“Say, do you know where the Gnomes keep their extra inventory?”
Dummy gave a noncommittal shrug. He accompanied it with an overall glance around the room.
“I’m only asking because as wands sell out, we’ll need to replace them with new inventory. If there’s nothing on the shelves, no one’s going to come in and shop, you know. It’s a legitimate question, after all.”
Dummy considered that for a moment. It was a legitimate question. He nodded at the man.
“Grimbledung said they had a good stock of wands back here.” Liverioso stood. “And it would be good to do an inventory so we know if we’re short of any particular type of wand.”
Dummy pointed at a large chest in the far corner of the workroom.
“Over there, huh?” Liverioso moved to the chest. “Well, it’s big enough so hopefully we’ve got plenty of...” His voice trailed off as he opened the lid. There were three wands there. “Three wands?” He leaned into the box. “Three wands is all...” Liverioso’s voice trailed off again as he recognized the lining in the box- it was the lining of his Official Magician’s Guild Cloak ®. “What the?” He turned to look at the dummy.
Dummy raised his mitts plaintively.
“So, they’re lining their box with my... our cloaks?”
Dummy craned his neck up and tried to peer into the box. He gave a shrug when he couldn’t.
“And you’re telling me you had no idea?”
Dummy made an ‘x’ over where his heart would be. He hoped the stupid Human would believe him; if he knew that it was Dummy’s idea, things might not go so well for him.
Liverioso slammed the lid of the box. “Most annoying, those Gnomes.”
Dummy nodded vigorously. Because they were.
“Well, I’m going to tell Semfeld the bad news.”
Dummy pretended to hang a cloak on his shoulders.
“No, not that.” He considered that for a moment. “I’ll save that for another day, I think. I mean I need to tell him that the only inventory we have is what is out on the shelves.” He shook his head. “This will definitely be an issue.”
Dummy gave a shrug. He hoped that the Human wouldn’t lift the false bottom of the chest to reveal the Bag of Holding that was chock full of wands - over a hundred, in fact. That was another one of Dummy’s ideas. To his relief, Liverioso stormed out of out the backroom.
Dummy crossed his arms. At least they were talking to him and he had shown his worth. The cheeks of his face moved up as the closest thing to a smile crept across his face. He became certain he wouldn’t be tossed away by the Humans. Unless they found out all his lies. And if Door kept its latch shut.
Chapter 5
Regime Change?
Nulu exited the Duck Inn and Dine and tilted her face toward the sunlight. It was a bright, sunny day. Large white clouds floated along on high breezes. She had meant to send a message to the Gargoyles after Wil had told her about the Lost Picman’s Mine, but things had been so quiet with Grimbledung not coming in every day, it had slipped her mind. It was now almost three whole days. “That crazy Gnome,” she remarked as she started toward Julie’s school of magic. “I hope they figure it out soon.”
As she got closer to the school, she noticed that there seemed to be more and more people moving in the same direction as she. Finally, when she was within three blocks of the massive windmill, she was almost shoulder to shoulder with those around her. She looked down at a Human female. “What’s going on? Did I just join a parade or something?”
The female looked up at Nulu with a determined look on her face. “I’m going to the rally. It’s time for some changes around here.”
Nulu looked at the crowd as it moved along. Many had the same look of determination on their faces- they weren’t angry, just intent on getting someplace. Nulu got worried. “You don’t have a pitchfork with you, do you?”
The female shook her head. “What would I have one of those for?”
“Well, usually when determined crowds start moving towards a large windmill or castle, they’ve got pitchforks and torches.” She smiled, hoping to lessen the tension.
“You trying to make a joke? This is serious business you know.”
“No, actually I don’t know. What are you talking about, exactly?” Nulu frowned, as the owner of one of the largest taverns in the town, she usually heard the town’s scuttlebutt. Sometimes even as it was being made up. She had heard nothing of a rally. A thought occurred to her. “You know, they caught the thief that was causing problems at the school, right?”
The woman shrugged. “Now I don’t know what you’re talking about. Who cares about a thief in the school?”
“Then what’s the issue?”
The woman skidded to a halt in a huff. Nulu stumbled, then stopped as well. “The issue is that we are living in a dictatorship!”
“A what?”
“It’s where a person puts themselves in charge and then stays in power…”
Nulu raised her well-manicured hand. Her nails were bright blue this week. “Listen, I know what a dictatorship is. I just don’t think that’s what we’re living in.” Nulu thought back to when she was a child. It seemed to be on a regular basis that the King’s knights would come into the tavern where she worked, drinking and eating for free. And, if anyone questioned them, they arrested them on the spot. The fact that the King seemed to be adept at knighting bullies rubbed a young Nulu the wrong way. “Have you ever actually lived in a…”
“Did you vote for Julie?”
Nulu nodded. “Yes, I did. In fact, pretty much everyone in the town meeting did. Which by definition makes this not a…”
“Well, she said she would have elections as soon as the war was over,” the woman said, interrupting Nulu yet again. She spread her hands out wide. “And the war has been over for a full two months.” She held up two fingers. “Two! And have you heard anything about an election?”
Nulu considered that. She had, in fact, not heard any mention of any upcoming elections, or possible candidates and she saw Julie almost every day. “No, I can’t say that I have,” she admitted.
“Dictatorship!” The woman said triumphantly as she pumped her fist in the air. She began walking again. “That’s what we’re living in!”
“But…” Nulu quick-stepped to catch up with the woman. “I know Julie and she would never…”
“So you’re part of the power hungry elite!” The woman shook a fist at Nulu. “Are you going to put on the crown next?”
“Well, technically, in a monarchy, kings and queens wear crowns; dictators tend to wear lots of medals and sashes.” Nulu smiled.
“I don’t think you’re funny at all!”
Nulu stopped walking. “Well that hurts. I’m going to find another angry villager to talk to. One that appreciates my humor!” When no one walking around her made eye contact, she continued toward the school on her own. As she rounded the corner, she could hear a loud voice shouting.
“And when do we want it?” The voice shouted.
‘Now’ responded a great number of voices.
A haphazard stage had been set up a half a block from the windmill. It was close enough that the blades’ whooshing could be heard, but not close enough to actually be infringing on school property. A tall pale Human was standing on a box to give him extra height above and beyond the platform. His long black cloak billowed in the breeze. He looked around at the crowd, then held a conch shell up and waved it around.
“What in the lands?” Nulu picked up her pace to reach the stage quickly.
The man brought the conch shell down and held it in front of his face. “We demand change!” He boomed- apparently the shell was able to amplify his voice.
The crowd cheered around Nulu. She looked around. All the citizens seemed to have a determined - yet somehow slightly blank- expression on their face. Many waved their fists in the air.
“When do we demand it?” Boomed the man.
‘NOW!’ the
people around Nulu shouted. Every time the man spoke, the crowd seemed to get more agitated.
“Who is this guy?” Nulu asked the man next to her. He ignored her, eyes trained on the black-cloaked figure.
“When you find yourself wondering who it is that is in charge of your life, then it is time to take control of your OWN destiny!” The man bellowed. “That is what I can help you do!”
Nulu felt a wave of vertigo hit her as the crowd closed in on her.
“I can help you achieve the freedom you deserve!” He bellowed again through the conch shell.
The crowd cheered again. For some reason, Nulu felt the urge to raise her hands over her head. Catching herself, she pushed her way through the crowd and around to the back of the platform. The feeling she had a moment ago dissipated as soon as she was out of line of sight of the man on the platform. “Weird,” she said to no one in particular as she made it to the stone walk that signified the school grounds. The walkway used to run almost a half-mile to the main road. Since Julesville grew around the school, the established boundaries of the school were pushed in farther until a mere fifty yards separated the school from the encroaching town. Julie had hastily added a small wall to ensure that no further encroachment occurred.
As Nulu got to the door, Castor turned to her. “What a loon that guy is.”
“But he gets people to listen to him,” offered Pollux. “Dangerous combination in my experience.”
Nulu nodded. “You know, you’re right?” She turned to look back at the platform. There seemed to be more people around it. And more cheering. “He is oddly mesmerizing.” She thought back to what he had said. “And he’s not a good speaker, really.”
Castor shrugged his massive shoulders. “Prolly has someone else putting words in his mouth.”
Nulu exhaled loudly. “Well, now that I’m here, I was going to talk to you two, but now I think I need to talk to Julie first.”
“What ya’ need to talk to us about?”
Pollux nodded at his brother. “Yeah, maybe we can make it quick for ya’.”
“Did either of you talk to Grimbledung about the Lost Picman’s Mine?”
Both gargoyles nodded. “Yeah, we did,” said Castor. “Asked us about it, he did.”
“Said some Orc brought him a wand from there,” finished Pollux. “He wanted to know if there were more wands there.”
“But, it’s not really a mine though, right?” Nulu looked up at the windmill. She now wanted to talk to Julie and the conversation with the gargoyles didn’t seem to be going as quickly as she would have liked.
“Yes and no,” continued Castor. “We told him that it used to be lost and it was a mine. Back when we went there, it had only just been rediscovered.”
“Now it’s some place you take yer kids to on a holiday.”
“So it’s not really full of treasure?” Nulu asked.
“Well, they got a nice gift shop I hear.”
“Right, Pollux. And every so often someone’ll find a chip of gold on the floor.”
“But what about wands?”
Both gargoyles shrugged. “You know anything ‘bout wands, Castor?”
Castor shook his head. “Nope.”
“Well, that’s just…” Began Nulu.
“ ‘Cepting of course, the rumor of the stash of wands that’s still not yet been discovered,” continued Castor, “in some secret passageway that no one can find.”
“What?” Nulu did a double-take.
“You can buy the book at the gift shop. It’s all ‘bout the mine,” said Pollux. “And it’s got a page on some lost stash of wands that’s never been found.”
“Prolly because they aren’t there,” said Castor.
“If it weren’t there, why’d they put it in the book?” Countered Pollux.
“Listen…” Began Nulu.
“ ‘Cause they want folk to buy the book so they try and make it all interestin’, ‘course.” Said Castor as he squinted at his brother. “It’s called marketing.”
“But who’s going to believe it?”
“Grimbledung,” interjected Nulu. “Grimbledung would. And he’s taken Drimblerod along with him. They put those two magicians in charge of the shop and have wandered off to search for the Lost Picman’s Mine.” Nulu shook her finger at one gargoyle, then the other. “Because of you two.”
“Well, if he asks for directions, he’s not gonna have any trouble finding it,” said Pollux.
“That is true. Popular place.” Agreed Castor. “It’s on a main road even.”
“Got a place to park your wagon.”
Castor nodded. “And a gift shop.”
“Ya said that already.”
Nulu shook her head. “You two. I’ll try and fix that problem later.” She looked over her shoulder as the crowd cheered again. “But I need to resolve this one first. Excuse me, gents,” she finished with a small curtsy.
“Sure, sure. Talk to you later, Nulu,” said Castor.
Both doors of the school opened.
“Step right in,” offered Pollux.
Nulu gave a wave and walked quickly to Julie’s office. When she got there, she knocked loudly. When she did not receive an answer, she opened the door slowly. She peeked in around the door. “Julie?”
“Julie’s not in there,” said a voice behind Nulu.
Nulu startled and pulled the door shut as she spun. “Pinky! You startled me.”
“You seem on edge.” Pinky smiled at her. He leaned a fishing pole against the wall and put down a pail. “Anything I can help with?”
Nulu rubbed her brow. “Well, Grimbledung and Drimblerod are off on a wild goose chase, and Julie…”
“Hold on,” interrupted Pinky. “Are they really chasing wild geese, or is it something else?
Nulu opened her mouth, then closed it. Considering Grimbledung, it was actually a valid question. “They’re searching for the Lost Picman’s Mine to find a stash of wands.”
“Never heard of it,” admitted Pinky.
“Well, it doesn’t exist. Apparently, the mine is now a tourist stop.”
Pinky chuckled. “Sorry. It’s just kind of funny.”[4]
Nulu shrugged. “I suppose it’s a little funny.” She gestured toward the main entrance. “But the guy on the platform isn’t though.”
“I told Julie I’d use him in my next foundation if she wanted.”
“Well, that’s helpful.”
Pinky put his hands on his hips, his arms bulging as he did so. “My first offer was to knock his head right off.”
“More gruesome, but still helpful,” offered Nulu. “So where is Julie?”
Pinky pointed upward. “She’s up top listening to that guy rant. I told her not to.”
Nulu stepped close to Pinky. “But…” She lowered her voice conspiratorially. “Why hasn’t she held elections?”
Pinky closed the distance between them even more. “That’s not her job, of course,” he whispered back with a smirk.
“But… what?”
Pinky put his hand on Nulu’s shoulder. “I tried to explain this to the crowd out there but they wouldn’t listen to me. An elected official doesn’t set up their own election. There’s an election committee that does that so that it remains fair. If Julie wants to run for reelection, she’ll have to let the committee know of her intention to run and if she gets enough verifiable townsfolk signatures on a petition endorsing her, she gets on the ballot.” He pursed his lips. “I think it’s a hundred signatures. Then when the election date is set, she will be allowed to campaign for a certain amount of time leading up to that date.” He shrugged. “It’s all decided by the election committee.”
“So who runs the election committee?”
Pinky smirked. “The city council is supposed to appoint citizens in good standing to do it. The mayor…” He gave a wink. “Or mayoress, has no play in it whatsoever.”
“So why haven’t they done that?” Nulu heard another cheer from outside.
&nb
sp; “The city council sits around and argues all day about zoning issues and granting waivers or variances. They hardly seem to accomplish anything, much less appoint folks to a reelection committee.”
Nulu took Pinky by the shoulders. “That’s… that’s… “ She shook him back and forth. “Why don’t we fire the city council if they won’t do their job?”
“Because, dear Nulu, the city council is elected.” Pinky put both his hands on Nulu’s shoulders and shook her back. “That’s one of the elections an election committee would set up. We’re due for a round of city council elections as well.”
“That’s preposterous!” Nulu frowned. “And yet, those people out there are mad at Julie.”
Pinky flashed his white teeth. “Well, sure! Everything gets blamed on the mayor or mayoress. Even the weather when it’s bad.”
“That’s nuts.”
“That’s politics. I told her to not run again…Saaaay, you want to be mayoress? I hear it’s a great job!”
Nulu knocked Pinky’s hands off her shoulders. “And have the next angry rally in front of my place?” She poked him. “Don’t ever suggest that again.” She poked him again. “To anyone!”
Pinky laughed. “Fine, fine. Go talk to Julie. Maybe you can cheer her up.” He frowned. “And get her to come down and stop listening to that loon.”
“Who is he anyway?”
“Some guy named Magnus Opus von Magnus or something. He came to town a month ago and opened a tailor shop. Within half a week, he was already sending angry letters addressed to the self-appointed dictator, Julie.”
“I’ll go talk to her.” Nulu smiled at the man.
“Thanks.” Pinky picked up his fishing pole.
“Going fishing, huh?”
“Garibaldis invited me.” He shrugged. “I figure I can cook up a nice fish dinner and take her mind off her worries.”[5]
“Can’t she just quit?”
Pinky leveled his eyes at the Trolless. “Big Julie? Quit?” He poked at her with the fishing pole. “Don’t ever suggest that again.”
Nulu laughed. “Fine, fine. You go catch some dinner and I’ll talk her down.”
“Deal” Pinky saluted her with his fishing pole. “If I catch any extra, I’ll run them by the Duck for your personal stores.”
Grimbledung and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Mine (Tales From a Second-Hand Wand Shop Book 5) Page 3