fix: editing previous chapters
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@ -25,11 +25,11 @@ Linsan nodded and smiled. "I always dreamed of coming here when I grew up. This
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"Hasn't your family always been in Cobbler's End?"
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Linsan rolled her eyes and playfully bumped Brook with her hip. "Yes, but my mother has sung here so many times and she would come back with so many amazing stories that sounded... amazing. But just this little bit," she gestured to the courtyard with a dozen cars and two dozen horses that marked the entrance to the city, "is so much different than home. How could I really understand?"
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Linsan rolled her eyes and playfully bumped Brook with her hip. "Yes, but my mother has sung here so many times and she would come back with so many amazing stories that sounded... amazing. But just this little bit," she gestured to the courtyard with a dozen cars and two dozen horses that marked the entrance to the city, "is so much different than what I imagined."
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Brook's eyes softened and she nodded before turning away.
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With guilt plucked like the wind-blown sculptures, Linsan tore her attention away from the beauty and focused on her two friends next to the Glasscoaster. "Okay, I'm done for now."
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With guilt plucked like the wind-blown sculptures, Linsan tore her attention away from the beauty and focused on her two friends next to the Glasscoaster. "Okay, I'm done marveling for now."
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Miska grinned.
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@ -41,7 +41,43 @@ Stone Over Moon Waters was officially built over forty-three islands with bridge
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A smile almost showed up on Brook's face.
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Linsan returned to the buggy and leaned opposite of them. "So, we have time before Palisis. I hope that gives us enough time to catch Tabil. We need a place to stay and start asking questions, right? Brook, do you still want to find an inn to stay at?"
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Linsan returned to the buggy and leaned opposite of them. "So, we have time before Palisis. I hope that gives us enough time to find someone who can help us, catch Tabil, and try to rescue Palisis."
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Miska cleared her throat. "Why don't we just go to this place selling it and tell them the violin was stolen?"
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Brook shook her head. "Won't work."
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"I was hoping that we somehow missed the obvious. When the tax collector or the sheriff came by, they were always useless for what mattered."
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"Why would they?" Brook asked quietly. "They work for rich people who wouldn't care that the violin was stolen. If anything, they would consider that a spice or a bit of excitement as they showed it off to others."
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"Speaking from experience, Princess?"
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Brook glared for a moment. "Daddy never had that much money. We were rich, but not that rich. Lin, how much do you think the violin would sell for?"
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A flicker of sadness raced across Linsan's thoughts. She had been thinking about the violin more often as they approached the city. "At least a million cukdins, probably more. The fire that destroyed our lands has to be known by now, so Palisis would fetch more knowing it will probably be the last virginal violin ever made by a Sterlig."
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Waving her gloved hand dismissively at the city, Brook muttered. "That's the problem. The auction house probably already guessed that it was stolen, but they don't care. They get their cut from the sale. The people buying it have more money to burn and no desire to help others with it."
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Linsan dragged her toe in the ground as she tried not to think about how overwhelming their situation.
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"As I see it," Brook continued. "We can tell the auction house, but we need to look like we belong to just get through the door and bring enough influence to stop the sale or at least make it embarrassing enough they hesitate."
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Linsan perked up.
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Brook grinned for a moment. "Money is willing to ignore us until we get annoying. Make enough noise or scandal and you have a chance of stopping it."
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Miska leaned against Brook. "And if we don't make enough?"
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Brook's smile faded. "Best case? They throw us out and we lose. Worst case? They arrest us and destroy our family's lives."
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An awkward silence stretched out for a long moment.
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Linsan let her mind drift through stories and plays she knew about. They had to do something, anything. "We've come this far, I don't want to give up."
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"We have to try," Brook said and Miska nodded with agreement.
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"Then, focus on what we know. We need a place to stay. Brook, do you still want to find an inn to stay at?"
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Brook ducked her head and shook her head. Her dark curls bounced off the roof of the Glasscoaster. "N-No... I can't."
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@ -67,55 +103,53 @@ Miska smirked.
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Linsan sheepishly said, "Playwrights. There were two---"
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"No. Just tell us the idea."
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"No! Just tell us the idea."
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"Fine. This 'completely random idea in my head' was to dress Miska up as your servant. That would be something these people would do, right? We find a good inn, something that a lady," she pointed to Brook, "would have and then get a room."
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"Fine. This 'completely random idea in my head' was to dress Miska up as your servant. You said we had to look the part and you know how to act rich. So, you are the leading lady. Play the débutante with questionable tastes." Linsan gestured to Miska.
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Miska frowned. "But that will eat up most of our money."
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"I am not questionable!"
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"About a hundred cuks for a day to get a suite if we stick to the outside of the city," Brook said.
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Brook wrapped her arm around Miska's waist and pulled her close. "Sorry, my love. I think here, you are questionable."
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"Fuck you," Miska said without much spite.
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Brook smiled but the mirth didn't reach her eyes.
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Linsan cringed. Her idea felt thin and poorly planned, but it was something. "Maybe stop by and see if you can dress her up to look like your servant. I don't think shorts and a shirt with grease stains will pull it off. Then, a room appropriate for your position instead of the cheapest place that won't rob us like we originally planned."
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Brook sighed. "That will eat up most of our money. A good room here would be about a hundred cuks a day."
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Linsan winced as she watched Brook carefully. "There will be a Ralonix branch here. I can stop by there. My parents said they would leave me some money, it might be a hundred or more, but that would give us more time."
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Her friend rested her head against the Glasscoaster but said nothing.
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Her friend rested her head against Miska's shoulder but said nothing. Her grip tightened on her lover's.
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"We know we only need a few days. I might be able to busk or we can figure out how to get more money while we're here. But having Miska as your servant would also protect her from being attacked for being tribal or banned from entering buildings because she would serving her lady, even if it would be considered uncouth."
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"We know we only need a few days. I might be able to busk or we can figure out how to get more money while we're here. But having Miska as your servant would also protect her from being attacked for being tribal or banned from entering buildings because she would serving her lady. I'm guessing they will disapprove but let you?"
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Miska made a face. Then she took a deep breath and then grinned. "Fine, but after this, I want Princess to be my servant for a week."
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Brook nodded. "Yes, they will disapprove. Sneers, comments, and attitude. I've seen it all. I've... done it all. But Miska would have to be very servile and I would have to make a show of making her do petty things to sell it."
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Brook's head snapped up as she stared at Miska. At the blonde's playful grin, a blush darkened her cheeks. In a matter of seconds, her entire face was red.
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Miska made a face. Then she took a deep breath and then grinned. "Fine, but after this, Princess gets to be my servant for a week."
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Miska turned to Linsan. "Works for me," she announced with a grin.
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Brook's head snapped up as she stared at Miska. At the blonde's playful grin, a blush darkened her cheeks.
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Linsan looked to Brook. "Could you do it?"
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Miska leaned forward. "And you have to do every little thing I tell you to do."
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Brook gulped. "Y-Yeah... but a problem."
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In a matter of seconds, Brook's entire face was red and she squirmed.
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"What?"
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Miska turned to Linsan. "For that, I'll kiss her toes and her ass," she announced with a grin.
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"A lady wouldn't be seen with a servant looking liking her."
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Linsan looked to Brook who continued to squirm. "Could you do it?"
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Miska smile dropped.
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Brook gulped and nodded sharply. "Y-Yeah... it might... I think it will work. We will use up most of our money to do it, but it would get us invited into places none of us could reach alone."
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Then a sly smile came from Brook. "She has to wear a dress if she's going to be my servant."
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A low growl rose from Miska.
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"A pretty one that matches mine."
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Miska's shoulders slumped.
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"Along with a proper hat, gloves, and shoes. That would be the lady-like thing to do."
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"I changed my mind," Miska said with mock annoyance. "This is a terrible idea."
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"It sounds risky." Miska shook her head.
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Linsan grinned. "I'm sorry, just an idea."
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"No, no," Miska said holding up her hands. "It's a good idea. But never tell me which play it game from or who wrote it."
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"No, no," Miska said holding up her free hand. "It's a good idea. But never tell me which play it game from or who wrote it."
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Linsan held up her hand. "Deal."
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"So, dress up Miska, get an inn. You'll go... to the bank and get more money. Try to find out what you can and meet us at the inn?"
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"So, dress me up in a damn dress, get an inn. You'll go... to the bank and get more money. Try to find out what you can and meet us at the inn?"
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"Plan," Linsan said.
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@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ Linsan smiled as the tears burned her eyes. She knew exactly what her mother was
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She sobbed for a moment hoping it wasn't the next line that her mother referred to: "The icy waters on my neck tell me that I will be with you soon enough and I pray you are waiting for me at the crossroads of shadow and hope."
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Linsan sobbed through the rest of the cards to calm down but it quickly became apparent that the little abbreviated messages continued to keep her crying with joy. She shoved them deep into her pocket, along with the six hundred cuckdins her parents had sent her, minus the amount to send a message back.
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Linsan sobbed through the rest of the cards to calm down but it quickly became apparent that the little abbreviated messages continued to keep her crying with joy. She shoved them deep into her pocket, along with the six hundred cukdins her parents had sent her, minus the amount to send a message back.
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She sighed and continued down the stone stairs. At the foot, she saw a flutist playing classical music at the bottom. A wisp of a girl who stood there, nodding to the padding pedestrians who paid her no heed. Around her waist, a bright red badge had "Musician", the date, and a number.
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@ -23,9 +23,11 @@ Brook held out a hand. "Okay, I have an idea."
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Brook glared at her, then snorted with laughter. "No, no play or story. We're going to invade the auction."
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Linsan shook her head. "I could probably get in as a musician...?" She said, her voice trailing off as she thought about the badges. A high profile auction would be a perfect opportunity to look for a patron; there would be competition to play and she doubted anyone would allow a nobody to slip in. She wondered if her mother's pin would have a chance, but she couldn't imagine anyone could remember her mother with so many talents in one place.
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Linsan said, "I could probably get in as a musician...?" She said, her voice trailing off as she thought about the badges. A high profile auction would be a perfect opportunity to look for a patron; there would be competition to play and she doubted anyone would allow a nobody to slip in. She wondered if her mother's pin would have a chance, but she couldn't imagine anyone could remember her mother with so many talents in one place.
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"Right," Brook said. "You're coming in as my lover."
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She shook her head. "No, that won't work."
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"Right," Brook said. "Then, you're coming in as my lover."
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Linsan blinked. "W-What?"
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@ -35,11 +37,11 @@ Brook blushed. "It's just a role, just like you suggested with Miska. I have my
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Miska cleared her throat.
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"---and she's already an odd choice for these closed-minded assholes. I've already heard some of the gossip starting. Not to mention, that cow in the back room obviously thought that Miska and I were intimate."
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"---and she's already an odd choice for these closed-minded assholes. I've already heard some of the gossip starting. Not to mention, that cow in the back room obviously thought that I was sullied by even letting Miska touch me."
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"How?" Miska added. "She just poured you a glass a wine and practically shoved her fingers in my ass to measure my 'inseam' whatever that is."
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"I grew up with this crap. I know the looks, I know that sniff and attitude. But let's use it. I'm traveling alone, there are so many pretty people on every single corner, so it might make sense I would pick up someone that got my interest. Right?"
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"I grew up with this crap. I know the looks, I know that sniff and attitude. But let's use it. I'm traveling alone, there are so many pretty people on every single corner, so it might make sense I would pick up someone that caught my interest. A brief fling of fun before tossing you aside. Right?"
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Linsan cringed at the idea, but then she remembered _Garters Sweet and Soft_, a song about the very thing they were talking about. She smirked and opened her mouth.
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@ -53,13 +55,13 @@ Brook tried to resist but then smirked. "But, it would work, right?"
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Linsan shrugged. "We can try. It's the only thing we can do. What about you? Are you coming with us?"
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"No. I need to take the investigation paperwork to the local guards. It might convince them to help. They aren't required to, we are rather distant from Cobbler's End, but the notary statements are verifiable and we might able to prove that those bastards---"
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"No. I need to take the investigation paperwork to the local guards. It might convince them to help, but I doubt it. They aren't required to do anything as we are rather distant from Cobbler's End, but the notary statements are verifiable and we might able to prove that those bastards---"
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She smacked the picture of the murderers.
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"---are the ones who killed my daddy. Or at least enough to stop the auction and try to find someone with a cool head to listen."
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"---are the ones who killed my daddy. Or at least enough to make a scene while we find others to disrupt the sale."
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It was a thin, fragile plan. But Linsan couldn't think of another. "I'll do it."
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It was a thin, fragile plan even worse than their previous one. But Linsan couldn't think of another. "I'll do it."
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Brook's shoulder slumped. "Um... one other thing."
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@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
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"ba-da",
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"ba-da-da-dum",
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"blonde",
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"cukdins"
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"cukdins",
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"cuks"
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]
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}
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