Chapter 23:
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Voletta," Finn burbled. The Suncoast was a little bit far from her jurisdiction. "Tracking the man who paid the assassin," Voletta replied distractedly. With all of his clothes burned up in the smashed remnant of the Royal Train, the King was getting fitted with a new wardrobe. A pack of tailors stood around him, fitting bits of cloth and measuring his impressive figure as the young nymph watched. The big man was a sight to stir the loins, and it was difficult for the Lawkeeper to keep her eyes off of her master's mate. It helped not at all that she'd watched him screw the shit out of her master's best friend in that old tree-house the night before they'd left for the Grey Forest. Focusing on the job at hand, Voletta announced, "we tracked the assassin's movements back to the old mansion that was taken over by the self-styled Duke of Nuts."
Finn sighed. He'd tried. He'd done his best not to smash Clovis for Gertie's sake. "Have you made an arrest," the King asked? "Lord Clovis and his family have fled," Voletta responded. "They left the very day the assassin was felled. The trail led here and then... vanished." "Pass what you know to my daughter," Finn told her. "She'll take it from there. Thanks, Voletta." "Is there a message for my Lady," the nymph asked? "I'll be back in the Candy Kingdom later this week," Finn replied. "In the now, give her my love." With a bow for the King, the Lawkeeper got on her way.
Coming up behind him, Bronwyn rested her hands on his broad shoulders and asked, "what will you do now?" With a shrug, the big man said, "he'll be executed. If he just gives up, that's as far as it will go. Right now, he's endangering his whole family." He well knew from his days as the Candy Kingdom's chief enforcer that dangerous shit happened when you were a fugitive, and it was your family that suffered the most. The others... Othman. Nicia. They were breathing their last breaths. There was no mercy on offer for those who wanted to kill the King. There couldn't be. Hafgrim the Red had been the first, but he wouldn't be the last to die.
Bronwyn shivered. Her father had committed offense against this man. She knew it, and Cherry knew it too. Thankfully, Kim Kil Wan had not been fool enough to raise a weapon against Finn. Her family was safe for the moment. She just prayed to Glob her father was wise enough not to go any farther. Moving on, she said, "your vacation. I'm supposed to see that you take it. Since my aunt and I had... issues... the reunion got rescheduled. If we board the train today, we can still make it."
Finn frowned. His mind was on the Privy Council. A couple of them had just tried to take him out. He really thought he ought to get back there and see to business. "Billy's handling things," Bronwyn retorted. "Simone and Roselinen both think you should take your vacation as planned." "Simone and Roselinen aren't seeing this clearly," announced Marshall Lee. The Vampire King materialized before them. "Peeps need to see that dad's ok. We can take Connie's train and be there in a couple days. He can go on vacay after that."
Far to the west, Gumbald watched as a long, conical object was carefully raised from the muck where it had lain for centuries. They were working under cover of darkness because his benefactors weren't exactly supposed to be doing this. The palace around them was quiet and dark. Its owner was hundreds of miles away in her capitol on another island entirely. The object was one of three, and Gumbald would have liked to harvest them all. Unfortunately, now was not the time. That would have been a bridge too far for his confederates.
Bringing up the instrument he was carrying, the evil genius toggled it on, listening to the clatter of the counter. Yes, the materials inside were very much still active. A part of him would have dropped this weapon over Bonnibel's capitol. It was on the way after all. Trouble was, the weapon had lain in this place for centuries. It was doubtful that it would still work. Patience, counseled his inner voice. He had the materials he needed. This weapon, once harvested, would let him field a number of his machine fighters. It was time to get away.
With his confederates running interference, the evil genius transported the stolen weapon up and out of the vault where it had lain. Quickly, the deadly cargo was boxed up in a wooden crate. That crate was loaded on a wagon, and, with Gumbald riding along behind it, the wagon rolled through the twists and turns of Port Rochelle, finally arriving at the island's primitive landing field. The spymaster was there, waiting on Gumbald to arrive, his airship ready to go with the engines running up. There were a few passengers already clambering aboard–as if this was any other flight over the sea. Gumbald's crate became one last piece of cargo fitted, like a jigsaw puzzle, into the airship's hold.
"It appears to have gone well," announced Gordon Wells. Gumbald nodded, as he scanned the scene. He would pronounce things successful when they were dismantling the mushroom bomb in his hot-shop in the lair. He was fairly certain he could use the material to finish his war-machines, but the proof would be when they tested the first robot. In the now, though, the mad genius said, "we should be going. Cenobia cannot guarantee the theft will remain hidden beyond first light."
Two days later, Ragnhild's train rolled into the Candy Kingdom's railyard to find the place jammed with Royal Trains. It was a sign of the crisis that threatened to develop over the succession. It was also a sign that it was time and past time for Billy and his siblings to maybe step back from the adventures in foreign lands. The Empire was in a perilous place–too new to survive the death of its master and much too big to be allowed to fail.
People were already maneuvering. Ragnhild's train had been bumped twice on the way up from Muscle Kingdom. She'd been told that high-priority freights carrying food to be processed in the Candy Kingdom were responsible, but the lights on one of those trains had been much too few for it to be a freight train. Ragnhild's worry had ratcheted up a fair bit. Odessa was making moves as well, and she feared what those moves would do to her family.
Truth? She knew Odessa held more power than she did in the Empire. Food was a very powerful motivation, and Odessa controlled the kingdoms' food supply just now. Her husband couldn't afford to offend the older woman. They were trapped. Principles said that she wouldn't let Nieve and Luciana come to harm. Reality might dictate otherwise.
"Olesia," the Froyo Princess murmured. "Your Highness," the elemental responded. "How expensive is it to obtain one of those cold-spells?" It took a moment. Olesia frowned at her back. She meant fire-shield. Why did the Frozen Yogurt Princess suddenly care about fire-shield spells? "I can manage one myself," Olesia responded. "I've made them last... four or five hours or so." Ragnhild frowned at the thought of Nieve being forced to live her life four hours at a time. Taking a breath, the tall woman announced, "I may need you to take Nieve north, Olesia. Can you do that?" "If that's your will," the elemental responded. Another breath. "My instructions for you are to wait here with Nieve," Ragnhild declared. "The tracks north through the wastes are under my control. My train has priority."
Olesia's lips compressed into a thin line, as she took in the enormity of those orders. Ragnhild feared what she would find when she reached the palace. She feared that the King's death had handed Odessa power–power to destroy her granddaughter. Odessa was closer to the reins of power than she would ever have been able to get with Finn on the throne. "I won't fail you," the elemental rumbled. Turning slightly, Ragnhild offered her a smile and said, "I know you won't, dear. You've never failed us. Glob, bless you." With that, the Froyo Princess stepped off. There was a car waiting to whisk her and the others to the palace.
Ragnhild's face was shockingly serene as the car took the twists and turns of the capitol. Abieuwa's gut was churning. They were on the brink. They could be heading into war at any moment. Noemi was almost bored. She was filing at her nails between bouts of staring out at the normies who were going about their day on the street. The world was moving on–going about its business–as if there weren't momentous things happening. Abieuwa prayed that was a good sign.
There were packs of cars and carriages waiting on entry to the Candy Palace as their limo rolled up, and it was obvious that every royal and minor power in the civilized kingdoms were here to jostle for position. Thankfully, as members of Finn's extended family, Ragnhild and her companions crowded the line and went straight into the underground garage. With bodyguards in tow, the trio set out for the throne room.
The back rooms of the palace were like an island of calm, compared to the madness that would exist in the outer precincts. Ragnhild knew they'd be screening the lot, checking everyone for weapons and contraband. That would drastically slow things down. As members of Finn's family, they were ducking around the madness and going straight to the throne room. The sounds of conversation came to the Froyo Princess's ears through the stone walls, and she imagined the things they were talking about. Power. They would all be feeling each other out, trying to figure out where they were in the new pecking order.
Billy was just about to go out into the throne room when the trio walked up. Seeing his wives there, the big man stopped and immediately embraced them. "Where have you three been," he demanded? "Hamest would only tell me that you had business down south..." Ragnhild offered him a smile. They'd be talking. Later. In the now, she said, "we're ready to get to work, darling. Let's go." "Where's Nieve," he asked? "She's back at my train," Rags replied. "Working. You understand." Billy nodded, but he was a little uncomfortable with secrets just now. "Ok," he said, as he turned back to the door. "What's... what're we doing," Noemi asked? "Stalling," Billy replied. "Dad's due any moment."
That news floored Ragnhild, who'd thought they were dealing with a crisis of monumental proportions. "There was an assassination attempt," Billy confirmed. "Somebody blew up a bridge in the mountains. Dad's train went into a canyon. He, Bronwyn, and JJ bailed out before the train wrecked." That was grim news. Still, she was delighted that her looming conflict with Odessa was postponed. She'd have to apprise Billy of what had been going on now. With Finn still on the throne, they had more leeway to forestall any nasty maneuvers she was making. Just then, Bonnie the Younger's clear voice announced that the audience was called to order. With that, Billy stepped off, striding through the door with Ragnhild at his side.
The guards stationed before the throne were a new thing. Ragnhild knew that this was a needed change, but it was still jarring. Billy strode up on the dais and took the seat there, with Ragnhild taking the seat at his right and Noemi at his left. In a calm, clear voice, the big man announced, "good afternoon, everyone. Rumor control. There has been an incident with the Royal Train in the mountains south of the Bandit Lands. The King is safe and in good spirits." Turning to his sister, the Ice Prince said, "Bonnibel? Please open the session."
The meeting went off the proverbial rails as soon as Bonnie had opened her mouth. Standing above the meeting in the gallery, Jay fund himself shuddering at the cacophony of noise as all those very-rich and very-powerful people went hard at his kin. Power. It was just as his mother had said. His father was afflicted with it. Still, William held his own, absorbing the shouting and demands with a calm that Jay wasn't sure he could have managed. At least not without committing wholesale slaughter on the lot of them.
A shadow announced Annabelle almost before he felt her. The Raggedy Princess sat down beside him in her false facade, hiding her fair form from the view of people who knew her. "Your father's alive," she burbled in that irritating voice. "I don't like that voice," Jay muttered. "Why do you use it?" "So there's something you do like," she chuckled? Jay frowned at her. In soft, pleasant tones, the entity said, "I heard them talking. Someone smashed Finn's train. He's on his way here now, though. Bill is stalling for time." Jay's frown deepened. "Why," he asked? "Perhaps to give Finn time to get here," she replied, "or perhaps to draw out some of the conspirators. There's always layers with Finn, Jay."
His eyes regarded the battered doll that housed the soul of a demon. Was she toying with him? "Why do you think I've always been attracted to your father, Jay," she chuckled? "He's so very interesting... like sifting through all the fine flavors of a good wine... just like his son." Jay shuddered. Sifted. She wanted to sift him.
Down below, the guards abruptly shut the meeting down, as a heavily-armed squad of them burst through the doors at the end of the hall. As Jay watched, the guards parted the crowd before the throne like a ship parting a wave. The soldiers took up station then, securing a pathway through for the singular figure that came through that door. No bear hat today. Likely the King's famous hat was at the bottom of the ravine–in the wreckage of the train.
Jay's keen eyes focused not so much on the King, but on the sea of faces there in the throne room, as the big man strode past. The half-breed took note of every reaction and every look of shock. There were a number of unhappy faces. As his father had so often said, money brought out the evil in people. Still, there were some reactions that were rather notable. A tall, statuesque brunette with green skin and acres of curves looked to be rather unhappy at this development.
The Ice Prince rose when his father reached the throne. Coming down from the dais, the younger man embraced his father before stepping aside. Climbing up the dais, the King of Ooo turned to face the gathering. "Good afternoon, everyone," he announced. "I apologize for my absence. Unfortunately, much as I'd like to come before you with good news, circumstances have forced me to come before you with a very unpleasant matter." Seating himself, the King nodded to his daughter.
Raising a piece of parchment, the wood-nymph wonder announced, "effective today, Lord Ademir Othman of Elbownia is declared outlaw. His property is forfeit. His family is declared in attainder down to the third generation. Any who aid or otherwise abet Ademir Othman are guilty of the crime of treason and subject to death by hanging." Shock greeted those words. Othman had been a member of that body, sitting with the Privy Council as representative of Elbownia. More was coming, though.
In that same cold voice, the nymph declared, "Nicia Bianchi is declared outlaw. Her life and property are forfeit. Her family is declared in attainder down to the third generation. Any who aid or otherwise abet Nicia Bianchi is guilty of treason and subject to the ultimate sanction." Jay shivered as his sister listed those names. The Lord down in Woolsock had gotten hacked off at a few of his subordinates years ago, and he'd gone on a bit of a tear, hauling the families of the two men and one woman in. People had gathered from miles around to see the executions.
The men had gotten treated to a rather brutal punishment. They'd been strangled, and then, while they were barely clinging to life, they'd been opened at the seams and their stuffing pulled out in bloody clumps. The woman had gotten off lucky. She'd merely been strangled with a silver cord and buried in an unmarked grave. Jay wondered what his father was going to do. There were two men involved in this and one woman, just like in pillow world. His father hadn't really approved of the brutal punishment of Lord Woolcot's enemies, but he had been a nobody back then. Now his own casing was in the game.
Jay watched the expressions on those down below him, taking note of the numerous worried faces. It was never just one or two when money was involved. With all the money on the line here, Jay would have expected there to be a dozen or more worried faces down in that pack. He imagined his father and siblings taking note of those same faces. Those were the people who would be causing trouble going forward. Jay's eyes flicked to his younger sister. The tree-girl was a wizard and very dangerous. He hoped she was deadly enough to deal with all those traitors.
As Star came to the end of her list of traitors, Finn returned to the fray. The King of Ooo announced, "it is unfortunate that people are disturbing the peace when the world has had so little of it these last few years. Rest assured that I will do my utmost to prevent this... unpleasantness... from interfering with efforts to support the hungry and needy. I have arranged the placement of the first reactor-machine in Crusone. It will serve the largest of the domains in that area, supporting their industry and enabling them to support our outreach into the wastelands. It is my desire to increase production of food, clothing, and building supplies there for shipment into Elbownia." Irritated faces greeted that news, but Finn's expression showed they could like it or lump it. Money was nice, and the kingdoms all needed more of it, but people were literally starving to death right now.
Rising, the King announced, "it has been brought to my attention that the Royal Vacation has come due. While I'm gone, please refer all business to my son." Without a further word, Finn the King headed for the exit behind the throne. The various nobles shouted for the King to come back, but Billy took charge then, commanding the guards to bring order once more. Jay dipped out. He'd seen enough. His father was back, and he was no longer in danger of being dragged into the ugly world of politics, money, and power.
Behind the throne room, Finn ran into two beautiful faces that set his heart at once to beating faster and, at the same time, brought an instant pang of regret. They were the two great loves of his life–the women he'd settled down to start families with. The pair stood in the hallway, holding hands, calling to mind the way Simone and Emeraude would sometimes do that after a big bust-up in the treehouse.
Reaching out, Finn hugged both women, rocking with them there and looking, to Star's eyes, as if he had found his way home after a long time away. As they rocked back and forth, the big man whispered, over and over gain, "I'm ok." He'd gotten off without so much as a scratch. Breaking that embrace, Roselinen said, "well... We shall talk when you return from your vacation." Finn opened his mouth to protest and shut it again, when Simone said, "you're to go on vacation, Finn. Doctor's orders." Finn groaned in remembrance. Drew wasn't shy about smacking him around. With a sigh, the big man set off for the garage, where he'd left Bronwyn and JJ.
The trio rolled up to Lady's place at half-past two to find that food was already cooking in the backyard. Finn could smell good food, and his stomach rumbled, reminding him that, in the rush to the palace and all the madness, he'd missed lunch. Piling out of the car, the trio headed around to the back, with Finn's new bodyguard immediately giving the place the fisheye as they stepped past the fence. Stepping past him, Finn found Jake's two other daughters working the grill.
He hadn't seen much of Viola and Charlie over the last few years. After Jake Junior's faked death, Finn's half of the family had been pushed away, and after the rescue in the middle of the Wish Storm, the pair had basically decamped to a hotel outside the palace grounds as if they couldn't get far enough away. It was hurtful, but Finn shoved those thoughts aside as he approached.
"Hey," he greeted them. Charlie was just as he remembered her–a head shorter than he, with an oval face, deep brown freckles, and big, brown eyes, framed by a shoulder-length mop of blonde hair. Curvy, she had thick thighs, clad in blue shorts that were cut for her tail today, and a heavy-duty sports bra contained her quartet of heavy milk-jugs. A short spiral of horn jutting from her crown completed the look.
Viola was still the thinner of the pair, with a narrow waist and slender thighs, though she still sported quite an ass. That bottom came encased in a knee-length red skirt, cut for her bushy blonde tail. Over that she wore a loose silk blouse in yellow, covering her four pointy, pear-shaped knobs. Her blue eyes regarded Finn as he stopped before the pair. "Finn," she greeted him. "Vi," Finn responded. The three stood there a moment, staring at each other. It almost felt to Bronwyn that time stood still. Finally, Charlie rumbled, "aw, hell..." Reaching out, she hugged the big man. Moments later, Finn was hugging both of them. "It's good to see you," Finn murmured. "I never had the chance to thank you." "No prob, bob," Charlie replied.
Nodding, Finn said, "brought some friends." Jake Junior shyly approached. The pair had heard that she'd been let out of prison, but neither had been honestly all that interested in renewing ties. There was a weight of guilt there. It had been pups-rule and united-front all their lives, but lately both women had begun to see signs that their siblings were headed down dark pathways and dragging them along for the ride. The united front was starting to crack.
Leaving the three sisters to their reunion, Finn strode over to Lady, who'd just come out of her house. Lady came out, looking just as she always had, with her long, sinuous rainicorn body, and Finn immediately went up to hug her. It had been too long. Lady was almost living like a recluse these days. Bonnie rarely stopped by. Their kids were off living their lives, with Bon running the Candy Kingdom and Shoko bouncing back and forth between Finn's island, the Fire Kingdom, and the Candy Kingdom. They'd sorta/kinda forgotten Lady. It wasn't on purpose, but Finn felt it just the same.
As Finn chatted with Lady, Billy cornered his wife's evil grammy in the apartment she was renting across the square from the palace. Stepping off the elevator at the penthouse level, the Ice-Prince looked around him, finding disturbing signs at every turn. Nieve had been stripped of her guards long ago. Billy hadn't given it a great deal of thought at the time. They'd needed the troops in Hamest's kingdom in the east, but that crisis was long done. Still, his wife had no bodyguards but what he provided. And this floor of the hotel was packed with soldiers in a disturbing sign of just who held the power in Muscle Kingdom.
The guards knew him well. The men waiting at the door of the suite came to attention as he approached, and the man on the left drew the door open to admit Billy to the presence of their true master. Striding into Odessa's space, the big man found the place laid out like a miniature throne room, with a big, comfy chair placed against the far wall, as if she held audience here. It was a lot like Ragnhild had said. Odessa was intent on holding onto the power in Muscle Kingdom, and Nieve was in grave danger of being run over.
To his right, a small, mousy woman sat behind a desk before a closed door. Billy turned to face her, announcing, "I'm Prince William. I'm here to see the Princess Dowager." "Bide a moment, sire," the little woman responded. "Her Highess is meeting with one of her sons." One of Nieve's uncles was here too. He knew that Nieve's uncles had bullied her. He halfway-suspected that her own mother had been in on the act. His wife had been naughty, no doubt about it, but he didn't think it rose to the level that Odessa was taking it to.
Minutes passed into eternity. Finally, that door opened, and Duke Omar came out. He acknowledged Billy with the barest of nods as he went by, on his way out the door. That bore watching. It was worrisome that Odessa was starting to feel froggy when she had so much control over their food supply. As the older man headed out, Billy walked into his mother's office, finding the Dowager Princess seated behind a beautiful hardwood desk done in a classic style that Nieve hated. The big man's mind couldn't help but wonder about just why his wife hated that style as he crossed that room.
Stopping before the desk, the big man found himself taken aback by Odessa's appearance. It was true. Just as Rags had told him, Odessa was restored to youth. A part of him wanted to wring Maja's elegant neck. She'd done his dad–and Billy–a very big favor. Unfortunately, it appeared that nothing came without a price. Sitting there before him, Odessa raised a glass of deep red wine to her lips and took a sip. Oh, those lips. He could see Nieve's lineage in that face. The old bitch had serious Dick Sucking Lips. Lowering the glass almost for the effect, the older woman asked, "care for a glass, Your Highness?" She was beautiful, and she well knew it.
"I came to discuss the issue of your harassment of Nieve," Billy rumbled. This wasn't the time for dancing around, not with assassins stalking his dad and Odessa playing dangerous games. "Beg your pardon," the older woman replied, her expression neutral. "You had her maid leave her threatening messages," Billy growled. Odessa's dark eyes narrowed on his.
"I figured it out," Billy rumbled. "You outed yourself with these latest games. It's crazy, because we probably wouldn't have found out there was a real spy in the palace if not for your notes." Swallowing the wine in her glass, Odessa studied the goblet a few moments. "Don't be a boy, William," she said at last. The big man frowned. Rising to her feet, she came around the desk and approached him, declaring, "you're doing exactly what I intended you to do. You're letting that little cunt wrap you around her finger."
Billy's face went red hot. "I wanted you to feel protective of her," Odessa murmured, as she padded around him, showing off that sleek, glorious body. He was shocked to realize that Nieve's grammy was now prettier than Nieve herself. And treacherous, he thought. Don't forget treacherous, Bill. "This is about power, dear boy," she said, as she passed behind him, stroking his shoulders with those long fingers. "I adore power." Putting her lips to his ear, she said, "right now, you're key to that power. Your marriage to my granddaughter brings power to my house. We're a key partner in your father's coalition. You wouldn't do anything to damage that, would you?" Billy grimaced, because he knew that, with a million more mouths to feed on Ooo, Odessa had more power than ever.
Grabbing his ass, and giving it a squeeze, Odessa said, "there's only one thing that comes close to power in my heart, William..." The big man shuddered. That was... nasty. She'd just come on to him, and it was kind of a nasty feeling. It was a little weird, when he'd been bangin' Rags, Abieuwa, and Noemi without much of a qualm when they were, clearly, older than he was. Odessa was, physically, younger than he, and he kinda' wouldn't have touched her with a ten-foot pole.
Striding out in front of him again, the older woman rested her elegant, slim hands on her hips. "I'm not going away, dear, dear William," she said. "I hold the true power in my kingdom. Nieve was only ever my puppet, much as Yolanda was before." Teasing his lips with the tip of a finger, she said, "play along, William. I'm wiser and more experienced at this game than you are. There's rewards to being on my side of things." "You'll not be allowed to harm Nieve...," Billy started to say. He was sooo much like his father. So very loyal and so very invested in his baby.
"Tut-tut," Odessa interrupted. "I have no need to harm her... for now. Understand, William. Her continued health is very much dependent on my continued good will. It's not only the empire's food supply that I hold. I hold your wife's life in my hands too." Turning back to her desk, the older woman said, "you can go, William. We'll... We won't speak of this moment again. We're allies at the moment. Pray that we stay that way." He was dismissed. Biting back the cuss words that hung at the tip of his tongue, the Ice-Prince turned to go.
Late that night, Jay Mertens woke from a horrid dream where his son called to him from the inferno that claimed his life. Sitting on the edge of his bed, the tall man scrubbed his fingers through his hair. Standing up, the tall man went to his closet and gathered up some clothes. Pocketing the little chit that let him in and out of the castle's side gate, Jay headed out. The only thing that seemed to help was exhaustion. If he drove himself to exhaustion, he could sleep without dreams.
The guards acknowledged Finn's wayward son with a bow and a polite, 'Your Highness'. Jay didn't even meet their eyes. Striding out of the gate, he stood a moment in the cool darkness, stretching and twisting–limbering up to run. The knots were gone. His mind marveled at Maja the witch's magic. He'd been growing increasingly decrepit, with knots in his knees and hips that hurt him morning, noon, and night. His back had become increasingly soft, and he felt like his stuffing was going bad. He'd even begun to fear his heart was failing. Now, as he set out, he felt strong, and his steps were quick and easy. Fate had given him a new life in exchange for the life of his son.
The tall man ran. He ran as fast as he could, praying to the Powers that he could outrun his pain. He paid no attention at all to where he was or where he was going. The palace wasn't hard to find. Centrally located and built taller than nearly anything Jay had ever seen in his life, it was impossible to miss. His father's secondary home was far grander than the Lord of Woolsock's home had been, and Jay had marveled at Lord Woolcot's keep every time they had to go down river to the capitol.
Arriving at the park, Jay paused briefly, finding himself still feeling strong. Laps, he decided. Stepping off, the tall man began to run around the perimeter of the park, doing lap after lap after lap. On his third or possibly fifth trip around, the tall man ran into some unpleasantly familiar sorts. His foes from his last visit to the park stepped out of the shadows ahead of him, announcing, "oh... It's our unpaid member..." Jay slowed down and then stopped. He didn't need this tonight. He really didn't need this.
"I don't want trouble," he said. "Well, you've found it," growled the big one. "I lost my son," Jay said. "I'm in pain. I just want to be alone." "You can lose your heart," growled the bandit. "Stand and deliver. We know who you are. You got money. Give it over!" The tall man's rage boiled over just then. "You want me to give over," growled Jay? "Alright..." The temperature in the park increased a hundred fold, as a raging fire broke out. Sulfurous smoke filled the air, clouding the sky, as the flames turned night into day. "Welcome to my hell," growled the broken man.
Far to the west, Margarida scrubbed her face with her hands over and over. Dulcine's eyes accused her. She was a fool. She had been a fool. Cenobia and Catalina had committed an act of utter madness, handing over a weapon of utter destruction to a man who was a hair's breadth away from madness. They'd let Gumbald into the Palace of Antiquities on Port Rochelle. They'd kept the guards away and let him in, allowing him to steal what should not be touched. And what would he do with it? Her insubordinate governors believed he would deliver them weapons to keep Finn the Human at bay forever. Margarida feared he would deliver them to the destruction of their people.
We're committed now, she thought. Cenobia had committed them to war with the King of Ooo. She'd taken away any other option. The Bandit Princess had already incited war against them by attempting to launch her homemade mushroom bomb from the Confederation's territory. They'd gone to the brink of destruction. Now, Cenobia and Catalina two had delivered another such weapon to another untrustworthy ally. Two strikes, and Margarida didn't think they'd get another. Go all in, she decided. The only way out was through. She had to go all in, hope that the madman could deliver these iron soldiers he promised, and pray that was enough against the might of the world.
Back in the Candy Kingdom, Jay Mertens came to his senses, banishing the horrific inner world that he'd constructed out of rage and hate to find two charred corpses smoldering there before him. The tall man dropped to his knees, sobbing. "That wasn't so bad," purred Annabelle. Her fingers stroked his shoulders, finding that he was trembling. "It had to be this way, Jay," she said. "They would have graduated to murder in a couple of weeks. The small one... He's been stalking females here in this park." The entity drew him to his feet. "We must away, sweet Jay," she murmured. "Best we not be here when these are found. The Guard doesn't like mysteries..."
Gumbald has a nuke. :)
I thought it would be interesting if Raggedy Princess was secretly an evil creature like Gunther/Orgalorg. Wonder what her agenda is? And Odessa's starting to make some moves of her own. Wonder what Billy and Ragnhild are going to do about this? And how long before Cenobia and Catalina's idiotic plan brings Margarida into open war with the Empire of Ooo?