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Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown Ch 9.3, Accountability

Theo looked sorrowfully down at the nearly-empty vial that he had repurposed from its original job as a specimen container into a tooth pick case. It had once been stuffed full of tooth picks but he found himself down to a measly three. There were times during his tenure at the University when he was under such stress that he'd have to fill the vial once a week but it had been nearly a month since the Ermine last had a chance to restock his supply; it was a worrying, especially with the stress level increasing.

Taking a deep breath the scholar pulled out one of the remaining sticks and stuck it into his muzzle, carefully maneuvering into the gap between his right maxillary incisor and the premolar framing the-- he froze in his self narration when he'd realized that he had inadvertently regressed into his teaching voice inside his own head. He hadn't done that in a LONG time and it was just more proof of just how out-of-sorts he was. Then again he had some perfectly valid reasons for being less than what he'd consider optimal.

It had been far too long since he'd been comfortably situated in his quarters at the UPU. When he had been discharged for 'about a month' Theo was distraught but then again that time had stretched out impossibly long into "maybe forever"... especially if what the Princess had said about the Mechanists was true. Then again, Theo had no reason NOT to believe her-- other than every sane bone in his body screaming out that there was no way such a 'takeover' could occur at the University of Progressive Thought. On the other paw, no part of him thought that he would ever find himself ejected from his cozy little tenure-guaranteed apartment on campus.

The Ermine sighed, staring out the window as he focused to ignore the friendly banter being shared between Sanmer, Roaring-Flood, and Enarork. The Bears it seemed were spending almost as much time speaking in the common tongue as they were communicating in their own language. Theo had gone to great lengths to pick up as much of the tribal vocabulary as he could and it was interesting to compare his successes with Sanmer's much less skilled attempts. It only made sense that a scholar would be better with linguistics but he did admire the Fox's tenacity to figure things out.

Thinking back to the normal life he used to lead, Theo mumbled to himself. "I'd probably be readying class notes for one of my lectures back home."

There was a slight break in conversation just long enough for his reflective words to be heard. The resulting silence was awkward to say the least but it was Sanmer who defused it. "Well then, you're welcome."

Theo's ears raised as he looked at the white furred Fox. "I'm... Welcome?"

Sanmer nodded with certainty. "Exactly, Professor. You're welcome for being saved from a fate worse than death."

The Ermine smirked, almost chuckling despite himself, but with everything on his mind a curmudgeonly response won over. "I LIKE lecturing."

Even though Kesst was the second quietest member of the group (losing out only to Theo himself), the Dragon surprised the scholar with a simple yet meaningful retort. "Don't worry, Professor Vinson; I'm sure the Princess will get you back to the University."

With tha, the conversation in the carriage continued on without him-- without either of them. Kesst went back to looking out of the right window while Theo's gaze was once again absorbed by the scenery passing by the left one. The Dragon had made a very valid point; once everything was done the Princess had all but guaranteed his return to the University... not just to his previous position but to one of an elevated status.

The scholar pulled out his travel brush from one of his pouches and began to focus on the unacceptable waviness to his tail fur; brushing helped calm him and he realized he could use both the calming effect and the lack of disheveled sat-on-for-ten-hour tail fur. Despite all the negative side effects of his position being in limbo there had been a number of good "never expected" moments in his life and his sister and nephew were almost as unlikely as actually being part of Princess Noriene's retinue. Still, he couldn't help but question whether he would indeed go back at all when the adventure came to an end.

If he did, what would he find? Would his research still be intact? Would someone else have focused on his research into Dragons in his absence? Gregory, perhaps? It all seemed to make sense that others would be all over his notes and with him out of the way any number of scholars would have ample time to 'appropriate' his groundwork into the history of dragonkind's slow but steady loss of fiery breath and usable wings. If what the Princess had said about the 'Mechanist' people seeking to control both the Church and the University then seemed just as likely that they could have destroyed his research and buried it. He honestly wasn't sure which idea he hated more.

Yet a small piece of him couldn't help but wonder if perhaps there was something more to being done with the strange adventure to Graddin; he had left his sister and nephew behind. Whether they mattered or not was out of the question-- of COURSE they did! Thinking more and more on that fact, Theo wondered if things would ever truly be how they'd been before all the craziness began; would he be able to immerse himself into his studies or would his newly restored family provide a different outlet for his energy. Reinvesting himself into his research or spending time with his family... he honestly wasn't sure which idea he LIKED more.

No, he realized... that was a lie; his family was worth FAR more than that. He had honestly never thought he would find his sister alive. He never thought he'd have a nephew. Theo had spent so much time being alone after fleeing his father's home that he'd all but given up on having any degree of happiness outside of his research or the classroom... yet suddenly there it was. There THEY were. And they were just another one of many things he'd never expected to be possible.

The Ermine was starting to get misty-eyed for what was probably the twenty-something-ith time during the journey but his jumbled brain came to a screeching halt the moment he heard Princess Noriene announce from the front of the carriage "Castle Graddin is just up ahead. We're almost there."

The declaration surprised him enough that his toothpick broke. Sighing, Theo pulled the broken stick out of his muzzle and dumped it out the window. In the meantime, everyone else was alive with the movement they'd been denied during the journey. There was a flurry of activity within the back portion of the carriage compartment as Sanmer tried to direct the Bear brothers into helping him organize the separate collection of personal belongings.

While everyone by that point should have been an expert traveler, despite not having had more than a few dozen hours in the carriage it was as though their capacity to stow and pack their meager collection of items had gone right out the window; he almost chuckled to himself watching the debacle. It took far more time than Theo thought it should have for them to organize their gear and settle back down on their respective benches (or, in Sanmer's case he sat down very ungentlemanly right on Roaring-Flood's lap).

The sound of the carriage wheel's travel over the cobblestone highway changed immediately upon passing through the large gate house; in a transformation that seemed almost magical the ride suddenly turned into a smooth one when they found themselves rolling across Graddin's flat black streets. He heard the Princess take a big, deep breath from up front before opening up the wooden slat that separated their portion of the carriage from hers. "We're here, gentlemen... we should be stopping just a few streets up."

While Theo had initially wondered how the people at the castle would respond to the Princess' return he was quick to realize that he would have to continue wondering without an answer; she had elected to stop at a fine-looking hotel instead. The building appeared to be nearly the size of the university and had grandiose architecture that called attention to it; something that made sense considering it catered to travelers-- the easier it was to see the better opportunity it had to attract patrons.

Princess Noriene was assisted off of the carriage by a door man and the scholar heard the Princess explain to him "The Bears with me will see to the luggage. Have one of your men come around to put the carriage up once everyone disembarks."

The fact that the man was very timely and responded with a very distinct "Yes, your Highness" gave Theo no doubt that everyone in town would soon know of the Princess' return. Whether that was a good thing or not was something for which the Ermine had no answer. He didn't have much time to dwell on that thought when Sanmer slipped by him and headed off down the street.

The Scholar had just enough time to open his muzzle in objection before Enarork spoke up. "He is scouting."

Letting out a deep breath Theo had to remind himself that the Fox was (thank God) not his responsibility. Instead he turned around toward the hotel, suddenly realizing just how tired he was. Taking one step toward the stairs leading up to the door, the Ermine didn't end up getting to his destination without yet another unexpected twist.

A voice from his distant past was nevertheless familiar. "Runt?!?"

It was just as much the voice as the nickname. Only one person Theo knew had ever called him that. Turning around to face the approaching gray-muzzled Tiger, the Ermine could only respond in a mixture of surprise and exasperation. "Bryce?"

The large teamster had definitely grown older but considering the physicality of his work it seemed time had been at least somewhat kind to him. Theo hadn't spent more than a few months with the Tiger and their mutual boss, a Wolf who only ever accepted being called "Boss"-- but it had obviously been enough to make an impression. So had his reason for leaving, apparently.

The Tiger scooped Theo up as if he were still a youth and ground his paw into the scholar's head fur. "So... back in Graddin, huh? Ever manage to get into that University you were talking about?"

Once the Ermine managed to squirm out of the Tiger's grasp he took a moment to compose his clothing and try (in vain) to settle the fur on his head. He needed to find his center and that meant he couldn't help but grab a tooth pick from his near-empty vial. He stuck the newest stick into his muzzle. "Yes. I did. I'm a scholar there now."

The Tiger let out a loud laugh, slapping the side of the carriage to accentuate his mirth. "Did you? Are you? Well... sounds like you came a long way then, eh, Runt? I guess you're just visiting Graddin because you wanted to get some air? I thought UPU scholars never even left the University grounds. What're you doin' all the way in--"

Kesst stepped forward, interposing himself into the conversation with presence alone. Bryce's words came to a halt and the Dragon took the time to clearly enunciate. "Professor Vinson... the Princess was hoping to meet with you inside once you're settled."

Bryce's expression was one of complete disbelief at what Kesst was saying. He was about to object, pulling his paw away from the carriage when he noticed the royal seal on its side. The Tiger remained dumbstruck as Kesst walked Theo up the steps. Once they were out of earshot the Ermine had to ask. "What does the Princess need?"

The Dragon shook his head. "Nothing... I just wanted him to stop talking."

Unsolicited aid from Kesst? It was yet another surprise for Theo-- a pleasant one.