Chapter 38: Geopolitical Nightmare

Georgina was due back at dawn with the supplies for the journey. 

“Georgina is going to be livid.” Andy said, trying to cover the crater in the clearing with leaves. The crater remained crater-shaped.

“Why are you putting leaves in a hole?”

“I’m disguising it.”

“Are you?”

Nearby Gustave perched on a branch holding one half of the broken staff in a talon. “I do believe the correct term is evidence tampering.”

“This wasn’t a crime scene.”

“That is questionable.”

Andy snorted. 

“As far as a crime,” Auri commented, “As far as I’m concerned, they entered my territory, they didn’t take no for an answer and they can add attempted slavery to their list of crimes.”

“Well we did severely damage six people,”

“They’re alive.”

Andy couldn’t argue that. He kicked a few more rocks and leaves into the crater. “I still think Georgina is going to be mad.”

“She can be angry all she wants. At the end of the day the council is doing the same as the Harness. Sending a messenger, attempting to force a visit and insisting on us hearing out an unwanted offer for our territory.”

“I mean… You’re not wrong.”  Andy sent a nervous irritation at Auri. “I’m starting to think this Nexus thing sucks.”

The life within the Nexus had resumed its very loud cacophony of animal noises, insect chirps and the occasional felled tree.

Auri sent, “The Nexus isn’t the problem.” She looked toward the forest which was glowing slightly. An emerald green haze peaking out from the treetops.

“No?”

“No.” Her ears flattened. “The problem is that everyone else has determined it’s invaluable.”

The three friends stood quietly. Far away an owl hooted. Dawn was only at few hours away and with it would come Georgina and a trip south toward the Mythic Council. Andy looked at the crater, then at the broken staff. “We’re never going to get away without her noticing this are we?”

“No.”

“Not even a little?”

“Not even slightly.”

Andy sighed, “Okay new plan.”

“What’s that?” Auri asked with exhaustion.

“Easy. We blame Gustave.”

The hawk squawked indignantly. 

“I’ll take first watch,” Gustave sent. “On the off-chance the humans decide to circle back around, someone should be on guard.”

Andy stopped kicking leaves. “You think they might?”

“I think people who send a regiment to the woods with a staff that allows a human to absorb magic are not so easily repelled.”

The forest suddenly felt much quieter. The animals were still making noise. The insects, the birds, the distant crackling of trees, to Andy, suddenly it all felt fragile. He looked toward the broken remains of the staff. “If they can make one…”

“They will make another,” Auri finished.

The remainder of the night passed without incident. Andy slept fitfully. He didn’t expect an attack, not really. Every time he closed his eyes he remembered the Torchbearer’s smile. His absolute conviction to his cause. The Harness, whoever he was, wasn’t Lord Fergus. Fergus was greedy, demanding, and pompous. The Harness sounded patient and absolute. Somehow that felt a lot worse. But worse than a faceless villain was that staff–more specifically, the possibility of more.. The wrongness of it and the way it drank from Andy was enough to send chills through his fire magic.

Just before dawn Gustave’s mental voice cut through the morning fog. “Visitors.”

Andy’s eyes snapped open. The fox rose smoothly from her resting place beneath a tree. 

“Humans?” Andy asked

“Human. Angry human.” A pause. “No, an angry unicorn.”

Andy groaned. 

Georgina emerged from the treeline laden with the supplies Andy had requested and murder in her eyes.

“Why is it that each time I’ve left you alone you’ve caused geopolitical catastrophes?”

Andy looked at Gustave. He looked away. He desperately swung his head to look at Auri, who had conveniently gone for a walk prior to Georgina’s arrival. He sighed. “Listen, Georgina. First of all, they came here in the middle of the night looking for a fight. Second, how could you possibly know what happened?”

“Well, The Harness’ men stopped by the same town I was in to see a doctor. Most of the men were too injured to complete their travel back home. They claimed that they came to meet with Lady Auri–speaking of where is she? And that they were attacked multiple times unprovoked. That not one ever hit or hurt you. Is this true?”

Andy started to speak but then stopped replaying the fight in his mind. Had they never attacked them? All of the arrows missed The staff bearer never cast a spell… oh shit.“That… Is a very skewed but accurate retelling of events.” 

Georgina set down her load and put her head in her hands. “What happened?”

Andy recounted the story, complete with sound effects courtesy of [HORN SONG]. By the time he’d completed the tale Georgina’s anger had resolved into quiet contemplation. 

“Well. I feel like this staff is a very large issue. I request that you take this staff with you to the mythic council and give it to Kesseroth. Only to Kesseroth. I still have places to go but I will meet you at the council in three days' time. I am asking, nay pleading that you leave now. Should the Harness or Lord Fergus send more men this way I cannot have you here.”

“Now,” she continued, “Here are the sacks of dirt, and the large glass jar you requested. Will you please tell me what you are doing with them?”

“Okay first,”Andy said, “Take these cuttings and place six in each sack.”

Georgina did as instructed, eyeing Andy the entire time. “Awesome. Place one on each side of me.”

Georgina placed each bag of dirt containing six cuttings of the liana vine on either side of Andy and stepped back to see what he’d concocted in that weird horse brain of his. Andy’s horn immediately lit with a brilliant emerald glow. His horn sang.

“Do da do-doo do da doodoodoo. Do da do-doo do da doodoodoo da doo”

 The cuttings took root at once. Andy carefully directed them, his tongue poking out the side of his mouth in concentration.  Two vines from each sack wrapped around his body and secured the bags snugly against his sides. The remaining vines hung freely.

“Ha ha!” He declared. He broke off into a trot demonstrating their sturdiness. The two free vines he cracked like whips in the air. When the sacks remained in place he loudly projected, “Observe! Hands free storage!”

He skidded to a stop in front of Georgina striking what he thought was a heroic pose. “Behold.” One of the free vines waved while the other wrapped around and picked up a fallen branch. “The future. I call them my Botanical Autonomous Load Lugging System. Or B.A.L.L.S. ”

All Georgina could do was stare.

“What?” He said innocently. Eye of The Tiger still humming from his horn, “Do you not like my B.A.L.L.S?

Georgina turned away and began walking.

“Wait,” Andy called, "I still haven’t shown you what the jar is for!”