Arthur felt the world lurch around him, his body compressing and then expanding. For some reason, he could smell nutmeg and star anise; donuts and fried sambal even as all the colours in the rainbow and some that weren’t pivoted around him.
As the world shifted again, he felt his footing alter and he instinctively adjusted. Eyes snapped open and Arthur clutched the hilt of his kris in one hand, his spear in the other. His backpack was on him, weighed down by the necessities of travel, as was damaged armour that he wore. The last battle with the giant roc had seen the armour near his left shoulder pierced, leaving it now vulnerable and rather uncomfortable to wear even after their makeshift patches.
Too bad this wasn't a game with a repair function they could use to make things more comfortable.
Eyes flicking from left to right, he checked over what dangers there might be. The room they were in was the size of a Malaysian school gymnasium - so just about big enough for a basketball court and some space along the sides. No space for bleachers or anything like that. What parent had the time to come watch their kids play, at least back when there were jobs and the schools were still being constructed? These days, it was all most of the schools could do was keep the facilities intact and functioning, what with the decreased tax base.
This room was bare and open, filled with tiny teleportation pedestals. The open space near the main doors were in the direction he faced, though obviously there were others who could appear behind him. However, guards stood around, watching for trouble. Real guards, meant to actually stop problems instead of allowing betting like the last floor with a proper teleportation platform had been.
What made him actually relax and step off the teleportation platform was the sight of his friends and Clanmates.
It seemed that everyone had survived the trip and managed to arrive without issue. Mel was over on the side, her lightly tanned skin covered with a sheen of sweat and dirt like the rest of them, arguing with a man holding a tablet like a clipboard.
Arthur had a sudden flicker of fear and concern run through him at that sight. Men with clipboards – or in this case an actual working table. Never a good thing.
He hurried over, his mind running through rhymes. Clipboard, Slipboard. Ripping broad. Slipshod.
“Oh, that was a good one,” he said as he came up to the two.
“Good what?” clipboard man was sporting a pair of glasses on the top of his head, rather than on his nose where it would have been useful. He looked unperturbed, even as Mel stood there, fuming.
“Rhyme.” Seeing the blank look on the man’s face which Arthur knew would soon turn to anger if he continued this line of inanity, he waved it off. “Don’t worry about it. So, what can I help you with?”
“Payment for the use of the teleportation center.” He turned the tablet aside slightly so that Arthur could see it. “I just need to finish inspection of what you’ve brought along, total up duties and then I will have your total expenses.”
“Payment for what?” Arthur said, dumbfoundedly. Irritation at the blatant shakedown began to grow in him, as he continued. “The teleportation platforms are run by the Tower, not you. Whoever you are.”
Mel by his side was nodding, gripping her spear shaft tight. The guards by the side looked over, their attention focused on the group, a couple with modern crossbows by their side paying very careful attention to Rick who had his arms crossed, glaring about him.
“We are a coalition of concerned groups that manage the teleportation platforms and the buildings involved. Do you think the guards and the platforms have no cost?” the man jerked his chin up, as though dismissing the topic. Amusingly, it almost made the precariously perched glasses on his balding pate bobbing, threatening to fall off. “Among us are the Prime group, TG, other interested parties and the government.” He looked pointedly at Mel’s grip of the spear and then Arthur’s hand that still rested on the hilt of the kris and added. “So if you think you can just fight your way out of here without consequences…”
“It’s comfortable here…” Arthur said, which it was. However, he did shift his hand so that he leaned his wrist on the hilt rather than lightly clasping it. “But you said the Prime Group?”
“Yes.”
“Perfect…” He purred. Clipboard man started looking worried but Arthur did not give him time to ask. Or ready himself.
“Casey!” Arthur roared.
A loud sigh, as she strolled over. Her armour – fit together at the sides via Velcro straps so that it was easier to put on and take off came – had been undone so that it could shift easier. All of which helped her pull the necklace out from under the breastplate, giving a brief glimpse of sweaty and clinging silk that made Arthur turn away abruptly.
Not that she noticed, as finally free of the encumbrance, Lam trailing along holding her backpack, she waved the ID card in front of clipboard man.
“Casey Chin.”
“My apologies! I did not recognize you. It’s been many years since we received an updated dossier…” the man was bobbing-bowing now, tablet clutched before him as he continued. “If they just had said that, well, we would have…”
“What’s this about a customs tax?” Casey asked, leaning forwards. “The entrance fee is known – and acceptable–” the glare she shot Mel and Arthur to keep them quiet said that it had better be, “but I’ve never heard of this customs tax. On what we bring?”
“A new council motion. It is, of course, waived for those members affiliated with the council.” A hesitation as he took in Arthur’s disparate group and added. “And their entourage.”
“Entourage-!” Mel hissed.
Arthur actually smiled, finding it amusing but Casey was not to be diverted.
“How new?” she hissed.
“Two months ago. I could get you the…”
Flicking her hair up, she turned to Lam. “Pay him.” Then, she stalked out of the room, right pass clipboard guy who still clutched his tablet to him, a sickening smile growing on his face as Lam loomed over him, nearly fumbling the grab as the bodyguard shoved Casey’s backpack at him to hold.
He did fumble the tablet, letting it drop on the ground where it thumped into the pressed earth floor.
Arthur, bemused, looked around only to jerk a little as Casey snarled from just outside the entrance.
“Coming?”
Well. Now he knew what Casey Chin looked like when she was on a warpath.