After The Rabbit (Waldo Rabbit Series)

by Chereta, Nelson

  “They really don’t like goblins do they?” Alice asked.

  “I’m thinking they don’t much like any of us monsters.” Belle said.

  “It is terrible,” Waldo nodded. “They could have been made into slaves, so much good labor wasted.”

  “They were probably all killed in fighting,” Alice said. “The ones they capture get sold. This is where most of the ones in Middleton come from.”

  “You really think you’re going to find another monster here Master? Don’t seem too likely.”

  “Whatever the attitude of the locals I only need to discover one. The map I was given told me where to find you and Alice. No reason to think it won’t be right now as well. Now come along.”

  A few miles beyond the city the marshlands began. Those territories belonged to the goblins. You would find no farms or human settlements within them. Norwich effectively marked the frontier here in Lothas. As such there was only one road into the city and a single gate. A pair of fifteen foot tall iron doors stood open with about a dozen well-armed soldiers standing watch. No moat or abatis surrounding the city, though soldiers patrolled the top of the wall and kept an eye out. Waldo didn’t find the defenses particularly impressive, but he supposed they didn’t need to be to hold out goblins. The creatures were strong and savage, but not very intelligent. They were not capable of siege tactics or of building catapults or other such weapons.

  Inside the gate was a pole with a banner fluttering about in a light breeze. It was of some sort of winged creature with a bird’s head and claws all in gold on a field of crimson. In the middle of the creature’s body was a red heart.

  The instant Alice got a clear look at it her eyes widened. “Oh damn it,” she whispered.

  Belle glanced in her direction, but Waldo missed it completely as the sergeant in charge of the gate was approaching him. He and the other soldiers were all gawking at them, the one in charge at least remembered his manners and bowed.

  “Welcome to Norwich Master.”

  Waldo gave a slight nod in return. “I am the great Waldo Rabbit, this is my wife Alice Rabbit, and my bodyguard Belle of Tarsus.”

  The sergeant offered bows to both of them. Alice didn’t appear to notice, while Belle giggled and gave a wave with one hand.

  “Duke Theos Griffinheart offers you his hospitality. If you like I can have one of my men take you to his keep.”

  “That’s quite all right,” Waldo said. “I prefer to stay at an Inn.”

  The man’s features went slack, obviously surprised by the answer. “Are you certain of that Master Rabbit? It is custom for visiting White Mages to stay at the Duke’s residence.”

  “I have my reasons. We White Mages are a mysterious bunch. That’s because we are plotting to take over the world.”

  Both the sergeant’s eyebrows rose.

  “My husband and I definitely prefer to stay at an Inn,” Alice added while looking intently into the man’s eyes. “I hope that is not a problem?”

  He swayed slightly on his feet. “No, no problem at all. I hope you enjoy your stay.”

  Waldo sent her a momentary glance. “Tell me, are there any monsters in this city?”

  “Monsters? No, they are forbidden. The ones our patrols catch get put in stock pens until they can be sold. The only monsters you’ll find inside the walls are at the end of pikes.”

  “I see.”

  “Well you heard him darling,” Alice grabbed his arm and began dragging him away. “No monsters here, I guess we should leave.”

  “What? Alice we’re not going yet! We just arrived and we are going to investigate this place.” He tried digging in his heels but she kept pulling him along.

  Belle reached out and grabbed Alice by the scruff of her neck, lifting her off the ground with just one hand.

  "Hey!" Alice glared furiously at Belle and tried to kick “her.” Her feet just wound up flailing about in the air.

  “Now come on sweetie, don’t be like that. If master says we’re staying, we’re staying. Anyway, I want to see if there are any cute guys in this place.”

  XXX

  As the strangers entered the city the sergeant couldn’t take his eyes from the beautiful red haired woman. Despite his sudden infatuation he did send one of his men to inform the duke of their new arrivals. As well as one to keep track of them.

  XXX

  Waldo decided that the best place to begin the search would be in the middle of Norwich. As they walked along the streets people stared wide eyed and made sure to keep a safe distance. A few made sketchy bows towards him, most simply gawked and quickly got to the other side of the street. It was about how the mundanes had treated him in Middleton. They still weren’t looking at him with the proper amount of fear, but it was close enough.

  As they went Belle was waving at nearly every man they passed. The reactions tended to range from confusion to glassy eyed disbelief to putting heads down and swiftly walking away.

  Belle gave Alice a nudge with his elbow. “Try not to hate me.”

  “What?” Her eyes had been darting about nervously.

  Belle put both hands behind his back and skipped, making the ground shake a little. “I’m the one all the men will look at.”

  “Somehow I doubt it, but believe me, you’re welcome to the attention. The last thing I want is to be noticed.”

  “Is that so?” Waldo glanced back at her over his shoulder. “Why did you use your Charm then?”

  Alice put her hands together and began slowly wringing them. “No reason, I just didn’t want him to press us on staying with this duke. I really want to get out of this city.”

  “I see.”

  “I am sorry for using my Charm without telling you.”

  “I don’t mind, Alice. In fact I would prefer you to use it more often.”

  “You know I won’t.”

  “Except for today?”

  Her hands moved more intensely. “I just don’t want to draw extra attention.”

  Belle snorted. “Right, who would notice a White Mage and a couple beauties like us?”

  Alice’s eyes began to dart about once more. “Just so long as it’s not the wrong person who sees.”

  XXX

  The middle of the city turned out to be the market district. It was an empty field with tents and stalls crowded together. There were local farmers shouting from the backs of wagons about eggs or vegetables or about freshly slaughtered chickens or pigs. There were women selling pies and bread. There was ale, tobacco, cheese, cloth, tools, and all other sorts of goods. All of them being hawked by people exhorting their grand quality and value. A steady crowd was slowly meandering its way through, filling the empty spaces between the stalls and tents.

  Wherever Waldo went the crowds would part and there would be an empty area around him and his familiars. People would stop to stare and make sure to keep a safe distance. Waldo tried his best to ignore them. Belle reveled in the attention and was nothing but smiles. Alice seemed distinctly uncomfortable.

  “This should do,” Waldo took out his wand and began the words to a spell.

  As he did so people gasped and pushed farther away.

  “Taranos evel monstri desu noratal est aki est avaratos.”

  As soon as the detection spell was completed Waldo was rewarded with… nothing. There was not so much as a glimmer of magical light coming from anywhere. Not even from Alice and Belle due to the protective wards he’d placed on them. He did not lose all hope, as Norwich was a very flat location and he could not hope to get a clear view of all of it at once.

  But Great Monsters gave off a tremendous glow. In Stratford he’d had no trouble at all finding Alice. She was over a mile away and inside a building, but the light coming off of her had been so powerful it had been impossible to miss. The only reason he’d so much trouble finding Gronk was due to the light from a horde of goblins masking that of a single ogre. In a city empty of other monsters Waldo would have expected a clear sign if there really were a
Great Monster here.

  He was not about to give up, but it was a discouraging start.

  “Well?” Alice asked. “Please tell me you’ve found what we came here for.”

  “No, I’m afraid not. There’s no sign of it.”

  “Well that’s a shame darling,” she patted his shoulder. “Still, you did your best, so I guess we can leave now?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. You know how much time and effort I put into finding Gro… Belle. I won’t do any less now.”

  “Wonderful,” she sighed.

  “Why are you so fearful?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve been sensing it through our bond ever since we arrived. I know being in a strange city can be a bit unnerving, but I’ve never felt this much anxiety from you before.”

  “I don’t know what you mean darling, I’m not nervous at all. I am completely fine, as relaxed as can be.”

  “Alice…”

  “I said I’m fine!”

  Waldo was not exactly skilled at reading people, but even to him it was obvious she was lying. Under a normal contract a familiar wouldn’t be able to lie to her master. Having somehow botched the contract though Waldo was stuck trying to deal with her more or less as an ordinary husband might.

  Dark Powers help him.

  “I know what the problem is,” Belle announced. “It’s obvious.”

  Alice turned to him apprehensively. “You do?”

  Belle nodded. “You’re upset because you’re the ugly one now.”

  “Yes,” Alice said in a flat voice. “That’s it exactly.”

  “Come on,” Waldo said. “Let’s search through this city and see if we can find anything.”

  XXX

  As they went through the marketplace people kept moving out of the way. At least most did. A man was hurrying in the other direction and ran straight on into Alice.

  “Eek!” without thinking she instinctively punched him in the chest, knocking him down.

  “Ow!” he was sprawled out in front of her, rubbing where she had hit him.

  She immediately regretted it, he obviously hadn’t done it on purpose. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hit you so hard.” Alice held a hand out.

  He reached up, taking it and spryly getting back to his feet. He looked like a farmer, with a ratty old cloak, brown tunic, and weather beaten breeches. The man had curly auburn locks, mysterious grey eyes, and an attractive face. She noticed that his hand was quite soft.

  As quick as he was on his feet he managed to press his lips to her hand. “That’s quite all right my dear lady. Small price to pay for meeting such a beauty.”

  Alice yanked it back. “I’m glad you’re not hurt.”

  “So am I,” he gave her a mischievous grin. “If you will excuse me I must go, I hope to see you again.”

  He then hurried past and was swallowed up by the crowd.

  “Do you normally throw men down on the ground when you meet them sweetie?” Belle asked.

  “Oh be quiet, I don’t like being touched by a man.”

  “Could have fooled me. I’ve heard you moaning.”

  Alice could feel her face get hot. Didn’t Gronk have any shame at all? “Waldo is the only exception, I don’t mind when he touches me.”

  “I sort of got that from the moaning.”

  “We’re wasting time,” Waldo said in annoyance.

  It only took four or five steps for Alice to notice a weight at her hip was missing. She looked at her waist, the drawstring that kept her purse tied on had been neatly cut.

  “We’ve been robbed!” She understood immediately what must have happened. “That man who bumped into me! Thief!”

  Alice turned around and ran back in the other direction.

  “Out of the way! Thief! Stop thief!”

  The folk stepped aside to clear a path, but not quickly enough. Alice pushed them out of her way. Belle was at her side doing the same, Waldo was following in their wake. There were shouts and confusion as she pushed and manhandled her way through until they were clear of the market. They finally wound up in an empty street. Alice was looking around desperately but could not spot any sign of the man.

  “I don’t see him anywhere.”

  “Me neither,” Belle said.

  She turned desperately to Waldo. “Darling, isn’t there something you can do with your magic?”

  “There is no such thing as a detect thief spell, and I have no connection to him so scrying magic won’t work. If I had any of those spells memorized to begin with.”

  “So he’s gone?” she cried in despair. “He took all our money! We don’t have a single coin now, nothing!”

  “I see. Well then, I don’t suppose we can afford an Inn. It looks like we’ll just have to accept the duke’s hospitality after all.”

  The thought of meeting Theos Griffinheart made her stomach turn to lead. “Uh, we still have our tents and blankets. Why don’t we just stay in a nice quiet alley?”

  Chapter 14

  Duke Theos Griffinheart

  It was surprisingly easy to gain access to the duke’s keep. A few questions to the locals had given them the general directions. When they arrived they were ushered into the reception hall and told the duke would be with them soon. Hanging down from the far wall were three banners like the one that had been at the gate.

  Alice stared up at them.

  She had done everything she could think of to talk Waldo out of coming here. He was adamant about remaining in Norwich until he either found his third monster or was absolutely convinced there wasn’t one. Since they were now coinless, they would have to accept the local ruler’s hospitality. Alice had offered to work to pay for their room and board, as she had back in Middleton. Waldo though wanted to find his monster as quickly as possible, and thought the duke might be of help.

  In the end she hadn’t been able to convince him. As a last resort she’d considered telling him why she wanted nothing to do with this lord. She was ashamed of her past and didn’t want to bring it up. It was bad enough she was not human, she didn’t want to remind him that she’d almost been another’s property. Alice would hope and pray that she would go unnoticed.

  Alice noted that Waldo had wandered over to some of the furnishings and decorations. He was giving special attention to an engraved chest with silver metalwork. She went over to keep a closer eye on him.

  “What are you doing?”

  “The quality isn’t too bad,” Waldo said looking closely at the chest. “Not as good as what my family has, but not bad, all things considered.”

  “Please, please tell me you’re not thinking about doing something stupid.”

  “Don’t be insulting Alice, when have I ever done anything stupid?”

  “Do you actually want a list?”

  He frowned at her and she could sense annoyance through their bond. “I am not going to do anything right this moment. That doesn’t mean I am not going to take inventory for later.”

  “We are guests here,” Alice looked about. There were only two guards at the other end of the hall and well out of earshot. Even so she lowered her voice. “Don’t they have guest rights and laws of hospitality where you come from?”

  “Certainly, very strict ones. If a House sends you an open invitation, and you accept, you are under their protection. If any harm comes to you it is considered a huge insult to the other House and an act of war. No Great House would ever harm a guest who had accepted an open invitation, they would be seen as outcasts by the other Houses. The guest is forbidden to inflict any harm on their host or their host’s family or household. Violating that law isn’t quite as heinous as the other, and is not an act of war, but it would still be seen as a very great disgrace.”

  “That… that actually sounds enlightened.”

  “You seem surprised.”

  “Well, and please don’t take this the wrong way, but your people have a reputation for being immoral.”

  “Oh we a
re, completely and utterly, that doesn’t mean we’re not civilized. In fact we consider ourselves to be the only civilized nation.”

  “That’s very arrogant darling.”