"As far as I know, she was at the Castle around the time King Eodred was killed. As for beforehand, the only ones that came calling on her were the few fellows interested in warming her bed and the King's agents to commission her portrait of the King."
Pyron leaves to go to the castle to search for Sabina.
After briefly stopping to make a few purchases, Gaius and Wednesday head back to the docks.
Gaius will ask around, subtly, for a place to find and purchase toxic substances.
Wednesday will 'help', giving a nudge here and there.
After a brief time of asking the right questions, Gaius is steered towards a middle-aged fellow in a poor-looking shack near the waterfront. Most of his teeth are missing, and most of the bubbling beakers and pots have multiple stains on them. Nevertheless, he grins widely at Gaius and Wednesday. "A fine day to you good sirs!"
Wednesday will nod to the man as he greets them but steps aside to let Gaius do the talking... For now.
Tolenn nods encouragingly at the woman as she speaks, then frowns "King's Agents? Could you describe them? " she asks, then an idea comes to mind "Did any look like..." she then describes the noble that had been speaking for the mob.
Once they have the best description of those two dandies that the woman is able to give, Zart will head upstairs to Trinia's room with Tolenn.
Thank you, by the way," he says on the way up, "For arranging a safe place for Donna to stay out of Korvosa. It is sad indeed that the current turmoil and my own predicament means the city is no longer a safe place to raise a child. I am so relieved to know she is looked after.
"By the way, I also noticed your teeth clench earlier when I mentioned that it was we who saved Trinia from the mob. I'm not usually sensitive to such things, so I'm pretty sure it's nothing. Just in case it isn't, though, the man already knew we were going to try to save Trinia from the mob - it's what we told him when we first met him. Come to think of it, I believe 'we' could be replaced with 'I'. Sorry if I've overstepped.
"Now," adds Zart more softly, "I think we need to search Trinia's room for anything that might help us exonerate that poor girl. Are you with me?"
YES, MY MASTER, I WILL BE THERE AS SOON AS I CAN. Responding to a telepathic command from Zart, Raamanti looks for a way up to Trinia's window from the outside of the building. His eyes were keener than the summoner's by far and they could no doubt use his help searching the room.
Indeed, says Gaius, moving to the door.
But may we speak privately? I'm sure you appreciate the need for...discretion, in your line of work.
With no objections, the half-elf closes the door, then says in a hushed voice to the proprietor.
We're going hunting for exotic beasts and we need the strongest toxin you have. Our lives could be in jeopardy if it doesn't get the job done. Our expedition is well-funded, so we won't shirk at the price if you can deliver what we need. Do you think you can help us?
The man nods. "Of course, of course, such hunting expeditions frequently end in tragedy, Brodik is quite aware. Fortunately for my lords, Brodik has something to do just the thing!" He rummages around with some vials until he brings up one with a murky green liquid. "The poison distilled from the Katapeshi scorpion. A few drops of this will drop a tiger. A few more, one of those hulking monstrosities with the tusks! Brodik will sell this to you for the mere price of 20 pieces of the King's...or I should say, the Queen's gold." At this point, he flashes his brightest smile, all teeth or lack thereof.
Pyron is stopped at the foot of the Great Steps by a pair of Korvosan guards. "Halt. What's your name and business in the Castle?"
Tolenn listens to the woman carefully, "Do you remember is either of them called the other by name?"
Waiting patiently for Tolenn at the top of the stairs, Zart produces a wreath that he had bought earlier. It is a mixture of pine needles and flowering holly sprigs, tied at the top with a golden silk bow. He hangs it from Trinia's door as a sign of respect, and waits for Tolenn to ascend so that he may talk with her .
From up on the roof can be heard such a clatter,
Zart looks up from his wreath to see what's the matter.
Not made from the hooves of animals, the sound is just Raamanti trying to gain access to the apartment. Sizing up his options, Raamanti elects to go down the chimney.
The man nods. "Of course, of course, such hunting expeditions frequently end in tragedy, Brodik is quite aware. Fortunately for my lords, Brodik has something to do just the thing!" He rummages around with some vials until he brings up one with a murky green liquid. "The poison distilled from the Katapeshi scorpion. A few drops of this will drop a tiger. A few more, one of those hulking monstrosities with the tusks! Brodik will sell this to you for the mere price of 20 pieces of the King's...or I should say, the Queen's gold." At this point, he flashes his brightest smile, all teeth or lack thereof.
If it's as potent as you say, that is a fair price indeed. Would you consent to 2 doses for 35? Or is that the only vial you have? I have many friends and will point them your way when they undertake their own expeditions...
Gaius looks at Daud and smiles.
The trap is almost set...
Daud keeps his face blank as Gaius smiles at him, which was even easier than normal since he had no idea what was going on.
This is just way too complicated. Just stab a f~+%er and be done with it.
Gaius chuckles, nodding. True, true. My friends would make fun of me if I didn't at least try to haggle you down. The price is fair--we'll take it, 40 it is. When the man is retrieving the second vial, Gaius turns to Daud, but speaks loudly enough for the poison vendor to hear.
You see! I told you we could get what we needed here. That cute blonde was telling the truth! Trina, Trinia, what was her name...
The man assumed a look of mild curiosity, yet he hesitates. "Sir? I get lots of recommendations, mind you, but that one has not stepped foot inside this establishment. Someone was clearly jesting with you about their name, me thinks good sirs. A good joke, but one best left to die, if you know what I mean."
Gaius, oblivious to the man's true feelings on the subject, continues:
Perhaps you are right. Women can be quite befuddling. And she was pretty. He looks off in the distance as if recalling her for a moment before continuing. I certainly didn't mean to imply you were involved with the ghastly business of the king's untimely death. I just, well, for a small girl to risk poisoning a king--now THAT would have to be the most potent toxin available. I need the best for my hunt and this kingslaying substance, may His Majesty rest in piece, is what I'm really after. Do you know what it was and where I can find some? We can of course reward you for your assistance.
Daud will elbow Gaius in the side with a dismissive look on his face.
Raamanti wipes the soot from his shadowy form. He chuckles to himself as he sees the blackness drip off him and onto the floor, forming something akin to an actual shadow. WELL, THERE'S A FIRST!
WHILE YOU ARE WAITING FOR TOLENN TO CATCH UP, MY MASTER, I SHALL HAVE A BIT OF A LOOK AROUND IN HERE, he tells Zart using their newly-found mind link, JUST LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU ARE READY TO COME IN.
The hulking shadow peers around Trinia's apartment for anything that might help prove the girl's innocence, or point to those who framed her.
"The nature of the poison has not been released that I know of, good sir. Something that would fool the castle mediciners for a while, I'm assuming, since the word came out just recently about poisoning." The man regards the duo warily now, his left hand clenching and unclenching.
Croft didn't tell us what it was either... What in the Hells is Uprising doing?
Right well, this will serve for our purposes. Good day.
After taking their purchase and leaving the shop, Gaius will speak to Wednesday quietly.
This man had an easy, willing mark looking for the best poison he had, and only charged us twenty gold. You want to kill a king, and you only have one shot, you're going to spend a lot more on a sure thing. Trinia didn't have the means to acquire anything like that, certainly not around here. Even if she was involved, someone wealthy helped her. And if she was an assassin of that caliber, why would she return home and wait to be lynched? And the guard's story--that Trinia used magic to make him deliver the poison. Such magic is far beyond her skill, or she would have used it to better aid her escape when we were chasing her. None of this adds up. Let's see if the others were able to discover what poison was used in the murder. That might give us another direction to investigate.
Daud nods in bemused agreement with the Inquisitor. "Thank you for voicing all of my thoughts so far."
As they walk he will throw a thumb towards Eel's End. "You think Devargo could be of any use? A guy that has that many spiders would definitely know something about poison. And a guy like him would definitely know something about poisonings."
Upon hearing the bad news from Raamanti, Zart looks grim-facedly at Tolenn as she comes up the stairs.
"Sorry, but her room is devoid of clues," he says, sounding a little exasperated, "Unless you think we'll find anything more by hanging around here, I suggest we go back to the safe house and await the others. Hopefully their efforts have proven more worthwhile."
Daud merely gives a shrug.
Discussion if necessary: Field Marshall Croft, I have good news. I will be allowed to receive the necessary information if you are willing to authorize this request. Here is documentation that I created for your convenience. If we find the true suspect or even another suspect, then you will be applauded for your supervisory role, and if we get nothing, then it can be seen that we ensured the safety of the queen by checking all important leads.
"What do you know about love?" Daud will ask aloud seemingly without prompt as they head back.
Having lost touch with Tolenn back at the apartments, Zart waits patiently at Zellara's house for the others to arrive. His face is grim when the door opens at last.
"No leads I'm afraid," he says from his seat, wasting no time once the first of his new companions comes through the door, "Trinia was indeed at the castle, which does not bode well for finding a decent alibi. No one was hanging around looking suspicious except us, and her room was devoid of anything that we could use to free her or find the real killer. Were it not for my personal convictions and the fact that the queen has no strong evidence to prove her guilt, I could begin to believe that Trinia really did have a hand in our late king's death.
"Were your lines of inquiry of more help?"