Budor led the way to the kitchen babbling the entire way. I settled down at the table, grabbing the steaming cup in front of me and sipping the amazing nectar of the gods this dwarf was able to brew. I wondered about my detachment, while a part of me was listening to Budor and another part was reveling in the amazing coffee. I wonder if this is how my mother feels and the state that she’s constantly been trying to get me to achieve.
Budor had wound down and was looking at me expectantly. “So the mayor is in the jail cells because someone realized that he owned the bank now, a realization that started a riot?” I said, surprised at the lack of emotion in my voice. Budor nodded and I continued “Another person has gone missing in the poor quarter, their house smashed flat, bringing us to 3 missing people?” Budor nodded again.
“What haf ya found so far?” Budor pressed me. That’s an interesting question, I thought about it. “I don’t think Crai is involved.” Budor made a rude noise and waved his hand around like this was a foregone conclusion, not worth mentioning. “You know that Crai had a shady loan with Garen? One that allowed Garen to demand pieces of furniture whenever he wanted? Written in such a way that Crai could never get out from under the loan?” Budor’s brow creased as he thought of this, his frown deepening. “Tha’s disturbin.” Turning to look at me he said “Bu’ thar’s no way Crai’d haf dealt wit a necro.” Shrugging as though it still weren't a consideration “I agree with you.” I responded. He cocked his head as a thought occurred to him. He stated “The mayor has ta agree ta a loan to make it official.” I nodded, having come to that same conclusion myself earlier. “And that’s not the only one.” I replied. Budor’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “Arla also had a similar loan, one that restricted her social interactions and forced her to provide ‘services’ on Garen’s request.” Budor slammed both hands down on the table. “’e dint!” he exclaimed. “’ow could ‘e!? An Skandro in tha know!! All this time I worked with ‘im I’d never thought… “ Budor shook his head.
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Budor worked with Skandro? My mind spun off with that. In all the time I had dealt with Budor I would swear that those two never met and at best were at philosophical odds with one another. Another thought occurred to me that made my entire body flush hot. “You. You were the ‘informer’ that I could never find. The one that turned me in to Skandro. That’s why you hid your dealings with him.” Budor flushed white, a look of shock on his face. “Ya got i' all wrong, boy! I 'elped ya!” he yelled, a pleading tone filling his words. I stood, pushing the chair over behind me. Turning, I left.
I found myself in the Silversmiths back yard, unsure how I got there. Dead grass crunched as I shifted. Fury was a flame that consumed me. Budor’s betrayal left me raw. And Skandro! He had betrayed people that needed his protection. Arla’s tear streaming face rose, unbidden to my mind. Her little girl trying to make her mother feel better. "You should've released them. Life is torture enough." cut across my thoughts. I ignored it. “Don’t touch me!” rang in my ears. "Well, if you won't give them release at least deal with those that have caused them pain." Images of the mayors house as a smoking ruin played in my mind. I wasn't sure how much of that was the spirit or me at this point. It had something right though. I got up. Rage coiled, writhing with in me. Someone was going to do some answering.
