No normal tale

Family Mayhem

"Dad! Mayor Cort is here to see you!" Clary ran towards her father, her shrill voice barely reaching him from where she had shouted to him. The troupe leader looked up, seeing his daughter approach, and soon standing next to him. Actim, Joe his horse, scrapped his hoof through the soft grass that covered the hill, and whined a bit uncomfortable. The small girl always had the tendency to pull his manes and tail, sometimes even poke him at unpleasant spots. Having her around never was a good sign to him. Joe patted his neck gently, calming the horse a bit.

"Cort, you say?" Clary nodded enthusiastically, grabbing her fathers' hand and pointing at a slowly emerging figure down the hill. Being heavy-set as he was, the man undeniably was the Mayor. Once the man finally reached the trouper, he was breathing slightly heavier than normal, lifting his hand in a greeting. Joe nodded back, offering the man his flasket. "Good day to you Mayor." Accepting it gladly, Cort gulped down some mouthfuls of water, and then gave it back.

"Thank you. Being inn-master and Mayor has left my fitness unattended." He tried to make it look like he thought it funny, but Joe noticed the slight annoyance and frustration behind the man his smile. He did not blame him, he found himself getting jealous of his younger peers' ability to get up with ease, even after drinking heavily the night before, as well. The youth surely did not appreciate what they had until they lost it. And so Joe just smiled. "What gives us the honour that you take the time to walk to us yourself Cort?" As he would not do such thing if it was not urgent, he would most likely send an errand boy instead. The mayor shifted, looking at his wringing hands a bit awkwardly. Joe raised an eyebrow. "Well, you see Joe, we have a slight problem at hand..." The trouper frowned. "And what might this problem be?" Cort coughed softly, rubbing the back of his head, his eyes never meeting Joe's. He reminded him of Fiddle Finger, the way he couldn't stay still. Then finally Cort found whatever he needed to tell Joe what the matter was.

"A farmer got air of your troupe arriving and has been on a rampage all morning, demanding to see both you and Mergrol."

Clary looked up at her father, her small hand now clutching his tunic, since the man had both of them on his hips, grimacing. "Mergrol and me? I have a creeping suspicion about why he is demanding such. You climbing up here yourself means that you could not get through to him either I assume?" Cort nodded to that, and Joe cursed under his breath, rubbing the back of his head now. Thought so, damnit. "Clary," the girl looked up, eyes wide. "Get uncle Mergrol for me, will you darling?" She nodded, glanced at the plump man one last time, and took off, her tiny legs carrying her away with more speed than one expected from such a small child.

Joe tended to his horse, combing through his manes and refilling the water bucket. The silence between the two men was thick as they awaited the actor. Then finally, after ten agonising minutes, Mergrol came walking up the hill, his fine blond hair falling over his shoulder. With a frown carving lines in his handsome face he went to stand next to Joe, facing Cort. "I was called upon?" Clearly at an undesirable time. The actor was still lacing his tunic, and fastening his belt around his waist. Well, it was his time to bathe... Mergrol ran a hand through his hair, a tick he had when he was feeling uncomfortable. That makes three of us. Joe gestured towards Cort that he should most likely explain, the Mayor glancing at Joe with pleading eyes, but was forced by Mergrol his clear impatience to speak. He licked his lips nervously and wiped off his hands on his leggings. "A farmer is demanding to see you, he brought his daughter along..." The Mayor spoke softly, his gaze continuously shifting back and forth between Joe and Mergrol. He was not afraid, he simply knew this was an unnecessary inconvenience for all three of them. Mergrol went from mildly irritated to plain irritated. "Is that so. And have you tried explaining to him that what he is requesting my audience for, is most likely not my fault? Because I assume it is about the same thing as three years back." The Mayor cleared his throat and his cheeks coloured red. "I ehm...I tried, but I didn't go into the specifics. You see, in these parts of the Empire it's not seen as something respectable, unlike in the more culturally thriving parts..." Mergrol's silent gaze weighed down heavy on Cort his shoulders, knowing he was being judged. Joe placed a hand on the actors' arm. "Look, he tried. You cannot blame him for not knowing how to explain." Cort nodded along to every word, earning another glare from Mergrol. "Let's go down to the village and rid ourselves from this problem, shall we?" The actor sighed, nodding. "Sounds like a plan." He turned to the Mayor, smiling awkwardly. "Thanks at least for trying." The man smiled back. "Just know you have our support in this one." A sigh followed by Mergrol, who was now tying up his hair, as if preparing himself for battle. "Alright, well, let's go down there and have a little chat with the farmer."