The Empress of Beasts, page 77
part #13 of The Wandering Inn Series
“She bolted. How’d she take it, Montressa?”
“Very well. She didn’t panic or anything. We’ll need to convince her to leave the inn, actually.”
Montressa sighed as she placed the staff on the table. The floating copper orb hovering around it slowed and hovered in midair. She nodded at Erin.
“I told her about Aaron and the others. And the safety of Wistram, but—she actually owns this inn.”
“Seriously?”
Isceil blinked. Montressa nodded.
“Not only that. She told me that little Gnoll’s her ward and she’s employing the staff here—and that the Goblin’s her guest!”
“Dead gods.”
Beza turned and stared at the Hobgoblin darkly. She saw Erin talking to the [Actor], waving her hands and stabbing with a knife, pantomiming something—he was backing away. Ulinde looked concerned.
“That might be a problem. What’d you say, Montressa?”
“That we’d take the Gnoll and her uh, keeper, the [Barmaid]. Even consider the Hobgoblin if it came to it.”
“You can’t be serious.”
The Minotauress’ head turned around. Montressa grimaced.
“She said they were her family! I’ll need to talk to Wistram. Tomorrow. It might be harder to persuade her than we thought.”
“I’m not travelling with a Goblin. Just toss a [Charm] spell on the [Innkeeper] and let’s go. Or have you forgotten we have…”
Isceil’s eyes narrowed as he nodded at the black cube on Montressa’s belt. She adjusted her robes, concealing it.
“I haven’t. But you know our orders. We need to maintain good relationships, and that means we can’t just charm someone. We’ll try diplomacy. And if it comes to it, Palt will be the one casting spells. He can do it subtly, Isceil.”
Ulinde glanced around the inn. It really was hopping. She saw Erin Solstice talking to the [Actor], and then pausing by the Hobgoblin’s table as the [Barmaid], Lyonette came over. Erin was gesturing at their table.
“Wait, is she telling it about us?”
Beza was instantly alarmed. Montressa waved a hand.
“Don’t worry. She’s probably just reassuring it since you’re here, Beza. She took my warning seriously; she’s desperate to go back home, she said.”
“Well, she’d better leave the Hobgoblin. Did she say if she knew any other guests? That would be a victory for our team.”
Isceil looked at Montressa. The [Mage] shook her head instantly.
“She didn’t know anyone, she said. Pity, but she is fairly well cut off, even with the door. She started this inn, you know. Found it abandoned; fixed it up.”
“I can see that. She’s quite a nice personality. Simple; engaging—perfect for an [Innkeeper]. Not like some of the guests.”
Ulinde smiled. Montressa nodded, relaxed. She waved at Isceil as the Hobgoblin, not even looking at their table, immediately went back to his book.
“Let her be, Isceil. She’s taking it in. And this is a fascinating inn.”
“Did you tell her about the Horns, Montressa?”
A look flashed across Montressa’s face.
“No. And I told her my name was Elenope. We’ll tell her the truth—later. Once she’s decided to come to Wistram. She must not know what…Pisces…was. Or he tricked her. Probably that. He’s always been good at deceiving people.”
Her hand unconsciously went to her staff. Beza patted her on the shoulder.
“Relax, Montressa. I agree with everything you’ve said. Still, an inn, employees—it might be harder to persuade her.”
Montressa shrugged.
“We’ll get Palt’s opinion. Tonight, we eat and make a good impression—stay here, perhaps. We’ll sort out the rest later. If we need to stay here longer than a few days, I’ll send this via Courier.”
She tapped the Silent Box. The other three [Mages] nodded slowly. Montressa’s face had tightened. Beza held out a hand.
“I can watch it—”
“I have it.”
That was that. The [Mages] changed topics as the food arrived. Isceil blinked as a pizza appeared, thin-crust, along with more fries and condiments.
“It’s not even been a minute!”
“Sorry about that. We’re busy. Don’t fill up; Erin’s making a huge pot of that orange stuff in the kitchen! Say, I hear a Centaur’s coming, right? Actually, will this be enough food? Between a Centaur and a Minotaur—”
Drassi apologized, then grinned at Beza. The Minotaur didn’t look insulted.
“I could eat half this round thing and have room. And my companions are pigs.”
“Don’t make me transform you. Dead gods, is this all cheese?”
Isceil looked dismayed. Montressa raised a knife and fork, intrigued. Drassi laughed.
“You eat it by claw! And let me know if you want refills!”
“Hah, you couldn’t transform an ant, Isceil. You’re all magical breath and nothing else. Hot air, mostly!”
“I can breathe two elements at once and each one I choose, Beza. What can you do? Read a scroll?”
“Remind me who lost to the exiled disgrace? You said you could take him in less than a minute.”
“I was winning—that [Shatterbolt] would never be used in a duel in the Academy—”
The [Mages] were talking lively. Montressa was exclaiming over the pizza with Ulinde.
“This would go amazingly at one of the room parties. With some ale? And these fries!”
They were stuffing themselves. Ulinde nodded energetically. Then she ducked. Isceil stopped arguing with Beza and froze.
“That’s a damn bee the size of my face hovering next to your head, Beza!”
“What?”
Reflexively, Beza swatted, then saw Apista and froze. The Ashfire Bee buzzed the table. A voice called out and Lyonette stormed past.
“Apista! Don’t you dare! Sorry about that, everyone. That’s my um, pet. Apista, go over there! Over there!”
She waved and the bee buzzed away, sad as could be. For she was not a bee that was free. Free to eat the delicious fries with their salt! The Wistram [Mages] stared as she alighted on a row of flower boxes. Isceil stared.
“What was that?”
Beza rolled her eyes.
“Ashfire Bee, Isceil. Haven’t you ever taken a lesson on monstrous creatures? At least read a book on Izril’s fauna.”
Coursework didn’t stop when you graduated. You could spend eight years and then continue learning as an apprentice to a senior [Mage] and then join a research group where you were just another peer hitting the books or searching for ways to improve your magic. Of course, not everyone did that. Some, like Montressa, had no teacher, or had halted the bulk of their studies after graduation to pursue other activities.
Isceil just looked incredulous.
“A bee, a Hobgoblin—and I’ve never seen a Gnoll with white fur! What’s next, dancing Fraerlings in the attic?”
“Oh, hush. This inn’s got it all. I want to see these [Actors] that Erin mentioned.”
Montressa was smiling to herself. Erin had gone back to work; she looked preoccupied as she talked to the [Actors]. Drassi hurried past the Wistram [Mage]’s table. Beza caught a fragment of her conversation.
“Hey, Ishkr, have you seen the Horns? If you have, send Ceria and Pisces to Erin—”
The Minotauress stiffened, but Montressa didn’t seem to have heard. Beza relaxed as she saw the Gnoll shake his head. Drassi sighed.
“I’d better find them. No, it’s an order…”
The Minotauress cleared her throat to distract Montressa in case she heard. She nodded towards the table with Numbtongue at it as her friends looked at her.
“A damn Hobgoblin. That’s not just a danger or a pet, you know. I can’t believe it.”
“Steady, Beza. It’s just one. There are four—five of us. We’re a Gold-rank team by ourselves.”
Isceil rolled his eyes. Beza glared at him.
“They’re no joke! Izril just had a Goblin Lord. One. I know what I’m talking about when I say you cannot trust Goblins. You don’t know what they’re really like. In the isles—”
The Drake was opening and closing his mouth and right claw, imitating Beza speaking as he rolled his eyes. She swung at him, and not jokingly. He leaned back, swearing. Beza glared at him, and then at the young woman. Erin waved back, smiling; she’d been staring their way. Ulinde laughed.
“She’s terrible at this! Montressa!”
“Don’t. I like her. We’ll have a talk; she’s not going to make any big mistakes, and if she does? Palt can use a memory spell.”
“When we bring Erin Solstice back with us, I’ll need to speak to her about them.”
Beza grumbled as she folded her arms. The other [Mages] sighed, but they went back to finishing the pizza as an opening and soon Isceil was calling for a refill. They were relaxed, and never noticed Erin’s worried looks at them, or Drassi going into Celum to ask Octavia—and then into Liscor.
——
Erin was worried. Her mind was spinning. People from Wistram were here? They wanted her to come with them? All the way to Wistram? She had no idea what to do! Fortunately, the young [Mage] had let her go, but Erin had to talk to Pisces. Not about more people from Earth existing, maybe, but at least about Wistram! Of all the times for him to be gone! And Ryoka too! She was worried because she didn’t know what to say to the Wistram team.
Even so, it was only partly worry to Erin. Mostly it was longing. Expectation. Fear. Hope—the Horns of Hammerad didn’t show up as the dinner crowd truly arrived, but the inn was busy and they could be out on the town. They’d be back sometime, and Erin would talk to them then, get some feedback about Wistram. But they were there to take her home. Erin felt her heart beating faster, wondering what she should do.
Home?
Home. It called to her, and Erin kept glancing back at the [Mages]. To distract herself, she set about really impressing them and getting that curry ready! She actually had rice, thanks to Lasica and Rufelt! It grew on Baleros, but also, apparently, Oteslia, and the [Chef] had given her a bag.
Erin was boiling it in the kitchen, swearing as she hunted for the spices and all the right stuff that her [Advanced Cooking] told her was essential in a proper curry. She was going to make one plate that was super spicy for the Drake and maybe Minotaur and some regular spice—still very hot—for everyone else. Everyone would love it!
Outside, the [Actors] were getting into their routine. They were doing My Fair Lady followed by Macbeth due to popular demand, but tomorrow they’d be trying horror. They were already booked all morning to have their lead Norman Bates really work up an unhealthy Oedipus-voyeur complex.
Erin couldn’t wait. She smiled as she cooked, trying to think, sticking her head out now and then for a telltale sniff or pointy pair of ears or Antinium with three arms. Yvlon was least distinctive, sadly, even with her lovely hair.
In the common room, the [Mages] were enjoying themselves no end. Barely twenty minutes had passed, but they’d already eaten one pizza and were now drinking before a second course as they snacked on some of Erin’s other treats. Erin had given the staff the intelligence that the Wistram [Mages] were priority guests, and so they were getting fed—and fed well!
“Palt is going to kill us when he realizes what he’s missed. You think he’s done with that Watch Captain yet?”
Isceil burped as he replied to Montressa. The young woman was laughing, in good spirits at last.
“Bah, he’ll be there at least an hour. Watch Captains are jumped up in local cities. Little tyrants. Frankly, it’s easier up north in your Human cities. They’re all corrupt and you can just bribe them.”
“That’s Izril’s cities, Isceil. In Terandria, we get respect. Even help.”
Montressa wagged a finger at Isceil. The Drake rolled his eyes.
“Spare me. I’m not a Revivalist and I’m not a teat-sucking Human.”
“At least you’re not a Libertarian. Imagine one of them on our team?”
“They’d never come. We’re going to Izril, not Terandria, and no one but Montressa’s Human. And she’s better than most of her species.”
“Thank you, Isceil.”
Montressa replied drily. She was drinking when she spotted a tiny white-furred shape prowling around the tables to their left. Mrsha was surprisingly hard to spot thanks to her Skills, but the white-furred Gnoll wasn’t exactly camouflaged.
“Oh! Who’s this?”
Entranced, and not a little bit drunk, Ulinde leaned over her chair and waved at Mrsha. The Gnoll happily trotted over, giving them her ‘I am starving and you had better feed me’ look. She was immediately handed a bit of hamburger and chowed it down. Montressa and Ulinde bent over her, enraptured.
“I forgot how cute kids were! Least of all Gnoll kids! There’s only that baby Dullahan that Council Mage Redelia had and it’s ugly. And I’ve never seen a Gnoll baby!”
“No wonder, with how they get on at Wistram. Boycotting us because only one in ten thousand can cast magic at all. And she’s not a dog, Ulinde. Stop that!”
Beza scolded Ulinde. The Selphid watched as Mrsha leapt and snatched the hamburger bite from her dangling claws with both paws. The Minotauress hesitated.
“Hello little one. I—”
She was hesitating to touch Mrsha, wary of her huge size compared to the small Gnoll. Mrsha didn’t mind; she leapt and snagged a bit of Beza’s hamburger, winning the Minotauress’ instant respect for her audacity. The Gnoll was insatiably curious—about the copper floating orb and Montressa’s staff—and Ulinde’s two wands.
“Whoops! Don’t take those! You could hurt yourself!”
The Selphid batted away Mrsha. The Gnoll looked disappointed. She was sniffing around them, wagging her tail. Lyonette hurried over.
“I’m so sorry. Is Mrsha bothering you? Mrsha! Are you begging for scraps, young miss? That is no way for a lady to behave—”
“It’s fine, we like it! Can she not talk?”
Laughing, Montressa and the others assured Lyonette. Even Isceil waved a begrudging hand. Mrsha was signing something with her paws and pointing to Lyonette. Embarrassed, the [Princess] bent, watched carefully, and looked up. The [Mages], curious to a fault, watched.
“Mrsha can’t speak. But she can communicate with her paws. She’s asking—I apologize for her again, she’s not getting a full dinner tonight! She’s asking why you have two wands, Miss Ulinde?”
The Selphid’s eyes brightened. Or something in them brightened. She smiled at Mrsha.
“That’s because I’m a [Spellslinger]. See these wands? I can cast two spells at once! Pew, pew, pew! I can show you—”
“Not in the inn, Ulinde.”
Montressa tugged her friend down. She smiled at Mrsha and explained to both.
“Ulinde’s a [Spellslinger]. Isceil’s an [Oldblood Magus]—he uses the power of his bloodline. Beza’s our [Spellscribe]—completely different, she writes down magic on a scroll and uses it from there. Palt’s our [Illusionist]—he’s still busy—and I’m a [Aegiscaster]. That means I’m specialized in barrier spells.”
“Wow.”
Lyonette’s eyes widened. Mrsha was looking up with awe at the group. Isceil’s chest inflated and he smoothed his spines.
“Well, we are Wistram’s [Mages].”
“That’s so many specialized classes. You know, we have two graduates from Wistram here as well. They’re not back yet, but I’ll introduce them, shall I? And Mrsha loves magic. She…”
Lyonette looked at Mrsha and paused. The Wistram [Mages] all glanced at each other fast. Montressa’s face had clouded again. Beza broke into the silence with a smile.
“We’d love to meet them. We don’t know everyone, but when they arrive, send them over, by all means!”
She nodded at the others and mouthed a word as Lyonette smiled. Palt. Definitely Palt. He knew all kinds of spells. Distraction—even memory-altering ones. Montressa nodded back tightly.
Lyonette hadn’t noticed. She was wincing as Erin shouted from the kitchen.
“I need a taste tester! My tongue hurts! Do we have any yogurt?”
“I have to go. Sorry again about Mrsha—do you want anything else? Erin’s still working on the curry—Mrsha, come on!”
“I’m good for the moment. Some more drinks and I’ll be ready to eat.”
Isceil patted his stomach. Montressa nodded. Mrsha was reluctant to go. She dragged at the floor as Lyonette tried to lift her.
“You can leave Mrsha. She’s cute! Hello, little one.”
Montressa waved at Mrsha. The Gnoll smiled and sniffed again.
“And she’s not afraid of Selphids!”
Ulinde was delighted. Lyonette hesitated, but Erin was screaming about a burned tongue so she hurried off after a stern reminder that Mrsha was eating her dinner. The Gnoll let Beza, Montressa, and Ulinde pamper her. Isceil just looked disgusted. He folded his arms.
“Females. I should have gone with Palt.”
“Want me to switch to a male body, Isceil?”
Ulinde laughed at Isceil. Like many Selphids, she changed gender by her body. Isceil looked disgusted.
“That rotting corpse? You need to find another one.”
“I’m running out! Do you know how hard it is to find good bodies anywhere that’s not Baleros?”
“Don’t tell me.”
Mrsha bit at a fry Beza tentatively held out to her. She was circling around Montressa and surreptitiously eying the food. Her nose twitched and she sneezed as Isceil flicked some pepper over the edge of the table. She fled.
“You ass!”
Beza punched Isceil on the shoulder. She watched, heartbroken, as Mrsha scurried over to Lyonette, whining a complaint. The [Princess] bent, frowning.
“What’s that? What? Hm…wait—”
She glanced up at their table. Isceil hunched his shoulders as Ulinde and Montressa glared at him.
“It’s just pepper!”
“You don’t throw that at a child! Much less a Gnoll! If she comes over, apologize!”
“Ancestors damn it, quit being so sensitive! She’s fine, see?”
