The Rat Returns III

It's not a long march. Nick likes to keep his wealthier subjects close to his manor for a reason I've never bothered to learn. The templars stop just before Jenatel's thin three story house surrounded by similar buildings. They even have yards, however small a barrier from the road it may be.
Caresson turns to address us. After ordering two templars to guard the entrance, he faces me. "Unless we order you to, do not harm anyone. No matter what they do."

Instead of telling him that I'm aware of the rule, I bow and respond. "Understood. I'm in no condition to fight back either way."

Caresson marches towards the door and knocks. A few moments later, the maid comes to answer the door. Initially, the sight of templars makes the old woman smile. "Oh! What have we done to deserve such an honour?"

Caresson, in stark contrast with the elves, places a gentle hand on the woman's shoulder to guide her away and orders us, "Collect everyone in the house and ensure they don't leave this room. Heretic, you're with me."

The old woman stammers, clearly shocked at Caresson's order. Another templar carefully leads the woman away softly explaining the situation while the rest scatter throughout the deceptively deep house.
Summer and I follow Caresson up the steps through a pack of Jenatel's children and many partners. Where do they all sleep? I scan the crowd, searching for the one person who is not surprised by our presence. Whoever they are, they're not in this group. The templars that followed us shepherd the dozen or so children and their half dozen mothers down the stairs. The templars attempt to reassure them that nothing is wrong, but even the blind could see something bad is about to happen.

Caresson continues his march unabetted to the third floor where Jenatel himself likely is. Caresson and I arrive on the final floor with only one other templar to corral the remaining Jenatels. And Summer who has been eerily smiling this whole time in complete silence.

This part of the third floor seems to have been turned into a teaching area. Bookshelves surround Martin Jenatel and his oldest children he was teaching, light from the windows illuminating the area like a picture an imaginative poet would describe. Noticing the commotion before we arrived, Jenatel rushes to meet us at the stairs. A fit and clean man, he's obviously looking for a diplomatic resolution that is simply not there. "Templars. Might I ask why you've barged into my home? With a heretic and the chosen no less, what is this!?"

Caresson holds up the order from Épicier. "We have reason to believe you've been acting against the lord of your land. We're here to confirm these suspicions."

Confident in his innocence, Jenatel scoffs. "Once you realize your folly, I ask you leave. We're in the middle of an important lesson."

Caresson acts like he wants to sigh, but deigns to push past Jenatel and order me around. "Heretic, begin with this side. Sir Orvyn, lead them away."

The last remaining templar gathers Jenatel and his students and guides them to the first floor with the others. Discreetly, I stare at the small crowd and catch the heir. Clearly the oldest as a fresh adult, he blatantly studies his siblings before accusing his father. "Father, what is this? What have you done?"

His brief comment sparks debate among his siblings.
"Marlon, you can't seriously suspect father?"

"Why else would the templars be here?"

I'm unable to hear the conclusion, but it hardly matters. His clear delight at the dispute, the antagonizing, and the name Marlon solidified my suspicions. 'Little Marlon,' as Joan called him despite being the oldest, is the heir to the Jenatel fortune and the person Nick probably promised power or some vain shit like that. I can't do anything with the information just yet, but this is useful.
Well then. It's time to find a place to hide these forgeries. Hiding them in drawers would be too obvious. Not to mention Summer might catch me. It looks like she's just idly wandering around, but that's a ploy to get me to drop my guard. Although... Perhaps if I could place them without Summer noticing, hiding them in an obvious location could be to my benefit.
I glance at Caresson who is looking through papers on the other side of the room. He's aware that Nick isn't exactly innocent, meaning I could hide the forgeries in an obvious location to either confirm his hunch or get him to act against Nick. But how can I best utilize him?

He doesn't have access to a large force capable of uprooting Nick's plans. Could I get him to work with me? No, besides being a bad idea in general, Summer would cut me down for suggesting instigating war between noble families. If I reveal that I'm forced to work for Nick, there's no telling what the templars might do.
Not to mention, the more free wills working in a covert plan could lead to disaster... So what if I don't allow him a free will? How could I keep him in the dark and working for me? Perhaps... If I make him think the idea is his own? If I can somehow convince him that he doesn't have to lie down and accept Nick's tyranny, that he can fight back, he could be a wonderful tool. The only stipulation being, this plan has to be completely legal.

I glance back. He's through with the papers and opening the various books in case something falls out. I stand, having searched through everything on this side of the room.
"Nothing here Sir Caresson. Should I start on that room there?"

He nods, "Go ahead."

Summer eagerly follows me into what appears to be Jental's office. A desk sits at the opposite wall with various tables containing paperwork or books of some kind. Perfect. The aggressive hum of the hustle downstairs feeds it's way into the office as I saunter over to the desk and Summer sits in a nearby chair, for perfect vision of me. "A curse is illiteracy. To search among papers with such a curse is surely a cruel joke."

She finally spoke. I respond with, "Would people leave written evidence of their crime? Seems stupid if you ask me. Hmm... This drawer is locked. Whatever we're looking for is probably in here. I'll start looking for a key."

Yeah right. In one fluid motion, I open a bottom drawer, draw the forgeries from my belt, and place them inside. She chose the wrong side to sit at, although I'm not sure she can see the forgeries to begin with. If she sees by mana, these shouldn't contain any. Whatever, it doesn't hurt to be cautious.
I pull back my hand in obvious surprise. I slowly say, "Never mind then... Sir Caresson! I may have found something."

Summer stands, her smile lessened. Caresson comes around the corner, "What?"

I motion for him to join me. Skeptical, he wanders over to me. I lightly explain, "I'm not sure what to make of it, but their placement looked strange."

He gazes in the drawer and his face scrunches together into a mix of concern and confusion. "Forgeries? Where would he be making them? Why?"

"You mean the same as the elves had?"
He solemnly nods. I press the 'coincidence.' "Doesn't it seem... I don't know... Strange? That he would have these here? I mean there's a locked drawer right here."
I tug on it to demonstrate that it is, indeed, locked.

He nods again and says, "Almost like he wanted them to be found."

Summer asks, "Of what, are these forgeries?"

Caresson explains. "The Épicier seal. During our last patrol, our lord Épicier asked us to apprehend a band of elves using forgeries of his seal to carry out crime. These, are clearly half-finished seals."

Though there's a sense of gravity to her monotone, her smile remains. "I understand. This is concerning."

They're beating around the bush. Neither of them want to be the one to suggest that Nick could be the culprit in case I or someone, in turn warns Nick. I look to the ground in pretend contemplation. "Our lord seemed convinced Jenatel was working against him, but someone must have planted this. When I worked as a thug, this was something I was tasked with, though it was never anything so grave."

A moment of silence ensues. Caresson speaks first. "I don't want to believe you, but it's hard not to looking at it like this."

Summer crosses her arms. "Supposedly, who would've done this?"

"It's futile to try to deduce it from here. We don't have enough information and the two of you can't read." Said Caresson.

I lean against the desk and cross my arms. "That's... Not entirely true. There's only three people that would want to remove a large grocer. A disgruntled patron. An inpatient heir. Or a competitor."

"How would a normal patron have enough money to hire a criminal skilled enough to plant these? Let alone enough to hire a squad of elven thugs?"
I nod to show he's on the right track. The realization finally hits him. "They would also need access to Épicier seals to copy."

"And. A way to make them."

"Speak plainly heretic. You are aware of much more than you should be."

Looks like Summer is done observing for now. I take a moment to debate my next words. I still can't suggest that Nick could be the culprit, even indirectly, less she interprets that as treason. "I've lived my whole life under the shadow of-"

"You would dance around with metaphor? Speak plainly. Did I not say this?"
Despite the subtle bite added to her monotone and a fresh hand on the pommel of her sword, her smile remains. What the fuck is her problem?

Careful not to let my ire slip, I ask, "What exactly are you concerned about? I fear I may not be able to answer your question without knowing this."

"As though you already know the culprit, you offer evidence. Who are you attempting to condemn?"

"I am not allowed the luxury of unrestricted speech. Even suggesting the man I suspect puts everyone I hold dear in mortal danger. If not by you, then by any who might overhear. Even now, if these walls are thin enough, I may have damned my family. Do you understand chosen?"
They've suddenly become acutely aware of the chatter rising through the floor. I put my head in my hand. "Of course you don't. You've never lived under the terror of an untouchable criminal faction."

"The reach of Sol's justice is far longer than you can imagine. No criminal is safe."

"What can I do with empty words chosen?"
I need to calm down. "I apologize chosen, I've always been quick to anger. Please. I ask you be satisfied with that explanation."
That should satiate her for now and mellow out any wrath she was planning on dishing out.

"Are you not the personal soldier of the city's lawmakers?" She asks.

"Even if my liege could accept my request to shelter a family of ashskins, if there was a sudden investigation all of the city's detectives would be bought off like they always have."

Caresson asks, " 'Like they always have?' How do you know this?"

"I've seen it happen with my own eyes. Aside from that my father had at least two stories of ambitious detectives suddenly turning up dead."
A lie, but that's an easy story to fabricate. To get the attention off me, I gesture towards Caresson. "But I don't have to tell you that, do I? You already know the puppet master, don't you?"

Caresson nods and whispers, "Lord Épicier?"
He's long since known Nick is guilty. That was evident back at the Rosy Cauldron. 

I nod in silence and gesture to my ears before saying, "What? No, that doesn't make any sense."
That should cover my ass in case someone was actually listening. I doubt it, but no one ever died from being cautious.

Caresson gestures his understanding. "I see. I'll suggest foul play to the investigators, but we should arrest Jenatel. As it stands, he was in possession of forgeries of the Épicier seal. This can not go unpunished."

Summer nods. "It is as you say. The punishment for your disrespectful tone can be discussed later."
Great. Whatever, it's fine. She gestures her arm. "Lead the way sir Caresson."

With forgeries in hand, we march back down the stairs. We arrive on the first floor where the entire Jenatel family was stuffed. Caresson roars over the cacophony of voices. "Martin Jenatel! For treason against the lord of your land, you are under arrest by the jurisdiction of the holy temple of Sol!"

Predictably, Jenatel had objections. Apparently it would not do to simply beat the man into submission, because Caresson allows Jenatel to continue his ranting. Maybe he allows it because he believes Jenatel is innocent?

I scan the room for Marlon and find him at the edge of the room looking on in amusement at the display his father is putting up. What a piece of shit. I'd feel bad for his father, if he wasn't also a piece of shit. Jenatel is notorious for taking advantage of foreigners and travelers with his false advertising.
But that doesn't really matter, I just have to speak with Marlon without Summer noticing. I could try to be 'pulled' by the crowd or perhaps suggest that Joan knew more than she let on when she mentioned Marlon and we should get information from him or something. Otherwise I could try and distract her-

"Chosen! You have the authority to do something about this, and yet there you stand, doing nothing! I have paid my tithes-"
My answer makes itself clear as Jenatel turns his ranting towards Summer. How lucky. Once her gaze lands on the man, I slink away towards Marlon.

He notices my approach so I put a finger to my lips for silence. He looks offended, before my hand grips his shoulder. Not allowing him a chance to object I whisper, "Congratulations on your rightful inheritance young Jenatel. If you wish to keep your position, lord Épicier demands you raise prices for any members of the Artisan's guild."

He nods his head and I slink away, right where I was when Jenatel began ranting. Eventually Summer has enough and half draws her sword. "Accused of treason and barking defiance? It was out of generosity that we do not execute you, yet you seem to have refused our gift. Silence is oft a virtue."

With the threat finally made clear, Jenatel stammers. "But I! Fine, take me."

Took long enough. After tying Jenatel's hands, Summer and I escort him to the temple's dungeons. Caresson stays behind to answer any questions the family might have and Orvyn, Caresson's right hand man, leads the rest of the squad in their patrol route.

Summer and I march in silence towards the temple's arena in the centre of the city. I can't help but think that I could easily stab her in the back while she's tied up with Jenatel, but there's no way I could talk my way out of that situation. Still. It would feel good.

I act like a statue in the office of the temple's investigators, as Summer explains the situation to them. Once she's done, Jenatel is taken once more and we find Caresson's squad.

I let a smile creep across my face as we march through the city. Even if I accomplish nothing else, today has been wildly successful.