Chapter 157
Lamberton Dormitory Building, Cornell Academy, City: Three Pronged Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2041, Planet: Grimoire
The next day dawned stormy and threatening, with lightning flashing and thunder rumbling continuously. Apprehension built in his heart as Grifton gazed toward the mountain ranges. All of them were obscured with heavy black and purple and brown-hued clouds. Just the sight of them gave him a distinctly uneasy feeling. Snow visibly piled up on the slopes just below the towering darker ranges. However, in Three Pronged Forks, currently, only light drizzle pattered the rooftops and streets around the dormitories and warehouses.
"This is not a grand way to begin a new day at all," he sighed to Firenze.
Firenze walked outside to his side. "What's got you worried?" He peered around and grimaced.
"The weather seemed to have changed overnight," Grifton said extremely wryly. "I don't mind the cooler temperatures." He gestured at the clouds and mountains with a scowl. "I do mind the abrupt drop without some warning from the weather mages."
When Firenze followed his gaze, he winced. "I have to agree with you on that, truly."
Grifton and Firenze grimaced because this weather was never a good sign. Especially not the color of those clouds. What a way to not start a day, but they'd figured that out from hearing the rain on the roof and against the windows as soon as they'd awakened.
Firenze frowned in concern. "Should we bring along weatherproof gear just in case?" The last thing needed was to get caught in heavy rain and get cold or worse.
"I already thought of that and brought a few things." Grifton patted the bag he'd slung over one shoulder. "We should go out and get breakfast." Firenze's particular building didn't include meals. Those were a separate cost, and none of the food was significant.
After one last grimace at the horizon, Firenze shook his head.
"Bleh, what a blah beginning," Firenze grumbled, making Grifton laugh because he agreed wholeheartedly.
Grifton sighed and muttered. "I can only hope this will make some rogues take shelter." He referred to instigators trying to create conflict along all the borders, not just where corner areas were under conflict.
Firenze grunted. "Oh, they're causing trouble again, are they?" He shook his head in disgust. "I'd hoped that would end with the last treaty that was signed." He frowned when Grifton shrugged.
"Yeah, you would think so, but someone chose not to honor those signatories," Grifton informed him.
Firenze shrugged. "Well, what can we do? Nothing really, so let's get our first meal before the frenzied day begins in an hour." He reminded Grifton of priorities.
Grifton looked amused when he agreed with Firenze's reminder. "That's true. No one wants to hear a dragon's stomach rumbling louder than the thunder rattling the rooftops." He sighed because there'd been a few times when he had shaken a few buildings with the growling of his stomach.
Firenze glanced at him sideways. "That goes double with your extra packages." He reminded Grifton of why his appetite had increased drastically recently.
"There is also that." Grifton nodded with a rueful smile. "So yes, we'd better get a move on if we don't want to miss the best time to eat."
Firenze nodded. "We're going to the usual place?"
It was a place where locals gathered to eat hearty meals at reasonable costs. There was an unspoken rule that funds were donated toward meals for hapless individuals who might've stolen their wallets or were just down on their luck.
"Yes, let's head for 'Sensible Menus Here' before they close down because they are running out of supplies." Grifton agreed with a cheerful nod.
~*~
Early in the morning, Harper awakened with the knowledge that a whole day was ahead of him. The temperature felt decidedly more relaxed than he remembered it being the night before. Did the fire go out, or was the heat just not enough? Harper didn't recall if any of that had been checked before falling asleep.
Now sitting up in the bed, Harper yawned loudly. "G'morning?" He whispered and grinned at two grouchy responses. Yep, they were awake and not happy about it, either.
"Keep it down," Sherpa grumbled. "We're not early risers like you," though he was obviously awake.
There were more rustling noises getting louder overheard. "I think it's raining outside," Anara also complained from her bed.
Hmm, was that the source of the rustling and splashing, tapping, and dripping Harper heard all around him. What was going on? After rubbing one eye absently, he peeked outside. Ah, there was rain falling! Harper stared in dismay at it.
"Yes, it is raining outside," He wasn't happy about confirming that suspicion, but at least that was better than hearing mice in the walls or attic. Well, he supposed it could be better.
With a shrug, Harper made a note to take a coat and something else to avoid getting wet. He'd been teased about his dislike of rain, but who cared? Getting wet meant that one could get sick. That was the last thing that Harper wanted to endure while getting to know the academy.
What was the time? Harper consulted the clock in the center of the wall. It was just past six a.m. The entrance and welcome ceremony would begin at 9:30 a.m. They had to be there by 8 a.m. to avoid getting stuck outside the arena where the welcome ceremony was being held.
Harper yawned again because he'd been dreaming most of the night and only had about three hours of non-dreamtime. That reminded him, "There should be a nearby place to eat." Harper looked at Anara and Sherpa, scrambling out of their beds at his comment.
Since they were only temporarily there, some services, such as access to the cafeteria, weren't available to them.
So, they had to eat somewhere else. Fortunately, someone was kind enough to tell them about a small cafe perfect for them to get accustomed to eating the food in Three-Pronged Fork. They just had to get there before it closed down due to running out of supplies. It was a favorite with the local merchants and students who only had a little money.
"Wait for us to get dressed," Anara pleaded with Harper.
Harper grunted. "I'm not going anywhere; I still have to get dressed, too." He'd already taken off his sleeping shirt. Now, he walked over to where his uniform was located.
It didn't take them long to finish dressing. In fact, with them helping each other, they completed their preparations faster than their younger siblings. At last, though, they gathered in the lobby. Then, once Harper was sure everyone was together, he spoke to both the receptionist and housekeeper, letting them know what was going on. Once that was done and reassured that they still had the two suites for the night, the eight-headed off for their first-morning meal.
~*~
As a result, Firenze and Grifton went to a small hole-in-the-wall diner, Sensible Menus Here, that catered to early morning workers and students. On truly busy weeks, such as when events, holidays, and competitions were going on, it would run twenty-four hours, seven days a week.
When Grifton and Firenze walked in, the eight siblings were there, much to his surprise. They had donned the Cornell Academy uniforms and were stuffing their faces.
Grifton was amused after glancing at the number of stacked plates and bowls already placed on a portable tray cart. "I hope there's something left for us." His eyes crinkled with laughter when Firenze's stomach growled.
There were howls of laughter and good-natured teasing from the locals who knew Grifton and Firenze from their forays as merchant artisans and guards or in the military as soldiers.
The final observation made the others groan. "What happened? Did a dragon and a griffin happen to stroll in?" The owner, who happened to walk through a hallway from the kitchen, overheard the noise.
"Ah, owner, you know who's here."
"Seriously, a dragon and a griffin?"
"Where do people come up with such silly nicknames?"
"Hey, quiet, the owner's here."
that settled the majority of cat-callers and teasers who returned to eating their tasty food.
Sure enough, the owner did look in and see what was going on. "Welcome, you two. Pull up a seat." Corley Rufus grinned at them. "Glad to see you in fine fettle this morning." He was one of the few people Grifton knew from childhood who had survived several trams and mishaps.
"I'm glad you upgraded your bar to something more profitable." Grifton smiled and slapped him on the shoulder.
Corley chuckled. "Well, it made sense if I was going to stay in business." He shrugged. "Besides, I always get help when I need it, no matter the time of day or night." A faint smile curved his mouth. "So, what can I get ya?"
That type of good luck had come to him once he learned how to communicate with spirits. It was just a small tip that Grifton gave him when he'd been having some difficulties finding people who would help out.
Grifton chose an item he knew usually didn't appear on the menu. Corley nodded and turned to Firenze. "What about you?" After giving Grifton a long stare, he'd written down the orders, and one eyebrow rose. Clearly Corley knew there was something different about Grifton than was normal.
"I'll have the daily special with coffee," Firenze told him. "Two orders." He sighed. "I'm going to miss this food while traveling elsewhere." Firenze made a sour face.
~*~
At the same time that the couple and the eight siblings were enjoying their breakfast, Hermina was sitting quietly in one of Esmeralda Cordell's exam rooms. She'd awakened before dawn and headed there at Esmeralda's polite request.
Now, Hermina wondered just what the results would be. Ever since agreeing to do this per Darmono and Lamberton's suggestions, she had begun to regret her rashness.
Right when she considered just putting a robe on, for warmth, Esmeralda knocked on the door and slid it open. "You can come in, Cordell. It isn't as if I have anyone else with me."
Esmeralda snorted at her greeting. "You were always a smartass when scared, Marten." She studied Hermina with a sigh. "Do you know the difference between medicinal herbs and poison?"
Esmeralda glanced from her sheaf of papers and back to Hermina, startled at that statement.
Well, this would be embarrassing to admit, Hermina sighed unhappily. "I'm afraid that even though I was a hunter and adventurer for several decades." She grinned wryly when Esmeralda harrumphed at her mildly sarcastic response. "I'll admit that being able to differentiate between the two wasn't in my skill set."
Esmeralda grunted. "I see; that would explain why you trusted the wrong person with your health."
Hermina frowned. "What kind of poison was it?"
Esmeralda grimaced. "Arsenic and something else." Her eyes were dark with concern when she stared at Hermina. "That is what has happened to you over two decades."
Hermina flinched. "I guess this happens when I listen to someone affiliated with the Glaston Township." She muttered with a sigh. "So, what are my chances of survival now that I'm aware of what is happening to me?" It didn't really surprise Hermina to learn that she'd been poisoned. She could pinpoint the day it began and by whom it was administered.
"Fortunately, someone around you took extreme measures to remove the worst of the concoction from your blood." Esmeralda hesitated. "I believe that it was probably Davina."
Hermina's blood froze. "She was already living with a curse, and yet she chose to do that?" She shook her head wearily. "Of all the foolish courses of action she had to take, that was the worst." Her hands fisted at her sides when she related what she thought happened to Davina over the years and how her life ended. "When she was also being poisoned simultaneously by someone attempting to force an abortion on her."
Esmeralda closed her eyes. "Be that as it may, she had a reason for doing it." She reminded Hermina. "That also meant she knew what would happen in the end."
Hermina nodded. "That she did." She shrugged. "So now, what should I do?"
Esmeralda gave her the available options, and Hermina sighed. "Soon, I have to return to Fountain Grove, Esme, I don't have a choice."
Esmeralda nodded. "I'll send an assistant of mine to go with you." She pursed her lips. "That person will ensure you receive the antidote daily since it has to be mixed fresh daily."
Not what Hermina was pleased to hear, but she accepted it without protest. "All right, can I get dressed?"
Esmeralda nodded. "You can also eat breakfast with me," she smiled. I'll mix the antidote into the food so that it won't leave you with an odd aftertaste."
Hermina nodded. "So be it. I appreciate what you're doing for me. I'm glad we were able to talk about everything going on." That had given them a chance to catch up with each other's lives to this point.