Perversions of the Flesh

The shop was a mess. Not that Ann had any clue what it normally looked like. Their previous conversation with the smiths had been outside. Still, random tools, clothes, pieces of metal, and other detritus were strewn all over the counter and spilt over onto the floor.

Tarvis shrugged apologetically and motioned for them to wait here. He thumped his way back into the mess, surprisingly delicate in his movements as he navigated the chaos.

“Why are the craftsmen you meet always complete slobs?” Bren sighed once Tarvis was out of theoretical earshot.

Ann shrugged, then started poking through some of the mess. “Dunno. Hey, Noltin’s shop was really clean! So was the leatherworker! Hers was a more rustic pelt kinda arrangement, but it was still mostly orderly. My life isn’t… ok, it’s mostly chaos. Still!”

“Sorry for the mess!” Minnie’s voice cried out from the back. She shoved things aside with a push broom instead of picking any of it up. The dark-skinned woman was wearing a white tank top that really suited her and showed off her arms.

Ann caught Kat staring.

“Voltid spare me, I’ve been working like a madwoman to get all of the commissions out before we set off. I haven’t had time to clean in SO long. So, uh, how’ve you all been?”

“It’s been a hell o’ a time. Had a stampede o’ warped run by our village. Drove ‘em off fer the most part. Think some’re still about, though.”

“Ugh, tell me about it!” Minnie groaned. Ann caught the barely noticeable dark circles under her eyes. “On top of all of the work, that singing and screaming has ruined my sleep more than once.”

Tarvis tapped on his forearm, then made a gesture, pointing to his ears, then shrugged before smiling at Minnie.

“You can shove pewter in your ears, you cheat!” Minnie growled. “Boutta lodge my mallet in there. You know wax messes with my sleep, too! We tried! Ugh, please tell me you’ve got something to deal with the noise?” Minnie sat on a stool and slumped into her hands, pouting at the group.

“Only fer noise comin’ from us. Sorry,” Kat said.

“Have you tried wool? Could work well, or maybe some clay? It’s kinda like wax, but sometimes it’s cooler and smoother. I dunno. Might help,” Rosalyn suggested, finding herself a stool.

“No. Been too busy, so I’ve worked with what I’ve got. Clay is for the moulds, though. Eh, worth a shot tonight.”

“How’ve you been, Tarvis?” Ann asked, making sure to address the other person in the conversation.

Tarvis shrugged, then tapped his forearm in a line a few times and gave a mild smile. Pantomiming of hammering, eating, and doing a few other things like sweeping, followed. His meaning was surprisingly clear. “Same as every day. Smithing, eating, chores, and his downtime activities.”

“Glad to hear the noise isn’t affecting you that much,” Ann laughed.

Tarvis shook his head and made an overdramatic shiver that clacked his stone teeth together. He was still worried, or scared? Ann doubted he could get cold. Did Grrn get cold?

“He’s worried,” Minnie filled in, noticing Ann’s look of utter confusion. “We all are. Now I’m planning on going out there? He’s double worried.”

Tarvis nodded, his expression as hard as the stone he was made of.

Lucia had somehow found another stool and was perched on it, squatting like the bird she was starting to become. They really should have realised her eventual transformation from that alone. She was wearing a heavy hood to keep her new plumage hidden. “Will be safe. Strong. Good at protect.”

“Glad to have so many strong women protecting me,” Minnie winked back.

Lucia blushed, but shook her head. “No. Taken. Deal with them.”

“Taken?” Minnie’s eyes darted to Bren and the light pink on his cheeks. “Oh, good on you two! Good couple. Alright, small talk is done. I got our lead locked down. Just like I said, the northeast is going to be our best shot. Something happened up there, and a new cave system got discovered. If we’re going to find Bultrite, it’ll be there. Some miners have been up to those mountains, and there’s a Mulsfar community around the area. Already settled permissions to look around and get our picks out. Just gotta pop by the village, let them know we’re here, then head off. That way we don’t get squashed as trespassers.”

“Mulsfar,” Ann muttered. She wondered if this was Remmi’s tribe. The woman had never confirmed which she’d come from. She hoped the fighter was doing well. “We saw one in Graven Keep, right, Kat?”

“Aye. Like I explained, they’re rare that far south. Like tae keep tae the northern mountains.”

“Actually, they roamed further south before our kingdom was better established. The expanding population and need for space that encroached on their territories forced conflict between the Bultrong and Mulsfar,” Bren said, suddenly much more engaged in the conversation. “The Bultrong were able to fortify better than the Mulsfar, but their elemental affinities were fearsome. After a time, a truce was struck between the nascent Korvas and the Mulsfar tribes. They’d get the north and free passage through the Korvan territories. Meanwhile, Korvas would respect their claims and open trade with them at any time should they request it. The Mulsfar accepted these terms, but they’re an insular people. It’s not often you run into any, even in Korvas itself.”

Minnie whistled. “Book type! Kinda went in one ear and out the other, but we get Mulsfar stomping into town pretty regularly. Just about every month, I’d say. When you’re that big, moving that far isn’t too much of a problem.”

“I want to see one! I wonder how their bodies work! How big are their hearts and lungs to support something that big! Maybe they have multiple… or some other arrangement to manage their size. Do they have a single brain? I know some larger animals can have supporting brains that regulate the function of other parts of their bodies. I want to ask so many questions!”

Ann looked down at Rosalyn, who was bouncing excitedly. She mentally thanked Orenous for the woman not wearing a bra. “Didn’t your books have information on all of that? They’re a known sapient race.”

“I mean, yeah, but that’s definitely not the same as seeing and experiencing it in the first place. Don’t get the same information until you t… try to see it yourself.”

Rosalyn hadn’t been stuttering that badly lately. Ann figured Minnie and Tarvis were new enough that some of her anxiety was coming back.

“Sooo, questions on the trip?” Minnie prompted, moving away from Rosalyn’s topic bluntly.

“How long?” Ann asked.

“Four days there, however long we actually spend looking for the metal, then four days back. So, over a week at best, a few at worst. Gonna need a pack animal for all the food we’ll need. You all got a wagon or something? Know you come in on a sledge, but Alruna and Tarnu are using that, right?”

“Aye, well, nae. Feck. We don’t ‘ave one. Gonna need tae rent or buy one,” Kat blundered.

Minnie stood, stretching her musclebound frame. Ann felt her mouth watering at those chocolate ripples. Later. She’d be crushed between them with Rosalyn later. “How much does that run?”

“Dunno. Not my thing. Go talk to Henrick at the stables. He’ll give you the price. Should give you a good deal, since I shod his horses. Man, a Bultrite horseshoe would be so overkill, but so cool. If we have enough, I might just make one to hang up. Be a damn cool thing to show off.”

Tarvis nodded his agreement, but also made the shape of an anvil and tools.

“Tarvis, if we find enough to make a whole stinking anvil out of the stuff, we’re gonna be rich enough to quit early and move to Indelholm.”

The Grrn gave Minnie an incredulous look.

“Alright, yeah, I’d stay here. This is home. Still, smithing would be less about living and more for the joy. You’d keep doing this if you were rich, right?”

Tarvis mocked laughter, then shook his head. He flashed his hand like he had rings and mimed straightening a suit.

Minnie smacked his shoulder, jostling the stone man. “Yeah right. Well, ok, the silent Grrn dressed to the nines has that mystery thing going for him.”

Tarvis laughed again and waved Minnie off. Didn’t seem like he actually wanted that.

“Right, right, us fleshy folk aren’t for you. Alrighty, my generous protectors. I’ll get my kit ready for tomorrow morning and get my food. You all get your provisions and the sledge. Meet first bell after first light?” Minnie asked as she started shuffling through her things.

“That is amicable. We will see to most provisions. Do you have a tent?”

“Do you want one, or do you want to bunk with us?” Ann asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

Minnie blushed deeply. “I… I dunno.’

Tarvis gave her a meaningful look.

“Fine. I’ll bring my own, but we’ll see how things go,” Minnie sighed.

After a quick round of farewells, Minnie clattered back into the mess, packing her bags with Tarvis silently helping her.

“Well, that puts quite the urgent pace to our preparations,” Bren laughed.

“Fine. Town stocked. Have spare. Can afford. Good now. Later might be worse.”

Lucia had a point. While the screaming and singing Warped was to the north, it might not stay that way. Even if it didn’t move, more of the monsters were probably being attracted to the morose calls. If the woods got too dangerous and the roads perilous to travel, then the town would start to suffer shortages. Budgets and rations would tighten. It’d be like that year Ann’s dad had lost his job and had to rely on their mom for money while he searched.

Ann sighed. “Hope those reinforcements get here soon. You going to be alright with them, Kat? I can change a lot about my face now to hide, but you’re really obvious.”

The princess shrugged. “I’ll deal wit’ it. If they find out, then I’m just dealin’ wit’ that instead o’ dealin’ wit’ hidin’. Where we’re at, they’ll probably drag us back tae Indelholm if they’ve got anyone brave enough tae try.”

“Oh, are we gonna beat up soldiers this time! We didn’t get to do any of that the last time we had to run from them! We just gave them all the slip and skedaddled out!” Rosalyn laughed. Ann could tell she wasn’t too excited about the prospect, but wanted to keep spirits up by being a goofball.

“No. Just some threats will be enough,” Bren said, steering them down a side street. “Our group is known to be fairly strong for our levels, and we have only grown since we left. Considering the remarkable rate at which we have grown as well as the potential for even more experience on our trip, we will be quite mighty indeed.”

Lucia dodged a box in the street. Her upper body barely moved as her feet skirted around the thing. Her core strength had to be insane. “Good. Can use. Strong predator scare weak. Group? More intimidating. Peaceful route.”

“Dunno about peaceful,” Ann said, showing off her own physicality by walking over a box without her head rising a centimetre. Hopefully Kat didn’t join in on this little side competition. She’d just break something. “Still, it’s least likely to get people hurt. I’m… I don’t think I can fight people again this quickly. Just the thought bothers me.”

Rosalyn patted Ann’s hip. She could reach her shoulder. Ann had seen her do it before, but the woman preferred her hips. Ann couldn’t really blame her. “It’s still fresh. Don’t push yourself there. Just… you know, in case we do have to, we’ll watch out for you. Ok?”

Ann mutely nodded. She was desperately trying not to remember the terrified faces of the people she’d killed.

Bren pushed open the door to what looked like a general store. The smell was the first thing that hit Ann. They’d taken a trip south to Colorado to see some of the old pioneering and mountaineering historical sites. They’d had replica general stores with barrels full of random things like candy, pretzels, and wrapped-up jerky. It smelled like old wood and a million other things. It was a smell that relaxed you immediately, even if you had never smelled it before. This place was just like that. Barrels of brooms, food organised on shelves, tools in another section, lumber in the corner. There was even a section for stationery and writing supplies. The lanterns with their glowing crystals weren’t lit, so the shop was bathed with the evening light streaming through dust motes in golden beams.

“Welcome to the shop. Let me know if you need any help,” a bored voice called from their left. The proprietor was a middle-aged man posted up on a stool, slowly flipping through a book laid out on the counter. He was surrounded by what Ann guessed was tobacco, alcohol, and other things you’d rather keep behind the counter than in the open. He was a little overweight, starting to bald, and hadn’t even looked up to see them.

“We… we’ll let you know,” Rosalyn said with a slight stutter.

The man’s eyes turned up at the response, then he sat up fully, straightening his vest. “You’re some new faces! Wow, good group of Vulhardrin you’ve got. Welcome to the general store. Names Timmo. I own the place. Have a look around. We’ve got fresh bread up front, but if you want hardtack, it’s on the shelves.”

Ann cocked her head. “Timmo?”

“Heh, yeah. It’s short for Timmorialian.” Timmo pulled his ears forward a little, showing off the small points. “Had a grandparent who was Alfhindur. I’m only quarter, but she really wanted a name fitting of her blood. So, of course, my parents went with the most flowery one they could find. Get the question a lot, if you hadn’t noticed.”

“Nooo,” Ann said sarcastically with her own grin. “Thanks, Timmo. We’re stocking up for a trip that’ll take a few weeks. Probably just looking for dried stuff.”

Timmo hooked a thumb to his left. “All in the back. Keep the fresh stuff up front for the regulars. Got meats, breads, dried fruits and berries, honey. There’s flour, yeast, and a few other bits if you want to lug that around and make your own. You got a pack animal?”

“Yeah. Gonna rent a small cart. Not gonna be on the roads, so we’ll need to keep it basic,” Ann said, fully engaging with the man while everyone else scattered to pick up things they’d need. Ann was sadly not familiar with the itinerary for a long-haul trip besides food and water, so she left it to her friends, who knew much better. “Headed up northeast.”

Timmo blanched at that. “Shit, you for real? Pardon my language, but you’ve heard about the screaming thing up there, right?”

“About all anyone’s talking about, it seems,” Ann sighed. “We’re plenty well armed and well levelled. We’re not looking to take it on. Gods willing, we’ll get by it without being noticed on the first day.”

Timmo whistled. “Gonna need a hell of an animal to make that pace. Alone, I reckon you could do it, but not with some nag hauling your supplies. Gonna cost you a pretty copper if you tell Henrick where you’re going. Man loves his animals.”

Damn. Ann was hoping animals got some benefit from the gods as people did. Maybe if they had someone driving them? That’d probably do it, but none of them had driving-related paths or skills. “We’ll see what we can do about that. We’re headed out early, though, so we should make a good distance, and we’ll be keeping watch every night. Lucia over there can smell something coming, and Kat and I can hear most things really far away.”

“You… you can? Thought your traits were the tail and paws, miss,” Timmo said, suddenly very wary of her.

Ann heard Kat’s boots still. She couldn’t see her, but she heard the creak of her gloves.

“Yeah, got a bit of Alfhindur in me too,” Ann lied, keeping herself calm and relaxed. Diffusing the fuckup would be easy this time. “Just got the hearing, but none of the other features. Would have loved to get the long life.”

“Uh-huh,” Timmo grunted. The friendly glint in his eyes was significantly dimmed. “I got lucky on that front. Been around a long time. Longer’n most. Seen all sorts of folk come through. Wouldn’t mind takin’ off your hood, would you?”

Shit. Shit shit shit. What was she going to do? He’d called her bluff, and there was no way of showing him that she was far more of an animal than any Vulhardrin should be. He’d ring whatever alarm and run them out of town. They’d lose the job with Minnie and be stuck in the Village until they went elsewhere. Damnit, why couldn’t she have any persuasion skills? If he wasn’t hitting on her first thing, that meant he was really not interested. Uuuuuh, ok, sure, that might work. Ann felt fur falling down into her hood as her ears itched.

She leaned in close, making Timmo flinch. “Nah, c’mere. I’ll tell you, but you’ve gotta promise to keep this quiet.”

“You tell me first, then I’ll promise,” Timmo demanded.

Ann scanned the street outside. No one was paying attention. “You hear about the big Orenous thing that happened in Korvas? Right before the assassination attempt?”

“Hells, everyone knows that. Wait… oh Gods. You’re not…”

Ann’s heart raced as he paused, audibly gulping. He leaned in.

“You’re not an Inquisitor, are you?” Timmo whispered.

An out. “Sure am. They don’t know it. Keep it quiet, or we’ll know. Capische?” Ann hissed back, nodding back over her shoulder to the others.

“O… you have my word, ma’am.” Timmo straightened. He had an awful poker face and was visibly sweating. “So!” he said way too loudly. “What takes you up north?”

“Got a job to get Bultrite from a new vein,” Ann continued casually. She heard Kat’s fist unclench as her protective girlfriend walked off to grab more supplies. “Demand’s growing, and we’ve got a good lead on it. Playing guard duty for Minnie, so we’ll be keeping her safe.”

“Well, if anyone’s going to keep her safe, you lot look the part.” He forced out a very awkward laugh.

Ann wanted to change her ears back from the bright purple they were now, but didn’t want the chance of any of that fur falling out of her cloak. Gertrude’s grandkids would have fun with that, at least.

“We’ll do our absolute best,” Ann smiled, a small edge to the expression. “Alright, you all got what you need?”

“Over here, Ann! I need some help with a bit of the flour,” Rosalyn grunted, trying to lift a bag.

Ann gratefully took the distraction and helped her lover out. They got their orders in, and Timmo put it all behind the counter for them to pick up in the morning. He kept glancing at Ann throughout the entire conversation and payment.

When they finally got out, heading back to the inn, Ann let herself laugh.

“The feck did ye do? Man looked like he browned ‘is trousers,” Kat asked.

“Told him I was an Inquisitor. I think he did shit himself a little,” Ann giggled. “Got him off my case, though. So whatever.”

“That is a serious offence. You could see several years of prison for such an action,” Bren warned. “Even you.”

“Told him to keep his trap shut, so we should be fine. At worst, I avoid him, and we just don’t deal with it.”

“Nae, Bren’s right,” Kat insisted. “Careful wit’ who ye impersonate. Ye picked a damn dangerous one.”

“Right. I’ll be a monster next time,” Ann shrugged.

The smell of food was growing, and she could hear laughter and Tarnu telling a story with great enthusiasm. She’d worry about all of that later. Tonight was for fun.