Rewards

After being questioned, for some time, the pair was eventually escorted back to their hotel to finally get a good rest.

But early the next day, a different guardsman knocked at the door, then brought them back to just near the big white mansion for some more debriefing.

Then after that, the more experienced Marco reappeared, congratulating their deeds, before leaving them back in the same little private room, where Mai had spelled out her intentions and plan for identifying the culprits on the prior day.

"Don't you dare..."

Mai poked Lygawa, receiving a little growl from the very lethargic dragon, but it had to be done.

Since she'd been up late and missed her usual sleep-in this morning, Lygawa needed to be occasionally prodded, otherwise she'd doze off and her tail and horns would reappear for all to see.

After an hour or so from being summoned, the ladies were finally and graciously greeted by the young Baron again.

"I am so very grateful to you both, I don't know how you did so much for me, and the people of this town, but I humbly thank-you, both of you, truly and deeply!"

"We were happy to assist."

Mai elbowed the dragon.

"Mm... yeah so happy..."

"Your effort will also not go unpaid!"

The Baron still seemed quite happy to summon forth an assistant, who brought over a head sized bag of metal, which was neatly deposited on the fine table before Mai.

"Compensation, as well as reward money for apprehending those criminals."

Whoa - that seems like quite a lot of coins....

Since Mai had been gifted a small handful of little shiny silver coins, to cover their expenses for her whole journey from the village, this bag was probably more than a hundred times that lent amount.

With Lygawa yawning as the only reaction, the Nobel worried the offering wasn't big enough.

"I can always arrange more..."

"Oh no, I'm sure this will be more than fine."

Mai had little experience with this lands money, but tugged the heavy bag over to them.

"I assume since we're getting this reward... that everything is now taken care of?"

Mai inquired.

"Yes, the leader of the group confessed to not only the crimes he was accused of, but more and the spread of those untrue and unsightly rumors too..."

"And the motive?"

Mai asked curiously.

"Apparently their connections to why were; that his father used to serve mine, and after some misdeeds on his part, was branded a thief and tarnishing the family."

So misguided revenge... so petty a reason to harm others...

The short haired Nobel was keen to continue dolling out more information to the curious woman.

"The vile people he associated with already were wanted for other horrid crimes, which he let them continue to do... unfortunately."

"And the others that we rescued?"

"They have graciously accepted new positions here."

Speaking of whom, one of the young maids entered with a tray of cups in hand, before carefully putting them down with a smile and promptly exited.

"Please have some refreshments before you depart..."

Baron Montgomery waved at the fine white cups with dark liquid inside.

"This is a new and quite rare flavour, please try."

Mai tasted the mostly warm milk, which had a little bitter, but unmistakable taste in it.

"Where did you get ...this flavouring, if I may ask?"

"It was sent as a gift from my relations, but I don't believe it is available this side of the capital though..."

"I'd love to know where it comes from, within the Kingdom?"

Mai asked excitedly, after downing the rest of the small cups contents.

"Uh... I believe from the north... Irixs I believe...?"

"You wouldn't happen to have a map of the Kingdom, would you?"

The Baron looked interested in where this was going.

"As a matter of fact I do..."

After the picture framed drawing arrived - of the fairly detailed land, including some rivers, towns and mountains, all painted and sketched across the light-brown paper, Mai had a first look at a section of this new world she lived on now.

"Here is the town of Braxel."

The owner tapped his finger near the tiny houses and neatly tagged by pen 'Braxel', near an expanse of forest to its west, where she assumed the little Yarra village hid.

"And up here is Irixs .. If you were still wondering..."

He ran his finger up to the curved edge, high on the picture, to another little group of tiny houses, near what appeared to be many little sets of waves.

So a northern area, near a sea, perhaps this could be tropical...

"What is it?"

Lygawa leaned in, finally finding interest, now that Mai showed some about the map.

"Nothing, yet..."

Mai settled back on the chair, hiding her true enthusiasm.

"Thank-you so much Baron, for all the helpful information you've shared."

"It was nothing at all."

He smiled again.

"Now young ladies, I must be off, as a leaders role is always busy..."

He waved and exited with his assistants in tow, leaving the two guests on the lavish seat.

After a brief pause, three more servants appeared - being three young familiar women.

"Miss Mai, Miss Lygawa, we are very humbled that you saved us all. And we wanted to show our deepest appreciation."

The three bowed low, then returning up with bright smiles.

"You are all alright now?"

"Oh yes ma'am! We got a pay rise and better positions here!"

The darker brown haired one spoke excitedly.

"Glad to here that."

Mai smiled.

"If you are ever in need of anything when you pass this way again, just come here and we will fetch it for you."

The long-haired blonde promised with a smooth voice.

"Thanks."

"We are truly grateful that you saved us!"

The last of the trio, with the mousy brown hair spoke as they bowed respectfully again, then also departed with a cheerful wave from each.

"Well our business here is done... so let's go too."

Mai bounced from the chair.

"You seem eager to leave, yes."

Lygawa came to her feet with less enthusiasm, which was quite different than usual.

"Would this have something to do with that northern town?"

Mai picked up the heavy bag of coins, before feeling the whole weight of them and offering it for Lygawa to carry with a grin.

"Please. And that maybe true..."

Leaving the big mansion without fuss, Mai was already planning ahead.

"We need a few things first; get our things from the hotel, buy another bag, then..."

The two waved a bye to the outside guards and their senior, Marco too.

"I want you to take me on another fly Lygawa."

Mai quietly asked after entering the gardens.

"Sure, back home yes?"

"Nuh, I want to go up north, to the beach - but more importantly, we're going for chocolate!"

It was quite hot up here, and as soon as Lygawa spied a secluded space along the long yellow beach, they landed, and Mai immediately went to the calm waters edge and tugged off her shoes.

Phew, it's hot... It definitely feels tropical around here...

Lygawa had already dashed in, splashing it all over herself before stopping.

"Plah - this water is too salty! Mai, stay out -!?"

Mai laughed a little, already knee deep near her.

"Seawater is supposed to be salty."

She gently sprinkled her companion with a little more of the clear water, who merely shook it all off her silver dress.

While Lygawa retreated, Mai stayed with her feet in the pleasantly cooler waters a little longer, letting Lygawa stretched out on the sun soaked sands, relishing more in the very warm sunlight.

Reptiles...

Returning to land, it wasn't long before Mai found what she was looking for, as they then wandered along the small beachside road, heading further north toward the closest town.

Purple pods, slightly bigger than the hand, that smelled sweetly as they hung from the smaller trees sitting underneath the tall palms, in quite an abundance too, just waited along the very road.

"Excuse me sir, do these trees belong to anyone?"

Mai asked the nearest farmer, tending to a small crop near the grove of trees.

"They do, they're on my land... what about them?"

The sunburnt man asked, as Mai tempered her excitement.

"Do you mind if I have some of those fruit they have?"

"Take as many as you want, I don't think anyone uses them... they're far too full of seed..."

"Oh thank-you so much!"

The older man seemed confused by these outsiders request, merely watching on as the two plucked several fat seed pods off the lower trees and filled a larger carry bag they'd brought.

"What do we do with them now?"

Mai pondered for a moment, before smiling.

"I guess I'll figure that out later..."

"But... we flew all this way... for them, yes?"

"I know, fun right?"

Lygawa looked back at her strangely, as Mai stuffed the bag to the brim.

"Shall we go home then?"

They might have startled the farmer then, as Lygawa single handily slung the large load over her small back and the pair casually walked away, to a less viewed area to take off again.