CHAPTER 118 Her Own Grimalcat

CHAPTER 118

Her Own Grimalcat

Brownie

Lady Amy followed Rufus to the palace because she was representing the young elf girl as the future duchess of the Hollow.

Queen Henrietta followed Rufus to the palace because she was the queen, and she should probably hear what the verdict was.

Momo and Slake flew to the palace because they were grimalcats, and they could go wherever they wanted. Technically , Slake was going to report everything back to Their Royal Highness, so he needed to be there.

Gerda and Brownie followed Rufus to the palace because they were nosy.

It wasn’t every day that an international criminal who could single-handedly bring about the fall of nations was captured. Molten ash vane was one of the deadliest poisons known to kind, even if no one had been permadeathed yet, surprisingly but not surprisingly, because Madame Potts alone had prevented half of the poisonings with her predictions.

Brownie knew she probably wasn’t going to see much, but she could be nearby. For moral support.

They all piled into the entry of the palace with the grand staircase that Rufus had been fighting on the night before. The doors closed behind them, blocking out the sound of the festival so severely that it was suddenly, startlingly silent.

The elf girl flinched and promptly burst into tears.

“I’m sorrrrrry,” she wailed. Somehow, Brownie got the feeling that Mia had no idea what she was apologizing for and was just afraid.

“Mia.” Lady Amy patted the girl’s arm that was still linked with her own. “We just have a few questions for you, that’s all.”

“B-But I’m in t-trouble, right?” the girl sputtered through her tears .

Rufus sighed. “Porter Mia, we are here on behalf of the Continental Council to ask you about the molten ash vane.”

“R-Really?” The girl rubbed her eyes with her free hand, calming down a little. “Is that all?”

Gerda choked beside Brownie. The bridge troll had no self-restraint whatsoever and was sucking on an apple fruit leather she’d acquired from somewhere.

“Got any more of those?” she whispered, accepting the snack produced and promptly sucking on the end to see how the flavor was. It was apple with a hint of strawberry. Perfection. She passed one to Henrietta as well. For a queen, Henrietta was very unassuming, and happily joined the two of them at the back of the group.

Mia fixed her glasses from where she’d knocked them askew rubbing her eyes. “I t-took over my nana’s job making p-p-potions after she p-passed away last year. I’ve tried to make one for each delivery, but sometimes, I don’t have enough …”

“That’s what I want to ask.” Rufus’s eyes were scrunched closed like he had a headache during the girl’s backstory reveal, but he tried to smile at the elf while speaking to her. He even handed over a kerchief. “ Why are you making molten ash vane?”

“It’s in my nana’s recipe b-book.” The girl accepted the cloth and blew her nose. Her face was a blotchy dark green from crying. “She told me to make what I could and leave a bag at the drop-off spot when I had ten bottles. I c-can only make molten ash vane when I have the ingredients, b-but they are rare. I have some now, from the d-dungeon. If you give me a d-day, I’ll make you one?”

Rufus sighed. “Did you know”—the little girl looked up at him through her big glasses, eager to help—“that molten ash vane is an illegal poison that was banned from production and sale by all guilds across the continent?”

Mia’s face blanched. “What?”

“And you’re the lead felon in an international criminal investigation, with an arrest warrant from the Continental Council itself?”

“N-No—” The girl was crying again and having difficulty breathing. She looked down because Slake was winding his way around her legs. He bound over to sit in front of Rufus, facing the girl.

Brownie frowned. Poor Rufus was quest bound to retrieve the poisoner.

“There is a way,” the grimalcat said. “Pick me up.”

Lady Amy let Mia go so the elf girl could do as she was told, holding the large grimalcat in her small arms. She calmed a bit as she started to pet him gently. The grimalcat purred contentedly.

“You know the council is expecting the poisoner brought before them before the end of the month,” Rufus stated, balling his paw into a fist before relaxing it at his side. “And Nilheim could lose our place on the council for refusing to turn her in. ”

“Is that true?” Henrietta whispered to Brownie.

“Mm-hmm.” Brownie nodded, taking another bite of her fruit leather. A maid appeared at the top of the stairs, saw them, and hurried off.

“It’s not the end of the world,” Lady Amy argued. “When we explain what happened, I’m sure—”

Slake looked at Mia. “Child. What is your name?”

“Mia Underbush,” she replied.

“You may call me Slake. I can take Lady Amy to represent you at the Continental Council.” Slake nodded. “But you must promise me that you will never make molten ash vane again.”

The grimalcat’s eyes glowed a strange green, and Brownie glanced at her own grimalcat whom she’d also made a promise to. Momo was staring at a painting of the duke and duchess of the Hollow that was over the doorway behind her. They were sitting on a familiar bench, with baby Lady Amy in their arms. And a white butterfly fluttering beside some flowers.

“A-Alright.” Mia nodded her head, pressing her tearstained face into Slake’s furry back. The grimalcat let her.

“And you will familiarize yourself with the law so you know what you are and are not allowed to make,” Slake continued, his eyes getting dimmer and almost back to normal.

The elf girl continued nodding, pausing only a few seconds later to blow her nose very loudly into Rufus’s handkerchief.

Brownie exchanged looks with Rufus, sending a reassuring smile and subtle thumbs-up.

“Then we have an agreement.” The grimalcat smiled. He looked at Rufus. “I’ll take responsibility for the child. Lady Amy and I can meet you at the Summer Masquerade Council Meeting. Unless you have any complaints?”

“I have a complaint!” Duke Briarthorn stood at the top of the stairs.