The doors had barely shut behind him when Lolo kicked himself mentally. Idiot of an aldgoat!
Bad things? He had no idea what she meant; she could have meant anything! No reason to assume that she was talking about then. This could all still be some sort of mix-up, a case of mistaken identities, confused names and faces. She said she couldn't even read! An easy mistake to make, and an easy mistake to clear up.
But what if she wasn't confused? What if she wasn't wrong? What if she really did know what she was saying and meant it? He had to follow up, to see it through. He had to know or he couldn't sleep. There, in the stuffy hall of the Arcanists' Guild, Lolotaru Lalataru, soaked through with sweat and dragging his long robe, suddenly felt very cold.
He glanced around hurriedly, taking in the lay of the room. It was mostly empty. The girl's shirt was big enough it might pass for a half-robe so long as no one paid attention too closely; unasked, unobserved, unmolested she could pass for an initiate. He walked swiftly over to the staircase and down, glancing into the demonstration room below. It was empty. Good. He hastily summoned Ben, his Carbuncle. It was his oldest, most practiced summon and the most comfortable, almost second nature. He stilled himself, felt the pull of the aether around him, and held in his mind the loose, looping pattern that summed up his relationship with Ben. He waved his arm, catching a corner of the air and with a quick tug upwards and a bright blue flash, pulled the coalescing figure into full manifestation. Ben flipped and landed before him with a squeak. Lolo held out his palm and nodded and Ben sat on his haunches and waited patiently.
Once back at the top of the stairs, Lolo checked to make sure the main hall remained clear, then rushed to the door and peeked outside. The girl was still sitting there, just as he'd left her. He put on a smile and addressed her quietly as he stepped out.
"I'm sorry about the wait. Please, do come in." He opened the door and motioned. "Now, I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage," holding the smile, hoping his voice would put her at ease, knowing it probably wouldn't," but while you seem to know my name, I didn't catch yours."
Bad things? He had no idea what she meant; she could have meant anything! No reason to assume that she was talking about then. This could all still be some sort of mix-up, a case of mistaken identities, confused names and faces. She said she couldn't even read! An easy mistake to make, and an easy mistake to clear up.
But what if she wasn't confused? What if she wasn't wrong? What if she really did know what she was saying and meant it? He had to follow up, to see it through. He had to know or he couldn't sleep. There, in the stuffy hall of the Arcanists' Guild, Lolotaru Lalataru, soaked through with sweat and dragging his long robe, suddenly felt very cold.
He glanced around hurriedly, taking in the lay of the room. It was mostly empty. The girl's shirt was big enough it might pass for a half-robe so long as no one paid attention too closely; unasked, unobserved, unmolested she could pass for an initiate. He walked swiftly over to the staircase and down, glancing into the demonstration room below. It was empty. Good. He hastily summoned Ben, his Carbuncle. It was his oldest, most practiced summon and the most comfortable, almost second nature. He stilled himself, felt the pull of the aether around him, and held in his mind the loose, looping pattern that summed up his relationship with Ben. He waved his arm, catching a corner of the air and with a quick tug upwards and a bright blue flash, pulled the coalescing figure into full manifestation. Ben flipped and landed before him with a squeak. Lolo held out his palm and nodded and Ben sat on his haunches and waited patiently.
Once back at the top of the stairs, Lolo checked to make sure the main hall remained clear, then rushed to the door and peeked outside. The girl was still sitting there, just as he'd left her. He put on a smile and addressed her quietly as he stepped out.
"I'm sorry about the wait. Please, do come in." He opened the door and motioned. "Now, I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage," holding the smile, hoping his voice would put her at ease, knowing it probably wouldn't," but while you seem to know my name, I didn't catch yours."
