DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Dawn of Revolution

The Suitor, part 3

Mozzie waited in the sitting room as she distantly heard the estate's front door open. "Welcome, young sir, to lord Farraday's estate," came one of the butler's voices. "Was your trip comfortable? Can I get you anything? Tea? Fruit snacks? A slice of cake?"

"Huh? No, I'm fine, thanks," Ferrol's voice said. "I didn't think Mozzie would ever invite me to her place. What a house!"

"Shall I escort you to your host?" the butler asked.

"Yeah, sure. Lead the way."

Mozzie tensed with anticipation as she heard two men's footsteps making their way across the estate's ground floor, past one of the studies and past a storage room, until -

"The sitting room, young sir," the air genasi butler said as he swung open the door, gesturing politely. "Lady Mozzie will - oh."

He blinked in surprise at the sight awaiting him, then retreated to resume his duties elsewhere. Ferrol, meanwhile, took a careful step into the room. "Uh... hello."

"Good afternoon, Ferrol," all five sisters said in unison, smiling as they sat with their hands folded on their laps in the exact same way. They sat in a shallow semicircle on padded wooden chairs, all dressed in Mozzie's finest blue gowns.

Mozzie was half-tempted to give herself away, already skeptical of this bizarre plan. Like the others, she enjoyed pranking people now and then by swapping outfits with her sisters or having two of the same particular sister talk to someone... but testing Ferrol with five Mozzies?!

Ferrol made a nervous laugh and scratched the back of his head. "Wow, quintuplets! Mozzie told me all about it, but to see this for myself... it's like my eyes are playing tricks on me!"

"Nothing to worry about," Minerva said graciously.

"No one would blame you for getting confused," Maggie continued.

"These are just the games we play for fun," Mozzie added.

"Are you impressed?" Miranda put in.

"And are you ready for what comes next?" Murbella finished.

Ferrol kept glancing from one sister to another. "I'm kinda outnumbered here, Mozzie. Wherever you are!"

"You're talking to five Mozzies," the quintuplets said in unison. "Prepare yourself, Ferrol."

"Prepare myself for what?"

Then he found out: courting the five different Mozzies in turn!

"It's a pleasure to have you here, Ferrol," Minerva said, gracefully getting to her feet and approaching a thoroughly confused Ferrol. She smiled. "I'd like you to meet my father, Farraday. He is one of Sassanoit's most renowned traders."

"Oh, right. I've heard his name once or twice," Ferrol said. "You've got an impressive father, Mozzie."

"I hope you can impress him," Minerva continued. "My father is quite protective of his daughters, as you might expect. You must prove that you can provide for me and protect me, Ferrol."

Ferrol nodded. "I could do no less for the love of my life."

Miranda shot Mozzie a gleeful look, and Mozzie felt herself flush.

"Wonderful," Minerva said warmly. "You are indeed the man I wish to marry, Ferrol. I think we can build a comfortable and stable household together."

Ferrol went bright pink. "I think so too, Mozzie." Then he cocked his head. "Just a moment."

"Yes?"

Ferrol gently held Minerva's shoulders. "You're not really her, are you?"

"Oh? What makes you say so?"

Ferrol glanced at the four remaining sisters. "Mozzie isn't that gutsy. And she isn't so fixated on her father. She never told me I'd have to impress him so much!"

Minerva tossed her hair. "Well done, Ferrol. I am Minerva, the oldest sister. I'll take a seat."

Ferrol let her go, and a satisfied Minerva resumed her seat. That meant it was Maggie's turn.

"Please forgive us for playing games with you," Maggie said timidly, clasping her hands under her chin while giving Ferrol and imploring look. "My sisters talked me into it. It's just our way of protecting one another."

"I totally get it," Ferrol told her. "It's fair, right? Making sure I truly understand who Mozzie is, and not just think about her beauty. Right?"

"I hope you're not upset?"

Ferrol motioned. "No way."

Maggie made a bashful smile and toyed with her hair. "I'm glad. Why don't we go on another outing together and enjoy ourselves? We need more quality time outside of work, I'd say."

Ferrol glanced at the door. "Is that a real request, Mozzie, or part of the test?"

Maggie broke into a wide smile and gave Ferrol a gentle shove on the shoulder. "It's just the test, silly. And by the way, I'm Maggie."

Ferrol recoiled. "What... oh, no! I was so sure..."

Maggie held up a finger. "You must be more careful, Ferrol."

"You got me good. You're a great actress, Maggie."

"That I am." Maggie turned and waltzed to her seat, then sat. That meant the real Mozzie was next, who felt honor-bound to not give herself away. She had to blend in! Even if she wrangled with a little guilt along the way.

"It's wonderful to see you again outside of work, Ferrol," Mozzie greeted him, hands clasped at her navel. She felt her heart beating harder. But she must maintain her composure. "I'd love to see more of the city with you and savor our free afternoons together. I'll go anywhere you like."

"Well, I chose the park first. It's your turn next," Ferrol said brightly. "What are some of your favorite spots in the city? I'd like to check them out."

"I'm sorry, Ferrol, but I don't have any favorite spots," Mozzie told him. "Remember, my father kept my sisters and I in the house and watched over us carefully."

Ferrol winced. "Oh, that's right. I'm more used to seeing you be so carefree, Mozzie. I only know you as a free woman building her own life."

Mozzie smiled. "It's quite all right, Ferrol. My sisters and I are working hard to put the past far behind us. And I love that you only know me as my free self. This is the Mozzie I always wanted to be."

Ferrol nodded. "That's the Mozzie I want to marry. That's the Mozzie I cherish and respect."

Mozzie felt herself going red once again, and she wondered if she'd ever get used to it! Such sweet words from her suitor! But would Ferrol pass the test? "So... am I your true lover, Ferrol?"

"I believe so," Ferrol said confidently. "But don't give it away just yet. I want to meet the other two Mozzies first."

"Of course." Mozzie took her seat, allowing Miranda to take her place.

"Hi there, lover boy," Miranda said with a wide smile, hands on her hips. "You get more handsome every day! Just how do you do it?"

Ferrol made a nervous chuckle. "You're so kind, Miranda."

Miranda pouted. "So soon?"

"Mozzie told me what a bundle of energy the fourth sister is."

Miranda snorted in amusement. "That's right. I needed that energy to tour the continent and explore new vistas. I drank fruity Trassian wine, played dice with fairies in the Talwyddian forests, and rode with the Khanate nomads. I even met a copper dragon! I got to pet his snout."

"That sounds like enough adventures for two lifetimes!"

"Maybe two of your lifetimes. Thanks for the chat." Miranda bowed, then took her seat. So, it fell to Murbella to try and fool Mozzie's suitor.

"Work keeps us so busy, doesn't it, Ferrol?" Murbella piped up. "It seems our boss's demands never end. But so much is expected of us. It makes me proud that I'm needed so much."

"Yeah, Mr. Cynesberig can be pretty hard on us when the restaurant's packed for dinner," Ferrol admitted. "But at least he's been fairer with us after that Bitterblade incident. Remember that?"

"Indeed. But the queen handled it just fine," Murbella said proudly, putting a hand to her heart. "She looks after us with grace and wisdom."

Ferrol grinned. "You said it, Murbella."

"You're quite sure it's me?"

Ferrol pointed. "Mozzie told me how the fifth sister works for the queen like a born bureaucrat."

Murbella shot her sisters an annoyed look over her shoulder. "Born bureaucrat? Excuse me?"

"But you are. A born, boring bureaucrat," Miranda teased her. Murbella sighed and turned back to Ferrol.

"Well done, Ferrol. I supposed I overplayed my hand." She resumed her seat.

"Which of us is the real Mozzie?" the quintuplets asked together. And sure enough -

"It is you," Ferrol said, kneeling before the middle sister and kissing the back of her hand. "Mozzie, my sweet, I'll overcome any trial or challenge to be by your side! Such is my love."

"Now this is courtship," Miranda declared. "Ferrol, you have our blessing to marry her! It's time."

"Show us your resolve," Murbella added.

"You both deserve this happiness," Maggie piled on.

"I still insist you should get Father's blessing," Minerva stated, earning her funny looks from both Maggie and Miranda.

Mozzie, meanwhile, sat rigidly in place, wondering if today would become the first day of the rest of her life with Ferrol. Was she indeed ready? Was this the time? Was this the happiness she was waiting for?

Ferrol looked like he was working up the courage to say what he needed to. Mozzie knew the line from a few romance books when a man proposed to his beloved, invoking the name of Joscas, the goddess of marriage and trust. Then...

"I..." Ferrol started. Mozzie's four sisters leaned in closer to watch intently.

Ferrol, still kneeling, looked up at Mozzie's face before glancing back down. "I have to go."

"What?" Miranda blurted out, but that changed nothing. Ferrol got to his feet, bade the sisters a good day, and took his leave. Mozzie heard the estate's front door shut behind him.

The quintuplets looked at each other. "It's possible our game overwhelmed him," Murbella confessed. "I had reservations about the plan, I admit."

"No, the problem is something else," Maggie said, shaking her head.

"What could it be?" Miranda asked.

"Ferrol seemed to savor the challenge of finding the real Mozzie," Maggie said, giving her third sister a quick nod. "I think it brought out the best in him. But it seemed to bring out something else, too. It held him back."

"Whatever it may be, Ferrol must face it on his own terms," Minerva put in. "Sisters, I believe we have pressured Mozzie's suitor enough. Though I do trust Mozzie to speak with Ferrol about this at her discretion. She knows him and his affairs better than we do."

They all turned to face the third sister.

"Minerva's quite right," Mozzie told them, her mind racing all the while. "Whether or not Ferrol is to be my betrothed, I will respect his boundaries and wait for the truth."

"That is most gracious of you, Mozzie," Minerva said kindly.

"Even I admit we should leave him alone," Miranda admitted. "I'd hate to chase him off at this point. What could have scared him off?"

"I doubt it is any fault of ours," Maggie said. "It must be something personal for him. Ferrol seems the type to confront someone if they have wronged him." She turned to Mozzie. "Is that right?"

Mozzie nodded. "Yes, Maggie. I'm sure we're blameless."

"Then we have no more need for games," Murbella concluded. "I propose we resume our usual business, sisters, until dinner with Father." She glanced down. "And return Mozzie's spare gowns, too."

"Indeed!" Miranda cried, picking at the fabric of hers. "Blue looks terrible on me. It feels wrong. I'll see you all at dinner!" Then she skipped off to return Mozzie's gown and glamor up in one of her usual green outfits.

Mozzie stayed in the sitting room as Minerva, Maggie, and Murbella also took their leave. Mozzie wasn't 100% certain... but a few moments ago, did Ferrol have a look of doubt or even fear in his eyes during his attempted proposal?