Jessica pushed apart the membrane window to lean her head outside, hurling all over some Girls festival advertisement pile. She gave an awkward wave as the lizard carriage schmoved on down the road. The fresh air was nice at least, she thought, as she wiped a bit of vomit from her lips with the handkerchief from her pocket. Though, it was a little too nice. Why were they passing Eldenwar park? Wasn’t that like, the other way from where they were going. Now that she thought about it, she didn’t think the lizard had taken the left at the crossroads they had been stuck at, waiting for enough space to make the gigantic turn.



She popped her head back in, met with a soft “Whee!” from Mori as she kicked her legs in enjoyment of the ride.



“h-Hey, does this thing know where he’s going? That was Eldenwar park we just passed by.”



The sour look on Gwens face only intensified, the palm to her face turning to pinch the bridge of her nose. “Millicent, if you wouldn’t mind, please go up there and inform our coach driver of the correct directions to the fair.”



Millicent was glad her master could not see, because the look of pure annoyance on her face did not match the words that left her mouth. “Of course, Milady” She said, before awkwardly shimmying towards the psuedo door. Her hands wedged between the flaps, which folded open with a wet schlorp. Desperately hanging on to the roof, She carefully clambered up to the luggage area, where the much better handholds of suitcases and rope awaited her. She could see the furry little gremlin up front, to which she closed her eyes and shouted “HEY DUMBASS, YOU’RE GOING THE WRONG WAY. IT’S EAST, NOT NORTH ON SOL STREET!”

It was apparently very hard to find a festival if you were not heading towards it at all.

Hylltywyll grumbled at the maid. He didn't like at all being called a dumbass, but he could throw her off of the salamanderosuine. Bringing her was part of the deal, sadly. At least she gave him directions.

He steered Salbus with a mental command and some pats on the side, and his creation followed his command obediently. What a good wiener lizard. Too bad the transformation was only temporary. This thing had to turn back into a carriage after they got to the fairgrounds. Otherwise, he already knew they'd complain even if it wasn't technically a breach of their deal. He said he would bring the carriage. Delivering the carriage while it's transformed into something else still counts. And, it is still a carriage. Just a more lively, fleshy one.

With their course corrected, the sounds of festivity began to grow louder. The streets were no longer packed tight with carriages as they got away from the area Hylltywyll had worked his magics to cause such a gridlock. Instead, the streets began to be more filled with street vendors, performers, food stalls, games, and people walking around enjoying the festival. Many of which scattered in panic at the giant lizard's approach. Some must have even mistaken Salbus for some type of dragon or something as they screamed for guards to come save them.

"Make way! Move it! Lady Gwendolyn Mystwud coming through!" Hylltywyll announced for the crowd as they parted, a devious smile on his face.

Salbus slowed down and then stopped, gently dropping the slobbery and probably slightly traumatized horses from their mouth before closing their eyes and beginning to change back into a normal carriage. Scales flattened back into painted wood and returned to its former hue. The doors and windows changed back to normal, the insides of the carriage losing their fleshiness and regaining their plush seat cushions and hanging curtains. Soon, the Salamanderosuine was just a relatively normal carriageosuine again.

Hylltywyll climbed down from the top of the carriage and into one of the windows.

"We're here." He told the group. Now his part of the deal was fulfilled. He didn't like having his part come second, but sometimes that was just how a deal went. He got what he wanted up front in exchange for his services. He admired the silver arm bands he had gotten as his payment, pleased with the deal.

She did not need eyes to feel the stares coming from all directions as she stepped out of the carriageosuine. Her entire face must have been stark red with the mixture of anger and embarrasment that was going through her mind. A loud thud next to her indicated Millicent had made her way off the top, and the other two maids followed quickly behind.



Turning social situations to her advantage however, was among her specialties. She stamped her foot, and raised both of her arms in the air for dramatic flair, bellowing out a loud “TADAAAA” to the crowd at the entrance of the faireground. A moment of silence passed, most of them too stunned to do anything, before the ever so sweet Mori began to clap joyously.



The chain reaction spread throughout the crowd, slow clapping turning into applause and cheers as the crowd marveled at the spectacle that had unraveled before them. A trademark smug smile crossed her grin as she strode forwards, the maids parting the crowd so she could make the bards performance. She shouted backwards over the commotion “Goodbye, coachmaster. Enjoy the bands!” While you can. Little bastard. She’d wait an appropriate amount of time before simply calling them back to her. After all, they would be her evening gown for the dance tonight.

Hylltywyll didn't like her attitude at all. She was acting way too friendly. She was acting like she came out on top in this whole deal despite gaining nothing except getting to where she wanted to go in the first place and losing something as valuable as these arm bands. He didn't like this one bit.

Whatever. Maybe it was just her trying to keep up an act in front of a crowd. It'd be hard to save face if she came out of her carriage whining about it. They were surrounded by a crowd and everyone knew her name thanks to his announcement. She even tricked the crowd into believing the giant lizard was some kind of planned stunt. It was fine. She could have that. He got his prize, and more. The blind bat never even noticed all the luggage on top of her carriage was missing, safely stored in Hylltywyll's shadow. She didn't even think to include bringing her luggage in the deal. FOr someone with a Fae as her patron, she sure was an amateur in dealing with them.

Well, while he was here, he might as well enjoy the festival himself. Some of those game stalls had some prizes that caught his eye, and the food all smelled delicious. It was a big festival. He could probably visit everything and never even see that annoying snoble lady the whole time.

---

Hylltywyll was furious. At some point in his festival enjoyment, the silver armbands had simply vanished. He knew she was acting too smug! Did she have some ability to summon them back to her? Were they illusions or temporarily conjured up? AGH! He'd get her back for this slight. Didn't she know it was a bad idea to mess with someone who you owed a favor to? Especially someone as spiteful as Hylltywyll?