THX nthusiastic for the edit, it goes on.
*****
"Well ladies, we are going to keep Jack jumping. Valkyrie doesn't want him here and he wants to see me."
"Yeah, we all know this," Clue says.
"Oasis and Stacy, you need to gather up snacks for the trip. Blank, I need you to get more of this lovely bedding for the wagon so get the used stuff, we'll only be using it once. Cross, we need real weapons, hand held or light crossbows with bolts, blades, and armor for you and Qasis. Liz, I need you to go into the basement and put a box together with five of each kinda bottle down there. Nix, you'll stay here until the king arrives. You'll be our look-out. Given what you and I found on our way back stay in the water. I'll come to you when we arrive."
"What are you going to do?" Blank asked.
"Get some needed sleep," I said walking over to the bed, climbing in. Sleep came before any of them could ask me or offer anything either.
Morning came too quickly. I groaned, and nuzzling at both sides of my neck started immediately. I kissed the nuzzlers and fought my way out of the bed. I swapped places with Stacy in the water closet. Once I emerged, the ladies all wanted a morning kiss. I blamed Clue who happened to be first in line and the loudest about wanting one.
In short order, we are dressed and toting things down to Stacy's wagon. Val brings the gold coins for the platinum and a movers' wand, shrink-enlarge. Handy for the shopping I'll be doing along the way. After hugging Nix, I'm the last one up into the wagon. Looking out the back of the wagon as we leave, I can't help but think I won't recognize the place when we return.
"Where are we going first?" Cross asks from the driver's seat.
"Any bigger town between here and the coast where we can get lumber, furniture, cookware and the like," I answer.
"Meridous' it is," Cross announces.
"We can look up Kelly and Ella," Stacy suggests.
"We can give it a try," I reply.
"You're not bringing them back with us are you?" Clue asks suspiciously.
"Not planning on it."
The ride to Meridous is long and bumpy. Even with all the pillows and padding, we have to stop four times to walk off the numbness from our legs. The road we're on isn't much more than a farmers' trail. Cresting a hill, the city comes into view. The layout of the place looked ill conceived, most of the roads were too narrow, and buildings were set at odd angles to each other.
"Where do you want to start, Nameless?" Cross asks.
"A lumber yard, then to a tavern for some food."
Rolling up to the mill yard was less pleasant than how I envisioned it should be. The workmen's cat calls at Cross and the others had me livid before my feet hit the ground. One of them commenting on the girls owning a 'pretty boy' pushed me over the edge. I called up an army of aerial servants and turned the yard into a dust storm of sticks and bark.
A city guard sounded the alarm, and before I knew it I was surrounded by armed guards and their captain. The winds died down and I put my hands up. The captain steps up to me looking me over with a sneer.
"Mage magic use in the city is prohibited." he says.
"I did not see that on any of the notice boards. I won't be using anymore. Thank you."
"What were you after, mage?"
"I wanted to spend money here. It was just so dirty. I did them a favor cleaning up the place."
"You are some kind of moron," he says. "You're going to have to pay the fine."
"How much?"
"Five gold coins," he says sternly.
"You want that now or at the city office?"
"You think you're funny? You're coming with us."
"Captain, I wouldn't anger that man. That is Nameless, the mage, Destroyer of the wicked despots of the south road," a well dressed man says from the edge of the crowd.
"You're Nameless?" the captain asks. "You were just cleaning? How nice of you."
"Nice talking to you, captain."
"Yeah, sure. Men, move out!" he says as he hurriedly retreated down the street.
"Well met, Master Nameless, Earl Cabot, Kelly and Ella's father."
"Yes, Earl, I remember. How are they doing?"
"They are doing well, given things as they are."
"That sounds less then supportive, Cabot, just an observation, not judgments."
"I would discuss it differently, not out here in the street."
"Over lunch, after I finish our business here then?"
He just nods.
Stepping into the freshly cleaned lumber yard, I take stock of what they have readily available. Floor planking is the most abundant with a similar stock of fencing timber. Blank steps to my side, scribe's pad and quill at the ready. The owner of the yard hesitantly approaches.
"Good day, sir. What can I help you with?" he greets us, eying Blank's figure openly.
"Framing timber. 4X6- 4X8, any chance of beams? 6X10 of 12 feet or more?"
"Construction timber are ordered by the job, we don't keep those cuts on hand."
"Make note of that," I remark to Blank. "Thank you sir, we'll be on our way then. Cabot, looks like we are ready for lunch. What do you recommend?"
"Ilsted's has a fine menu," Cabot answers.
"Lead on, sir," I say, waving my arm before me. Once away from the lumber yard, "Is there another millwright in town to get lumber from?"
"Not really but if you give me a list of what you want, the shipwrights on the other end of town mill their own lumber."
"We will just have to go there after lunch."
Walking beside the Earl, Cross follows a pace behind. The rest ride in the wagon at a slow walk. Passing shops as we make small talk, I point out places for Blank to take note of. Arriving at Ilsted's, I stand with Cabot and Cross as we wait for the others. Stepping inside, the hostess's smile goes from warm to a thin taut line on her lower face.
"How many?"
"Seven, and if possible near windows, I'd much like to keep tab's on the weather outside."
"Sir, we don't serve their kind," pointing at Clue. "Their sticky finger are too well known."
"Clue, are your fingers sticky?" I ask in a raised voice.
"I washed after breakfast, Master. See, clean," she answers holding them up for inspection.
"Regardless, she can't be here."
"Cabot, I am starting to gain a real distaste for this city. Surely there are less opinionated places in which to get food?"
"Yes, I would think so," he answers giving the hostess a squinting look.
As we turn to retrieve the wagon, two men are half in side digging around. I don't bother with a warning. I missile them both in the back. They fall to the ground groaning. Stepping over them, I pull the reins of the horses, and start leading the wagon down the street as a stable hand would.
"Earl, I see how such a ruthless group was able to gain such numbers, and set up shop as it were, so close to this city. I would advise packing your daughters, selling off your holding here, and moving to the capital. As quickly as possible. I have an associate there that could help with finding the basics."
"I have never seen this kind of thing here before. Is this person knowledgeable?"
"I think so, he is a keen judge of things. I think it helps with his current vocation."
"Oh, what work does he do?"
"He, well... Blank, how would describe the daily business handling skills of the king?"
The women all giggle, and Cross holds the Earl upright.
"Yes, Earl Cabot, I have had business with the king. He may even be on his way to this local area."
"The king is coming here? I haaaff..." he stammers before his eyes roll back and faints.
"Now you did it," Cross complains.
"Just toss him in the back," I say thumbing at the wagon. "Anyone smell something good?"
"I thought you'd never ask! This way, and food here is da-nom.." Clue says scooting ahead of us. She turns down an alley.
"Clue!" I yell.
"What?!?" she yells back.
"Forgetting something?" I say, holding up the reins, pointing at the wagon.
"Right. The long way around."
"We seem to be getting a lot of dirty looks," Cross remarks softly over my shoulder.
"It's the ears. I've gotten used to it."
Turning a corner, Clue darts ahead again. She grabs a halfling guy, and yabbers something at him. He grins and nods excitedly. She scoots into a gathering of halflings, and yips something pointing at me the whole time. The group jumps and scatters in every direction.
"Master Nameless, I'm Lester Park and I'll watch your wagon,sir." the guy Clue first grabbed says.
"Sure, don't let anything happen to the Earl we have in there."
"You got it, no problem," he assures as I hand him the reins.
Turning my attention back to Clue, the halflings clear tables, place pillows on them, and carry a large door between them. Two others stand sawhorses under it. A dance of halflings ladies unroll a table cloth, set out baskets of bread sticks and silverware. Clue waves us over, her huge smile mirrored by a large number in the gathering around her.
"Nameless, this is my dad's second wife, Peika, she owns this place," Clue says.
"Oom, this is Master Nameless, Cross, Oasis, Stacy, Blank and.. oh. Right. Everyone this Peika, my Oom," she introduces.
"You taking care of.. Clue for us, Master Nameless?"
"Doing as well as I can. She is very independent in some things, and a lot faster than me."
A surge of laughter splits the crowd.
"Well, sits them tails down, and I'll shuck up some food for the lot of you."
"I told her you were researching how to make me right again in my last letter home."
"Tell her anything else I should know?"
"No, that's it, I think. I did tell her how sweet you were, but that's it. Wait, I might have said something about your bigness, or was that my mom I told?"
The others giggle and take seats. Clue smiles before ducking off after her Oom. I take a seat looking around the dining area and the wagon is still in sight. Lester sitting on one of the horses while petting the other. The tall folk seem to stay to the far side of the street from this place. Clue and three others come to the table wielding bowls.
A bowl is set before each of us with a large rock in it. We all turn looking at Clue in confusion. She hops up on a seat, lifts a small mallet, and whacks the rock in her bowl. It split open to spill chicken chowder into the bowl. She hands the mallet to Cross.
