Dialogue Hesvar #149 - We're Not His Keeper

Hesvar #149 - We're Not His Keeper
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Or Read a summary of the first 149 episodes in Episode 150 - Recap.

Sam went and answered the door to find it was Seth and Pris. She's invited them in and shown them to the living room where Lucius is making sure the tails of his shirt are properly arranged.



Sam: "Please have a seat. Lucius and I were just finishing up a science lesson."

Seth: "Heh. You's should asks Pris 'bout those lessons. She could teach ya things ya'd never imagines."



Lucius: "Oh? I didn't realize you were a fellow scientist."



Pris: "Actually I'm an entertainer. My silly husband here was just making an off-color joke. Please forgive him."

Seth: "Oh, yeah. Sorries. I's gots a knack for sayins stupid things."



*Sam goes to reassure Lucius fearing he'll be uncomfortable.* "We really were having a science lesson. Lucius here is the sharpest person I've met. I'm sure he could tell you many fascinating things you'd never imagine."

Lucius: "All true of course, but his assumption is perfectly understandable. Women in general find an intelligent cat such as myself irresistible. Plus he's aware we're a couple."



Sam: "Right. I forgot." (Actually thinking she forgot his arrogant persona armor.) "Anyway, what brings you two here today? I hope everything's ok."

Pris: "Sadly I think there might be a problem. We were hoping to talk to you and Kano. Is he here?"



Lucius: "He's in town, but if you want useful solutions I'm a far better person to speak with anyway. What's the problem?"



Pris: "I was supposed to entertain some Vespin clients this evening but the event was canceled as the Vespins were quite upset. Apparently there's a rumor that the Vespin Minister of Culture and Finance was killed on the streets of Singard.

My mind immediately went to Kano's encounter with the Minister back near Vespi. I know he managed to wound her then, a fact almost unfathomable to me as a Vespin, and I was afraid maybe they'd had another encounter and the rumor could be true. Do either of you know anything?"

Sam: "Actually..."

 

*Lucius cuts Sam off.* "I'm afraid we're not Kano's keepers, and keeping track of his encounters with the opposite sex would be a full time job for anyone. Besides, despite his reputation as a lady-killer I assure you it's not something that should be taken literally. So even if the rumors are true it's quite the leap to accuse Kano of being involved."



Seth: "Woahs! Woahs! Like I's sorries I gots things off bad with my's joke, but Pris ain't talkin' 'bout Kano ands the minster havin' a romantic meetin'."



Pris: "Seth I think this would be another good time for you to be quiet for a moment. I'm sure Lucius isn't confused by your joke."



Seth: "Oh. Okays."

Pris: "Please don't get me wrong, I'm not looking to get Kano in trouble even if he was involved. I just want to know if the rumor is true as I'm really afraid of what could happen if it is. Kano himself could be in serious danger even if he wasn't involved. They already attacked him once for his talk of metal from the sky and those golden eagle insignia are like targets to the Vespins. I mean you wear one too... although that's not actually an eagle is it? A griffin?



Lucius: "Why yes it is a griffin. Well spotted. I'm pleased to see you possess the keen observational skills typical of us felines. The griffin is part eagle, part cat; acknowledgement that any answers to the mysteries of the metal from the sky will come from a feline mind. Specifically mine."



Pris: "......Of course. I mean obviously, but still you could be in serious danger. Gareth too and any other of your associates. And I mean a lot more danger than you were in before her death if true.

I gather neither you nor Kano are from Singard, and I'm certain neither of you are from Vespi, so maybe you don't understand how import the Minister is to Vespin culture. She's like a living symbol of Vespin power. Her death would shake most Vespins to their core. Vespi will have to respond if she is dead, and that response won't be pretty."



Sam: "If the Vespins are even more upset than usual maybe we should warn Kano and Ayr. Star too."

Lucius: "Ayr and Star wear no insignia so I don't think they're in any particular danger. And even if we wanted to warn them all we have no idea where in Singard they are. It's not a small town.

Honestly though I don't see how this minister's death, or rumors to that effect, could increase the level of danger the Vespins represent to us. This minister made multiple attempts to kill Kano on his trip to Vespi, they burnt down my house in an attempt to kill me, and several of our associates are already dead likely at Vespin hands. How could we possibly be in more danger than we were before?"



Pris: "Ok, maybe you're right, maybe the Minister's death doesn't create any more danger for you and your associates. Maybe it even lessens your danger. Good for you.

But if the Minister was killed in Singard it's certainly going to mean more danger for the people of Singard. Vespi can't allow Singard to go unpunished as the place that killed the living symbol of Vespin power. In fact this could even lead to war. Vespi has as history of such things and they've always come out on top.

My history lessons taught me wars have dire consequences for the people in the farms surrounding the city-states. People like Seth and I. Their lands, shelters, and food, *our* lands, shelter, and food will be the first things seized to support the invading army. And since it's Vepsi we're talking about us farmers will probably be made slaves. I've already earned my freedom from slavery once. I really don't want to be pulled back into it again.

I really want to know if the Minister is actually dead, but as I've been talking I've realized there's no reason for you to admit you know anything if you do and lots of reasons not to, so I'll stop asking. Instead I'll just say that as a new Singard land owner please consider your neighbors and what this could mean to them. I know you have money and other gifts from the sky. If there's anything you can do to help Singard please consider it. Lots of innocent people are likely to suffer if the Minister is dead. I hope you'd like to prevent that as much as possible."

 

Not the sort of thing one should admit to, especially if being asked because things are getting heated over it.

I guess the story is now too long and convoluted. Oh well.

 

I didn't sense any hostility between Pris and Lucius. But even Pris figured out at the end there's no way anyone is going to claim to be the ones to have killed the minister. There's just no advantage to doing that.

The critical thing going forward is just what do the Vespins do in response.

 

Good to know someone still gets a kick out of Lucius's, hmmm, style?

Yeah it could definitely go bad. A major figure killed on foreign soil is always a tense situation. The message from the "gods" won't help any either.

 

Another story on the operating table. Pris and Lucius both improve this time. Better dialogue and better analysis by the two of the reality of the situation. Better closing appeal by Pris too.