Kurt woke up in his house on top of the pillar, he still wasn't completely used to such large accommodations, but he was sure he would get used to it eventually. He woke up early because they were supposed to meet Carl and start the trip to the next town today. He made his way to the mess hall, as Kurt generally ate there.
That morning he had finally run into Susan, and was a little worried about what the goblins had done to the mess hall after their victory.
"So are you mad?" said Kurt.
"About what?" said Susan.
"About what everyone did to the mess hall."
"Ohh that, no. Kurt, is that why you've been avoiding me?" Kurt rubbed the back of his head, speaking swiftly, "Kurt, if I didn't expect a horde of goblins to go a little crazy after a big victory, I'd be a little stupid wouldn't I?" then slowed down, "And it's not like any of this is actually mine, it seems more collective, I prepare the food, I don't ask how they get it. Yeah, it was annoying to clean up after, but Kurt, what do you think would have happened to me and the baby, if you all didn't do what you did?"
"Umm."
"'Ummm' is right Kurt" Susan said looking at Kurt nodding with intense eyes, "It wouldn't have been good." then shaking her head. " It is not like riding around on a carriage with a baby is any safer, more dangerous in a lot of ways."
"I never…."
"Don't worry about it, you don't have to shoulder this, you're still a young lad too. One that also gets to let loose every once in a while too." She gave Kurt a look, and then continued, "In my mind all of the goblins, and you and Sara, are all sort of my heroes here, so what if they go a bit overboard in a celebration of saving me and my baby? I wasn't going to go fight those things. So they deserve it. I saw the hospital floor too. Do you think we weren't feeding them? If I was going to get mad at anyone in charge here, it would have been Layla anyway."
"Layla?"
"The boss, princess, remember, everyone listens to her. Cute little Faye girl about yah high" holding up her hand at about Layla's height.
"Yeah, remember who Layla is."
"Well, then get some breakfast, Jerry will be taking the first run this time, if we can switch off somewhere we will. But that's on you guys to do, because I'll be here. I swear I was never mad at you." said Susan.
"Well after the trip, we can go see Carla, I did promise to introduce you two, I think the brood is done, more goblins are appearing everyday."
"Yeah I noticed that. They must grow fast because the new ones seem basically full grown, like an older teenager or something."
"Yeah, I think that's why she has to stay or something, I don't ask about stuff like that though."
"I wouldn't either."
Kurt had managed to have a decent breakfast, scrabbled eggs and what appeared to be some sort of sausage, of an animal he wasn't sure of. And made small talk with a few of the goblins around, mostly about what they did during the battle. But a couple stray topics as well, like the best view in the pillar, then of the battle again. It was determined High Shaman Simon from the Rider Hawk had the best view fairly quickly, once it was mentioned.
He headed to the gate, which had moved to a still being built warehouse compound outside the Pillar more than usual. There was a completed warehouse but several others were mid construction. Layla, Carl and Jerry were waiting by the carriage, seemingly for him.
"Good you're here," said Layla "you're not late don't give me that look, we all mostly just got here." There were nods in agreement.
"So where are we heading again?"
"Charleston," said Carl. Kurt was unfamiliar with the town, only hearing the name in passing.
"Sounds nice."
Carl then introduced Kurt to the eight people at this location that would be allowed in, they were mostly going to just work, moving stuff in and out of the warehouse here and the warehouse there. It still needed some carts and horses, but instead of miles a few meters made moving a lot of material happen much quicker. They had all sworn under the spell to never be able to speak of the gate to anyone outside, at sometime unknown to Kurt. Kurt reminded himself that no matter what they did, there were a bunch of goblins here, and they weren't exactly citizens…was it citizens? Most of them seemed like just your normal hardworking people, people needed jobs and keeping a secret for high pay isn't a bad deal. All seemed to have experience in the type of warehouse work.
They had actually been doing that for the last few days, the warehouse was full, and there was stuff waiting for the completed building with tarps on them.
Once they had gotten out of the gate, then out of the Hazelton, they were met by another carriage, this was Carl's carriage though he said he wanted to talk with them a little so his carriage remained only with his assistant. This was important, as the hired guards as of right now had no idea who or what they were guarding beyond Carl, and his party. The less people that knew about this the better, the only reason the eight people were told was simply because they were going to need to set up a move to the other side, and take products in from the other side. It was simply not feasible or desirable for Kurt and Sara to do it. And they were going to know more about what to give and what to take per location. And even if Kurt and Sara, it would be logistically impossible for the locations to have no one know before and after they did it. Eight people seemed about the right number for the job for all Kurt knew, which was almost zero.
During the carriage ride Carl had bought up a particular point.
"So I was going to say that Kurt, and a little less you Layla, and I mean no disrespect by this."
"Go on," said Kurt.
"I think we should think about updating our wardrobe." said Carl, giving a teethy smile.
"Ohh yes, I love new clothes, and Kurt…you definitely need something more…."said Layla
Was this why Carl wanted to stay on the carriage, Kurt thought, to make fun of his clothes? List wasn't exactly the best dressed he could admit, and honestly most of his clothes did have holes on them, a few were blood stained. And honestly, when Kurt thought about he could use some more, but he probably wasn't thinking of the kind Carl was.
"…yes my lady, I hope you allow me to call you that as your majesty will get a lot of looks,"
Laya nodded back to Carl, "while you do have an esteemed look, I think you'll find there are going to be a lot of fashion options for you. And for Kurt, I think we need a more dignified look, you are for all intents and purposes no longer a commoner."
"Intents and purposes?"
"Well, I could pull a string or two and make it official, eventually, but yes. We are moving a lot of products, without a dignified look, it will always seem a bit criminal from the outside, I'm afraid. Upstanding businessmen do things in the open you see, and so how we present ourselves says a lot about ourselves, and our business, so the jewelry is not simply for show in my case, but provenance," said Carl, shaking his arm that had a few expensive looking bracelets on it.. As Kurt saw him in an overly decadent look, rings, chains, a suit fitted with a series of buttons, he would stand out in some places and not others, with a small cape of a cloak. "While it is my family's company, and I'm head of it, there are certainly people we depend on running various locations, I don't want them to think about anything either, and being seen with us…"
"Well I like the cloak, but I prefer it to be bigger and warmer."
"Hmm," said Carl, "I think I can work with that, you don't need to be as finely dressed as me, I do try to be a bit flashy, but a good cloak, a few cleaner and nicer shirts, and pants…" looking down at Kurt, "and boots. You'll be much more presentable. and you could use a shave."
"And Layla?" Kurt said, trying to avoid the spotlight.
"Well, the princess is fairly well dressed, but not quite royally dressed if I could dare say and," turning towards Layla, "and I wouldn't dream of not taking you on an excursion like this without you, your majesty, I don't know much about faye, but I do know women love to shop, and wearing nice things." said Carl.
"I'm looking forward to it," said Layla, "and to be clear faye have no genders, I could appear more masculine, I merely choose not to. I do feel I am a female though, in your construct of gender."
"I meant no disrespect," said Carl, putting an opened hand on his chest, eyes widened.
"None taken,"
"Well, then it's settled, I'll show you all the fine places for women, or men if you want too," looking at Layla, then turning towards Kurt, "and take Kurt to a good tailor for measurements, and ensure he can finish by our departure. It will help our arrangement as well when I introduce you to the various locations. I think making a good first impression will help things go smoothly, always does."
"Well, listen, if you are going to do all that, then Sara and Susan are involved because I do not want to hear anything from them about…" said Kurt.
Carl interrupted, "I understand, my young lord, having too many women in your life does have its downsides, they of course can come."
Kurt gave Carl a mean look, he wasn't with any of these people, even if he wanted to be with Layla that wasn't really possible, and Sara was clear and he also felt the same way seeing her as an older sister. And Susan may actually be older than his mother, though he knew enough not to ask. It's not that Kurt didn't like women, he did, it was that none of these women were his type or species or age or something. Kurt felt like somehow, he was making excuses for himself.
"Umm, so I think we should stop soon. I have some paperwork in my carriage I was hoping to get done on the way," said Carl, knocking the wall near Jerry the driver, "I'm sure my assistant is waiting for me."