Friends and Enemies (Gwen Farris Book 5) (22 page)

"So, what's the deal here?" She meant with how Bethany was clearly acting like she thought Kat was going to take over full time, at any moment, but the answer that came ignored that portion of things nicely.

"We're to find accommodations, and get to work as soon as possible. This region is known as Teocah. It's basically the Southern tip of the Northern continent, of the Western Kingdom. That's not too confusing is it?" There was a pretty smile to go with the words. It was a bit less worried seeming than what had been going on, so Gwen did it back.

"I see. So
I'm
the wicked witch of the East?" It just popped out, and before she could explain about the story of Oz and Dorothy, Beth clapped twice.

It was shocking, and her face was amazed.

"You read the 'Tale of the Road'? With the Tinman, the Bold Lion and the Strawman? That was one of my favorites as a girl. How Rebecca and her dog, Puddles, followed the gold road to the magical city of Oz. I loved that she'd worn the silver slippers the whole time, and got to go home to her own home in the end, using the power she always held inside herself. It resonates with a lot of people in my family." It was a bit of a speech, and her pal didn't stand there while she spoke, grabbing her bags and walking out with them.

Gwen answered after a bit, flowing along at a walk that was decently quick, considering they were both carrying enough luggage for several weeks.

"The story is different where I come from. Dorothy, not Rebecca. The dog was Toto, and it was the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow, but I think it's probably the same story. I should read your version here. Anyway, I meant the part where you're acting weird. I don't think that Katherine is
really
planning to take over, Beth."

"I don't know what you mean." It was clear that she was not at all pleased with the sudden alteration in topic. It showed in every part of her being. From her stiff posture, which was a trick to pull off while carrying three decent size bags, to her tone, which was suddenly cold.

"Well... You've been acting strange for the entire time we've been on this boat. Seriously, even before that. You threatened to hurt me, if I didn't go with you. I'd thought it was about, you know, rifting, but then you acted like you hadn't realized that was an option yet. How you missed that... The thing is, you wouldn't have missed that, unless you were
really
focused on something else. If it was the idea of being attacked from the outside, then you would have told me, so I could protect myself. There had been assassins, but no one seems all that concerned about that now, for some reason. No, you keep trying to make sure that I'm not at home, which means... That you, and probably the other Westmorlands, think that something is going on with Kate. She
has
been more active lately, so..."

She waited, still walking, as Beth made a face, and turned away to hide it. It was incredibly obvious, and had to be to everyone that saw that kind of thing, but the people there did it all the time. It was like they thought looking away hid things. Like a little kid covering their eyes and assuming it meant you couldn't see them.

There was no talking for a while, even as they got out of The Falcon. The airfield they were in was wide open, but surrounded by a very even, sort of low, tropical forest. It was pretty, and she could hear birds off in the distance. The air was warm, but not blistering. The humidity was really high though. She started to perspire, her blue jumpsuit absorbing a bit of the liquid as they moved.

This world had never invented air conditioning. They had fans, but for some reason they weren't used very often. Thinking about it, she wrinkled her brow, since it was clear that Bethany was done with her attempt to find out why she'd had been acting like a goofball for a week.

So she suddenly changed the topic.

"You know, it should be possible to move streams of air using magic."

Beth turned and gave her a baffled look.

"To what end?"

"Like a fan, only without moving parts. It could be smaller, and more portable that way. I'd invent
cool
blowing air, but I never actually learned how that was done back home, so other than knowing its possible, I don't have a clue. Fans though, that could be done pretty well. Everyone here wears heavy clothing all summer, and it must be brutal."

Almost as if trying to give the lie to her words several half naked children ran past, playing on the edge of the airfield, kicking a ball around. They weren't
little
either, some of the boys being old enough that their bare chests were interesting to her.

Blinking, she realized that several of them were actual men, all with dark tan skin, and black hair.

Bethany smiled at where she was looking but didn't comment on it.

"That sounds like an interesting idea. Probably too expensive for most to bother with, which is why I imagine it hasn't been done yet. Still, the very wealthy would probably enjoy cooler homes. Do you think you can do that? Learn that kind of skill?"

She meant moving air, Gwen realized after a bit. Magical air conditioning was beyond her, and probably almost everyone there. If she got anything like it going, she'd be rich, replacing ice boxes with magical units. Richer. It nearly wasn't a thing she needed to worry about that way, but if she could make anyone else's life better it seemed like the kind of thing a body should consider.

"I don't know? I think so. Moving air isn't that different from moving a box of canned goods. The trick will just be doing it in a steady stream, I think. Anyway, where are we going?"

The answer there was a long, and slow, one.

First they walked to the edge of the airfield, where the office was, and then got the girl working inside the thing, who looked Mexican to Gwen, and not all that pretty, compared to most people, missing half of her teeth on the top, even if she wasn't that old, helped them call up a cart.

Not a lorrie. Not a carriage or even a wagon. A
cart
. Pulled by a living animal.

"My brother, he has a donkey that will do. It's about a three mile walk into the city from here. It will be easier without the bags, no?" She seemed happy enough about the whole thing, her face a bit shiny with oil, and spotty. Covered with makeup, but it was clear that the woman was
on
something. What teeth could be seen were blackened in places. She was also skinny, for this world. No more than Beth or she were, but enough that they looked like they could all share clothing.

The girl who looked to be in her early twenties, had on a brightly colored, and very short, skirt. Her legs were bare under it, which Gwen noticed when she got up. She also had bruises on her legs. Little ones that had scabs in the middle.

Blinking, she worked the idea out. This woman was a drug addict. Whatever else this world had going on here, she'd not heard of that one being a huge problem so far. Probably because polite people didn't bring that kind of thing up with aliens at parties.

Bethany smiled at her, and nodded.

"That will be fine, I'm certain. Do you know of a good hotel in the area? We might be here for some time."

There was a single palm flip then, and a big smile that didn't seem embarrassed about the teeth under it in the slightest measure. Gwen would have been, if it were her mouth. Then she'd come from a world that was more vain that way. She'd always been uneasy about herself that way. Even now she felt it. A thing nearly as powerful to her as the drag of the Elder Gods behind her.

"There are many. I don't stay in the good ones often. The bad ones I know much of, but they aren't for sleeping, if you have another option. Just staying for a few hours. Julio might know more. My brother. Let me get him for you, it won't take long."

They sat on a bench, the still air cloying, and damp. There was nothing to do, except listen to the Telesar, which Maria had on in the background. When the program changed, a familiar voice coming across into the room, the woman turned it up, her face beaming.

"Agatha is on! This is my favorite program. If I ever capture a husband, I'll know how to do the house up right, thanks to her. Do you know her?"

Gwen was a bit taken aback by the question, but nodded.

"Yes. She's a sweet woman. Have you met?" It seemed unlikely, but she didn't know the rules and ways of the rest of the world there. Maybe they had homemaking conventions, or perhaps Agatha Longbranch went on tours. If she did, it was clear that she'd find a fan base waiting for her.

The tan woman shook her head, then grinned again.

"Only from her program. Do you really know her? That would be fun, wouldn't it?" There was no sense of importance to the words. No doubt either. Gwen had a feeling it was the drugs talking. Now that she considered the idea, there were a lot of little signs that said the woman was wasted.

Her pupils were huge in her brown eyes, and she jittered constantly. So it was some kind of upper. Other than that Gwen had no clue what the drug itself would be, and nodded about it to herself. She didn't really
need
to know, did she?

"I actually do know her. Beth here does, too. She's a friend of my... Mother. I've been on her show, twice now. Just as a caller."

The woman seemed happy to hear that and clapped.

"Yes? What did you ask? About how to set a correct table? I always love that one. The fine people put so many different forks and spoons on. I can only just work out that I should use the one delivered with the meal." She grinned, but it was good natured, and not all that self-depreciating. Gwen wouldn't judge her on it anyway, having to use the trick of watching what everyone else did first still, herself.

"Nope. I just asked her to a party once. Well, actually Ethyl, my mother, did that part. I told her about what was planned. About a month ago now. I should ask about everything else, if I can get her pinned down. Really, what I
should
do is beg her to help with my wedding. I have no clue what to do there. Things have gotten busy, and I've been putting the planning off for that. I keep expecting it all to fall through, you know?" She spoke to Beth, but loud enough for Maria to hear. It would be rude otherwise.

The woman might not be the most brilliant glow lamp on the wall, but she was smart enough to follow the clues when given that obviously. Rather than gush at them though, she called her brother, using one of the six or so Telestators in the room. The place had that many in case of emergencies, so that several ships could be reached at one time. It could happen, if a storm was coming in, she'd heard. The big ships had to avoid that, whenever possible.

It took a bit for the line to be put through. The counter girl had waited, since as she told them, Julio would have been having his afternoon nap, and didn't like to be interrupted. He also didn't have a telestator in his home, so his sister called a neighbor, who sent her daughter off to pass the message that he was needed.

When he got there, he really did sound sleepy.

"Hello? This is Julio Mendez."

"Julio? Do you want to make a few decs? There are two women here that want to go into town. If you bring the donkey cart, for their bags, and take them to a good hotel, they might pay you. Come anyway. One of them is Gwen Farris! I should get her to sign something for me, don't you know?"

There was a laugh from the device, which sounded relaxed, and not too annoyed.

"I'll come, you don't have to tell me that someone famous is there, sister. The donkey needs to be exercised anyway. Half an hour? I need to get him hooked up to the cart."

Rather than debate who she was, Maria snorted, but hid a smile behind her hand.

"Fine, but wear a clean shirt, or you'll be embarrassed."

"Clean underpants, too?" Julio laughed, as his sister positively
cackled
.

"Oh, you are
so
going to regret saying that. I
would
though. Otherwise you're just a nasty crumb, aren't you?"

They ended with a pleasant sounding laugh, and Maria turned the Telesar back up, Agatha speaking about how to best polish silver.

"Small circles, using a light base polish. Remember, vinegar is an acid, and best for things like glass and glazed ceramics. Never underestimate the power of a bit of the elbow though!" She sounded chipper and happy, in a polite and proper fashion.

It was funny, but she took a call next, which was rare. Most people didn't have telestators after all. Collections of people tended to share them. It cut down on the daily chatting requirements of cell phones.

Not that Gwen knew that one first hand. She'd never even bothered to own one, since no one called her. They hadn't anyway.

This time, the voice was a bit snooty, and older, sounding. It was Brenda Holmes, who was a person that she'd actually met before, at one of Ethyl's parties. She was famous for them, and it seemed in the moment that was the topic of the moment.

"Agatha dear! So lovely to speak with you this fine afternoon. I seem to have a bit of an issue. I just received an invitation to a... I don't know if
party
is the correct term, given those involved. An event? The issue is that I simply can't see it as a proper thing at all. Ethyl Vernor and her husband, Robert, are at it again. How should I address this in a way that will show my proper disdain for them? I mean, truly! After what they allowed their slut and tribad of a daughter to do to poor Gwen Farris, they should hang their heads, not try to act as if they have a right to polite company." The older woman sounded pissed enough that it carried to Maria, who looked baffled.

It just wasn't that kind of a show, normally.

Agatha spoke pleasantly enough, but it was clearly strained.

"There's
never
a place for being impolite, Brenda. If you don't wish to go, you should send a note, and give an excuse. At the very worst, you could simply ignore her invitation. Doing that however could mean not receiving one next time, which might end up being a social mistake. After all, if Gwen Farris isn't going to hold a grudge, should the rest of us?"