The deed was done swiftly. A dagger to the ribs followed by the ritualistic placement of the body; the Desnan butterfly held to her chest as though she was trying to ward her attacker off.
It was only in his room later that evening, with no one around him, that Alazandaru began to feel remorse; and struggled to crush it under his will.
Shortly after Skorm returns to the inn, the rest of you arrive as well. Word of the discovered body spreads quickly through town, also coming to visit the inn. While the people are saddened by the loss of the young girl's life, it quickly changes into pointing out Barhold had been lost first. The talk in the bar carries on, talk of removing the Desnans from town, talk of locking them up, talk of finding the ones responsible.
As night begins to fall and drink emoboldens people to plan on their own, town guards come into the inn and post a notice from the mayor...
People of Aldencross,In these times when life has been lost, it's understandable our desire to do something more. And something will be done. Tomorrow I will make an announcement to the town with Lord Havelyn at 10 bells. Tonight stay locked in your homes with your loved ones.
Owain Welsh
Mayor of Aldencross
The notice seems to do the trick, for while the talk continues on, the crowd quiets down and begins to disperse.
When Sister Margoleine reaches the inn, she is distraught to hear the news. "And to think, I was out for a ramble with those ruffians and rebels terrorizing the countryside!" she reflects, shocked at her own narrow escape from the murderous Desnans. "Here I believed that the only danger to Aldencross was on the far side of the wall!"
"Good initiative Alazandaru... we have the town at a worry, and by the gods it is an almost perfect chance to sink the despair deeper... but it is soon, can it be done without dislodging the base of our house of cards."
Wringing hands together he continues "The Mayor and the Lord Havelyn himself will be in one place... and all of the town will be there also. We have the raiment of their dear Captain, and the corpse of one of the most prominent of the Desnans... surely this can be a rock that could be used to break the spirit..."
"It is well and good to set the villagers at each other's throats," Tatya warns, "and every soldier's eye turned inward is one less turned outward when the time is ripe. Yet if we draw too much scrutiny upon the people of Aldencross, how long will it be before they become suspicious of strangers and newcomers? We have some protection in our guise as slaves of their goddess, but it cannot be denied that we arrived just before the trouble started and that they know nothing of us but what we have caused to be known. We must guard our own well-being even as we carry out our mission." She sighs. "How long before the Cardinal's allies are in place? How much longer must we maintain this charade?"
I agree that we must take steps to shroud ourselves from blame. What do you have in mind for tomorrow, Bostarg?
"Well," Tatya replies, rising to her feet, "I have no expertise either at moving corpses or at skulking through the darkness. If you've something I can do to help, inform me in the morning. I need my rest." She starts to her room.
I think that plan is a little too ambitious Bostarg. We've done enough clandestine actions for now; its time for you to step up with your words and make this speech work in our favour. Tell us what you need us to do.
Tatya pauses at the door. "Will you speak as Jonas the merchant," she asks, "or in another guise? Should we attend as your known allies and traveling companions or as strangers?"
Tatya nods. "I shall say Jonas had difficulty sleeping due to the rumors of treachery and bloodshed and remained behind in the inn under the effects of a soporific. That explains his absence while giving you the option of reappearing under his appearance and saying you just woke up should your new one prove particularly unwelcome in Aldencross."
