From Disappearance to Return: Old Friends and Old Plots

“A baroness??.. Her?!.. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard..” Galentine watched in amusement as Bal’Rith wiped his brow, moving a hot tray of bread from the cooking fire and set it evenly on the counter.. “I admit that no one knows who her family was, She claims to believe she and her sister lived out their times on this street.. but that is just a fairy tale, I knew the younger girl’s father, he was a drunkard.. Windwhisper didn’t come from that Lot..”

“Look Bal, You’ve run this block section for nearly thirty years now, the bakery has been a good front business, All I am asking, is that you clean up.. Get rid of anyone who might have known her,.. and see if you can find any one from her past who might know exactly where she comes from... I need a witness, before she can be blood tested..”

“Galentine- Galentine, Come to man.. Five of the people who did know her are prominent ‘workers’ they are movers and shakers on this end,.. If I kill them off I lose a profit margin.. As far as a witness goes,..” He shrugged smoothing a hand over his apron.. “Why don’t you just buy one..?”

He watched the loan-shark turned baker a long moment, not liking the answers, but Galentine understood the man’s position.. He wasn’t about to fly off in a fit of rage and kill a good friend and business partner..

“What makes you so sure that She has even a drop of Noble’s blood in her hmm?..” He turned,.. motioning a few of the ‘help’ out of the room,.. even his loyal bodyguard turned away.. leaving the two men alone..

“I killed her father Bal’Rith.. I know who she is.. even if she doesn’t..” The response was cold,.. and Galentine could see the shadow of fear cross over the man’s face.. “I simply want to be sure that all is in order before I take her before the council.. You know what this means for all of us, should I become Regent?

Blood from the second house is almost no contest....Even that dolt Orlin would have to agree.” The thief nodded, a toothy grin, bringing a smile to Galentine’s face.. “See what you can do.. I don’t want anyone untrustworthy able to report her past crimes to Chancellor Orlin, As far as the council needs to know,.. she worked in the inn, and was kidnapped a long while back...”

“Just remember my cut when you seat your arse on that cushy chair in the Baronial Manor”.. They clasped hands, in parting, Galentine’s plan beginning to build its own momentum.. He simply needed to make certain that Fallashay remained drugged through the rights of the wedding Ceremony.. Willing would have been a lot less difficult..