"Come on man, do we have to do things this way?" Alric whined softly to Danny as he sat awkwardly in a plush chair that seemed built for a giant.

At least it was better than poor Danny who had to stand behind him straight as a spear. He looked positively ridiculous in that get up; his hair slicked back like some sort of thug, which Alric guessed was probably the point. He was adorned in a tunic that reached his knees absent a belt, the thing was once a crimson red, now mottled with a mess of patterns patching up the tears. Despite the absurdity of it, Alric had to admit that the get-up screamed bard up to the high court. Just missing a foppish hat with a large feather.

Though quite frankly, how well Danny seemed to fit the role was the least of their worries. The chief worry sat just beyond the fireplace in an equally plush chair, giving Alric a look that unnerved him. Hanging casually on his lip was a pipe that seemed to puff smoke directly into his eyes, making them water. Smoking never struck Alric before quite as badly as this did. Perhaps it had something to do with him now being water elevated? Just thinking about his current predicament sucked the levity out of him for pulling off such an elaborate scheme. It could be worse, not as if he was chained outside and harassed by his friends and neighbors.

Honestly, Alric still had misgivings about the whole thing. No way any sensible person would approve of such injustice, especially not for such a kind woman. Yet it felt bigger than that like there was a rotten fruit that Alric could smell but had yet to bite into… That's it!

"Anything the matter, sire?" Danny asked like the winter air, his gaze evidently telling Alric to knock it off.

Alric at least had the decency to be abashed after his sudden lunge forward in his chair at his revelation. "Merely adjusting myself for comfort," he supplied before hastily adding, "... not that it concerns you peasant."

Danny nodded, taking a step back into Alric's periphery. With that settled Alric settled his gaze on the mayor once again. The genial, plump faced man was politely pretending that he didn't almost spill his pipe into his lap with fright. Patting his thigh, he chuckled to himself muttering something about excitable kids these days. It was the way he talked that gave him away, sounding as if a patronizing satire of Talbot, completely servile and with utmost elegance. Just like Talbot, the voice was a ruse, that meant Baydock was hiding something. The only question was what?

Alric had to be circumspect about this, clever as Danny and as Bruno-ish as possible, “So what’s the deal with that woman outside?” Nailed it.

“Oh, terribly dreary business that. I wouldn’t want to concern young sir with Esmerelda’s suffering,” mayor Baydock slapped away almost immediately. Then he paused, seemingly weighing something within his head before continuing, “However since elevated has asked then this humble servant will help you to the best of his ability."

Leaning into a whisper, looking ever the old gossip, "See turns out the old woman was a cultist of the divine book. They're some wackadoos who believe fate is predetermined and written down within a book that even the high court is unaware of. Downright silly that."

Alric thought he vaguely had heard of that cult before, as much as one could hear about heretical cults. Maybe, Esmeralda was a cultist? He found it difficult to believe, considering how sensible she seemed. It's rather difficult to disprove the high court when many people see them so regularly.

Just as his thoughts spiraled down the whirlpool of his mind, a cough brought Alric out of the depths. Danny was struggling between whether he should be servile or a knobhead, "...Sire, how could we be certain you’re not full of rubbish? No offense meant sire.”

That at least brought a good-natured chuckle out of Baydock. Alric personally felt unnerved by the laugh but was polite enough to laugh along with him. Finally settling down, Baydock assured, “I wouldn’t dare to throw around the term heretic lightly. The captain of my guard was approached by Miss Esmeralda and being the loyal servant he is, he reported the matter to me at which point I acted immediately and sent the guards to seize her. She will be executed in three days”

Danny spat out, “So you’re saying a mother's life is going to end at the mere word of your guard? Lords above, I thought blasted fools like you only existed in the stories.”

“Daniel!” Alric shouted, startling his brother out of his anger. Danny seemed ready to argue further but was cognizant enough of their lie to grind his teeth, bow his head in apology and return his vigil behind Alric. Alric needed to get him out of here before he properly exploded, “I have to thank you for hosting me, Mayor Baydock. However, it seems that my useless servant requires better tutelage. If you’d excuse us, we’ll make our way to our rooms wherever that may be.”

Mayor Baydock finally broke his stare towards Danny, gesturing with his hand he summoned the servant busying themselves elsewhere in the room, “Beatrice, be a dear and show these guests to their accommodations,” he commanded. Beatrice bowed silently before leading the duo out of the study and through a few halls before depositing them in Alric’s suite. The whole room was humble by nobility standards, so grand compared to Alric’s room. Or old room. The wall opposite the bed had a giant bay window that overlooked the town center. The bed was wider than Alric’s arm span and seemed to be comfortable enough down. An armoire was pushed against a corner, made of a boring pine with very little ornamentation. A work of an apprentice given the nervous, halting floral pattern. Most likely a student in a major workshop meant to sell several dozen armoires of near-identical make. Traces of dust in corners and faint scratches in the wood told of half-hazard care.

“Wow, this place is certainly flashy,” Danny muttered as he did his best to root out any would-be spies, as if he had any training to begin with. Which maybe he did, though it seemed unlikely his best friend had secret spy training behind his back. Lords above, why was he even thinking about such a thing? A woman was sentenced to death right outside, and here he was acting like a child; he went along with Danny’s ridiculous plan because he secretly thought it’d be a lark. What was he supposed to do though? He had no power, no strength to do anything about this mockery of justice. He was weak and that needed to change.

Alric snapped out of his daze, “Huh, What?”

“I said this place sure is regal,” Danny reiterated, his search completed for the moment.

“Well actually it’s rather mediocre for a noble’s accommodations, no fireplace for the winter,” Alric gestured to the bare wall, “and no furniture for seeing guests so all we can do is involve the mayor if someone wants to have our company,” he commented absentmindedly, his brain still struggling to catch up to his mouth.

Danny nodded along, “Ah, so it’s all power games. So when are we going to kick that fatty’s teeth in? I mean you heard him yourself, it’s just the word of his lackey. That’s as flimsy as parchment.”

At this point Danny was just pacing back and forth, working himself up into a nice froth. Alric tried to simmer him down, “Yes it’s certainly fishy but we need to confirm that this guard is corrupt before we do anything. The plan stays, we still need to get into his office and see if we can find proper evidence before we act.”

---

So they waited, hoping for some opportunity to present itself. Maybe there would be a riot, or everyone but them would spontaneously collapse. Sadly no such miracle occurred, instead, a rasp on the door marked dinner. Beatrice led them leisurely into the dining hall, a banquet underway despite the bleak undertakings right outside the front door. There were no noble titles on display in Respite, so the hall was packed with merchants of all varieties, each eager to rub elbows with a scion from the big city. Alric was impressed Baydock managed to even plan such a gathering inside of an hour.

The traders were a rather boastful lot, each parading around some smug kid who reckoned they would become the next Champion of a Lord. They made Bruno look downright humble. They kept trying to bribe Alric, each putting a Moon or two into a handshake that he had to awkwardly return. As much as Alric could use the money, it just felt like they were trying to buy his silence.

“Hey, what are we going to do?” Danny asked as he pretended to bump into him among their swarm of pests. He seemed even more aggravated than Alric did, though if Alric didn’t know any better, he’d have thought Danny was a fish to water. The perfect image of cordiality.

Alric thought for a moment. “We need a distraction to get rid of these pests,” he grunted out, gesturing discreetly to the crowd. Wasn’t discreet enough as the merchant took that as an invitation to try and start up yet more small talk.

“Couldn’t I just slip away? They are all focused on you anyways.” Danny asked after Alric shooed the merchant away, irritation seeping through his smile. No way Alric was giving up this chance to be without these vultures.

“You’ll be instantly suspicious in that get-up. Every servant in a quarter-mile is already hiding the silver, good luck keeping your head on if you’re caught. No, you need to distract them so I can make it in. If any maid asks me I can just say I needed to find the privy,” Alric countered, “And don’t even think of saying you don’t know-how. You’ve charmed a hoard of drunks, how would a swarm of merchants be any different?” he made sure to add quickly.

Danny choked down his rebuttal in a cry. Alric could’ve sworn he saw a touch of Danny die in some part, swallowed underneath the carefree mask he wore that suddenly seemed to carry an edge to it. “Fine, but you owe me next time,” Danny whistled through his teeth.

“Next time there's a riot of peddlers that needs distracting, I’ll be the first to act,” Alric said, hoping no part of his glib satisfaction was telling to his brother.

Danny just gave him a wave of the hand that told him it did show and tugged off the lute case that Alric only just realized was on his back. He blamed the tiring party for the lapse in awareness, Pa always insisted he keep track of every weapon in a room and the lute should qualify in Danny’s hands.

Danny weaved through the crowd, drawing little attention. If anything the merchants seemed to eye Alric even more hungrily now that his servant was gone. However, all that lost attention was immediately gained with interest when Danny’s head leapt above the milling social circles and his feet landed dead middle among the serving table. Danny didn’t say a word to the now silent hall, just silently pulled out his green lute and began to tune. Guards appeared beneath him, perplexed as whether to pull him down or risk angering their boss. Tacitly they agreed not to act unless a command was given, each seemingly ready to run him through. None of that was needed as soon the whole hall was swept up in the song Danny began to sing. It was infectious; the lively beat causing heads to bob, feet to tap, and hips to sway.

“Come on everyone, let’s have an actual party!” Danny shouted with a showman’s enthusiasm, then beginning a song Alric failed to recognize.

A wink from Danny reminded Alric of his role to play, quickly excusing himself from the crowd that was starting to migrate towards the center of the hall. His path was briefly blocked by a curious trader who asked him where he was going, using the privy excuse Alric made a clean break into the empty hall. The servants were either busy helping with such an event or had enough good sense to be far away to avoid being enlisted to help.

Tracing his steps through the halls, Alric soon arrived at the door of the study. Praying to Lord Theft that it is unlocked, Alric closed his eyes and twisted. Apparently, Mayor Baydock put too much faith in his servants not to pry. Or made sure his guards kept the servants from prying. Crouching down in what Alric realized was transparently thief-like behavior, he crept into the dark office and closed the door gently behind him. Using the moonlight to navigate, Alric made his way to the desk. His shoes slightly rumpling the carpet with his small, sliding gait.

The desk was of better make than the armoire but still lacked the familiar ornamentation most of the furniture at home held. So probably a journeyman this time, probably from the same workshop considering how similar the floral patterns were. At the top of its worn surface stood a messy pile of reports that he and Danny interrupted with their impromptu arrival. Searching through the parchment netted Alric little except reports and ledger summaries. Seemed the haul of fish would barely be able to sustain the town a few more weeks, and the quarry was slated to grow by a third in the following two years. It all painted Baydock as an ambitious man that was willing to cut corners, but not as an evil man. That was until Alric found the blueprint.

It was nothing special really, a new wing of the manor for training was going to be built in a few weeks with the money saved from the fish that Baydock sold before winter. At least that’s what Alric inferred given the ledgers and reports dating back several years within the desk drawers. However, the catch was the wing would be located right where the Tilted Toadstool is. And the kicker? It was signed a full week before Esmerelda being abducted from her home. Reading all this, Alric could only come to one conclusion. Esmerelda was innocent.