NOVEL NEXT Book 3 Ch 41: Gerda - Spill the Tea (or, It's Pronounced Madame)
I was sitting on a couch, sandwiched between Henrietta and King Keith, while most everyone who had previously been in the Sanctuary found a spot in the parlor.
Grand Duchess Calisto and Duke Julian sat across from me, while Their Royal Highness hovered behind them instead of taking one of the available chairs. The fox was obviously impatient to be elsewhere, extolling revenge on a suspecting spy, but couldn’t resist their curiosity. The newlyweds and their party members were absent, playing host at the luncheon.
Sir Tully was running laps outside, and Visha was on guard duty for Alice in the dungeon. That left Pram and John, the latter of which was in Julian’s shadow. Pram was handling a tray of snacks, and pouring tea. The selkie was a deft hand, and I happily sipped from a cup of caruleal tea; a blend from southern Peldeep that was pink and hinted of grapefruit.
“Alright, spill the tea!” Henrietta couldn’t contain her excitement and stared up at me with bright, shining eyes. “Are you actually Madame Potts?”
I considered my response.
To deny? To portal out?
“It’s pronounced Madame.” I joked, knowing it didn’t matter because no one here spoke french except for me. I took another sip from my handleless teacup to calm my racing heart.
The room reacted differently all at once.
“Brilliant!” Henrietta said.
“Of course,” King Keith muttered under his breath. The Dark Lord was still hurt that I’d taken over all of his bridges, and it showed.
Silver eyes narrowed as Duke Julian regarded me. Whatever he thought, he said nothing. Grand Duchess Calisto looked over her shoulder.
Because at that point Their Royal Highness changed shape.
The guise of a stately gentleman with long white facial hair and bushy eyebrows wearing heavy court robes faded into a huge fox towering overhead. Their many tails were half hidden in the red and white fog.
Rowen’s usually playful slit eyes were open, staring at me intently. I felt their aura and some skill hit me as they confirmed, “You are Madame Potts?”
I didn’t flinch under the weight. “Yes.”
It was the truth, and Rowen saw it. The pressure from their aura subsided and the fox nodded once. Suddenly, they shifted again, this time into a middle aged androgynous adventurer wearing a thin circlet, with long black hair tied at the nape of their neck.
“Then I owe you a great debt.” Rowen walked around the couch and took a seat in the armchair next to Duchess Calisto. Bracing both elbows on their knees, the fox said with utmost sincerity. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome. I’m glad I could help.” I said, resisting the urge to tell the ruler it was nothing, or otherwise downplay my part in saving their life. I had a feeling they would take that as an insult.
“I would also like to thank you,” Grand Duchess Calisto spoke, drawing everyone’s attention. “Since I assume that today would have gone a lot differently if you were not here to lend us your aid.”
“Ah, yes.” It was time to get back to the matter at hand. “I have a skill that lets me see some futures, some of the time.”
My particular blend of abilities was incredibly useful, and I would downplay them as much as possible. No one here seemed like the type to lock me up and use me for my future telling powers - but why chance it. Actually... Rowen I wasn't so sure about. They had a look in their eyes.
“Which was why you knew where all of the traps were hidden?” Calisto picked up her own tea, holding it in both hands. I noticed they were shaking, probably from the mana burn that would continue to torment her until she rested.
“Yes.” I didn't beat around the bush. “I saw each and every trap go off. And I should let you know that Alice has more Molten Ash Vane on her person.”
“And do you know how all of our highest level investigators missed those traps? You don’t look like a high-level rogue.” Julian cut in.
“I don’t need to be.” I smiled at the duke. I carefully considered my words. I hadn’t decided if I was going to throw every Blackfog spy under the horsecart, so to speak. Up until I messed with everything, the group was a mostly harmless information network. “I just had to point at where the traps went off and John found them for me.”
Julian’s eyebrow twitched.
“Your knight was right.” King Keith stated. “Madame Potts finding the traps was cheating.”
“Everyone had a chance to inspect the hall, Keith, and there were no limits on which skill could be used to search for traps.” Henrietta chastised.
“Gods.” The Dark Lord reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose. “After today, everyone is going to find out that Madame Potts lives in our kingdom. We already get enough attention…”
He sounded preemptively exhausted, and Henrietta tried to cheer him up. “It’ll be fine love. Between the two of us, I’m sure we can protect our bridge troll.”
“That’s not…” Keith began, and then changed tactics, “Thank you, love.”
“He’s right,” Their Royal Highness leaned back and crossed their legs, regarding me with curiosity. “Now that it's known, I can’t imagine the secret being safe for long. Especially when the leader of the largest information guild on the continent is the one who figured it out. What do you plan to do now?”
“I haven’t decided,” I lied, and by the look on Rowan’s face, they could tell.
Instead of prying, they simply nodded and offered, “Peldeep will always welcome you.”
“Rowen!” Henrietta turned on the fox, eyes blazing, “No poaching our Elite!”
Keith physically bit his lip and remained silent.
“I would like to bring us back to the matter at hand.” Duke Julian stated. “Miss Gerda could you tell us everything you know about how Guild Mistress Alice managed to bypass our defences and trap the Sanctuary? Who were her allies? Did we miss anyone in the battle? And do you know what is going to happen next?”
Calisto frowned. “Before that, we should summon the rest of the Continental Council. John?”
“I would like to limit my questioning to those who are here, actually.” I told the duchess, and she hesitated only a second before agreeing.
I knew that Gerda the Bridge Troll might not have the authority to make requests of the Continental Council… but Madame Potts did. With a last sip of my tea, I placed my teacup back on the table.
“Alright, let me start at the beginning.”