doffs his hat at the gentle ladies before heading off. From there, Vera directs them back to the rise, where they have dinner at a prestigious restaurant called the Avalonan. The two story restaurant boasts a grand staircase at the entryway, where many of the social elite are paraded down like at a gala. Uniformed waiters whisk around with flair, making sure each person is made to feel like a prince. The duo attain a small table near the back of the main room.
 
Peg looks around the restaurant, delighted, as she follows to their table. “This is marvelous, Vera! You have really outdone yourself. Did you find this place on your last trip?”
 
Vera nods. “Yes. It is quite the scene, isn’t it? Much more high polish than the Platinum crown. It makes me think that the aristocracy is more vibrant here.” Vera seems to mentally set herself before taking off her mask and setting it to the side, as if putting on another before. “Though because we arrived so quickly, I did not get us dance partners to come with. We shall have to either forego dancing, or dance with each other.” She laughs.
 
“Well, you know that I am always delighted to dance with you!” Peg laughs brightly. “Did you meet many people you would want to dance with when you visited before? Perhaps you could introduce me before we leave.”
 
“You know I’m very choosy,” she replies loftily. The waiter delivers menus, though they recommend the special of swordfish steaks with a medley of rare vegetables doused in a variety of thick sauces. Vera orders the special after little consideration.
 
Peg orders herself some food and a glass of wine. “No one that met your exacting standards?” She laughs.
 
“Exactly,” Vera gives a quirky smile and looks around at the bustling restaurant.
 
“I see.” Peg looks at her best friend with both amusement and suspicion, but doesn’t push further.
 
Vera listens to the band playing and watching her partner attentively. Her smile turns into a show smile as she keeps a passive eye on the tide of other patrons. She idly names off several of the more notable guests as they arrive.
 
Peg listens to the band and to Vera naming off the guests, though if you asked her to recall any of the names later, she probably wouldn’t be able to. When the food arrives she turns her attention to that. “Oh! This is wonderful.” She exclaims.
 
Vera nods happily, and picks up a spoonful of caviar, the only thing she ordered for the night. After a couple of moments she excuses herself, grabbing her mask and walking purposefully towards the bathroom.
 
Peg watches her go with concern, waiting impatiently for her to return. She is just about to get up and follow when Vera returns to the table. She takes a seat, having once again donned her mask. She makes a motion with her hand to show Peg a smile. “I am sorry about that. I think I might have a blemish near my nose, so best to cover up.” She points towards Peg’s dish,” How is your plate? Is it delicious? Anything odd with Avalonian cooking?”
 
The statement and questions are greeted with a squint of Peg’s eyes. “My food is marvelous. And you did not have anything wrong with your nose. Are you feeling unwell? We can go.”
 
“I’m fine. We have to stay in fact. We didn’t have our dance. I just don’t think I am hungry. Your food looks delicious though. May I keep you company until you finish it? Then we can dance.”
 
“I do not believe you, Veronika Orlov.” Peg protests, but sighs. “Fine. Only because I want to dance with you.”
 
Vera looks down, as though abashed, then looks out to the dance floor to wait. Once Peg finishes her meal, the duo go and dance a couple of rounds before heading back towards the hotel. The carriage ride is quiet, with Vera watching out the window in contented silence. When they arrive at the room, Vera claims a headache, heading towards her own room to lay down.
 
“Do you want me to make you a cup of tea? Or a glass of water?” Peg asks, worried. “Or just sit with you for a while? Are you sure you’re okay? What is going on that you aren’t telling me? Cup of tea?” She tries to come back around to something more soothing and less accusatory.
 
“I think… alright.” she nods, undoing her mask and going to put it down. “Can you make it a nettle tea? And put some of this in it?” She pulls out a small vial of a dark purple liquid. “Three drops.” She looks tired. She goes and takes up one of the seats in the sitting room, curling into it.
 
“What is this?” She asks, taking the vial.
 
“Alkenberry extract. It is supposed to pull out residual substances from the belly to stop it from seizing.”
 
Peg shrugs and goes off to fix Vera’s tea, as directed, bringing it back to her a short time later. “Here you go, Vera dear.”
 
She drinks it, sighing into the cup. “I’m sorry I’ve been a dreadful companion this trip. We should have brought more people with us to entertain you.”
 
Peg shakes her head. “It has been perfectly delightful and you can’t help it that your dinner didn’t sit right with you. Anyway, you are all the entertainment I need.”
 
“I think it was poisoned,” she shrugs and takes another sip. “What do you want to do tomorrow?”
 
“Oh, I think my food was poisoned, what do you want to do tomorrow? VERA! Why are people in fucking AVALON poisoning your food?”
 
“They either don’t like me, want to kill me, or both. That is why most poisonings occur. I thought I tasted Ninevar Root, which is pretty easy to pick out on something like caviar. The poisoner likely doesn’t know that, so bought the poison rather than brewing up the poison themselves. I excused myself to take the antidote,” Vera confesses. “I was thinking a promenade?”
 
“No! How about I poison you unless you tell me what is actually going on?!” Peg shouts, exasperated.
 
“People will hear if you shout, Peg,” she admonishes her. “That would be improper.” She tries to stiffen herself to be more imposing.
 
“You are infuriating and I will be as loud as I want and make a terrible racket until you tell me what is going on!” She gets louder and louder.
 
Vera glances to the side, evaluating whether the throw pillow will fill Peg’s mouth, then sighs. “I’ve been trying to make inroads with the nobility here. Someone doesn’t like it. I think they’ve figured out that I can’t go to the embassy for support, so they want to eliminate me. Or stop me. Or just hurt or maim me. Something like that.”
 
Peg’s eyes flash angrily. “Who hurt you? What did they do?” She demands.
 
“They’re stalking me. I don’t know who,” she says tiredly. She pulls out the bundle of mail and tosses it on the table nearby. “Last time I was here, they hired some men to ambush and assault me. I fought my way clear. I still ended up in the gaol here to spend the night before being seen by a magistrate. I thought I was making inroads, but now I am being cut out. It is like starting over in Eisen again.”
 
Peg looks through the mail, growling angrily. “This is awful, Vera. You should have told me. I can find out who it is. They don't get to treat you like this!” She snarls.
 
“Why not? They treated me like this in Novandria for years.” Vera pulls her legs close and sets her chin to her knees. “It is how you gain acceptance. I have to prove that I want to be a part of them.”
 
“I know they did. And still sometimes do. At least there I can *do* something sometimes.” She puts the mail down and walks behind Vera, stroking her hair. “I'm sorry I wasn't here for you.”
 
“I have to learn to be on my own, Peg. It’s alright. You… you are finding a new life. You have lots of stuff going on.” She rolls over like an egg to lean on the side of the chair.
 
“Stop doing that!” She huffs in frustration. “I'm not going to let you just…suffer. And neither is Aloysius.”
 
“Doing what? I’m fighting against them. I am showing them that they can’t ruffle me. When they try to poison me, I stay at the table instead of leaving. Stay a day longer when they attack me. I can’t be driven off.” She lifts her head and looks up at Peg.
 
“Not that. Acting like I'm going to abandon you.”
 
“You are not abandoning me, Peg. You are creating your family. Soon you’ll have children and be more interested in suckling and swaddling than galas and gourmets. You protected me in Eisen. Your responsibilities to me are done,” Vera sighs. “This trip wasn’t supposed to be about this. It was supposed to be fun and light-hearted. I’m sorry.”
 
Peg makes a gagging sound as Vera describes “suckling and swaddling.” She frowns. “This isn't about responsibilities to you.” She sighs. “Fine. Pick something else fun to do then.”
 
“I know you are my friend, Peg. You’re my only close friend. But that doesn’t mean you have to put your life on hold whenever I’m in trouble. If you did that, you’d never have time for babies,” she giggles. “I think they’ll have your eyes.”
 
“I AM NOT GOING TO HAVE BABIES!!”
 
“Why not?” Vera looks at Peg in surprise.
 
Peg looks at her friend like she has lost her mind. “What about me leads you to believe I would ever want to care for a child?”
 
“You’d not have to care for it, Peg. That is what a governess is for. And you would want one to see what divine gift would be created of the union of two wonderful and talented people. You may want more once you see how magnificent the first one is.”
 
She shakes her head. “It is not what we want, Vera. Anyway, I don't think I would much like to bring a child into the world.”
 
Vera sighs and looks sad. “I think your children would be wonderful. You could send them to me to raise even.”
 
Peg frowns softly. “Have your own children, if you want them, Vera.”
 
“I will. I was thinking they could play together. Nevermind that, I suppose. Well, it is time for bed then, right?” She stands up, chipper and indomitable.
 
Peg sighs and nods. “I am sorry I cannot give you what you want, Vera. Your vision is lovely, if only I were someone other than who I am.”
 
“Alright then. Have a good night,” she singsongs as she goes towards her room.