Chapter 8:
"I wish you wouldn't go," Billy rumbled. He sounded needy. Chessie Shaw rolled her eyes. She wanted out of this place, and she scarcely understood what Cass was doing. As far as she was concerned, they'd done what they'd been asked to do. While it would've been nice to get the promised cash, they couldn't spend money from beyond the grave.
Stroking Billy's chin, the curvy pirate murmured, "ship need repairs, big mon. You unnerstand? If we got t'go, it'll be better if d'ship can make the journey..." Leaning into him, she locked her lips to his. As the first-mate and the bo'sun watched, the big man gave those curves some attention with those big, meaty hands. Chessie glanced away in irritation.
"Be good, big mon," Cass whispered. "I see you in a few hours..." With that, she turned and strode across the room. A beat late, Chessie and Toni followed.
Catching up to her cousin and boss on the street, Chessie grabbed Cass's arm and spun her around. "Whatcha' doin', Cass," she demanded? "We need t'go! We need t'leave him be!" "We can't go, Chessie," Cass responded. "Why," Chessie demanded?! Chin jutting, she said, "this don't involve us! Let d'lubbers fight it out!"
"Because a lot o'people get dead if we drop 'dis, Chessie," Cass muttered. "I bring d'at man here. I don't want d'at on my books." The big girl glanced away. Nodding, Cass said, "we stay until we drop him in d'arms o'his people. Then we done enough." The Master at Arms asked, "still want I should sneak inta' d'at house and look f'er d'at gadget?" Nodding, Cass responded, "need it bad, now, Cara. He won't call his people. We got t'take care of it ourselves." In a small voice, Chessie rumbled, "let's get d'boat fixed."
Across the ocean, Starchy walked into a swank restaurant, looking dapper in a fitted suit. As one of the older candy-folk, he was a little self-conscious about his barely-humanoid appearance, causing him to compensate, and today was no different. He had a massive gold chain draped around his rather thick neck, and his bushy mustache had been liberally daubed in coconut oil to make it glisten.
His eyes flicked back and forth, checking to see if the folk around him noticed him. When a couple of lovely ladies glanced up at him, Starchy gave them a winning smile. His fame as one of the bigs in the Candy Kingdom's news industry gave him access to the poon on a reasonably regular basis.
Up ahead, he could see Kim's pal, Mr. Hersey, standing at the back of the restaurant, waiting. The chocolate-bar wore an expression like thunder, suggesting he was mucho unhappy to be here. Starchy wasn't quite sure what that was about, but Kim typically paid him well and helped him out with his show by providing dirt on peeps he didn't like.
Starchy put on a smile as he strolled up in an effort to feel out what John Hersey was feeling today. "Boss is inside," John rumbled, as he immediately turned for the hall to the private rooms in the back. That said that Kim was in an impatient kind of mood. That could either be lucrative or a pain in the ass—or maybe even both.
Kim Kil Wan was sitting in a plush chair at the back of the restaurant with a little candy-drop waitress polishing his knob on her knees. But that was Kim. He could be a tremendous dick because his money typically gave him the ability to get away with it. "Glad you could come by," Kim rumbled. Taking a puff from the fat stogie he had in his hand, the mogul blew a thick blue ring of licorice smoke in Starchy's direction.
"What can I do for ya," Starchy asked? The girl sucking Kim off was a distraction. Starchy couldn't help wanted to tap that round little ass. At the same time, he didn't have the money or pull Kim had.
"My uncle," Kim rumbled. "He's becoming a problem..." "Finn," Starchy burbled? "I ain't talking about Jermaine," Kim retorted. Starchy responded, "he's Princess Bubblegum's..." "He needs to be taught a lesson," Kim growled. "Ok," Starchy responded, "what kinda' lesson you thinkin' of? He's got all kinds of money and pull right now..." "But what would those bitches think if they saw where he's spent his nights," Kim retorted?
Starchy stared at him in puzzlement. It had been pretty clear at the Botanical Gardens that Finn spent a lot of his nights inside those princesses. It was also clear they liked it enough that they put up with him fucking other girls.
While he pondered that, Kim cruelly grabbed the little candy-drop by her peanut brown hair, shoving her cute, orange face down his pecker to the root until she gagged. Starchy could tell Kim was blowing his wad, and he finished on the girl's face when he finally let her pull back.
Throwing money on the floor, John Hersey growled, "get out." Bursting into tears, the little woman scooped up the cash, best she could, before scooting out of there. Starchy watched her go, a boner tenting his pants. As Kim put himself away, John dropped a thick folder on the table in front of Starchy, stuffed with pictures and documents. "Release that," John said. "Trickle it out. Save the juicy bits for last."
Kim stared at Starchy expectantly. The TV host suddenly found himself feeling a lot like the little candy-person. Swallowing hard, he picked up the folder, tucking it under his arm. He didn't need to be told to get out, as he spun on his heel and headed for the door all on his own.
As the sun was headed for the horizon in Stilt-Town, Cara Prentiss slipped off the main drag before the Lady's Bower and into the shadow of the tall tower. The rusty diamond-plate rang beneath her booted feet, as she scanned the target. The first open window was well above her head. That was life in a world where folk weren't very trustworthy. At the same time, Cara had learned in her misspent youth how to deal with such circumstances.
Slipping out of her boots, the curvy pirate found a good spot to hide them. Then she began testing the wall before her.
Much like everything in Stilt-Town, the Lady's Bower was constructed of sheets of corrugated metal in a hodge-podge mass that was riveted and brazed together to make a whole. That offered the curvy woman purchase for her fingers and toes, as she began her climb.
Years of life climbing up and down the rigging of various pirate ships gave the plump woman's fingers and toes a surprising strength and stamina. Up, up, up, the curvy woman went, climbing the side of the tower. Periodically, she would glance down to see where she was or check to see if anybody was looking. Thankfully, the average citizen of Stilt-Town had little interest in what was above them.
Coming even with the fifth floor, the curvy beauty finally found a window to enter. Listening carefully, Cara waited one beat, then two, before finally slipping inside. She found herself in a pretty, well-appointed bedroom, whose luxurious materials and creature comforts shouted the owner's femininity from the rafters. Dis d'place, Cara decided. Question is, where t'look?
Downstairs, a veritable army arrived at the door of the Lady's Bower. An older gentleman, who's withered frame told of the many years he'd toiled here in Stilt-Town, stepped out of the midst of a phalanx of bodyguards. "Fellas," he greeted the two men at the door. "Captain Wilson," the two stalwarts responded.
They were in something of a gray area. The Lady's Guards were outside the Captain of the Guard's authority. At the same time, they were far fewer in number. Captain Wilson could count on two-hundred men to answer his call to arms, while the Lady of the Lake could reliably field a scant fifty.
Weeks ago, it had scarcely mattered. Justin Wilson got on well with Red Kate. The curvy pirate was making very good moves. Her negotiations with the Pirate Princess and Tequila Princess had stabilized the town's affairs. Justin had two Tequila Kingdom corvettes rubbing elbows in his drydocks with a half-dozen pirate boats. Stilt-Town had become neutral in more than just name. The wench these fellows reported to threatened to upend all that hard work.
Thankfully, there was now a wild-card in the game that would maybe let Justin put things back where they were. The Ice-Prince had no interest in the nymphs or their games. It was he, who'd set Kate on the path to neutrality and prosperity after all.
"Goin' up," the Captain announced. One of the City Guards detached himself from the phalanx, following his master inside, as the Captain went up to beard the problem in her den.
Upstairs, Cara Prentiss scanned the room in which she stood. The little gadget the skipper had shown her was valuable. Knowing that gave her ideas as to where she should look. Slipping over to the little closet in the corner, Cara quietly opened one drawer after another, working her way from top to bottom in the chest there. In the third drawer from the bottom, she found herself peepin' the other girl's lacies.
With a smile, the Master at Arms slipped her nimble fingers through the pile of silk, rooting around carefully until she found what she was looking for in the back corner. Jackpot, she thought.
No sooner had she drawn out the pretty toy that Black Cass wanted, than voices drifted up to her from the door. A thrill of fear shot through her. She'd been caught once before as a child and rather thoroughly beaten. The curvy woman slipped across to the suite's door, dagger in hand to listen.
"Captain Wilson," Cameron announced. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" The old man responded, "hear that prince is in town again." Cameron grimaced. She'd been wondering how to keep the knowledge that William was here away from her enemies. She'd clearly been a little too slow.
"Prince William is irrelevant," Cameron rumbled. "Not sure I believe that," Justin responded. "I'm thinkin' maybe he might be interested in what's been happenin' 'round these parts. I'm thinkin' his old man won't be too happy wit d'changes..."
"That isn't his right," Cameron snarled! "Stilt-Town is mine! I was lieutenant! With the captain gone, I become captain!" "But d'captain swore loyalty t'd'big man," Justin chuckled. "D'jou swear loyalty yet, sweet-cheeks?" Cameron flushed in ugly memory of what Cenobia had told her to do. It wasn't as though the thought hadn't crossed her mind. Trouble was, she'd already made her play and gotten slapped around so badly that she was terrified of the wizard.
Rising, Justin declared, "you got maybe a couple days 'fore I have that conversation with his-self, Cameron." Shooting to her feet, the nymph asked, "is there no other way?" Indeed, she leaned forward over the table, showing off her plump knockers. The way she said that made the old man laugh. Shaking his head, he said, "I'm at an age where d'only thing interests me is cash, sweet-cheeks, but good effort."
Upstairs, Cara realized that the old man's departure was her cue to get out of there. She'd found the gadget, and she'd gotten lucky enough not to get caught at it. Much as she was tempted to stay and see if more got said, there was no point hanging around to get a knife in the ribs.
As the slut harangued the old man, Cara slipped back out the window and started the climb down. This was always the dangerous bit. It was tempting to rush—to get down to the street as fast as she could. The quicker you got down, the lower the risk you'd get spotted and the faster you could get away from the scene of the crime. Of course, if you didn't have time to climb down carefully, you really didn't have time to be hung up on the side of some basher's castle wall!
Reaching the ground, the curvy woman was more than a little surprised to find the Captain's tall, pretty problem standing there, staring into one of her boots. "Whatcha' doin' here, big mon," hissed the Master at Arms?! "Cap'n say stay in d'room!" "You were talking of going into the tower," Billy burbled. "When I didn't see you outside the room, I thought you'd come down here..."
The Master at Arms found herself with a big, big problem on her hands. With the leader of Stilt-Town's guard coming downstairs and trouble brewing upstairs, the last thing she needed was to have the pretty boy out here where he might bump into Justin Wilson and lose his shit. Black Cass had told her what was ailing the tall fellow, and Cara wanted the destruction of the town and its citizens on her already-soiled conscience no more than the Captain did.
Sounds out on the street told her she was running out of time to come up with a plan. Shoving the big man up against the rusty, dirty steel wall of the Lady's Bower, Cara Prentiss did just what the Captain was already doing. That was a risk, when he was hankering for Red-Kate and bangin' the Captain. With a man who knew the games women played, it might send him screaming over the edge. Fortunately, it worked.
Billy Mertens hadn't failed to notice the curvy little woman Black Cass called her Master at Arms. Cara Prentiss was hardly the epitome of a soldier. She was maybe five feet tall—over a foot shorter than he and weighed maybe a buck-ten soaking wet. At the same time, like her boss, she had curves that wouldn't quit. Her pale orange skin made her look more like Princess Nadia's folk than an island-girl. Between her wavy dark hair, heavy pear-shaped knockers, and freckled face, she checked all of his boxes.
A corner of his mind knew this was wrong. Kate was missing, and he needed to find her. If that wasn't enough, it didn't quite seem right to have his hands on Cara's ass, when she worked for Cassie, given that Billy had been banging Cassie.
Out in the street, Justin Wilson stepped into the light and breathed a sigh of relief. Like her predecessors, Red Kate had weapons and traps in the Tower to rid herself of problems that came calling. Thankfully, the little headache seemed to be unaware of them, letting Justin get in, deliver his message, and get out again with his skin intact.
A glance in the alley beside the tower left him chuckling. With all the nasty diseases floating around the town this year, you couldn't have paid him to stick it in any of the whores in Stilt-Town, but here was this fool, loving it up with one of them in plain sight. Apparently, he was so fresh off the boat, he couldn't be bothered to find a cheap hump-hump hotel. Shaking his head, in amusement, the pirate shipwright stepped in among his guards for the walk back to his skiff.
Cara kept Prince Billy occupied for a long few minutes, while she waited and waited for the sound of the streets to return to normal. In the mean time, the tall fellow tried to slip his hands down the back of her shorts, finding them much too tight for that. When that didn't quite work, his hands immediately went to the quartet of buttons on the front. Cara pushed his hand away and then pushed his hand away again.
In the mean-time, the big man slipped one hand up under the silky, spaghetti-strap top she'd slipped on that morning, his big mitt closing around her heavy right knob. A gasp left her lips, and then while she was distracted, Billy won the battle over the buttons. The flap at the front of her shorts flopped down, and he quickly had two fingers slipping inside her snatch.
Elsewhere, Black Cass Antoine stepped off a launch, flicking a couple of coins at the owner for a tip. Her sea-legs let her easily cross the rocking, rolling dock, as she made her way to the stairs, leading up to the main level. There was a storm coming. Thankfully, the Red Wind was all pumped out and sitting in sheltered waters besides. Still, it would be good to get inside herself before the blow came.
The stairs were somewhat crowded with people going up after cashing out their catch on the docking platforms or securing their boats from the coming storm. Cass bided her time, her mind awhirl. She'd found a patch of dry land. Bonus—the owner frequently rented the space for the scary masked folk who flew around on the airships. Since she was used to renting her property to them, she'd readily agreed to leave the land open over the next few days.
That was task number one down. Task number two was to get into the Lady's tower and find that gadget, if Cara hadn't already managed to do it. She needed to know when help was coming.
As she took the twists and turns, her mind went to Chessie. There were some ugly feelings there. They'd talked it over a time or two on the trip east from Tequila Kingdom. Chessie had a hankering for the exotic, and the big man fit the bill. Cass feared her first-mate and best friend was feeling slighted by the fact that Cass was now fucking the man in question. While she well knew girls could get really funny about that, Cass didn't really have a lot of options.
Make it up to her, thought the curvy pirate. Don't let it be about him. Make it about gettin' out o'here wit'our skins intact. Chessie hadn't really wanted to take the job of ferrying the man in the first place after all. This was getting them quits of this business with no more red on the ledger than they already had.
Stepping out on the grand thoroughfare that went from the city's north end all the way to the southern docks, Cass quickened her pace. The skies were getting darker by the moment. While riding out the storm in a pitching, swaying hotel room high above the water tended to do unpleasant things to her innards, it was better than being soaked to the skin, while riding a pitching, swaying street.
As the first drops began to fall, the curvy pirate slipped into the hotel room. Every face in the commons fastened on hers, as she crossed the room to the stairs. Those stairs made her nervous. Indeed, her fear ratcheted up a notch when she heard the shriek—Cara's voice.
Hand on her pistol, Black Cass hurried up the stairs. She could hear Cara squealing and wailing like someone was beating her half to death. Indeed, the sound of meat slapping on meat suggested that her Master at Arms was in the fight of her life. Rushing up to the door of their rented room, Cass tore it open to find a lurid sight on the far side.
Bill. Hitting Cara's big, round ass from behind, while the light-skinned girl clawed the sheets and screamed. Cassie felt an instant surge of white-hot jealousy. Was it mad that she was jealous? It did somewhat give the lie to her protestations that this was business.
Bill was clearly in the final throws, his hips slapping Cara's bottom like it was a drum, making the meaty cheeks jiggle. With a groan, the big man stuck it in deep, and Cassie knew he was giving the Master at Arms both barrels. As he drew out, showing that neither had been all that interested in using a jimmy, Cass shut the door.
The guilty expression he wore when he heard the door slam was precious and almost made her laugh. It might have, if she wasn't horny. After the day she'd already had, Cass could certainly use some Vitamin D. Crossing the room in two strides, she glued her lips to his, causing him to immediately relax. He was used to this, after all. As she made out with prince-charming, the curvy pirate began shedding the clothes she was wearing. Depending on how long he'd been at it with Cara, he should have some left for her.
As the late winter sun climbed towards mid morning in the far east, Bonnie Mertens stared out at the countryside from the top of her father's borrowed landship. They'd been traveling for days, and she'd been reminiscing about their previous journey in this land.
The memories were bittersweet. She'd grown on that journey in a way that nothing from her old life matched. She'd grown her courage, her intellect, and her understanding of the world. She'd become acquainted with so many interesting and wonderful people here. At the same time, she'd come to realize that little of her old self had really changed.
And maybe that's the thing, thought the half-breed. Her father was literally master of everything. He had far more power than the lord of their old homeland. At the same time, he was still Finn the Human, who stooped to help even those he hated. He'd become better, even as he'd stayed more or less the same. That's the lesson, Bonnie, thought the pillow-person. Grow—become better—without losing who you are.
The landship rolled to a stop at the edge of a village that reminded Bonnie a lot of her old home during winter. There were tools neatly racked and stacked next to each house, and the fields were grown over in weeds and natural grasses, with a dusting of snow on top to preserve the soil for spring. Nearer to hand, she could clearly see wisps of smoke from the chimneys, telling her who was home today. The disturbing lack of smoke from many of those homes told of the many folk the gum-people's allies had slaughtered.
Leaving the observation platform, the pillow-person came down the spiral stairs to find her father already closeted with Lord Seo Joon and Lord Hyun Ki. The trio talked in low voices that told something of the seriousness of the matter at hand. Bonnie stepped forward and stopped nearby, unconsciously standing as if at attention.
In a time long past, she would have slipped out to stay out of her father's business—adult business. In the now, with Fionna and Bill both seriously ill and her brother behaving like a shit, the tall woman knew she had to step up her game. This was part and parcel of her family's new world.
Finn motioned for his daughter to approach, and Bonnie stepped forward with alacrity. "Hey," the greeted his oldest daughter. "Father," Bonnie responded. It was much more formal than was her habit, but they were a Royal family now. She sometimes found herself trying to dredge up memories of Courtepointe, as she struggled to figure out how a princess should behave.
Resting a hand on her shoulder, Finn said, "I may need to go into the lost city..." "To make sure the death machines are still there," Bonnie agreed. "It shouldn't be a problem, father. I've become far more skilled in the interim."
Just then, the cyborg attendant came through and unlatched the door, lowering the boarding ladder. It was time to leave.
It was Lord Hyun Ki that exited the vehicle first. He insisted on being the first. Her father's grimace of displeasure told Bonnie what that was about. The Lord didn't trust those he expected to be waiting on them outside, and he was willing to sacrifice himself out of loyalty to Finn. It was a bitter pill for the King of Ooo, but it said something about the lightness of his rule that men were willing to die for him.
Lord Seo Joon was next, and then Bonnie stepped outside, brushing past her father to do so. Even as her feet touched the ground, she touched the strange thing inside her—just in case. As her father joined her, the old/young woman announced, "this is the price of the world's peace, father." Grimly, Finn nodded.
There was an eclectic group waiting on them. Several of the people there were soldiers from her father's army. Others were cyborgs, like the folk who'd brought them here from Sonbong. Nearer to hand stood the Informer, Orzsebet, who came dressed to kill in a short little black dress. Hovering near the back stood her brother along with a stranger who appeared to be a pillow person.
The demon, thought Bonnie. There could only be three pillow-folk on Ooo. The stranger had to be her brother's demon-lover.
As her mind formed that thought, the Lady of Spies stepped forward. "Master," she greeted the King, as she dropped to one knee. "My Lady," Finn responded, as he motioned for the Agent Princess to stand.
As the big man stepped off, Orzsebet fell in at his side, with Lord Seo Joon falling in at his left, with Bonnie and Hyun Ki bringing up the rear. "We secured our opponents' former headquarters," Orzsebet offered. "Since they left in a bit of a hurry, we've been working to exploit what they abandoned. The news is a mixed bag."
"Bad news first," Finn insisted. "They're urgently working on building a weapon of destruction, Your Majesty," the slim brunette declared. "All their energy is going into finding one or constructing one out of ancient knowledge. They've even had eyes on at the facility in the Desert of No Return."
Finn grimaced at the unpleasant confirmation of his fears. Bonnie had fought with him over removing the garrison, reasoning that the remote control systems made them unnecessary, but Finn had dragged his feet. There was no way he'd remove them now. More to the point, he would have to step up screening of the soldiers assigned there.
Smirking, the Lady of Spies said, "I know one of the men. I've had him rounded up. My people will... talk to him."
Bonnie grimaced, as images of brutal torture danced in her mind. In spite of the abuses she'd suffered herself, the Informer was all too happy to deploy such measures against those who stood against the King. Don't be squeamish, Bonnie, she told herself. We're not snatching folk off the street. These men are up to no good.
"Is that the good news," Finn rumbled? Turning those chocolate-brown eyes on him, even as she put on a flirtatious smile, the skinny spy-girl responded, "no, Your Majesty. The good news is that I have a list of names of people they've had truk with here in the east, who may be working at cross-purposes to yours... some in the courts of your allies..." She nodded at Lord Seo Joon for the effect.
Finn's face paled and then he glanced away. Bonnie knew he was thinking of the things she'd just thought of. Heavy lay the head that wore a crown. She now had new understanding of just what that meant. Her father had his choice now—leave those folk alone and risk what they might do or snatch them up and be forced to put them hard to the question about their allegiances.
"Round them up," muttered Finn. Turning to Lord Seo Joon, he said, "you are to provide resources. Round up every man and woman. They're not to be harmed unless they resist. They're to be kept well and in comfort with decent food and shelter on the Crown's purse. Each man or woman who willingly parts with what they know and who's committed no sin shall be released to go home..." The Lord grimaced, as he knew very well what would happen to the others.
"It shall be done, Lord," Seo Joon declared. "I'll see your orders put in motion now, sire," Hyun Ki declared. Spinning on his heel, he rushed off to find his aide.
Finn declared, "I'll see the camp in a bit. In the now, I think I should talk to my son." Bowing, Orzsebet responded, "then we shall speak later, Your Majesty." Finn strode towards where Jay waited.
As he approached his boy, the big man rumbled, "Jay. Annabelle." The Raggedy Princess responded, "Finn..." Before Jay could say a word, Bonnie stepped past their father and drove her knee into his boin-loins. As the tall fellow crumpled, she socked him in the jaw for good measure. "Hello from mother, Jay," Bonnie said, before she turned and stormed off.
As Jay rolled around on the ground, clutching his privates, his younger brother clung to the soft curves of the Master at Arms. The big man was literally sandwiched between two beautiful women. Laying in the darkness, Cass Antoine listened for the steady heartbeat that would tell her Prince Billy was asleep. Underneath Cara's soft snoring, she heard the steady rhythm of his breathing, telling her that he'd gone down and was going to stay down at least long enough for her to take care of business.
Leaving Bill in Cara's embrace, Cass slipped across the room, stopping at the purse the Master at Arms had left on the table. Reaching inside, she drew out the object of her quest. A glance back revealed the big man sleeping like a baby. The thing that afflicted him didn't like him to sleep, so this was a respite for him in more ways than one.
Gathering on a robe, the pirate-lord slipped out into the hall. Turning on the device Cara had swiped, the curvy woman prayed as she'd never prayed before. After it whirred and hummed for several moments, as bright colors flashed across the face, Cass finally found herself staring at the familiar layout of symbols. Just as with Bill's 'phone', Kate's device showed that she'd missed many messages, all from Princess Ragnhild.
Tapping one of those reminders, Cass selected the 'call' symbol. Moments passed while the phone purred. Finally, an unfamiliar voice announced, "go..." "This Captain Antoine," the pirate responded. "I... I was lookin' f'er Princess Ragnhild..." "You're the woman watching Bill," the voice responded.
Swallowing, Cass said, "where d'Princess?" "Left her phone in my lab," the voice responded. "She's kind of a mess, Captain. You understand?" Cass grimaced. "He asleep," Cass rumbled. "Stands to reason given the time," the voice responded. "Is there else?" "Wonderin' when help get here," Cass responded.
The voice on the other end of the line gave vent to a deep sigh. "We're in a risky place, Ms. Antoine," the voice burbled. "The device that will keep the entity in check is not ready. I insisted on seeing that it be delivered. When we couldn't get it finished in time, we moved to the secondary plan. There's another device being shipped to King's Island to your north. The Captain of the Guard is waiting there to receive it. The minute Thor has it in hand, he's going to board an airship to come south with troops to aid you."
Cass grimaced. "How long," she murmured? "How bad off is he," the voice asked? "It won't let him sleep," Cass murmured. "Won't let him eat. His head is hurtin' all d'time now." "It's bad, Ms. Antoine," the voice sighed. "I won't lie to you and pretend that it isn't. Pacify him. Do all you can to keep him pacified." The pirate-lord felt her face go warm. "I expect Captain Thor to be there within two days time."
Taking a deep breath, Cassie responded, "d'ey lookin' t'fight here." "What do you mean," the voice demanded? "D'slut who knocked-off Red Kate... she and d'captain o'the city guard are at odds," Cass explained. "He talk about comin' t'see Prince Billy." "It's a risk, Ms. Antoine," the voice responded. "Bill may see him as an ally. Just make sure it doesn't get to a fight." "Aye," Cass responded. The device clicked off, leaving the pirate alone and worried.
On the far side of the ocean, Maja stared at Ragnhild's phone for a moment in worried irritation. It was time and far past time for Finn to put his foot down on some of the more scandalous troublemakers. That would reduce the overall risk on the family and—bonus—get her back to her own pursuits. Muttering curses, the witch floated across to the workbench where the gadget she'd been working on lay.
The Nine-Tailed Fox was conked out in the corner, drooling on her impressive chest. They'd been at it day and night trying to make her idea work. More to the point, they were failing by degrees.
The Sky Witch was at the ragged edge of her own strength. Much as it pained her, she was going to have to go outside herself to somebody who had some authority. She had to go, hat-in-hand, to the nymph, Emeraude. With Simone in the east, dealing with a town full of the mad, the wizard was the only person who had the credentials to get into Wizard City and enter the library.
Go to the library or watch the boy spiral out of control and threaten the world, thought the witch. A helluva' choice you've got. It irritated her to be so tightly intertwined with the fate of others. She was supposed to be the free spirit who did what she wanted for her own reasons. More and more lately, she'd begun to fear that approach to the world was hopelessly outdated and perhaps even naive. Get it done, she told herself. Get it done, so you can get back to your own business.
Crossing the room, she reached down and shook the kitsune awake. As soon as the fox-woman's yellow eyes opened, the witch announced, "get your things. We're going." "W-where," burbled Katsumi? "Wizard City," Maja threw out, as she crossed the room once more to gather up their prize.
If there was one useful thing about Bonnibel Bubblegum, it was that the trains not only existed, but they ran on time all day every day. They had just enough time to reach the station for the last train going to the Grey Forest.
A nice long update for you this week. It looks like help is finally on the way for Black Cass. Hopefully, Maja's temporary solution will let Bill focus enough to take care of business and either find Red Kate or avenge her. In the east, Finn is about to find out just what the gumwads have been up to. There might be hell to pay when the missing hardware is discovered.