The Rat Returns II

Caresson took the first opportunity he could to escape so he could gather his squad. Leaving me alone with Summer at the gates of Épicier manor. We're let inside and led towards the annexed building that holds Nick's office. The guard at the door announces our arrival and allows a moment of silence before he pushes open the door.
Nick is sat at his desk, facing away from the door. As we walk in, a barely clothed Joan rises from behind the desk wiping at her mouth, a flirtatious grin stuck on her face and her gaze stuck on me. Nick groans, frustrated that he has to stop to address us. As his chair spins around, he begins with, "You did not- Who is this?"
He leans forward to get a closer look and heaves with surprise. "Chosen? I was not aware I was to be entertaining such a valued guest! Please allow me a moment to prepare accommodations."

Summer says, "My thanks my lord, but I've no such need."

He purposefully guffaws. "Nonsense! Let it never be said that Nickolas Épicier treats his guests poorly!"
He turns his attention to me while pulling up his pants. "You did not tell me you were acquainted with the chosen!"

He sounds jovial, but he's furious with me. I rub the back of my neck, but pull away at how cold my hands are. I try to keep my tone casual. "I didn't have anything good to say about them at the time. I thought they were just to be my wardens."

"They!? You must tell me every detail."
He turns back to Summer. "But first have a seat my friend. You're from the boundless sea, yes? Tell me, do you have a tongue for- Forgive my pronunciation. A tongue for mijiu?"

"I do."

"Ha ha! Bring her a glass!"

He struggles out of his seat and saunters over to the table his servants have hastily prepared. Joan follows, making herself known by complimenting Summer's body and 'beautiful' scars. As she chats, Joan plops herself on the arm of Nick's chair, exaggerating her curves as much as she can. Thankfully, I'm allowed my own chair. I slump into it, weary from walking. After a few refilling breaths, I apologize for nothing in particular and quickly explain the blood loss. When Nick is situated in his seat and Summer is sat across from him, he continues. "Have you heard the ashskin spin tales? Like a minstrel, he is! I summoned him to hear the recent tale of his venture outside. That doesn't interfere with your work does it?"

She shakes her head. "We should be glad to entertain your lordship."

From my seat I bow and say, "Unfortunately my lord, I am sworn to silence by the chosen."
Nick and I glance to Summer hoping she'll release me.

"A friend to the temple and royal family will be privy to details 'ere long."

I ask, "What of Scars?"

"Was this not his debut fight? Word of his deeds will soon spread regardless." 

Nick acts excited to hear the full story. Well then. How do I reveal that Scars is Aroura? I skim over the boring set up until we're about to leave where Aroura retrieves a quiet and diminutive man of delicate frame. The fifth Eclipse ranger, Scars. "If our would be ambushers look into the carriage and do not spy me, they would surely abandon our trap. He shall serve as my double." My made up Aroura explained to the carriage guards.
Going any further would alert Summer to my intentions, so Nick'll have to piece together what he has.

I express annoyance for the story at having to defend an intellectual on the battlefield. "A fine man, but he'd be nothing but a nuisance in a fight. I think he's from the Artisan's guild. I've noticed he fancies himself a poet."
I set my gaze on Joan. Nick and Summer will both think I'm simply adding backstory to fool the other, but if she's as smart as she lets on Joan should see through me. I continue with a brief laugh. "He once said to me, 'Often within me, there is a war. How am I to win such a wa... Tour?' "

Joan stifles a laugh with her hand. "Did he try to rhyme war with war?"

I nod with a wide smile. "He did."
Thanks for the shitty poetry idea Ren. I'm so glad you had that phase.

She adds, "I should get in touch with my friends in the guild. Oh, what poetry might he have preformed for them?"
That's her confirmation that she understood. I don't like having to put my faith in an Épicier but if Summer is going to be observing me more often, I need someone working towards my goal while I'm not around. I don't know much, but she wants Nick dead and that's something I can get behind. Although I don't know why. She likely wants his position as family head like so many others. If I'm really lucky she'll be a benevolent ruler after dethroning Nick, but she seems like a true bitch. I doubt she'll be worse than Nick, but that's not really an accomplishment.

I skip ahead to the fight where I exaggerate Scar's magic and the enemy's skill. Blah blah blah, beastmen! 

Nick leans in genuinely concerned. "Beastmen you say... What did you learn of them?"

I shake my head. "Not much. According to our saurian, this was likely a scout force, though where they came from, we're unsure."

Summer adds, "The East has not fallen. Were it ever in true danger, every templar everywhere would be rallied to fight against the savages."

Nick leans back and waves at a servant. "Fetch me my notes."
He spends a few moments writing something, no doubt his future plans for dealing with the beastmen. He writes long enough for the foreign booze to arrive. Finally, he asks, "Do they live up to the legends?"

I give Wal the role of recommending we retreat and describe as much as I can remember of the following fight. "For the most part, they are brutes. There's clearly not many of the truly dangerous abominations, because they hid them from our balistea. They were unwilling to lose even a single kel-kerjj."
I hold up my bandaged arm and gesture to my other wounds. "And of course, their leader is not someone I'm excited to fight again."

He asks some basic clarification questions before he finally takes a swig of the mijiu. "There's naught to be done about it for now. I'm certain the temple and royal family are already preparing to exterminate the beasts, so let us speak of lighter things. Ashskin, how do you enjoy the castle's dungeons. Much better than the temple's I would hope!"

He asking about the other information he asked me to get. Now then, what can I reveal to him? Killian's plan to expand farmland seems like the most pressing issue, but I've no idea how to expose that without exposing myself. Maybe I should scare him instead. "I do miss my interrogations with the chosen."
Knowing the chosen tortured me themselves will spook him, but he'll get over that fast.

Summer interjects. "Interrogation may resume if you are dissatisfied with your training."

I act worried as though she were serious. I'm certain she's not. Fairly certain... Almost certain. "My secrets are open to you chosen, 'twas merely a joke. My liege believes you allies and friends, and though I'm reluctant to agree I will set aside my doubts for her highness."
After Nick's feigned laughter to my feigned worry, I turn back to address him. "What I was getting at is that Scars often requests us to assist in his research. Fetching shit, sometimes literally, holding glass vials of things I couldn't begin to understand, among other various tasks he asks of us. Oddly enough, we spend very little time with our liege though she does drop by from time to time to observe our progress."
Here's where we scare him. If he realizes that Scars is Aroura, he should also gather that Scar's research is magic based. And if every member of the royal family is interested in this research... "Though I am grateful for the opportunity I must admit it often scares me when either the princes or the Duke himself finds himself in the same room as us. We try to keep ourselves presentable, but there's only so much we can do with-"
I gesture towards myself. "-this."

I notice Summer's blindfolded gaze turn to me, likely wondering where I'm going with this. Nick stirs. "They do carry an intimidating visage. I imagine tenfold for an ashskin! What are they after?"

I shrug. "I... I couldn't begin to tell you. It's always something to deal with Scars' research, but it's so far above my head I may as well be staring at the Sun."

He subtly reaches for his notes, but stops before he makes a movement that Summer would have noticed. He continues to ask elaborating questions about Scars' research, but I keep coming up short on explanations, each time preforming some small gesture that bumps my head towards Summer. He'll just have to accept that the entire royal family are probably mages as all the information I can offer him. I don't know what he was planning to do with it, but if he is scared of the entire royal family he should act much slower and cautiously, allowing Joan and I more time to kill him.

He finally accepts that I can't give him anything else without alerting the chosen in the room. A servant pours his third shot of mijiu and he begins. "As much as I would love to continue our session, I'm certain we all have things to accomplish today."
As Summer stands to leave, Nick waves down a servant. "Now, before you go, I do have a request for you. I suspect one of my wealthier subjects to be acting against me, hiring thugs to harass other store owners under my name with forgeries of my seal, though I've not found the reason as to why."
He takes the paper from his servant and begins writing. "This should contain everything you need to search his property on my behalf."

Joan looks over Nick's writing. "The Jenatel family? Oh, that's upsetting, I have friends there."
She looks to me. "Make sure you treat little Marlon well! He's a good kid."

What? This has to mean something... For now I say, "We will. I'm certain it's merely the family head to blame."
I suppose I'll have to look out for Marlon, whoever that is.

Summer takes the paper, a plain smile plastered on her face. "The matter shall be settled for you."

Nick and Joan offer some pleasantries as we leave. As we pass through the foyer, the guard standing watch outside Nick's door presses my spear and shield against my chest. Along with a handful of half finished Épicier seals. The guard gives me a grave nod. Oh, I see. Nick wants me to plant these in this guy's house. I return the guard's nod and subtly stuff the forgeries between my belt, and under my cloak.

Without stopping, Summer marches through the foyer into the yard where Caresson's squad was waiting under an awning, once again enjoying Épicier hospitality. Caresson rushes to his feet. "Look ready lads!"
His squad follows.

"A task has been requested from lord Épicier himself. Neither the elf or I can read, so I ask you take lord Épicier's instructions."

Caresson reads over the paper before saying, "I know where this is. Prepare yourselves lads."
He briefly explains the situation to his squad and we set off to arrest a likely innocent man.