CH. 16 - To Catch a Killer

[HorizonsDream]

"Not today," Ladonna says. "I wanted to ask about Jherek," she says. "Have either of you heard from him?"

[Daos]

Ladonna
At Ladonna's question, Drundor, who is lifting up a butcher's knife to chop up some meat, suddenly drops it and it nearly cuts off his foot.

"Wait, do you know our boy?" Thessila asks.

Drundor picks up the knife and gingerly sets it on the cutting board, before coming over.  "Dear, that's Ladonna Marche.  Remember, the one Jherek used to hang out with?"

"Oh, sorry, I guess I didn't recognize you," Thessila apologizes.  "Do you know where he is now?  We haven't heard from him in weeks.  It's not uncommon for him to vanish for a time...you know, go off hunting with Katya or Theron, but...it's been longer than normal, and we're starting to get worried."

Lillian
Lillian heads up to her old room.  It's been refurnished now, so it looks exactly like any other inn room.  But there are still little signs of the twenty years she lived here.  A scratch on the wall from where she accidentally scuffed it moving furniture, an old stain of goblin's blood on the floor from when one of them tried to break in here during the battle and she hit him in the head with a lamp.  That sort of thing.

[GravityEmblem]

Lillian lays down on the bed, feeling...comforted with the familiarity. She desperately needs that. All she can think of is the disastrous contract, doubting her friendship with Ladonna, and the Barone teasing her behind her back--or, front. Or planning evil with the Bloody Spear. Or whatever. And she's tipsy, to boot.

She feels quite apprehensive about the proposed flirting with his bodyguards for information. Both because the idea makes her uncomfortable, and because the best chat-up line she can think of is "You have beautiful eyes, may I lick them?" (Though perhaps that was the cider talking). She reaches for her lute and absentmindedly plucked a few notes, pondering her next choice.

[HorizonsDream]

"I'm afraid I don't know where he is," Ladonna says. "That was why I paid you two a visit," she explains. "You said it has been weeks since you heard from him. What did he say to you before he disappeared?"

[Daos]

"He didn't say anything," Thessila answers.  "That's what's got us worried.  Why are you looking for him?"

[HorizonsDream]

"I'm afraid that he is wanted for a crime," Ladonna says. "So it is of the utmost importance that we find him as soon as possible."

[Daos]

"A crime?  No, my son is innocent," Thessila insists.  "You're working for that crooked barone, aren't you?"

[HorizonsDream]

"Innocent or not, he still needs to be found," Ladonna points out. "So this whole mess can be put behind us. Though, why do you say the Barone is crooked?"

[Daos]

"I've done my research," Thessila answers proudly.  "I've learned everything I can about him.  I've heard his barony ripe with corruption.  Gambling, piracy, slave trade, prostitution, you name it.  I don't know why he's here and why he's claiming my son is a criminal, but I'm sure there's some kind of angle he's working here."

[HorizonsDream]

Ladonna glances around for a moment to make sure it is just the three of them within the butcher shop. "Perhaps," she finally says. Ladonna happened to agree, but she still wasn't quite sure what that angle was. "But nothing is going to be found out if we don't find your son," she explains. "Could I perhaps search his room? Perhaps he left some clues as to where he could be?"

[Daos]

"Absolutely not," Thessila answers.  "If your intention is to turn him over to that corrupt barone, then there's no way I'd let you snoop around his room.  Wherever he is, I'm sure he's clearing his name.  He can't do that if he's rotting in some Calabrian dungeon."

[HorizonsDream]

"And what if there is something in his room that will help prove that he is innocent?" Ladonna asks.

[Daos]

Thessila hesitates at that, thinking it over.

"Like what?" asks Drundor, skeptically.

[GravityEmblem]

Lillian shakes her head and puts up her lute, resolved to stop moping.

Panola was busy looking after the Waelnod house, but she supposed Finbul would be available to talk to--or require her with some personal issue of his.

[Daos]

Lillian recalls the last place she saw Finbul was back at the ranch.  Likely he's visiting his family, and is probably still there.