_{by jaymamma.}

As I watched the new queen received her crown, I felt utter exhaustion and no small part of disgust. This was not the worst thing that could have happened, but yea it was pretty horrible. Dare against his better judgement booed and was drawing attention. Goat sounds erupted from amongst the crowd.

    Every time one did Halia glanced in my direction eyes narrowing as if trying to catch me in the act of doing it. Wasn’t me and it definitely wasn’t me that told most of the small children in town that Halia, loved goats so much, that if they made goat sounds when they saw her it would bring out that happiness. Nope, knew nothing about that, Not I. Not Lilvari. I smiled at her cheerfully. To most it would look genuine, likely not to Halia. Which was in essence the point. I knew she wanted us to be angry and make a mistake and make it easy for her. No, I could play that game too. Dare not so much. His flagrant running of the mouth was beginning to become an issue. Not too mention I was still extremely angry at him for the whole wagon ordeal. I believed a lesson was in order. 

    I remembered a fellow Hexblade from the past. Or more I remembered his weapon I honestly don’t even remember his name. It was a club, a simple weapon for a simple man I suppose. “Head Smasher it was called. I know, not terribly original but quite apt. It’s special property was even more bizarre. If Wherever you cracked someone with it, say even their big toe. The target would get the same injury as if they were stricken in the skull. 

I stared intently at Halia as I lifted my hand. I though about the weapon. Her eyes widened as I did so, and for a second I wondered if she thought I was going to take my shot now. My smile widened. The club fully formed and I whirled it down across Dare’s tailbone. He grunted and immediately one hand went to his ass and the other too his head. He began to sway as if he was going to go unconscious. Mercarri caught him. Barely. 

“What the hell happened” She asked.

I shrugged. “Karma?” I replied. “Why don’t you help him home to bed where he can rest and maybe get his WITS about him.”

She frowned. Then smiled at the excuse to use her newfound ogre strength. Like a child. She was up until the wee hours of the morning Karate chopping wood around the manor. I sometimes wished I could glean such glee from such simple things, but alas I am me.

I watched as they made way back to the manor. I glanced back at Halia. I mouthed. “Your welcome” Then turned on my heel and began walking away, Droop followed. A few steps down the road I heard the gravel kicked behind us. I turned expecting a blade for some reason.

It was Annette and Lillian. 

“Lillian I asked you to stay inside it is not safe for you….”

She cut me off….Kids.

“Your starting to sound an awful lot like my mom and Dad.” “Why wouldn’t I be safe, the poisoner is locked up?”

I cringed as Droop responded without thinking. 

“We don’t think it was her at all”

I glared down at droop which the girls noticed.

Tears came to Lillian’s eyes.

“You mean the person who killed my grandpa is till out there?”

I put a hand on her shoulder.

“We don’t know for sure, but it seems way to convenient for it to have been Grista”

“Why didn’t you tell me, why didn’t you do something?”

“I said I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to upset you, and just in case I wanted you at the manor it is the safest place in town for you until your parents come.”

“Who do you think did it”  She asked.

“I don’t know So I assume it could be anyone”

She then looked down at Droop.

“What do you think?” 

He bit his lip. He looked at me, then at Her. Then just blurted it out.

“The most logical answer barring some unknown player, is Halia. She had the most to gain. She has been insulted, made a full of and outmaneuvered since The party arrived here. 

I looked around and noted one of the guards watching us, no doubt listening.

“Come lets head back to the Manor we can discuss there away from prying ears.” 

    We walked back and I was right not to have mentioned it. I should have known Droop would tell if asked. The way he had said it thought, made it seem as If maybe we had brought this on. Which in a way we did if she was behind it. I explained to the girls why I had such a dislike for Halia and what I intended to do because necessity dictated that I at least attempt to broker some sort of peace. So that we could operate and hopefully sooner than later if it was Her be able to prove it. If she wasn’t the culprit then I would play nicely as long as required. I was being truthful when I told her that as long as she had the best interests of the town in mind she would have no issues from me.

    I could at least make the argument due to her business dealings here it would make sense for her to want the town safe and secure. If it was solely business for her then her motives were less pure than my own. I truly loved it here. The home I always wanted. I had a home, a garden, a horse and two riding partners I adored. Lest not forget my goblin protégé. Mercarri and Mystic were welcomed sisters in arms. Dare, well he is useful as long as his mouth stays closed. That to me was more important than getting the best of Halia. I mean realistically I could walk back to the podium now and murder her in front of everyone if I so desired. There wouldn’t be anyone who could stop me. That thought made me happy. Just then Rydolph staggered past.  He noted me smiling. 

“What are you plotting” he asked.

“Nothing just had a thought”

“Did it involve some type of foul act or murder”

I smiled. “Could be”

“Would I know the someone?”

“I think you know exactly”

He grinned. “You know when I was talking about filling in holes?”

“Yes, I remember”

“I don’t say this lightly, sometimes, just sometimes, a hole fills in quicker if you throw a body in it first”

My jaw dropped. That I had not expected.

“Don’t look so shocked, sometimes some people deserve… no need to die being good and doing good sometimes requires a bit of wrong”

He looked around the room. 

“Do you mind if me and Lil have a word in private?”

I blushed. He called me Lil for the first time.

“I could show you girls what I’m working on in my lab? “Droop said He smiled toothily and excitedly.

“Sold” Annette replied. She turned to Lillian. “He always has the coolest things to show”

Droop jumped up and down. and skipped gleefully as each of them took one of his hands and headed to the door downstairs.

I smiled widely watching them go.

“Much has changed for you since Thundertree. For the better”

My smile didn’t fade. “Yes it has. I have riding students and -“

“They mean much more too you than that, you see the opportunity for them to be better, to have better than you did. A chance to live the life you didn’t get too.”

I considered it. “Yes, but now I fear for them, their connection to me may put them at risk. I am afraid to leave the town and leave them defenseless. If Halia did perpetrate the poisoning, and was intent on killing us as well who says she wont try again. I blurted this all out. It had been kicking around in my head but I hadn’t given it enough purchase to feel the emotional weight of it, the actual fear.

“I see, and so what do you do next?”

“Well, I can’t just kill her. I can’t prove it. I don’t know.”

“Why are convinced it was her?”

“Because I know it wasn’t Grista to convenient. Also, if Halia didn’t have anything to do with it, would she not want to explore every avenue of finding the responsible party? She wants to pin it on Grista, if she’s as smart as she plays at she would see the fallacy in Grista being responsible. 

“Could you be wrong about Grista?”

“I could there is not yet any way to be certain either way”

“But you could certainly be right?”

I frowned. “Are you trying to make me doubt my theory or supporting it?”

He laughed. I am trying to help you find a reasonable solution that covers the angles either way. Keep your friends close, your enemies closer.”

“I knew you were going to say something of that nature”

“I am not surprised you already know what to do or at least try”

I hugged him. Old bastard always knew what to say when.

“Thanks, you mind sitting watch here for a little bit, make sure the girls don’t go anywhere.?”

“Have any more of that whiskey?”

I smiled. “coming right up.

I brought him a bottle, and retreated to my room. I sat at my desk grabbed a quill and a parchment and wrote.

Halia,

I write because I hope it to be a precursor to a civil conversation between us in the future. As it stands, I do not see that as a possibility without clearing the air without a rambling Dare nearby. In written form I feel I can better convey my intent without danger of ego or emotion leading me to argument. I meant what I said at the town hall. I want what is best for this town. Why? I have become fond of it and its people. Being here has become more than a job or a bounty. I have great concern for the safety of the town. There are dangers abound, and none are needed inside it. To the north in Thundertree lurks a adult green Dragon, I am also concerned that if Indeed Grista was responsible for the murders, did she work alone? If Harbin was a deliberate target, you could be next.  We are a tad overzealous at times yes, and I apologize for your door and insulting Laurel. We at that point feared you dead as well, being next in line at succession. This all taking place after the fall of Cragmaw also made it possible that it was a retaliatory attack by the black spider. I have deep regret over the happenings at the party, it was never my intent to bring harm to anyone. I was supposed to be joyous. Either way, I wish to proceed from here peacefully. There are still gnolls to hunt, dragons to slay, spiders to squash, and a mine to find. I have no interest in the politics in town, my specialty is more into hunting and killing and protecting those who aren’t capable of such. What better place to do that than here, a place I would gladly call home. Safety is also good for business, or so I have heard. As I stated above, I would have a word about how we can make this work from here, and what is to become of the Mine once we have secured it.

Sincerely,

Lilvari

I leaned back and read it. I meant it all. I hoped we could make this work. I also to my nature strangely found myself not wanting Halia to be guilty. It was like I wanted everyone to be innocent around me, so I could punish myself further for being so horrible. I really did have issues. That was one thing I knew to definitely be true. 

I strolled down to Town Hall. Sildar looked up with apprehension. He then looked to the spot on my thigh he knew I kept the blowpipe. Maybe he was just reminiscing about my thigh and where it had been not to long ago. I smiled at that thought and at him. Halia looked up with no small degree of menace, or maybe A little bit of fear, at least I hoped. I dropped the letter gently in front of her. 

“Hail the new town master I said. and before any response could be contemplated I was out the door and on my way back to the manor. I though again of Head Smasher. Maybe I would crack it across Dare’s knees a few times for kicks.