Downtown Druid

Chapter 37: The dainty wave of a highborn woman

Chapter 37: The dainty wave of a highborn woman

Dantes awoke the next day with a splitting headache. He laid awake with his eyes closed for what must have been at least an hour, then he attempted to sit up. The moment he was upright, he vomited, narrowly missing his bed. He stayed still for a few moments, then wiped his mouth with his bare hand and crawled over to the water pitcher, his hands and knees cushioned by the bed of moss that now covered everything in the cave. He actually felt a bit better after expelling that bit of poison. He took slow steady sips of water, then moved the rock that covered his food and removed some hard tack. It wasnt the meal hed pick first in any other situation, but in this case it was exactly what he needed.

Jacopo grabbed himself some food from the uncovered hole, and began to chew it much more loudly than Dantes would prefer. He looked up at him.

This suffering, you chose it?

Yes.

Why?

Needed someone to trust me as much as possible. Had to pretend to be friendly. Wasnt too hard, he was a friendly guy, just also happens to be a piece of shit. He took another sip.

Jacopo shrugged, at this point the gesture looked nearly human. You chose it, you deserve it.

Oh, I probably deserve worse. Luckily what I deserve doesnt matter. He took several more sips of water, and choked down more hard tack. He still needed to take the fruit sacks to Mez, then he needed to contact Syn, and on top of that hed been meaning to check in with Clay to see how much luck hed had acquiring a Mothers Reach seed. Now hed need to do all of that with a splitting headache and raw stomach. He did himself the grace of forgetting about his exercise for the day. He sent permission to the roaches to clean up his puke and began dragging himself to his garden, sensing their gratitude as they cleaned his cavern for him.

His garden had grown massive and unruly. Red bushes, trees, and vines all fought for space in the large chamber. Their roots had turned the hard stone to rubble, and grown deep into dirt that hadnt been seen for hundreds of years. He heard a chorus of requests for his blood from the plants all around him. Those had been growing louder and louder as the garden had grown. Rats ate freely of the rotted fruit Dantes couldnt eat or use, and roaches fed on whatever remained that even the rats wouldnt touch.

Dantes drew his rapier and opened the same cut on his arm hed been opening every day, feeding the garden a steady stream of blood until the cries for it at least grew quieter. He had known in the back of his mind that as the garden grew it might require more of him, soon hed need to find another way to feed it. He couldnt compensate for the lack of sunlight forever.

He moved to the already packed fruit sack for the day. Lately hed been taking two every time, but today he decided one would be enough.

When Dantes arrived Mez was leaning over a large cauldron, stirring the ingredients inside of it. His equipment seemed to have had a complete overhaul since he and Dantes had begun working together. Hed even managed to acquire some glass containers and beakers, the logistics of getting those things down to the pit without them breaking were staggering. He still looked a bit malnourished, and wore dirty rags, but he just had different priorities than most.

Mez didnt even bother looking up. Hungover?

Dantes threw the sack to the ground and let out a confirming grunt.

A greasy slice of beef and a raw egg washed down with a light beer would fix your right up.

Are you offering?

Ive got a bit of stringy rat, a snake egg, and booze that would kill most gnomes after a sip.

Ill pass, but thank you.

Dantes went to leave, but stopped when Mez spoke.

Oh, speaking of gnomes, there was one here a few days ago asking about you. I forgot to mention.

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What was his name?

Dont remember, Mez continued to stir, but didnt look up.

Dantes moved over to him and waved a hand in front of him to get his full attention.

Wane nodded.

Hey, have Grimald and his elves been by at all?

Wane shook his head. No, not since they were here to meet with you and Merle. We pick up our portion of the profits from them in the undermarket.

Have they been asking questions about me when people go there?

Not from what Ive heard, but I havent been paying much attention to be honest.

Thats fine. Want to come with me to the undermarket? Wouldnt mind some company.

No, Pillion cleaned me out this morning. He batted his eyelashes a bit. Unless youd like to buy a few things for me.

Sorry, Id rather save so I can pay your family the dowry it takes to marry you.

Wane chuckled and gave him the dainty wave of a highborn woman. Until then.

Dantes waved goodbye and went the rest of the way to the undermarket.

Jacopo crawled around in his jacket until he was perched on his shoulder. Do you really intend to marry that orc?

Dantes smiled. Not unless Im down here fifty more years. It was just a joke.

Dantes felt Jacopo comb through his mind for a few moments. Ah, you use these often.

Yeah, Im surprised this is the first time youre asking me about it.

I often ignore parts of what you say.

Cant say I blame you. To you a lot of what I talk about must seem meaningless and dull.

Yes.

Why the sudden curiosity?

Ive noticed it puts those around you at ease. Makes them more likely to listen to you. It is a tool?

Yes and no. I can use it like one, but I also do it for its own sake. Sometimes people make jokes without even thinking about it. Sometimes people tell jokes just for themselves.

Jacopo broadcast an emotion that reminded Dantes of a sigh.

I ask one question, and gain a dozen more.

Its alright, you dont need to understand humor, youre naturally funny.

Jacopo squeaked acknowledgement and crawled back into his pouch in the back of Dantes coat to watch his back.