Previously on Centaurus: The band join an inter-city caravan on their way to the city. Lily and Kayla discover Vivi's secret pet and promise to keep quiet about it.
◈ Now, Chapter 16:
Fey looked over the two otterkin girls. They looked decidedly… suspicious.
It wasn't that Lily was no longer a six foot wide cum tank, or that the both of them had somehow acquired petite cum filled bellies, small midterm cum pregnancies fitting for their size and species. No, it was the shifty looks the both of them had, not quite looking her in the eyes, nervously moving their feet, quickly masked guilty expressions.
She had the distinct impression that they were hiding something, mostly she supposed because they were absolutely terrible at hiding anything.
But she had something more important to deal with right now and she didn't want to get distracted from it.
She turned to find Rina, the lamia woman was fussing over one of the caravans, one of the larger ones, a behemoth of a thing with eight huge wagon wheels. She flipped open a panel on the side and an iron lever was revealed. She wrapped a large hand around it and heaved backwards, setting her powerful tail in coils and applying her weight. The lever resisted and then after a moment's pause clanged downward with a ratcheting grinding sound.
From within the caravan came a clockwork metal clattering announcing machinery beginning to move, wooden panels sliding out of position, metals bars hinged at either end lifting and pushing heavy wooden shelves and walls, large canvas sheets stretching out on fanned spars up above.
Fey and the twins looked on in amazement as the caravan unfolded, becoming several times larger, in fact it spread out so much that they had to take a dozen steps back.
What was once a caravan was now what could be called a full on building, albeit with a canvas roof.
Rina gestured at the construction proudly.
"Behold, the keystone of our business."
"It's amazing! ...But what is it?"
"Oh you know, just a fully operational shop with all amenities and tools necessary to function."
The otterkins let out appropriately awed sounds.
"I didn't expect this when you said you could get a Class for our apprentices," said Fey.
Rina gave a smug look as only a wealthy merchant could, her expression practically oozing money.
It was currently late afternoon. The band had spent the day accompanying the caravan and guarding it. That had been a relatively easy job, the only real threat that had appeared was a pack of wolves. Fey had expected Ellaria to handle it but the sheer ferocity with which she had attacked the wolves had left Fey and everyone watching stunned. The wolves hadn't stood a chance, instantly turned into so much charcoal statues amongst some blackened splinters that had once been trees.
Fey had the distinct impression that something had seriously upset the elf that morning but when she went to ask her what was wrong she had stalked away ignoring her.
She had ended up spending the rest of the walk trotting beside the slithering Rina. They had eventually warmed up to each other as long conversations were wont to do and Fey had found herself talking about the band. The topic had stumbled on to the otterkins, their apprentices, and how they had no Class to speak of.
Zal had piped up at that point, the Dogkin was resting in a small cart, a pair of green feathered birds harnessed on the front which she directed with long leads. She had the cart all to herself of course because of her massive stomach which entirely filled it.
The dogkin did not seem displeased with her situation in the slightest, in fact she seemed to love every moment of it, which she expressed with a suggestion to Rina. Let the otterkin's have access to their stock.
The shop that the caravan had now unfolded into housed said stock and Rina gestured at the entrance with a smile.
"Come on! This shouldn't take long, we have an amazing selection of Classes, I really am quite proud of it you know."
Fey trotted to the door, a canvas flap, and gingerly pushed it aside peering into the interior.
Soft light filtered by the canvas above illuminated the inside, heavy shelves stacked with innumerable books of all sizes filling the interior, rows and rows of them. At the front of the shop was a large desk.