"Of all the surprises you could get, I'd say suddenly finding out you're a great-grandmother was one of the biggest in my life." - Varsha Creussens, Mayor of Zefirous, circa 7 FP.

"Oh, hi Varsha," said Elfriede nonchalantly when they had walked closer to the barracks. Reinhardt quickly noticed the old woman who stood near a bench with her arms crossed, alongside a younger woman who appeared to be in her teens.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. What had I taught you all these years for?" said the old woman as she clicked her tongue. Reinhardt noticed the mock outrage in the woman's tone and let it be. If her story was the truth, then this was his grandmother-in-law after all. In his arms, Ery squirmed and turned around to look at her with curiosity as well. "You didn't even let me know you got married? With a kid at that!?"

"Didn't want you distracted while we're fighting for the city," cited Elfriede all too nonchalantly. Reinhardt thought that she probably just outright forgot to share the news, which wouldn't be strange. When on a mission, Elfriede tended to be very focused on the job often to the point of forgetting many things. "Honest."

Reinhardt heard the old woman make a harrumphing noise, one that made it obvious that she hadn't bought Elfriede's excuse. He had to hold back a chuckle at the look she gave Elfriede, and just shook his head at the sight.

"Maybe it'll be more comfortable to have a chat inside," he said as a friendly gesture to the old woman. The woman looked to him, then back to Elfriede, then back to him again, before she sighed and gestured for him to lead the way, so he did just that as they followed behind his long strides.

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"I do not believe we have been formally introduced yet," said Reinhardt as he brought them to one of the empty meeting rooms in the barracks. The four of them had seated themselves around a small table, with Erycea seated on Elfriede's lap as she looked on with curiosity. "Reinhardt Edelstein, Captain of the Free Lances mercenary company," he said as he extended his right hand for a handshake.

"Varsha Creussens," replied Varsha as she accepted the gesture and shook Reinhardt's hand. Her grip was decidedly firm for a woman of her age, and he felt some worn calluses on her hand that indicated a life filled with violence. "I guess you already heard the news, but I'll be the mayor of the bloody city starting tomorrow. Officially, that is."

"Right. I guess I should probably call you grandmother-in-law as well, since I'm married to your granddaughter," said Reinhardt with a smile. Varsha seemed unperturbed, while Annelise flinched a bit at his smile, which had unnerved many people before, on account of there being too many sharp teeth in open display. "That's Erycea, our child," he added as he pointed to Ery, who raised her little head above the table as she looked at Varsha curiously. "Ery, say hi to your great grandma."

"Hi, great grandma," said the little girl cheerfully from Elfriede's lap. Reinhardt saw the change in the old woman's demeanor instantly, how the tension on her shoulders and the mock indignation vanished.

He had guessed right. There were no grandparents out there that were immune to a young grandkid being adorable in front of them. His own adoptive father had always reacted the same way when Ery gave him a cute look.

Before long, Varsha and Annelise's focus shifted from talking with Reinhardt and Elfriede to doting on Erycea, who quite naturally enjoyed being doted upon. After a while, Reinhardt excused himself and left Elfriede to play host to Varsha while he dealt with a different introduction to be made.

He went down to one of the smaller individual rooms and opened the door, where he found Lars reading a book on his bed. The young tactician had gotten up immediately when Reinhardt came in, and looked him straight in the eyes with resolve. "So… it's time to settle the bills, is it not?"

"You always knew the time would come," said Reinhardt as he brought the young man along to descend the stairs. Several eyes turned to look at them as they reached the main floor of the building, which was where most of the mercenaries were housed. "Relax, we got healers around so you won't die."

"That's like the opposite of reassuring to hear, you know?" protested Lars to which Reinhardt only chuckled. Instead, he called out loud to the gathered mercenaries, followers, and dependants, which made most eyes turn to him and Lars.

"Now that I have your attention, folks," he started as he pushed Lars forward, which drew the gathered people's attention to him. "This man is Lars of Zefirous. By his own admission, he planned and suggested the ambushes we fell into and the first attack on Fort Ascher."

"Since I'm introducing him here, most of you likely already got a gist of what's up," he continued, as he raised a hand to forestall any outbursts from the crowd. "This guy got us good. And had surrendered himself. I feel it would be a waste not to make use of his talents, given his history. As usual, should any of you feel like you still have grievances you wish to vent, step forward now, or else we'll consider things even unless he proved a disappointment."

For a long moment, nobody moved as they just stared at Lars. The attention made the young man gulp in nervousness, and he almost sighed in relief when finally someone moved towards him with firm steps and slapped him hard on the face.

"That's for my grandson," said Ursula as she looked Lars in the eye. Reinhardt was aware that the old woman had lost one of her grandchildren in the ambushes. "You better live up to the expectation and use that brain of yours to keep my other two alive!"

Ursula was followed by a succession of others, every single one of whom had lost a loved one or friend in either the ambushes or the first battle of Fort Ascher. Some punched him. Others pinched his arm or leg and twisted hard until they left a quickly purpling bruise.

A few even stabbed him, though they kept to the limbs. Kasimir's father was one of them, as he stabbed Lars on the shoulder while crying for him to give back his family. A few others also got emotional as they vented their grief on him.

All the while, Loren was on duty as he kept the injuries from growing too serious. By the time the crowd dispersed and finished, Lars was beaten black and blue, bruised all over, with at least a dozen stab wounds on him, but his life was not threatened.