Chapter 34 A Talk on the wild side

It took us a month to finally talk with Vandrin after we learned who they were. The first few days we simply tried to figure out what to Do with the information we had been given. If we said the wrong thing, asked the wrong question, or pretended to know too much we could all be killed, or worse. I spent a good amount of time wondering if the questions were even worth it. Finally deciding that we should contact the Head Witch Hunter, we settled down on what to say. Yun also wanted to make absolutely sure of Vandrin's Schedule, and told us we had a month before it would be as close to a sure thing as possible.
We didn't spend the whole time huddled together arguing about what to do either. We all spent time together, when we could. Marda and Melfina spent a good amount of time with the Myconids, training them, and visiting Rorin and Aurane. Yun of course was out investigating Vandrin, so Geno and I spent some time together. He found my shop quaint, if not effective. Liking the double sided forge Max and I had set up, we were able to make some improvements with Suggestions from the Goblin. We were able to go out to Visit Bellia a couple times as well, meaning that Geno could see Ricky at those times.
When we finally decided to send a message to Vandrin, it was put in code, and dropped off by an unused persona of Yun. After the code the message would read “If you are Vandrin, can we meet and talk about the War with Terrytown, the bad undertow, and the crimson dragons. Ziggurat, under the temple of Pudge, three days, midnight.” Deciding that Marda, Yun and I should be the ones talking, we choose questions to ask, then waited. We didn't want to lie, or conceal anything we didn't have to. An inquisitive mind would be able to extract things from us if we didn't watch what we were saying, but we also didn't want to just give everything out for free.
I fully expected to be either arrested or dead before the time for the meeting, and was quite happy that I wasn't. I spent the days working as normal. Melfina and I did go down to the Ziggurat to make sure we remembered the way, and we surprised to find that it was in good shape. The Myconids had actually cleaned it a bit, so it wasn't As dank as the last time we had been here. Being underground the floor was still damp, but nothing could really help that long term.
The Afternoon of the meet found us all heading to the Bath house. Figuring we had all been stressed, and we should try to smell nice tonight, we paid for the group and went in. We had planned to get out and be at the meeting place forty five min before hand, but a few things slowed us down for that. Geno got lost down the corridor of pipes leading from the pools and heaters. When Melfina went to look for him, she went missing for a bit as well. It didn't help that While trying to figure out what the sent of the day was I smelled too many herbs and got dizzy to the point I had to sit down for a bit.
Getting the the Ziggurat at twenty five minutes to spare, I knew that if we had been here for three hours, someone else would have already been here. Lighting the place up, I walked to the middle of the room, and told the others to stand back. Using my fire breath, I dried the floor as best as I could, beckoned the group closer, and sat down in the middle of the floor. If even half the stories of Vandrin were true, the leader of the witch hunters would know everything about me down to how many scales I had on my tail. I had worn the moon bladed great axe from the shop, and I carefully took it off my back, and set it as far as I could in front of me. Short of literally removing my appendage, this was as close to Disarmed as I was going to get. Now we just had to wait to see if we were going to talk, die, or both. It was at that point I saw the figure in a doorway across the room. They had stood in the shadow, still as a statue.
I made no movement but told the others that Vandrin had arrived. I wasn't sure if anyone had seen our guest before I said anything but it didn't change much. Yun had pulled out a flute and had played while I set myself up, and continued to do so. The figure had obviously heard me as the half elf clerk stepped out of the shadows. The clerk carried themselves differently, but I couldn't pin it. There was no body language at all. As if everything about the person was neutral. Vandrin stopped far enough away to give time to run if it was an ambush, but they were close enough to talk without shouting. Would have made an odd clandestine meet if we had been shouting at each other.
The eyes dance over all of us, the head still. “How did you find me?” Vandrin asks. Calm. Predatory. Nonchalant. A voice of someone who was used to knowing all the information, and could supply that information instantly.
“Luck. We found you with simple dumb luck” I reply before anyone can say anything. No need to rat people out.
“So. What do you want?” While it was a demand, it was... something else. As if asking an alley cat why the price of eggs had gone up.
“We want to know what you think of the possibility of war with Terrytown.” Marda replies.
A sigh escapes from the figure before us, and a hand is put on a hip. “Not my business. The guild doesn't need to be a part of that, so I am not part of that. I worry more about people who come In to the City” The eyes land an Yun, and bounce to Geno. Neither of them had said anything In fact, Yun was still quietly playing the flute.
I don't want aggression coming out, so I move the conversation to what we want. “You mean like the Crimson dragons?”
An annoyed sound comes out, the kind that requires lips. “My job is to keep old wars old.” that statement would have to take some thinking.
“What would you say if we were to share some info about the Crimson Dragons corruption going on politically high up”
“Those are some valid threats, but I choose to simply let the system decide. What I want to know really, What is that?” Vandrin points at spike.
I think we were all taken by surprise. In all my preparation, I had forgotten about the turtle, and what came out of it. I didn't really know what it was now that I thought about it. Melfina had told me some things, but what the actual being was remained a bit of a mystery.
Melfina answers with a bit of innocence in her voice, “Well that is just my pet turtle.”
“Don't play dumb with me” Vandrin retorts. “That” jabbing a finger again in emphasis “has left reports of some spectere appearing wherever it goes. So I want to know. What. Is IT?”
The fact of the matter is I have no idea what it is, and I”m not sure anyone else does either. Melfina may have some idea, but she hasn't shared that information with us. Not really sure what to say, I let the silence stretch.
“It is an ally”. Melfina states. She almost says more, but leaves it at that.
“Hm.. maybe your companions at the shops would know more information.”
Anger rises up from me, and a trickle of smoke wafts out of my mouth as I speak.”Do not bring them up” from the reaction, Vandrin knew that would touch a nerve. I needed to get this back on track before it gets more out of hand. “The bad undertow found out the hard way about that. What do you know of them?”
“Oh the undertow. Either side of the undertow is bad if you ask me. That of course includes all the new friends you have made,” they purr. “I know that they are collecting in Davenport, something about them taking the city from the Black legion. The Legion of course is just a peace keeping force, but if they were expelled, or destroyed, then anything would go. If they were stopped, it may change a few things here in town. Hard to say.”
I got it. If we left we wouldn't be the Witch hunters problem, as we wouldn't be here. Either the slavers are taken care of, or we are. One way or another it helps Vandrin. Hmph.
“Oh, and the first running of the new Train will be leaving soon. In three days to be precise. There will be a particular person of importance on the train. A merchant. They are going to meet with someone from the 'Bad undertow'. You should go to Laketown and find out what that meeting is about. It may help with Davenport.”
“How long until Davenport falls?” I ask, worried about the remnants of the legion there.
“Reports say something is to happen in three months.”
“What of this merchant? What do they look like?” Marda asks
Vandrin starts to describe the merchant as a Tabaxi, with mostly black fur, but whit on his chest. The name is Henry Hotfeet. We should be able to get tickets from people we know, like Rorin and Aurane. I bet that Holden has some tickets, and that he would do anything to Not be on that train. If we need to get in touch with Vandrin we can talk with agents Moulby or Skullcrusher. I'm not super happy to just be doing what Vandrin says, but both agendas happen to align, for now. Worried about people bothering Max or Leona while I am gone I considered writing to Max's father but then I had a better Idea.
“Can you promise that my shop won't be bothered while I am gone.” I ask.
“The witch hunters have been stretched pretty thin, I can't promise that no one will ask questions about Leona.” came the reply.
“What do you know of the name Charles Corbin?” I ask.
A puzzled look comes over Vandrin, piecing together a puzzle. “Corbin, which would make him the father of Max Corbin. Recently here in town, thankfully gone now. What about him?
“Mr. Corbin would be very unhappy if something were to happen to his Grandchildren.” I say simply.
“Oh? oh. OH!” for the first time, emotion cracked through. It wasn't enough to see if it was fear or agitation, but it was immensely satisfactory. “Please don't bring him back. I don't have enough people to arrest him safely, and a lot of people would die if we tried. Oh that would be bad.” It may have been possible that one of the most feared people in town was talking to themselves. Neat.
“Well I wouldn't want to bother him by making him come all the way back here. Of course, it doesn't take him that long...” I honestly have no idea where he currently was, or how long it would take, but Vandrin didn't have to know that.
They made no promises, and with that, Vandrin simply vanished. Picking up the great axe I had set aside, I put it on my back, and we went back above ground. The moving air felt better than the stale air below, but I still felt like I was being watched. Honestly, if the Witch hunters weren't watching me right now, they weren't doing their job. Deciding that Marda and Melfina would talk to Aurane and Rorin, Yun would talk to the Marquis, and Geno and I would talk to Holden, we walked each other home. Yun and Geno dropped me off at the shop on the way to an Inn, and walking in I find Max sitting up, reading a book to the Egg. He looked up when I came in, but still finished the page at least.
What was I going to do about the Egg. I wanted to be here when it was time to hatch. Should I just leave my comrades to this job? But that would mean leaving the Legion to whatever may happen to them. I had a few days to think about it. Could I stay here until it hatched, then leave for davenport? That wouldn't work at all. I would be leaving my own child, and I may not have enough time to do anything for the Legion. Thanking Max for staying up to wait for me, I tucked the egg into the blankets for the night, and went to sleep.
Heading out in the morning, Geno and I ride out to Holden's compound together. Geno is a bit excited as he hasn't seen Ricky in a few days and we talk about how Geno made Ricky. Made mostly of steel, Ricky isn't really something with the sentience but does have something akin to a dog. I guess it is more like some of the animal companions that the Rangers of the Legion sometimes had. I asked Geno if Ricky could take on another shape, and the reply was that it simply took a night to make a new one. An image of something was forming in my head, but I couldn't quite tell what it was when we found ourselves at the compound.
Always a place of activity, there were projects of all types going on at all times of day and night. Most of the time a large group would work on one of the main projects, but when you get enough crafters together in one place, something new is bound to be made. We set off to find a few people and soon enough came to Ricky.
Signs had been attached to him since we had last been here. His nose has also taken a sheen to it, as if a multitude of people had been touching it. On closer inspection the signs were not those of warning, saying, “He is doing his best” and “Keep out of kitchen”. I can only imagine that Ricky had found his way into a bit of trouble, and people liked him well enough to not be angry, but understanding. After all, Ricky doesn't eat anything, he was probably just curious. And Big. He may have bumped into some things and caused some damage on accident. Hopefully he wasn't damaged, but I will let Geno figure that out himself, and the goblin greets his companion with a gentle headbutt.
After a few minutes with Ricky, we head to Holden's office, but find a sign saying that compound's master is busy. We wanted to find either Holden or Oliver and ask them if we can get tickets for the train, or take the Skyship for a little trip. While we were able to find Oliver, he informed us that the tickets for the train had been left in the staff room, and we were free to take anything that remained, but he doubted anything would still be there. Oliver also told us the Skyship was under orders to sail over the train. If anything were to happen, the trains passengers could be removed to safety by the ship. That may work out as the skyship would be in the place we needed it to be, now we just need to figure out how to use it.
Heading down to the staff room, we find two all access passes were left and we scoop them up. These passes would let us visit our mounts, so I could take mittens with no trouble, or less trouble, and Geno could see Ricky. Wait. That may be the solution to me being with the Egg. “Hey Geno,” I start. “Would it be possible for Ricky to carry something inside of him? Maybe change shape to accommodate something?”
“Ricky? no. I would have to make something else.” Geno responds, looking at the skyship. But carry what? You don't seem the type to have to carry much you don't normally carry already.”
“An Egg for one.” I say. “Would What ever you make be able to contain and protect the egg while we travel. Keep it proper temperature and everything?”
“I should be able to do that. It May require some tinkering, but it should be a problem. I think.”
Well, that would solve that problem. While I wouldn't really want to take the Egg into harm's way, but it is a possibility. I'll have to ask some other people what they think. Leaving the dock, we bump into Captain Gale who was also leaving. Asking if we could talk, she nods eagerly. Asking if she would like to go on adventure. As it turns out, the captain has been extraordinarily bored, and is ready for something besides boring test voyages, but has to follow the orders given to her. If orders from Holden could be put into the schedule, she would be happy to take us where ever we wanted. Of course, she would only be free if the Train's journey went smoothly, and the ship wasn't needed. Pulling a tin out of her bag, she handed it to us, with the instructions to give it to Holden. Asking what it is, she replies that Holden will loose track of whatever he may be thinking about if presented with licorice. The captain apparently has been saving this tin for a purpose much like this one.
Bellia was easier to find than I had hoped. Finding her laying under the shade of the orchard's trees taking a break, we greet each other. “ I was thinking, we have to go to Laketown on the train, would you like to come on the skyship to watch over us” I ask, sitting next to her.
“Well if you are going to Laketown what about the Egg? You said you would take care of it. Not very responsible of you.” she responds, sitting up.
“Well, as to that, Geno here may be able to make something very similar to Ricky that would be able to carry and protect the Egg, keeping it safe until it hatches.” I explain “Since he will be coming with me, I would still be able to watch over it, and I would like you to come as we may still be out of town when it happens. I would not want to take that from you.”
“Well, everyone from the compound is supposed to go on at least one trip with the ship, so we can learn from it, maybe make suggestions to improvements and the like. I would like to be there when it hatches yes.” she admits. I never doubted she would.
“Well, prepare yourself, for we leave in a few days. I look forward to it.” and I genuinely do, I will get to spend more time with her if this trip goes well enough. “We need to go talk with Holden, do you think he will be free soon?”
Oh yes, he should be free by now.” she says, laying back down on the ground. Closing her eyes she finishes, “you and I both know he can't stand long meetings.”
Chuckling, I head back to Holden's office with Geno next to me. Stopping by the staff room, we find some scrap paper and quickly write out orders for the ship to be used by us after reaching Laketown. Getting to his office, we do indeed fine him free. After knocking, he gestures us in without looking up from his papers. I have learned that he can pretend we aren't here that way. Pulling the tin of licorice out, I spin it slowly end over end in my hands, making a particular noise. He looks up to see us, and of course the tin, and I can see all his thoughts grind to a halt. Telling him we just wanted to deliver the tin to him, we needed a signature to make sure we gave it to the right person. Just like the good captain said, he didn't even look at it, just put his signature on it, and took the tin. Wishing him a good day, we took the newly approved orders and went to see Oliver again.
With a somewhat dubious expression Oliver asked us what the ship was going to be used for, and I simply responded, “licorice.” with an annoyed muttering, he marked it off on the schedule, and just like that, we had our ship. Granted of course, we could keep the train safe for it's trip. Well, one thing at a time.
Leaving Oliver's office, Bellia stops us. “Hey, just so you know, most of my family have all been born during a violent thunderstorm, so I would count on one happening around the time the Egg is to hatch.” Oh, that would be interesting to watch from, say, the deck of a skyship. I will have to keep that in mind.
Once getting back to the city, we meet up with the rest at the Inn that Yun and Geno are staying. As it turns out, Aurane and Rorin both had tickets to give, and Somehow Yun had scrounged another all access ticket from the Marquis of all places, and we came out with four extra tickets. As the others wanted to sell the extras, I asked them to sell only two of the extras, as I may have a use for the others.
Getting back to the shop, I was happy to find both Max and Leona still awake. Sitting down, I fill them in on what we have learned about Davenport and the Legion being in trouble. I also tell them that we plan on taking the Egg with us, and the plan to protect it. Telling them that the group was planning on going to help the Legion out after Laketown, I ask them if they wanted to come with us. With tickets for the train, they could stay with us, or stay on the ship, where they would probably have to work. Leona agrees to come, and Max agrees knowing that the Legion may be in trouble. This way, I won't have to worry about people bothering Leona while I am gone, and as far as I know, Max hasn't taken a vacation in a couple decades.
Turning to Leona I tell her something very important. “You know all those stories we told you when you first came to us?”
“Yeah” she says, “You mean all those about how the hero's fought honorably and saved all the lives they could?”
“Yes. Just those. There is something you need to know about fighting. You have learned so very much from the two of us over the years, but if you are to get into a real fight, you need to Bite, Claw, kick, and do anything you Need to do to win. Cause the other guy is going to be doing the same thing. Understand? I know you are aware of what I did when you were taken. It may not be something you are proud of later, but if you survive, it's worth it. Hopefully, we won't have to worry about that, but it's better to be safe than sorry right? Now come here.” I finish and spread my arms. Hugging her, I kiss her forehead like I always do, “We will always be proud of you. Remember that.”