After I departed from the rest of the group, I quickly headed towards Charles' house. It is better for them not to worry about anything and follow their own plans. After arriving there, we talked briefly about my last departures, but of course steered the conversation in me needing his help and connections, once again. He explained, that it is rather easy contacting the merchants and maybe even other sponsors of an event like this. I handed him some of the gold I accumulated during that little trip, and soon after he was off.
But there was no time to relax for me, there rarely ever is. Jirunda appeared, once again. Maybe I should do it similar to Oris and start carrying around some snacks. I wonder if that genie would even like that. They seemed to enjoy my tea quite a lot the last time they appeared. The small talk this time was cut rather short, seeing as they wanted to bestow some new gifts to me. Both are quite generous, making me see in the dark, so that something like the situation in the cave does not repeat itself. We bid our farewells, once again, then I started scheming, while waiting for Charles to return. That next day should be interesting.
We all met up at the orphanage. Ratyn and Aggma seemed to have talked to Martha and shown her something they've found in the cave. Interesting that I did not catch it. My attention seemed to be focused on something else, or I must have gotten rusty after not being in a situation like this for some time. But alas, they had to leave that ball or whatever it was with her, so she could identify it. Good grief, they learn so fast! And apparently Ratyn felt the need to ask Oris if Martha disturbs him. I know about her curiosity towards him and his sister, and I should probably ask her what it is she wants to know. I might even be able to answer her some questions myself.
Finally Sett appeared as well, bloody, as is his custom.
Our little troupe enters the Orphanage, where Lady Trudgeon already prepared some tea for us. We talked briefly about what to do in regards to Harris attempt to undermine the fundraiser. Futile, if you ask me personally, but this is not the point. Surprisingly the whole group agrees, that something should be done. I inform them about the little stone I already set rolling the day before. They seem rather unimpressed. Fine by me, I still have some ideas up my sleeve.
First, we heard that the Duke of Tilley is rumoured to attend Harris' fundraiser. A fact we should not take lightly. The others seemed unbothered by this. Or maybe they are as outraged as I am inside. And the next step is, that a lot of people absolutely accept the necessity of the guards and hunters. I can do a lot with my honeyed words, but that is heavily limited by the fact I cannot convince a whole town, especially if their beliefs are as well funded as they are in this instance.But there is always another way. By not having me the one to persuade the people.
I coyly ask Lady Trudgeon, if she could get the kids to draw posters and make funny pictures, advertising the fundraiser, and have them plastered all over the city. Sometimes people don't need words to be reminded of the right cause.
We promise the Lady we take care of the rest and she should just finish her preparations. And then we leave the orphanage, hopefully for the last time before we return for the fundraiser.
The others seemed to be awfully interested in finding out about the place where Harris's fundraiser will be hold. I don't see any meaning in this, but tagging along might be useful. Maybe we can even meet this Harris again and can convince him to not be a disgusting attention seeker. But who am I to judge.
So, we reach the place, basically the guards garrison or something like that. There was Karlan Grondt, apparently an acquaintance of Harris and Oris decided to talk to them.
I cannot recall in great detail what happened next, because quite frankly, the little guys left me in awe. Oris sputtered out ideas and then more ideas how it would be possible to make Harris’s fundraiser even better and more successful. An interesting take on the problem at hand I must say. But the more he talked and the more notes that Karlan made, the more obvious it became, that Oris just tried to bloat it all out of proportions anyway. And I don’t know if it was naivety or just ignorance, but Harris’s friend just took notes dutifully. And even commented on the awesomeness of some of the even more outlandish ideas. It sounds like this Karlan never went to a fundraiser and assumes those are just some fancy parties. Amateur.
But also, a really wicked action from the smaller Harengon. He either is a wondrous creature, that does not know the customs of this world here, or he is sinister in ways that feel incomprehensible to us. Either way, Oris was indeed successful. Off the lackey went to find it’s master.
If we’re lucky this could mean the end of his fundraiser. I doubt a guy with a skull as thick as his would fall for words like Oris’s, but only time and a little bit of patience will tell.
And apparently this was just our Plan A. Sett might be of the mindset to not leave any bird unstoned. He proposed another solution. One he cannot tell us. Ah! A man of few words but really loud actions. The more time I spent with him the clearer it is, why Jirunda thought of him as really useful.
Still at the garrison, he asks for the captain of the guards, Lestran Hapler, that he apparently knows and who owes him a favor. Really, this Sett is quite interesting! So, with asking him for the favor of not giving Harris space for the fundraiser, and us having to pay a tribute of 100 gold pieces, as well as having Ratyn train the guards with the bow, that is a surprisingly cheap price to pay. Getting the money should be easy, seeing how this team has proved to be really good in conquering difficult situations. I am looking forward to it.
But of course, nothing ever stays quiet and easy for us. This seems to be a curse on me, long before I even met any one of those.
Margaret Cotton appeared, searching for none other than Harris. And with her, her daughter Nila Cotton. I don’t know those people and honestly, I do not care. But I would not write about them if they weren’t interesting. Because apparently this Nila is the daughter of Harris. And she hates his face. Pure perfection.
Maybe, just maybe, if his own daughter decides to not come to his event and rather work for Lady Trudgeon, it might be a really big blow to his ego, and he might realize how his actions affect the lives of others. Orphans, small, orphaned children.
It was rather easy to convince her to be a guard on the fundraiser. I am surprised and not surprised at the same time.
And so, with Nila acting as another guard, seemingly with a similar skill than our very own scout here, there should not be a lot in the way of a successful fundraiser. At least this is what I believe.
Ready to head back to Charles or maybe do some shopping on my own, we all stare for a second, when Ratyn herself suddenly decides to act. With a puffed-out chest and lots of anger in her eyes, she starts walking towards the duke’s castle. Oh no.
From what I gather from her mumbling she “needs to tell Harris her mind” or something like that. And seeing the others’ reaction, I am not the only one curious. So, of course we follow her. Not just out of curiosity, but maybe even to have our own words with the hunter.
And if Harris is a friend of the duke, we might be able to talk to the man himself. I grab one of the posters on our way there, that some of the kids already plastered the town with. A plan forming in my head, and a slow grin forming on my lips. Magnificent!