Cloaks

Chapter 2: Whispenshire

As they pulled in past the great gates, the crew took in their surroundings. Immaculate gardens punctuated by fountains of marble and gold lined the way to the palace. The carriage pulled to a stop, scattering a flock of peacocks as the riders dismounted.

When they reached the venue, the party was stunned by the display of sheer opulence. Full-sized fountains of wine and chocolate flowed from every corner. The music of a full quartet followed them around as they investigated.

"That's...lovely, thank you," Malakos said. "But you don't need to follow us."

The servants who had been pushing the quartet after them in what appeared to be a large wheelbarrow scowled and steered them away.

"Now then," Bardy turned to the King. "Where did the kidnappers appear?"

"Right this way," the King said, leading them down the aisle. "She was approaching the altar when smoke bombs went off here and here. Then the thugs fired projectiles attached to cords from the trees over there, ziplined in and kidnapped the princess."

Bardy looked up at the massive columns, where the metal heads of the ziplines could still be seen.

The party continued to investigate, occasionally needing to scatter a flock of exotic pets that roamed the venue—ostriches, leopards, llamas, camels, large lizards, and birds with incredible plumage meandered docilely around the posh courtyard. Even one middle-aged human man, entirely nude, roamed about on all fours. The party wasn't sure if he was supposed to be there or not, but wordlessly agreed that they could do without that story, and continued to look for leads to the princess.

A thorough search turned up very little—even the remains of the purported smoke bombs were unaccounted for.

"I had the mess they left cleaned up," he explained. "We want everything ready for the wedding when the princess is rescued."

"Well, I'm afraid that limits what we can do here," Malakos said. At the king's despairing look however, he hastily added, "So we're going to go down into town to see if we can get any leads on the perpetrators. You said they'd been harassing you some time before this—they must have some kind of foothold in town or somewhere nearby."

"Excellent!" The king clapped his hands together. "Please report your findings back to me quickly."

Malakos started toward the gate, fetching a few of the team who had straggled. "Miss Ranger, come down from that tree, please" he asked.

"Yes, please do," a nervous-looking gardener said in a nasally voice. "It's very expensive. Please, do be careful. Don't break anything."

"Where's Deruque?" The cleric looked around. Deruque had not been extremely committed to the investigation. He had surveyed their surroundings with a disgusted curl of his lips and a snarl rolling quietly in the back of his throat, his clawed fingers stroking the hilt of his rapier with a sinister slowness. Eventually, unable to take it in anymore, he had stalked over to the pen of pets. Malakos looked in that direction now—the dragonborn was no longer there.

...Nor was the largest ostrich.

Malakos closed his eyes, pursed his lips, and inhaled deeply before turning and locating their missing party member leading a troupe of protesting servants around the yard from the back of the startled bird.

"Seems he's a bit occupied," Bardy observed helpfully.

"He can catch up with us later then. We've wasted enough time here," Malakos stalked toward the gates. "We can't take the coach down—connection to the monarchy will spoil any chance we have at informatio—oof!"