It Started with Slime - Interlude XXII – Haemish, Consulting

Rubbing his eyes again as he turned away from the odd little creature that was using its paws to sandwich the pestle to be able to powder the herbs, it was going to be hard work with paws. I will speak to Resh about those paws later, how did he acquire such an addition? The paws themselves look so odd on the Slime’s body that it looked like that had been stuck on. The texture, colour and structure were completely different. The paws actually looked like they had bones, tendons and muscle in them instead of the jelly like consistency of rest of Resh’s body. If Haemish missed his guess he would say that there was some insect-like element to them as well as some of the creature in and around his home. But that would be a complete hodgepodge of creature parts. The only other part he had really seen since their entry into the palace had been its…or his I suppose…eyes. Those had a similar insect-like quality but must less pronounced, as if only twenty percent was insect-based and the rest from other creatures. If Haemish missed his guess this creature had some unique ability to take part of other creatures and add them to itself.

Haemish thought about it for a second and then chuckled and shook his head, something like that…it could kill us all if it wanted…eventually. This creature was small now. The King was a genius if Haemish was right.

At the moment the harbinger of doom was currently concentrating very hard on making the perfect potion, the picture of an adept student that any master could be proud of. Even though it was weak now and had done nothing to warrant Haemish’s wariness he sweated a little. Haemish would treat the situation with caution and treat Resh as a student unless further action was warranted.

It was time to speak with the King. “Right, Resh keep at it, I want a decent potion by the time I get back!”

“Of course, Master!” it was a reflexive reply from the creature but something that made Haemish smile, he really could be a good student. He thought fondly of when he had met Taler, Rion and Marteen six months ago. Yes, having students again was a good thing, stopped one from thinking of other less pleasant things.

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“Haemish! Would you drop the formalities! It is bothersome when I have no choice but to put up with it, from you in my own rooms it is more than I have patience for!” The King spoke on the verge of shouting…he couldn’t shout, not here, not if he wanted the palace to stay standing.

Haemish stiffed bracing for the earthquake that followed the raw power of the King. “Your Majesty, propriety must be maintained…” he finally said shakily.

King Borowyn sighed and moderated his tone. “Yes, yes, Haemish but you have known me for a long time.” Suddenly his looked tired. Very, very tired, Haemish thought. He holds up the weight of this entire nation. “You will call me by my name when you are with me, if you even remember it.” He quirked a humourless smile at Haemish.

“Yes, of course…King Bo…Borowyn.” Haemish inclined his head. The man in front of him, more powerful than any other in the nation, slumped to the bed in relief.

“Good, now that that is out of the way. Tell me what you have discovered in these adventures of yours!” The smile was in the words.

“Yes, Si…” Borowyn quirked a brow and Haemish adjusted on the fly. “Borowyn, that was the reason I wished to speak to you. About that Resh creature that we found…It started with Marteen, he as an apprecntice of mine and works as a Blacksmith in the city under Scon Landrin. Anyway, I digress…”

Haemish related the weeks of activity leading to Resh’s capture, covering the forest, the river and finally the chase. The whole tale took well over an hour and four times there were knocks on the door for the King which he graciously turned away each time. The fifth time someone knocked it was for food and Haemish paused in the telling while the various delicacies were arrayed. He completed his story while consuming plum tarts and pastries and so many of the other sweet treats that had been brought, the King knew what he liked. Then finally as he story wound to its conclusion:

“I believe that this creature could be a critical part of the solution. I do not know for sure but what I am certain of at this time is that I have never seen anything like it in my long life, have you?” The King similarly shook his head at the question. A Sentient Slime monster? Each word was more ridiculous than the last in that tangled combination.Just like the potion I was trying to make before the world exploded in shards of light.

He had been suppressing his disappointment at losing almost all of his life’s work in that explosion. It did no good to dwell on what was lost and ninety percent of it could be recovered easily with a little time but that final ten percent…it still hurt, burning in his gut like bile whenever he thought of it and then Emotional Clarity kicked in and he calmed once more. He allowed it to do its work before returning his gaze to the man in front of him. He could have stopped the skill if he had wanted to; it had been decades since he had wanted to stop it. Something’s…they were better left buried.

“No, you are correct in that assessment. I am intrigued by it. But you know that just because neither of us have seen something like this, Resh. It does not mean that such a thing cannot exist elsewhere. What is it?”

“From my discussions with him, it is him by the way, he said so himself. From those discussions, he says that he is a Boss Copycat Slime. I have never heard of it but that part, Copycat is self explanatory but I am not clear of exactly what is copied. However, from what I see of the creature it is very likely to do with the various abilities and limbs and other appendages it possesses. I actually suspect that he has the ability to replicate body parts of creatures it encounters. Meaning it could likely mimic me or you, your Maj…Borowyn.” He had nearly slipped again.

The King’s eyebrow told Haemish the slip had not gone unnoticed. I talk to him like a King for centuries and he wants me to switch in the space of an hour? But Haemish couldn’t stay irritated with the King for long, the possibilities with this creature were too numerous to comprehend.

“Do you believe it to be a threat?”

“He has taken an Oath…”

“No, I mean do you believe it or he poses a threat to the kingdom or anyone in it? Would I be endangering the members of my staff and the people in the city at large if I allow it…him to live?” King Borowyn was looking intently at Haemish trying to gauge his response with some measure of understanding his emotions.

“Sire, it is hard to tell when this creature will and won’t do. However powerful it may be now and in the future he has a child-like wonder about the world. I just set him to making potions and…” The King cut him off to get on with it. Haemish had a tendency to waffle a little after all, in the comfortable recesses of his own mind he could accept that, sometimes. “Ahhemm, yes, as I was saying, he has a wonder for the world and does not seem intent on damage or causing anyone pain.” Haemish took a deep breath and concluded. “His motivations seem to be coming from the right place. About protecting what he believes is right and is his. Again nothing I say is confirmed it is just my gut. The main objective that this being seems to have is to get stronger. That is admirable if it can be turned to the country’s gains…right?” The King nodded noncommittally. Haemish suspected the Queen had some plan in play, she always did, there was a reason people call her the spider. Legs in every pie and buried in schemes up to her eyeballs. She would find some use for him at least. After, Haemish had him trained up a bit.

The King facing Haemish said, “Thank you for the report Haemish. Do not hesitate to the let me know if you need anything else.”

“Yes sir, one final thing I need you to know. I have a skill that allows me to see other people’s status screens, to get a better idea of what I am dealing with. With Resh…it worked but for some reason it was all in characters or symbol that I have never seen before. We thought it was because his capture causing some confusion but it is still affecting him now.” Then Haemish rose and left the King to contemplate the development.