Entering the Animalia Company building, I breathed a small sigh of relief as it looked to be completely normal.
I entered through the banking area, and the long lines of people waiting to talk to one of the tellers told both how good business was in Lun and how calm life was here. It was raining, a tad bit too much, so for it to still be so busy even with the weather told how well the city was doing.
As I walked through the banking area, heading for the center of the building towards the houses, I passed a few of the mbers. They were all busy with work, and most didn't notice , but the few who did like Pierre waved in greeting.
Usually a few of them would hurry over to talk to , but I knew to them I had just been here. I'd only been gone a couple weeks, and for our kind that was well… The sa as just not seeing each other for a day or so, in respective.
Pausing before an intersection, one that had a set of stairs and also led deeper into the building… I debated my next move for a mont.
Renn, should, be here. I'd really like to see her. I had a lot to say, and… Climbing a set of stairs, I decided to see if Gerald or Brandy were at their offices first before finding Renn. As much as I wanted to see her… I had sothing important I needed to do.
I had a small letter in my bag, one I'd written myself. To remind so that I'd not forget. It concerned the young girl, Mistle, and her family. The letter had their nas, where they lived, and so of the information pertaining as to the why I wanted to send them so money. I planned to hand it off to either Gerald or Brandy, whoever I saw first.
The poor girl had lost all of her imdiate family. Because of unnatural causes. From a monarch, made by an inept god. She had extended family, particularly an aunt who had far more children than she could properly take care of, so I worried for the girl. I felt partly responsible for the tragedy that had fallen upon her small shoulders. If I'd done a better job… if I was doing a better job, such things wouldn't be happening anymore.
It was one thing for soone to suffer from a disease, war or famine… but to suffer by the hands of a creature beyond normalcy? Her and her family could have made decisions that altered normal events. Made choices that affected the world, even. They could decide to support, or flee, a war. They could plan, or not plan, for a bad winter and for their crops to fail or their farm animals to suffer disease and die. They could even decide if they perished to simple mistakes, or accidents… such as falling off a cliff, or being bitten by a venomous snake. So all such things were natural, and things they could control… even if only by luck and chance. But to die by the hands of the divine…? A god's creation, likely made on a whim…? There was no control over that. No freedom. Not even luck was able to factor into play there.
And such a thing infuriated beyond comprehension.
Rounding a corner, I was glad to find Gerald's office open, but not very happy to find him alone. He wasn't even paying attention as I walked in, so I knocked lightly on the door fra as I did.
Gerald sat up, frowned at and then smiled. "Vim! Welco back," he greeted .
I nodded, relaxing a little at the way he was smiling. If he was smiling all happy like that, nothing bad must have happened while I was away.
"Got a minute?" I asked as I went to shut the door. I noted I didn't sll Renn in the room, though I did sll others. Brandy. rit's noticeable and distinct sll was also in the air, which told she'd been in here recently too.
"Of course," he stated as he promptly dropped his pen. He didn't put it away though, and simply left it on the desk before him. I knew that ant he was busy, so I decided to keep this short. I stepped into the room, debated taking a seat and chose against it.
"I'd like to ask you a favor, if you'd be so kind," I said.
Gerald frowned at . "I've never been told I was kind before, but I can give it a shot."
I smirked at him. "I'd like you to do two things for . First, I'd like to send a little money to this family," I said as I dug out the letter. I handed it off to him, and he was about to open it as to read it but hesitated. He glanced at and I nodded that it was okay for him to do so. "Particularly the young girl, Mistle. I'd prefer it if you made sure she got a comfortable position, or job, once of age as well," I added. Actually she might even be old enough already. Today's era had kids entering the work force rather early, but I wanted her to spend so ti with her family for a bit. She just experienced sothing traumatic.
"We always need more help," Gerald said lightly as he went to opening the letter, though did so very slowly and lazily. He was more focused on than the letter.
I nodded. "I'd appreciate it. She's just a human, but…" I wasn't sure what to say, so instead just shrugged.
The bird seed to understand. "I recently helped a destitute family myself, Vim. You'd be proud of ," he said.
"Oh?" I tilted my head at that.
He nodded. "Was near the port a few months ago. Not sure how it really happened… but I ended up watching a man get mugged. At least, the end of it. I watched as the sailors ran off, leaving him in the alley to bleed," Gerald said.
Ah… "One of the holess or…?" I asked, wondering if it had simply been a matter of soone owing soone money or sothing.
"Yes. Before I knew it so kids had crawled out from wherever they had been hiding, trying to help the man to sit up. Turns out he's one of the victims of the disaster. The building he had lived in got destroyed during the chaos, and the children are the offspring of all those who died in it. They had all been elsewhere when it happened, on so kind of venture to the market. Basically he's the only adult left who even knows their nas, and is trying to take care of them," Gerald said.
Oh boy. "I had thought you all set up relief for such people?" I asked. Hadn't Brandy overseen all of that? There was supposed to have been a massive effort to re-house everyone and even give financial aid too.
"We had. But thanks to how humans are, many slipped through the cracks. The children had no one to claim them, and they didn't know what to do with them… No parents, no ownership, no way to claim housing or financial aid. And so they were getting fed at least, until the aid programs stopped that is," Gerald said.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
"They're lucky they didn't just get taken by slavers," I said.
"The man's efforts. Anyway… long story short I took them in. Well, turns out the man has fallen to the abuse of drugs. I think, because he knows the children are now safe and will be fine, he fell into depression or sothing. So now I have nine children of varying ages and education that I'm not really sure what to do with…" Gerald said with a sigh.
I smirked at him. "And no orphanage here to properly care for them," I said. Brandy had always wanted to make one here, but Gerald and others didn't want to allow it.
The bird frowned at , knowing I had just blad him for his own stress. "There are a few such institutions here in Lun… but well…"
"Human ran. Likely full of abuse and neglect, yes," I said. Especially here in the land of coin.
He sighed and nodded. "Exactly… And the worst part is I'm getting small comnts from other mbers about it," he said.
"How so?"
"They worry we have too many human mbers. Not workers, but mbers," he said.
Ah… I nodded. "Because of Renn," I said, understanding.
He gave a gentle smile as he nodded again.
Basically those Renn invited, the ones that rit had taken to watching over, were seen as genuine mbers. Not just workers. And as such, the non-human mbers were now considered a minority. Especially if they all thought these kids would be considered mbers too, since brought in by Gerald. A quaint problem to have, in a sense. It wasn't as if it actually mattered… human mbers were mbers, but not given full right to voting or making important decisions. Though it did possibly increase the odds of sothing bad happening, such as being betrayed.
"I hope you didn't let Renn know about them," I said.
He blinked and shook his head. "Don't think so…? Your wife has been busy. If she's not with Light she's off doing whatever with rit or those humans," he said.
Although upset at hearing her being with Light was considered not just a normal thing, but an expected thing, I was glad to also hear she had been spending ti with rit and the humans. Better they than Light, any day.
Still… "Well… I'll let Brandy know too, about the kid. It's not pressing, if you'd rather just give her so money that's fine," I said. I wasn't going to force the issue, if they were already having issues. Even if I would have much rather preferred the alternative. Money didn't last forever, after all. A good job, in a good setting such as here at the guild, was far more valuable. Money on its own usually caused more problems than it solved, honestly. Here she'd safe, earn money with her own labor and thus feel more confident about it, and to top it off it'd ensure she'd live a full life.
Gerald slowly nodded. "Sure…? You must have gotten side-tracked then, if you're doing this for so humans. May I ask what happened?"
"They were attacked by a monarch. And thus the rest of my request… I'd like you to keep an ear out for rumors. Gossip," I said.
He slowly lowered the letter, which he had opened but hadn't read yet, and studied . "Gossip of…?" he asked wearily.
"Monsters. Monarchs. Miracles."
The bird closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I see."
I nodded, and knew I didn't need to specify. Gerald was old enough to know the aning of my words.
There were monarchs on the loose. I wanted to hunt them, so he needed to help find them. And the best way to do that, other than just… running around everywhere, was for him and those he oversaw to start taking note of rumors. Of things the sailors or traveling rchants heard in bars and inns. In the beds of prostitutes and amongst the whispers in a church before a sermon.
I'd be asking the sa of Brandy, and even Light, once I saw them.
"Um… can I ask what happened, Vim?" Gerald asked carefully.
"I ran into a monarch. One in the middle of feasting on a human family."
He flinched. "That's not good. She survived then? This girl?"
I nodded. "Not good at all. And particularly odd… why do you look like you just ate sothing sour?" I asked. The man had half-closed eyes, as if being beset by a sudden headache.
"Because I just realized I likely have to be the one to tell you… um… well…" Gerald glanced up, looked away, and then looked back at .
My mind dulled a bit as I realized he was struggling to tell sothing. Hesitant. Which could only an one thing.
"What happened…?" I asked, fearing the worst.
"Well… Light left. To go north for a bit. To the Bell Church and stuff," he said quickly.
Oh…? I relaxed a little. Thank goodness.
Before I could really enjoy the relief though, Gerald continued. "She took Renn with her. She had foreseen them encountering a monarch on the way and…"
I slapped my hand over my face with such force it silenced him. The sound rung my ears, which ant it was ringing his too, as I groaned and squeezed my own face.
By my parents I am going to bury Light alive!
After a few monts of not breathing… I lowered my hand and found Gerald opening and closing his mouth. He was trying to pop his ears, likely because I'd just made them ring.
"Sorry Gerald," I apologized.
He shook his head, blinking quickly. "I'm fine. I think. I uh… I'm sorry, Vim. I should have told you right away, figured you knew."
Obviously not. Great. "When'd they leave?"
"Yesterday. Not long after sunrise."
Knowing Light they had taken a lot of her people, and supplies and whatnot. Light never traveled lightly. So they were likely escorting wagons and carts, and as such were not even half way there yet. I'd be able to catch up to them promptly… as long as I left now.
"Do you happen to know the finer details?" I asked.
"Brandy was told more about it. I'll be utterly honest Vim… I've been avoiding Light and her people. She moved in not too long ago, so…"
Right… I couldn't bla him for that. I would do the sa in his shoes.
But still… "Where's Brandy?" I asked.
"Probably resting. I'd check her room, or her office," he said.
"I'll do just that then. Thank you Gerald, I'll probably leave right away then. They might need my help," I said as I headed for the door.
"Figured. Safe travels, Vim."
Leaving his office, I tried not to rush too quickly as I hurried to find Brandy. I'd speak with her, then leave imdiately.
I knew, likely, that Renn wasn't alone. She had Lilly, or at least should have her. Though Lilly would be forced to keep a distance… and that might put undue risk to them all…
"Though odds are Light knows I'll catch up to them in ti," I whispered.
Light would do that. She'd take Renn with her, to ensure I'd hurry to their aid. Celine would have done similar. That was how they tried to manipulate … by making act without telling outright of what they wanted to do. By moving the people around , since they couldn't move myself.
As I hurried to find Brandy… I tried my best to ignore the growing seed of doubt I was trying to keep hidden away.
But at this point it wasn't even a seed anymore. It wasn't even a bunch of weeds and trees.
It was the whole bloody forest.
Another monarch…? So soon…?
"Gods…" I groaned in disgust.
Reviews
All reviews (0)