The
next morning, Santino told the others that he would come to the
meeting a bit late, since he had something else he had to do first.
He wouldn’t answer what exactly he was doing, only referencing a
cup, and no one really wanted to know after that. So they left
without him.
Heimish also decided to bow out of the meeting, stating that he had something he had to do. “Oh?” Kendra asked. “And that something involves what you have cooking in the kitchen?”
“Yes, lass. It’s an old tradition in my family to give a gift of corned beef wrapped in cabbage leaves to someone who you wish to thank.”
“I see. Have fun.” She turned to Natalya. “If you have something else you wish to do, there’s no reason you have to go. The guardsman is making the report and Stein will be there to correct any mistakes he makes.”
The tiefling shook her head. “The last time the council met, it was attacked by flaming skulls. I am still supposed to keep you safe for the remainder of the month, and so I will go with you to make sure you are safe.”
“I see,” Kendra said. She shrugged, then smiled. “If it makes you happy, you’re welcome to come along, then.”
Less than an hour later, at the meeting, Vrodish stood before the council. “…And then he takes the sword from me, just when I was getting used to it! So he handed me the axe, which for some reason NOW he could let go of. I think he had been pretending because he didn’t want to give up the best weapon, but since I found a better one, he just HAD to have it so NOW he could let the axe go…”
Once he was done with his normal morning, Santino left the manor to head for the meeting. As he walked through town, he kept his shiny new sword on his hip, ready to draw it at the first sound of a stirge.
As he walked, he passed the town hall, he spotted Heimish at the door of a home. He was about to call out when the door opened and the young woman from the records office appeared. Her face flushed as she smiled at the preacher. She daintily accepted the bundle he was carrying and invited him inside.
Santino chuckled to himself as the door shut behind Heimish. “You sly dog,” he said. He continued walking, but stopped several minutes later as the inn came into view. “I’ll be damned if Heimish is the only one getting some this morning,” he said, licking his lips. “The meeting will be fine without me.”
As he entered the inn, he spotted Serianna cleaning a table. She was alone in the room, which was perfect for Santino. He walked up to the bar. “What’s for breakfast?” he asked.
She looked up and finally acknowledged him. “Glad to see you’re in good health.”
“A hero like me – who almost singlehandedly saved the town, by the way – wouldn’t let a little thing like facing death to protect everyone get in the way of what’s really important. Like having breakfast in the company of a beautiful woman.”
“I thought Alvin did all the work,” she said, dubiously.
“Oh, that? I was embellishing his importance for my sister’s sake. I’m still trying to get the two of them together.”
“I see… and that part where you waxed poetically about his rippling muscles as he ‘stood over the bones of his fallen foes’?”
“…Kendra really needs to get laid.” This was not going how Santino imagined at all. And deep down, he knew he only had himself to blame. But he wasn’t going to let his own mouth get in the way. He looked up and began to speak, but stopped when he noticed Serianna deep in thought. “What?”
“I was just thinking that you weren’t wrong about Alvin’s muscles. I saw him once without his shirt working in the garden of the monastery and… well, anyway,” she trailed off with a blush.
Santino’s spirits fell. He had the feeling that not only had he messed up his approach, but that he had completely screwed himself. “But… I’ve got muscles too,” he said, unable to think of what else to say in his frustration.
Serianna looked at him, a bit of pity in her eyes. “Come here, you big goof,” she said, giving him a hug.
Santino tried to kiss her as she embraced him, but she deftly turned her cheek. He knew for sure it wasn’t happening at that moment, so he satisfied himself with copping a feel of her firm backside as a consolation prize. She didn’t say anything, though Santino did not know whether she enjoyed his touch or merely endured it.
“Can I give you something?” he asked when they finally released.
“Depends on what you want to give me.”
He reached into his bag and retrieved a goblet. It was made of silver and while not ornate, was definitely well made. “This is my very favorite cup. I want you to have it. Please think of me fondly when you drink from it?”
“Thank you,” she said graciously, taking the goblet from his hand. “It’s a fine gift.”
“Alright,” he said. “Well, I should get going.”
“Did you decide against breakfast?”
“Yeah, I guess I’m not as hungry as I thought,” he replied as he walked to the door, deciding to head out and go see what Jorfa was up to.
Back at the meeting, Vrodish finally wrapped up his report of what had happened at Harrowstone. Gharen Muricar, the now head of the council, cleared his throat. “An interesting report, but what of the rumors we’ve been hearing through town? Your story contradicts them.”
“Sorry,” Vrodish said. “What rumors?”
“The story common through the town is that the acolyte – Alvin, I believe his name was – single handedly defeated the evil lurking in the ruined prison.”
Seated in the mostly empty audience gallery, Natalya lowered her face into her hand. “What?” Stein whispered upon noticing the pained look on her face.
“Santino,” Natalya whispered back. Kendra just laughed, drawing the attention of the council.
“Something you wish to share, Miss Lorrimor?” Gharen asked.
“Sorry, Councilor,” she said. “It’s just, well, my brother is the source of the rumors. He was trying to entertain the kids who were understandably upset by the events of the previous night. I fear his tale appears to have gotten around more than he expected. I’ll do what I can to keep him on a shorter leash from now on.”
“I’ll pitch in for a muzzle,” Benjan said, annoyed. “So much for keeping this contained in order to prevent worrying the populace.”
Kendra decided to change the subject. “Something bothers me. What happened to the warden? From what it sounds like, he had been keeping the evil spirits contained, but suddenly disappeared?”
Stein cleared his throat. “About that. Based on my investigations, it appears that he was taken.”
“They kidnapped him? Did they use something like one of your haunt siphons?” Kendra asked.
Stein considered it. “It’s not impossible. I hadn’t considered it, but it is definitely a possibility, though I have no evidence suggesting the method they used.”
“And if some group did kidnap him, is it possible that they had something to do with my father’s death?”
“I do not believe so,” Stein answered too quickly.
The rest of the council continued the meeting, and Kendra whispered to Stein. “Do you really believe that?”
“This town is far too superstitious. If word that your father’s death is somehow tied to the events that happened after got out, do you think even the sheriff could stop the mob that would follow?”
“Good point,” Kendra agreed. “Thank you for looking out for him.”
After the meeting was over, the three left to make their way back to the manor, passing by the blacksmith on the way. Standing outside was Santino and a disheveled looking Jorfa. “What are you so mad about?” Jorfa asked.
“You called out Alvin’s name!” Santino growled.
Jorfa gave him an incredulous look. “You called out his name twice,” she said in an exasperated tone. “And that’s just this time! You always call out his name.”
“He’s just so dreamy,” Santino whined.
“Come back inside,” Jorfa purred. “I’ll warm up the irons.”
Santino forgot his anger. “Okay,” he said happily, following her back in.
Natalya pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache coming on. Stein just raised an eyebrow at Kendra, who shrugged and continued on her way back to the manor.
Once they were safely back, Kendra turned to Stein. “Tell me everything you know about my father’s death.”
“My notes are down in the lab,” he said. “And we’re less likely to be overheard there.” He turned to Natalya. “You may need to know this too.”
They went downstairs into the disorganized basement laboratory of Petrus Lorrimor. Kendra looked around, this being the first time she had been down there since Petrus’ death. On the shelf, she spotted something odd. Grabbing the jar and placing it on the table next to the lamp Stein had lit, she examined the contents.
The creature within, a deformed humanoid fetus, snapped at the side of the jar, trying to bite at Kendra. “It’s almost kind of cute,” she said.
“Careful,” Stein said. “It’s more dangerous than it looks.” He set his notes on the table. “Now, you already know why I was in your father’s employ, right?”
“I know part of it.”
“Well, I have a particular skill set. I have a way of finding things. After all of this began, starting with the death of Petrus, I began investigating.”
“I knew you would. There was no way his death could be a mere accident. He was far too careful for that.”
Stein nodded. “Everything I’ve found suggests that The Whispering Way may have been involved.”
Kendra skimmed through the notes. “What is their goal? And why did no one notice them?”
“They are very good at keeping secrets. They cut out their own tongues to prevent themselves from talking, and are known to take efforts to prevent anyone from questioning the spirits of their departed victims.”
Kendra came to a realization. “Like crushing the heads of those they kill so that they cannot be questioned by magic that allows one to talk to the dead?”
“Exactly.”
“I see. But why not capture him and make him help them? Surely they would realize he was more useful alive than dead.”
Stein shrugged. “I suspect that they had what they wanted already.”
“The warden’s ghost?”
“Yes.”
“And he caught them in the act!”
“I suspect so. I can find out more when I have a chance to return to the city through my contacts.”
“When the month is up and you’re supposed to make that delivery, I’ll go with you all. I want to help as much as I can.”
“If you’re sure,” Stein said. “I just hope that I can find out what they want with the warden before it becomes a bigger problem.”
“I won’t rest until I help you find his killers.”
“I won’t stop you, but are you certain that is what your father would want? He went to a lot of trouble to shield you from his work.”
“He never took the time to get to know me,” Kendra said sadly. “It’s settled. It’ll be you, me and Santino.”
Natalya, who had been quietly contemplating the matter, spoke up. “I’ll help, as long as my expenses are covered.”
“Are you sure?” Kendra asked.
“Yes. There are people who would be disappointed in me if I turned my back on this. I owe them my life and do not want to let them down. But I also cannot do so in a way that would cause me to accrue any debt that might become a burden on them.”
Kendra reached out to hug Natalya, but the tiefling shied away, obviously uncomfortable. “Thank you,” Kendra said, finally.
Natalya nodded and headed upstairs, giving one last dubious look at the pickled punk on the table as she left. Once she was gone, Stein turned to Kendra. “Are you sure you want to involve your brother in this?”
“I know he’s eccentric, but he has a good heart.” Stein chuckled at that. “On that note, what of my personal request?”
Stein’s face became stone cold serious. “Are you sure you want to know?”
“Yes,” Kendra answered with determination. “Just what is my brother? I need to know. If he’s a monster, I need to be ready to protect others from him, and I need to protect him from himself.”
Stein nodded. “Very well,” he said, pulling out another notebook and handing it to her. “I don’t have the entire picture yet, but I warn you that you will not be able to unlearn what you discover today.”
“I understand,” Kendra said, beginning to read the notes.
“You don’t. Not yet. But you will. And I don’t think you’ll like it.”
0 Comments