“I need a dress,” I said to my maid. “I’m to attend the Autumn Ball, and I’m guessing none of my current dresses are going to be acceptable for that.”

Elodie stared at me, but not because I’d started talking like a Regency Novel. I think. “That’s for nobles, miss,” she managed to squeak.

“Well, I’ve been practically commanded to attend by the Count,” I said, “So I don’t think thats the concern. I-“

“Wait, the balls in 3 weeks!” Elodie interrupted. “You need a dress in three weeks!”

“Yes, thats what I’ve been saying,” I kept my voice calm. Elodie was exited enough for both of us. “Now, I’m not familiar with the local dressmakers…” I trailed off, not sure if Elodie was listening. She had a look of furious concentration on her face.

“Madame Croquetaigne wouldn’t be suitable, Master Royer wouldn’t be able to do it in time…” her voice lowered until she was only muttering to herself. Finally, she came to a conclusion. “Miss Kandis - you need three dresses, from Madame Didiane Auclair, herself!”

That sounds expensive, I thought, but I kept it to myself. I was making good gold… hopefully enough for clothes. “Do you want to explain the logic there?”

“With only three weeks, you’ll need to bribe her to drop what she’s doing and make yours. By ordering 3 dresses, you’ll get her attention. Plus, its likely that you’ll get another invitation to a noble event from this, so you want to have another dress almost ready.”

“That… sounds like a good idea.” I said cautiously. “And how much would one of Didiane’s dresses cost me?”

“Well,” she said with a thoughtful look, “You won’t be looking for anything really showy right? Maybe 20 gold each?”

Ouch. Maybe I’m not making such good money. “Fine. Now tell me, is it the custom here to bring an attendant? Because that would be you, and I assume it means you need a dress as well. Are you alright?”

Elodie had frozen in place and was only making squeaking sounds. She’d recover soon enough… I think.

Didiane Auclair’s establishment wasn’t what I’d expected, at least from the outside. But then, this world didn’t have plate glass windows for her to show off her wares. Instead she had shutters and bars across her shopfront, so you couldn’t tell what kind of store she had until you entered. Once inside, I saw something more like what I expected - dresses arranged for show, fabric samples and women cutting and sewing fabric. One woman seemed to be in charge, so I addressed her.

“Madame Auclair?” I had to raise my voice to cut through the hubbub. The woman let out a cry of frustration, and came to the front. She was younger than I’d expected, and had brown hair, tied up to be out of the way,

“We’re busy! I don’t know who you are, but -“ she did a double take. “Actually who are you?”

“A customer? I need a dress for the Autumn Ball.”

The woman looked at me, glanced over Elodie, and then returned her attention to me. “I know all the nobles in the area… you’re not even dressed like one.”

“I’m not, but I’ve been invited by the Count.” I shrugged. “The fact that I don’t have an appropriate dress is why I’m here.”

She frowned. “My dresses aren’t considered ‘appropriate’ by those old biddies in the castle. You want Madame Croquetaigne’s, three doors down the street.”

“No she doesn’t!” Elodie squeaked. Both of us looked at her. “You made that dress for Lady Angellette last year! They’re still talking about it in the Guild!”

“Don’t remind me about last year,” the woman groaned. “Angellette wanted to make a big splash for her coming of age with a dress from a new designer. It would have worked out great for both of us if she hadn’t gotten dead drunk and puked all over her uncle and my dress.”

“Plenty of people saw the dress before that!” Elodie insisted. “It was good! And if Miss Kandis wears one of your dresses, everyone will be looking at her.”

“That does… seem likely,” the woman agreed reluctantly. Her gaze came back to me, slowly, almost like she was trying to resist a compulsion. “Who are you people again?”

“My name is Kandis Hammond,” I said. “This is my maid, Elodie Garcia. She’ll also be there as my attendant, so she’ll be needing something to match me.”

“Didiane Auclair,” she said in return. “So you want me to make two dresses of the finest quality in three weeks.”

“Actually, I’ll need three, but only the first two need to be ready by then.” I said. “I’m expecting some social engagements after the ball.”

“And you can pay?” I gestured to Elodie, and she took a handful of gold from the money pouch and showed it to the dressmaker. I liked having Elodie carry the cash, it made me feel like a big-shot. I did actually carry some money for emergencies though.

Slowly, Didiane’s face took on an expression I recognised from Guildmaster Gustave. I was calling it the ‘I’m going to make a lot of money’ face.

“Well, lets get you in back so we’ve got some privacy for fitting.”

“What is that?” Didiane exclaimed incredulously, pointing at my breasts. I’d just been helped out of my dress by Elodie.

“Its called a bra,” I said, cupping myself “It provides support and comfort.” Elodie very carefully didn’t say anything as she made sure my dress was laid out properly. She’d already seen my bra and still hadn’t decided if she was scandalised or wanted one of her own.

“How is it made?” Didiane asked, examining me closely. “No, how do you get it on?”

“Ah… this isn’t a real bra, its an illusion of one,” I said, perhaps not entirely helpfully. “I just cast it on me in the morning and cancel the spell to take it off. A real bra has some clasps… here.”

Concentrating, I used [Phantasmal Object] to summon a copy of the bra I had originally based mine on. It was the most comfortable one I’d ever owned, until the elastic started to go. That wasn’t a problem with my new bra though, as it got re-summoned every morning. I handed the copy to Didiane, who held it gingerly, as if it were about to explode.

“This is an illusion? But I’m holding it!”

“Touch is a sense as well,” I said airily, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. I didn’t understand it myself, but I wasn’t going to let her know that. “You can examine that if you like, see if you can duplicate it. It will last until sunset.”

Reluctantly, Didiane began examining the bra as if it were an actual object. “This material, what kind of fabric stretches like this? And the stitching… its impossible!” she said.

I shrugged. “I’m sure you can come up with something that women will find useable,” I said. “It doesn’t have to be an exact copy.”

The dressmaker scowled. “This is a distraction,” she said, putting the bra aside. “Lets get your measurements.”

It was lunchtime before were able to leave Madame Auclair's establishment. After measurements, for both me and Elodie, there had been a long discussion about styles and fabrics and colours. I let Elodie answer most of the questions, pleading an unfamiliarity with local fashions. Finally though, we’d escaped and were headed for a tavern for lunch. Not just any tavern though, Elodie assured me that The Bakers Downfall was the best tavern in Anchorbury.

We were going to the The Bakers Downfall - despite the name - because I was looking for a bard. With any luck, the best bard should be found in the best tavern.

Taking our seats, I looked around at what was probably the most pleasant room that I’d been in since arriving in this world. Wide, high, open windows let in light and air, while white painted walls and high ceilings gave it a really modern look. Widely spaced tables, with flower arrangements and brightly covered table cloths, were spread across the room in no particular order that I could see. It actually felt like a high end cafe from my world, with only the lack of electric lighting to give it away.

There was music too, as expected. Not so loud as to overpower conversations, just a single bard with what I assumed to be a lute. I think I’d seen Sting play something similar in an interview once. This musician was… good I guess? Frankly, I couldn’t really get into the music they had here. It was nice, but I couldn’t really lose myself in it like I could to a good Taylor Swift song.

Elodie had noticed something else. She waited until the server had left with our order and payment before speaking up. “Miss, I think we should have come to another place?”

“Why is that?” I asked. I was feeling quite positive about the place, myself. Now that I was moving in to the higher wealth strata, I thought frequenting this sort of places might be nice to do. I’d have to wait and see what the food was like first of course, but actually having choices for food was a promising sign.

“The bard,” Elodie whispered, “He’s an Elf!”

I looked over, and saw that she was right. I don’t know how I’d missed the long, pointed ears at first glance. I looked back at Elodie.

“Are you whispering because Elves are rumoured to have fantastic hearing or something?”

Elodie nodded nervously.

“And can you tell me why an Elven bard would be unsuitable?”

Eloide blushed, surprising me. “Umm, you don’t know?” she asked hopefully. I shook my head, and she made a surprised sound. “Well, its just that..” she stammered. “There’s not many elves and they live a long time, so they can get really high Levels. They say that elves aren’t allowed out of the forest until they reach Level six.”

“Sounds great,” I said. “A long-lived, high level bard sounds just like who I want to speak with.”

“Uhm, its just that… because they’re all so powerful, they can do whatever they like?”

“Right.. “ I said, still not seeing where this was going.

“So if they’re wandering in human lands, its because theres something there that they want…” Eloide trailed off, wanting me to put the pieces together, but I was still lost, so she was forced to continue

“Well, its just that certain women, with how there can’t be any issue, and the experience that an elf has… they have a certain reputation?”

She was babbling, but I think that I got the implication. Looking around, I could see that there were a number of well dressed, attractive women paying particular attention to the player. Occasionally they glared at each other, and I now noticed that I was getting a few of these glares.

At this point we were interrupted by the arrival of our meal, much to Elodie’s relief. I paused for a bit to allow us both to enjoy it. It was really good… tender meat, cheese and greens in a pastie-like shell. Is this venison? I wondered. Elodie clearly enjoyed her stew as well, though I think that was partly because she didn’t have to talk while eating it.

All good things end though, and eventually we had to continue the conversation. “So what you’re trying to say,” I mused, “Is that he’s been practicing how to sleep with human women for 400 years, and the fact that he can’t get them pregnant means theres a horde of so-called ladies eager to be seduced?”

Elodie blushed again. She looked down with fixed concentration on her meal, but she nodded.

“And if I speak with him, everyone will assume that I’m one of these ladies?” Elodie nodded again.

“Well thank you, Elodie, thats very useful information. Now finish your meal and head back to the house. It seems like I’m going to need to speak with this gentleman alone.”

“Miss?” Elodie asked questioningly. Then, “Miss!” in an urgent whisper, as the implications of my statement sank in. I grinned, doing nothing to dispel her concern.

“Don’t worry, it will be fine. Eat up.” Elodie did so, the same preoccupation with propriety that caused her alarm, prevented her from making a scene. I took my time, so I was still going when she left, leaving me with the purse.

Now that I knew the circumstances, it made more sense that I’d failed to catch the man's eye during his performance. He was either focussing on his harem, or carefully avoiding the appearance of favouritism to any particular person. Well, I had no particular need of subtlety.

I waited for a pause in his set, and then cast [Unseen Sound]. Softly, but right up close to his ear, I sent my voice, saying “I would like moment of your time, bard.” His head whipped around to identify the sound, to find me looking directly at him from across the room. Our eyes locked, and he nodded.

Five minutes later, he was sitting down in front of me, while carefully placing his lute on my table.

“I suppose I should ask,” I started, “If you actually heard any of the conversation I had with my maid.”

He looked at me, his face giving nothing away. Then he turned to the server he’d beckoned over and ordered a goblet of wine by name. The most expensive one they served, I noted. Shrugging, I gave the server a gold piece. At the gesture, the bard beamed and gave a little half-bow.

“My thanks, my lady. To answer your question, no. While I do have good hearing, its more suited to hearing danger or prey in the forest, than picking out one conversation among dozens.”

“I see.” I said. “Allow me to introduce myself then. My name is Kandis Hammond, a Senior Master in the Iron working guild.

He raised an eyebrow. “Should I call you Master Hammond?” at my grimace he smiled and said, “Kandis then. As you know, I am a bard, and my name is Aesrideu. Unlike humans there are not enough of us to require second names.”

He sat back and sipped his wine, waiting for my next question. He seemed happy and relaxed, and not at all concerned with what I might ask. An eternal seducer of women? I wondered. He didn’t seem like it. Handsome enough, a full head of golden blond hair, tall and slender, but not weak looking… I blushed as I realised that he was looking me over in the same way, and seemed to like what he saw.

“You don’t seem… like a Level Six.” I said cautiously.

“Met so many have you?” he said with an amused grin.

“A few.”

“Well, I must confess, you’ve seen through me. You are looking at a lowly Level 4 - and a criminal at that. I paid to get smuggled out of my homewood and wander the world.”

“Are you serious?”

“Oh the Elders are quite serious about keeping the young ones in line,” he said sourly. “If you should happen to encounter elves looking for me, I’ll thank you send them the other way.”

“I thought Elodie was telling tall tales…” I said incredulously.

“My story is a fascinating one and I tell it well,” the elf said suavely. “But I got the impression that you wanted to talk to me for reasons other than amusement.”

“No, I wanted to talk to you about… something that needs to stay discreet.”

“I see…” he said, looking around. “That spell from before - are you taking precautions?”

“No,” I replied, “Privacy isn’t in my repertoire.”

“Then allow me.” He picked up his lute and strummed an… odd melody. Suspecting something, I activated [Sense Mana], which let me see the mana coming off the strings. It swirled around and dispersed into an invisible cloud - or perhaps a shell - around us. As it did so the sounds of the room cut off.

“Do Bards get [Illusion Magic]?” I asked.

“Was that what that spell was then?” he returned. “Seems an odd skill for a Senior Ironworking Master.”

“I’m a fairly unusual Master,” I admitted.

“I’m sure. No,” he said, returning to my original question. “[Bardic Chant] does draw on some of the same effects I’m told, but only for sounds. I thought you were a fellow practitioner. But in any case we can speak freely now.”

“Right. So what I want to know is, what lore do you have on the nature of demons?”

That surprised him. His reaction wasn’t obvious, but I, or rather [Intrigue] could tell. He took a moment to think about his answer.

“This is about the rumours then.”

Now it was my turn to be surprised. [Intrigue] let a little bit of that show, the better to match my response. “I don’t know about any rumours.”

“I imagine you’d like to hear them, then?” he said, probing.

“Rumours about demons?” I said incredulously. “Who wouldn’t?”

“True,” he conceded. “This particular rumour has been spreading like wildfire, despite efforts to suppress it.”

“The Count?” I hazarded a guess.

“Exactly. The rumour is that one of his patrols was accosted by creatures that were solid one minute, and shadows the next. They fled, and suffered no casualties, or so the story goes.”

“This was in town?” I said, aghast. So much for the wild goose chase theory?

“Probably.” Aesrideu grimaced. “The count silenced his men, and all those they talked to, but not before they talked to others. The news that demons might be in the city… well.”

“Everybody wants to tell those they care about, but they can’t let the Count find out. Is he actually imprisoning people?”

“I’m not sure, but he’s certainly capable of it,” the elf said. “I have a few… contacts in the Castle that care deeply about me, so I’m ahead of the curve in this, but its only a matter of time before it gets out into the city proper. A week or two, three at the most.”

“At which point we’ll have… riots? A mass exodus?”

“Trying times to be sure,” Aesrideu said, taking another sip of wine.