Cinnamon Bun

Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-One - Once is Happenstance, Twice is Enemy Action

Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-One - Once is Happenstance, Twice is Enemy Action

Amaryllis and I got some looks as we swept around the second level balcony on a route aiming to the opposite side. Or maybe it was mostly me who was getting the looks because I was carrying a plate covered in one of every kind of snack they had set aside.

Whats this one called? I asked as I raised one of the... were they called hors-d'uvres?

Amaryllis glanced my way, then rolled her eyes. Thats just a bit of biscuit with some cold cuts, she said. I dont doubt the chefs have a name for it, but I dont think anyone would bother learning it.

Well its yummy, I said, plopping the whole thing in my mouth.

Her reaction was to shake her head, but I caught that little bit of a smile she was trying to suppress. Youre making a scene, she said with a gesture all around us.

I really wasnt. There were some people looking our way, but the way they looked wasnt the sort youd get from making a scene, more like they were keeping an eye around them while trading gossip with their friends. There were circles around some loud people who were telling stories, often punctuated by tittering laughter, and some of the more fancy people had entire retinues of slightly less fancy people all around them.

Really, other than the venue, species, food, and culture in general, it was just like a barbeque back home.

Do you want one? I asked as I wiggled the plate around next to her. It earned me a flat look from the harpy, but she did relent and took a little sausage stuck on the end of a wooden skewer.

Rose and Awen are over there, Amaryllis said with a nod to the far end of the room.

Should we go see them? I asked. I felt like this was more an event to, you know, mingle with new people that we havent met before. And not people like that Francisco guy. Nice ones.

It may have flown past your head, being that you are incredibly dense, but I dont exactly have an overwhelming number of friends here, Amaryllis said.

Aww, I said. When isnt this the best time to make new friends? I moved to intercept her with a hug, but she was too cunning and mean and she ducked under my arm, moving to my other side so that I couldn't side-hug her without shifting my snack plate around.

Dont start, she said. Im certain youll find someone to annoy into becoming your friend. You can amaze them with your incredibly pedestrian skills.

Ill do my best, I said.

Idiot, she huffed. It was a happy huff though, so it was okay. Rose seems to have found an old fiancee of her own to argue with.

I looked over to the far end of the room. Rosaline and Awen had found a quiet enough spot right next to the rails overlooking the dancefloor below. They were holding hands, which was very cute, but there was a young harpy man wiggling a talon right in front of Rosalines face and talking in a low growl that I couldnt understand from where I was, but I could tell it wasnt happy.

Maybe they need help? I asked.

And then the harpy took a goblet of wine and splashed it across Awens front before spinning on a heel and walking off.

I gasped in time with Awen. Amaryllis reaction was a lot more visceral. Go see Rose and Awen.

What? What about you?

Amaryllis cracked her knuckles. Im going to see if the staff can dispose of corpses.

I yoinked Amaryllis back before she had time to stomp off. Wait, wait, no killing the mean nobles, I said. Lets both make sure our friends are safe first.

We arrived to find Rosaline sponging the wine off of Awens front while Awen awawad. That jerk, Rosaline was muttering. Coming over here and not taking because youre an idiot for an answer. Who does he think he is?

Are you okay? I asked as I stepped closer. The damage to Awens dress... was pretty bad. But I was sure I could clean it off in a jiffy. Oh no, I said as I tugged at some of the soggy red-stained cloth over Awens top. I can clean this off.

Amaryllis placed a hand on my shoulder. Do it in the washroom, she said before turning back to Rosaline. Did that come out of nowhere or did you provoke the idiot?

Well, I wasnt exactly friends with him, but that reaction was a bit much, Rosaline said.

Amaryllis nodded. Yeah. Francisco was also being a bigger jerk than usual. Im beginning to suspect some sort of conspiracy here. She pointed off to one side. Broccoli, want to bring Awen over to get cleaned? Rose and I will find Clem and compare notes. Food hasnt even been served yet, World damn it.

Uh, alright, I said. Awen finally let go of Rosaline and stepped up next to me. Well be back in a bit.

Take your time, Amaryllis said.

I was a bit worried, but Amaryllis probably had things in talon, so I walked up next to Awen and we moved away from our friends. Are you really okay? I asked Awen.

Um. Things were really nice until that harpy showed up, Awen said. She grew a faint little blush. Really nice. We were just talking about ships and then he showed up and started being very rude. He called me an... uncouth word, and then Rosa started telling him off. It was very sudden.

Huh, I said. Maybe there really was a conspiracy going on? One targeting the Albatross girls? It could be a coincidence, of course, but Amaryllis didnt think so. Why do you think people would be mean to the Albatross? I asked.

Awa... there could be lots of reasons, but, uh, its usually about either money or power, Awen said. Back home my parents worked hard to stay at the top, and to make sure that they had a finger in every business that was starting to grow big. Maybe the airship business is becoming that way?

Youd think they would have acted before, I said.

There wasnt a possibility of a war before. That will mean lots of ships, and lots of money and power to the people making those ships, Awen said. If the Albatross can decide who gets to captain them, then thats even more power for them.

Thats a dumb reason to embarrass people at a ball, I said. How will that help anyone?

Awen squirmed a bit. Its about appearances. For the Albatross to be able to function they probably need contracts and workers and all sorts of things to go right. If people think that theyre not trustworthy, or if they think that the family has a lot of, um, drama going on, then theyll maybe reconsider working with them.

I scowled at the floor. Thats silly, I said.

Its how it works, Awen replied.

We found a washroom at the back, an open room with a maid by the entrance who asked us if we needed assistance with anything, but I waved her off and said that we were alright.

The inside of the washroom had a fountain and some benches next to banks of flowers in big pots. That was before reaching the sinks at the back or the little corridors leading off to what I assumed were the actual toilets. It was bigger than my home back on Earth.

Fancy, I said.

Awen shrugged. Some ladies spend a lot of time here. Its... quieter.

I didnt ask if she was one of those ladies that ran off to hide during balls back in Mattergrove. Lets see about cleaning off that wine, I said. I cant believe someone would try to ruin someone elses dress like that.

I heard steps from deeper in the washroom but politely ignored them until someone cleared their throat. Do you need any assistance with that?

Awen and I turned and both looked down at the same time as we faced a sylph. She was rather short, a full head and a bit shorter than me, with long black hair that had gone grey on the edges and big eyes that had the wrinkles that some people grew when they smiled a lot.

Hi! I said. And thanks for the offer, but I think Ive got this one. I pinched my tongue between my teeth and allowed a nice big glob of cleaning magic to form over my hand. A swipe down wiped the front of Awens dress clean of any wine. See.

Impressive, the sylph lady said. Most people dont bother learning Cleaning magic, despite its utility.

I learn it for fighting, really, I said. Its handy in a lot of other ways too. You just need to be creative.

The woman blinked, then smiled a little. I see. If you dont mind me asking, what is a bun and a human doing at a harpy ball about visiting Sylphfree?

Oh, were going to Sylphfree too, I said. We have our own ship and everything.

Do you? she asked.

Awen nodded. Yes. Um. Broccoli is our captain.

I blinked. We hadnt actually decided that, but I wouldnt say no to the title. Yeah, sure. Awen heres our mechanic. Shes real good.

Interesting, the lady said. Im being rather rude. My name is Evalyn Sunshrike, countess of Granite Springs.

Neat, I said. Im Broccoli Bunch, and this is one of my very best friends, Awen Bristlecone.

Hello, Awen said.

A pleasure, Evalyn said. Bristlecone, thats from Mattergrove? And Bunch... Im afraid Im not familiar with the name, but I do believe most buns are from Cinderrun to the far west, so thats little surprise.

Oh, nah, Im from Earth, I said. And Im a human... was a human? I gestured to my normal, non-bun ears. See.

Oh, she said. Even more interesting. A person that had a racial change and whos the captain of her own ship at... you cant be more than eighteen.

Around there, I agreed. What about you? Whyre you at the ball?

Evalyn gave me a shrewd look. Why, to see all the bickering and in-fighting of course. Theres not nearly as much of that back home, so I take what pleasure from the drama that I can.

Really? I asked. Oh, can you tell us about the sylphs? Well be going there soon and itd be really neat if we didnt stick out like people who didnt know anything.

Evalyn made a noise at the back of her throat that I suspected was laughter. Im afraid theres little chance of that. But I can certainly give you a few pointers. What do you know about the sylph and our culture?

Nothing at all, I said.

And yet youre going to fly over to us soon?

Yeah. Dont tell anyone, were being all subtle and political about it, I said.

Awa, maybe we shouldnt have said that, Awen pointed out.

Oops?

The sylph made that laughing noise again. You two are quite charming, Ive no doubt that my countrymen would absolutely hate dealing with you.

Huh?

She nodded. Oh yes. As much as I love my nation its rather... mired in bureaucracy. Anything that doesnt fit into its own neat little box tends to get on the nerves of some of my fellows. I think that if you do want to visit, you should try playing up the fact that youre clueless foreigners. Evalyns smile was almost predatory. That way you can catch them off guard.

Oh, thats a great idea. Im really good at looking like Im clueless, I said.

Evalyn actually laughed out loud at that. If you girls are done here, would you like to meet some of my comrades? Maybe theyll be able to help you on your trip over to Sylphfree.

I nodded. I think that would be really nice, I said.

***

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