Chapter Text
The decline started on the equivalent of Wednesday.
The Krew has spent the week prior traveling. Kremy had heard rumors of a merchant who had access to supplies of all sorts of magical items that they could use to speedily reopen Carnival LeCroux. Supposedly, this merchant would be located in a city nearby their current location, and whether they would take the items by trade or by force was up in the air.
Having reached the town earlier that day, they all settled into a tavern. Known as the Windydoo, it was a small place: two stories, a musty bar downstairs, and six tiny bedrooms with thin, creaky walls upstairs. This meant that the sounds of Kremy’s shouting carried throughout the whole building and out into the night.
“BARON HELP ME, IF I SEE YOU HERE IN THE MORNING GIDEON COAL!”
Gideon's thunderous roar back was just as audible, “IF YOU SEE ME YOU’LL WHAT? YOU NO GOOD CROCODILE.”
Kremy and Gideon stood at opposite ends of one of the small bedrooms with the rest of the Krew huddled in the doorway, having overheard the escalation of the argument from their various rooms.
“CROCODILE?!?! YOU KNOW I AM AN ALLIGATOR, YOU BITCH.”
“OHHHH YOU- HOLD ME BACK GRICKO, I SWEAR I’M GONNA PUNCH HIM IN THE BODY!”
“Mmm, I’m tryin’ Gideon, but yer too- too tall.” Gricko grunted out, jumping as he tried to get a grip on Gideon’s arm.
“Maybe if you could explain what this is about. You have never fought like this before.” Frost suggested before pausing, “At least not with each other. Gideon has threatened to punch many people in the body.”
“Toooorrbeeeck is wooooorieeed,” Torbeck added.
Kremy attempted to compose himself, “It’s nothin’ you lot should concern yourselves with. Gideon just overstepped and started questioning my authority.” He turned back to face Gideon, “Now Gideon it just so happens I have one spell slot left for today, so would you kindly find lodging for the night at a different inn. I believe there is a place down the road called the Foxglove that should do the trick.” His stomach twisted unnaturally as the enchantment left his mouth and the words left nausea in their wake.
But the spell was cast. Gideon scowled and, for the first time, tried to push off Kremy’s enchantment. His efforts were futile, and a glazed blankness overtook the genasi’s face as he turned sharply and walked out of the room, shoving past the rest of the Krew. Nobody made an effort to stop him, knowing that Kremy’s magic would make it pointless.
“I believe I speak for everyone when I say: what the fuck, Kremy?” Frost said, stunned.
Kremy dismissed the statement with a roll of his eyes and a wave of his hand, praying that the others wouldn’t see the tears beginning to form and the way his fingers trembled. He took a breath before giving orders, “Everyone should go to bed, we have a busy day tomorrow. Once everyone is up, we will go pick up G-Gideon from the Foxglove and then begin looking for the merchant.”
The Krew nodded hesitantly. Gricko, Frost, and Torbeck headed back to their rooms, leaving Twig staring at Kremy. The brownie had been uncharacteristically silent during the incident, her brow furrowed in concentration.
“What’dya want Twig.”
“I have a thing for you.”
“A thing?”
“Yeah, a thing!”
Twig handed Kremy a strange, palm-sized, hexagonal-shaped piece of dark grey metal.
“Thanks?”
“You’re welcome. You looked like you were gonna boggart out, even though I’m the only one who can do that, but I guess you have your shadow.”
Kremy let out a shuddering sigh and smiled slightly, “Get some sleep Twig.”
“Okay!” She chirped. With that, she turned and left, a small smile playing on her lips.
Once the brownie left, Kremy found himself alone. He attempted to put the thoughts from his mind as he began readying himself for bed. As he rested his head against the thin pillows, the waves of guilt began to tighten around his stomach, making him nauseated. It didn’t seem like it could get any worse until the smell of cigar smoke filled his nostrils. It was stronger than usual, and it caused Kremy to choke. He’d clearly done something to displease the good Baron, but as Kremy racked his brain, he couldn’t think of anything. Unless. Maybe it was the argument: gods, the argument. The fight between him and Gid began to replay in his head, as the choking feeling subsided, a sign of the Baron turning his attention elsewhere. Not that Kremy really noticed. He regretted everything he said during the fight and was of half a mind to run to the Foxglove to beg for forgiveness. But that would be the cowardly thing to do, and besides, Kremy justified to himself as he tried to get comfortable in the squeaky bed, he was in the right, and Gideon would see that tomorrow and apologize. Right?