In spite of the fact that Arthur was pretty sure he had made it perfectly clear that he needed to get to the Border Sea immediately, he had neglected to remember that Suzy needed to change into lady like garments. I don't know what it matters. She still looks like a boy in a dress anyway. Arthur felt a pang of guilt for thinking that. Maybe the reason why he didn't like Suzy's feminine attire was because they reminded him too much of Leaf. He wondered if it what time it was there now, in his own world. He also wondered if Artemis's first day had been normal, or if he had gotten into some strange mess. I made it clear to Dame Primus that I don't want Artemis involved. He persisted. She may be rude at times and might want things her way but she does respect me, on some level. They landed before a temple in Middle House were Suzy went in to speak with Monday's Noons's old associate. The one that had helped her become an indentured worker long ago. Soon Suzy emerged in her Hera garb, none the more attached to it than she had been the first time she wore it. She always professed it to make her incredibly clumsy and unable to wield anything efficiently. By the way Suzy was catching at the bottom of the gown, she also didn't like the prospect of a strong wind.
Grumpily she got back into the Chariot and headed directly for Port Wednesday were as of late they spent most of their time. They landed and searched for the tavern that the head rat resided. Of course they were looking for a very familiar crew of Raised Rats. Arthur ducked his head as they entered the tavern and stood still for a moment, waiting for his eyes to refocus in the dark space. "Hello?" he called and taking a step forward collided with a table and almost fell over.
"Is anyone in 'ere?" Suzy queried.
"Who wants to know?" a sly voice asked from the darkness.
Arthur straightened up and cleared his throat. "Lord Arthur," he boomed.
"Arthur?" suddenly it was more lively inside and the distinct sent of melting cheese began seeping into his nostrils. A sort of fog suddenly blew up into Arthur's face and he coughed and waved his hands before his face. That voice had almost sounded familiar.
"Wat-wat" he coughed, squinting to see through the smoke. "Watkingle?"
"'Ou, me? Nay I be Chauncey though, Watkingle's first mate and son" the smoke cleared enough for Arthur to glimpse a rather brown rat, with a white splotch round its left eye and a black nose. Behind him a rather scarred looking pink tail flickered.
"Chauncey?"
"Chauncey Watkingle, that's me name, should I call cap'n then?" before Arthur could answer the naval rat spun on his heel and yelled over his shoulder. "Cap'n, Cap'n! You've got a visitor"
"Chauncey, what have I told you about," Watkingle came stumbling out of a back room with a night cap dangling by his chin in a bedraggled toga, with leafs tucked behind his ears. I suppose this is what Julius Caesar looked like when he slept in, Arthur mused. Watkingle scratched behind his ears and then reached for a square of cheese sitting on a platter on one of the tables. He nibbled it and sniffed the air around him. He waddled closer, nose still tipped up and nibbling the cheese. He stopped right in front of Arthur, standing on tiptoes to sniff at his hair. One eye winked open skimmed over Arthur quickly. Watkingle then leaned to look over Arthur at Suzy and Scamandross behind him.
"Well I'll be, Lord Arthur is that you?" He chortled and then pulled Arthur in for a hug. "Ahh, and I believe this is your consort, Suzy was it?"
"What, no, Suzy's just a friend" Arthur rambled, flushing red at the same time.
"Remembered me name. Not to say that I'm surprised you Rats can remember everything 'cause you never had to get washed between the ears." Suzy out stretched her hand for the rat to shake.
"And, the Doctor. Hope you won't be troubled if I just call you that will you? I can't very handle saying a name like yours, it was something long, wasn't it?"
"Scamandross" He replied tightlipped, obviously insulted by the rat.
Watkingle finished off his snack and swaggered over to the bar where he retrieved a glass of cranberry juice and gulped it down. He burped and then nodded at Arthur. "If you'll excuse me, I'd like to go change into some not so raggedy clothing"
Arthur waved him away. "no problem"
Watkingle turned and went swaggering back to what was presumably his bedroom, his tail switching behind him. Suzy stretched and wandered over to the bar to get a drink "Want one Arthur?"
"Yeah, sure."
"So, what does the lord of the House want with my pop?" Chauncey asked eagerly.
Arthur settled into a chair, "um well, thank you Suzy. Watkingle helped me out a while ago when I was retrieving parts of the Will and…" Arthur trailed off furrowed his brow. He didn't have time to get into this now. "I'll explain another time"
"Alright then so what do you need?" Watkingle came striding back out looking much more awake than he had before, he clapped his hands together and his tail snapped behind him excitedly.
"Scamandross" Arthur summoned the doctor to elaborate on their situation.
"Lord Arthur is in search of the ever elusive dwellings of Mistress Time,"
"Elusive?" Arthur whispered to Suzy. Suzy just stared back at him shrugged and gestured for him to listen carefully.
"The Untimely Goddess? What do you need from her?"
"It's what she needs from me actually" Arthur filled in offering Watkingle the letter he had received from Time.
Watkingle looked it over, Chauncey bouncing up and down, obviously hoping for a little adventure.
"So, 'ere it is, we don't know where Mistress Time's Hourglass Manor is"
"That isn't what we came for" Scamandross corrected, the storms of his tattoos shifting across the plains of his face. "I have means for locating the Manor, only I am lacking a piece to my augury puzzle, we had hopes you might have information on how we could find it."
Chauncey piped up. "Oh! C'mon pop let's work on this one, a real chance for me to get out there, get my paws dirty,"
Watkingle glowered at Chauncey. "What've I told you about calling me pop in front of company?" he whined, evidently feeling robbed of his pride.
"Titles don't matter" Arthur cut in. "Where or who do we need to find to get that missing piece"
Watkingle began stroking his whiskers, in mirroring fashion; Chauncey began to do the same. "Let me bottle one o' my agents and I'll back to you in a moment." He said edging behind the bar to a shelf of bottles he pulled one off and wrote a quick message then shoved it in, corked it and dropped it down a metal tube. "Should be getting' a response soon enough" Watkingle assured. "Simultaneous bottle always goes quickly, even quicker now, but in the mean time" Watkingle pushed the platter of cheese before Arthur. "Cheese anyone?"
Suzy snickered, poking Arthur in the side and then reaching for a piece. Arthur glared at her and then refused the snack. Teatime! Snack time! What are we, four? I feel like I'm in kindergarten, we'll be taking naps next…his thought was cut off as he caught Chauncey beginning to nod off in a corner. Splendid, just bloody splendid.