The bat turns its body to the South-Southwest.
Gate smiles, signs autographs, flexes his muscles, takes a tulip from his feet and draws it delicately across his heavage, and generally basks in the glory of a successful bat ride.
Until finally the time comes when he must ask, “Shall we return the princess to the castle then? I’m sure they’ll be glad to have her back. Perhaps a reward is in order even?”
Someone in the crowd squeals, and faints.
The boy stands over Lumi, his hand still on the bat’s snout as his enchantment begins to wear off. The rabbit doll rustles in his hand. "Now, now. We’re friends now, aren’t we? You wouldn’t hurt me or milady, would you?"
He gives Samen a knowing wink.
That look... "Come on, Sami. Trust me! Ma’ll never know the better." The older lad made his way into the garden and plucked a crimson carrot out of the ground.
The bat moves closer to A Boy and chirps quietly. It looks around expectantly for a treat.
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Klaytal gasps for air as he catches up to the group. "Cannot believe I slipped on that puddle of water. Knocked myself unconscious! Well done, everyone."
Klaytal scans the crowd to see if anyone suspicious stands out.
"Yes, I think it's best you carried her back. Milady has flown enough this eve. But first..."
The boy chirps back at the bat, petting its snout and singing softly.
Your master. Show them to me, won't you?"
"Ahem. Thank you folks, that will conclude our performance. Enjoy the rest of your evenings."
-----
As the crowd disperses, Samen winces and grabs his side. He looks down to see blood on his hand. "Oh. I suppose I should do something about that."
Seeing Samen in a bit of trouble, the boy takes a moment to help.
A gauntleted hand made of fine green scales; it's holding a clicker made of bone. The bat's eyes follow this object eagerly, and everything else is out of focus. Clearly, the unintelligent bat considers the clicker to be its primary master.
Nevertheless, a boy sees a blurry face with long brown hair. The figure has an unstrung longbow made of antler holstered on its back. In the background is a workhorse with a long blonde mane and hair feathering on its lower legs.
The clicker clicks three times and moves down to the ground. The bat's eyes follow it, and laying there in a patch of leaves is Lumi. The bat raises a claw above the sleeping figure…
The crowd cheers, slow to disperse.
Carrying an unconscious woman in torn bedclothes through the streets might draw undue attention. However Moldwattle rumbles by in his cart; you can probably bribe/barter/convince him to stash Lumi atop the grumpy chickens' coop and trundle back to the castle.
A royal guard meets you at the gate and make Lumi decent before escorting you to her room — the scene of the crime!
In the room, Turnipwhisper is pacing back and forth on the blood-stained carpet. The prince is in the room, as is Lord Valta. Everyone is ecstatic to see Lumi — Turnipwhisper claps his hands and runs in back and forth as he prepares medicines. Lord Valta nods warmly at Lumi's rescuers and smiles. The prince gives you a military salute before dismissing you from his thoughts turning to his bride-to-be. A filthy chicken feather falls to the floor, but Klaytal snatches it up before anyone notices.
Turnipwhisper produces a vial. She must drink this as soon as possible! Excellent work! Just in time!
He feeds her the potion. Long minutes later, Lumi's eyes flutter open. Once her eyes focus, she looks around for a moment before gazing at Prince Ruhtin and her father.
What? Is the party over?…
The Prince and Lord Valta hug Lumi. You hear the Lord murmuring about not wanting to lose Lumi like he lost her mother.
Turnipwhisper coughs loudly and looks at you; it might be indelicate to linger here.
Gate looks curiously at the boy.
What’s this going on between them?
Then he says, ”You know I never did get that drink. I think it’s time we visit that tavern, what was it again? The Cheeky Cleric or something?’
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The boy takes in the bat’s memory and hugs its neck. “You’re such a good fliedermaus. And now you must fly away. Be free of masters who would put you in harm’s way!”
With some chirps and skrees he shops away his new friend.
. . .
“Milady: Always kind to children such as I. You’ve always said: ones character is shown in deeds. A noble soul can live within an urchin’s heart. You are my teacher and my liege, for true!” The boy bows and gives a cherubic look in an attempt to play the innocent child.
“Do you think the kitchen might have some hot cocoa and ginger cake, brave Gate? I’m too young for ale.”
"Your majesty, my lord, my lady," Samen says, bowing to each in turn. "Unless there is anything else you require of us, we shall take our leave." Samen gives his allies a pointed look, and retreats from the room.
The boy skips along down to the kitchen. "Come now. I’m sure we’ve ample breads and ale and sweets left over from the banquet. I know a quiet little nook where we can sit."
"A quiet night sounds like a good idea."
Since it’s time to rest and he’s had quite an exciting day, Gate goes to bed.
The boy drags Samen down to the kitchen to get a large carafe of piping hot cocoa and as much ginger cake as the taciturn man can carry. They bring it back on a tray to enjoy with Klaytal. The boy talks in a stage whisper loud enough to wake even snoring Gate.
"What say you of our deeds this eve, friend Einbetten? Oh, your clothes. Can I patch up those bloody rips for you?"
"What? Oh, thank you, but no need." Samen mutters a word, and his conservative black coat shimmers and fades into a weave of fine metal rings that gleam of mithral. "They're not real, after all."
He gives Gate a friendly nudge and sits down across from the boy, his frame losing its stiff posture for the first time today. "Today raised quite a few questions," not least to my mind, questions about you, "and provided frustratingly few answers. For instance, who was it that played us so expertly at the gala? The Ragamuffins? Or is that simply another layer in their game?"
While Samen and A Boy talk, a courier knocks quietly on the door and hands Samen a missive. It has Lord Valta's seal.
It is with great generosity and, indeed, more than a modicum of Pleasure, that I, Lord Valta, recognize the Quality and Dependability of your Duty. Your goodly works shine like a light on this long night of Mine Very Own Daughter Lumi tribulations, this being the very same Night of her and Prince Ruhtin Tolkovar's Ceremony of the Matching Cup. Truly, you are Brave and Steadfast companions who are Resolutely Loyal to the Magnificent Kingdom of Klavek and deserving of its many Bounteous Rewards.
Find, mine own Daughter's Most Loyal Protectors, at your pleasure, the attached Invoice for Damages.
I am sure you will see the Generous Deduction in Penaltie for damage to mine own Property. I trust you will Treasure this Knowledge in your hearts forever, and carry with you the Joy that I, Lord Valta, so Knows and Values your Service to the Glorious Klavek Kingdom and mine own Daughter, Lumi.
Regards,
INVOICE FOR DAMAGES WROUGHT TO ROYAL PROPERTIESON THE NIGHT OF THE MATCHING CUP, IN SERVICE AND PROTECTION OF LUMI VALTATYTAR
RUINED NIGHTCLOTHES OF LUMI VALTATYTAR ................... 300 G, 8 S, 4 C.
CLEANING OF BLOOD-STAIN ON CARPET ............................. 12 G, 1 S, 1 C.
DISCOUNT FOR BRAVE SERVICES RENDERED ....................... 312 G, 9 S, 5 C.
AMOUNT OWED UPON RECEIPT TO THE
LORD VALTA AND THE KINGDOM ..................................... 0 G, 0 S, 0 C.
"Hm. I suppose we should feel honored."
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The boy pours cocoa for his companions before sipping at his own. His face takes on a look both sorrowful and anxious. "Milady's safe, for now. You have my thanks, for she has been my one true friend since..."
He's interrupted by the visiting courier and is reduced to a quivering puddle of laughter as he looks at the invoice over Samen's shoulder. It takes a couple of minutes for him to regain his composure. He lets out a sigh much older than his apparent years.
"You see, I'm vassal to his gracious lass, but not unto her priggish pa. I sup upon his kitchen's scraps and sleep beneath his roof, but he's no clue of who I am. And yet, his whims do shape my world."
He searches his chamber mates' faces for something, and continues.
"Our lords and ladies have their kings. The ones to whom they swear an oath, and others who, well, pull the strings from far away. I would so like to find me free, but failing that I chose my bond."
He shakes his head as though to clear it. "But yes, it's too soon yet to name a villain in this plot. We've seen a man ensorcelled, sent to leave the Ragamuffins' sign. Before that saw the cruelty beneath the queen's gentile facade. And just a while ago, my new friend-bat revealed some clues about his recent master's plot."
He pauses, realizing he's blathering. "Who do you trust? What do you think?"
"I know much less than I would like, and I trust very few. I don't think the attack was a Ragamuffin plot--that seems like what we are meant to believe, just another layer of deception. i'm curious to peel back another layer of the onion, though."
Klaytal takes a sip of the cocoa, taking a deep breath to inhale the pleasant aroma. ”Well, I think you all are right. There was unfortunately ample opportunity to poison the fork.. perhaps we should look at who the waitstaff was that set Lumi’s plate?”
Klaytal thinks it over, but appears to interrupt himself with a long yawn. ”After some sleep, of course.”
It quietly rains. Early in the morning, while it is still dark, you're jarred from sleep by a furious pounding on the door.
Gate throws it open and is startled to see Prince Rhutin, whose wearing a simple woolen robe and holding a torch. The prince marches into the room, nearly shoving Gate aside.
Behind him are Viscount Sihteeri and a half-dozen Royal Guards. They all push into the room; the last guard slams the door behind them and smiles at Gate. It isn't a friendly smile.
The Prince looks extremely angry; his face is white in the flickering torchlight. He hands the torch to a guard.
He is looking directly at A Boy, ignoring everyone else in the room. His hand moves toward his sword as he stalks closer, slowly whispering with quiet menace,
What… have… you… done… with… her?
The boy looks up with alarm. "What could you mean, milord. What’s happened to milady?" Earnest in his confusion, he thinks to run to her room but thinks better of it.
The prince steps closer. Don't feign ignorance. I saw you. I saw you with my own eyes. Lumi was feeling better enough to go for a walk — she always enjoyed walks in the rain. He chokes back a sob. We were coming down to the courtyard through Lord Valta's study when —
He points at A Boy —
YOU darted under my legs, threw Lumi to the ground, and grabbed her wrist. She looked confused and hurt when she saw you, and said something before she disappeared in a puff of magical smoke. There was nothing I could do. I thought you were here to protect her. When she was gone, you laughed and ran off to the courtyard. And now I find you here, pretending to sleep!
As he speaks you can feel his rage building. His hand suddenly darts out like lightning, ripping open the collar of A Boy's shirt. And as for this!
He pauses. Where is it, you monster? Where where is that accursed insignia? Your kind want me and my family dead. But I have you now, and you will tell me where Lumi is or I will make sure you never see the light of day again!
His right hand grips the hilt of his sword, and he begins to draw steel. The guards begin doing likewise. The viscount backs against the door, eyes wide.
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The boy looks around to his companions, his pleading eyes landing especially heavy on Samen for some reason he doesn't understand.
Was it the Rabbit Prince that threatened me so, without a cause? But no, twas someone... Something else... I was a boy... I was...
Samen bolts to attention when the prince walks in. "Milord, what can we--" he's cut off as the prince launches into his accusations. "Your highness, meaning no disrespect, but this boy has been in this room with us all evening. All of us, of course, will do whatever is within our power to protect our mistress, as you have commanded, but I assure you this boy is not at fault for her disappearance!"
Why am I so sure of that? I don't even know this boy, but....
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Gate stumbles in yawning, rubbing his eyes. He stretches, adjusts his crotch.
”I had the most wonderful dream. We’d gotten the biggest reward for rescuing the princess. I could hardly count the gold. Oh-“ He stops when he sees the price.
”Begging your pardon, milord. I didn’t see you there. Did I miss something?”
At first Gate thinks the prince must surely be here to issue a grand reward, but his excitement quickly turns to disappointment when he senses the tension between the prince and Jack.
”Whatever he did he didn’t do it. That boy loves the princess, in away that is vaguely creepy and almost inappropriate, but still. He would never harm her. He certainly has no reason to poison her or put her to sleep. He did everything he could to rescue her! I mean, not as much as me of course. But he did his part and it’s a good thing he did too or else she would be bat food right now. So, whatever’s going on, let’s talk it through logically and not jump to conclusions.”
The prince looks at Samen and Gate, and visibly sags.
He looks at A Boy and his hand moves away from his sword. I’m… sorry. It’s just my concern for her. I know Lumi trusted you. Find her! Hurry to get her back! Don’t let me… or her… down.
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The kiss was fire—warmth enveloping her heart, belly, loins, soul. And that breath, smoky with cardamom and whisky. He held her in hands of steel, soft as chamois. Her eyes fluttered open and she saw a surprising softness in his face. Did he feel it too? He did!
"Do you see? He's the one! I never thought such royal blood good be so kind and full of charm."
The doll beamed, eyes closed in rapture. "My thanks for sharing such a precious gift. He is a bonnie lad. I pray his love's as true as all the good within your heart. Perhaps he'd even find it in himself to trust your humble servant, Hucklepuck."
. . .
The boy looks gratefully at Samen and back to the prince, tears forming in his eyes.
"I could not harm our precious lady, angel in the flesh. She saved me from a fate too horrible for you to ever know. I know not what maleficence has taken her away from us. But trust me when I say: Foul doppelgangers may purloin my face, but never shall they steal my faithfulness to our fair dove."
He turns to Lumi's adult-sized protectors. "We've clues aplenty—let's be off with haste."
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”Did they talk like that, this Imposter-Jack? All malificence and purloined doves? Cause that’s how you know if you’ve got the right one or not. If you can understand what he’s saying half the time then it ain’t the real him.”
”Speaking of which, did I hear you right? Did you say she said something before she disappeared? Don’t suppose you happen to remember what it was?”
The prince looks long and hard at A Boy before turning to Gate. He just laughed. His fists clench. Lumi sounded shocked. I think she said "buckle, what" but it makes no sense. She vanished before she finished.
The boy sighs. "A name she sometimes used when we would sit for tea and cake. 'Buckle' is as a good a name as 'Jack' for urchins such as me."
"We shall not rest until she is safely returned, lord."
The prince nods and walks stiffly out. The guards follow.
The viscount remains behind. He spreads his hands apologetically and adjusts his collar with a bird-like hand and laughs nervously.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Well well well welll. Ha haha ha ha well. Ha. I recommend, hah, I recommend, well, you see, ha, I recommend you try to do something about this, and quickly! Yes! Yes! Quickly! Quickly!
He reaches into a pocket and pulls out a coin. I have a clue for you! A token like this same token was seen on the other Boy who sent Lumi off in a puff of smoke! It was silver. It was what His Majesty was looking for on A Boy. He flips the coin through the air to Samen.
Samen catches it in his hand. It looks exactly like the coin he took from Dasko the Vault.
And I, ahh, well, ha ha ha, I have nothing more powerful than this scroll. Nothing more powerful indeed, no no no. He offers Gate a scroll.
With that, the Viscount turns smartly on his heels and follows in the direction Prince Ruhtin took.
”Why is it that I don’t like that guy? Gate asks once the Viscount leaves.
”And what am I supposed to do with this?” He holds out the scroll of Locate Object.
Color returns to the boy’s face. He makes a crude gesture at the viscount’s retreating back. Smiling conspiratorially at Gate, he says, "If I may plainly speak, I’m skilled in letters both mundane and mystical."
He gathers his few belongings and makes for the door. "Where shall we start?"
"Hmph, perhaps by finding a partner less inept than I. This isn't just a similar coin, it's the same one that we took off that doofus earlier. Someone managed to sneak it from my pocket."
”Don’t be so hard on yourself Samen, I didn’t notice anyone took it either. Can someone use this scroll to locate the other coin? We may be able to find this trickster while he’s still in the castle.”
Gate gets his weapons!
Realizing that time is of the essence, the boy rushes out of the room. "Good guards, where did you see the... Faerie with my face assault milady Rumi? Quick!"
The guards have left; they saw the "boy" flee into the Courtyard (which adjoins your room), and lost him.
The courtyard is empty, except for the last person in the prince's entourage and the Viscount shutting his office door!
The boy rushes toward the courtyard. He sings a brief dity to inspire himself to heroic deeds.
”Oh! Sorry to sleep through that. Thanks for the nudge awake, Samen. How could that coin have possibly been purloined off your person? Pretty impressive someone has done that. Let’s move forward and find the princess!”