“Oh. Yeah.”
What was Rupert talking about? Conclave of animages? demons, she supposed he meant. Why would the demon all of the sudden leave them for a meeting of demons? What did that portend? A meeting of demons, could it have something to do with this book? The whole thing didn’t make much sense, but she couldn’t exactly question Rupert more closely in the presence of the priest and Edwyrd. She really didn’t want to freak people out any more than necessary.
Actually, Rupert had looked at Edwyrd before answering. Ah, maybe that explained his tense look. Maybe Rupert had told him about the demon. Any sane person would certainly get tense and look like that if they had to worry about a demon popping up at any moment. Goddess knew the demon made her feel that way. Of course, he could also be kind of tense because he’d just walked into a temple in which three ragged individuals were holding a priest hostage. He might be leery of the company his cousin was keeping. She couldn’t blame him for that either. Not that she exactly trusted Edwyrd for that matter. It was just too strange for Rupert to just wander out and find his cousin like that.
“Fine, well, ok. So you went out. You really should not have gone alone, that was really stupid, Rupert. What’s the name of the city then?”
“Gizzor Del,” Rupert answered.
“Gizzor Del? where’s that?”
“I don’t know,” Rupert said. Gastropé also gave her a blank look. “It is however, ruled by a guy named Duke Swery.”
That didn’t help much. She looked at Edwyrd. He came in through the gates, he should know. “Where is Gizzor Del?” she asked him. “I would think you would know, since you were passing through.”
He looked at her in surprise, it took him a moment to say anything. “Why don’t you know? You had to come in the same way, didn’t you?” That shut her up. The priest knew how they came in, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to explain it to this Edwyrd fellow. It was really just a bit much to try and explain to a complete stranger. Ok, this wasn’t going to get her any further. She turned to look down at the priest.
She walked over to him. His eyes were lit up in fear. She bent down to remove his gag. He whimpered softly.
“How far is it to Freehold from here?” Jenn asked him.
“Lord Tiernon protect me from evil. I repent my sins fully. Lord save me from these forces of...” She gagged him again. She shook her head. Why did everything always have to be so difficult?
Chapter 48
Tick tock tick tock. How long could he hold it? It was beginning to remind him of having to hold his bladder, only worse. He’d held human form now for almost three hours. Neither he nor Rupert had gotten any sleep last night. He’d kept practicing his human form throughout the night. The first ten times had been real difficult. Eventually however, he learned enough tricks to hold it without turning back whenever something shocked him. After Rupert was able to successfully kick him in the shin without him losing control and turning back, they’d decided they could take some chances. They needed to, they had several details to work out.
For one thing, Tom needed clothes. These they found in the wardrobe in the other room. Tom hoped the priest wouldn’t notice him wearing his clothes. The other problem was how to explain Tom. They couldn’t call him Tom, that would be too blatant, so he suggested they use his middle name, Edward. Rupert liked the idea and started calling him Edwyrd. Secondly, how to explain his presence. Rupert came up with the cousin idea. Unfortunately, if that were to be the case, they’d have know something about the city. Since dawn had just arrived, they decided to wander about.
Actually the thought had made Tom nervous, but he’d have to go out some time, better with just him and Rupert rather than with all of them. Tom had gone back to demon form to rest for a little while, then changed back. They’d snuck out, making sure all the others were still asleep and wandered the city.
Actually, it wasn’t that incredibly large of a city. It wasn’t that incredibly savory of a city either, but then Tom had little to judge cities in Astlan by. Tom, or Edwyrd didn’t have much spare attention to pay to the city in any event. Every other second was spent on concentrating on his human form. He really didn’t want to lose it in the middle of the street.
One problem they’d quickly realized was lack of currency. Rupert had a couple copper pennies, but that was all. Edwyrd, naturally, had none. It would also be doubtful that either Jenn or Gastropé would have any either, having just been prisoners. They’d need money to at least get some supplies. Further, if this Gizzor Del as they discovered its name, was far from Freehold, they’d need horses for Jenn and Gastropé and probably a wagon for Edwyrd and Rupert since Rupert was scared of horses and it was doubtful if the horses would like Edwyrd.
It was unfortunate, but Tom doubted that he could just carry all three of the wizards and fly. If they could ditch Gastropé then he could take Jenn and Rupert, one in each arm, if she’d allow it. With three, though, he was afraid he’d drop one. Unfortunately, he wasn’t sure he could convince Jenn to abandon the idiot wizard in a strange city. Actually, he wasn’t sure he could agree with it either. It wasn’t as bad as just killing him, but the thought did kind of bother him.
Eventually they had returned to the little church place and found everyone awake. It was then the fun began for Edwyrd. He was really nervous that under close scrutiny these guys would figure out who he was. If they didn’t believe him, then he was afraid their disbelief might keep him from holding form before others in the city. Edwyrd suspected that Gizzor Delians would be much more upset by his form than even Jenn or Gastropé. Thus it was that Edwyrd stood there while Jenn paced up and down trying to figure out where they were. Edwyrd hoped she wouldn’t return to asking him questions, he didn’t have a clue to the local geography.
“Our other problem,” Rupert said, causing Jenn to halt her pacing, “is money, Edwyrd here, just spent the last of his funds on his apple and I don’t have anything but pennies. Do you guys have any?”
Jenn frowned and shook her head. Gastropé just pulled his tattered pockets inside out. Actually, if they weren’t going to attract too much attention, they’d have to get Jenn and Gastropé new clothes as well. Their current ones were rather ragged and singed. Edwyrd just shook his head as problems mounted.
“Maybe the priest has some,” Gastropé’ suggested. “They are always taking collections.”
“But that’s for their god...” Jenn protested.
“Who needs it more now? His god or us? Besides if his god is one of the good guys, the money should be for the poor and indigent. I think we all fit in that category at the moment.” Gastropé pointed out. He walked over to the priest. “Any money priest?” he asked as he pulled down the gag.
“Tiernon shall protect me, his sword and his shield shall enfold me.”
“Well you can enfold yourself all you want later, just answer my question or I’ll enfold you inside out.” Gastropé’s right hand started to glow. Jenn grimaced at Gastropé’s trick of using Were Light to threaten the priest.
The priest turned whiter. “In the big robe’s pockets in the wardrobe.” Gastropé’ regagged him. Jenn walked over to the wardrobe. Strange, it didn’t seem like there were as many clothes in there as last night. She must have been more tired than she thought. She reached into each of the pockets in the only robe left. In the back pocket she found a small green pouch. She took it out.
Pulling its mouth apart, she gently poured three gold coins and nine silver ones onto her hand. Not a lot, but hopefully enough. She showed the others. Gastropé nodded and looked down at the priest. “Thank you for your donation, gentle sir.” A lot of his courage had come back now that the demon was gone, and he was away from Exador. “Now you could perhaps tell us how to get to Freehold from here?” He brought the intensity of light on his hand back up into the visible range as he removed the gag again with his other hand.