Bad Company

As they began to eat, with Kline's permission, Kalena, recounted to Chiren the escapade of the previous day's deadly bandit attack in the Langford forest, gesturing with her solid gold fork as she told the tale in grisly detail. She however deliberately left out any mention of Glumly and the faeries, as well as the mild bout of amnesia she sustained. “And so, among the bandit's possessions found in their encampment we came across a rather suspicious letter with a wax seal, written on fine paper. It named the road the wine shipment would be travelling on, and how many men would be protecting it. It offered a warning that Baron Lowson might be accompanying the shipment and said something to the effect of 'Stop the shipment and bring the spoils to me. I will see you paid handsomely for the wine, and any heads you deliver.' The letter was unsigned, but the wax was pressed with a distinctive seal. Some of it was frayed a little, but I still was able to easily recognize it as the Cartagan coat of arms.”
At this shocking revelation, Kalena looked pointedly at Chiren and Eliza. “What do you two make of it? You both know Tyreth Cartagan quite well. Do you think he's capable of colluding with bandits and masterminding the cold blooded murder of a noble?” She caught an odd glint in the Count's eyes for a moment; she thought it might have been slight amusement at her appalled tone, reminding her that Chiren was one of a rare few in the Kingdom who knew that she had worked in the past as an assassin for Thalia. But it was the Queen's prerogative to eliminate anyone Her Majesty saw fit. This on the other hand was a murder entirely unsanctioned, and by a commoner against a noble. To make use of the despicable forest bandits-who not even the various rebels factions deigned to consort with- made the treacherous attack on Kline all the more outrageous.
“The letter is a damning piece of evidence, and enough to make an arrest I should think, Your Grace, wouldn't you?” Kalena prompted the Count.

Jack aka Chiren pondered a bit as he chewed his food and thought of the best possible the real Chiren would respond to. Then he flashed back to his stolen memories of Chiren's past and his personal experience with the man named Tyreth Cartagan. After swallowing his food he sipped his wine and noticed it was a very favorable wine. He made a very surprised look at the wine before he nodded and then looked at the faces of the others in the room. They were on pins and needles as they waited for his reply to the accusation. It was obvious Kalena wanted permission to pursue Tyreth and the charges of her evidence. Though this would stir up a bit of trouble for the nobles, Jack wanted to see just how far he could push the topic and conspiracy. He planned to stir up a hornets nest with as little trouble as possible. Chiron was about to speak when he was interrupted but a scream resembling a little girl.

The dinner was good, and he could not wait to enjoy it, and to hear the reply of the Count, when a shriek was heard from the guest house.

Kline’s men stood and instantly moved to leave, and Kline half stood before realizing it was likely not proper for a noble to go rushing out like some crazy person. Kalena likely had house people for this. It was when the slave boy he sent out to get Van came running in. “He is dead! Killed!”

Out in the guest house, Van was draped over the chest, left at the foot of the stairs. His body punctured with dagger strikes, not lethal, but the toxins they held were. The slave he was with, taken, if they could not have the chest of gold. There was no sign of the thieves now, the alarm was raised, they needed to leave, and a chest of gold was far to cumbersome to leave with. The boy had protected it with his life.

Jack aka Count Chiren noticed Kline rushing towards the scream only to hear someone was murdered. Of course this didn't faze Chiren in the least as he enjoyed the meal and listened to to loud explanation. He took in the information as he finished his meal and wine. In truth he was starving and not to keen on the distraction. Then he looked at Kalena with a serious look.

Chiren: It never ends. At this rate it would be easier to trim the fat among the troublesome factions. This is the type of distractions I encountered that made me late to begin with. If I didn't know better I'd think someone was after my having a quiet evening. So shall I investigate this or do you plan to handle it Ms. Kalena?

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