《The Bloodwood Curse - Book 1 of the Rosethorn Chronicles》Chapter 23 – Late

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Jeemo awoke, her head thumping. She opened her eyes and a searing pain ripped through her head. She cradled her head and sat up. Through squinting eyes, she looked around. Several naked bodies were strewn around. Rolando was coiled around her in a lover’s embrace. Memories of last night began to seep into her brain. Drinking and much merry making. She smiled to herself and disentangled her body from Rolando to stand up. A breeze caressed her skin and she stretched. She stepped over a dwarf lying in the arms of another and retrieved her dress from the table, pulling it over her head. Smoothing it over her body, she found Rolando’s trousers and tunic and returned to him, gently waking him. She mimed to him to be quiet as he dressed, and tiptoed to the house. Scenes of celebrations were all around them. Drunk and passed-out dwarves all in various states of dress lay in many uncomfortable sleeping positions. Spilled amphoras of wine were scattered around, many were empty some with the remnants of the contents still inside. The stench of wine mixed with vomit and urine washed over her as they walked through the house. Jeemo and Rolando exited the residence and out on the street, rushing back to the bakery they had been staying at. Freshly baked bread and sweet breads filled the shop with their smell. The haggard shopkeeper looked up at them as she stacked the still-warm food into the display cabinet and frowned. They slipped up the stairs and headed to the loft room they had been sharing.

“Quickly pack and get your stuff,” Rolando said, “the caravan should leave today.”

Jeemo nodded and started to stuff her meagre possessions into her backpack.

Running downstairs, Rolando left a gold folia on the counter with a short note informing Hukkestr they had left. They headed out, their heads still pounding, and moved through the grid-like streets as they made their way to the caravan station at the west gate. The caravan station was a large grey stone building with a large stable behind it. As they approached, they didn’t see a large group of horses and people getting ready to leave.

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“Where is the caravan heading to the city of Pe’trim?” Rolando asked the clerk in the front office.

“The caravan left yesterday,” the clerk said.

“What do you mean?” Rolando said, his brow knitting in confusion.

“The caravan left yesterday,” the clerk repeated.

“What is the date?” Jeemo asked.

“It’s the nineteenth,” the clerk replied.

“What happened to the eighteenth?” Rolando asked Jeemo, turning to face her.

“I am not sure,” Jeemo said. “We went to the celebration, on the seventeenth. The next thing I remember was waking up this morning.”

“Who did you celebrate with?” the clerk asked.

“We got the name at that card game,” Rolando said.

“You played a great game of Royal Court,” Jeemo said.

“That’s right. I defeated Yurseac,” Rolando said.

“Yurseac’s boss is Thigguck the Earl of the Marrow Hall,” the clerk said.

“That’s right,” Rolando said. “We approached him and began negotiations for a trade deal for me.”

“If you signed a deal with Thigguck,” the clerk explained, “then you most certainly had a party.”

“I remember him saying it was only going to be a small party,” Jeemo chimed in. “That place was not the sight of a small party.”

“Thigguck is well known for his massive parties,” the clerk said. “I am very jealous of you; it would have been a wild party.”

“That still doesn’t explain where the day went,” Jeemo said, folding her arms and stroking her chin.

“Of course, it does,” the clerk scoffed. “Even a small party would still be a couple of days. I am surprised you are here after only two days. His parties normally last for three or four days.”

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“When does the caravan return?” Jeemo asked the clerk.

“It should be here on the twenty-third.” He smiled up at her.

“The ship to Ishtaree returns on the twenty-eighth,” Rolando said.

“The caravan returns here on the twenty-third, and then leaves on the twenty-fourth,” she said. She tilted her head at the clerk who nodded. “It’s a two-day journey to Pe’trim and so we arrive there on the twenty-sixth, and then we can take a ship across the bay and arrive in Ishtaree on the twenty-seventh.”

“So still faster than waiting for the ship which won’t even arrive till the twenty eighth,” Roland said.

“So, we have four more days to spend here in Pergasus,” Jeemo said.

“Whatever we do, we should avoid parties with Thigguck,” Rolando said.

“Then you will need to avoid meeting him until then,” the clerk said.

Rolando chuckled. “Can you book us onto the caravan, so we don’t miss it a third time?”

“Sorry,” said the clerk. “They like to do the bookings themselves. What I can do is make sure they know you want to travel with them when they arrive.”

“Thank you, that would be most appreciated,” Jeemo said. They walked out back into the city arm in arm, with another four days to rest and enjoy each other’s company.

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