NOVEL NEXT Chapter 23
Today's Earth date: October 5, 1991
My dates were off by two days. We were in the dungeon longer than any of us thought. We didn't lose the days, technically, but not being aware of them passing makes it feel like we did.
Cuan is beautiful, a true fantasy beach town. Ships are always coming in and out of port, all sizes, from four-man fishing boats to massive galleons that look like they could carry an army.
People in this world go to the beach to relax like we do on Earth. I fell asleep on one, and when I woke up, I believed I was in Jersey for a moment. All of the sounds were the same–waves going in and out, kids giggling as they ran around, a family next to me reclining on blankets and bullshitting to pass the time.
Each day, I'm understanding Horcus' point a bit better. Thinking of these people as NPCs is definitely easier, but how can I do that when they feel so real?
-The Journal of Laszlo the Paladin
***
Fergus refused to reveal where he was leading Wayne. They passed several inns of the scale and quality of the Grand Pegasus in Teagaisg but the old scholar never slowed. As they neared the west gate, Wayne began to protest.
Where could they be going if their destination took them through the west gate?
Fergus only smiled and continued walking. A few yards outside of the gate, Wayne got a view of the coastline on this side of town. In the distance, he could see the blurry square of the Water Temple, and farmland filled nearly every inch between. The chateaus lining the beachfront side of the road were the exception, large estates with gardens and foot paths surrounded by small decorative walls.
"Mr. Fergus?" An attendant standing near a carriage asked.
"Oh yes, that's me." Fergus waved for Wayne to follow. He watched his friend pass his bags to the attendant and then did the same, confused as to why.
When the carriage door closed, Wayne demanded an answer.
"Oh, you're such a worrier," Fergus said. "In procuring customers for our beef, I secured us a patron."
"Really?"
Fergus nodded, still smiling. "Lord Amethyst. Comes from a family of shipbuilders and moved here from Taluprom. That's the largest port on the east continent."
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"How did this come about?"
"Met his chef when I was in the packing district to find a buyer for our stock, we got to talking, and he took me to meet Lord Amethyst. His daughter is getting married in a few days, and he jumped at the chance to serve Teagaisg beef to his guests. Sold the remaining 800 pounds to a restauranteur his chef knows."
"You sold all of it? In a day?"
"I am an impressive man, I know."
The carriage turned off the road and began down a path that ended in front of a chateau painted white with purple trim around the windows. Statues of beautiful women lined either side of the path, joined by thick patches of flowers when the carriage passed through an iron gate. Wayne spotted a smaller chateau to the side of the property, but smaller was very much relative. That structure was McMansion-sized by Earth standards. Plenty large. Plenty garish.
"We're staying there," Fergus said, pointing at the McMansion.
"Very nice. And the staff won't mind that we're dropping in like this?"
"Staff?"
"Yes. That's the servants quarters, right?"
Fergus bellowed a laugh. "That's the Amethyst guest house. We are the guests."
"The whole house?"
"The whole house."
"Holy shit, Fergus."
Wayne asked for how long, and Fergus informed him that their invitation included permission to house an entourage–the people they had yet to hire–and was good for as many as four months, at which point he would need the building for a visiting business partner and their attendants.
"Four months?!"
The carriage stopped in front of the guest house and the attendant opened the door, holding it for Wayne and Fergus as they climbed down. A butler emerged from the house and, together with help from the original attendant, carried bags inside for the two scholars.
The interior was not over-the-top opulent like Wayne expected, but the foyer had a grand staircase that started at two ends of the room, met in the middle for a landing, and then split again. Going straight between and under the stairs, they came to an open room that was half dining room and half couches, chairs, and pillows–all positioned to look out floor-to-ceiling windows to the beach and the ocean beyond.
Glass of that size was a rarity in this world. Wayne knew those windows weren't cheap.
They had eight rooms to choose from upstairs, a king bed for each, and the basement had a bathhouse. The butler said if the staff was given an hour's notice, they could have hot water ready at any time of the day.
Wayne and Fergus both declined refreshments and held their victory dance back until they were alone in the common area. The same obnoxious smile that plastered Fergus' face for the last hour replicated itself on Wayne's. The two walked the house, reveling in the outlandishness of their accommodations.
"Tell me," Fergus began, "does Goods Storage work here?"
Opening his system menu, Wayne confirmed that the option was active in his menu. He clicked it to be sure.
Goods Storage rolled back a layer of reality. Fergus walked in whistling a happy tune and emerged with two bottles of wine.
They toasted to their good fortune.