Cinnamon Bun Chapter Fifty-Seven - Pomf

Chapter Fifty-Seven - Pomf

Green Holds gate was guarded by a single older grenoil with wrinkly skin and a quarterstaff by his side. When he saw us coming from within his tower he turned on a magical light and brought it around so that it illuminated the pair of us.

Amaryllis had to shout up to him that we were with the Exploration Guild and that we were returning from a mission before he opened the gates a crack and let us in.

I wouldnt normally let folks in at zese sorts a hours, but it aint right to keep two young ladies out when its dark out, the guard grenoil said.

Thank you, sir, I said.

I was a little disappointed that I didnt get to see Green Hold during the day when it was no doubt bustling with activity, but I still got to admire the pretty stone and mud hos. So of the buildings were a little strange, big rounded things that reminded of the Roman colosseum but way, way smaller, with the words Tadpole House on a few signs above the doors. Others were simple enough, shops and hos and, of course, a large inn.

We made our way to the last of these, the tallest building in town - apart from so of the guard towers - all stone and wood with a blue-shingled roof. The sound of gentle chatter drifted out of the building, mingling with an instrunt that sounded a bit like a bagpipe but higher in pitch.

Lets find that bastard, Amaryllis said as she kicked the door open and stomped into the inn.

I was caught flat-footed for a mont. I knew Amaryllis was a little miffed, but I didnt expect her to suddenly turn as angry as she did.

The crowd in the inn hushed up, dozens of froggy faces turning towards the entrance where Amaryllis stood, hands on hips and face set in a furious scowl. She scanned the room and I could pinpoint the exact mont she spotted Gabriel because her arm shot up and she pointed to the man.

Gabriel was sitting by the bar, a few empty cups before him and his big flabby cheeks tinted a nice rosey colour. The patrons around him edged away from him as Amaryllis spoke up. You! You toad-skinned, no good bastard!

I walked in behind her and waved at all the nice grenoil sitting around and watching the show.

Co here you slimy jerk! Amaryllis said as she stomped across the entire floor, grabbed Gabriel by the scruff of his jacket and dragged him off to the back of the inn. There were little booths to the side, but she walked right past those and straight up the stairs, presumably to reach the rooms upstairs. Gabriel started to fuss and fight a bit, but his swings were all wild and not very strong, and Amaryllis had a lot of pent up rage fueling her.

Ah, I said the mont they disappeared at the top of the stairs. Every eye turned to . Im sorry about my friend, I said. We had a bit of a day, you know? So, um, I heard so nice music from outside, who was playing that? I smiled at them all.

No one answered, but they did return to their als and beers and I heard more than one person speculating on what Gabriel had done to earn a young girls wrath.

In the corner, a large grenoil man started to blow into a strange sort of bagpipe while another pulled up an accordion and a third started plucking the strings of what sounded like a stand-up bass but looked like a very large fiddle.

I wanted to stare so more, but I heard a bang from upstairs and decided not to dilly dally too much.

Oi! the grenoil behind the counter said. If she breaks anything youre paying for it!

Yes sir! I said before taking the steps two at a ti.

The top of the stairs opened into a cozy lounging area, though it was empty save for one grenoil that looked to be knocked out on a couch. One of the bedroom doors was wide open and I could see Amaryllis shaking Gabriel within.

Tell ! Tell who paid you off you sligoblin, you lily-livered amphibastard bug-eating... mudlicker!

I blinked as I tried to parse what she was saying. I was quite certain that at least half of those had been hideously speciest. Um, I said as I walked into the room and placed a hand on Amaryllis shoulder. Its okay? Maybe dont kill him? Please?

Amaryllis puffed up. Literally. Her feathers poofed upwards and even her hair stood on end a little. She suddenly looked twice as big as she had, but it was all fluff. He betrayed ! she squawked.

I slapped a hand over my mouth, but it was too late, a giggle had already escaped.

She turned her glare onto . What are you laughing about? she asked.

I couldnt keep it in. Maybe because I was tired, or because of the long day, but when she turned towards all I could think of was the little pomf sound her feathers made.

I bent over double, hands clutching at the sides of my tummy.

Amaryllis puffed up even more. Why are you laughing? she demanded.

Gabriel started to croak too. Ya look like a rooster, he said.

I do not! Amaryllis said.

But she did.

Gabriel and I looked at each other and we both started laughing together. It took Amaryllis stomping her foot and calling us both all sorts of foul things for an entire minute for the two of us to calm down.

Now, Gabriel began as he wiped an eye clear of tears. Whats zis about a betrayal? I havent drunk enough to deal wiz your snitty attitude.

Soone tried to kidnap Amaryllis, I said.

Oh. Well zey didnt succeed, Gabriel said.

Not just soone, Amaryllis said. Cervid rcenaries. They were after specifically.

That sobbered the grenoil up a bit. Zats bad news. Cervids on zis side of the border ans zat zeyve found a way to cross over wizout being spotted. Not zat ze patrols have been all that sharp lately. You sure?

Of course Im sure, Amaryllis said. If it wasnt for Broccoli Id be halfway to Manare by now, or wherever they wanted to ransom from.

Our ship back to Port Royal is passing early tomorrow, Gabriel said as he moved over to the rooms bed and sat down. Its ant to wait for all of us to board before heading out. We can get on it first zing in ze morning and move back to Port Royal. Ill leave a missive wiz ze mayor of Green Hold. Cervids... zats bad news.

They were here for Amaryllis, I said. I didnt know the whole context with the cervids and the grenoil yet, but I could guess. Fort Frogger had been built to watch for an invasion a long ti ago, so obviously there was so bad blood there. Soone had to know where we would be.

Broccolis right, Amaryllis said.

Well, I just got my mission paraters from Rainnewt. Didnt much care for zem since babysitting missions like zis one arent my sort of zing, Gabriel said.

Tch. Co on Broccoli, well get a room and set up a watch for the night, Amaryllis said as she walked out.

I looked after her departing back then over to Gabriel. Sorry about that, shes a bit stressed, I said. By the way, drinking while on the job is very rude.

Bah, piss off kid, Gabriel said. He let himself fall backwards onto the bed and I just hoped that it was his as I walked out and shut the door behind .

I followed Amaryllis back downstairs. It felt that, ever since we had arrived in Green Hold, Amaryllis had taken the reins and was tugging along. It was okay for now, but I had kind of gotten used to the idea that I was the mistress of my own fate. I would need to think about it so more and maybe set so boundaries with Amaryllis before she decided to drag into sothing I didnt want to be part of. Peer pressure was not okay, after all.

I found Amaryllis talking to the innkeeper. She placed a handful of silver on the counter and received a pair of keys. She tossed one over to . We have a room on the third floor, she said.

Together? I asked.

I would usually prefer my own room, but seeing what happened today, I think bunking together would be for the best, she said.

Right, if sothing happens well be two fighting it off, I said.

She nodded. Im heading up now, are you coming?

Im going to grab sothing to eat first, I said.

She shrugged her shoulders, and I noticed that at so point her feathers had unpoofed themselves and were back to laying flat across her arms. Suit yourself. Knock twice and call out your na before entering. Im going to set a spell on the door.

Zat spell of her's had better not damage my door, the innkeeper said.

I smiled and pulled up a chair. I know its a bit late, but are you still serving supper? I asked.

Aye, we are, the innkeep said. Whatll you have?

Sothing filling, I said. Um, but no bugs.

Bah, humans, the innkeep said before he waddled off to the back. I fetched a handful of coppers out of my backpack while he was gone and had them waiting in a neat stack by the ti he returned and placed a tray before .

It was simple fare. So chicken, so potatoes and gravy and a few other veggies to the side. Still, it slled good and the glass of milk he set next to it was chilled to the touch. Did they have magic to keep food fresh? It would make sense.

So, youre wiz ze exploration guild like zat scoundred Gabriel?

Yup, but Im not a scoundrel, I said as I dug in.

The innkeep laughed. You dont look ze sort, no. Im Jules, ze owner of zis fine hole in ze wall.

Ah, Im Broccoli, Broccoli Bunch. Sorry for not introducing myself earlier. I was hungry and a bit nervous. Whats the na of your inn?

Zis is the Croak and Stagger, Jules said with obvious pride. My grandpa was a rogue with ze army for so ti. Build zis inn, married my grandmozer and my family lived here ever since.

Thats a sweet story, I said. I took a sip of the milk. It was a little strange tasting, but maybe it was just not pasteurized, so I fired a bit of cleaning magic into it just in case. Hey, Jules, could you tell anything about the cervid?

Ze cervid? Zose no good horse-wannabes? Bah. Cant tell you too much. Zeir entire nation is bent on taking up as much space as zey can. Weird folk. Not a good one in ze lot of zem.

I didnt believe that, but I wasnt about to say so aloud. Is it true they ca here once?

Zey certainly tried. But we gave zem a good thrashing and zey never tried again, ze cowards couldnt handle a bit of a tussle in ze mud.

Hrm, so if there were cervid around now it would be unusual, wouldnt it? I wondered.

Jules looked at long and hard. Yes, yes it would be.

I finished the last of my milk and set the cup aside, then brushed the back of my hand across my mouth to get rid of my milk mustache. Thanks Jules, the al was super good. See you in the morning!

Aye, Ill make sure your breakfast is just as good, the innkeep said as I stood off the stool and made my way upstairs. I had a lot to think on, and so sleep to catch up on. I hoped that half a nights rest would be enough.

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