Tuesday, July 5, 1066
As Mon, Branna, and Marigold descend the stairs with Dhuka and Anya to join the rest of the Second Crew for breakfast at the South Gate Hotel, a mournful song greets them as Ioulia sits at the piano. Hennadii informs them that his morning’s food delivery has not arrived. Six days a week, a wagon filled with provisions arrives from the Whispering Market down by the docks and delivers enough food for the day. On Saturday, the wagon brings food for both days of the weekend. Hennadii and the cooks are putting together a small meal with leftovers, but the crew is upset and disheartened because they can't break their fast. Luba complains loudly that she can’t possibly perform her best at work on an empty stomach.
When Branna offers to help, Hennadii readily accepts. He tells her he sent a pageboy to alert Khrystyna about the missed delivery, but he received no reply. He quickly writes down a list of essentials, including five dozen eggs, several bags of flour, two crates of mushrooms, two crates of red peppers, sacks of potatoes, and several bags of fresh fruits. He hands her a purse containing enough silver to cover the purchases and asks them to head down to Riverside and talk with Khrystyna, explain the situation, and bring the food back to the South Gate Hotel. Branna asks Mon and Marigold to accompany them and bring back the food. Branna suggests they take Dhuka with them. The more they keep her occupied, the more she will be tired at the end of the day. At least, that’s their hope.
Coming down the Riverside Hill Road, they quickly locate the Whispering Market. It is a cramped store, filled with the scents of spices and the smells of the river. Khrystyna, the shop owner, greets them. Branna informs her that the morning’s delivery did not arrive. Khrystyna replies that she is aware others sent a message stating the deliveries were not received. She’s nervous about the situation, as the father-son teamsters who deliver to her have worked faithfully for her for over six years and have never missed a day. Khrystyna wonders aloud whether she should notify the guards.
Marigold queries the Whispering Market’s owner about the delivery route. Khrystyna writes down directions and lists the seventeen businesses she provisions. Looking at the list, Marigold sees that the South Gate Hotel is third from last on the list, before the Prince’s Garden, a fine dining restaurant known for its exquisite cuisine and quiet courtyard, and the Living Grain, a bakery and eatery popular for its fresh bread and stews. Before the South Gate Hotel, the teamsters would have delivered to the Ancient Oven, a restaurant famous for its traditional, clay-oven-cooked meats, and the Traveler’s Refuge, a reliable, simple inn just outside the city walls.
After taking the shopping list Hennadii handed Branna, Khrystyna assembles several boxes of provisions, containing everything requested by the South Gate Hotel cooks, except for red peppers, as they are all sold out. Now burdened with the food, they return to the hotel and find themselves ascending the hill much less pleasant than the way down.
Hennadii makes breakfast, and the food is eventually served about 30 minutes later.
Dhuka wants to join Mon when he walks invisibly behind the cart tomorrow morning.
Hennadii tells them he will deliver lunch. Branna alters some of the costumes, and wonders if Sir Sergeii will bring some of the critics with him today. She begins working on a press release for the newspapers, laying on thick about how grateful the crew is for performing in the beautiful city of Konstantina, etc. She mentions the South Gate Hotel and its amazing hospitality.
Dhuka complains about being hungry again. Herald mocks her and repeats. Marigold casts prestidigitation and Herald is now engulfed in a cloud of farts. Mon grabs him by the shoulder and casts vicious mockery on him. Herald tells Mon that the lass he was with last night is interested in meeting him.
Returning to the South Gate Hotel, Marigold and Dhuka talk with the cooks and Hennadii went back to the Whispering Market.
Branna and Marigold tell Sir Sergeii the story of what happened.
The Furry Rabbit, owned by Mykhailo. back at work at 2:00 pm
Mon heads back to the Whispering Market. A nondescript page boy is following him. Mon and interaction with page boy, watch your back, gives the boy three silvers. The cart never made any deliveries this morning. She sends a page boy to get the guard.
Marigold heads to the North Portcullis Hotel, where the delivery would have occurred before. The food was not delivered, the owner will complain to his alderman and vows to never do business with the Whispering Market.
Branna delivers her press release to the newspapers. She first stops at the Konstantina Sun, where she introduces herself to the newspaper editor, Arseniy. Lady Anima resembles the Marquess in mannerisms. Branna talks, issues of Crew not being welcomed, angling for a dress rehearsal invitation.
The Shredded Truth
Some newspapers
Mon goes to eat at the fountain. Mykola is there, feeding the seagulls. He does not remember Mon.
- "The iron hammer of the blacksmith sings a patriotic tune, but the gold it strikes funds the serpent's dinner.”
- "Beware the stage lights. Sometimes, the shadow they cast is more honest than the actors.”
- "Every new key made in this city has a brother that opens a vault better left sealed.”
He stops by the archives, where archivist Katiya informs him she has more books for him.
The Royal Census of 1050 SE (The Missing Daughter)
Clue: Mon finds the Royal Family Census Record for the year 1050 SE (the year Elara was born, roughly 16 years ago), page 91. The record clearly lists King and Queen and then lists their children, including "Princess Elara." However, Mon notices a deliberately blotted-out entry or a section carefully excised from the same census. An investigation reveals the name of Anya and her mother, but the father’s name has been removed.
Katiya will search the records to see who last consulted this tome. He makes copies of the entry, and distributes them to Branna and Marigold.
Back at the South Gate Hotel, dinner is ready. Marigold sends a pageboy to summon the guard.
Cart was found burning in Our Lady of Faith neighborhood. They discuss what happened to the cart and the food, and reasons behind stealing the food, perhaps to promote the boycott.
Woman Nastia is sad her husband and son are missing, guard brought the metal plate with the cart number on it, found in the fire. Branna invite her to dinner tomorrow night with the critic.
Page boy scuffle. Dhuka is upset they leave her behind. She tells them the page boy just sent a note through another page boy to the Coughing Raven.
Mon suggests she could intern with Branna’s parents.
Herald and the Coughing Raven. Mon casts disguise self.
Marigold pays a pageboy 1 gold piece to watch the building for 24 hours and report on who went in there.
Mon enters the Coughing Raven, Herald is sitting with a girl Rouslana. Mon buys them a bottle and sends it over, from a fan who saw him in Katarina
Tarashenko comes back in the Coughing Raven and leaves after talking with Rouslana.
Mon returns to the hotel. ...
