The Lead Crown: Ch 6c, Ghosts of the Past (Pt 5)
#63 of The Lead Crown
Welcome to the final post for Group c in Chapter 6.
We follow along the events in the Fountain Square from Brother Jessen's point of view... and there's a LOT going on. Things end (or fail to end) just as it's getting "good"... but more on that later.
The intermediary posts will be coming in the near future. There will also be time for submission when you see the accompanying Journal. You can expect that in the next few days.
In the meantime, please feel free to leave comments, thoughts, and questions!
Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown Ch 6.5, Ghosts of the Past
Brother Jessen didn't know who this 'Batholomeu' man was but from the short, violent introduction he had a strong feeling that more time with him would not increase any love he had for the Doberman. Interposing himself between Alvis and the party's aggressors he looked to Alarice for guidance; she was staring right back at the the well-dressed, disfigured Dog. "Sure, Bartholomeu... why don't we go somewhere nice and quiet-- you and I can have a little chat and everyone else can go about their business."
The Doberman's gaze scanned the group calmly and came to rest on Inigo and he addressed him with in his thick-tongued way. "'ou an' 'ur bat... and the 'est of these people."
Sada leaned away from the Dog as his eyes settled on her; Brother Jessen didn't miss the way the Doberman's gaze lingered just a little longer on the supple curves of her body. Alarice stepped into his view, "Nobody else needs to get involved."
Bartholomeu laughed, "My deah Nihole.. if they'h travehing with 'ou then they'h invohved aheady."
Inigo was much less polite, "So... how's that speech impediment working out for ya there, Bart? I'd call it a cleft pallet, but that sucker's more opened right up isn--"
The bat spun around and tumbled to the ground as the Armadillo close to him backhanded him across the muzzle with a pair of iron knuckles. Brother Jessen knelt down to tend to the Bat but the thug who had struck Inigo held up a finger and wagged it back and forth, "Nope... If ya know what's good for ya you'll just leave 'im there."
The Doberman gazed down at Inigo, who was spat out blood but remained where he was, "Don't think just because you're a lackey that I forgot YOUR part in all of this. Now... if only I could find out where that otter and wolf-bitch ran off to... oh wait... that's right... they're dead, aren't they?"
Although Alarice remained neutral in response to the Dog's chiding, Inigo did anything but. Letting out a roaring growl, the Bat hopped right back up-- only to get a boot in the face from the Armdillo. The thug chuckled when Inigo went to stand up again, and provided another kick to the Bat's ribs. Not waiting for Inigo to move, he added another, then another, stopping only when Wiesen stepped forward, "Enough! He's not getting up... enough already!"
Bartholomeu's attentio went immediately to the Dragon, "Onih I ordeh my men aroond. If you know what is 'ood for 'ou then step bah in line."
Brother Jessen reached out and took hold of Wiesen's arm, "Now is not the time, Sir Crook... we must--"
The Doberman's ears raised, "Cook? As in, the Templah Cook?"
Inigo murmured from the ground holding his side, "Crook... with an R."
His comment earned him another kick as the Armadillo stated, "Shut up."
Sada remained by the fountain, but her tone was much less restrained, "How do you know about Crook?"
The Doberman smiled, pausing to reach up and wipe an errant string of saliva from an unmoving portion of his jowls, "I am privy to mahy thins, Ms, De'ahm... if you thinh this woman has the marhet cohnehed on sehets then you do not see the full pihturhe."
The Armadillo looked up from the prone Bat, "So whadda we do with all of em, boss?"
The Dog shrugged and turned about toward a nearby carraige, "Take Nihole, Ms De'ahm, an' Cook. Kill the 'est... foh the bat, mahe it sloh."
Alarice took a step forward, batting away the paw of the Panther reaching for her, "Bad idea, Bartholomeu."
The Doberman continued walking away, waving a paw dismissively, "'ea... I heahed 'ou say that befohe..."
The Human woman's smile left Jessen feeling a little unsettled, "Wouldn't it be easier if I went willingly?"
The Puma standing near Alarice spared her a glance before looking back to the Dog, then to the Human again, but the comment caught Bartholomeu's attention, "What ah 'ou 'oin' on aboht?"
Alarice locked gazes with him, "I admit it. You're better than me, Bartholomeu. You've won. That's what this is all about, isn't it? Take it-- you can have Newport and you can have all of the business. You can even have me if you want for whatever revenge you have in mind."
The Doberman's half-smile came across as pure predatory, "Ah plahn to."
"Just leave them out of it."
The Dogs ears went up as he gave the woman an appraising glance, "Esuse me?"
Alarice motioned to the group, "The Mutt there... he's a student at the University... he has nothing to do with this. The Otter and the Coyote are servants of the Church."
The Puma chuckled, "No way a nun would show THAT much clevage, boss..."
The Human woman continued unabaited, "The Dragon is a Templar... you don't want to start something with the Church, do you, Bartholomeu?"
The Armadillo gave Inigo another kick, "She's talkin shit, boss... no way they are who she says they are."
The Doberman strolled back towards the party, eyes never leaving Alarice's. "Ah be-live Nihole..."
A large, scaggy-furred Bear who had been in the line-up of thugs stepped forward, "Boss... she's a liar... it's what she does."
Bartholomeu pointd at Alvis, "She's telling the truth about him... this was one of the University staff reported missing after the Albatross incident."
If Alarice had a plan or a scheme in mind the expression on her face indicated that she had just lost it... and that worried Brother Jessen to no end. He stepped forward, but before he could do so the crane by his side had shoved the stock of a long-barrel arquebus in his gut, forcing him to the ground. Alarice recovered quickly however, "Stop!"
Bartholomeu held up a paw and the Crane backed off. The Doberman stepped closer to Alarice and stared her down, "Nihole... ah 'ou soorendahin'?"
She stared right back at him, "How did you know about the Albatross?"
The Doberman's lop-sided smile returned as he leaned closer to her, "Hoo do 'ou thinh told them hoo to use to tahe the fall for the essplosion?"
Alarice blinked as the realization struck, "They didn't hire me for protection... they hired me as a patsy..."
The Dog practically stuck his nose in her face, "And 'ou made suhh a fine one."
The Woman's frown turned into a smile... and she surged forward, her head contacting the Dog's warped muzzle; Bartholomeu cried out amidst the loud snap of bone, and a moment later Alarice had two pistols in her hands, firing shots off into the bruisers on either side of the Doberman.
If that had been the end of the group's offensive then they surely would have been overrun. Brother Jessen responded quickly by drawing his sword, but the Puma near Alarice was already upon her... but his attack never came; a puff of golden powder created a cloud around his face when a small satchel exploded against the side of his face as he heard Joshew's voice exclaim fromm off to the side, "Because Aiiandi Powder also is seditive, Rolly!"
Yes... things started to improve dramatically once the 'reinforcements' arrived... for a little while, at least.