by M. Gregg Roe
“Hello, Audrey,” said Branwyn in a tired voice. Petra was clad in a dress with a design that Audrey certainly recognized. But she looked upset, simply staring at the floor.
“We’re just about ready to eat,” Audrey told them. “But I’m sure you have time to drop off your things and quickly wash up.”
“All right. Which rooms are we in?”
“You’re in the first guest suite. Petra is in the second guest room—the fourth door.”
“Thank you. Come along, Petra.”
Branwyn walked off practically dragging Petra, causing Audrey to wonder just what had happened at the castle. Audrey walked into the parlor and told them that it was time for dinner.
“So you’re helping serve dinner, Audrey?” asked Valwyn with a silly grin.
“Yes, that’s what polite guests do. Impolite guests goof off and make sarcastic comments.”
Valwyn pretended to be angry, but Draymund was smirking. “That’s enough, you two,” he said. “Let’s go eat.”
Petra barely said a word during dinner and everyone was careful to make no mention of Gabriel. Branwyn spoke about Petra and Valwyn’s educational progress, praising them both. Valwyn was clearly pleased by that, but Petra just sat with a sullen expression. As soon as dinner was over, Petra stood and declared, “I’m tired. I’m going to my room.” Branwyn sighed deeply once Petra had departed.
“What happened?” asked Almera.
Branwyn hesitated, glancing at her daughter. “Petra decided to force the issue. She lured Gabriel to a less-used area of the castle and then took off her clothes.”
“Ooh!” said Valwyn, rubbing her hands together and grinning. “What happened?”
Branwyn smiled. “Apparently it took her too long to remove that dress. Gabriel came to his senses and fled. When Ermizad heard about it, she had Petra brought to her and lectured her. That’s why we were so late.”
Audrey exchanged glances with Saxloc. Petra’s tactic was very similar to what she had done to seduce him their first time.
“What are your plans?” asked Almera.
“That’s a good question. Tomorrow was supposed to be the day that Petra was to visit with Gabriel. I suppose we could just leave tomorrow, but I would like to stay two nights as we had originally planned. What do you think, Valwyn?”
“I’m for it,” she said. “I want to eat and shop and visit people. But what do we do about Petra?”
“I’ll put her to work here,” said Almera. “And I’ll make sure that she doesn’t leave. Audrey, why don’t you accompany Valwyn tomorrow?”
Valwyn nodded and Audrey said, “Okay. That sounds like fun.”
“What about you, Branwyn?” asked Almera. “What are you going to do?”
Branwyn looked unhappy. “There are some people that I would like to visit. Then I probably need to go and speak with Ermizad, though I’m not looking forward to it.”
“I don’t blame you,” said Draymund, “but remember that you are doing Ermizad a great favor.” He suddenly looked sly. “I have an idea. How about if Petra helps me tomorrow? It’s time to clean the trophy room.”
Everyone began to laugh. It almost made Audrey want to stay home the next day and watch.
♦ ♦ ♦
At breakfast the following morning, Petra was polite and didn’t say a word about wanting to see Gabriel. Valwyn wondered what her mother had said to her, and why she didn’t say it more often. Audrey wasn’t at breakfast, but that was actually good because Valwyn wanted to see the cottage for herself.
When everyone had finished eating, Almera took charge of Petra, starting by asking her to clear the table and wash the dishes. The woman looked very stern and, to Valwyn’s great surprise, Petra obeyed without comment.
After going back to her room to change, Valwyn went in search of Audrey’s cottage. It turned out to be a cute-looking little log house. She walked up and knocked on the door and Audrey soon answered, looking quite fetching in a white shirt and long red skirt. But Audrey’s smile was disquieting.
“Good morning, Valwyn. Are you ready to go shopping?”
Valwyn had a bad feeling. A very bad feeling. “For what?”
“For clothes. I have a list and instructions from your mother. I enjoy shopping for clothes.”
No! No! No! Valwyn scowled. “Well, I don’t. I hate clothes shopping. I want to buy sweets. Lots of sweets! So many that we’ll need a second ship just to carry them all back home.”
“That’s funny, but your mother warned me about that too. You can buy some sweets. Why don’t we try to finish all of the clothes shopping this morning so that you can have the entire afternoon to eat yourself sick?”
Valwyn rolled her eyes, causing Audrey to laugh. Then Audrey gave her a quick tour of the cottage. It was smaller than Valwyn had expected, but it was clearly big enough for one person. Not to mention being very modern. She couldn’t help but feel envious.
“So, how often does Saxloc spend the night?” Valwyn asked.
Audrey frowned, but she was also blushing slightly. “Never,” she replied. “The bed is too small.”
“So you spend the night in his room?”
“No, I don’t. Okay, Valwyn. Let’s head out.” They departed and began to walk the paths toward the front gate. “Valwyn, does it bother you that your mother will probably outlive you?” asked Audrey suddenly.
Valwyn glanced at Audrey in surprise, noting how serious she looked. “No. Why would it?”
“Because it would mean your mother having outlived her own child. I think that would be terrible.”
Valwyn was incredulous as she exclaimed, “You’re looking at it all wrong! I’ll outlive my father just as you will outlive your parents. But my mother will be there during my entire life. I think that’s pretty great, myself.”
Audrey had a stunned look, but then her face lit up with a huge smile. “And your mother will get to experience your entire life. That’s a much better way to look at it. That’s very wise of you.”
Valwyn shook her head. “It’s just common sense. It’s not the same as parents outliving a child that died before their time. Half-elves live longer than humans; that’s just the way it is.”
“You’re right,” said Audrey. “I feel a lot better now. How about if we go to The Watch for lunch?”
“Perfect!” exclaimed Valwyn. “I want pudding!”
“Me too, but you are going to eat a normal meal before your pudding.”
Valwyn sighed. Her mother had probably warned Audrey about that too. They reached the gates and exited the grounds. Audrey headed west, and Valwyn suspected they were going to Witch’s City Clothing. That was good because the Grand Bakery was practically next door. If Valwyn knew one thing, it was the location of every bakery and sweet shop in the Witch’s City.
After a few minutes of walking, Valwyn decided to ask her own somewhat embarrassing question. “Audrey, at what age did you start to … develop?”
Audrey gave her a puzzled look. “Develop?”
“You know … breasts.”
“Oh.” She looked thoughtful. “Around thirteen, I think. But they didn’t reach their full size until I was about sixteen.”
“Okay.” I’m doomed! I’m already well past fourteen!
“That’s one of those things that’s not very consistent,” Audrey explained. “Some girls develop earlier than others, and some later. And even sisters can end up with very different sizes. You’re not going to necessarily end up like your mother. Maybe you’ll end up like Aliva.”
“No. That’s too big. I’m surprised Aliva doesn’t just fall flat on her face all the time. I’m thinking more like the size you or Petra are.”
“Don’t worry about it, Valwyn. Why are you stopping?”
Valwyn had stopped exactly where she wanted to. She pointed at the sign. “Bakery. I’m going in to buy a honey-glazed sweet roll. Do you want one?”
“No. Didn’t you just eat breakfast?”
“Yes, but I didn�
��t eat much. I needed to save room—”
“For sweets,” concluded Audrey while shaking her head. “Okay. Go ahead. Clothes shopping is next.”
“You got it.”
Audrey wasn’t going to be as tough as her mother. That was very good news. This might turn out to be a fun day after all.
♦ ♦ ♦
While they waited for their food to arrive, Valwyn leaned forward and asked, “So what’s it like being able to kill someone with your bare hands?”
“Really fun,” replied Audrey. She glanced around the restaurant and then lowered her voice. “Sometimes I go out in the middle of the night and beat up bad people. If they’re really evil, then I snap their neck and toss their body into the Witchmarsh.” She glanced around again, pretending to be nervous. “But don’t tell anyone.”
“Really?” whispered Valwyn, her eyes huge.
“Yes. Do you want to go out with me tonight?”
Valwyn hesitated, but then scowled. “You had me going there.”
“What do you mean?” asked Audrey, maintaining a serious expression. “All of Grasapa’s advanced students do it.”
“They do?” asked Valwyn, once again looking credulous.
Audrey started giggling before she could think of what to say next, causing Valwyn to briefly look exasperated before she also began to laugh.
“Can we go visit your friend Cinda?” asked Valwyn after they had both calmed down.
“What? And miss out on some sweets?” responded Audrey with a grin. She knew exactly what was on Valwyn’s mind.
“I will make my mother buy me loads of them on the way to the docks tomorrow,” proclaimed Valwyn proudly, causing Audrey to laugh.
“Cinda has class with Grasapa this afternoon, and she works in the evenings.”
“All afternoon?”
“No. Only until mid-afternoon.”
“Then let’s go see her after that,” suggested Valwyn with an eager look.
“I am not taking a fourteen-year-old girl to a brothel,” Audrey told her. “Your mother would kill me.”
Valwyn grinned, showing her teeth. “Not if she doesn’t find out. Aren’t some of the courtesans only fifteen?”
“Yes,” sighed Audrey. Valwyn had grown up in the Witch’s City. She probably knew all about Desires and courtesans.
“Then why can’t we?” she begged.
Audrey thought about it. She would only show Valwyn where the courtesans lived and prepared for work, not the rooms where they serviced clients. Then they could go for a walk with Cinda or something, assuming she didn’t need to prepare for work.
“Okay, Valwyn. We’ll go over there later.”
Valwyn, predictably, was more interested in the male courtesans than meeting Cinda. And when they returned to the mansion, Audrey promptly told both Branwyn and Almera.
♦ ♦ ♦
After dinner, Valwyn found Petra standing on the arched wooden bridge that spanned the pond, simply staring down into the water. Petra had barely said a word during dinner, despite having helped Almera to cook it. Valwyn walked up onto the bridge and held out the chunk of bread she had brought with her.
“I’m not hungry,” said Petra as she looked over and frowned.
“It’s not for you.” Valwyn pointed at the water. “Tear off small pieces.”
Petra took the bread, tore off a piece, and dropped it over the railing. The fish went after it so vigorously that it almost looked like the water was boiling. Petra smiled and promptly tossed out another piece, again creating a feeding frenzy.
“This is fun,” she said. “What kind of fish are these?”
After trying in vain to remember, Valwyn shrugged. “Ask Almera. Try throwing pieces around more.”
Petra obeyed, and she laughed as the mass of fish swam from place to place. Then she threw several pieces off the other side of the bridge, causing the fish to charge into that half of the pond. Valwyn’s plan to cheer up her friend was working even better than she had hoped.
“Thank you,” said Petra after tossing the last piece. “That’s the first thing I’ve done today that I actually enjoyed. Have you ever helped Draymund clean his trophy room?”
“No. That place gave me nightmares the first time I saw it.”
Petra sighed and leaned on the railing. “Dragons are definitely scary, but you should have seen Ermizad when she was lecturing me yesterday. That woman is frightening.”
Valwyn had always found Ermizad intimidating, so she understood. “What did she tell you about Gabriel?” she asked, now curious.
“To leave him alone.” Petra sighed again. “But I want him. I can’t explain it.”
“Audrey told me what your mistake was,” Valwyn said casually. “You need to wear a loose dress that can just be pulled off. And no underclothes. Then you can strip naked in seconds.” That apparently, was what Audrey had done to seduce Saxloc in Farmerton. Someday, Valwyn hoped to try it herself.
Petra laughed and shook her head. “I’ll remember that.”
“Good.” Valwyn grabbed Petra’s right arm. “Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“To Audrey’s cottage. The two of us, Audrey, and Saxloc are going to play a game called Sparrow.”
“I’ve heard of it,” said Petra, now looking eager. “Some people in the castle play it. I’ve read the rules.”
Despite never having played before, Petra handily beat all three of them. Instead of her friend, Valwyn ended up being the one to go to bed depressed that night.
35
‡ Business ‡
After her quarterstaff lesson, Audrey waited in the entryway for Kora to finish her class and change. She had been very careful to only ask Piran questions that related to what he was teaching her, but to her surprise, she had learned some things about him. He sometimes asked her questions or simply made a comment that revealed something, whether he realized it or not. Audrey was now fairly certain that Piran had grown up in a forest village. Furthermore, he seemed to be familiar with the area she was from. And he had clearly once been an adventurer. She really wanted to ask him about it but didn’t dare.
“Hello, Audrey,” said Kora as soon as she spotted her.
“Hello, Kora. I need to speak with Aliva and I thought I’d go with you.”
Kora nodded. “She should be home.”
It was clear and windy as the two of them departed, but Kora didn’t seem bothered by the way her long hair was being blown around. “How are things living with Aliva?” Audrey asked.
“Strange,” she answered, frowning. “Aliva is strange. The stories she tells are …”
“Unbelievable?” suggested Audrey and Kora nodded. “I know, but they’re true.”
“So her sister was responsible for those murders here? That was horrible. They couldn’t be raised from the dead and everyone was terrified.”
Audrey hadn’t heard that part of it and she was startled. “Larna was her half-sister and Aliva didn’t really know her. In fact, from what I’ve heard, Larna was planning to torture and kill her.”
“And Larna abducted Grasapa’s daughter?”
“Yes.” Being reminded of it made Audrey sad.
“I remember that as well. Grasapa was frantic. She hardly taught any classes.”
“Well, Ariel is doing fine now. And Larna is dead.”
“That’s good. I have to admit that I was frightened of Aliva at first. I even bought some holy water to keep in my bedroom.” The admission clearly embarrassed her.
“But you’re not frightened anymore?”
“No. Last night we … it was wonderful.” Kora was blushing slightly, something Audrey had never seen her do before.
“You seem fine today. No weakness?”
Kora shook her head. “She used magic to heal me afterward. That really helped.”
It wasn’t long before they arrived at Kora’s house. Audrey left both her satchel and staff in the entryway as Kora walked in and called out, “I’m home! Audrey is
here!” Aliva emerged from the hallway just after Kora entered it.
“Audrey!” exclaimed Aliva as she walked up smiling. “It’s good to see you.”
“It’s nice to see you too,” said Audrey as she walked into the sitting area. Aliva sat down on the sofa and Audrey seated herself in a chair opposite her. “Now that our visitors have gone, I wanted to talk to you about our business. The spaces I’ve looked at are really expensive.”
“I was afraid of that. But we either need to get it going or I need to find a job here. I don’t have that much money.”
“I’ve got enough to get us started. And I know who our first customer will be.”
“Who?” asked Aliva, looking very curious.
“Lilina. She’s the head courtesan at Desires. I showed her the dress you made me and she was impressed. She wants one, and if she’s satisfied, then she will probably buy one for each of the female courtesans. She even offered us space there to use for our business.”
Aliva shook her head sadly. “That won’t work. I can’t be spending time in a brothel.”
“Especially since they also have male courtesans,” Audrey added.
“Yes. Those would be much too tempting.”
“I think we should make a business trip to Rohoville to see Dora. We’ll show her my dress and ask her for advice.”
“That sounds great,” said Aliva, now smiling again. “I’ll be able to visit Stanley.”
“Yes.” And she was planning on seeing Erwin.
“How long will the trip be? And when?”
Audrey thought about it. “How about two days from now and staying for two nights? That will give us a full day with Dora. I’ll go send her a letter as soon as I leave here and let you know.”
“That sounds perfect. When it’s set, I’ll write to Stanley.”
The two of them sat and chatted about their plans until they were interrupted by Kora’s return. She had put up her hair, made good use of her makeup skills, and donned a dress whose high neckline concealed the padding she had used to disguise her flat chest.
