#anywhere

And so it was, that the shipment of starmetal that was supposed to go to Ratchet 's work ala the County was... redirected, a note saying Apologies- Startmetal reserves relocated to pay for unexpected budget costs due to required restitution for certain knightly misdemeanors. Alabaster Hollow apologizes for this inconvenience

With official Seal

OOOOHHH.... that's going to get the nocker's nose out of joint, and no mistake.

Indeed, could be months until a new supply is available, Starmetal doesn't just fall out the sky you know? Okay actually it does, but it's rare!

Ratchet is on the warpath, but not directly against the nudniks that created the deficit. Unfortunately, apprentices and journeymen take the brunt.

Many of his apprentices scramble like chickens under a hungry hawk's shadow. Some Journeyman knowing motion can attract attention take their verbal hits and redouble efforts. One Nocker journeyman with spikey hair actually grumbles under her breath "Blame the goof off knights not us"

She may end up getting the smeltwork. But can't say she doesn't have a bit of steel in her spine.

"Those 'goof off knights' you call them, they are paying patrons! You should be so LUCKY as to have one order your work! How do you think you pay for -real- projects????"

"You, SMELTING! NOW!!!"

And she goes to the smelts. If she grumbles she does it lower volume

"ANYONE ELSE GOTTA PROBLEM???"

🐔 !

More scrambling, more hard work! heads down, lips sealed!

"Hmmmph." Ratchet glowers and stalks the workbenches.

G_d help that one boggan who starts humming happily

Ever heard a hum shrivel and die in someone's throat?

Well, we have now.

*****************

"Look, like it or not, he's the heir" Oswald tells Rollo

"So?" Rollo says

"So he's in charge. We have to report the kid in the dungeon to him and have him decide what to do next"

"You know how I'm a boggan ? and how sometimes" Rollo says "I resent folks making it sound like I can't thane because of that?"

"I have always known you can thane" Oswald reminds a bit nervous. Rollo has broken knee caps for comments otherwise

"Well, I also boggan.. and I got a feel for how the baroness feels about Hume " Rollo says "It ain't good"

"How bad IS it?" Oswald says

"If she had a tube of acne cream, she'd shower him with it in hopes it made him pop and vanish" Rollo explains

Oswald winces then says "He's still regent."

"Oh sure sure.. but if anyone asks, I'm blaming you for that call" Rollo snorts and they go to inform the Regent and Steward and..well

"Gee.. thanks"...

...................

Nelson sighs in his cell...then a thought as he finishes his cookies "MAy I have some butter?"

The guard on duty "Butter?"

"To rub on my cookies" He explains

"That's weird" The guard replies

"It's an eiluned custom" The boy says

"You gonna use it for a bunk?" WARY eye

"Nope. " The boy crosses his heart.

Ten minutes later... while the guard is at the front of the dungeon... a young boy has stripped and is rubbing butter on nhimself... and trying to slip through the bars

ten more minutes later "Little help here?"

"Oh jeeezus kerist" The guard groans "Ludmilla!"

........................

Hume gulps "I'm.. supposed to sit on THAT?" As if the throne will kill him.

"Afraid so" Delores says "MiLord"

"Great ah, what's on the docket?" Hume settles in

"Well, we had a couple of commoners with complaints, but we can post pone..." She starts to say

"Oh yes thank you please very much" He looks relieved

"But there is the matter of the... abductor of the Baroness and Baron" She says

"He took out BOTH Of them in their old hold? Guy sounds like a brute" Hume wipes his brow nervously