169. Loud and Proud: Tabitha.

“Where’s Wiremu?” Skavt asked.

“He went on ahead into Beitemark. He wanted to level a class he has been neglecting, and if the news has reached them about Otto, they will be searching the caravan for a person with Lava and a snake bond.” I said.

“Didn’t he put a tracker on the one who escaped?”

“Yes, but he went out of range.”

We were pushing to get to Beitemark and should arrive late tomorrow afternoon. This is the city we are expecting opposition to. It was good Wiremu went ahead as we would have eyes on us, whereas he had more freedom to move around. I need to play my role as the Caravan organiser and Elemental Trader. The Elemental Traders were the ones who purchased the Duke of Kirghiz’s luxury lodge out from under him, so I am expecting pushback, even if we are only in Beitemark.

The Comedic Rhythm would also put on a couple of performances. We had been practising, and the new stuff was good. The Comedic Rhythm being under the protection of the Duke of Obalno with the Duke's guards present with the caravan, will give them some protection.

That night I went for a long ride on Dusk. It would be the last for a couple of weeks. We practised our Shadow Riding, which meant riding with Shadows Embrace active to hide us and muffle the sound. We were getting very good. I have sewn some Blacksteel into the saddle, so Nyx can come and go, but Dusk needs something more permanent. Blacksteel horseshoes are probably not doable, but maybe a thin layer under the shoe or maybe a Blacksteel tooth. Dusk could then breathe out Nyx as a cloud of shadows. That could be intimidating.

As we ran, Nyx practised mimicking different forms. He started with Dusk and imitated a horse running. Then the giant cat was sprinting alongside. That took some correcting to get the stride right. Then Težka was bounding alongside, dwarfing us and a shadowy figure riding him. Then she mimicked the lions and wolves individually and as a group. They were all in sync as a group of lions, so it was not as convincing as a single lion or wolf. Poor Tāoke couldn’t keep up with a galloping horse, but Nyx was quite convincing. The griffon needed work. Nyx could make the shape, but convincing movement and flight were not there yet. We would have to study more griffons. It was a fun night.

The gates of Beitemark came in sight mid-afternoon, and I moved to the front of the wagons next to Selma, who would do most of the dealings with the city watch and customs. I had Modrica and Težka move up beside us. We go in loud and proud.

The sight of Težka advancing on the gate had them calling for reinforcements before we even got close enough to talk. The Watch had us pull over to the side in a designated caravan space outside the gate while Selma and her second went in to arrange things. The Watch kept a nervous eye on us as Modrica, and I sat on our mounts.

A farmer came out herding some pigs. I jumped off Dusk and approached her, and purchased a mid-sized one. I dragged it over to us, and it did not want to come. Modrica jumped off Težka, grabbed it, and carried it over, throwing it down in front of Težka. Težka slammed his paw onto it and bit its neck, killing it. He then settled down to eat his snack in front of everybody. Yes, we are making a statement. Loud and proud.

The lions started circling, and Težka was not happy, growling at them. I raced after the farmer and bought a second one for them and the wolves. The guards were getting more nervous. Were they all city kids here? Hadn’t any of them been out in the wilderness? The people going in and out of the gate were giving us a wide berth. Most kept staring as they moved around us. The noise of the lions snarling at each other and the wolves as they fed was noticeable. Težka would occasionally growl when one got too close to his meal. This news would spread. Loud and proud.

A well-dressed man walked toward us with two guards following him. “Please don’t feed the animals here. Move them away from the city,” he said in a reasonable tone.

“We are away from the city. We are well outside the gates.” I replied.

“You are blocking the road,” he continued.

“They are fine, people are walking past and like watching,” Several had stopped to watch.

“They are blocking the road watching this scene.”

“Then why don’t you tell them to move?” I queried.

He was getting frustrated. “I have asked nicely,” he said warningly.

“Indeed you have,” I said, “and I have nicely declined as we are in our rights to eat here.”

I looked at the bonds. They had bloody muzzles and paws. A wolf and lioness were playing tug of war with a leg bone. I turned back to the man and smiled, “They are all bonds, and that is easily verified. Would you like something to eat?”

He huffed, “No, thank you.” He turned and walked grumpily back inside the wall, pausing to talk to a watchman on the way.

Our presence continues its spread up the social ladder.

A city watchwoman came out to collect Modrica. Apparently, the Guard Captain goes through the rules of having a Monster Bond in the city with all those who enter. I joined them. The woman looked at me but didn’t protest. We left Težka where he was, happily crunching pig bones. Skavt rode Oske forward to make sure no one came too close.

The City Watch had a station by the gate, and we were led into a meeting room. Modrica had to duck her head under the door frame. Her muscular frame towered over everybody. The Captain was there along with the well-dressed man that had approached me. A man in a Military uniform stood quietly at the back of the room. The Watchwoman stood by the door as the captain indicated for us to sit.

The captain looked at Modrica and said, “I am Captain Francis. You are the one bonded with the Dire Bear?”

Modrica grunted assent.

“And your name is?” she questioned.

“Modrica.”

The captain looked at me, “and who are you?” she asked me.

“Captain, my name is Skygge, and there are a few things we need to make clear as we enter the city.”

The captain raised an eyebrow at me but didn’t say anything, so I continued, “The first thing we need to make clear is my relationship with Modrica. We are Krvne Sestre.”

That got a lot of surprised looks, except notably on the military man at the back.

“An Orc is Blood Sisters with a human?” scoffed the well-dressed man.

Modrica responded with a low, threatening growl that dropped below the human hearing range but sent internal alarm bells ringing for everyone present.

I looked at the man, “I will let you and Modrica have that discussion later if you wish.” It was clear he did not wish. “That means,” I continued, “anyone who attacks Modrica or her bond Težka will also be attacking me.” It was kingdom law that everyone had the right to defend themselves and stating that I was blood sisters with Modrica meant we were a singular entity in that regard.

The Captian looked at me, “No offence here, but Modrica and Težka seem a lot more imposing than you. Why is this important?” The captain was no fool. She knew there was more. I am pretty sure she wanted me to spell it out for the fool next to her.

“I am also the owner of the Elemental Traders.” This brought a slight frown to the Fool. He knew what we had done to the Duke of Kirghiz and had “strong suggestions” passed through about us. I will find out what those suggestions were in due course.

I continued, “I am also the lead actress of the Comedic Rhythm.” That also brought another round of surprised looks.

“We have eagerly been waiting for the arrival of the Comedic Rhythm,” the Captain said. “There have been a lot of excited rumours, especially amongst the nobility. I think even Duchess Isabella is keen to see the show.’

The noble fool next to her was clearly conflicted. The Elemental Traders had upset powerful people, especially the Duke of Kirghiz, but the local nobility, including Duchess Isabella of Beitemark, was clearly excited about the Comedic Rhythm. The rumours had not connected the two.

“That’s good. We are looking forward to putting on some shows. However, that is not the main point here. The main point is that any attack on Modrica or Težka will be considered an attack on me,” I decided to spell it out for the fool, “and the reverse is also true.” Loud and proud.

“Duly noted,” the Captain said. “We are here to make sure you are clear on the responsibilities of having a Monster Bond in the city. I want to make it clear that you are both now responsible for the behaviour of Težka in the city. You have the right to defend yourselves, but the City Watch will be investigating all deaths in the city or anything that results in serious injury. We will take action against all perpetrators.”

“We came through Obalno, Captain. In Obalno, we were attacked by low-level thugs. A street gang. We didn’t just defend ourselves against the thugs, captain. We traced back who gave orders to the thugs. It was a high-level noble. We packaged him up and presented him to the Duke’s Heir, who dealt with him. We will not stop at the low level.” That was a blatant warning to the noble fool in the room.

“That is not your job. That is my job,” said the Captain.

“Good. I hope it is not necessary, but we will both be working toward the same goal.”

The Captain frowned.

“Speaking of investigations, we have had reports that Lord Otto was attacked and killed by someone with a snake bond and a Fire affinity. I have a team out investigating, but I believe your brother Sten is bonded with a snake. We would like to speak with him.”

“Sten doesn’t have a fire affinity. I am worried for him, captain. He went hunting about a week ago and hasn’t returned. We and his Mercenary Company, the Canine Queens, went looking for him, but there was no sign of him. We are very worried.”

“Did you see Lord Otto at all?”

“Yes, he and some of his ranch hands stopped our caravan. They were hunting a thief and offered a reward.”

“I heard there was an altercation,” the captain said.

“Our Caravan Master Selma handled it, you will need to talk to her. She objected strongly to being accused of harbouring a thief and refused anyone from coming near the caravan.”

“Were you involved?”

“Only as an observer.”

“Very well. I have no more questions for now. If you see your brother, please tell him to contact me,” she said.

“Absolutely,” I said. I would tell Wiremu, not that it would do her any good. “Likewise, I am concerned for him if you see him first. He might have gotten caught up in something beyond him if he had been with Lord Otto. Lord Otto had a Wind affinity, and poor Sten wouldn't have stood a chance if they were fighting someone with a fire affinity.” I was a professional actress. My poor brother Sten might need to die, and I might need a new identity for Wiremu.

“You think he might have been killed?”

“It is not like him to stay out of touch for so long.” It is actually very like him. “I hope your investigators can find him.” The grieving sister was not a part I liked to play. I might go with the vengeful sister. “If he has been killed, I will find out who killed him!” I vowed.

“They are a good team of Investigators. I am sure they will come back with some results.”

“I will also find results,” I declared, putting a touch of Intimidating Aura into it. Loud and proud.

We stood up to leave, and we were interrupted by the military man, “I have a question.”

We stayed standing and looked at him. He stood up and stepped forward. “Monster bonds almost always have an affinity.” He looked at Modrica, “Do you have an affinity?”

Neither Modrica nor I answered him. The silence stretched out.

Finally, he said, “You can not hide an affinity. It will come out. There is compulsory Military Service for those with affinities. The recruitment offices are easy to find. Consider this as your one month's notice.”

There are downsides to being loud and proud. Težka and Modrica stand out, so this will have to be addressed.