1??????????????Soul Bound


    1.2????????????Taking Control


    1.2.1??????????An Icy Welcome


    1.2.1.15???????Setup


    She looked curiously at Omobono.


    Kafana: “It’s rude to whisper, you know.”


    Omobono spread his hands and shrugged as though helpless.    “That Hachiko, terrible manners, but what can one do?   He’s such a nice chap, nobody can bear pointing it out to him.   He’d feel crushed.”


    She raised an eyebrow.


    Kafana: “And you being a gentleman would never spill his secrets?”


    Omobono mimed keeping his mouth zipped.


    They approached Passionata and Vittoria.


    Passionata was in charge of the gelato, and a vast freezer that CoThEx had designed.   Vittoria was in charge of the five gleamingly clean serving girls from the orphanage whom she rapidly introduced as Hase, Galatea, Goffa, Renarda and Fulvia.   Their hair did vary in colour but and been tamed into identical styles using the identical hair bands that Alderney had supplied, and whirl of smiles and curtseys left Kafana so overwhelmed that, to avoid losing track of them as individuals she resorted to lining them up and spending a few moments talking with each one before mentally nicknaming them as Rabbit-chan, Kitten-chan, Puppy-chan, Fox-chan and Fawn-chan, according to each one''s personality.   On further thought she had Sys add the nicknames as orglife overlays where the other Wombles could see them above each orphan''s head.


    The stewards let them past and Nicolo was given a hero’s welcome by the girls, and she could see how much taller they were - old enough to have to leave the orphanage soon to starve or, if lucky, gain a job no matter how terrible it was.   They certainly looked ready to work hard now, even though they wouldn''t be around long enough to gain the benefits themselves.   Could she help them? They''d get a few hour''s pay from Columbina, but what they really needed was to increase their reputation with people able to offer them a good job.   Something like a letter of recommendation from a satisfied past employer.  Hmm.  She remembered how other NPC''s had altered the way they reacted towards a priest that Tomsk had labelled and, with a grin, she started amending her own labels, conscientiously adding the same words onto each one in turn:  “Would make a good apprentice.”


    Vittoria: “Kafana, thank you so much.   The redoubtable CrimsonMoon informs me that we should start serving once Bulgaria leaves the stage, so we have a few minutes.    I’ve got you and Nicolo set up under the umbrella near the V.I.P. area, so you can talk to the nobles while he serves them.    Bungo left a list with the steward of additional people you’d probably want to see, but you have an absolute veto over who is a V.I.P. and who isn’t.”


    Bulgaria was introducing the teams, explaining the rules of volleyball and the tournament format, and had Suor Isabella next to him drawing out the pairings for the brackets which were displayed on the giant illusion at the back of the stage.   The first to play would be Team Dove (Columbina + Alderney) versus Team Crusher (Gregorio + Carlo).    She wasn’t sure which was more likely to win, but obviously lots of others were as the stall being run by the Fiorio was crowded by people placing bets.


    Omobono had Vittora introduce him to all the servers and tell him a bit about themselves and their lives at the orphanage, while she and Nicolo took their places.    It was still hot, even under the umbrella, and she decided to see if she could do something about it.    She had a pearl that gave a boost to weather control.    Let’s see now…


    Kafana: “Nicolo, do you remember On the breeze that we sang earlier in the tent?   I think a gentle cool refreshing breeze around our umbrella would be nice.   What do you think?”


    Stolen story; please report.


    Nicolo: “Magic?”


    Kafana: “Yes.   The important thing is to visualise it accurately.   Not too strong, not too cold.   Just around our umbrella, refreshing and pleasing.   Once you’ve got it clearly in mind, project how much you want that to happen while singing the words.”


    Once she’d handled the orglife water and chaos runes, inscribing them in a five meters circle around them, adding strict limiters on the effect magnitude so the deities didn’t get over zealous, they gave it a go, and it worked.   She sang a quick ‘thank you’ to the Mor and Bel.


    [Skill “Weather Magic” acquired.]


    Passionata coughed to attract her attention.   She had a tray with 40 individual glass dishes filled with four different flavours of gelato already portioned and beautifully presented.   Kafana carefully transferred most of them to her stash, leaving just 2 of each for Nicolo to hand out.   Bulgaria and the teams were leaving the stage now and she raised her hand to the stewards to let the customers in.


    Lady Pia Trinci and Lady Sienna Landi had obviously done well in spreading the word.   For the next twenty minutes she talked to a succession of nobles while Nicolo served them.   They all had nice words to say about Nicolo’s singing, and seemed genuinely surprised at how tasty the gelato was.   She sent several over to Passionata to discuss upcoming parties.


    Bulgaria''s voice reached her, announcing team Dove as the winners.   Good!   Alderney would be happy.   Next up were Team Womble (Tomsk + Bungo) versus Team Libri (Coleus + Marcello).    She’d met both members of the Libri team earlier in the week, and thought her fellow Wombles stood a better than even chance against them.   She announced this to those waiting in her line, and many of them scurried off with undignified haste to place bets before the match started.


    Her next customers were Judge Tartaglia, who was chatting with Emmanuelle, encouraging her to push towards gaining High Master Advocate status.   He gravely asked Nicolo for his recommendation of flavours, and Nicolo said his personal favourite was the Tutti Frutti because of the fun appearance, but that the fudge brownie chunk gelato with hot sauce drizzled over it was the most exciting to serve.    Kafana saw an opportunity.


    Kafana: “Honoured judge, if you would be willing to sit down at the table over here under the shade and let my friend Omobono record your thoughts on them, I will supply you with a sample of every flavour we have.”


    Tartaglia, who was looking the worse for having queued in the sun, smiled gratefully at her.    “T’t’t’t’hank you Madame Kafana S’s’s’sincero.   I w’w’will do that.”


    She took the excuse to direct Emmanuelle over to Vittoria to discuss the availability of plots of land in Basso near Mud Gate.


    She saw Columbina and Alderney approaching, and scanned her queue for anyone she’d offend if she wasn’t there to serve them personally.   Good, none that Nicolo couldn’t handle.


    Kafana: {Alderney, well done on winning your match.   Can you send Columbina my way?   I need to take her aside and have a chat with her.   Oh, and Wellington, if you’re back in-game, there’s a discussion between Emmanuelle and Vittoria you might want to join in on, over at the Dove.}


    Wellington: {Will do.}


    Alderney didn’t reply, so she asked Nicolo to take over for her and went out to meet them.


    Kafana: “You won!”


    Columbina, who was fanning herself, replied with a grin: “Naturally.”


    Alderney grinned too: “We took a little time out yesterday to do a practice session with Tomsk and Bungo.   And I’ve put most of my new stat points into DEX.   Carlo put up a good show, and their coordination is beautiful, but Columbina is a star.”


    Kafana: “Alderney, how about you go sit under my umbrella and keep Nicolo company?   You’re looking a little deaf.”


    Alderney: {Ooops, thanks.   I forgot to unmute after the match.}


    Alderney took the hint, and Kafana led Columbina up to the Dove’s balcony.