Chapter 138 – Tiresome Matters of Midland

There was a place recently built in Midland where flying ships could land. Dolce arrived in the capital of the Holy Midland along with the skyship. She wasn’t that fond of the Holy Midland. But still, she could appreciate the baroque and gothic architecture of the midland.

The landing area where she disembarked along with Elesia was filled with chaplains blessing the ship. There were holy water and bells being chime as chaplains give them a blessing of a safe journey. Dolce walked passed one of the chaplains, to her irritation, the chaplain sprinkled holy water on her. “Bless you!” said the chaplain. Dolce gave the chaplain a stiff smile before striding away with haste.

She found herself on the asphalt roads of the city. The roads were littered with motor cars spewing white smoke. There were street vendors on the sidewalk. The people walking around wore thickly padded robes and simple shirts. There were knights walking around in full plate armor. Although they carry swords, they were armed with rifles. They are the Imperial Guards of the Capital City.

Dolce stood around, tapping her right foot. Elesia fell in line with her and looked around. “Are we waiting for someone, milady?” she asked. Dolce looked at her. “Yes, there was supposed to be a car waiting for us. Where’s that chap is? I have no idea.”

Elesia nodded, sensing that her master was having a bad day. The two waited for about thirty minutes. By the time a car parked in front of them. Dolce was seething with fury. She looked at the tabard wearing fool who wrapped his head with a bandana.

“I am really sorry milady.” said the chap. “The roads were clogged and I had no choice but to wait.”

“Is that so?” Dolce said as she enters the car, not waiting for the chap to open the door. The chap lowered his head. Elesia tapped his shoulder. “Come on, let us go.”

The chap’s face beamed. “You got, madam.” He opened the door for Elesia. Then he entered the driving seat of the car and started priming the engine. The engine rumbled and hummed before moving forward. Dolce leaned on the car’s cushion, she watched the blurry buildings as the car moves.

“Who is this person?” asked Elesia. Dolce looked at Elesia, noticing a playful smile on her. “His name’s Henry. He’s the chap that spilled my drink. His working for me now, isn’t that right Henry?”She hollered at him. Henry looked over his shoulder with a weary smile. “Forgive me milady, I didn’t mean it.”

“I know you didn’t, Henry,” She said. “But you have to pay for my dress. And that means you are going to work for me with half of your wage.”

“I know, and thank you milady,” said Henry. Elesia looked at him then to Dolce. “Is he always like this, milady? He seemed like can’t control his nodding.”

“Don’t mind Henry’s half-wittedness. He can drive us around Midland. He’s a fool but a useful one.” Dolce shrugged her shoulders. Henry smile weary at those words. Elesia turned to look at Henry oddly. She wondered when the lady met him.

The car moved through the avenues of the capital. The car was heading to the inner part of the city where most nobles and high ranking officials dwell. Dolce watched the buildings when she noticed wanted posters. She told to Henry to stop so she can examine the posters.

“What are those?” she asked. Henry cocks his head and looked at the wanted posters. “Ah,” he said. “Those are the posters that have been plastered around the city, milady. They are probably the infiltrators that have been killing officials.”

“Infiltrators?” she said in bewilderment. “Do you mean the enemy has managed to enter the state, directly inside here in the Capital?”

“Yes, I heard. The Bali and Cagan folks have somehow manage to enter by summarily executing officials. They’ve sent some inquisitors but the trail’s cold and gone.” He said.

“So you are telling me that they are still roaming around? Have they checked the ears and tails? Cagan natives can be easily spotted.”

“I heard that they cut their tails and trimmed their ears to make them look human. And the Inquisitors are having a hard since they have been fear mongering. And that fear is being backed up by officials dying. Even now there are checkpoints around the city, checking any car, carriages, and trucks.”

“I see,” Dolce nodded. She thought of what the Princess ordered. Was this the thing that she wanted her to do? Protect the officials of the Holy Midland? It seemed unlikely. The princess was vague in her words. She didn’t mention any names and just told Dolce to look out for anything that might happen on Midland. At first, Dolce expected nothing to happen since it was the Holy Midland. But hearing Henry talk about Infiltrators from Bali and Cagan made her wary.

If they were able to enter the Holy Midland and have been killing officials then they are trouble. This is problematic, thought Dolce. She planned to relax and rest around the capital but it seems like there was trouble that she might need to look up. She was fond of going around working for others but if the infiltrators are really troublesome then she needs to act. The Princess of the Demesne of Maltius La Fende sent her back here in Midland for a vague mission.

Dolce doesn’t like the sound of these infiltrators. She thinks that they are going to be trouble. If she had a choice in the matter then she would rather travel out of Midland and let the Inquisitors take care of the problem. But sadly, her hands are tied. She cannot ignore the problems. She might not like the Templars and the Holy Midland. But she still needs to act.

What a mess, Dolce thought. She reclined her back on the seat with a tired expression on her face. She thought how tiresome things have gotten ever since she sold the Princess back. Indeed, she has gotten more cards on her hand but now she had to worry about people getting killed and things going sour. She felt she just wanted to find a solitary cabin and ignore the world. But now she can’t.