Pug woke the next morning in a malaise of bleariness tinged through with a stress induced energy. He awoke earlier than he needed to but lacked the will to leave his bed, instead tossing and turning in the wee hours before he was finally forced to reluctantly dress himself. Emerging into the hall outside only partly put together, he beat his wings lazily as he walked. It wasn’t enough to lift him off the ground, but it did make him feel a bit lighter at least. He briefly considered going to visit Lina, however he decided against it when he remembered the conversation looming on the horizon.
Resolving to put off the truly arduous tasks towards the tail end of his day, he leapt to his chores with an alacrity that surprised the mayor and his servants. They left him to it however, seeming to read his mood in his body language and wanting little to do with it. Pug didn’t notice their aloofness, indeed he thought of little at all as he worked. While such empty-mindedness was soothing in the moment, it had the downside of making the day pass in a flash. He tried to find more work to do, only to find himself chased out of the mayor’s home by the lead servant. The slender, wisp-like mushroom bid him to return in an hour or so once dinner was ready, leaving him in the street with few reasons to procrastinate visiting Tourmaline.
Shuffling away from the mayor’s home under a cloud of gloom, he kept his eyes downcast as he thought how best to broach the topic weighed on him. He walked the town’s streets today, nodding and greeting other pedestrians mechanically as he slid between them. A few myconids had seen him flying about the day before, and hardly hid their complaints regarding the irrationalities of ‘meat’. They gave him the myconid equivalent to glares as they sped around him, turning the faux faces and sensory organs to glare at him.
He arrived at the clinic having made no progress deciding how to approach Lina. With no other options, he resolved to approach her head on and steeled himself. He threw open the door and, though he thought himself prepared, found himself frozen in the opening by Tourmaline’s disapproving stare. She sat straight up in her cot, eyes bright and sharply focused on him, a slight frown curving her lips.
“What took you so long? I’m bored.”She snapped, clutching her blanket tightly. “They won’t let me play with the samples we took on the way here!”
“They probably don’t want you poisoning yourself while you’re still recuperating.” Pug replied wryly.
“I wouldn’t poison myself!” Indignation colored her cheeks as she puffed out her chest. She thought for a moment for deflating slightly. “Probably.”
“Sorry for the wait.” Pug smiled guiltily. “I had to do chores for the mayor, it’s part of the deal letting us stay here.”
It wasn’t exactly the truth, but it was close enough to mollify his friend for the moment. She nodded, her mood noticeably improving with his arrival. Pug regarded her closely, impressed by her gnomish constitution. Truly the healer was a large part of her recovery, but a discreet conversation with her had revealed Lina’s own resilience was no small matter. It wouldn’t be long before she was able to travel again. He was so intently focused she startled him when she spoke.
“I wish you didn’t have to pay our debt all on your own.” She frowned. “I wish I could do more to pay them back.”
“Don’t you worry about that.” Pug stated firmly. “You’re still recovering. I can handle doing some chores.”
“I won’t be able to stay to make it up to the mayor anyways, we’re already way behind schedule aren’t we?” Lina asked, nervousness creeping into her tone. “What’s the plan, Pug?”
Pug looked away, the hard knot of tension had formed in his chest since she’d been hurt growing painful as his chest tightened. He ran his tongue over his teeth as he considered what to say. He could lie to her, reassure her, but dishonesty with his friends wasn’t in his nature. He’d already taken this too far, in his own opinion. With a shaky breath he made his decision and spoke.
“I don’t have a plan Lina.” He said with his eyes on her hands where they sat in her lap, not willing to meet her gaze. “I think we missed our window. I’m sorry.”
“Baba said if we missed him at the Hearth, we wouldn’t find him again.” She whispered back, voice raspy.
“She said it was unlikely.” Pug amended for her, though they both knew he was grasping for a silver lining. If Baba was pessimistic about their odds then it might as well be impossible.
“Don’t b******* me, Pug.” He watched as her hands tightened into fists around her bed covers, veins popping as her muscles tightened. “You’re giving up on him? Just like that?”
“I’m not. I’m still going after him.” Pug growled, meeting her gaze.
“Okay, next time lead with .” Tourmaline frowned. “I’ll ask again, what are we going to do?”
“We aren’t going to do anything. You are going to stay here and rest.” Pug stated firmly. “I’m going to go send a message to your dad to let him know you’re here, and then I’m going to set off for Hummingbird Hearth.”
He didn’t think she’d take it well, and he was right. While Tourmaline was too stunned to speak, he could already see the heat rushing to her face and how her lips tightened with anger. His next move was cowardly and he knew it, guilt weighing on him even as he sprung up out of his seat and darted for the door. She’d never forgive him, but it was better she lived to hate him.
Pug had thought her stunned enough he could get away, but he hardly made a step before her hand snapped out and grabbed his wrist at an astonishing speed. She yanked him back towards her rather suddenly, losing his footing as he was violently slammed into the side of her cot. Then, deceptively gently, her other hand cupped his chin and tilted his face towards her. She didn’t look nearly as angry as he expected, but he couldn’t help but stammer out an excuse.
“If I drop most of my gear, if I fly the whole way and push myself I should be able to make it there.” Pug pleaded. “It’ll be close but it’s the best shot we have.”
“Why are you trying to leave me behind? He’s my friend too, hell, he’s more my responsibility than yours.” She said gently, and Pug loathed it. Anger he could deal with, but this? He wasn’t ready for this.
“You almost died Tourmaline, do you realize that?” Anger was doing its level best to choke him now, and the unpleasant prickling behind his eyelids warned him he was about to cry. “I was completely helpless to do anything. If Slink hadn’t brought us here you wouldn’t have woken up again.”
Pug didn’t yell, not like his dad did when he was upset. Pug’s voice got quiet and fraught with withheld emotion, awkward and raw and he hated it. He abhorred the heat that came to his face as he fought back frustrated tears. He pressed his lips into a firm line, harshly but steadily drawing a deep breath through his nostrils, managing to normalize himself enough to continue.
“After I acted like I could take care of you in front of your people, I couldn’t bear to send you back to them in a box, Tourmaline.”
“So, what, you’re leaving me here because you’re worried about how they’ll think of you? Your reputation?”
“I’m going to leave you here because they were right. I can’t protect you. At this rate I’m going to get you killed.” He growled, cutting her off. “This is too big, Lina. We’re further from the woods I know, far from support, and I don’t know what’s going to happen next.”
An oppressive silence covered them then, the kind makes you feel afraid to break it. Pug wasn’t sure what Lina was thinking or feeling. If he were being honest then he had to admit he wasn’t sure what he was feeling at the moment. All he knew was he still couldn’t bring himself to meet her eyes as she released her deathgrip on his arm. She lifted to his shoulder and squeezed him gently before leaving it to settle there, a simple comforting gesture sent a knife of pain through his heart. Lina spoke, her voice soft and kind.
“You know, you’re so adventurous and brave sometimes I forget you’re a fairy.” She chuckled. “And then you go and ruin it by saying the most selfish things!”
Pug’s head snapped up and he met her gaze, mouth opening in protest. She clapped her hand over it, shushing him.
“Despite my name, I’m not some precious treasure to be kept and protected. I chose to be here, to travel with you to save my friend.” She said firmly. “It’s my fault I was taken by surprise by stone. You didn’t risk my life, Pug, but you surely saved it. You idiot.”
“But-”
“No, none of that. I made my own choices, my own mistakes, and you don’t get to take from me with your self pity.”
Her response gave Pug pause, the weight behind them prompting him to consider her words for a moment. Perhaps it was some inherent bias, or years of escorting her and Jet through the woods, but at some point he had started to regard her as a responsibility, a parcel to be delivered. How’d he feel if he got hurt, if she left him behind? He’d feel like a liability, not a friend or partner.
“Even if you wanted to come, there’s no way we’ll make it to the Hearth in time, not if we go together.” Pug stated with an air of finality. “I have to fly there to even have a chance of making it in the timeframe Baba gave us.”
“It’s a good thing I have an idea.” Tourmaline’s eyes sparkled with epiphany, and a smile curved her lips as she considered it.
“Well what’s this idea then?” Pug asked excitedly, only to be cowed by Lina’s glare.
“Don’t you think you owe me an apology first?” Tourmaline’s tone brooked no argument on the matter, not Pug would have fought her on this. He was coming around to her position, and he thinked at the very least he ought to ask for her forgiveness.
“I’m sorry Tourmaline, for being so selfish and caught up in my own head.” He bowed his head slightly as he spoke, hoping the remorse he felt was clear to her. There was a pause, long enough he started to get nervously fidget, before Lina spoke.
“As long as you don’t treat me like a delicate flower, I forgive you.” Tourmaline allowed, favoring him with a small smile. “You were reminding me of my dad, honestly. You two might get along better than you think.”
“Sure.” Pug’s tone was doubtful, a displeased frown flashing across his face. “Setting aside for now, what’s your idea?”
“Why don’t we ask the Owl King to fly us there?” She asked excitedly.
Pug’s first instinct was to shut it down given how trepidatious Slink had been to get involved with the owls. On the other hand, while martens and owls were natural enemies the owls had no real reason to show them any hostility. They’d likely have to offer something of value, or perhaps owe the Owl King’s court a favor but was a price Pug could live with. Slink would be less than pleased, but Pug was sure he’d forgive them if they explained the situation. Tourmaline, seeing Pug mulling over the idea, nudged him excitedly.
“Well? Would it work?” She asked. “Could they get us there in time?”
“We’d get there faster than I would alone.” Pug admitted. “Owls are a damn sight faster than I am, and can fly for far longer.”
“We can make it!” Tourmaline gave a little fist pump, causing Pug to laugh.
“There’s no guarantee they’ll say yes.” Pug cautioned, trying in vain to set reasonable expectations. “We’d need to go talk to them first, before we can say anything for sure.”
“So time is of the essence? Excellent, turn around real quick and I’ll be ready in a moment.” Tourmaline said as she threw back her covers.
Pug whipped around to put his back to her before he saw anything he shouldn’t, seeing as his friend was clad in little more than a shift. He tucked his chin and stared straight ahead, right into the floor, while bringing his hands up to work as impromptu blinders. It was all unnecessary, seeing as he’d seen it all while caring for her while she was wounded, but he blushed crimson nevertheless. He couldn’t help but hear her soft little grunts as she struggled to get dressed, and felt her shifting the cot as she wiggled around.
“I can wait outside!” Pug said. He attempted to stand from his chair, only for a firm hand to press him right back down.
“Oh no you don’t. I’m still not convinced you wouldn’t just take off without me.” She opined. “You and I are joined at the hip until we get to the Hearth.”
“What if I need to go to the bathroom?” Pug said, only half joking.
“You’ve got nothing I haven’t seen before.” She said, echoing his thought from earlier and causing the heat in his cheeks to spread to his ears, likely making them a bright red.
Tourmaline removed the firm hand held him down from his shoulder, leaving Pug speechless with embarrassment. He had no intentions to leave her behind after their heart-to-heart, and now he was terrified she’d chase him naked through the streets if he attempted it. His discomfort only grew when the nurse strode in, withering under her gaze as she clinically examined his now apple-red complexion. She looked at Tourmaline next, clearly upset the wounded gnome was up and about. Whatever she would have said was stifled as she suddenly recoiled, warded away but what Pug assumed was a venomous look from Tourmaline.
Without comment the Myconid nurse turned around and walked right back out of the infirmary. A few moments later Lina walked around the cot and pulled him out of his chair. She was dressed in the clothes she had been wounded in, now washed and mended with fine stitching. At her behest they were out the door in mere moments, headed straight for the mayor’s office to collect their things.
Pug was escorted inside the mayor’s home under Lina’s watchful gaze, standing off to the side as she thanked the mayor profusely for his assistance while the mayor simultaneously thanked Pug for his aid about the village. Pug managed to say his goodbyes to the mayor before Lina prodded him to move on, heading to his room to collect their supplies. He was grateful he managed to say goodbye to some of the servants he had met during his residence here, and those he saw promised to pass his goodbyes to those who were absent.
Their things remained packed in their bags and containers, untouched since he had been here. It made it easy for the pair of them to load up, shouldering their packs with relative ease. Pug noticed Lina struggle for a moment to get the second strap on her shoulder, but he made no mention of it. His gnomish friend eagerly checked her alchemical components and reagents, having desperately missed them in the couple of days she spent lying awake in her cot. Once they were properly loaded up they holstered their weapons, slipping out of the room and back down the hall into the waning light of day.
Pug was grateful on Tourmaline’s behalf the trunk of the grand tree sheltered the village, and housed the Owl King’s Court, which was not far from the mayor’s manor. The wooden behemoth towered over the two of them, stretching so far into the sky they had to look straight up to see the point where the boughs split from the tree, and even then distance relegated many details to blurry interpretation. The tree was wide as well, its circumference stretching off into the distance in either direction. Circling the tree was manageable, however on this side neither of the pair saw an easy way up the trunk. Tourmaline, slightly dizzied from exertion and weakness, sat down on a nearby stone as she looked upon it.
“Alright, so how do we get up there?” She asked breathlessly.
“I’m not too sure. I could fly up there and negotiate, and then have them come back down to pick you up?”
“Like I said-” Lina began, her gaze icy. Pug finished her thought for her, cutting her off.
“You and I are joined at the hip until we get to the Hearth.” Pug sighed. “I’m not sure what else to do. It’s far too tall to climb, even if you weren’t injured.”
A shuffled footstep behind them announced a new presence. They turned to see the mayor of the township trotting up to them, no apparent signs of exhaustion evident. The old mushroom walked up to them, looking the tree up and down. Pug and Lina joined him, the three of them regarding the tree, which was in fact quite majestic, silently. After a few moments of respectful silence, the mayor spoke.
“I thought you might be headed here.” Brittlegill explained. “The owls are certainly the fastest way to get where you’re going in the time you need to get there.”
“Do you know a way up?” Pug asked, not at all surprised the mayor knew the intricacies of their situation. He imagined Slink had been very forthcoming.
“The easiest way would be the lift.” The mayor stated simply. “You’re right though, you wouldn’t want to climb it. bark has deceptively few handholds.”
“There’s a lift?” Pug started. He didn’t think the terrestrial myconids would have any need for something like .
“The Owl King expects tributes every now and then. “The mayor explained, seeing Pug’s surprise. “We had one built to expedite the process, and make it a fair bit safer.”
“Where’s the lift? I don’t see it.” Tourmaline interjected, craning her head about curiously as she tried to find it.
The mayor shot them the closest thing he had to a mischievous grin, or at least was how Pug interpreted the expression. The myconid official sauntered up to the trunk of the tree and stretched out an appendage, pressing against the part. To their mutual amazement the bark swung inward on hidden hinges, revealing a massive lift capable of carrying cargo to the top of the tree. The pair of them gaped in wonder as the mayor gestured them in, their first steps on to the platform echoing slightly up the shaft carved into the wood of the tree. Crab Brittlegill closed a gate and engaged a lever, starting the lift and taking the three of them up to the Owl King’s Court.
A brief inspection of the lift showed it was made of the same wood as the tree surrounding them, most likely from scrap material created during the hollowing of the channel. Greased chains supported it on either side, glinting sullenly in the dim light of the single lantern hung from the crossbar arching overhead. The lantern swayed from side to side on its hook as the lift glided up the shaft. Pug could see now the walls of the channel cut into the tree were sanded smooth, and treated with some sort of solution if the darkened grain of the wood were any indication.
It made sense, as otherwise the channel would fill with sap or begin to rot. The more Pug thought about it the more he had to admit it was a wonder. Tourmaline seemed to agree, her fear of heights forgotten as she regarded the construction with interest. Her lips were pursed in thought as she examined the wood of their lift, assuming the two materials had received the same treatment. He watched as she leaned over to speak with Brittlegill, their conversation drowned out by the rattle of chains against gears. Whatever his answer, it seemed to satisfy Tourmaline as the inquisitive gnome gave the myconid a bright smile as the lift rumbled to a stop. She pranced off of the lift gleefully, pulling Pug along as he waved his goodbyes to the mayor.
“Good luck!” Crab Brittlegill said cheerily, disappearing from sight as he flipped the lever and reengaged the lift.
“ was unnaturally fast, wasn’t it?” Pug mused, peering over the lip of the opening to watch as the lantern’s light dwindled and faded into the distance.
“It was! The mayor wasn’t willing to share all of their secrets, but I’ve got some new compounds to mix when this is all over.”
Pug looked over at her curiously, an amused smile forming on his lips as he saw she already had her journal in her hands. The gnome recorded her findings before she could forget them, snapping the weathered tome closed with a thump. No longer distracted by her discovery she favored Pug with a frown as she saw him, leaning halfway into the void left behind by the lift.
“Get over here before you fall.” She chided, lifting a hand to forestall him from reminding her he could, in fact, fly.
A sharp clack resounded through the small hollow they stood in, prompting the two of them to stop their banter. They looked at each other with wide eyes before scanning the branches and canopy all around them. Perhaps it shouldn’t have come as a surprise given how silently an owl can fly, but the piercing eyes of the entire court of owls looked down upon them from the murky shadows between the branches. Even in his shock, Pug knew the noise alerted him and his friend to their presence had been purposeful.
Pug peered into the branches above them to see more than a dozen owls perched in what he had just moments ago perceived as empty space. Their eyes glittered in the low light of the hollow and, now their guests knew they were there, they twittered and hooted amongst themselves energetically. They seemed to be interested, or perhaps, amused by their guests though the muted sounds of their conversation slowly withered and died out as each owl turned to look to the edge of the hollow stood furthest from the roost.
Sitting there was an owl easily half again as large as any other owl present. It twisted its head back and forth as it eyed them inquisitively. At one point he hopped to one side, bodily shoving aside the owl perched there. Pug swallowed nervously as the other bird, a creature many times his size and an impossible obstacle for a fairy like himself to move, was shoved aside like it was a fledgeling. Pug realized with no small amount of trepidation this must be the titular Owl King. Pug maintained eye contact as the bird blinked, well, owlishly, and licked his lips nervously as it cleared its throat to address them in Common.
“Ah, um, pardon but I rarely converse in this tongue. Am I correct in assuming you two don’t come from the village below?” The Owl King blinked again as he finished his sentence, and every other owl Pug could see blinked at the same moment.
The eerie synchronicity forced Pug to suppress a shiver as he replied. “You would be correct, your Majesty, though they were kind enough to host us for a time. We’re travelers, visitors to this place, and we were hoping to negotiate a favor.”
“So you aren’t one of the funny talking mushrooms?” The Owl King asked, squinting.
“My apologies sir, my name is Pug and I’m a fairy.” Pug clarified. “And this is my companion Tourmaline.
“I’m a gnome.” Lina cut in. A glare from Pug prompting her to add on a belated, “Ah, your Majesty.”
“A gnome and a fairy traveling together, here to ask a favor of me?” The Owl King hooted merrily. “What could I possibly assist you with today?”
“My apologies for imposing, but we urgently need to get to the Hummingbird’s Hearth, my lord.” Pug repressed a shudder as they blinked in unison once again, continuing, “A friend’s life hangs in the balance and we’re on a time limit. We hoped you might spare someone to carry us there.”
“I see,” the Owl King hummed. “I don’t see any reason to refuse you, but I don’t know what we’d ask for in return. It’s a short flight for one of us, and we don’t need anything you could provide us. Suppose we just call it a favor then?” Blink. Pug could almost swear he heard a sound as so many eyes closed in unison.
“I would appreciate any assistance you could give, and if you’re ever in the area of the fairy village I’d be happy to assist you however I can.” Pug stammered, taken aback by the Owl King’s apparent generosity which detracted from how unnerving their blinking was.
“So be it!” The Owl King chirped excitedly.
Suddenly, as though released from some unnatural compulsion, the owls around them burst into a flurry of activity as they squawked and flapped their wings. With proper court decorum put to rest the owls began to hoot and titter amongst themselves excitedly, seemingly arguing over who would get to ferry their guests to their destination. Eventually a sleek, dusty brown she-owl stepped forward, bobbing its head. She pecked sassily at a few challengers, batting them playfully with her wings until they forfeited. The Owl King gave a subtle nod as she stood before him, apparently accepting her bid for the task.
“I will have Danica here take you in a moment, once she’s ready.” She bobbed her head before fluttering away into the night. “While we wait, tell me. What troubles your friend? I’m most curious.”
Pug was grateful when Lina took over, chattering away excitedly with the Owl King. She was heartened by his affable attitude and quick decision to aid them, though Pug couldn’t really blame her. The fairy took the moment to relax, closing his eyes and savoring one of the few victories he’d had recently. He had to give it to Lina, asking the Owl King for aid was a brilliant idea. It was at that moment, as he was riding high, the prominent crunch of talons gripping a branch drew his attention.
A new trio of owls had winged their way into the hollow of the treetop, expert precision allowing them to weave their way through the branches and leaves. The rear two of the trio were still landing, joining the rest of the owls in their conversations. The third, whose arrival had snapped Pug out of his relaxation, had landed beside the Owl King. They conversed softly in their native tongue before the newcomer turned to regard Pug and Tourmaline. Pug felt a tug on his mind as they looked at the owl, finding him to look somewhat familiar. He was large, the next biggest after the Owl King himself. He realized who the newcomer was in a flash, and was about to urge Tourmaline to leave when the owl began to speak.
“Father, who are our guests? What brings such rare visitors to our kingdom? The owl’s words were velvety and suave.
“These visitors came to us for a favor, Owen. They need to travel quite the distance to save a friend of theirs.” The Owl King hooted as the newcomer, Owen, tilted his head at Pug and Lina. Pug shivered as a spark of malicious glee lit in Owen’s eyes.
“Father, I fear you have been tricked! These are the very same hooligans who attacked me a few days ago, in the company of a marten!” Owen favored Puig with a smug look as he finished his accusation.
The Owl King and his court grew remarkably still as whatever compulsion welded the common owl to their lord’s will stole over them again. More than a dozen pairs of eyes full upon Lina and Pug again, and the weight of them pinned Pug in place. Tourmaline, on the other hand, hadn’t yet realized the owl was the same one they had fought before, though Pug could see the surprise and horror beginning to dawn on her.
“Is this true, little fairy?” The Owl King whispered, punctuating his query with a blink.
There they go with that blinking thing again. Pug thought mirthlessly, shivering as the subtle noise they made crawled up his spine.
“My apologies, we didn’t knowingly trick you. We weren’t aware your son was the owl we fought.” Pug explained, though he held little hope honesty would save him now.
“They attacked me while I was hunting!” Owen cried indignantly, all but shouting over Pug.
“Where do you get off attacking another talking animal? Shouldn’t you be hunting normal prey?” Lina interjected scathingly and Owen’s eyes widened in surprise, his wings subconsciously flaring out to make him seem larger in his shock.
Clearly the young owl didn’t know he’d been pursuing another intelligent creature. Ignorance was no excuse however, and the martens were unlikely to forgive the attempt. Pug could see as the Owl King processed this information, his eyes hardening and hollowing, losing all emotion. Pug swallowed nervously as the Owl King’s demeanor changed, and when the large bird of prey spoke again the air was so thick with tension it almost vibrated with stress.
“It seems we will have to prepare for the marten’s retaliation. must come later, however.” The Owl King intoned, staring at his son. Once Owen was suitably cowed he turned back to his guests. “On the other talon, you insulted my son. I have promised you aid, and will not break promise, but the laws of the Wylde demand we address this insult. Don’t you agree?”
Under the laws of the Queen, Tourmaline and Pug could be seen as the guilty party here. An Owl hunting for a meal was a natural thing, and to intercede is to disrupt and insult their way of life. While the pup was of a higher order of marten, it could still be argued it was still eligible to be prey for a higher order of owl. Even if they argued their way free of any severe punishment, the process would take time they didn’t have. It would be even worse if the Owl King forced them to bring in someone from the Queen’s court to judge it all impartially. While the King was obliged to keep up his end of the bargain, he was able to put it off until his grievances had been redressed.
left Pug few options, none of them good for Jet’s longevity. If he were any other manner of creature, they might have had no options. Indeed, Tourmaline looked confused by the Owl King’s declaration. However Pug was a fairy, the closest thing to being true-blooded Sidhe, and their litigious nature lived on in him. There was one final option that would force the Owl King to fulfill his bargain tonight, however it was arguably the worst available to them. Seeking reassurance, Pug reached out and grabbed Tourmaline’s hand, squeezing it tightly.
“How badly do you want to make it to the Hearth?” Pug whispered.
“What?” Tourmaline asked, confused.
“Are you willing to risk your life for it?”
“Obviously.” Tourmaline scoffed, gesturing at herself, only having just recovered from her wounds.
Pug smiled at before turning his gaze back onto the Owl King, proclaiming, “I contest your claim. Your son offered insult to the martens, one of whom was among our party when we found him. Our interference was just, and if satisfaction is to be taken then it will be taken from your son.”
Owen looked between his father and Pug with wide, ignorant eyes. Likewise, Tourmaline looked confused, though what had occurred was relatively simple. By becoming the accuser, Pug laid the groundwork for his next step. He’d stolen the Owl King’s momentum, and followed up quickly.
“In order to right the wrongs perpetrated by your son and to address the insult he issues to my friends, the martens, I challenge him to a duel.” Pug declared, quickly continuing before anyone could interject. “That is, if the thought of fighting something other than a toddler doesn’t scare him away.”
“You bug-winged cretin, I’ll tear your guts out with my beak.” Owen hissed. “I accept your challenge, on the condition you bring your friend with you. I’ve never eaten gnome before.”
“Owen, you fool.” The Owl King screeched, battering his son with an outstretched wing.
It was too late, however. While either side could have argued before a Court official they were the slighted party, a process which would have delayed Pug and Tourmaline for far too long, a duel was a much more immediate affair. Duels were old law, from the early days of the Wylde and the Court, and remained relatively unrestrained by modern trappings. Indeed, any attempt to stall the duel to prevent them from getting to Jet in time would be heavily frowned upon, and the Court may even impose penalties for doing so. Now Owen had accepted the duel, he’d taken the possibility of a trial out of his father’s hands. Or talons, rather.
“Very well, a duel to decide who is just.” The Owl King muttered angrily. “It will take place at midnight. You will be free to use your weapons, as an owl’s talons are considered a weapon in their own right. Prepare yourselves.”
At the King’s declaration the multitude of avians watching the proceeding began to hoot and cheer, once again free of their King’s odd compulsion. Pug hadn’t realized it had gotten so late, but upon hearing the hour a weariness began to take him and his stomach growled loudly. He realized now he’d been so caught up in Lina’s plan he hadn’t eaten. Shepherding Lina to a remote corner of the treetop, he dropped his bag and pulled free his knife and spear, setting both aside. Reaching into his pack he pulled free a small chunk of cheese and hard bread, which he wolfed down ravenously. It was an hour or two after sunset now, and while they didn’t have long to wait it was more than enough for him to get some food down before the fight.
“What the hell just happened?” Tourmaline muttered, digging a ration free of her own pack. “Why’d you ask for a duel with the Owl Prince?”
“It’s the quickest solution. If his temper hadn’t gotten the better of him, they could have bogged us down for days while we argued over whether we insulted Owen, perhaps even waiting for a Court official to mediate.”
“Alright then, we’re dueling. Assuming I have no experience in dueling, which I don’t, what’s our plan?”
“You’re not going to like what I have to say here.” Pug began. “But the reason he chose midnight is because they can see far better at night than I can. Maybe even better than you, though your eyes are built for being underground. Worse than that, you’re still not fully recovered.”
“I’m not going to sit this out.” Line said stubbornly, her eyes flashing.
“Don’t worry, I’m not telling you to, though I don’t think Owen would let you anyways.” Pug chuckled. “No, what I’m warning you is he’ll probably go after you first. Predators tend to target the weak and wounded first. It’s instinctual.
Pug watched as fear tried to worm its way into Lina’s heart before the gnome got herself under control. She took a deep breath, steeling her resolve, before opening her eyes and looking at Pug. She pulled her alchemical satchel to her chest, holding it close.
“Alright, so you won’t be able to see and I can’t fly. I’ll be weak and easy to target, so he’ll pick me off first then kill you while you’re helpless. Is that right?”
“Exactly!” Pug said cheerily, testing the sharpness of his blades.
“What do we do?” Tourmaline asked, evidently exasperated with her friend’s relaxed attitude.
“Luckily for us, I have something that might resemble a plan.” Pug favored her with a wicked grin.
