Clown Wyrm - 23. Chapter 23 - Glee to Gloom

It was midday when the quartet entered the glee district.

Norjia was leading the way, walking with a brand-new cane she purchased in the shop Periwinkle had spotted.

The group had popped back over to the store after their coffees.

Periwinkle encouraged Noria to pick a cane with a wolf’s head for a handle.

Mercury recommended one with a skull that had crystals in its eyes.

The Mechanic’s preference was intricately carved of brass with an ergonomically shaped grip.

The owner of the shop, who was showing off his wares, eyed Norjia. “You know, I’ve got a few others. There in the back.” He waved for her to follow him. “But not you three,” he added to the others.

Norjia ended up choosing a cane for herself with a simple stone sphere at its top. It had a thin band of metal that encircled the staff about a quarter of the way down. She was very satisfied with her selection.

The Mechanic had insisted on carrying the crutches, in case the cane proved to be insufficient, but Norjia was off to a good start without them.

The group rounded a corner, and Mercury grabbed Periwinkle’s arm, pulling herself close to him and snorting a laugh.

“Oh! Oh my,” he exclaimed, “what’s this?!” They both covered their embarrassed giggles.

Neither of the clowns was looking at the brightly painted sign for Sunny Slope Brothel, and instead, they were focused on the individuals who were present in front of the establishment. Men in crotchless trousers loitered with their penises hanging out in the breeze. Others wore tiny thongs, and only their privatest parts were hidden. There were topless women, gorgeous transgender people, androgynous butch or femme individuals, and all of them were looking for partners, love and money.

Past the brothel was a museum dedicated to erotic art, and then a café with lots of phallic decorations, next to a leather shop that sold body harnesses and spanking apparatuses.

“We’re headed to Pucker’s,” the Mechanic reminded the others, “on Eighth Avenue.”

Mercury groaned. “And that’s one of the steep streets?”

“It is.”

The next avenue they came to was Elm, and the one after was First.

“Looks like we’re about seven blocks away,” Periwinkle stated as he noticed the sign.

When they arrived at Eighth Avenue, Mercury asked, “Up, or down?”

They looked both directions, but there was no sign of the pub.

“I know it sucks,” Periwinkle stated, “but maybe we should go up. We’re already partway up the mountain; if we go down and Pucker’s isn’t there, we’ll have to climb back up and still climb from here anyway.”

“Ugh,” Mercury complained, “let’s go.”

The group passed another brothel, a sex-show theatre, and a naughty toy shop. To their delight, Pucker’s was on the next block.

A hulk of a man was blocking the entrance. “Da fuck do you want?” he grunted.

Norjia was just as tall as the bouncer, and she stepped up to him on her crutches. “We’re here for the sins within!”

The big man surprised even himself when he laughed at her words. “Dis is a private club,” he replied, trying to regain his composure.

“We’re not from town,” Norjia went on, “but we’ve heard Pucker’s puts the glee in the glee district, and we want what you’ve got.”

The bouncer looked over the Mechanic and the two clowns, and he shrugged at Norjia. He could not help but crack a smile as he said, “A-right, gwon inside.”

He pulled open the door, and the four entered.

A woman was behind the bar, wiping off bottles of alcohol, one by one. She was wearing a billowy blouse that she had pulled down off her shoulder, and she had hooked her top’s fabric under one of her breasts, which was out for everyone to see.

“Oh my Godzilla,” Mercury whispered to Periwinkle, squeezing his arm, “she’s like one of those renaissance women from European history.”

“Good day, friends, what can I getcha?” the woman asked with a grin.

Norjia strode up to the opposite side of the counter from her and glanced around at the few other folks drinking in Pucker’s. She leaned over the bar and asked quietly, “Are there any tours into the volcano?”

The woman smirked and nodded. She looked around Norjia at the others in her establishment, and she called out, “Squirrel, come here!”

A man at one of the tables turned in her direction. He knocked back the last of his drink and rose.

“Squirrel, these folks would like to talk to you about your services.”

Squirrel was a rugged man with stubble on his face and a scar through one eyebrow. He waved them over to a private table. “You lot wanna see the beast?” he asked in a quiet growl.

“We do,” Norjia replied under her breath. “When’s your next tour?”

“Sunset tonight. It’s sixty-six Armonian dollars per person.”

The clowns looked at Norjia and the Mechanic, who both winced.

“That’s more than we’ve got,” Norjia replied.

Squirrel shrugged. “Come see me when you can afford it.” He stepped back up to the bar, ordered himself another drink, and headed back to his table.

Mercury frowned. “What are we supposed to do?”

Norjia turned to her wife. “My leg has healed enough that I could probably do some blacksmithing again.”

“But what could we do?” Periwinkle asked. “Is there some way the three of us could make money at the same time?”

“Yeah,” Mercury agreed, “I’d be willing to do anything to help out.”

“Sixty-six multiplied by four,” Periwinkle said aloud, trying to do the math in his head. “Let’s see…”

Norjia added, “Even if I can’t handle full-on armor work, I could certainly assist or do smaller metallurgy projects like jewelry.”

The barwoman stepped up to the opposite side of the counter from the quartet. “Good day again, friends, do I hear that you’re looking for daywork? I’ve got jobs here at the inn that need doing, but I can only pay two of you.”

“That’s perfect,” the Mechanic replied, and she turned to her wife. “I’ll help you find the blacksmith, and maybe both of us can pick up a little work there, even if I just lug wood for the forge.” She looked back at the barwoman. “But first, a little food, we can afford lunch.”

An hour later, Norjia and the Mechanic were on their way to the blacksmith. The barwoman had given them directions, which required that the pair climb several more boulevards up the mountain. The streets were steep; shops, homes, and restaurants lined both sides. The wives turned onto a flat avenue, and a few blocks later, they located the forge.

Norjia was surprised by who she saw hammering away on a glowing piece of steel. Two young men, who she guessed were apprenticing, toiled beside a very muscular woman Norjia knew.

“Furthen?! What are you doing here?”

“Norjia!” Furthen called out, laying her hammer down and stepping into the cooler air outside the forge. “What are you doing here?”

Norjia turned to her wife. “Dizriolith, this is Furthen! She and I were members of the Althraxion Order in Tingedale together, and Furthen, this is my wife, Dizriolith.”

“It’s lovely to meet you. Sorry, tell me your name one more time.”

The Mechanic was gawking at Furthen. “Your arms are as big as my legs!”

Furthen and Norjia laughed.

“Furthen’s arms were bigger than most of the knights in the Order.”

Both women flexed their arms, and their biceps bulged.

The Mechanic stroked Norjia’s muscles. “Sorry, my name is pronounced Dizriolith, but most folks just call me Mechanic.”

“So what are you two doing here at the capital?” Furthen asked.

“We’re here…” Norjia began, but she did not have a cover story prepared, and she paused, but her wife picked right up for her.

“We’re here with a pair of jesters from western Armonia,” she stated honestly, “and we’re trying to help them find jobs,” she added, remaining honest without divulging anything about the quartet’s true plans. “We thought Norjia might be able to pick up a little work here at the forge while our companions are about their own business, and I’d be happy to help as well if there’s something I could do.”

Furthen focused on the cane in Norjia’s grip. “I could definitely use another set of hands, but Norjia, what happened? Did you injure your leg?”

“Yeah, caught a dagger in the thigh. It’s healing well though.”

“Glad to hear it.” Furthen’s eyes flashed with realization, and she turned toward one corner of the smithy, and then back to Norjia. “Would it be better if you were seated? I’ve got a jewelry commission that I’ve started, but you know how I am with intricate work. I mean, look at these sausages.” She held out calloused and powerful hands with muscular fingers. “You were always an artist with detailed work, so if you get me through some of it, I’ll pay you ten percent of the commission. I was paid five-thousand for it.”

Norjia was smiling wide. “That’s great!” She turned to her wife. “Why don’t you go back to Pucker’s and let Mercury and Periwinkle know that we’re covered? They can keep doing what they’re doing, but we’re good.”

The Mechanic knew Norjia meant that ten percent of five-thousand was more than enough to pay for the illegal tour into the volcano to see the dragon, and she kissed her wife. “Sounds good, love, and I’ll see if Pucker’s has rooms available for the night.”

As the Mechanic returned to the glee district, she spotted the man called Squirrel heading away from the inn, and she decided to follow him. She kept her distance until he arrived at a small grey building, which he entered. It was little more than a shed, and there were no windows in its walls.

The Mechanic walked around the little structure once. There was only the single door. Sunset was a few hours away, and although she had intended to return to Pucker’s, she headed into a café across the street from the concrete shed. She ordered herself a coffee and waited.

By the time she finished her drink, nothing across the street had happened. Squirrel was still inside the little building, and the Mechanic ordered a second drink.

Then something happened that she was not expecting. Another person walked up to the door, opened it, and entered the shed. The Mechanic continued to drink her coffee, and she watched a third person go to the shed and disappear into it.

“Well, isn’t that something.” The Mechanic turned to the counter to order a third beverage, and she could not stop herself from snickering as she looked back at the shed. A fourth person was about to enter it, but they seemed incredibly nervous, and they were looking around and over their shoulders before going inside.

The Mechanic settled up her tab, and she sat out front with the shed in view. No one else entered as the sun began to set. The café closed, and darkness slowly covered the city, but no other people entered the shed. Squirrel and those who had gone inside did not exit again, and still, the Mechanic waited.

The night grew dark, and finally the Mechanic rose from her seat. She did not approach the little building, and instead she made her way back to the blacksmith.

Norjia was outside in the cool night air with a large mug of ale in her hand. She looked hot and tired, but happy. Furthen the blacksmith was seated beside her.

“Dizriolith!” Norjia called out when she saw her wife approaching. “We wondered what happened to you. We’ve been talking about the Battle of the Felling Fields.”

The Mechanic chuckled. “Reliving fond memories, my love?”

Norjia put her arm around Furthen. “It’s been great catching up.”

Furthen was beaming. “And Norjia accomplished more of my jewelry commission than I ever imagined she’d be able to in a single sitting. I tried to give her more than ten percent, but she won’t take it.”

“A deal’s a deal,” Norjia replied. “Dizriolith, how’d Mercury and Periwinkle do?”

“I haven’t actually seen them again,” the Mechanic replied. “I was up to other things.”

“Ooh, interesting,” her wife replied. “Furthen, it looks like it’s time for me to be on my way. It was marvelous seeing you after all these years, and thanks again for the cash, and that little extra thing you did for me.”

The Mechanic laughed. “Now I’m intrigued. What have you two ladies been up to?”

“A dame never tells,” Furthen replied with a playful giggle. She rose and flexed one more time for the Mechanic, who fawned at the woman’s arms.

Norjia and Furthen embraced, said one more farewell, and the wives headed back toward Pucker’s.

“So tell me everything,” Norjia requested. “What did you do this afternoon, if you didn’t join Mercury and Periwinkle?”

“I think I found the way into the volcano.”