Chapter Three Hundred and Seventy-Six - Doorbuster


    Chapter Three Hundred and Seventy-Six - Doorbuster


    So, how are we going to do this? I asked.


    Do what? Amaryllis asked right back. The bunch of us, plus our new friends Tharval and Willowbud, were ambling along through one of the upper-level corridors of the Storm Tower. The elf and dwarf both seemed to know where they were going, so the rest of us just followed along, even if that meant going up stairs, then down stairs, then across catwalks, then through maintenance passages and even ducking through the backrooms of a shop at some point much to the consternation of an employee who wasnt aware that one of the walls could pop out to reveal a secret passage.


    It was neat how well the two knew their way around, but I supposed they were around while the tower was built, so they had the home field advantage.


    I mean, how''re we gonna capture Vonowl. Do we barge into the hotel and demand that he surrender? Do we go in all sneaky-like and try to catch him unaware? Maybe we can ask the nice hotel people to help us get him... or the police. Does the Storm Tower have police?


    Not really, Tharval said. We have guards. Theyre hired by the tower directly. They might help, but I doubt it. We never get along well with them.


    We might have if you ceased antagonising them, Willowbud said.


    Bah! Theyre a bunch of rockheaded fools who sold out for a bit of gold.


    Is that so wrong? Amaryllis asked.


    Tharval nodded. Of course it is! Sure, you need a bit of gold to keep the belly full and your toes warm at night, but theres more honest ways of doing it. Are they pursuing a dream? Fighting for what they think is right? Nah, just walking around with little sticks and looking tough. Aint right. Now, a proper explorer? They have principles. Theyre going out there to see what hasnt been seen yet, to discover things. Same for a proper tinkerer. Theyre making new things, pushing what they know. Its art, and its a whole lot more valuable than looking tough for a fraction of an ounce of gold every hour.


    Is it so important to have an ideology? I asked.


    Dont you have one? he asked.


    I ran my hand through the length of my prosthetic beard as I thought. I dont know. I just want to make friends, explore the world, and be happy. I dont know if thats complicated enough to be a whole ideology.


    Well, its the start of one, at least, Tharval mused.


    Dont encourage her, Amaryllis said. Shell start a religion.


    I nodded. Huggism, I said.


    I think I need to point out that while Sylphfree gives its citizens the freedom to express themselves and have whichever religious beliefs they want, we also firmly believe in the separation of religion, state, and military, and therefore I cannot join you in this particular endeavour, Caprica said.


    But we have hugs! I said.


    That is a rather tempting offer, she admitted with a serious nod. Then her lips quirked up and I giggled along with her.


    Id join huggism, Awen said. It sounds nice.


    Wed do snuggle hour every day, and eat cookies, I said.


    Im not sure if you understood what I was trying to say, Tharval said. But I appreciate your enthusiasm, kid.


    I set aside my dreams of becoming a High Priestess of Hugs as we arrived at the hotel. I was expecting it to be a grand place, with big stairs and chandeliers and one of those super long counters, maybe with some elves and dwarves in fancy red uniforms behind it, but instead I found something entirely different. The hotel lobby was relatively small, with rounded walls all around and several plant-filled boxes along the sides.


    A small podium sat in the center where a staff member waited, and behind them was a spiral staircase leading up.


    Hello, the reception dwarf said when our group ambled in. And welcome. How might I help you?


    Hmph, wheres that Vonowl guy? Tharval grumped.


    Calamity poked at the keys of a piano, producing a few random notes while I checked on the guard that Willowbud had knocked out.


    Mah, nice place, Tharval said as he looked around. No sign of that fish of a baron though.


    The penthouse had a great big entryway, with an open kitchen space to one side, a living room on the other, and what I imagined were bedrooms down a corridor past the living room. Caprica helped me drag the guard to the living room (he still had a pulse, but it looked as if Willowbud had cast a spell of some sort to make him loopy) where we put him on a couch so he could rest for a bit.


    Alright, Amaryllis said. Calamity, check the kitchens, Caprica, come with me to the bedrooms, Awen, Tharval, do you think you two would be able to spot hidden compartments?


    Ah, maybe? Awen said.


    Obviously, Tharval replied.


    Amaryllis nodded. Good. Broccoli, keep an eye out on the door. Mister Willowbud, I wouldnt presume to tell you what to do.


    Hey now, but youd presume for me? Tharval groused.


    Yes, Amaryllis said without explanation, then she headed off towards the bedrooms, Caprica following after her while hiding a smile.


    I grinned at Tharvals harrumph and Willowbuds smug smirk. Dont forget to look in the bathroom! I called out, just in case.


    I swished Weedbane around a few times while standing next to the closed door in an attempt to unlimber my muscles in case someone barged in. If I was going to be on guard duty, then I wanted to take it seriously. Mister Willowbud looked at me, amused, but didnt comment on anything.


    Awa, we found something! Awen said as she returned from the bedrooms.


    There was a hidden compartment? I asked as I turned.


    Um, no, these papers were just on a desk in the office, Awen said as she waved a stack of papers about.


    Amaryllis poked her head out of one of the bedrooms. Well, what is it?


    Awen looked at the pages, scanning them quickly. It looks like a contract? For, ah, weapons. Lots of them.


    Willowbud hummed and walked to Awen and looked at the pages from over her shoulder. I recognize that company. Theyre dwarven smiths. Tharval would know more.


    Hes cracking a safe, Awen said.


    There was a loud thunk from the far end of the penthouse where shed come from, then a lot of really rude words.


    He might be having a hard time with it, Awen admitted. But I found this in the meantime and I thought it might be a hint?


    Good job, Awen! I cheered.


    Yeah, nice work! Calamity said from the kitchen, where he was holding a butter knife covered in jam in one hand and a large slab of bread in the other. I gave him a look, and he shrugged. I was looking for hints too. And I discovered a hint that I was hungry.


    Well, at least we hadnt wrecked the place.


    There was another big thump from the office and the guard on the couch groaned.


    I winced. Maybe if we left discreetly, the hotel wouldnt be too angry with us?


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