Servitude: The Hydrangea Chapters

Chp 21: The Heated Proposal

Marlina, perking up, immediately went to the men's rooms and looked inside, both in deep sleep and snoring like beasts. Could those people she saw be robbers? Or worse?

Dashing outside, she had to catch up with them to know where they were going. They were in the courtyard near some of the stone clay spires that provide air to the chambers underground. Getting closer, her metal footsteps thudded across the stone as she became closer to them.

"Stay right there! What're you..."

Marlina then was immediately tackled by one of them, pinning her to the ground and their hand over her mouth.

"Will you shut up you idiot? They're gonna know we're up here." Neterion hissed at her.

Now that Marlina was closer, she barely made out Neterion's aggravated expression. The other was Natashia, kneeling next to the spires.

"Why'd you have to go and tackle her?" Natashia whispered, her ear close to one of the spires to hear if they'd been discovered.

"Because she's a loudmouth." Neterion let Marlina go, but kept his hand on her mouth. "We're trying to eavesdrop here, so shut it and go back to the tavern so we can listen." He'd then pull his hand away and quietly move near the spires, the two listening for one with the clearest sound.

With the silence down below, the two of them were confused before a burst of smoke from Mordecai's smoking pipe came from some of the spires and into their faces, making them cover their faces to dull the sounds of their coughing and gagging.

"I told you two to go to bed! I won't tell you again!" Mordecai shouted sternly from below, having to shout so they could hear him.

While the twins were still coughing, they saw Marlina wasn't bothered by it. Neterion gets an idea, still keeping his voice lowered. "Hey, stay here and listen in case he tries that again."

Marlina showed agitation from how he was barking commands at her. "Perhaps I shouldn't, and I thought I wasn't supposed to hear about whatever is your business? Obviously, he doesn't want you to hear either."

Natashia scooted to Marlina and put her hands on her shoulders, able to see the pleading in her eyes. "Marlina, we're sorry about that earlier. It is important, but it might have Mordecai jump into something dangerous. We need to know what he plans to do, or we could lose him. He's the closest thing to a father we've had, and we can't lose him..."

Marlina's brow furrowed, looking at Neterion with the same concern in his eyes despite his scowl. She wouldn't know their concern herself, but she could sympathize. "I'll do my best."

Natashia smiles with relief and hugs her, helping Marlina sneak to the spires. At the moment, things were silent below, Neterion and Natashia purposefully taking heavier steps so those below hear them walking back to the barracks.

Marlina waited a few moments, and another burst of smoke came from the spires. With no signs of coughing or any other sounds, Marlina would start to hear voices again. It was muffled, so Marlina concentrated on hearing.

"It sounds like they are gone, Mordecai, now can you put that vile thing away before we choke to death?" Elek complains.

"It's pretty smelly, even for me." Tessa retorts.

"I'm sorry, I had to make sure."

Marlina would then hear a whooshing sound from below, a powerful blast of air shooting from all the spires, creating a loud whistle, it was Tessa using her wind scribes to rid the room of the smell. "If the smoke didn't do it, that did."