The Wyvern's Spur - Kate Novak [26]
For a while she savored the irony that the noble's cursed purse had saved her life, but as the hour grew later and the night colder, she became annoyed. Now that she was no longer in immediate danger, her situation appalled her. By the time the young Wyvernspur finally emerged from the Immer Inn and wobbled down the street, she slunk after him, feeling considerable animosity.
She realized, however, that the streets were too open for a confrontation and that she would have to follow him home. Unfortunately, Giogi seemed to have no interest in going back. He wandered along the lakefront. Then the sound of music from the Five Fine Fish attracted his attention. He hurried over to the inn and disappeared inside.
Olive imagined with longing the fish and chips and ale the Fish served, but apparently the same things did not interest Giogi. He came out only a few minutes later and wandered over to the market green and began talking to one of the stone bandits.
That's just great. Olive thought sarcastically. My fate is in the hands of a man who talks to statues. She hung back in the shadows, and she was glad she had, for just as the fop began serenading the statue-with another one of her compositions-Samtavan Sudacar came out from the Fish and called out to him.
The local lord had never shown Olive anything but the utmost courtesy when she entertained in the Fish. There was something about Sudacar's thoughtful gaze, though, that convinced Olive he suspected her of something. It wouldn't do to be seen holding Giogi's purse in her teeth, even if she were an ass.
Sudacar talked Giogi into re-entering the Fish, and Olive was forced to wait for a second eternity before they came out again. They were the last patrons to leave the inn, and Lem locked the door behind them when they left. The moon had begun its descent as they crossed the market square to the statue of Azoun III. They lingered, chatting, beside the stone carving. Olive considered creeping closer to eavesdrop on their conversation, but she was still wary of Sudacar. Finally, the local lord left Giogi and strolled south.
Giogi watched Sudacar walk away, then headed west. Olive, her spirit by now burning with a righteous wrath, trotted after the long-legged Cormyte, her hooves clattering on the cobblestones. She no longer bothered to avoid his detection. She was determined to give the Immersea fop a healthy piece of her mind. "Only an irresponsible, thoughtless fool," she planned to say, "would leave a cursed purse lying in the gutter where it would be found by some poor, defenseless halfling," namely herself. First, though, she had to get him to change her back into the lovely, talented halfling she'd been born and bred to be.
Giogi stopped in front of a large, well-kept townhouse surrounded by a high iron fence. The noble hummed to himself as he fumbled with the gate latch and pushed his way into the front yard. Before the gate could close, Olive nudged her way through, right behind the oblivious Giogioni. The gate swung shut behind her, its latch engaging with a sharp clang.
Olive found herself in a small, formal garden. Straw mulch covered the square, raised beds and dormant vine stalks clung to wooden trellises along the path to the front door. The sight of the dead garden in the moonlight gave Olive the shivers.
It's time, she decided, to announce myself.
Olive opened her mouth so Giogi's sack of coins fell with a clink, and she gave a loud, annoyed bray.
Giogi whirled around with a shriek of terror. Upon spotting the beast that had been stalking him, though, he gave a cry of delight.
"What an adorable burro," he said with a smile. He put his hand out to pet her, but Olive backed out of reach. With a forefoot, she kicked Giogi's purse forward.
"What's this?" Giogi bent over. "My purse!" he cried, picking it up and brushing