and clusters of tiny-petalled Jack Limes. Also, vibrantand flame-red Bog Beacons and elegant White Widowswere popular; the latter’s characteristic ivory stems andflamboyant hanging petals were visible clear across thesquare. Persimmons, Violets, Red Betties, Yolandas,Peach Whites, Rouge Whites; even the melodramaticand grandiose Archdrake could be found, whose seedswhen ground to an almond paste were quite deadlybut hidden behind tremendous starburst flowers a fullsixteen inches across.Lupita sold flowers. To look at her, one would guess thathad always been her purpose in life. Naturally sallowskinned,she had the high wide cheekbones of an Asiaticwith large perfectly shaped onyx eyes and hair darkas liquorice. She kept it tied back, but a few strandsinvariably escaped and hung over her eyes, lending anendearing imperfection to an otherwise perfect face.Her fingers were long and nimble, and responsible forthe smattering of little trinkets and talismans she sold inconjunction with her flowers. She was a beauty to beholdand all who did agreed her place was among the delicatebeauties of her wares.Sadly, such beauty brings attention and often unwelcomeat that. There were any number of ill-suited beausthat had made their attentions known to her, most ofwhom flitted from girl to girl much like the insects thatfrequented her stall, sampling whichever nectar wason offer. Mostly harmless, she would laugh dutifully attheir flattery, they would buy a flower to present to her,she would pocket the coin and put the flower back ondisplay the moment they had moved on. It was only atiny dishonesty and besides, there seemed little value inpresenting a flower seller with one of her own stock as atoken of esteem.There were more dangerous visitors to her stall thaninsects, however. Being so close to the Guild officesmeant that a constant traffic of bureaucrats and Guildofficials passed through the Square, any number ofthem corpulent, vain and powerful. This was a difficultcombination to resist at the best of times and one or twowere more persistent than most. The worst by far wasErmine Follop.Short and stooped and balding, and undoubtedly all themore venomous for it, Follop had taken a particular shineto Lupita and would make a point of visiting her stalleach morning. He never bought anything despite havingmore than enough coin – no, he sought something that,while on display, was not for sale. He would take everyopportunity to paw at her, holding her hand, offering tobrush hair from her eyes, enquiring after her like a kindlyuncle, but all the time his rapacious eyes would crawlover her and his pink tongue would move ceaselesslyover his teeth and lips. He was a wretched and repellantman, but occupied a position of great influence withinthe Guild and had a reputation for exploiting it.And then there was Adulio. Handsome, stumbling,mumbling Adulio. Like a boy trapped in a man’s body,he had a strong jaw and broad shoulders, but had not thenerve to meet her eye and blushed dramatically every timehe came to her stall. He was endearingly loyal, having beenthe first to buy a wristband from her when she tentativelybegan to make trinkets to supplement her flower sales,but he was still half a child in her eyes. Perhaps in a fewyears when he had found his confidence…she smiled atthe thought and dismissed it. She could never imagineAdulio being anything other than exactly how he was.‘The most beautiful flower in the whole Square,’ said avoice at her shoulder. ‘And how is my beautiful flowerthis morning?’Follop stood inches from her, his eyes flicking across thehollow of her throat. Were a cold leech to have crawledinto her ear, she couldn’t have been more repelled.‘Good morning to you, sir.’ She acknowledged his arrivalwith a pained smile. The creepy little man insisted ontaking her hand and kissing it with his sticky lips. Hisfingernails were long and yellow and she couldn’t avoidstaring at his bald pate while he bowed; it looked like anegg fringed in ratty animal pelt.‘You are growing more delicious with every passing day,’commented Follop, his eyes crinkling above what hewould probably have described as a smile. ‘Blossominginto a woman before my very eyes. It does my soul goodto see you each morning.’Lupita doubted that he had one, but answered, ‘Kindwords, sir. Would you care to make a purchase thismorning?’‘Pale imitations,’ he said dismissively, gesturing towardsher stock. ‘No stem nor petal can compare to the beautythat stands here before me.’8 © Copyright Wyrd Miniatures, LLC
‘You have a way with words, sir, but words alone cannotfuel my hearth or fill my stomach. Is there nothing herethat might brighten your office? Some Silver Smock,perhaps? Or a Lily-On-The-Water?’Follop stepped closer in what was undoubtedly aconfidential gesture but only served to bring herinto the radius of his body odor. ‘I understand yourconcerns, sweetling. Times are hard for all concerned,least of all a street vendor. My heart grows heavy at thethought of your beauty standing here day after day invain, ultimately wilting like your displays.’‘I make a living, sir. From those that wish to buy.’His tongue squirmed across his lips like a shaved weasel.‘Being an employee of the Guild, I am considered aninfluential man in some circles and not without finances.I could ensure that you were well looked after – I couldsee to it that you could put all this behind you and livea life of comparative luxury. Those delicate hands neednever feel the sting of another thorn.’‘A generous offer, sir, but I am content with my lot.’Follop chuckled, ignorant to Lupita’s growingdiscomfort. ‘My dear, there is no need to be so humble.Beauty deserves to be treated with favor and delicacy,and you are uncommonly beautiful.’‘Again sir, you flatter me, but I have a business to tend.’She glanced about in the hope of snaring anothercustomer with which to excuse herself but the stand wasfrustratingly empty. Follop made a show of plucking abrilliant purple Moonshade and twirling it in his hand.‘Might I suggest that this is an opportunity you shouldnot brush aside so lightly?’ he said, examining thetrumpet-shaped flower. ‘Have you no desire to wear thefinest silks, nor dine in the most opulent restaurants ofthe city? I would see to it that you were the jewel in thecrown of <strong>Malifaux</strong> society.’‘I am a flower girl, sir. I could never be a part of suchgrandeur.’‘If you are content with less, then so much the better.Whatever you could wish, I can provide,’ he said.Lupita had inched back as much as she dared, strugglingto find a way to extricate herself from this conversationwithout offending the foul little man.‘I fear the price for such luxury would be too high,’ shesaid then quickly added, ‘Besides – I am my own womanand have the freedom to do as I will. Why would I givethat up?’Follop raised the Moonshade to his lips and brushedthem lightly. ‘Come, my dear. You resist so strongly,but we both know that my offer is more than generous.Surely I am not that unappealing?’Lupita heard a muffled zipp and then Follop’s expressioncontorted with surprise and pain. He twitched backlike a man stung – which was exactly what he was –and clapped a hand to his face. The Moonshade wasthrown from him convulsively and Lupita watched ayellowjacket hornet spiral lazily from the depths of theflower and take to the morning air.The little man howled in pain, clutching at his rapidlyswelling nose and it was then that Lupita did a foolishthing. She giggled.Follop’s face flushed crimson with humiliation and rage.‘Amused, are we?’ he snarled, still gripping his injurednose. ‘You’ll rue the day you rejected me, you willfullittle bitch! Before this day is out, I’ll knock you off thathaughty pedestal – just you wait.’Flustered and boiling with anger, he spun on his heeland barged away across the square, knocking overseveral clay pots and spilling their contents. Lupitawatched him go with growing trepidation.It was an hour or so later when Adulio pushed his wayalong the busy thoroughfare to Curmudgeon Square.He had spent some considerable time washing off theslime and muck of the marshlands and choosing anoutfit in which to meet Lupita. His hair was slicked backwith pomade and he had a fresh daisy in the buttonhole of his best suit. Upon removing the silk bandagehe discovered to his surprise that there was no evidenceof Zoraida’s cut to his palm – the skin was smooth9 © Copyright Wyrd Miniatures, LLC
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