Ansel Medard's Home - Tyra

[kawalsky]

Alanna and Charlie were back at Ansel's home, this time invited for dinner. They sat around the table set for three, quietly eating. The time in Tyra was wearing on them and Ansel was normally quiet unless he had something well thought out to say. Ansel cleaned his mouth with his napkin, then set it down. He wasn't as embroiled in the mission as

Comments

[kawalsky]

"It's working to our advantage," Charlie admitted. "From my end anyway. Most of the servants are either scared of Alanna," he explained to Ansel, "or don't like her, which adds a little more sympathy towards me. What about the King?" he asked.

Ansel considered for a moment. "I have only spoken to him twice recently. He seems caught up with something, as monarchs often are. He thinks the world of you," Ansel said, addressing Alanna. "As your presence gives the firm impression that things are relations are better than ever between Tyra and Tortall. He doesn't seem to know your motives for being here, though it wouldn't surprise me if he did and was keeping it close to his chest." He quickly added, "I very much doubt he had anything to do with the plot against King Jonathan. His Majesty is far too interested in his reputation as a leader among merchants than making his name as a warmonger or landgrabber."

"He's not on my list anymore either," Charlie agreed. "I think our source," he added, speaking of George without naming names, "was right about sending us in this direction. I don't have all the pieces together yet, but I'd bet my best horse that we're close to someone who was involved. If we can figure out who, we'll have a lead on who the ringleader was."

[threeweapons]

"You have a horse to bet?" Alanna asked with a quirk of her lips. "The King doesn't mind that I keep sending his so-called best men to the ground? Good way to make a girl feel welcome." She chewed her fork-full before voicing her next though. "Can I start listing all the guys who creep me out? Or have offered to pay me for private services? It's becoming a long list. Sir Dunold of SomethingIforgot, Docrup Murtiell, Tephan of Crescent Crove, it's a long list."

[kawalsky]

"Dunold of Leafsreach," Ansel replied. "We can rule him out. The Leafsreach family is so inbred they're lucky they can produce an heir that makes it to adulthood. Dunold is one such, but he hasn't the mind for scheming. It is possible he's someone's accomplice, but very unlikely. He's a cad, but that seems to be the extent of his abilities. Murtiell's name surprises me."

"Why's that?" Charlie asked.

"He's a very respectable merchant, as you would have heard. He counsels the King on financial matters at times. If anything, Alanna, the reason he spends so much time doting on you," oh yes, Ansel had noticed, "is his fascination with that which he cannot buy. He won't try anything untoward with you. You're too great an ally."

[threeweapons]

Alanna bit back her first three comments. And her fourth one. Her fifth one got edited a few times before finally getting spoken. "Leafsreach could be someone's brainless pawn. I'm glad that he views me as an ally, I would have for us to have a misunderstanding that ends with my boot in very close proximity to any part of his anatomy that he may be wish to keep. Keep an eye on him? All three of them, really. We need a hand signal for 'this guy creeps me out more than usual.'"

[kawalsky]

"I'm pretty sure we can come up with one," Charlie replied. Or use one that George would have taught them. Ansel didn't need to know about that. "I think we'll have something happening this week. People are moving, drinking more, getting together more. This week I'm making my move. If anything's going on, the servants will know."

[threeweapons]

Alanna nodded. "The drinking more I will see as a good thing. Liquor gets secrets flowing like nothing else. And then we'll learn something, I'll get to arrest someone or at least beat them up, and we can go home."

[kawalsky]

Ansel raised his goblet at them both. "I will most certainly drink to that."