Clown Wyrm - 22. Chapter 22 - Back to the Capital

Mercury was alarmed by Periwinkle’s admission. She felt those same fears in her as well, but she was trying to keep them bottled-up within her heart.

Killing a dragon was an absurd idea; Mercury knew it was, but hearing Eona confirm that it was possible to get into the volcano to see R’Kathlug had made everything about the clowns’ rebellious mission feel much more real. Knowing the dragon was in the capital brought with it an ominous dread that neither Mercury nor Periwinkle had expected.

“I’m scared too,” Mercury said gently. “I don’t want to die. I don’t want to be burned or crushed. I don’t want to lose you or get lost myself, and I don’t want to be stuck in this world. I want to go home. I miss our life. I miss the other clowns in our crew.” She looked down at the barely-clowny outfit she was wearing and added, “I miss our clothes.”

After spending the night at the campsite run by the folks who used to oversee the Morlington dhalthin, the four travelers enjoyed a filling breakfast with Eona and the others, and they began their return journey to the capital under a grey sky. They were very grateful it was not raining.

“Norjia, how’s your leg today?” Periwinkle asked.

She still required the crutches to walk, but she smiled at him. “It’s getting a little stronger every day, thanks.”

“Maybe when you don’t need those anymore, we could find you a cane,” Mercury suggested, “one with a cool handle like a bird’s head or a skull or something.”

Norjia chuckled. “I like that idea.”

The quartet walked the entire day, encountering no one else, and before sunset, they arrived at the tiny hamlet again. This time however, the NO was not attached to the Vacancies sign. They entered and were greeted by the same woman as previously, but the tavern was quiet. No band was playing.

“Welcome back, you lot need rooms?”

“Just one room will do,” Norjia replied, “but we’d love some hot food first.”

“Right you are,” the barwoman replied, and she waved them into the empty tavern. “Folks usually start turning up in the next hour or so,” she added. “Have a seat anywhere.” She did not take their order, but she headed into the back and returned with four steaming bowls of chili. “This’ll warm you right up, and I’ll bring you waters. Care for any wine or ale?”

“Ale sounds lovely,” the Mechanic replied.

“I’ll take one too,” added Norjia, and she looked at the clowns. “Do you each want one also?”

Mercury nodded. “Yeah, thanks.”

“I’d love one,” Periwinkle said with a smile.

While they enjoyed their food and drinks, several locals entered the pub for their evening libations, and the quartet of travelers made their way up to their room when they finished eating.

The beds proved much more comfortable than sleeping on the ground, and they awoke the following morning feeling refreshed.

Two more days of walking, and nights sleeping in the old tent passed, and a few hours after sunrise on the following morning, they arrived again at Armonia City.

“Okay,” Mercury said as they passed the sign for the city limits, “so where’s the hospital? Let’s go check in on Violatia.”

“There are medical centers on the four sides of the mountain,” Norjia replied. “We’ll visit the one in this region first.”

The streets began to climb the slope of the ancient volcano, and the walk became much more of a hike. Norjia’s crutches forced her to go slowly, and she declared, “I think a cane was a wonderful suggestion.”

The avenues of Armonia City were the steep streets that stretched up the sides of the mountain toward the palace, and the boulevards ran in circles around the mountain. The quartet was climbing Summer Avenue, and they paused as they reached Willow Boulevard.

Norjia looked left and right. “This is where the hospital is, but I can’t remember which way from here.”

“At least this street isn’t steep,” Mercury replied.

The Mechanic turned to her wife. “Pick a direction, and maybe it’ll look familiar as we head along.”

Norjia glanced both directions again. “Left?”

“Left it is,” the Mechanic repeated, and the four began to walk.

“Does any of this seem familiar?” Periwinkle asked Norjia.

She shook her head. “No, I know I’ve been here, but it’s been years.”

They passed a block with a three-story apartment building. The next had a café, a grocery store, and a tavern that was not open at that early hour.

“I don’t recognize anything,” Norjia stated, but Periwinkle let out a coo of delight that made everyone pause again.

“Canes!” he declared. He stepped up to the window of a shop, through which the group could see two large round bins with canes standing upright in them. “What is this place?” he added. “Oh shoot, it’s closed.”

“Alrighty,” Mercury replied, “we just need to remember where it is and come back after we check in with Violatia.”

They continued another block, and Norjia said, “This must be the wrong direction. Should we go back?”

Periwinkle pointed ahead of them. “There it is!” The sign for the hospital was a few blocks away. “We’ve almost made it.”

Once inside the lobby, which possessed the sterile aroma common to healing centers, Norjia and the Mechanic approached the desk, while Mercury and Periwinkle hung back.

“Good morning,” a male attendant said to the wives. “How may I help you?”

“We’re looking for a patient from Morlington,” Norjia replied. “She’ll either be under the name Violatia Fizzlestick, or her real name…”

“Oh yes,” the man interrupted, his face breaking into a wide smile, “Violatia was here for two days, but she was discharged probably five or six days ago. She wasn’t in too bad shape, and she ended up putting on a performance for the patients before she left. She’s a real doll,” he added in a fawning tone that made the Mechanic snicker.

“My wife’s sister is a sassy mistress!” She gave Norjia a peck on her cheek. “Glad Violatia is okay.”

“I’m very relieved,” Norjia replied, and she focused on the man. “Any idea where she was headed after she was discharged?”

“Sorry, I don’t,” he answered with an apologetic smile.

“No problem, thanks anyway for the info.”

Mercury and Periwinkle were beaming as the wives turned around toward them.

“I’m so happy that Violatia’s okay,” Mercury stated.

“Yeah, very glad to hear it,” Periwinkle added.

The four returned to the street, and the Mechanic said, “Now, time for coffee and breakfast.

“How are we supposed to find Violatia?” Periwinkle asked as the group headed into a café across from the hospital. “Are there any drag bars where she likes to hang out?”

“Honestly,” Norjia replied, “just knowing she’s alright is good enough for me. We could try some of the female impersonator clubs to see if she’s around, but I’m satisfied.” She faced the three others. “And thank you, Mercury, Periwinkle, and my love, thank you for making that long trek to Morlington. I realize it ended up being an unnecessary trip, and so I just wanted to thank you all again.”

To the surprise of Mercury and Periwinkle, the warrior woman’s eyes became glassy at her words. She cleared her throat hard.

“Ahem, let’s get coffee.”