Interlude 19. Boldly Ignorant

"...Excuse me, did I hear this right?" - a man could not contain his incredulity - "Did you just say young lady Gillespie had just, uh... exploded some fellow on behalf of la Vallieres?"

"I know, right? Them noble mages are terrifying people, for certain." - innkeeper retorted jovially - "Not to say I'm not grateful for the roads, of course, my coinpurse had been heavier and days busier than ever lately, but the very thought of... Nay, t'is but empty scaremongering, I'd wager. If she saw it fit to explode that fellow, then surely there must have been a good reason for it."

"There are good reasons for exploding people?" - the same man quipped sardonically - "A fresh pint of ale, while you are at it, if you please? I'm out."

Innkeeper swept the empty mug off the counter absentmindedly, sticking it under the spigot of ale barrel as he continued, lowering his voice conspiratorially - "People have been saying that fellow was quite touched in the head, to be frank here. Tried to lure away young lady Louise, if you can believe the rumors..."

"Ahhh so that's what it's all about." - thirsting man agreed amiably, receiving his fresh pint and promptly halving it - "Hah, that sure hit the spot! Man, I always said them noble maidens are nothing but trouble for us simple folk. Betcha an ecu White Witch wouldn't even notice'em if he didn't try getting involved with'em. Even so, since then Gillespies sell sword? S'not like that house lacks for coin."

As the pair at the counter descended into an extended discussion on whether having cellars full of gold meant peaceful life or not, the person in the corner of the hall grimaced. He was pretty certain White Witch needed no additional reason to kill someone legally aside from the option to kill someone legally. She was, to his consideration, exactly that kind of person, if a monster like her even warranted being considered a person. He lifted his own mug, one he had been slowly nursing for half an hour already, and took a modest sip. He had to be conservative with his alcohol, at least until the person he was awaiting would arrive. She was running late, already, and that worried the person in question a lot.

Just as he started seriously mulling over the plan of action accounting for the absence of his contact, she walked into the door. Maybe? The way she tended to go around wrapped in a hooded cloak was pretty noteworthy, at least. Gathering his will in a fist, he waited for her to get her own drink and sit down at his table. The less attention he pulled to himself, the better his chances would be later.

"Hello there, Leonard." - she ventured finally - "I have what you've asked for."

Wordlessly, he slid a pouch of coins across the table. Each of them earned through his own sweat and tears. It was the majority of his savings. It should be enough. It HAD to be enough. The person across the table was not easy to get in contact with, nor was she cheap to hire, but he considered the matter worth it. The pouch was opened briefly, then disappeared somewhere within the heavy cloak. A moment later, a vial full of murky liquid was slid in opposite direction.

"If this touches your skin in any manner, you are a goner." - the woman warned him quietly - "Find yourself some good leather gloves before opening or use tongs."

"How quickly does it act?" - he inquired quietly, palming the vial off the table casually and slipping it into his satchel, which he stuffed full of hay in preparation. The alchemical poison he just purchased demanded reverent treatment, lest it claimed the wrong victim. And while he would not be opposed to trading his life for success, he refused to succumb to such a base mistake. Not before he could see the light fade out of that monster's eyes, at least.

"Seven heartbeats is all that it leaves you." - the woman shrugged - "I suggest you don't dawdle. In seven days, its potency will wither."

Nodding curtly, he stood up and walked towards the door out of the tavern, neither hurrying nor tarrying. It took a while to find out where SHE would be for sure but now was his time. As he crossed the road, he reviewed all that he knew. SHE was taking one of the maids to her bed, doubtlessly to slake the lusts most unnatural. Without a husband, too. Clearly, SHE was selfish and indulgent to the extreme. Given what he found out about the maid's father and who was responsible for his death, it would not be hard to talk her into assisting his revenge. And then... Then he could probably rest. Doubtlessly, the count... no, the duke now... Anyway, that man definitely would not leave anyone making attempts at his daughter unchallenged. Leonard's uncle met his end at the end of the noose for trying, after all. And that sacrifice was in vain, as the monster in the guise of a girl had burned the village anyway. Leonard's parents fled to the woods, fearing the retribution after it had become known that his uncle was caught redhanded trying to end the little hellion before she caused a disaster, and by the time they got enough courage to come back home, all that greeted them was ashes and coals. So all of that was in vain. The fire still was thrown around and the village was still burned, all for the sake of entertaining a juvenile noble.

Leonard smiled grimly. His parents may have had given up on the cause, but he... He would take revenge for all of them. Even if it killed him.