The sheriff replied to Alenka, "You can come with me to release Almara. If you have any final remarks for Mr. Monchello you may speak to him briefly, but I would ask that you do not unduly harass anyone in my custody..." She frowned, "Regardless of how much they might deserve it..."
Sheriff Feldane led the party back to the jail, where Borvius and Almara were still locked up. Opening up Almara's cell she said, "It seems I owe you an apology Miss Denisen. All evidence points to the fact that your people were being framed by an underground criminal organization. You are free to go. Pay your investigators well. They did right by you today." Almara, stepped out of her cell and replied, "I accept your apology. Since I presume it is meant not only for me, but ALL of my people who were wrongfully slandered." However, while Almara was too proud a woman to ever leap for joy or cry tears, the relief on her face was evident. Borvius, on the other hand was less than thrilled. "What! You are letting this Varisian circus freak go! You must not believe their lies." However, the Sheriff simply ignored his outburst.
Fain wanted to go to the jail. He wanted to be there to see Almara freed. He wanted to revel in his tiny way in her freedom. He also wanted to see how Borvius reacted to knowing he wasn't getting out any time soon. Not to gloat. He wanted to see what caged men are like. Do they act like animals in cages? Will he fume or will he falter.
Fain wanted to go, but the little walking he did had him terribly winded and he was tired to the very heart of him.
Fain went home with apologies to he team and a smile that obviously took effort to produce. "I'm sorry. I think mushrooms will have to wait. I have business at the flat ya' see. You must all promise me that no one will slink away though. I can track a team of miscreants, as you know. I am not above doing the same to good folk..." he gave a slanted grin in Alenka's direction "especially the particularly scrupulous.
Don't worry Luk Luk. I can make my own way. I wont deprive you the joy of helping release Mistress Denisen. Besides, I have that very important business to get to."
His very important business was to get directly to bed. Halfling stoicism was something that perhaps Vard could get away with but on Fain it was a cloak much too large. He was hurt but more to the point he knew it was all ending and soon he would be a gardener again.
When he wasn't sleeping the next evening, night, and day. He sat quietly and composed a letter.
Dearest Genoise,
I find I'm awake at an ungodly hour and there is nothing for it but I have to write you.
First, I am sorry. I met a young boy here in Illsurian who reminded me of something I'd forgotten. I'd forgot just how much I delayed leaving, hoping you would change your mind and join me. It is right that you should have stayed with our people and I will never bring myself to regret breaking from them, but I never want to forget how much I wanted your company then. Something happened to me recently and I wanted to be sure you knew.
Second, I may have made something quite valuable. I think I have made friends. Sure I have acquaintances enough in Illsurian but these are not that.
There's Thrym, a tsofndiky, a proper nord. He could grimace the bark off an ash and I've seen him bring a soul without sign of life back to breathing first hand. He's got a weight about him. One of those always but never alone types. Haunted. Oh, I'm sure a story would come pouring out of him, accompanied by fiery angels and strange profits. Given enough time.
There's Luk Luk. She's the oddest elf I've met - though I haven't met many. She can be kindness itself but, occasionally, if you look hard enough it seems there is a furnace behind her eyes. She is a studied type. She knows more than is healthy to know about fireworks. I believe she is a deception. Someone with immense hidden skill and it is only her good will that keeps people from knowing what terror she is capable of. You might find that dramatic but she would never let it come to that.
And you'll laugh. The very finest of them is halbmench. Not some runaway like me but a kind of roving justiciar and quite the most earnest halfling (if you'll excuse the bigun' slang) I've ever met ... excepting yourself. He has this shod gaming mallet that I've seen him beat down terrible folk with - but not an ounce of snobbery when he is amongst others. Part of me wants to be him when I grow up.
The last two are almost sisters - I'm sure there's some familial connection there somewhere. One Alenka, sometimes called goggles, who is also a studied sort. She is much like me but without my sentimentality. Like me she's very interested in the workings of the body and the natural world, and the smartest person I've ever met (apologies to Solehide). Her sister I'm sure is part orc. She is terrifying and powerful and goes by the name Jenni. She seems a little hard on herself but I've heard her utter some of the most profound rationalizations - and you should have seen her riddle out some flawless trickery at the local traveling circus. There is nothing that she says that doesn't have a zen master's simplicity.
Anyway, I think they will be leaving soon. I will call myself quite unlucky if we never meet again. I will miss them.
As I miss you,
your great friend always,
F
Luk Luk shouted after Fain, "Be careful! If you feel faint seek out a healer! I shalt aid you in coin if you need it!"
"Borvius, you are a fool. We have acid burned clothing from your illegal pet slime and your slaves are freed. I do wonder though," she smiles cruelly at the slaver in the cell, "How quickly your wife will throw you under the wagon. I was not paying attention to much she said while she was subdued as a innocent needing healing but I think she may have been blaming you for something." Luk Luk would try to manipulate him. Imply he was getting thrown to the wolves by his wife, though she heard no such thing.
"Hmm, was she calling you the mastermind and herself the pawn? Or calling you a fool she happily threw to wolves while she escaped?" Luk Luk shrugs as she turns around and away from Borvius, "I have no pity for those that trade in slaves anyway."
Vard saw Fain off. "Get some rest, you've earned it. So've we all, I think. We'll come by tomorrow, maybe go out to celebrate if you're feeling up to it."
At the jail, he felt a certain satisfaction in seeing Robella imprisoned and Almara freed. After agreeing to meet up with the others the next day, he headed off to take a jog around the town and think over the last few days. hmm, maybe just a brisk walk until these wounds heal. Gotta say - all these messengers in the morning have interfered with the regular exercise.
Still, looks like we did good. Brought killers to justice, got rid of a gang of thieves and drug-pushers, and saved the carnival's reputation. Not easy of course - had to use the brain before we could use the brawn. Thank Kurgess there were others to help out with that. Doubt I could have hunted down the truth without all of them. Was nice to be doing something more exciting than the usual, and with a group to fight alongside.
Luk Luk shouted after Fain, "Be careful! If you feel faint seek out a healer! I shalt aid you in coin if you need it!"
"Save the coin - if you can manage not to open your wounds and bleed to death by tomorrow, I will finish what I started," Thrym offered, shaking his head at the halfling's energy. As close to death as anyone he had ever seen a few minutes ago, now rushing off like a hare with a wolf at his heels.
Borvius gave Luk Luk a scowl, almost as if ready to pronounce her a liar, but the gears in his head were obviously ticking. Eventually he just snorted derisively, "You obviously misheard. Or if you didn't, it's only because she had a plan." He responded, then quieter, as if reassuring himself, he added, "My wife always has a plan...
Almara, free from her cell, gave the party a nod of gratitude. "I knew I had hired the right people. Get some rest and see to your injuries. Come see me tomorrow and I will have arranged your payment. Perhaps we will see fit to open the carnival one last day..."
The elf's ears twitched as she picked up what Borvius was mumbling, "Oh did she? If she had planned for aught that came, why not a plan for you as a liability? Why else tell you to fight us all alone with only a poor plan to flee? Your survival was luck she did not plan for."
With that little bit more ribbing she turned to Almara, "Verily it was a good choice. Though you should not expect us, well most of us, to be festive tonight. Robella was not just a backstabbing vile wretch but also a violent one." Luk Luk then looks to the others. "My comrades, have you knowledge of good lodgings for the eve?"
The party took their rest. In the morning they found themselves approached by the clerics of the temple, offering what healing they could to get everyone back up on their feet. If offered money, they simply refused, insisting that it had already been paid for.
Word had spread quickly in town and the streets buzzed with voices talking about the Monchellos and the secret crime organized that had festered under there noses. People who yesterday would have gladly ranted about the Varisian criminal lifestyle had fallen oddly quiet.
The carnival made the decision to re-open its gates. This decision surprised a town now filled with shame over the way they had acted over the last few days. Many approached the carnival timidly, fearing that they their would be retribution or that expecting the performers to put on a half-hearted show. However, a quick step onto the grounds revealed the simple truth, that Almara would never allow such a thing. The shows, the performers, the middway, the games, all were as grand as they had been on their opening day. Of course, the party was greeted as VIPs. No coin was accepted for show admissions. Their buckets of popcorn seemed to be filled just a little bit higher than everyone else's. Even those workers who had nothing to offer, greeted them with winks, waves, nods or just wide grins. Eventually the night capped off in a fireworks show more spectacular then ever. When given compliments on his work, Tibal simply grinned. "Well, I had two days worth of unused fireworks set aside for Illsurian...So, why not just light 'em all up!"
Finally, as the show was finishing and the crowds were beginning to disperse, Almara took everyone aside. She handed them each a pouch of gold. "Your payment, as promised. Though I assure you, I will always be in your debt. I honestly don't know what we would have done without your help. I would have certainly left town either wanted or ruined..." She let out a long sigh of relief. "But fortunately you were here." She considered for a moment, "That reminds me! I don't suppose any of you are still looking for work? I have a friend who asked me if I knew of any good people for a job I think you might enjoy...."