Chapter 5: Distractions
XXX
Adela leaned back into the cushion of the carriage seat, eyes closed and hands folded neatly on her lap. Her black fur melted into the ebony gown she was wearing. She could not bring herself to wear any other color this morning.
She tried to ignore the fact that despite her ghostly white mask of face fur, she looked like a living shadow. Ominous, but appropriate in her opinion; she felt as transparent as one.
Adela glanced out the window, watching the palace get farther and farther away.
She jumped slightly, stirred from her brooding by Marcus clearing his throat from the seat across from her. She looked towards him, studying his expression. He too looked none too thrilled about the entire situation. Her chamber maids had been gossiping this morning about how the man approached the entire council with distain, lashing out at their decision. Marcus called them cowards, ranting about how Maximus would never have allowed it. The idea of combining Warnerstock and Tic-Tockia into one kingdom sickened him as much as it did the former king. He warned them of what would more than likely be disastrous results and how the mere idea was an insult on the recently deceased king. Maximus had pledged his entire life to the kingdom, making it what it was, and they were now tossing it carelessly into unclean hands.
But it only proved to further upset Adela. She was doing a decent job of hiding her distress though. At least she thought she was.
Marcus leaned over and gently placed his hand on top of hers. She stared down at it.
He sighed. "I tried-"
"I know you did," she spoke, still not looking up. He watched her, he himself transfixed with her eerily dark figure in the pitch black gown. "I don't blame you… I don't blame him either," Adela pulled her gaze away from his hand.
Marcus continued to stare at her, but she avoided his eyes. "He never meant for it to turn out this way…" he said softly.
"I promised Maximus. Warnerstock is now my responsibility and I'm honored to be doing what's best for my people…"
The two fell silent for a few moments before Marcus spoke again. "I can't believe you said that with a straight face."
Adela couldn't hold back the giggle and Marcus returned it with a smirk.
"I'm glad you're here with me," Adela met his eyes. "Maximus was right. You're a good friend."
Marcus chuckled. "I couldn't allow them to throw you to the wolves and not stick around to watch you fight."
Adela smiled at his confidence in her. What he and Maximus saw in her she had yet to feel herself. But she hoped for Warnerstock's sake whatever it was it would be strong enough to keep her fear at bay.
She returned her gaze out the window, this time counting the knight escorts surrounding the carriage.
-
The long travel and cramped carriage didn't take long to get to Adela. By the third day her mind was screaming for escape.
Too much silence. Too much time to dwell on the issue. She had worked herself into an emotional fit.
Before the trip the council had tried to reassure her that the merger was for the best and that it would take the pressure off her. The Duke of Tic-Tockia was young, handsome, more experienced, and would support her and Warnerstock properly.
But Adela had heard nothing but the opposite from everyone else. It was apparently no secret that Duke Salazar was rude, abrasive, and greedy. At twenty-two, he was indeed much younger than Maximus, but had nothing else on his mind other than power.
Adela had never met him and tried her best to keep an open and hopeful mind toward her betrothed. He was more experienced than her and he wasn't decrepitizingly old like Maximus had been. Perhaps he was even good looking. But the stories and rumors kept flooding around about the corrupted Duke and they proved to be too much for her naivety.
She broke down.
Marcus instructed the carriage stop and for Adela to get some fresh air.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," she lied, fanning her face with her hand and trying to keep her emotions in check.
"Of course you are…" Marcus humored her, helping her down from the carriage. "How about you walk a little anyway? Not enough blood circulation sitting down all day."
Adela relented and allowed herself to be lead away from the carriage. He was right, the cool air blowing though her mint colored gown felt nice. Marcus released his gentle grip on her arm and urged her to walk down towards the small series of ponds alongside the road. He wanted to talk with the driver and insisted the natural surroundings would be good for her.
The young queen sighed and nodded, stepping off the gravel path and onto the thick green grass. Marcus watched her for a moment before looking back at the few knights standing next to the carriage. "Watch her closely, but give her some space."
The three knights nodded, bowing to the advisor.
Adela stood at the bank of the little stream connecting the small ponds together. She looked down at her reflection, the stress showing in her features. The sight of her disheveled appearance upset her more and she looked out in the distance. The Wanrerstock castle was no more than a dot on the horizon. A familiar feeling washed over her, the same feeling she remembered having on her way to Warnerstock for the first time. That dreadfully sick sense that sat uncomfortably in the pit of her stomach. The longing to return to someplace familiar.
Adela laughed out loud at the extreme irony of it all. How in such a short time Warnerstock had become that familiar place she now longed for when before it had been the object of her dread. Her stressed, unsettling laughter melted into a choked sob and her dark eyes welled up with tears. It was all too much for the fourteen-year-old queen. She couldn't even find the strength to reach up and wipe away her freely falling tears.
She nearly stumbled forward into the pond when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She caught herself though and looked to her right at the white cloth being held at her eye level. She gasped in surprise, holding her hand over her heart.
"Forgive me, your grace, I didn't mean to startle you."
Adela turned around to face the source of the voice, trying to calm down her beating heart. But it only sped up at the sight of the tall knight standing before her.
He was at least two and a half heads taller than her, leaning over slightly to offer the queen his handkerchief. His dark concerned eyes stood out from the clean white fur on his face in the same manner hers did. The cherry red nose he sported tipped Adela off that he was of the same breed of anthronian that she was.
She instantly wondered if he was from Glenadale, her former kingdom being home to many of the feline/canine mix. Seeing others like herself was not uncommon there, but Warnerstock seemed to be mostly made up of humans with a few scattered anthronians here and there. She had no idea a few made up the palace guards.
She suddenly realized she was staring and shook herself free from her stupor.
"Are you alright, your highness?" his deep voice asked her, still offering the cloth to her damp eyes while removing his helmet with his other hand.
Adela found herself staring again, watching his perked ears spring up after being freed from the metallic helmet. She started slightly as if she suddenly heard his words and wiped at her eyes furiously with one hand and took the handkerchief with the other, flustered that she probably looked atrocious. "No, I mean yes!" she sniffled, dabbing her eyes. "I'm fine, thank you."
"Are you sure?" he spoke again, concern still heavy on his expressions.
She looked back up at him, admiring the slight accent in his thick voice. She tried to place the dialect. Scouse perhaps? She was staring again and quickly turned her gaze back to the pond, cursing herself for looking like such a fool. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for the… um," she avoided his eyes as she trailed off, gesturing to the handkerchief and worried she'd freeze up again. But it took all the effort she could muster. She wanted very badly to look back at the knight.
"William!"
They both turned at the sound of Marcus' voice come closer to them.
"Is she alright?" Marcus questioned, coming up beside them. The sight of the knight beside the queen had him worried something was wrong.
Adela sighed and waved the advisor off. "Really Marcus, I'm okay." She found herself trying to peek at the tall knight out of the corner of her eye. He was looking at Marcus, not her. The perfect opportunity to steal another glance.
"I was just checking on her sir," the knight bowed his head.
Marcus nodded and took Adela's arm gently, "Thank you William. We will be leaving soon, make sure everyone is ready."
William nodded and made his way back up to the caravan.
Marcus turned to Adela, still worried, but she wasn't paying any attention to him, her gaze focused on the knight and his long zig zaged tail swaying behind him.
"Adela, if you'd like us to find a town to stop for awhile we could…" Marcus trailed off as he watched the transfixed queen ignore his every word. He looked back at the young knight, then back at Adela. He smirked.
"I must be blind," the advisor chuckled. "I had completely forgotten the Captain's breed."
Adela whirled around to look at Marcus. "Captain?"
Marcus nodded, slowly leading her back towards the carriage. "I do believe his great grandparents were from Glenadale," he smiled, patting the back of her hand. "His family has served the palace very well for the last few generations and his father is the high constable in the neighboring kingdom of Anvilania. I know he's young, but you have nothing to worry about Adela, William Warner is one of the most advanced trained knights in the kingdom."
"Really?" Adela looked to Marcus than back towards the knight, craning her neck to see him better. "Well that's… good to know," She muttered almost inaudibly. Marcus grinned to himself and chuckled, wondering if perhaps this was just the kind of distraction the young monarch needed to keep her from losing all of her nerve before they arrived in Tic-Tockia. It couldn't hurt to indulge her at least a little, she was after all, a teenager.
"You know, perhaps you should stay outside for awhile. We'll be stopping at the first village we come across and that shouldn't be too far off," Marcus suggested before whistling sharply. His signal made the Captain turn around.
Adela's grip on Marcus' arm tightened slightly when the knight looked their way. Her advisor led her over to the carriage as William approached them.
"William, the queen is trying to avoid a small case of cabin fever. Perhaps some time in the saddle would be preferred to the coach? Would you ready a mount for her?" Marcus asked.
"Of course, sir," William nodded before walking back around the coach.
Adela bit her lip and looked to Marcus. "Oh, I don't think that's really necessary. I'm-"
"Fine, we know," Marcus chuckled. "Don't worry your majesty, the fresh air will calm your nerves and William will be your personal escort, won't you lad?"
The knight nodded as he walked back towards them, leading a speckled Arabian horse by the bridal. Adela straightened up, subconsciously running her fingers through her wavy shoulder length hair a few times.
"Have you ridden, m'lady?" William asked, addressing her nervous motions.
Adela quickly nodded her head and stepped forward, shooting Marcus a look over her shoulder. He simply smiled and waved. "I'll be right in the carriage if you need me Adela," he reassured her before stepping into the coach.
She turned back around to find the horse directly in front of her, leaning down to sniff at her shoulder. She started slightly at its sudden close proximity, but smiled and reached up to run her hand down the animal's velvety soft forelock.
"You have nothing to worry about, your grace, Aidan is a seasoned mount," William came around the front of the horse, offering his white gloved hand to the queen.
It took all she had not to stare at the knight's outstretched hand, but she managed to place her delicate black one into his white glove. She blushed horribly when he lifted her up by her waist, helping her into the saddle. Knowing full well the reddened skin could be seen through her white cheek fur, she tried desperately to hide behind her hair.
Adela stuttered out a thank you and reached for the reins, her hand brushing William's once more in the exchange. He smiled at her and she could do nothing to stop the corners of her own mouth from curling upward.
-
Adela fell back into the bed she would be spending the night in. The Inn they had stopped at was quaint and she liked its hominess.
The smile on her face had been present since early that afternoon and refused to go away. As exhausted as she was, Adela rolled over on the mattress and reached for her pack, digging around for her journal.
She turned onto her stomach and flipped open to the next available page.
For the first time since I left Glenadale, I'm feeling my age again. Bethany would be proud.
But as wonderful as the butterflies in my stomach feel, I'm worried I'll forget what comes with being a queen. Selfishness is frowned upon when one dictates an entire country.
But I will admit that the break from my dread is comforting. Besides…
Tic-Tockia is still a long ways away and I think I'll opt to ridding side saddle awhile longer. The sore tail is worth the company of my "personal escort".
XXX
Yakko carefully slipped the journal from his younger brother's hand, closing it and setting it back down on his pack. He shifted a bit, trying to get a little more comfortable without waking the two siblings curled up against him. The sway of the coach and the patter of the light rain were soothing and Yakko had no doubt he too would be asleep soon.
It didn't surprise him that his brother and sister had to be dragged from the bed this morning, only to slip right back into sleep soon after settling into the carriage. As exhausted as he was, Yakko managed to compose himself long enough to say goodbye to the village for himself and the other prince and princess.
He had climbed into the carriage and positioned himself in between his two weary kin, both wanting to use him as a pillow. Yakko uttered the obligatory "I told you so" statement, receiving tired glares from Wakko and Dot. But despite their late night of reading their mother's journal, both still wanted more. Yakko allowed them to settle against him as he read, but they only lasted half a passage before they could no longer fight sleep.
Yakko smiled and stroked his sister's back; her upper body sprawled across his lap. Wakko had nuzzled his cheek against Yakko's collar bone and was the first to lose his battle against his heavy eye lids. Yakko rested his chin on his brother's head, rubbing his shoulder comfortingly.
The oldest perked his ear slightly and glanced down at the middle child. He stopped petting Dot's back and reached up to his brother's forehead. Yakko's brow furrowed at Wakko's clammy, damp fur, instinctively running his hand behind Wakko's neck as well. He noted the uncharacteristic warmth and sighed. All signs pointed towards the beginnings of a fever.
Yakko cursed himself for letting his little brother stay out in the rain yesterday. He really disliked the idea of Wakko traveling with a cold. He would be sure to look for an apothecary during the next resting point in hopes that the fever was mild enough that a few well mixed herbs would keep it from getting worse. Perhaps it would be best if they turned around now and got Wakko home…
Yakko leaned back into the hard cushion and looked out the window. No, they couldn't do that. Wakko would protest anyway. The prince sighed, he was overreacting as usual, it was just the startings of a small cold and as long as his little brother took it easy during the trip, he'd be fine.
Yakko couldn't help himself though. Worry had been ingrained in him for as long as he could remember. All three of them had been prone to illness while living out on the streets and in the orphanage, it was only right that Yakko find himself in a fit at the signs of a cold in one of his siblings. Of course a cold was much more of a deal when they weren't royalty.
Yakko gently removed Wakko's cap and stroked back his ears. He shouldn't be too worried. They had a lot more access to medicine and doctors, and out of the three of them, Wakko was the fast healer. He always seemed to breeze through the sniffles or a cough, while Yakko could go weeks with an upset stomach and Dot…
… well, she still had never fully recovered from her year long struggle with pneumonia. Yakko noticed she couldn't run very long without getting a shortness of breath or climb a long flight of stairs without a bit of a wheeze. She had a lingering cough that only really showed up when the seasons changed or the weather was damp. But despite it all, his sister tolerated it and never gave a second thought that those symptoms were probably permanent.
Yakko reached over to Dot's pack next to them on the seat, digging around for her velvet mantle. He draped it across his snoozing sister and made a note to pick up another in the next town for Wakko.
The oldest prince settled back, holding his siblings near and allowing his own eyes to close.
By the time the three royals reached the next village the rain had let up. The sky remained overcast though, bathing the land in a misty haze.
Yakko leaned out the window of the coach, noting that this village was definitely more populated than OneLiner. The dirt roads morphed into cobble stone streets and the wooden buildings were built taller and wider. Merchant carts lined the roads and Yakko could detect the distinct scent of a large body of water nearby. With the high possibility of a river dock, Yakko mused that the town must be part of a trading route.
He pulled himself back into the carriage and looked over at his siblings. Dot was sitting up and looking out the other window at their new surroundings.
"This place is creepy…" she commented, leaning back into her seat.
"It's just the fog rolling in off the river," Yakko reassured her. Wakko was curled up against him, using his lap as a pillow. The middle Warner had woken up to a splitting sensation in his head and an achy feverish body. At the moment all Wakko wanted to do was fall back asleep, but his headache
wouldn't allow him to do much of anything, except be miserable. Wakko buried his face against Yakko in hopes that his older brother would make the pain go away.
Yakko frowned in concern, gently rubbing his brother's back. He knew they hadn't planned on stopping for the night, Lance was adamant about reaching Anvilania as soon as possible. But perhaps they should reconsider. The coach was probably doing nothing to ease his ailing brother, and the damp weather wouldn't help either.
Making up his mind, Yakko gently shifted Wakko off him before leaning out the window. The prince whistled sharply to get the attention of the driver, who slowed the wagon to a stop and jumped down from the elevated seat.
Yakko rested his elbows on the sill of the window, looking down at the man. "How about we stop here for the night?"
The man, a short whippet anthronian, gave the boy a questioning look. "Were we not going to continue on, sir?"
Yakko shrugged, "Plans change. I need to get some things and my siblings could use a real bed tonight. Could you alert the rest of the caravan please?"
The man nodded and bowed before jogging over to the other stopped coaches with puzzled looking drivers. Yakko smiled, enjoying the fact that even though he was still young, people rarely questioned him. Being a prince had its advantages.
Yakko's ears perked at the sound of an enraged shout. He leaned out the window again and rolled his eyes as he watched Lance storm out of the coach in front of them.
Well… mostly everyone didn't question him.
Yakko rested his chin on his arms as he waited for the seething badger to comer over. He snickered in amusement. The man's cerulean colored fur was liable to turn as red as the flames in his eyes.
"Why Lance, something the matter?"
"Sire!" The advisor stomped up to the coach. "We cannot be stopping at every town we pass if we want to arrive in Anvilania on time!"
Yakko let his arm dangle out the window in a bored manner. "Yeesh… Anvilania this, Anvilania that. If you love it so much, why don't you marry it?"
Lance glared. "Your highness…" he spoke through his teeth, grinding them back and forth slowly. "I must advise against this course of action."
"And I must advise against that horrible hair piece," Yakko leaned out the window and plucked the man's toupee from atop his head.
Lance gasped and snatched his hair back. "Prince Yakko! This is not suitable behavior!"
Yakko casually waved the badger off. "Relaaax. Remember what Scratchansniff said about your blood pressure, Firman." The badger's eyes widened in sudden surprise. Yakko smirked. "Didn't know I knew your real name, didja?"
Lance's surprise melted back into anger. "How did you-"
Yakko shrugged, interrupting him. "I was putzin' around the archives with Brain one day. Do you know how many scrolls there are in that room?" Yakko grinned, "Lots… lots of scrolls." Seeing the man's growing temper, he reached down and patronizingly patted his advisor's head, offsetting the wig again. "Aw don't worry buddy," the Warner cooed in mock sympathy, "If my name was Firman, I'd change it too."
Giggles could be heard from inside the coach.
Lance ruffled his fur, trying to contain his urge to strangle the child prince. "We're not stopping…"
"Eeeeeeh, yes we are," Yakko smirked.
"No, we're not," Lance clutched his hands into fists.
Yakko quickly glanced back into the carriage, exchanging a look with his sister who was watching the entertaining banter with interest. She beamed at her older brother, taking her queue as she hopped down from her seat.
"I really think we should stop," Yakko looked back out at Lance.
Lance opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted as Dot swung open the door to the coach, nearly smacking the badger in the process. He stumbled back and turned his attention to the little princess. Her arms were crossed and her lower lip stuck out in a strong pout. Her eyes locked with his.
"I wanna stop…" Dot said firmly.
Lance grit his teeth, trying to stand his ground, but visibly braced himself for some unseen impact. "Your majesty-"
"I wanna stop NOW!" Dot stomped her foot to further emphasize her point.
Lance tried to match her stubborn behavior. "Princess, we are NOT stopping so you had better-"
"I don't WANNA sleep in the STUPID WAGON!" Dot clenched her own fists and stepped down from the carriage.
Lance flinched when he realized that not only was the entire caravan watching his shouting match with the six-year-old monarch, but a few dozen of the villagers had turned to watch the display as well.
The advisor looked back up at Yakko, who had the smuggest look he could muster on his face. Lance glared. "Control your sister!"
Yakko held up his hands in defense. "Whoa, do I look suicidal to you?"
"If we don't stop NOW I'll SCREAM!" Dot raised her voice.
Lance groaned and tried to lean down to her eye level, "Princess, you need to understand that you don't get your way by-"
Dot's tail frizzed slightly as she took a deep breath.
Lance started to sweat as he held his hands up. "Now Angelina, I know you're above this sort of behavior-"
The use of her real name sent the Warner sister over the edge. She would not allow herself to be talked down to. Dot let loose a shrill scream, her impressive volume making it echo through the quiet streets of the trade town.
Lance fell back from the extremely high pitch of the youngest sibling's voice. Yakko was still grinning, but covering his ears to shield them from the extent of his sister's temper tantrum.
The badger sat up and tried to talk over Dot's unique way of protesting. But she just raised the volume in response, only stopping long enough to suck in more air.
Lance looked around at all the stares and glares he was receiving. People shook their heads at him as they covered their own ears.
Lance sighed, annoyed that he was caving. "ALRIGHT! WE'LL STOP!"
Dot instantly ceased her tantrum, her livid expression replaced with a sickeningly sweet smile. She daintily cleared her throat, "Thank you!"
Lance looked up to see Yakko chuckling. "Way to put your foot down Lance," he commented as he stepped down from the coach, an exhausted Wakko in his arms. "That'll teach you, sis," Yakko winked at her.
The oldest Warner hoisted his brother higher up in his arms, Wakko clinging around his neck and his legs linked around Yakko's waist. He stepped down next to their sister, still smirking at Lance. "Well this looks like a nice place," Yakko nodded back to the large Inn behind them. "How's about you go get us all checked in Lance. We're gonna go shopping…"
"We are?" Dot's eyes lit up as she hurried after her older brother who was calmly walking past their advisor.
By the time Lance shook off his shock, the three siblings were halfway down the street. The badger grumbled and turned around to find the guards staring at him. Flustered, the man threw up his arms, "Well?! Go on! Settle in!"
Down the street, Dot excitedly pushed the door open to the shop her brother had pointed out to her before she rushed ahead. The princess was slightly disappointed when she entered the shop to find wall to wall shelves of bottles and boxes. Hoping this wouldn't be the only shop they'd visit, she held the door open for her brothers. "What do we need in here Yakko? It's all boring stuff…"
Yakko chuckled down at her, "We won't be here long Dot. Stay next to me, okay?" He added when he noticed her tail twitching as she scanned the shelves. He knew she would find nothing here that interested her, but she would still wander and browse. He mused that it must be a girl thing, that distinct urge to shop.
Dot nodded absentmindedly to his request, still looking around.
Yakko looked down at his little brother in his arms. Wakko looked ready to fall back asleep against his shoulder.
"How ya doin' bro?" Yakko asked, nudging the side of Wakko's head with his muzzle. Wakko released a heavy sigh and nuzzled his face into Yakko's shoulder and coughed.
Yakko frowned slightly and made his way to the counter in the back of the shop, reminding his sister once more to stay near him. Dot instantly stopped reaching for one of the shelves and returned to Yakko's side. She clutched her brother's belt in her normal fashion, but still let her eyes wander.
Yakko scanned the older man behind the counter reading a book. He examined his features; salt and pepper colored hair and a large set of bifocals that rested at the end of his long pointed nose. Every few seconds he would push them back up closer to his eyes and readjust his vision to see the words on the book in front of him. But every time he leaned forward to read, the weight of the lenses had them slipping back down his face.
The man thumbed through the book slowly, panning each page with his index finger guiding his eyes.
Yakko cleared his throat as he approached the counter, causing the aging man to look up. His eyes reflected huge and comically through the impossibly thick glass and Yakko stifled a snicker.
The man closed his large text, setting a bit of dust free from where it gathered on the pages. "Can I help you young man?"
Yakko noticed the hesitation in the man's voice and waved it off. Three kids in a shop like this was probably uncommon. He watched as the man looked them over with an eye of skepticism, probably noting their tailored clothes.
To help relax the man's questioning gaze, Yakko shifted Wakko to his hip and dug his hand into one of the deep pockets in his slacks. He pulled out a good sized coin pouch and set it down on the counter.
That seemed to do the trick and the old man perked up, suddenly interested and more inclined to listen.
"He has a fever and a cough," Yakko gestured to the younger sibling in his arms.
The apothecary stood up and adjusted his glasses once more before leaning over the counter towards the boys.
Wakko balked as the unfamiliar man's thin hands moved towards him, causing him to instantly tighten his grip on his brother. Yakko rubbed his back, murmuring in his ear that it was okay. But despite his older brother's comforting words, Wakko's body still tensed as the cold hands ran over his feverish complexion.
Muttering under his breath some, the apothecary pulled his fleshy hands away from the young prince's damp fur.
"Do you have anything that will break the fever? Or at least help him sleep?" Yakko asked, hugging his brother a little to soothe his tense reaction to the mock check up.
The man was already digging around under his counter. "How old?" the man's voice broke through the clink and clatter of moving bottles.
"Nine," Yakko responded.
"The apothecary's mumbling continued. Yakko could make out a few names of herbs and medical terms, but most of whatever the man was saying was lost in translation.
"Yakko, I don't like medicine…" Wakko croaked out to his brother. Yakko smiled at him; his brother could be a very pathetic creature when he has a cold. It was about the only time Wakko would consent to being babied. In fact, he pretty much demanded it.
"You wanna feel better right?" Yakko asked him. Wakko sighed and rested his forehead on Yakko's shoulder, knowing he had lost this battle before he even started it. That didn't stop him from grumbling and whining about the medicine's foul taste though.
Yakko smirked and caught his sister out of the corner of his eye starting to stray. But she noticed that she had been spotted, catching his annoyed look and scurried back to his side. She looked slightly ashamed that she had been caught, but tried to pull a guilt trip on her brother with eyes that said it was his fault for bringing her into a store with so many shiny bottles.
Yakko rolled his eyes and smirked at her pout before turning his attention back to the apothecary as he emerged from under his counter holding a few viles and pouches in his arms. Yakko watched as the man pulled over a ceramic dish and mixed a few things inside of it until we was happy with the consistency. The man cut his eyes back to Yakko as he bottled up the powdered concoction.
"Mix a spoon full with a cup of warm water. Once a day, preferably before he goes to sleep," the man instructed as he handed the bottle to Yakko.
Yakko held the bottle up to his eye level for a moment before pocketing it. He pulled out another coin pouch and set it next to the first one, both about the same size. He pushed them forward to the man who happily accepted them.
"Thank you," Yakko said, noting the very satisfied look on the man's face as he pulled open the draw strings of the two pouches and glanced inside at their contents.
"Just make sure he gets lots of rest and water. He should stay indoors too," the apothecary recommended as he deposited his pay under the counter.
Yakko nodded and once again called his sister away from the shelves. Dot hurried to follow her brothers out of the store.
To appease her short attention span though, Yakko let her lead them into a shop three buildings down and let her browse while he found two quality mantles with extra thick linings for he and his brother. Dot found a few more ribbons to add to her collection and pestered her brother to tie the new crimson one around her ears on the way back to the Inn.
"Like Mama's journal," she stated very matter-of-factly as Yakko straightened out the bow. He smiled and Wakko tugged on his sleeve with a stifled cough.
"Can we read more tonight?"
Yakko looked down at his brother who was pawing at his runny nose, rubbing the fur raw. Yakko pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and leaned down to wipe his nose. "I think we'll sleep tonight kiddo…"
The oldest was rewarded with protests and whines, his two young siblings pleading for a different answer. Yakko raised his voice above theirs.
"Wakko, you're sick. Dot, you want to become sick?" at their scowls Yakko sighed in exasperation. "C'mon guys, we stayed up last night and now we're stopping when we should still be heading to Anvilania."
"Then we'll only read a little bit. Please Yakko?" Dot urged, wrapping her arms around one of his dramatically.
"Just a few passages?" Wakko mirrored her actions to Yakko's other arm. Together they were successfully weighing him down.
Yakko looked from whining brother to whining sister. Then he promptly sunk to their level with his own pestering moan. "But I'm tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiired…"
This only earned him more scowls and he sighed. Apparently he couldn't pull off the same pathetic look. He was starting to think there was a height requirement for that kind of thing.
As they reached the entrance of the Inn, Yakko could feel himself caving and rolled his eyes. "Ehhhhh… one passage."
Wakko and Dot released his arms and cheered, rushing into the Inn. Yakko just smiled and shook his head, following them.