Chapter 39

"Hey!" Titus called in greeting when he stepped into the workshop. "I think I've made a breakthrough!"

Eagerly, he brought a bottle to Emerick and opened the cap. The smell that came out of it was subtle, but pleasantly stimulating. It also cut through every other scent present in the shop, which was fascinating. Looking at the bottle, he realized that Titus had been using runes to help adjust the effects of his mixtures.

"This is genuinely amazing," Emerick stated. "It seems so subtle and unobtrusive, but it completely nullifies even my own body odor, which is pretty impressive because training was pretty intense today."

"I hadn't noticed," Titus replied excitedly. He chattered on excitedly as Emerick studied the bottle and thought of the possibilities. He had a reasonable amount of money, he certainly wasn't wanting and he had the means to care for Trixie and the others, but starting and maintaining a business was another matter.

There were so many factors to take into consideration. Cost of production and materials, labor, and transportation among other things. How to price items to get adequate profits while keeping customers happy and eager to buy. Advertising, networking, so on and so forth. Emerick had a basic grasp, but honestly it still made his head spin to think through it all, so he decided to try and focus on what the orc had to say.

Titus proceeded through a small collection of new products which he described in detail and discussed with Emerick at length. The passion driving the young orc was nice to see, especially in contrast to his former, bitter hostility.

That said, while there were significant improvements, Titus was still struggling. From what Emerick could gather he and Rathus hadn't spoken since their spat and Trixie was avoiding the shop, though it was unclear if that was because of Emerick's frequent visits or if she was avoiding Titus. Emerick supposed he'd find out soon enough.

"Liron wants to go over bottle designs," Titus was saying. "I still think that's a little premature, but I guess it couldn't hurt to start brainstorming."

"Liron is eager as ever," Emerick smiled. He noticed Rathus grumbling in the background, grappling with a strange looking machine that was still smoking from some sort of malfunction. It seemed he'd been fighting with it for some time based on the cussing that was going on. It was probably time to have a few words with the older brother. "Hey, not to nag, but have you eaten anything today?"

"Have I?" Titus stopped to consider the question. Based on the quizzical look of concentration scrunching his brows, it seemed like he genuinely wasn't sure. A growl from his stomach answered for him.

"I don't think you have," Emerick chuckled. "I'm surprised, little Lorelei usually brings a tray down for you guys."

"Oh, it's been a little loud today," Titus realized aloud. "Rathus was testing his… er… I'm not exactly sure what it is, but it made a lot of noise, and at one point I think it was on fire. There was a lot of smoke anyway. They've probably been too scared to approach."

"I suppose I can't fault them for that," Emerick chuckled. "That does sound rather daunting."

"Yeah," Titus grinned. His stomach growled again, causing Emerick to laugh harder.

"Why don't you go to the kitchen and get something to eat?" He suggested. "If you wait too much longer, everyone for miles around will be able to hear those protests!"

"Yeah, I guess I should get on that," Titus agreed. Emerick watched him hurry out. Once he was a good ways up the stone path leading to the house, he moved to where Rathus was still cussing out his latest work.

"So how's it going?" He questioned with a goofy grin, knowing and relishing how awkward it was. Rathus glanced up at him quizzically. He really hadn't spoken to Emerick since he'd befriended Titus. Emerick was fairly confident that had more to do with pride and shame than actual resentment or anger though.

"Uh…" Rathus stared at him. As Emerick had expected, the orc wasn't sure where to begin answering him.

"That good huh?" Emerick grinned. "So, I noticed your new thingy… what's that all about?"

"Thingy?" Rathus was definitely exasperated now.

"What else should I call it?" Emerick raised a brow. "I don't even know what it's supposed to do. I guess it puts out a lot of smoke. Should I call it a smoker?"

"What are you on about?" Rathus looked so confused Emerick thought his head might pop. Gleeful as he felt, there were more serious matters to address.

"Just thought you could use someone to talk to," Emerick replied nonchalantly. "Thought I'd offer my services since you're still not on speaking terms with the only other person who's ever around."

"Oh," Rathus colored. Emerick watched with interest as a number of emotions flashed across his features. Frustration, anger, pain, shame, sorrow, very nearly every negative emotion possible featured in seconds.

"I won't pretend to know you guys well enough to make any judgements on who was right, who was wrong, and whatnot, but I do know you're family," Emerick said, staring him in the eye. "Whatever you guys feel for Trixie, whatever history is going on, you should know at least as well as I do that she's a big girl, and she doesn't need anyone to fight her battles."

"I know," Rathus grumbled, the veins in his jaw working as he fought back emotions. Emerick couldn't help but pity the orc, though he knew he wouldn't want it.

"What you said to him," Emerick put a hand on his shoulder, "it really wasn't your place."

"I know," Rathus repeated, voice hoarse. Emerick waited calmly as Rathus steadied himself. He was trembling he was so worked up, but unlike Titus he refused to talk about his problems. There was only so much Emerick could do about that, nevertheless, he knew the orc needed some kind of company so he remained.

They sat in virtual silence, with the exception of the occasional curse or grunt from Rathus directed at his work. Emerick was still dying to know what the thing was, but as unfocused as Rathus seemed at present he couldn't be sure the orc knew any more than he did. Besides, he really wasn't the one Rathus wanted to talk to. He hadn't been the one Rathus wanted to speak to from the beginning. The orc was just too damn stubborn to acknowledge it.