Chapter 8: Secret Admirers
Edge lost no time in procuring a ride to Kaipo. Sparing no expense he hopped aboard the next airship ferry to the desert. He knew he could reach Kaipo before the other mysterious creep. He just had to!
It was late afternoon, tea time to be exact, when he arrived in town. The small city was just as he remembered it—hot, dry, and peaceful. Hmm, I will need to be careful not to stir up obvious trouble…just how will I do away with this suitor? He was so absorbed in his planning that he almost missed the inn. A colorful banner waving in the wind caught his peripheral vision, disturbing his thoughts. "Welcome Inn!" read the cheesy flag.
Equally cheesy, Edge responded, "Uh, thanks" as he walked inside. Furnished with plush chairs and mini coffee tables, the inn's lobby looked quite homey. Immediately upon entrance he noticed Queen Asura perched in a rather large chair and sipping a cup of tea. He was surprisingly not surprised to see her, but as always, he was taken aback at her gruesome appearance. He shuddered.
"Hello, your highness," greeted Asura. "I would ask what brings you to Kaipo, but I already know! How are you?" Carefully setting her tea cup on an end table, Asura rose and bowed to the Eblanian king.
Edge, out of habit, began to return the bow. "Wait a second!" He stopped mid-bow. "Please, spare me the formalities. I don't have time for this. I've got to know who the jerk is that is chasing after Rydia! I've got to stop him!" Stopping to actually breathe, Edge realized he was ranting like a maniac. Asura's astonished countenance affirmed his loss of self control. Slowing himself he said evenly, "He can't get to her until I have had my chance. If she rejects me then fine, she deserves happiness with someone else. But I need to see her first!"
Asura's face lit into a quirky smile. "Edge, would you really like to see Rydia's 'jerk'?" It was all she could do to keep from laughing.
"Yes." He unsheathed his blade.
"Put that thing away!" commanded the queen. "There is no need for violence. Follow me." She stopped at the entrance to one of the inn's meeting rooms. "Meet Rydia's admirers."
"Admirers? What?" He looked in the room and suddenly understood. Sitting around enjoying their tea were his friends. "Oh my…you guys. You wrote the letter to Rydia?"
"That we did, young fellow!" said Cid. "The rest is up to you!"
It was Edge's turn for a quirky smile. He nodded thankful greetings to all of his friends but excused himself before he found himself swept into conversation with the group. Deciding he wanted to freshen up before meeting with Rydia, he approached the innkeeper to rent a room.
"Not a problem sir. One night's stay in a suite will total 600 GP." The inn keeper busily filled out a receipt.
"Six hundred GP!" Edge exploded, "What a rip off!" He acknowledged the charges by signing the receipt anyway. Upon handing the quill and paper back to the inn keeper Edge added, "Sir, you had better hope Rydia forgives me or I am going to shove this money where, well, where you really don't want it!" That being said, he handed over a large pile of coins and turned away to walk to his room.
His friends overhearing this exchange could only laugh. Things were looking up.
