Chương 26: Taking the Blame

All of us threw out our hands as if we could reach out and stop the inevitable… we couldn't. Madam Moolisa used her tongue to grab the vial, picked her head up, and dropped it in. A moment later, she spat out the empty glass vial. Before I knew it, I was at the pen.

"Darwin, what are you doing?" I asked. Darwin looked up at me and smiled… or at least I think he did.

"Master wanted potion. Darwin took potion. Gave to Moo. Moo can come with us.""'Master' didn't want the potion because the potion costs more coin than 'master' has ever seen in his life."

"There you are," I heard a voice scream from behind us.

"Thieves!" Great… On the nearby hilltop, the potion-woman Marnie stood, holding her skirts, and bounded down toward us with a look in her eye that spelled imminent death. The sunlight caught on the half-glasses perched on her nose, flashing once as she descended. Her boots kicked up little puffs of dust with each angry step.

"A duel!" Vaelith said excitedly. She reached and pulled off her axe… but had forgotten that it was just a stick now; the blade having been completely broken during the fight with the dragon. She frowned at the stick in her hand.

"No duel," I said.

"She is technically correct… we are thieves. Any duel is illegitimate. Maybe if we explain ourselves…" As Marnie approached, Vaelith pointed at Darwin.

"The little monster did it. Arrest him."

"Oh, I'll have all of you arrested, that is for certain. And once more… wait a minute—" She paused, staring at Madam Moolisa, who stared back with bright brown eyes.

"Did you really feed my potion to your cow? I thought you were joking."" Ha!" Vaelith replied.

"Shows how much you know. That cow has the golden heart of a lion. She is brave and steadfast and—""I think she's got the point," I said. I cleared my throat.

"Marnie… Let me apologize on behalf of my companion. He did not know that what he was doing was technically stealing."

"Ah," Marnie replied.

"So the little monster is your companion? That makes you responsible. Now then, are you gonna come with me to find the guards, or do I need to give you a whoopin' first?" Lina stepped in.

"Perhaps we can work something out—" Marnie held up three fingers.

"Three gold or I'll find the guards. That's the deal."" Three!" Lina replied incredulously.

"You said two before."

"Aye… that's when we were talkin' about business. This is theft. Three gold is the price now." Lina turned to look at Madam Moolisa, who returned to grazing as if nothing was happening. The cow's tail flicked lazily at flies, and she chewed a mouthful of grass with serenity.

"But it didn't even work. Look! The cow is just as old as she was before. Maybe we should report you to the guards for false advertising and selling snake oil." The woman put her hands on her hips and gasped.

"I will not be accused of being some sort of scam artist. Snake oil? Absurd! My potions work within specified margins. You either did something wrong or… well, I don't know. But the fault lies with you lot, not my product." The two began bickering when, as it happened, a guard caught wind and made himself known. It was Bram, as luck would have it.

"What's going on here?" he asked. Marnie turned.

"These cutthroats and ruffians stole from me. And then, when I confronted them, they had the audacity to accuse me of running a scam. Me! The victim. And this one—" she pointed to Lina.

"—she looks like she was going to attack me." If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Lina, bright red in the face, fists curled into balls, had a certain look of aggression that was hard to miss. Bram fingered the pommel of his sword at his waist.

"Is this true? Did you lot steal from this merchant?" Lina replied first.

"Well… not exactly."

"I did—" I interjected.

"I had my companion steal a draught from the potion maker. These two had nothing to do with it." Bram sighed.

"Is that so? You know, Rook, ever since you received your class, you've caused nothing but unrest in the town—such as dragging that dragon body for all to see. Do you know how many complaints I received… well, no matter. So, as you confess, do you know what happens next?" I sighed.

"Yes, I do." I held my hands out.

"Go ahead." Bram took out a pair of shackles and put them around my wrists. The metal was cold and they were heavier than they looked.

"Sorry for this, Rook. Rules are rules. Now, as for your companion…"

"You have my word that he is rather harmless… and he'll steal nothing else. You only need me." Bram nodded, stepped behind me, and began gently pushing me forward. As we walked away, he glanced back.

"If you want to see your friend, visiting hours are in the early mornin'. You can see him tomorrow. As we have no formal courts, he'll go before the mayor, where you, madam potion maker, will need to make your case. Although, as he's confessed to the crime already, I don't see that as much of an issue. No funny business from anyone until the matter is settled."

"Did you really do it?" Marnie asked.

"Did you really kill a dragon?" I turned back, gave her a nod, and then let myself be led away. Once again, I was the spectacle of the town. My shackles clanged against my leg with each step. Commerce stopped as they stared. A baker paused with flour on his hands. A woman carrying a basket of greens slowed until she stopped completely. Even the usual noise of Bramblewick seemed to shrink around me, replaced by whispers and the scrape of my boots against the dirt road. In their eyes, I saw acceptance.

Before, they were trying to figure out who and what I was. Special Grade had such a stigma, yet many had known me from before. Now… now they had made up their minds. No matter what happened, the sight of me being led through the town in chains would be with them forever. I would never shake it. If I hadn't already decided to move on… that would be the defining moment. Soon, I found myself in the local calaboose. The town was small and only had a single cell, to which I was now the sole occupant.

The building smelled of old straw, damp stone, and stale air. A thin line of sunlight cut through a high window barred with iron. Bram loosened and removed the shackles.

"Get yourself comfortable," he said.

"You'll be there for at least the rest of the day." Turning, I found a single cot that looked thin and very uncomfortable. I laid on it and felt the wood underneath press against my back. I closed my eyes and thought of the road before me. I couldn't wait to be done with Bramblewick and to be out traveling once again.

Seconds turned into minutes and minutes into hours. Sleep would not come. The bed was uncomfortable at best, and I couldn't help but worry that my companions would do something stupid to try to save me. Outside, muffled voices passed now and again, followed by the occasional clop of hooves or creak of wagon wheels. Every sound made me lift my head, half expecting Vaelith to come crashing through a wall and somehow make everything worse. Bored and curious, I brought up the system menu… I had learned a new recipe.

System EarthGrub Pate Description: Made from mashing Scarab Lord Earthgrubs into a fine paste, cooked at medium heat with Bluecap Mushrooms and Peppergrass to taste, spread the pate on a slice of bread made from Glownwheat. Surprisingly excellent source of protein and nourishment. Core Ingredient: Scarab Lord Earthgrubs Ingredients: Peppergrass, Bluecap Mushroom, Glownwheat Effects: Unknown I frowned… my new recipe sounded disgusting. More disgusting than usual. Yet I somehow knew that it would taste amazing.

Still… Scarab Lord grubs. Bugs… I shook, and I could almost feel tiny legs crawling on me. Suddenly, the sound of metal caused me to jump out of bed and land on the cold, hard ground. Staring up, I saw Bram, and the young lad had dark eyes and worry lines on his brow.

"Two in a day… what did I do to deserve this?" he asked to nobody in particular.

"You'll need to share the cell. And sorry, no, I won't be making any accommodations."

"That is quite all right," a woman said, speaking formally, bowing and flourishing a wide-brimmed hat with a stark-white feather.

"A bard sings, drinks, and sleeps anywhere at all and with all sorts of bedfellows. No accommodations are beneath me, I assure you."

"Good for you," Bram said abruptly, slamming shut the cell and walking away. A woman stood before me. She had dark skin, dark eyes, and fiery red, curly hair. She wore bright, vivacious colors that went well with her elegant hat. In one hand, she held a lyre harp that had a dark, earthy tone of color, and in the other, she held her hat again, bowing deep so that her face was now on par with my own. Even in the stale little cell, she looked as if she had brought a stage with her.

Her clothes smelled faintly of road dust, wine, and perfume, and the feather in her hat bobbed with every graceful movement. She was beautiful, and she gave me a wide smile as she said, "My name is Sable Vayle. Bard by class. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."