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Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown Ch 7.1, Fallen Idols

Tobias fidgeted in his seat, fingers rubbing the side of his broken horn; he'd kept it with him ever since he'd awakened, like a totem charm he'd seen some of the Tribals hold. Despite its lack of 'spiritual nature', it still brought him some degree of comfort knowing that it wasn't rotting in some pile somewhere. Considering the fact that it would be able to rot right where he could see it wasn't entirely an appealing thought but, then again, comfort wasn't always logical in nature.

The members of the group who had not followed after Prince Malcom remained gathered in Dr Brownell's living room. To the prong horn it seemed an awkward thing; he'd been raised to not inhabit a host (or, in this case hostess') home without them being present and yet, there he was, and there they all were. He kept his own council however as the party focused their attention on Brody, Sir Umberto's ... friend?... squire?... manservant? To be honest, Tobias really didn't fully know their relation.

The Wolverine sat on the step that separated the sunken living room from the rest of the cottage's lower level. He addressed Brody. "So... tell them what you told me about Bartholomeu."

The Doberman shrugged, seated in one of the living room's plush armchairs. Letting out a shrug, he began speaking in a straight-forward and matter-of-fact manner. "Bartholomeu and I grew up on the streets of Newport. I didn't know our Pop-- Bart said he left before I'd gone a full year. Ma died when I was ten, and that left me and Bart... he was fourteen or fifteen I guess..."

Cruff raised an eyebrow and looked like he was about to speak, but he said nothing. The Doberman looked around the room at everyone while Sir Umberto stood up and moved to stand next to Brody's chair. "And the rest of what you told me?"

The Doberman offered a faint smirk. "Well... life on the streets isn't easy, and Bartholomeu had to do some pretty bad stuff to keep us going. Turned out he was pretty good at it too, but he always planned on 'the next big thing', and the 'something more around the corner'. At one point he even managed to start up a group. He became this big notorious crime boss in Newport... well... in his own mind, at least."

Tobias had heard a similar story enough times to have an idea where the tale was headed. "Where did that leave you, exactly?"

Brody glanced his way, "In the beginning? It left me wanting to become part of the team. Course, I ended up escaping that life after I came into the service of Princess Noriene."

Friar Arlowe nodded thoughtfully. "That is quite a change in status... street urchin to loyalist..."

The Doberman shrugged in response. "Well... that was more a fluke than anything else."

Tobias leaned forward in his chair, "How does a fluke end up with you working for the Princess exactly?"

Brody smiled sheepishly, "Well... in order to join Bartholomeu's gang he wanted me to steal something from some nice abandoned mansion... turned out the Princess had been looking to buy it and she was there when I went in. She took pity one me and, well... now here I am."

Cruff smirked, "Yea... sounds like a fluke... or at least a 'fluke-load' of crap."

The Doberman flicked an ear, "But it's true... crazy at it sounds... and it was a good thing too-- a few weeks later I heard Bart was killed by a rival gang. Shot in the head."

Sir Umberto rested a paw on the back of the Doberman's chair and leaned over his shoulder. "If he was killed then how can he be looking for you now?"

Brody shrugged, "Well... my best guess is that the rumors of his death were a little over exaggerated... Bart's a survivor, after all."

Cruff smirked, "Yea... well he'd have to be a pretty good survivor to die and not let it kill him."

The Doberman looked to the young Raccoon Dog, "Well, either way, I still don't know what he wants-- I haven't seen him in years."

Friar Arlowe leaned forward in his seat, "Do you have any idea why he would be here in Vallara rather than back in Newport?"

Tobias considered a very pertinent follow-up to that same question. "Or, for that matter, how he knew you were here as well?"

Umberto took the thought and ran with it. "Good question. And how would he know to ask for you here?"

The Doberman shrugged, ears lowering slightly, "Bart's always been the careful type... he probably had men watching the town and they reported to him that they saw me?"

Tobias flicked an ear at the explanation, "How would they know to be looking for you?"

Brody glanced toward him, ears raised, "Huh? They probably weren't... not a lot of Dobermen outside of Wyra so maybe they thought it was weird and reported it to Bartholomeu."

Umberto pulled a wooden chair forward and took a seat next to his traveling companion, "So you're saying your brother knew it was you from a description one of his men gave him?"

The Doberman flashed a grin, "Well... I DO stand out."

Aodhan cleared his throat, "We're losing focus. Brody's brother has nothing to do with the Sister's Divine being prisoners to the Church."

Sister Aurelie sat next to the Wolf, paws wrapped around his arm. "Aodhan's right. We need to get back to Newport and help my sisters."

Umberto shook his head, "I am sorry, Sister Aurelie, but I beg to differ. Bartholomeu's man told us not to leave town, and to send Brody to him."

The Cat was immediately defiant, "And why should we listen to him? What power does he have to order us around?"

The wolverine let out a frustrated snort, "That is exactly what I am wanting to find out."

Friar Arlowe, ever the peace-maker, interjected. "Perhaps we can send Brody to speak with his brother while we get ready to depart?"

Sister Aurelie wasn't very placated, "We can be ready to leave in minutes."

The Monk frowned, "I am coming with, if you recall... as is Cruffington. Considering a number of our party are still recovering from injuries, I would advise temperance in our eagerness to depart. If anything--"

The Cat stood up, fur on end, "We've already waited almost a--"

Aodhan reached out and took hold of the Sister's paw, "Peace, Eyara..."

Sister Aurelie took a deep breath and sat down, "Please forgive my outburst... it was impropper. What I meant to say is that every day we delay is another day the Church could be doing unspeakable things to my Sisters."

Sir Umberto scowled, "The Church doesn't do 'unspeakable things', Sister Aurelie."

Aodhan pulled the Cat into his lap, offering the Sister an embrace. "Either way, Sir Umberto, we would both feel better returning as soon as possible."

Tobias looked up from the broken horn he held, attention drawn to what the Wolf had just said. "As soon as REASONABLY possible? Friar Arlowe is right-- most of us still haven't recovered and, yes, perhaps we COULD set out immediately, but what good will it do us if wounds reopen and bandages sour on the road? It'll take us twice as long if we have to stop and recouperate in the middle of the countryside."

Sister Aurelie lowered her head, shaking it, "We HAVE to get back to Newport."

Friar Arlowe stood up, "I agree, Sister. This journey is important and nobody is arguing otherwise... but we MUST exercise caution; between injuries and an uncertain standing with the Church we cannot afford to rush headlong into possible danger. This is a complex game we play, and not all of the players have as of yet revealed themselves.

Brody cleared his throat, gaining attention once again, "Speaking of...."

Sir Umberto frowned, "What?"

The Doberman smiled politely, "My brother is NOT a nice man, and does not particularly like being ignored. If this IS all a game, then don't you think it would be a good idea to have the most players on your team?"

Cruff shifted position, wincing slightly as he held his side, "If we're going to stay a few more days then maybe we SHOULD find out what we can about Bartholomeu? I mean... a little extra information couldn't hurt, right?"

Tobias' eyes went back down to the broken horn in his hands; he wasn't so sure that 'a little extra information' was entirely harmless.