Chapter 13: A Completely Ordinary Meetup, Possibly
The rest of the day passed by uneventfully. I and Arrinoka swung by the seamstress to see if my duds were ready. Surprise surprise, they were. They weren't overly special or anything, the sets of clothing being a wooden button shirt and wooden fly-button pants that were designed for a yinglet to wear. Both articles of clothing were plain white while the edges of the clothing, meaning the end of the sleeves of the shirt and pants, were rimmed with green gold black and red, the colors of Arisota's Hold. The collar and bottom of the shirt were similarly color coded, and the pant's waistband and tail-end was the same as well. However, there were some features I emphasized to the design of my clothes. Pockets. Glorious, glorious pockets. There were two sets of pockets on my pants, two near the front of my hips, and two that's on either side of my tail. Not exactly similar to a buttock pocket on some shorts, but I'm not picky on the design. There are also pockets IN my shirt too. Though I would have to open the front of my shirt to get to my inner pockets, it was still a design I'm quite comfortable with.
Putting them on is a hurdle though! Back at the enclave, all I had to don was a simple cloak that concealed me during an excursion in the nighttime. That thing only had crudely-made pockets that's only good at keeping a few small items with you, or sieving sand. All I had to do was drape it on my back, tie the hood to my neck, then tie the sleeves over my wrists and hands, and I was pretty much ready. Didn't I say the cloak was adjustable before? Anyway, about my new set of clothes. I eventually found a way to slip into them. With the shirt I just hold the arm-holes from the inside, raise it over my head, and shimmy my arms through while centering my back and head till the shirt is comfortable enough for me to button it in place.
The pants were... a different challenge. I mean sure, all humans need to do to equip a simple pair of jeans is to put one leg in, then the next, shimmy the waistline up to your waist, and that was that. But my new pair of pants? Imagine having three limbs, with one of them being bigger than your own pair of legs, and your legs are as thin as sticks. I discovered two ways in donning the new pant. One of which is to lay on the ground, fit my tail through the tail-hole first, pass my legs through the leg-holes next, and then shimmy them to my waist. Another way of doing it is to have a table or rail to steady myself on as I inserted my legs and tail into the pant and using a free hand to pull them up. Thinking about it now, maybe I should have the back section cut vertically in half and have it be buttoned in that area? That way I can just pull up my pants without having to sacrifice my balance! But then again that does mean requiring more buttons for the express purpose of comfortably wearing a simple pair of pants.
But hey!
Pant + shirt combo (both with pockets I insisted on adding) status: gained!
I could do without the collar, however. But then again, even when Arrinoka said it was a mandatory accessory to wear, I still don't have to like it.
So uh... yeah, the rest of the day passed by uneventfully. I admired my own clothes for a bit, Arrinoka returned me to his royal bedroom since he needed to attend to some minor diplomatic matters, I busied myself with more picture-making on easily-provided parchment, had dinner in Arrinoka's bedroom, slept, was restless for a bit so I drew on some more parchment, went to sleep yet again, woke up and prepared for the new day the next morning, had breakfast, and was getting set for a visit to the Lecknart Tradehouse.
In some roundabout way, progress was being made.
The carriage/sedan chair gently jostled to the sway of the soldiers carrying it. The occupants riding inside were a clothing-donned yinglet and a fortmaster, both of which were prepared for a meeting with a trademaster of Tradehouse Lecknart. I, being that clothing-donned yinglet I mentioned, was fidgeting in nervousness and excitement. The only people I know from Tradehouse Lecknart was the Trademaster's daughter and her hill-dog pet, Jerrla and Duchess respectively. Would they recognize me? Do they know it was me that helped Jerrla's hill-dog sleep comfortably in that hole back at Climp's farm? Has Patriarch Flick reported to her about the ear-wig plague affecting the hill-dogs in Arisota's Hold?
"Calm down, Roy." Arrinoka reassured, hiding a smirk. "You look like you're about to spontaneously combust."
"Easy for you to say." I snarked. "I just hope I make a good first impression to zhe trademaster."
"You already know his daughter." Arrinoka said with rolling eyes. "I would say that improves your chances of Zackis favoring you. Although, I want to know how you want this to play out. Would you prefer to keep a lid on your previous acquaintanceship with Jerrla?"
"Easier said zhan done. Not to mention zhat he shouldn't know I helped her daughter out. Unless she told him, but we wouldn't know one way or zhe ozher." I said with a nervous sigh. Honestly, I don't know what is going to happen next. Is this Zackis Lecknart guy going to do the same degrading things like the people at the Exotic Animal Registry Guild once did to me? Or worse, is Lecknart the one hiring the mercenaries to poach yinglets and abduct their females? The more people I introduce myself to, the more I put myself at risk in becoming part of their plans, schemes, and plots. At the same time, I won't be able to get more information by staying at one spot. Learning the identity of the one responsible for hiring those yinglet-lady-abducting mercenaries will certainly require a bit of sleuthing, to say the least.
Guh. I need a clam. But then again, I need to be sober. Come to think of it, the only thing I had that was mollusc-related was Patriarch Callic's tasty powder invention. Was it made by grinding up slugs and then processing them into a powder, possibly by drying and grinding again? I'd like to mix that into a shot glass of bourbon, vodka, or tequila. But then again, I need to be fekking sober. Come on, Roy! Stay Focused!
I shook my head and patted my face. "Okay okay, be cool. Smoozh. Suave. Just gotta psyche myself up and face zhe music. Just remember zhat zhe best laid plans hardly ever survive zhe battlefield and roll wizh zhe changes." I said aloud to myself.
"Need me to hold your hand?" Arrinoka suggested, amusement in his face.
I replied with a flat stare. Oh stop with your cheeking, you bastard. "What I need is a friend."
"And I'm not?" Arrinoka asked with a smidgen of mock hurt. The carriage eventually came to a stop, and the firm thud of a brake was pulled.
"More like a questionable benefactor whom I only got to know for a few days. I still don't know if I should be your stooge or your sidekick." I said, getting up and walking to the door.
"You're licensed as my pet. The least you can do is be a good boy." Arrinoka finished as he got the carriage's door and swung it open, allowing us to see the Lecknart Tradehouse. Nestled close to the inner edge of the Purse District, the Lecknart Tradehouse is what might be equated to a mansion in size. The wooden walls were painted with swirls of green, and pillars of cut marble lining every outer corner of the building and between the windows. There were two banners hanging from the front of the building, one was the white flag of Arisota's Hold, while the other flag was green, which had a silver hammer and white sword crossing over a large darker green leaf. I could see at least eight people lining the pathway between us and the front door of the tradehouse, expecting our arrival and standing at attention. They must be servants hired to maintain and clean the property.
I sighed once more as I left the carriage and followed Arrinoka. "I just hope zhis good boy makes a good impression."
Once we left the carriage, a man clad in a highly decorated tunic and a lavish green coat walked out to meet us in the middle, his shoes clacking with the paved stone ground along the way. He had a fancy pyramid-shaped green hat decorated with four tassels on the bottom corners and with four lapels on the front, each colored in green, gold, black, and red. The favored colors of Arisota's Hold. He had kind blue eyes, his brown hair was neatly combed, his mustache kept thin, his beard pencil-thin and long enough to tuck into a belt, and had pale gray-peach skin. He was quite fat, and looked like a pig with his upturned nose.
A warm smile greeted us. Is this guy Zackis Lecknart? "Dear friend Arri, it's good to see you again." He opened his arms wide to Arrinoka.
Arrinoka replied in kind with a smile and opening his own arms, while I remained behind Arrinoka. They came together in a quick hug before breaking away. "Same to you Zack. How's your life and work doing?"
"Can't complain too much, though I find reasons to when coming to the usual troubles. Oh, and the earwigs and such. You know. The usual and then some." Zackis said with an annoyed and exasperated huff. "And you?"
"Every day I suffer the painful jealousy and quiet envy of every peasant in my hold, as well as the empty pity and occasional derision of those lords who look upon my responsibility as this fort's fortmaster." Arrinoka replied in turn.
"Well... Thank goodness that Borafous Bel DaggerKnuckle is inexhaustibly dedicated as the captain of the Outerguard. If you hadn't hired him, our way of life would be less than comfortable." Zackis nodded. He then turned and looked down to stare at me with curiosity. "So this is your scav pet then?"
"Come on. Say hello and introduce yourself." Arrinoka said, seeming to be goading me out into the open with a simple request.
I cautiously tipped my way around Arrinoka and tactfully gave Zackis a slow bow. "Uh... Pleasant greetings, Lord Trademaster. My name is Roy. A pet zhat is licensed to Lord Arrinoka Arisota. I hope zhe day finds you well."
Judging by Zackis' raised eyebrow, he must be surprised by my mannerism.
There was a long pause.
Uh.
I looked up at Zackis and he was staring at me.
I stand up normally and pleaded my fingers together. "... Uh. So! You have a really nice home here. Very fancy entrance wizh your servants standing at attention. I guess it's some kind of traditional or cultural custom of your house? You must be quite proud."
Another pause.
What is going on here?
Zackis kept staring at me with that raised eyebrow of his.
Okay, this is getting ridiculous. "I hope zhis isn't a silly request, but can you say somezhing back to me? Please take no offense, but I feel like I'm talking to a brick wall here."
"Fifty seconds." Zackis responded with a whimsy I can't understand.
What. "... Fifty seconds? What does fifty seconds mean?" I repeated in a questioning tone.
"It took you fifty seconds for you to lose patience with me." he replied with a sigh. He then motioned to Arrinoka and myself. "Come inside. I have some tea brewed if you're interested."
"I appreciate it, Zackis. Thank you." Arrinoka replied before following him.
I was stunned with confusion for a few seconds before I squirreled up to Arrinoka and matched his speed. We passed through the wide double doors of the Lecknart Tradehouse. Inside of it was a meeting hall, though it had no decorations or any snacks prepared for guests, and it certainly wasn't as grand as the meeting hall in Arisota's fortress. As we entered into the tradehouse, the servants closed the doors behind us. I guess they'll come back into the house through the side doors? We made our way through a few corridors, each one lined with tapestries that might have told some grand tales of heroes, or catastrophic events of more dour times in the past, or fantastical stories of myths and legends. Some walls were lined with archaic weapons and antique shelves filled with knickknacks, statuettes, and decorated antiques.
"... Was zhat some kind of test?" I said, deciding to pipe up.
"Oh fret not Roy." Arrinoka reassured. "It's just a small game he likes to play with any new people he meets. Even I had unknowingly played it when I first met him."
"Oh." I said, blinking. I guess aristocrats have odd ways of amusing themselves. "You said it was a game zhough. Did anyone win it before?"
Zackis then interrupted before Arrinoka could answer. "It's just a test I use to determine someones patience." Zackis said. "I often find myself in more agreeable company with patient people, so I use this test to determine if a person is disciplined or not. Common folk in Arisota's Hold tend to talk a lot when the rumor mill is running, but they tend to flap or curl their tongues when speaking in front of a lord. Additionally, they speak more so if they have troubles and trauma in their past. The average peasant can last about one or two minutes before they lose patience, while an aristocrat or lord normally loses patience somewhere between three or five minutes. Lord Arisota kept the test going for about five minutes and twenty two seconds."
"Wow." I replied. "Have you done zhis test wizh non-human individuals before?"
Zackis grunted and gestured a nod at me. "At times, yes, but tests with non-humans are quite varied. I've met a few baxxid in my younger years, believe it or not. They can talk for a long while. I think there was one that managed to make me lose patience, and he talked for a whole hour! Indrel are quite different on the other hand. Never had a chance to talk with one, let alone test their patience. Always a reclusive bunch, those indrel."
"And yinglets?" I asked.
"Impatient to a fault. Well, most of them. Most yinglets I meet lose their patience after twenty seconds, more or less. Lady yinglets and specialists tend to last on average thirty or thirty five seconds, and the matriarchs and patriarchs average about a minute. Anyway, we are now at my study."
A door was opened to a fairly decorated room. A few chairs were located around a desk, while a gentle wind blew in from an open circular window. It wasn't as lavish or as large as Arrinoka's study chamber, but it certainly had a collection of items that was different. There were books on shelves, sure, but this room also contained sets of armor, scrolls, and various maps. There was also a fireplace in this room, which contained a kettle that was placed close to the fire, but not over it.
"Now that... Er... hold on. I want to shut this." Zackis went to the circular window and closed it. Zackis then sighed as he went to the kettle next. "Let's see if the tea is steep enough."
"Not too steep now. I don't have the same tolerance to stronger brews than you." Arrinoka said.
After taking out a few cups, he poured one for himself and sampled it. "Hmm... Not to my liking." He then continued to fill the two other cups before handing them to us. "But I know most people aren't fond of over-steeped tea.*
I looked down at my offered cup. "So uh... What kind if tea is zhis, if I may ask?"
"Knorg nuts and leeva berries, lightly grounded. A sweet and nutty drink that gives a little bit of energy and vitality to the drinker." Zackis said, putting the kettle back onto the fire and going to his chair at his study's desk.
"Huh. I zhought teas were normally brewed wizh roots, grasses, flowers and leaves." I said, taking a small sip from my cup. ... Well okay, I say 'sip', but I merely tilted the cup at the side of my open mouth. I don't really have the same kind of lips as humans. Eh. Not as good as soda or fruit juice, but it's alright. Might do better with a drop of lemon, or something to give it a sour profile.
"If you're clever enough, anything can be made into a tea." Zackis said coolly, his rear making his desk chair creak as he sat on it.
I looked up at the ceiling and hummed in amusement. "Mm. Maybe not rocks, unless you're into drinking rock tea." I said, taking another sip. "But zhat does give me ideas for ozher types of tea. Meat tea could be good. Perhaps clam tea? Oh zhat would be popular wizh yinglets, I bet! Maybe bread tea. ... But zhen again, maybe not bread tea since zhe tea bags might not filter well. Milk tea maybe. Butter tea? Heh, no, not zhat. Candy tea perhaps? Hm. Perhaps." I paused for a second before shaking my head. "Um... Sorry. My zhoughts kind of wandered aloud for a second zhere."
"You have some amusing thoughts, yinglet." Zackis said with a stifled chuckle. "I think I see why Arrinoka would enjoy your company."
I think I might have blushed. "Oh! Well, good to know it wasn't because of my flattery or my good looks zhat got me here today."
"Eh, I'm not a good judge determining the physical, intellectual, or behavioral charisma of yinglets. Though in my younger years, when I was thinner and was traveling far from my tradehouse, there were a few scavs that were a bit 'too' friendly for my liking." Zackis said with a shiver. "I had to burn all of my underwear on that night."
"Ah." Arrinoka said with a knowing nod. "I think I know of that tale. I believe you called it... 'The Blue Letter Slip Incident'."
Zackis shook a dismissive hand at Arrinoka. "Correct, Arri, but I am not in the mood to tell it. That tale brings... inappropriate memories back to me."
"But it's a funny story." Arrinoka pressed, smiling at Zackisas while he supped from his cup of tea.
"At my expense, yes." Zackis shook his head as he got himself more comfortable in his seat. "But regaling tales of our past comes later. You came here for a reason, correct?"
"Yes." Arrinoka nodded, swirling his tea with his hand. "Learning the tips and tricks on how to care for a yinglet." He stated.
"Very well. I shall tell you all that I know." Zackis said. He then gestured to the chairs across from him. "Please sit, and I will begin."
Well. This aught to be good.
Guuuuuuh these guys are taking a long time. How long has it been? It feels like three hours had passed already! ... ... ... ... ... Okay uh, I might be exaggerating a little. It hasn't been literally three hours. More like twenty or thirty minutes. Still though, it doesn't help that a yinglet is naturally very fidgety when they have nothing to do. That and I'm pretty sure interjecting into their conversation at any point, especially if they haven't addressed me beforehand, is socially disrespectful.
"They're quite clingy buggers, you see. They tend to form gangs and groups because they developed a mindset where the more of them there are, the more protected they will be. Safety in numbers, you see." Zackis said.
I really want to get up and get another cup of tea, but those two seem really at it. Plus, they're good friends and I don't want to infringe on that. Not only that, I still think that Zackis is unaware of the real reason why I came here.
"I see. So by that logic, having only one yinglet as a pet would have a degrading affect to its social behavior in the long term?" Arrinoka asked.
How long are these two farts going to talk? Gosh, it's like an eternity in this study room!
"Indeed. Like humans, yinglets are social animals that require the company of others to keep themselves sane. Theoretically, you can have about two or three yinglet pets, at most, and they won't become so overbearingly lonely that they would become stir crazy. Isolation is a subtle poison for a healthy mind, after all." Zackis said, nodding sagely.
This is just going on and on and on. I think I've been looking at my teacup for the umpteenth time already. It looks like it was an oven-baked clay creation, though it was colored neatly and given a gloss finish before going into the kiln that created it.
"So aside from their simple diets, housebreaking training, possible toys and activities to prevent boredom, and methods to maintain their behavioral and social stability, what else should we touch on? How about diseases?" Arrinoka wondered aloud.
I accidentally fumbled the teacup I was loosely handling in my hands.
GEH.
I reached for it, but my hands didn't make it in time.
GEH!
My feet were closer to the falling cup, thankfully. I reacted quickly and managed to grab the cup with my feet and avert the disaster. Grabbing things with your feet is a very weird feeling, by the way. But thanks to my feet-hands, this teacup will not suffer the fate of fracturing into a hundred pieces.
"Roy. Is there a problem?" Zackis asked me, raising an inquisitive eyebrow.
I think I can feel myself blush. "Uh... Heh. Sorry, Lord Lecknart. I um... I might have gotten a bit carried away."
"Where is the teacup I had given you?" Zackis inquired, almost accusingly.
I held up my feet. "I uh... Almost dropped zhe teacup, but I caught it." I said, showing him the cup in my feet-hands.
"Did you spill your tea?" He pressed.
"No." I answered. I already emptied my cup several minutes ago. "But you two were having an important conversation and... I didn't want to interrupt. I didn't want to be rude between two good friends."
"Ah, I see what's happening." Arrinoka interjected, with that smirking smile of his. "You've became bored listening to our discussion, and that you are now quite restless."
"What? No I-..." I paused before I hung my head in shame. "I didn't want to be disrespectful and say anyzhing."
"Hm." Arrinoka turned to Zackis. "Lord Lecknart. Do you think your daughter can entertain my pet?"
"My daughter?" Zackis grunted in agitation. "She is currently grounded in her room."
"Ah, is she? For how long?" Arrinoka asked.
"For two weeks." Zackis flatly answered. "The stunt she pulled three days ago is not going to be forgotten by me so soon."
"It's not easy punishing a member of your own family." Arrinoka mindfully said.
Zackis grunted, agitated again. "Discipline is discipline. Until she learns how much I care for her, and her responsibility as a heiress of the Lecknart Tradehouse, my daughter will learn that actions have consequences."
"Wow. Two weeks sounds steep." I interjected.
Zackis shook his head at me. "Listen, Roy. If you were a human and had a daughter, you would know how strong a father's love for their only child would be."
An idea formed in my head. "Well... How about zhis suggestion? A compromise. Can you have her prove her responsibility?"
"Prove her responsibility?" Zackis asked.
"Yes. Say to her zhat if she yinglet-sits me, her punishment can be alleviated a little. As a reward, you could reduce her punishment down a week, giving her incentive to be a responsible Lecknart lady." I explained. After a short pause and seeing Zackis' eyebrow raising at me again, I corrected myself. "... Or maybe a couple of days. A day. An hour or two. You know. Whatever." I then pointed a thumb at myself. "But at zhe same time, you'd have a set of eyes zhat'll keep watch over your daughter. I'll even make sure she doesn't get into any trouble."
Zackis paused for way longer than I was comfortable with. Once he lowered his brow, he nodded. "Alright. Sure. I'll give your suggestion a shot."
Arrinoka looked at me, with his own raised eyebrow. "Are you sure?" Judging from his tone of voice, the question was directed at Lord Zackis Lecknart.
Zackis shrugged his arms. "Eh, he's just a yinglet. A well spoken one too. And since he's well spoken, it also means he's smart. And since he's smart, he knows how actions and consequences work. And since he knows about actions and consequences, he should know that the consequences of acting against the Lecknart tradehouse will include quite draconian punishments for him."
"So that's your reasoning, huh?" Arrinoka said, looking up at the ceiling with an expression between bemusement and slight surprise.
I blinked a few times. "Uh... How draconian are zhe punishments?"
"Oh that depends on your actions, Roy. Break a teacup and you'd get a rough slap on the hand." Zackis replied nonchalantly. A second later he glowered a stare at me. "But if you somehow hurt my daughter, even by accident, then I will turn you into a rug. Do you understand?"
"Um... Completely." I said with a lump in my throat. I swallowed it down. Oh boy. What am I getting myself into? I suddenly feel like I'm on pins and needles!
"Then I'm holding you to your word." Zackis said with a clap of his hands and standing up from his seat. "Alright then. Let's convene to the bedroom of my dear Jerry-Jerr."
I hope I don't fek this up!
A/N: I had way too many jelly beans for dessert.
