After The Rabbit (Waldo Rabbit Series) (17 page)

As they went Belle was waving at nearly every man they passed. The reactions tended to range from confusion to glassy eyed disbelief to putting heads down and swiftly walking away.

Belle gave Alice a nudge with his elbow. “Try not to hate me.”

“What?” Her eyes had been darting about nervously.

Belle put both hands behind his back and skipped, making the ground shake a little. “I’m the one all the men will look at.”

“Somehow I doubt it, but believe me, you’re welcome to the attention. The last thing I want is to be noticed.”

“Is that so?” Waldo glanced back at her over his shoulder. “Why did you use your Charm then?”

Alice put her hands together and began slowly wringing them. “No reason, I just didn’t want him to press us on staying with this duke. I really want to get out of this city.”

“I see.”

“I am sorry for using my Charm without telling you.”

“I don’t mind, Alice. In fact I would prefer you to use it more often.”

“You know I won’t.”

“Except for today?”

Her hands moved more intensely. “I just don’t want to draw extra attention.”

Belle snorted. “Right, who would notice a White Mage and a couple beauties like us?”

Alice’s eyes began to dart about once more. “Just so long as it’s not the wrong person who sees.”

XXX

The middle of the city turned out to be the market district. It was an empty field with tents and stalls crowded together. There were local farmers shouting from the backs of wagons about eggs or vegetables or about freshly slaughtered chickens or pigs. There were women selling pies and bread. There was ale, tobacco, cheese, cloth, tools, and all other sorts of goods. All of them being hawked by people exhorting their grand quality and value. A steady crowd was slowly meandering its way through, filling the empty spaces between the stalls and tents.

Wherever Waldo went the crowds would part and there would be an empty area around him and his familiars. People would stop to stare and make sure to keep a safe distance. Waldo tried his best to ignore them. Belle reveled in the attention and was nothing but smiles. Alice seemed distinctly uncomfortable.

“This should do,” Waldo took out his wand and began the words to a spell.

As he did so people gasped and pushed farther away.

“
Taranos evel monstri desu noratal est aki est avaratos
.”

As soon as the detection spell was completed Waldo was rewarded with… nothing. There was not so much as a glimmer of magical light coming from anywhere. Not even from Alice and Belle due to the protective wards he’d placed on them. He did not lose all hope, as Norwich was a very flat location and he could not hope to get a clear view of all of it at once.

But Great Monsters gave off a tremendous glow. In Stratford he’d had no trouble at all finding Alice. She was over a mile away and inside a building, but the light coming off of her had been so powerful it had been impossible to miss. The only reason he’d so much trouble finding Gronk was due to the light from a horde of goblins masking that of a single ogre. In a city empty of other monsters Waldo would have expected a clear sign if there really were a Great Monster here.

He was not about to give up, but it was a discouraging start.

“Well?” Alice asked. “Please tell me you’ve found what we came here for.”

“No, I’m afraid not. There’s no sign of it.”

“Well that’s a shame darling,” she patted his shoulder. “Still, you did your best, so I guess we can leave now?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You know how much time and effort I put into finding Gro… Belle. I won’t do any less now.”

“Wonderful,” she sighed.

“Why are you so fearful?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been sensing it through our bond ever since we arrived. I know being in a strange city can be a bit unnerving, but I’ve never felt this much anxiety from you before.”

“I don’t know what you mean darling, I’m not nervous at all. I am completely fine, as relaxed as can be.”

“Alice…”

“I said I’m fine!”

Waldo was not exactly skilled at reading people, but even to him it was obvious she was lying. Under a normal contract a familiar wouldn’t be able to lie to her master. Having somehow botched the contract though Waldo was stuck trying to deal with her more or less as an ordinary husband might.

Dark Powers help him.

“I know what the problem is,” Belle announced. “It’s obvious.”

Alice turned to him apprehensively. “You do?”

Belle nodded. “You’re upset because you’re the ugly one now.”

“Yes,” Alice said in a flat voice. “That’s it exactly.”

“Come on,” Waldo said. “Let’s search through this city and see if we can find anything.”

XXX

As they went through the marketplace people kept moving out of the way. At least most did. A man was hurrying in the other direction and ran straight on into Alice.

“Eek!” without thinking she instinctively punched him in the chest, knocking him down.

“Ow!” he was sprawled out in front of her, rubbing where she had hit him.

She immediately regretted it, he obviously hadn’t done it on purpose. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hit you so hard.” Alice held a hand out.

He reached up, taking it and spryly getting back to his feet. He looked like a farmer, with a ratty old cloak, brown tunic, and weather beaten breeches. The man had curly auburn locks, mysterious grey eyes, and an attractive face. She noticed that his hand was quite soft.

As quick as he was on his feet he managed to press his lips to her hand. “That’s quite all right my dear lady. Small price to pay for meeting such a beauty.”

Alice yanked it back. “I’m glad you’re not hurt.”

“So am I,” he gave her a mischievous grin. “If you will excuse me I must go, I hope to see you again.”

He then hurried past and was swallowed up by the crowd.

“Do you normally throw men down on the ground when you meet them sweetie?” Belle asked.

“Oh be quiet, I don’t like being touched by a man.”

“Could have fooled me. I’ve heard you moaning.”

Alice could feel her face get hot. Didn’t Gronk have any shame at all? “Waldo is the only exception, I don’t mind when he touches me.”

“I sort of got that from the moaning.”

“We’re wasting time,” Waldo said in annoyance.

It only took four or five steps for Alice to notice a weight at her hip was missing. She looked at her waist, the drawstring that kept her purse tied on had been neatly cut.

“We’ve been robbed!” She understood immediately what must have happened. “That man who bumped into me! Thief!”

Alice turned around and ran back in the other direction.

“Out of the way! Thief! Stop thief!”

The folk stepped aside to clear a path, but not quickly enough. Alice pushed them out of her way. Belle was at her side doing the same, Waldo was following in their wake. There were shouts and confusion as she pushed and manhandled her way through until they were clear of the market. They finally wound up in an empty street. Alice was looking around desperately but could not spot any sign of the man.

“I don’t see him anywhere.”

“Me neither,” Belle said.

She turned desperately to Waldo. “Darling, isn’t there something you can do with your magic?”

“There is no such thing as a detect thief spell, and I have no connection to him so scrying magic won’t work. If I had any of those spells memorized to begin with.”

“So he’s gone?” she cried in despair. “He took all our money! We don’t have a single coin now, nothing!”

“I see. Well then, I don’t suppose we can afford an Inn. It looks like we’ll just have to accept the duke’s hospitality after all.”

The thought of meeting Theos Griffinheart made her stomach turn to lead. “Uh, we still have our tents and blankets. Why don’t we just stay in a nice quiet alley?”

Chapter 14

Duke Theos
Griffinheart

It was surprisingly easy to gain access to the duke’s keep. A few questions to the locals had given them the general directions. When they arrived they were ushered into the reception hall and told the duke would be with them soon. Hanging down from the far wall were three banners like the one that had been at the gate.

Alice stared up at them.

She had done everything she could think of to talk Waldo out of coming here. He was adamant about remaining in Norwich until he either found his third monster or was absolutely convinced there wasn’t one. Since they were now coinless, they would have to accept the local ruler’s hospitality. Alice had offered to work to pay for their room and board, as she had back in Middleton. Waldo though wanted to find his monster as quickly as possible, and thought the duke might be of help.

In the end she hadn’t been able to convince him. As a last resort she’d considered telling him why she wanted nothing to do with this lord. She was ashamed of her past and didn’t want to bring it up. It was bad enough she was not human, she didn’t want to remind him that she’d almost been another’s property. Alice would hope and pray that she would go unnoticed.

Alice noted that Waldo had wandered over to some of the furnishings and decorations. He was giving special attention to an engraved chest with silver metalwork. She went over to keep a closer eye on him.

“What are you doing?”

“The quality isn’t too bad,” Waldo said looking closely at the chest. “Not as good as what my family has, but not bad, all things considered.”

“Please, please tell me you’re not thinking about doing something stupid.”

“Don’t be insulting Alice, when have I ever done anything stupid?”

“Do you actually want a list?”

He frowned at her and she could sense annoyance through their bond. “I am not going to do anything right this moment. That doesn’t mean I am not going to take inventory for later.”

“We are guests here,” Alice looked about. There were only two guards at the other end of the hall and well out of earshot. Even so she lowered her voice. “Don’t they have guest rights and laws of hospitality where you come from?”

“Certainly, very strict ones. If a House sends you an open invitation, and you accept, you are under their protection. If any harm comes to you it is considered a huge insult to the other House and an act of war. No Great House would ever harm a guest who had accepted an open invitation, they would be seen as outcasts by the other Houses. The guest is forbidden to inflict any harm on their host or their host’s family or household. Violating that law isn’t quite as heinous as the other, and is not an act of war, but it would still be seen as a very great disgrace.”

“That… that actually sounds enlightened.”

“You seem surprised.”

“Well, and please don’t take this the wrong way, but your people have a reputation for being immoral.”

“Oh we are, completely and utterly, that doesn’t mean we’re not civilized. In fact we consider ourselves to be the
only
civilized nation.”