"Fascinating!" Esmyria's voice drifted from the back of the shop. Emerick froze at the door. Of all the places he could've run into her, this was the last place he expected. "You make all of these yourself?"
"I do," Titus replied, face flushed with a bashful smile.
"How do you test them?" Esmyria questioned. "So far, everything you've shown me has worked well, but what did it take to refine them so completely?"
"What are you doing here?" Emerick questioned. He couldn't stop himself. Apparently his one sanctuary was no longer sacred.
"Good day to you too, son," Esmyria regarded him with a critical expression. It was hard to tell if she was upset or amused by his outburst.
"Why, good afternoon boss," Titus called, uneasy at the sudden tension. "How are you today?"
"Seriously, why are you here?" Emerick questioned. "I would think you'd avoid this place… It's a work shop and it's messy not to mention dangerous…"
"Like any civilized person, I set an appointment with these gentlemen to ensure I wasn't too disruptive to their work," Esmyria replied. "And why wouldn't I come? The poultices and perfumes this young man creates are exceptional. In fact, it's a shame the young ladies at the tea party failed to grasp the true value of the perfumes they sampled."
"It is?" Emerick was too bewildered to comprehend weather she was belittling him or not. Clearly she was impressed with Titus though. It was a start.
"I'm sure you've noticed what it is capable of at least. If not, I gave you too much credit," She continued.
It took him a moment to piece together what she was talking about. Finally, it dawned on him what property of those perfumes she valued most. The biggest reason the four queens hadn't returned to the castle was because of the overbearing stench from the rot lingering there. Titus had specifically engineered the brews to eliminate the noxious odor without overpowering the senses.
"It was hard to discuss the finer points with them, they were too fixated on Trixie," Emerick sighed. "I should have waited to debut her… but I was so excited that she wanted to be a part of it…"
"You've learned a lesson," Esmyria put a hand on his shoulder and gently patted it. "Remember it well, and move on. That is all we can do."
"No criticism?" Emerick's brow rose inquisitively.
"I'm sure you'll screw up again soon enough," Esmyria chuckled. "I do have to offer you encouragement every now and again though. I am one of your mothers after all."
"Yeah…" He smiled and turned to Titus. "Have you finished that newest mixture yet?"
"I have a batch that is completed, but I haven't had the chance to test it yet," Titus shrugged. "I was going to do so after her majesty departed."
"No need to stop on my account," Esmyria replied. "Besides, I would like my question answered."
"I want to know how you do it too," Emerick agreed. "Do you test it on yourself?"
"I used to," Titus smiled awkwardly, "but I stopped after a batch gone wrong severely injured my brother. It left a pretty gnarly scar on his chest. Besides, I have a lab assistant who can help me more effectively."
"What lab assistant?" Emerick wondered. "I've never seen anyone else here besides Rathus."
"I haven't called on her since we arrived," Titus replied with a shrug. "Most of what I have prepared I've made numerous times and don't need her to test it. I really don't want to put you guys out, it may take some time for me to find her."
"I still wish to speak more about your experience with alchemy and runes," Esmyria objected. "Emerick, would be more than happy to go get this young lady."
"It may be better if he gets her," Emerick frowned. "I don't even know which of his family he's talking about. None of the ones I know approach here willingly, unless you're talking about Trixie."
"Emerick," Esmyria said in a warning tone.
"Jemma," Titus cut in, unable to withstand the tension that was reemerging. "Look for Jemma."
"I don't know a 'Jemma' among you," Emerick replied, though his heart started pounding. Was he finally getting to the bottom of the mysterious missing child? He felt confident that was a name that hadn't been on the list. "Where would she be this time of day?"
"I'm not entirely sure… and it's hard to explain," Titus sighed. He brightened as an idea struck him. "Get Liron, the little weasel always seems to know where she's hiding. Besides, it would probably be best to have him join this discussion as well."
"That roughish little fox boy?" Esmyria tilted her head. "I do believe I recall seeing him briefly at the tea party. He departed fairly early on though."
"Between the attention the ladies were giving Trixie and Vicky's presence he didn't feel comfortable staying," Titus smiled apologetically.
"Very well," Emerick conceded. "I will go get Liron to bring Jemma. I am looking forward to meeting this lab assistant of yours anyway."
"She can be a bit… skittish," Titus warned as Emerick departed. "Don't take it personally!"
Emerick's mind reeled as he pondered the identity of the final member of the half-blood brigade. Titus had implied she was a girl, and that she was good at hiding herself. Did that mean she was a skilled illusionist? Perhaps she was some sort of master of disguise. As he contemplated her skill set, he stopped just outside of the kitchen.
"That little weasel should be turning up any second now," He mused to himself. By that, he meant Liron of course.
The little fox boy was in the habit of pilfering some of the sweets from the window when Dalek placed them to cool, especially since the surly beast-drow chief had received more in depth lessons from Jacoby and his sisters. It was about that time in the afternoon that Dalek would be setting out the goodies, so Liron was sure to be lurking nearby.
Sure enough, a few minutes after his arrival, Emerick watched as Dalek set piping hot pans of pies onto the window seal. From the smell of them, there were a variety which were made from various tree fruits and berries that had been collected from the gardens. Emerick found himself looking forward to sampling a few as well, but unlike Liron, he still had some reserves about potentially angering Dalek. He didn't yet have the type of necessary relationship where he felt the temperamental fellow might let him get away with thieving his work. Then again, if he did things just right, he could frame Liron for the theft.
On cue, Liron emerged from the bushes, then swiftly clambered up a nearby tree. He paused in the branches a moment as Dalek reappeared at the window, staring critically around the yard. He caught sight of Emerick as he searched, so Emerick offered a wave. With an unreadable expression, Dalek retreated from the window and went back about his work.
As soon as he was gone, Liron darted through the tree, leaping to the next one, and then to another until he was on the tree closest to the building. His path was indirect and hard to follow, and the rustle of the leaves and the sway of the trees from his movements were masked by the breeze. If Emerick hadn't known he was there and been actively watching his progress, he would've never realized Liron was only a few yards away,
Once again, Dalek appeared at the window, anticipating the inevitable theft that was about to occur, but once again he saw nothing more than Emerick. This time, he frowned before turning away. Liron, poised just under the window offered Emerick a salute, then quickly nabbed the two closest pies and darted around the building. Smiling to himself, Emerick decided it was about time to out fox the fox.
"Aieee!" Liron squealed a few moments later when, quite abruptly, Emerick seized him by the tail and lifted him until they met eye to eye. Startled as he was, Liron still managed to maintain his grip on the pies.
"I have to admire your skill," Emerick commented, "But I don't think I can let you get away with theft. It's rather unbecoming of a young man don't you think?"
"You just want a cut of the spoils," Liron accused.
"You did use me," Emerick replied. "You gaged when to strike based on my actions. Besides, as alert as that drow was today, we both know he would have caught you if he wasn't distracted by me."
"Fine, I had planned on giving you one anyway," Liron sighed and offered one of the pilfered goods to Emerick. He took the pie, but maintained his grip. "What more do you want? I'm not giving you both!"
"I was actually looking for you," Emerick replied. "Titus requested I seek your aid in finding a girl named Jemma."