"Speaking of later plans," Melissa interjects with a smile. "Watcha doin' tomorrow night for dinner, Mister Saleh?"
Elizabeth turns to look up at her with a confused expression.
"Care to have dinner with Lady Adamell?"
The young girl's eyes widen and there's an almost imperceptible shaking of her head.
"What?" Melissa questions with a raised eyebrow and an even bigger smile. "You'll be all grown up by then, right?" She leans in closer to the girl and the soldier can just barely hear her whisper, "And even if ya ain't, it's just dinner ... this time."
The girl's face reddens, but she doesn't say anything.
Saleh drops the item into the bag without further comment although he starts slightly at the suggestion.
"Yes... I would be delighted." He manages after a brief pause and a confused look at Melissa. "This was meant to be a present, so I will pay." The fact that the women start whispering almost immediately confirms to him that this is something he'd best not inquire into too far.
"No need to pay," Melissa responds with a smile. "You can join her here for dinner. Donna's a pretty good cook."
When Saleh returns to the Adamell home, he's greeted at the door by Melissa, herself. "Good Evenin' Mister Saleh," she says with a grin, looking him up and down. "My Miss is in the study, why don't you follow me?"
The redhead is wearing a nicer dress than she normally wears. The fabrics are more elegant and the cut emphasizes her ample curves. The bodice is cut low putting her freckled cleavage on display, highlighted with a green stone that dangles low into the cleft. The woman turns and heads down the hall towards the same room he met the ladies in before. She seems to be putting extra sway into her hips as she leads him through the house.
Arriving at the comfortable room, he's surprised to see that Elizabeth hasn't visibly aged in her new form. "Mister Saleh, I wish to apologize," is the first thing she says, rising from her chair. "I had hoped that this would have faded before tonight. When it didn't I was going to call it off," she turns and glares at Melissa, "Because I'm sure you have no interest in dining with a child."
"And give you another chance to back out? Not a chance, Miss," Melissa interjects with a giggle.
"In any case," the girl continues. "If you'd like to cancel, I completely understand."
"He's not cancelling," Melissa says, giving the man in question a raised eyebrow. "Is he?" The question seems more of a declaration that an actual query.
"You look... lovely." Saleh offers Melissa as she leads him down the hallway. "Are you staying for dinner?"
-----------
The momentary awkwardness of finding that Elizabeth is still stuck in the body of a twelve year old makes the warrior pause for a moment, until she speaks at which point her mannerisms - so out of place in that younger body make him smile rather broadly.
"I wouldn't miss this for a royal title." He says, grinning at Melissa, although he makes an effort to soften the smile that he turns to Elizabeth.
"May I?" He asks, stepping forward to pull back Elizabeth's chair once they reach the dining room. It's something he's seen nobles and officers do when escorting their fine ladies, so it seems appropriate.
"You look... lovely." Saleh offers Melissa as she leads him down the hallway. "Are you staying for dinner?"
"I'll be around, but dinner will be a much more ... intimate affair if'n there's just the two o' you," Melissa responds with a sly smile.
"If I didn't know better I'd say you want this to be a date." Saleh replies, although the joke falls a little flat when he sees Elizabeth a few moments later.
"I wouldn't miss this for a royal title." He says, grinning at Melissa, although he makes an effort to soften the smile that he turns to Elizabeth.
A smile attempts to slip onto Elizabeth's face, but she masters herself and looks at him with a raised eyebrow. "Are you laughing at me, Mister Saleh?"
"May I?" He asks, stepping forward to pull back Elizabeth's chair once they reach the dining room. It's something he's seen nobles and officers do when escorting their fine ladies, so it seems appropriate.
"Why thank you, Sir," she replies as she takes her seat.
Once he's seated, Melissa vanishes through one of the doors, only to return bearing a bottle of wine which she quickly opens and pours into the glasses in front of Elizabeth and Saleh.
"Now you go easy on this tonight," she whispers as she pours for her mistress. "Yes, Mother," the girl hisses back through clinched teeth.
The woman places the bottle on the table closer to Saleh and leans down to him. "You're in charge of this tonight. It's even easier than normal for her to get soused like this and that would ruin the evening," she whispers. Her comment is still loud enough to be overheard evidenced by the blush that fills Elizabeth's face.
"I'll be back in a bit with soup," Melissa says with a wave of her hand. "Converse." She vanishes again through one of the doors.
"She seems to be getting used to giving the orders." Saleh comments wryly. "Now tell me, what exactly were you doing that led to," He makes a small gesture with his finger. "This?"
"Yes, well," the woman begins nervously. "I was working with chronomancy - magic that affects time." She takes a long drink of her wine before holding out the empty glass in a gesture clearly meaning 'Refill, Please'. "It's a little more complicated than I had anticipated. I'm pretty sure I've got it figured out, but as you can see, there were ... temporary side effects."
She glances at the door that Melissa escaped through.
"And yes, she's getting entirely too comfortable in a position of authority. I may have to speak to her about it." The girl looks down at herself. "After. Right now it's ... difficult. I'd forgotten what it was like to be this age and have your head filled with ..." She considers a moment before continuing. ... inappropriate thoughts."
Saleh refills her glass, half way. He refills his own the same amount, in a silent gesture of solidarity. "So how old are you at the moment?" He asks, "Somewhere between twelve and fifteen? I'm afraid I didn't meet many other children at that age so I... very little knowledge about that stage."
This is unusual, Saleh doesn't usually make any reference to his past, especially not to those long ago days before he became a slave/soldier.
Elizabeth drains her glass again and then looks down at herself. "I'll guess twelve because my br... er... I didn't begin to physically develop until after my thirteenth birthday." She looks away with a flush rising on her cheeks.
"I didn't really get a chance to interact with other children either," she continues. "I'm the youngest in my family and my parents waited until they were older before having children so all of my parents' friend's children were much older than me."
She gazes off into the distance as the memories come back.
"Melissa was really the only other person close to my age that I spent any time with. My family hired her as my companion when I was just about this age." She looks down at herself again. "Probably another reason why she likes giving orders right now," she adds with a small laugh. "She's much bigger than me now, so ..."
Elizabeth shrugs and holds out her glass again.
Saleh refills again, slightly less than before and seems impervious to Elizabeth's efforts to glower him into submission. "Weren't you ever told that young ladies shouldn't scowl like that?" He responds to her continued efforts with a hearty laugh.
"I had an older brother." He continues. "Dogs too. I still remember playing with them in the streets. I must have been... eight perhaps. Did you have any pets? Apart from Melissa that is!"
The door opens and Melissa steps into the room carrying a taurean of soup. "Tell me what course is next," she grumbles to herself. "I'll turn her around and spin her on top of the damn butterchurn is what I'll do. I know what order you serve the feckin' soup."
She steps up to the table and her smile reappears. "And how are we doing?" she asks.
"We need more wine," Elizabeth answers.
Melissa glances at the mostly empty bottle. "I think you've had enough for now," she says addressing her mistress, but giving Saleh a stern look. Elizabeth mutters under her breath. Probably not something flattering.
The woman ladles a tomato bisque into the bowl set in front of Saleh. She then moves around the table to do the same for Elizabeth.
"I hate seafood," Elizabeth grumbles, looking down at the offering. "It's good for you - eat it," Melissa responds with strained smile and then makes her exit.
A protruded tongue extended in her direction indicates that Elizabeth is, indeed, feeling the effects of her age.
Saleh responds with a look of innocence, and winks at Elizabeth when Melissa is serving the soup. Conscious that he should, apparently, be setting a good example he takes his spoon and sets to the bisque. It is remarkably good and he eats with gusto - trying hard to remember his manners at the same time.
"Why was she so annoyed?" He asks, searching for a new topic of conversation. "Does Melissa not get along with the other staff?" Unable to resist a light probe he continues. "I suppose your special relationship makes that hard?"
"No, I had no pets. If I counted Melissa as a pet then she was a most unruly thing and I should have shipped her back to the breeder," Elizabeth says with more laughter. "My father had horses, but that was the closest to pets we had. Unless ... " she frowns. "No, you already made a joke about Melissa."
"My relationship with Melissa is ... special," she says, choosing her words carefully. "I don't imagine that it's that different than other ladies have with their maidservants. Perhaps it is. We've know each other since ... since I was eight or nine and she became my companion when I was twelve, did I tell you that?" She waves the question away with an empty wineglass. "She is my closest friend. She knows all my secrets. She's there for me when I need ... when I need her to be."
She pauses.
"That feels ... strange," she says with a frown. She sets her glass back down on the table and reaches up to rub at her temple. Her breathing increases and her other hand joins the first. "It feels like ... no ... not now."
The girl's face begins to take on the look of panic. She pushes her chair back and rises to her feet, her hands moving to hold herself steady against the table.
"Melissa!" she yells out.
The girl's form in front of Salah seems to lose focus and then jump instantly to a spot five feet to her left and then five feet to her right before returning to the table. The sudden sound of rending cloth and then the figure refocuses.
Elizabeth stands there, an adult woman attempting to hold the tattered remnants of a child's dress to cover up her nakedness as best she can.
The door bursts open and Melissa enters the room. "What do you ...?" she begins before taking in the scene. A burst of laughter sneaks out before she can restrain herself with a hand over her mouth. "Oh, Miss," she says with a rueful smile.
The disheveled woman attempts to step toward Melissa, but then stumbles amidst the tatters of her dress and the effects of the wine. The redhead attempts to catch her but ends up just keeping her from meeting the floor with her face. "Oh, Miss," she says again. "You're gonna miss the veal." She sighs. "Well, Mister Saleh, how much of a gentleman are you?" she asks as she reaches out and futilely attempts to cover expanses of pale flesh with torn, undersized pieces of crepe. "Because there's no way I can get her up to her room by myself."
Saleh moves quickly, whisking the tablecloth off the table with enough speed that only the remnants of the soup splash onto the, now uncovered, table. He approaches, with the table-cloth in front of him, and keeps his eyes on Melissa rather than the very unclothed Elizabeth.
"Well we can't have anyone missing the veal can we?" He asks with a slight smile, waiting until Melissa manages to wrap her mistress reasonably completely before he sweeps her, much larger than formerly, body up into his arms without appreciable effort.
"You'll have to show me the way." He says, trying to ignore how well Elizabeth fits into his arms and the natural way her head falls into the crook of his arm.
Melissa exits the room, indicating for Saleh to follow her. She leads him up the stairs to the second floor and down a hallway, opening up the double doors at its end.
Once he steps inside, she closes the doors and indicates the huge bed in the middle of the room. "Put her there and then turn around," she instructs. He does so, but turning around he realizes that he still has a clear view in the large vanity mirror.
Melissa pulls aside the table cloth and then the tattered remains of Elizabeth's dress. She looks over the woman to ensure that there aren't any other visible bumps or bruises. She glances up at Saleh and meets his gaze in the mirror. She raises up an eyebrow and her lip curls up into a smile before she lifts a finger to wag it at him.
Without saying anything else, she returns her attention to her mistress, pulling the blankets up over her body and touching her lips to the woman's forehead. "You silly goose, she says with a shake of her head and a smile.
After placing a pitcher of water, a glass, and a stoppered vial on the nightstand, she takes Saleh's hand and with the tablecloth under her arm, she leads him back downstairs to the dining room.
"There's a perfectly good meal for two waiting in the kitchen. I can bring it out if you're still game?" she asks as she cleans up the slight mess and returns the tablecloth to its proper place.
Catching Melissa's eye in the vanity Saleh gives a slight shrug, and then pointedly averts his eyes as he steps out of the room to wait for Melissa in the hallway.
"I thought veal was meat, not game?" He responds, rather pleased with himself for the speed of his reply. "But I'd be delighted if you would join me for dinner m'Lady." He offers Melissa his arm and tries not think too hard about how strangely the evening is turning out.
"Will she be well?" He asks as Melissa returns with the veal. "These experiments seem... dangerous."
"They are dangerous," she answers, looking down at her plate. "But it's not like she'll listen to me about it." She moves the food about with her fork.
"She's tryin' to fill a hole, Mister Saleh," she says with a frown. "She's tryin' to fill it with magic, but that's not ..." She shakes her head. "She needs someone in her life that isn't me."
Melissa looks up at the soldier. "Did she ever tell you how I came to work for her?" she asks before turning her eyes to the ceiling. "Nevermind, 'cause I know she didn't."
She takes a bite of the food before her.
"When I was six, me ma and da were hired by the Adamell family. Me da worked in the stables - Oh, how Sir Adamell loves his horses - and me ma was an upstairs housekeeper." She shrugs. "I helped when I could, but I was pretty wee. I remember sneakin' into Miss' room sometimes and we'd play together." She smiles at the memories. "When I was nine there was big rush of Blue Fever." Her smile fades. "Me ma and da both got it, but no one knew till the rashes appeared. O 'course once the rashes appear, there's nothing that can ..." She swallows. "Once they died, Sir Adamell wanted to give me the boot. I was nine. I didn't have any skills to speak of and I'd been exposed. So they figured that I would have to be treated first which would take a lot o' silver and a lot o' time. Somethin' that a wee servant girl wasn't worth."
Melissa's quiet for a moment before continuing.
"Miss Elizabeth wouldn't have it. She was twelve and she looked just like she did here. She put her foot down. They had promised her a personal maid when she turned thirteen and she wanted me. They said they'd get someone else that wasn't gonna get real sick. She said no and threw a right fit about it."
"I didn't find any o' this out till a lot later and she never told me. I was still broken up about me parents. And after that I was ..."
She sits and remembers for a bit before continuing.
"I don't remember a lot of the week after that. One of the other maids later told me that I was bed-bound and with a fever for five days. And Miss Elizabeth stayed by my side the whole time - in her bed no less. She fed me. She kept me cool. She gave me baths. She ... She did everything for me. Her family wasn't gonna waste no effort on a ragamuffin servant child." The woman reaches up and wipes at her eyes. "And she's never mentioned it. Not once. I owe her everything."
She sniffs a bit and smiles across the table.
"She needs a good man, Mister Saleh. She needs someone to give her heart to. She deserves that. And no amount of magic is gonna replace that."
Even Saleh, hard-eyed soldier that he is, finds the story touching and spends a long moment considering his plate in order to regain control of himself.
"She is a good woman." He agrees seriously, before attempting to lighten the mood. "When she isn't twelve years old!" Since the dining etiquette has vanished with Elizabeth he helps collect the plates and return them to the kitchen before the next course.
It is only as they sit down to the third part of the meal that Saleh asks the question that has been rolling around his mind. "Why is your mistress not married already? She's young, of a good family and of an age to bear children. In the capital there were younger mothers than her. One would expect there to be someone, chosen by her parent?" His voice rises slightly at the end to make the last statement a question - he doesn't really know how the nobility contracts marriages.
"From everything you've said..." He continues slowly, toying with his eating knife, "There was someone, less than kind. That would explain her reactions when we first met." He leans forwards over the table.
"I hope you took care of him. If not, we'll find him together and make sure he learns a lesson in manners."
"Miss has rejected every suitor her family has arranged for her," she says, not even pretending to eat anymore. "She saw through all their facades. Spoilt dandies, hypocrites, ineffective man-children, drunks - she'd have none of 'em."
Melissa tops off her own wine glass and offers some to Saleh before continuing.
"She's the third child so they just kinda washed their hands of it all. So she applied to a small local school of the arcane. Her mentor there ..." She frowns at the memories and takes a long drink from her glass. "He done things ... spells ... I shouldn't say. It's not my secret to tell. Maybe she'll tell you about it. Ask her."
The woman reaches up and rubs her hands over her face.
"The magics he done are all gone now, but some things," she reaches up to tap at her temple, "ain't banished so easily. She needs someone that'll be kind to her and I know that you're a kind man, Mister Saleh." She smiles and rises from her chair to walk around to Saleh's side of the table. She gathers up her skirts and, with a quick move, straddles the man's lap facing him.
"Now you came here for an evenin' of entertainment and I would be letting my Miss down if'n you weren't satisfied," she says, her voice turning sultry. She leans down to kiss him, but then pulls away.
"Get back to the feckin' kitchen, Dana!" she barks out and there's a shuffling sound from behind one of the doors. "Perhaps we should take this ... somewhere else?" she asks with a slight grind of her hips.
"I wasn't expecting this." Saleh replies in all truthfulness. Given that he was expecting dinner with a twelve-year-old that doesn't say much apart from his not-being a horrendous deviant but still...
He doesn't occupy himself with those thoughts for very long, not with Melissa making her intentions quite explicit. He picks her up easily and starts walking as she clings to him like a limpet, following the giggling instructions as he walks.
Some time later, devoid of clothes and swimming in a pleasant languor Saleh props himself up on one elbow and runs his fingers down Melissa's naked spine, causing her to shiver delightfully under his fingers.
"There is one thing you will have to help me with." He says gently, "You and I... we entertain each other very well. But you are trying to set me up with your mistress. How does that end? Are we a big happy family or do you and I part company? I don't imagine Kragga would object but I don't think many maids go out procuring for their mistress and chose the man in their bed as their first option..."
He seems to be trying to keep the tone light, but Melissa can easily tell there's genuine confusion there. This is not Saleh's area of expertise...
Melissa rolls over on to her back and reaches out to take the man's calloused in hers. She brings it to her mouth and places gentle kisses on it.
I put my Miss's happiness above my own," she says, brushing the hand along her cheek. "I enjoy your company and I know you're a good man. And I know that Miss likes you. She just doesn't show it the best way." Her eyes look away. "If somethin' t'where ta happen between the two o' you, I would take my cue from her. If'n she don't wanna share, I can accept that as long as she's happy."
Her green eyes turn back to the soldier and her lips form a sly grin. "How would you feel about it if'n she don't mind sharing?" She moves his hand down to a peach-topped swell.
"You know how I feel about you." Saleh replies, rolling on top of the redhead with a grin. "Most men would be happy to have two at a time. I'm no exception there!"
Indeed he seems to find the idea quite... inspiring!
"You'd be surprised," she answers without clarification and moves to take advantage of the man's inspiration..
"Tell me later." Saleh replies as the lights fade around them.
Kragga pockets her reward money as she returns to her nomadic lifestyle, wandering the nearby farming communities to perform healing and religious duties in exchange for a modicum of payment. The orc's connection to the World Mother is strenghtening day by day, and it is beginning to have a physical effect on her. As her mastery of earth magic progresses, her skin has begun to take on the appearance of tough clay. And the more she accepts the goddess's spirit into he body, the more exaggerated her already ridiculous curves are becoming. She seems to be slowly transforming into a living embodiment of a fertility idol.
Her striking appearance has not gone unnoticed. A steady stream of orcs have been arriving in Gateway, lured by tales of a female orc with the biggest breasts in the land. Many seek to woo Kragga, but she spurns their affections, asserting that only the strongest and most potent male will have the honor of being her mate. Many violent brawls break out in the aftermath of this announcement, and the city watch of Gateway quickly finds themselves overwhelmed with angry orcs beating each other bloody in an attempt to prove themselves worthy.
Eventually, Kragga meets with the city council to come up with a way to settle the matter--a formal tournament of strength and martial prowess, with the priestess as the prize. Visitors come from across the Northern Reach to witness the three-day spectacle oustide the city gates, a boon to Gateway's economy. After hundreds of events featuring dozens of hulking orcs showing off their skills, a victor is crowned: Deathripper, a decorated hero of one of the Emperor's many wars. With enormous jutting tusks and brands of distinction decorating his scarred body, the orc seems a fair match for Kragga's own intimidating frame.
Deathripper and Kragga disappear for several days to celebrate their union. They return with plans to be formally wed in a few weeks' time to become one in the eyes of the Old Gods.
An unexplained series of mishaps and accidents have beset the good people of Bricksburg. Missing children and livestock, spoiled milk swirled with blood, stillborn calves, and other calamities have dogged the community for weeks, and the trouble seems to be getting worse. Some believe the town has been cursed, attracted malevolent spirits, or has somehow angered the small gods of the nearby hills. No one knows for certain and panic has started to tighten its grip on the hearts and minds of the townspeople. Something must be done, but no one has the courage to confront the evil lurking in their midst.
Having gained something of a reputation as problem solvers after the events in Bilgewater, the council of Gateway has reached out to you for aid. They are offering a reward of 5 gold crowns each for remedying the situation in Bricksburg.
Saleh, who has been devoting what time he has to cautiously learning about this 'Lachrymosa' person, is only too happy to leave town for a while. He is learning far more about the seedy underbelly of town life than he ever cared to - in some ways its worse than the big cities...
Still the trip out does provide for a modicum of privacy and with a significant glance at Melissa, who immediately moves to keep Kragga distracted, he pulls in to ride next to Elizabeth.
"I'm glad to see you've fully recovered." He offers with a smile. "Perhaps after this is done we could try having dinner together again, and make it past the soup course this time?"
"Hey?!" Elizabeth calls out in confusion when Melissa speeds up her horse to pull away from her and ride next to Kragga. When Saleh maneuvers next to her, her confusion turns to understanding and ... embarrassment?
"Yes," she answers, shooting glares at the woman that's taking great pains to ignore her. "I enjoyed it up until then. I'm sorry you had to see that. It's never pleasant when magic goes awry. I'm just glad that it wasn't permanent. I remember puberty and I have no plans to repeat it."
She spends a few moments watching the road before continuing.
"I also wish to thank you. I don't remember much after ..." she glances down at her travelling clothes. "... after the transformation back. Melissa tells me, though, that you were a perfect gentleman. It would have been easy to take advantage of me in that situation, but you didn't. Thank you."
She turns to look at the man and her lip curls up into a knowing smile.
"I hope the evening wasn't a complete bore for you and that Melissa, at least, kept you ... entertained?"
Saleh leans over, as slowly as he can given the constraints of riding together, and places one large hand over Elizabeth's. "I would never." He says sincerely. "It pains me that you assume I would, that you have so little trust. Perhaps one day you will be able to tell me why. But not today."
"Besides," He adds, straightening up and following Elizabeth's glances to Melissa's red hair. "I pity any man trying to take advantage of you when Melissa is around! She has many qualities and loyalty to you is first among them."
They ride for a few more minutes before Saleh speaks again. "And yes, she did. Another one of her qualities, as you know."
Placing his hand over hers, Saleh feels Elizabeth flinch and close her eyes, but she doesn't pull away or rebuke him this time.
"Yes," the woman answers after a moment spent collecting herself. "She's very special. She's ... very loyal. Sometimes I don't feel worthy of that loyalty. My family has been nothing but cruel to her."
She turns to look at the man next to her and her hand actually shifts to hold his. "I understand that men have ... desires. And I'm well aware that Melissa has her own ... tastes ... that I don't begrudge. She is an adult and can make her own choices."
She takes a deep breath.
"I'm not explaining myself very well. I'm not completely comfortable talking about this, but I am comfortable with you and Melissa ... doing whatever you wish to do." She smirks. "As long as you don't do it in the middle of the street and scare the horses."
In a more wistful tone, she adds, "I could never be jealous of her happiness."
"I've heard about what you did for her." Saleh replies, "I'd say you've done just as much for her. She would likely have died without you. You both deserve each other, you have both done a lot for each other."
He pauses for a little while, "She is only concerned for your happiness as well. You are more alike than I think either of you realise. There is much to... appreciate about both of you."
"You heard ...what?" she says, her eyes narrowing. She looks back to where the young woman rides next to Kragga. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. A sad smile appears on her face. "Of course she knows."
She turns back to Saleh.
"I'd never intended for her to find out about that. I've never wanted her to feel indebted to me in any way. That explains so many things. Thank you for telling me that, but don't assume that it makes me a better person than I am."
"We shall have to arrange another dinner once we finish with this necromancer."
"It makes you a good person." Saleh replies firmly. "That is what you are. None of the people we have helped for the past few months can doubt that. You should not either."
That appears to be the end of the conversation and the group rides for some time in silence. "A necromancer?" Saleh says eventually. "Are you sure? Nothing we were told suggests that does it? Either way I won't let it keep us from dinner."
"Oh, nothing definitively says a necromancer is behind this, but a lot of little things together can add up to a big thing," Elizabeth replies vaguely. "It might be something else, but ..."
Bricksburg lies a few days' ride from Gateway near a range of hills. It takes its name from the nearby red clay deposits the locals use to make bricks and export them across the region. Nearly everyone in Bricksburg works in the brick trade or has a relative who does. Given the abundance of clay, all the houses are made from the same bricks, along with stout roofs of wooden shingles, most of which are green with moss. All told, there are fifty-odd buildings clustered around a central square to house the several dozen people who live in the town, along with a few farmsteads that dot the nearby countryside.
A few notable buildings stand out. There's the Redbrick Public House and Inn on the eastern edge of town, which caters to locals and travelers alike. The largest and most conspicuous building in town, Whitehouse, is home to a local celebrated wizard, Abalard Henry. Its red bricks have been painted bright white, giving the structure its name. The Brickyards for which the town is famous occupy the northern edge of town. Grassy fields give way to six large clay pits in which the workers dig out the stuff that makes the bricks. And lastly, there is the Shrine of the Anointed One, a temple to Astrid, herald of the New God.
"So..." Saleh says, examining the brick buildings. "I suppose we need someone who knows what's going on..."
Elizabeth eventually rides up away from the soldier and gestures for Melissa to ride with her for a bit.
"There's something we need to talk about," she says as they move away from the others.
"I already told you," Melissa answers with a roll of her green eyes. "Mister Saleh was a perfect gentleman. He got a good look at your perky bottom when you fell over, but other than that, he did his best to look away."
"That's not what I ... Wait, he saw what?"
Melissa laughs. "Yep, and it were enough that once we got you to your bed and I finally got him alone, he was more than ready. Would you like to know what he wanted to do then?" She gives her mistress a questioning eye. "Curious at all about what the sight of your bare bottom inspired him to do?"
"No!" Elizabeth answers a little too strongly. "I have no interest ... I have no need to ..." she trails off. "Do you really think it was because of me?" Melissa nods and edges her horse closer to her mistress. She leans over in her saddle to whisper in the woman's ear.
Interrupted periodically by Elizabeth's red face turning to look back at Saleh, Melissa continues whispering for a while.
"Yes, someone that knows what's going on and that precludes the church," Elizabeth answers with a wry grin as she directs the group toward the inn.
The Redbrick Pub and Inn is quite large, able to provide bedding for up to twenty guests in a shared room and nine more divided between three private rooms. Prices for lodging and board are fair and equivalent to what one would find in just about any decent community.
An older human man with a fringe of white hair on his head smiles from behind the bar. "Greetings, friends! Travelers, by the looks of you. Welcome to Bricksburg. I'm Bertrend Redbrick, proprietor of this fine establishment. How may I be of service?"
Saleh stays outside to sort out the horses and leaving the women to make the arrangements and start on the soundings for information.
"Three private rooms, if you would, please." Elizabeth requests in a cool voice. "We've also heard, Mister Redbrick, that there have been ... troubles ... here, and we've come to see what can be done about them," she adds in a quieter voice.
She looks around the common room to see if anyone is taking notice of their arrival.
A few of the patrons are staring at Kragga, but not more than the usual amount of attention the busty orc gets.
Redbrick's smile fades. "Oh, yes. Strange things have been afoot these past few weeks. If you're here to solve our troubles, then you are welcome here, indeed."
"How about we find out what your problems are before I tell you whether or not we can solve them," Elizabeth counters. "Care to enlighten me?"
"Of course! There have been all manner of odd occurrences--missing children and livestock, spoiled milk swirled with blood, stillborn calves, and the like. I'm no expert, it it seems like faerie mischief to me. Others in town might be able to tell you more--the wizard Abalard Henry, Brother Enias, or Kyra Krent at the Brickyards."
Having no interest in talking to another wizard or a member of the clergy, Elizabeth looks around the room again.
"And the Brickyards are over ..." She gestures in the direction she remembers seeing them. "... there?"
Elizabeth leads the the other ladies back out of the inn and in the direction of the Brickyards and Kyra Krent.
Saleh falls into group as the women cross the square and listens quietly while Melissa fills him in.
The Brickyards for which the town is famous occupy the northern edge of town. Grassy fields give way to six large clay pits in which the workers dig out the stuf that makes the bricks. The few buildings arranged around the pits see to the shaping, baking, and storage of the bricks. Wooden pallets holding stacks of finished bricks surround the pits, ready to be hauled off.
Nothing happens in the Brickyards without Kyra Krent’s consent. A tall, muscular woman with a shock of short red hair, whenever she barks an order, everyone jumps to it. She eyes you up and down as you approach. "Help you with something?"