Chapter 12 Grand Journey
Count Maxim with his canine servant in tow came downstairs to breakfast a few minutes later. The nobleman had to fight to hide the surprise at the sight that met his eyes. The main room of the inn had been a riotous mess when he saw it in the dead of night.
But as the morning sunlight filled the broad common room, everything seemed to sparkle. From the golden brass taps behind the bar, to the service of every table, to the seat of every chair, each and every service in the room upon which a customer might sit or upon which food might be placed was sparkling clean, and ready for the new day!
Bruno and his attractive Ecaflip waitress had accomplished nothing short of a miracle which might earn them a trophy in any other place and time.
The litter of patrons was also gone away, as not one customer on the serving floor betrayed the slightest sign of fatigue or hangover.
Count Maxim was left nearly slack-jawed as he strode up to the bar with the jaunty gate and ordered breakfast for himself and his retainer. After Bruno called out the order to the kitchen, Count Maxim found an opening to inquire as to the nearly miraculous condition of Bruno's establishment, given the intensity of the celebration the previous night.
Bruno laughed slightly as the kitchen passed him the Count's breakfast platter of fresh sausages and eggs.
"Your Excellency is right about the miracle. Her name is Mavis." Bruno informed him with a broad smile and a wink.
The nobleman swallowed even more surprise along with his sausages and eggs. "Incredible!" Said the nobleman.
"Naturally." Bruno replied simply. "That's usually what happens after one of our celebrations if the next day is a working day." Bruno continued with a jovial tone. "If Your Excellency requires some relief from the lingering symptoms of the celebration, I'm sure Mavis will oblige. She keeps her own chest of Felice's healing potions."
"I find myself quite well, thank you very much, my good Bruno. Count Maxim responded with the tone that nearly put the innkeeper and himself on the same social footing.
"Felice will appreciate that." Bruno replied. "It's after nights like last night, that we are all reminded how much she really does for the entire village, and entirely without being asked, nor expecting any payment in return." Bruno explained slowly.
Count Maxim nodded absently, as he mechanically finished the remainder of his breakfast. "Extraordinary!" The nobleman exclaimed.
"The food, or Felice?" Bruno inquired playfully, bandying words with the nobleman.
"Both!" Count Maxim replied in the tone of a fine jest.
"Thank you so much, my good Bruno." The Count said as he stood, bowed courteously, and doffed his hat to the innkeeper.
The nobleman headed for the now wide open front doors of the inn, where the morning sun streamed through to illuminate the common room brightly.
The Count's canine servant had long since finished his portion, and was standing in an out-of-the-way corner of the room, picking his teeth with the point of a small dirk.
He needed no command to follow his Master as the black booted nobleman strode casually out of the inn. Maxim was already headed toward the small roundish house on the edge of the green which he had visited the night before as well.
A dozen long strides allowed Maxim to stand once more on the familiar porch. He was surprised to see both the doors, and both of the windows in front opened up wide, to admit both the light, and the light breeze of the new morning.
The airy arrangement also made it possible for Cici to spot the oncoming visitor.
Before Maxim could knock on the frame of the door, as courtesy demanded, the door was opened to him by the attractive redheaded Cra archer.
"Welcome Your Excellency, please come in, and make yourself comfortable.
"Thank you very much, Cici. Or should I say Madame Celia Starshine?"
The Count's flattery seemed to work, and Cici's complexion was complemented by a slight strawberry hue in her cheeks. Cici never failed to blush when someone used her full name.
"If it be Your Excellency's pleasure, you may call me Cici as well." Cici answered in her most high toned and cultured voice.
"As you wish, Cici." The Count replied smoothly, adeptly reversing the roles of noble and commoner between them.
"Felice is just finishing breakfast with Shibu, Your Excellency. They returned only a short while ago. I'm certain she will attend you in only a moment." Cici replied. "Now if Your Excellency will forgive me, I must prepare for the springtime hunt, which begins today." Cici continued as she swept her bow and her quiver over her shoulders and moved as smoothly and silently as a fawn out of the open front doors of the house.
Count Maxim barely had time to seat himself again, before Felice fluttered around the corner on rapidly vibrating wings.
"Salutations, Your Excellency!" Felice said with polished manner and tone in her voice. "You will be happy to know that the samples you have requested are now prepared, and ready to be shipped as you have requested."
"Do you mean to say that in addition to tending all of the villagers after last night, you have managed to prepare the trial lot of potions as well?" Count Maxim said with undeniable surprise in his voice.
"Yes, Your Excellency, we have done so." Felice replied, trying to sound slightly immodest but failing in the best well mannered way. "I was very glad to have help from Shibu as relates to your samples. We used the remainder from the potion lot to help the villagers who were still feeling the effects of the celebration last evening." Felice explained to the nobleman.
"Once again, we return to the remarkable Shibu. Truly, he seems to amaze at every turn." Count Maxim observed slyly.
"Indeed he does, Your Excellency. This lot of potions he has done for you are among the finest and most careful I have ever seen him craft." Felice replied. This time she did not try to hide behind any sort of false modesty. She was truly proud of her son, and she let it show.
"I expected nothing less from a great teacher, combined with a gifted pupil." Maxim replied. "And it is upon that account where I wish to speak to you both further about another matter." The nobleman spoke up, marking the smooth transition in the conversation which had come to a difficult moment.
"Is our Shibu up and about?" Maxim asked, continuing the conversation in a familiar tone. "I would reward him for his work, as much as I shall reward you for yours."
"Indeed he is, Your Excellency." Felice answered promptly. "Both he and I are usually awake along with the Sun." The healer explained further. She paused for a moment, to turn away from the Count after a slight bow.
"Shibu?" She called out in a slightly higher tone of voice. "We have company, my boy!"
Shibu came running, but the fall of his bare feet across the layers of tapestry on the floor could barely be heard, even by a trained ear.
"Hello, Shibu!" Count Maxim said in a jovial tone. "How is the Village's greatest kicker today?" he asked.
"I'm fine, Count, thank you. I had great fun camping, and getting the things we needed to make the potions you needed." Shibu told him.
"Felice tells me I have you to thank for the work, my lad." The Count replied admirably. "And those who do their best for Count Maxim de le Fer are justly rewarded." The Nobleman began. "What would you and Felice say If I were to offer you a trip to Bonta with me to present these to the King?"
Floating nearby, Maxim could feel the change in heat as Felice's excitement spiked suddenly.
"Bonta? The King? For my Shibu?" she asked right out loud. Each question was slightly louder and more excited than the one before it.
For just one completely unguarded moment, Felice herself seemed to hang perfectly still in both time and space.
Shibu saw his mother's round, cherubic face take on a distant expression, and in that same moment, Felice's eyes lit up like bright candles set upon a reading table in the shadows of the evening.
"Prince Louis!" was all that Felice could manage to whisper before Shibu stepped forward, across the space and time between them, to touch his Mother's hand, and draw her back into the present moment.
"Shibu would be under my protection at all times, and he will wear my colors. I would naturally see to it that he was properly attired to be presented at Court." Maxim announced casually, as if he were asking for no more than another helping of eggs and sausages.
Count Maxim's first glance when he was done speaking was toward Shibu rather than Felice. Shibu could not help but look slightly crestfallen, even at the momentous news.
"Whatever is the matter, Shibu?" The Count asked sympathetically.
"Aris and the other Enutrofs were going to take me silver mining today, Your Excellency." Shibu replied.
"Don't worry, sweetheart." Felice answered. "I'll make your apologies to Aris and the others. I'm sure they will understand that business comes first."
Young Shibu simply nodded vigorously, a huge smile glowing from his boyish face.
"Yep-Yep!" Shibu replied quickly.
"Excellent!" Count Maxim replied. "Your word is good enough for me, Shibu."
Then Shibu glanced toward Felice. Her large sympathetic eyes glowed as if they were reflecting moon light. Shibu had never seen her quite so happy before, except when she spoke about him to others.
"Would you and Cici like to come along, Mom?" Shibu asked in his usual, uncomplicated way.
"I'm afraid I have to stay here and fill the rest of this potion order, My Dear." She answered, not sounding at all disappointed.
"Well then, Cici and I will go with the Count, and bring back whatever you need from Bonta." Shibu offered.
"That's very generous, My Darling. But Cici is preparing for the spring time hunt. She has to be here the next few days at least, to help stock the village with fresh meat."
Shibu nodded slowly. He already knew there was no more important duty to a Cra than providing for those they loved. As Shibu considered all of this, it slowly dawned on the dark-haired boy that he really was going to Bonta, for the very first time. But he would go all alone.
Felice could see the uncertainty flicker into Shibu's limpid blue eyes.
"I know it's a big job, Shibu." Felice told him in a calm, steady voice. "But I can't go, and you already know as much as I can teach you about making and selling potions. I'm counting on you to do what is best for the three of us, Shibu, my bright Sea Dragon." Felice told Shibu.
That was all it took. Once Shibu knew he could help someone, he knew he had made the right choice when he obeyed his feelings.
"Don't worry Mother." Shibu said with a renewed and slightly saucy confidence. "The Count and I will be fine."
Shibu stuck out his chest and raised his head a bit. He was hiding his own fear deep down inside for her sake. But when Felice saw his pose and heard the youthful voice full of enthusiasm, her own fear melted away like ice and snow in full springtime.
"it's settled then!" The Count interjected. "Go on now, and pack your things Shibu. "But don't bring too much. All the clothing and the other things you need, we shall get when we arrive in Bonta." Maxim told a bouncy Shibu as the sprightly boy in the long hat fairly vaulted over every piece of furniture in the room. But then he stopped where he stood, and turned to speak to Maxim again. "May I bring a few books, Your Excellency?' The boy asked.
"You may, but there are miles of books in Bonta and you shall have your pick of all of them, I promise you."
"Ya-hoo!" Interjected Shibu in sheer elation. But then he shrank back a bit. "I meant to say "Thank you, Your Excellency."
"Think nothing of it, Shibu. I'm glad you're so happy. Run along now and get ready while Felice and I talk some business."
Shibu nodded enthusiastically, and practically flew into the bedroom, where Felice kept his things.
"Thank you so very much Your Excellency. Your generosity has made Shibu as happy as I have ever seen him. For that, I am indeed in your debt." Felice said, now speaking in a more sober and measured tone of voice.
"Think nothing of it. Shibu is brilliant. That much would be obvious to a blind man. And when the King of Bonta meets Shibu, who knows what may happen for him."
"Thank you, Your Excellency for helping us realize the very best for our Dear Shibu."
"Noblesse Oblige, Dear Felice. What I do for Shibu I also do for the Kingdom of Bonta, to which I am ever loyal." Maxim replied. "Besides" The nobleman continued with a slight shift in his manner and voice, "I look forward to watching Shibu in action. I feel quite certain that he will conquer Bonta like no one before him ever has. Never fear, he will be himself, as always, and shine brighter than all the precious metal in Bonta."
Just then, Shibu's smiling face appeared around the corner of his bedroom door. "Should I take my bow, and quiver, Your Excellency?" the dark haired boy asked.
"You may take them, but you cannot use them inside the city itself. Do you know what a "Peace bond" is, Shibu?" The Count asked.
"Yes, said Shibu, slightly dejected. He knew it meant that a bow could only be carried inside Bonta if it were unstrung, and the string itself sealed to the riser of the bow with a special wax. If that wax seal was found broken, his bow would be confiscated, and he might go to jail. But at heart, Shibu was also Cra, and no Cra would ever willingly be without his bow.
"I'll take the bow, but I will seal the string." Shibu announced after a moment to consider the problem.
The Count smiled in honest admiration of the Boy's simple, direct wisdom.
"Great stars!" Is there anything our boy does not know?" Maxim wondered aloud to Felice.
"A large part of his life has been reading, Your Excellency. That is why I am so grateful to you for giving Shibu the chance and the trust to do something, rather than just to read about it." Felice confessed.
"Don't worry, Felice. Shibu is ready. It will be grand fun for both of us to see if Bonta is prepared for Shibu." The Count replied with an oily tone and a strange smile.
"I will take my leave of both of you, for now. I too have things to prepare for the trip home." Maxim said, rising smoothly from where he was seated. He bowed in return to Felice's curtsy, and tipping his hat to her, he strode away from their home back toward the Inn across the green.