Vlachus slows his run to a jog, and eventually down to a walk as he makes his way through the mostly empty streets. Once everyone has caught their breath, he says Well, this is messy. Lars is going to abuse this to the infinite degree. I guess he has the blackmail fodder he wanted. Our best bet for now is to get out of town and let all this settle. Then we can come back and deal with all this mess once we get the real story.
After several minutes, he turns down a side road and knocks on the door to a pleasant but small house. This is Telwyn's house, he says to Gunla and Eli, He's a mutual friend of ours.
But why blackmail you? And how? We never did anything wrong...I don't understand. Where should we go?
Panting for breath, Gunla only barely allows Vlachus to finish his train of thought, before stepping up.
If you sent your friend... Cyne out for fruit, Valchus, then how did a gods-damned foot end up in the package? Is your "friend" connected to the Mongrels? Furthermore, exactly what are you doing performing Lars' grocery shopping for him?
And what the hell is this "incident" about which you are being blackmailed? I want some answers before I get in any deeper.
"And I want to go home to Marysin!" Eli adds loudly. "Your trouble. Not mine!" He pulls the cloth down from his face and rubs his eyes. "Are they going to find me after that? What if they know who I am? What if they go back to my house? I can't leave! I have to take care of Marysin..."
The incident Gunla is what happened when we were on the eastern border. We are sworn in front of the church that we cannot reveal it. You will have to trust me when I say that we did nothing wrong. We survived. However, the rest are good questions.
I wish I knew Eli. My guess is that they will be after you, but that the rest of your family are "beneath" Lars's notice. But I just don't know.
Look, look, Vlachus speak calmly to Gunla, I don't know who Cyne is working with. I thought he was helping me, but that clearly not the case. He could be connected to Lars or the Mongers or both, for all I know. And the reason I was sending fruit is because I want to make peace with Lars, and the reason I sent Balthe to do it is because I was frightened that Lars would try to pull something. Is that enough?
As soon as Vlachus finishes speaking, the door opens a little. A friendly elven face looks out the crack and, upon seeing friends, opens it the rest of the way. Come inside. He says curtly.
Balthe rushes in and grips Telwyn in a huge bear hug.
Telwyn. This is Gunla and Eli . They are friends. Vlachus will explain more, but we have to get out of Laheath.
Eli, nervous, follows. He looks around suspiciously.
Gunla waits for Eli to enter before stepping through the door, herself.
Inquisitor Gunla Whelk, miss.
Balthe looks around. Miss? he mouths.
"E... uh, just call me Blake." Eli says, lowering his eyes and stepping away from the others.