The Good Goblin 109: Wedding Preparations

For the rest of the trip back the following day, Lady Smythe was under a blanket on the back of one of the carts. It would seem that she overdid the alcohol a tad. She did attempt to drink a redy… but these things only work if you don’t imdiately throw them back up… so here we are.

She was kind of okay by the ti we got back to Kataravonia. Still clearly had a headache, but at least she was upright. As we entered the town, we bumped into Chloe. She ntioned that she had just seen Kiyui over by Mada Laurent’s. As I was about to leave to go and et up with him, Lady Smythe beckoned over.

Smutisha: “Darling, take Thomas and Keith to the tailor to get suited up for . Can’t have them looking so rough around the edges for the big event.”

Dwynfel: “I don’t have the money on hand for that.”

Smutisha: “Don’t worry, darling. I had everything ready and on standby before we left. Wanted to make sure everything was ready to go as soon as possible. Wedding is tomorrow at ten by the way. Bring those lovely kids of yours, and Dacus of course. We very much owe him for that little stunt back at the fort. Best get him a suit too.”

She’s going to have everything ready to go by ten tomorrow? Why on earth was she so confident in this mission. What would she have done if it all went south? All the people who prepared this stuff would surely be out of pocket? Then again… knowing her she’d just think of so other reason to throw a party and just use the resources for that.

Dwynfel: “That is very nice of you, my lady.”

Smutisha: “Don’t be silly, darling. This wedding wouldn’t be happening without you. Oh! Your boys can lead down the aisle throwing flowers, they’ll look adorable.”

Dwynfel: “I’m sure Tadwick will love that… but I don’t think it would be wise for Alexi to co.”

She gestured for to co closer with her finger and she began speaking quieter.

Smutisha: “Darling, if you are worried about the Anubis Empire finding him, then don’t panic. Their ambassador left Kataravonia recently, apparently his brother died, Peter or sothing. I t him once, shrewd businessman, but you wouldn’t let him babysit, if you catch my drift. Don’t think he'll be missed by many. Much like the ambassador himself. Not a pleasant family.”

Dwynfel: “Lady Smythe… Alexi isn’t…”

Smutisha: “Shh, shh, shh…”

She placed her finger on my lips.

Smutisha: “Shh. Don’t insult by denying it, darling. There is only one place that boy could have co from, and he is infinitely better off for not being there now. Nobody likes those rat bastards, but even with our alliance with the Equines they are still be a force to be reckoned with.”

I went to speak but she shushed again.

Smutisha: “Anybody asks… and I an anybody, darling. He escaped whatever massacre happened to Peter…”

Dwynfel: “Petri.”

Smutisha: “Yes, that’s him. He ran after whatever happened there. You found him roaming the countryside. You have looked after him ever since. Rehearse the story with the boy, darling. If they discover his existence then we can skate around any accusations as long as you stick to that.”

This reminds of the lie that my parents rehearsed with when I was a child. Back when my life was much less complicated.

Dwynfel: “What if they try to take him back?”

Smutisha: “Then we say he requested asylum… in those exact words, darling. If he requests asylum and we have evidence that he has previously been hard, then the laws of this land an that we are obligated to protect him. And when I was at your farm, I saw the boy’s arms. Those arms alone would count as evidence. I dread to think about the state of the rest of him.”

Dwynfel: “When did you have ti to think about all of this?”

Smutisha: “Darling, this is my area. I spend my life dealing with this kind of thing. Don’t take for so vapid socialite like Gentle. The second I saw the boy I knew exactly what must have happened, especially given Kiyui’s little liaison with Gustav’s butler on the balcony. So, bring the boy to the wedding, hiding him may postpone us having to deal with this, but hiding him also makes you seem guilty. Have him out in the open and in plain sight, then you can claim ignorance much easier.”

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Okay… I do have to admit. I am actually pretty impressed with her. Is the whole flouncing deranged toff persona just that, a persona? She saw Alexi at the farm for less than five minutes and she put everything together in her head and also worked out how to protect him further down the line. All whilst plotting to form alliances. As well as plotting to shag a goblin… in fact, I’m pretty sure that was her main reason for this alliance.

I an… as far as coming up with reasons to justify her personal lust for sothing that others would consider abnormal, I’d say she has done an amazing job. Everybody will just think she is taking one for the team in order to maintain the alliance. Only people who have seen the other side of her will realise how into goblins she is.

I suppose even the most well-intentioned people have their strange sides.

Dwynfel: “Okay… I shall do… and thank you, Lady Smythe… for everything.”

Smutisha: “No, no, darling. Thank you. Now, on your way with you. I need to get the invitations off to everyone and you need to make sure that my lovely groom is looking dapper for the morrow. Ta-ta.”

Mada Laurent’s was near the Tailor’s, so I decided to pop along there to et up with Kiyui. As we arrived, Kiyui was just leaving, so we sauntered on down to the tailor’s to get everyone asured. Thomas and Keith were asured quite quickly and their outfits required little alteration… similar to mine when I had needed one. Dacus however, he was taking a while. Keith had asked if there was a library nearby that they could go to while they wait, so Kiyui took Keith and Thomas to the town library while I stayed with Dacus.

Thomas has been very quiet. I say that… with the exception of when he burst into that conversation about vaginas with last night, he has been about as quiet as he normally is. He seems fractionally less nervous. But he still isn’t really opening up or talking to people. Maybe he only feels comfortable talking and being himself around goblins at the mont. Who knows. He certainly didn’t seem to be holding anything back when I spoke to him last night. Incidentally…

Dwynfel: “Dacus?”

Dacus was stood with his arms out in the middle of the room. Fortunately, this place has a high ceiling. The main tailor was trying to asure his chest, while he had one assistant trying and struggling to asure his arms, whilst a third was at the back of the room desperately trying to make a suit big enough for them to at least try on him. Dacus was decidedly unimpressed.

Dacus: “What?”

Dwynfel: “Have you ever seen a butterfly pea flower?”

Dacus: “Ah, Clitoria Turnatea. Need a good eye to spot those. A lot of people seem to miss them. But if you know what you are looking for then they are simple to find.”

I know he is a botanist, but he really doesn’t need to always use the proper scientific na for things. It just results in never being sure what he’s talking about.

Dwynfel: “And… have you found many?”

Dacus: “Oh I’ve seen a good few in my ti. If you know what to do with them you can work wonders.”

Dwynfel: “What do you an?”

Dacus: “I an that you can use them to make tea.”

Dwynfel: “Oh… what does that taste like?”

Dacus: “Like a rather fine green tea, only a bit more earthy. The bonobos used to drink it a lot. Said it was good for their hair and skin. Why the sudden interest in flowers?”

Dwynfel: “No reason… I just heard they were pretty.”

Tailor: “Excuse , sir. I need to asure the base of your tail.”

The tailor moved round the back of Dacus and began wrapping the asuring tape around Dacus’ tail.

Dacus: “Is this really necessary?”

Tailor: “I’m afraid so, sir. If I don’t have your tail asured properly then the gap in your trousers may rip, or worse yet, if it is too loose then people may see more than they bargained for.”

Dacus: “I care not if they see more than they bargained for. This is a wedding is it not? I fail to see why clothes are required at all. Unless this wedding is occurring sowhere particularly cold.”

Dwynfel: “Humans like clothes, Dacus. They are very much a status symbol. Plus, nudity makes a lot of them uncomfortable.”

Dacus: “Why? They are just bodies.”

Dwynfel: “Look, so parts of the body are best kept covered, okay.”

Dacus: “Hmph, ridiculous culture.”

Dwynfel: “Just be glad you got an invite. This ans you’ve earned the favour of so well-off people. Who knows where this could lead.”

Dacus: “As it stands, it leads to a pretentious house full of people that I do not care for. The food better be good.”