Chapter 22

  “Name’s Guy, of the traveling Guys.” The man said as he followed me into the tent. It was well lit, extremely spacious, and honestly, if not for just how strange the man seemed, would have been extremely comfortable. It even smelled of coffee and croissants, a powerful mixture strong enough to make my stomach rumble.

  “The Traveling Guys?” I asked dumbfounded as he motioned me towards one of four tables in the space. He pulled out a chair for me and motioned me to sit. Then pulled out a handful of crystals and set them before me. “Pick your poison.”

  Poor word choice aside, I gently touched each crystal and focused on it. When I did, my Tamer’s Gauntlet pulled up the information on each. They were different types of coffee. One was a White Chocolate Mocha. One was Pumpkin Spice, another was a Black Espresso, and the fourth just said… Party Coffee.

  “What’s the Party Coffee?” I asked, deciding I might as well have all the answers before I picked.

  “Ah, that,” he grinned, “it’s coffee mixed with liquor my dear girl. Gets you buzzed in all the right ways. It’s a pretty popular choice, so I always have extras on hand to offer. Though, in all honesty,” he grabbed it and pocketed it, “probably not the best for breakfast.”

  “Uh, right,” I looked over the three, and ultimately went with the Pumpkin Spice. Not only was it a flavor I was greatly familiar with, but honestly, seeing that it was an option here made me unreasonably happy. It meant they had pumpkins. Which was just another similarity to Earth and provided a flavor profile I could enjoy. If it was anywhere near as good as the stuff back home, I was about to have a very good morning. Though, arguably, if he had these all for sale… and I had a way to figure out money… I was definitely going to try and get a good variety for my mornings.

  “Another popular choice,” he said with a nod, pocketing the other two and leaving that crystal in front of me. He produced another set of crystals. “Your breakfast options.”

  Again, I touched the crystals, inspecting each. Was he aware of how uncomfortable he made me? And this was his way of trying to make me feel at ease?

  “I’ll take the croissant,” I said, opting against pancakes, French toast, or breakfast burrito. I wasn’t one for a heavy breakfast, and there was just something extra comforting about starting the morning with a pumpkin spice beverage and a warm, buttery croissant.

  “Certainly,” again, he scooped up the others, leaving just those two crystals on the table. He then sat across from me, steepling his fingers together as he rested his elbows on the table, smiling all the while. “If you’d like, please feel free to enjoy your breakfast. I’ll wait patiently to answer any and all questions you may have, before giving you the chance to browse my wares.”

  Trusting that there wasn’t a way to alter what was within a crystal, I grabbed both with my gauntlet and focused on them. Instantly, one shifted and became a buttery croissant, steam rising off its glistening, flakey brown crust, atop a small silver plate. Likewise, the other glowed and changed, becoming a steaming cup of coffee, topped with whipped cream and what I hoped was a dusting of pumpkin spice.”

  “If I’d been a betting man,” Guy said as he watched me, “I would have happily placed a bet that you’d pick those options. Pretty popular here sure, but word across the Traveling Guys is Pumpkin Spice is a massive hit with… travelers.”

  I paused, cup halfway to my lips. “You know I’m not from here?” I asked, simply seeking to confirm, even after he’d already said so once.

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  “I do indeed,” he kept on smiling, “travelers are a part of Mutopia’s history. Though,” he sort of bounced left and right in a strange, almost happy manner, “lately there have been many more of your kind appearing. All on the outskirts of our continent, from what I’ve heard.”

  This man seemed to be rather well informed. How. Did they have cell phones in this world? Had the mayor of Cogni sent me off without a way to communicate with anyone, when all the while cell phones existed here?

  “How do you know that?” I asked, finally sipping my drink. My eyes half closed on their own as the hot liquid washed my tongue with familiar flavors. It was richer, more intense than what I was used to from Earth, but it was, without a doubt, Pumpkin Spice. I sighed heavily as I set my drink down and eyed my croissant. Mouth already watering, I picked up what had to be the lightest, fluffiest pastry I’d ever had the pleasure of grabbing. Was everything in Mutopia, outside of basic rations, top chef quality? If so, I never wanted to leave.

  “The Traveling Guys have a special information network,” he answered simply, “information is, after all, the greatest asset a traveling merchant can have. It helps us ensure when we leave each town we are stocked with the hottest items, and know what type of customer base to expect.” He motioned towards my food, “latest tip across our network has been an influx of travelers such as yourself, which is partly how I knew what you were when I came upon you.”

  “Only partly?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. What had given me away, outside of his unfair advanced knowledge.

  “Only partly.”

  “Then what else gave it away?” I asked, sharply.

  “That’s easy,” he grinned, and pointed to himself, “everyone knows about the Traveling Guys, but you didn’t. Meaning,” there was a damned knowing smirk on his face, “meaning you aren’t from around here.”

  “Because I didn’t immediately know who you were, you were able to know I was from a different world?” I huffed, “I call bullshit. There’s no way you’re that well known.”

  “Well, I’m not, by myself, no. However, Traveling Guys are immediately recognizable by our hats, our jackets, and of course, our magnificent style when it comes to our hair, both on our face, and on our heads,” he took of his top hat and bowed slightly with a flourish, his moustache dancing up and down with his continued smiles.

  “So, every single Traveling Guy is going to look just like you?”

  “Pretty close,” he said with a nod, “though obviously, we aren’t identical. That would be absolutely ridiculous, to have each and every one of us look exactly the same, across an entire planet.” He scoffed, “purely preposterous concept.”

  “Uh, huh,” I took another sip of coffee. “So, assuming that really is the truth… you really are just a traveling merchant that is part of what, a larger, traveling merchant empire?”

  “Less elegant than we like to normally put it, but more or less, that is correct.” He grinned. “Also,” he paused, looking me over, “before I answer any more questions, I would like to point out that you have me at quit the disservice here miss. You know now who I am, but at the moment, I’ve not had the pleasure of learning your name.”

  I swallowed the bite of croissant I’d been savoring, the rich taste of butter, slightly sweetened as if with honey, happily coating my tongue in a warm hug. With a quick wipe to ensure there were no crumbs on my lips, I answered. “I’m sorry,” I said, still untrusting of the man, but less on edge. “You can call me Taylor.”

  “Taylor,” he nodded, “a good name, and one I’ll try to remember. After all, rumor out in the network is one of you travelers is going to be the one to save our world from the Disciples of Nox, and, while I’ve obviously no psychic ability, considering I’m a Traveling Guy, and not a Wandering Woman, I’ve a feeling you’re going to be the one to do it.”

  I practically spit my coffee out at his statement.

  “What?” I coughed, fighting tears as the hot liquid scorched my nose from the half cough, half spit, half snort I’d just unleashed.

  “Nothing,” he said, waving his hand away like he’d not just said a variety of hard to believe things. “I’m sorry for interrupting your breakfast. Please, I shall allow you to eat in peace, before I answer any further questions.”

  And then, as if to prove his point, he stood and left the tent. Leaving me more than a little disturbed and confused. His statement about me saving the world was preposterous, but I’d already heard such a statement from the Mayor. What had really gotten me though… was his claim that there were real psychics in this world? And that they were called… Wandering Women? Traveling Guys and Wandering Women…. Seriously Mutopia?