Audrey’s POV.
Audrey sighed, the Migraine started right after that fool Marlin was interrogated. Oh the verbal abuse was hilarious to listen to. The faces Torren made, had been precious.
She had asked to sit in the next room to overhear the conversation. Marlin was a reliable guild member after all. The fun had ended there.
Say what you will about Torren, he made sure to be diligent. He had that stupid face of glee. At first she thought Torren had grown rusty, the way Marlin had handled him. It had been that ludicrous fearlessness and audacity that had thrown Torren for a loop.
When pushed, Marlin was ruthless in discerning people’s flaws and throwing barbs that could truly hurt, she had picked up on how Bron was probably the one that had broken Marlins arm. Because Marlin in his almighty wisdom decided to go full trash talk on the Canta boy.
Marlin was an odd warrior but he was someone that truly encapsulated ‘no retreat, no surrender’, she liked that part at least and he was smart too.
she sighed again,
With others, The fear of Torren was ever present and Torren flourished with it. Already he had so much to work with. He had uncovered the thread of a second information network. and a fucking honor-less crime ring connecting both spy networks.
That old seamstress seemed to have vanished into thin air as well.
she knew the hangings where only a matter of time. The current paperwork she had to fill out for a permanent constabulary and military presence here in this middle of nowhere were proof of that.
The biggest reason the lionshare of people lived here in the first place, was the peace and quiet. Lost Haven would never be the same again.
”what is going on in this god damn town”? She thought. “Under my nose? I gotta stop drinking so much, 2 fucking spy networks, and the honor-less running amuck. Why are they even here? What’s so important about this god damn town?
Audrey was wracking her brain this was a simple outpost settlement, less then 2000 people lived here with farmers in the surrounding area and a T’jut tribe that had stuck around for a little longer then usual.
The average level here was 3 because there were no real threats. Even strategically it was a bad place. No natural protection, easily taken over. So what was it about this place that attracted the attention of 2 spy networks from 2 different countries connected to the honor-less? She really hoped this wasn’t the pre cursor to an invasion but it had all the makings of one.
was that the reason? Because there had been no Military presence?
”where is the constable”?
She looked up and smiled at first until the man walked in. She felt herself go pale. Bradford had walked in. She knew his level 11. Champion of light. And the man was furious, no one else seemed to notice but that was normal, you had to really know him, the subtle tells, the slight tightness to his jaw. “Ow shit i almost forgot, Marlin is his kid”.
”Hello Audrey” Bradford sat down at the counter, “Where is Daini”? He looked at Audrey, the white flicker of his aura at the ready.
“Hey Bradford”! She said jovially while trembling a bit, she knew it was a mistake to be this jolly right now but she went to her default mode. “Yea turns out Daini was a Avalorian spy, from your old government. We haven’t been able to trace her”. She lowered her head not willing to show her face.
“Then why is there a sniveling toad going after my boy, and don’t tell me that pathetic excuse of that crime scene”.
“Bradford… Torren excluded him from his list of suspects day one, why are you upset”?
Bradford raised his eyebrow but eased up on his threatening display.
“What’s going on here Audrey? Marlin comes to my place telling me he wants to get the hell out of dodge and tells me I should pack up my shit! Or else i might be implicated as well. He told Bron and Kotak to tell the T’jut tribe to do the same thing. That doesn’t sound like he is off the list, he was downright paranoid. Asking me why on earth i never told him about how corrupt the law was. I couldn’t believe what i was hearing! So tell me where this Torren guy is and il see for myself”.
Audrey couldn’t believe it either, although she wasn’t surprised Marlin had picked up on Torren’s nastiness but to her it seemed Marlin was jumping to some major conclusions.
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“Bradford don’t you think he’s overreacting”?
“Audrey”, he looked her straight in the eye.
“That boy takes an arrow to the head and laughs, he gets his Fucking arm shattered he laughs! He has no fear! And that boy comes to me says; ‘dad we got to get the hell out! we can’t win this one’”!
Bradford fumed for his standards, his voice had started carrying and quite a few people were listening.
”Marlin may be a foul mouthed douche bag, but his gut feeling has never betrayed him, not with things like this, start talking from the beginning and don’t leave anything out”.
Audrey sighed and gave Bradford what she had. The spy networks, the crime ring and her suspicions. After she was done she gauged the man. Was he going to snap? Champions were the voice of reason but this was his son he was emotionally involved.
“So he is in the next building”? Bradford asked.
Audrey nodded and sighed in relief when Bradford got up and left.
There was a reason no one messed with Champion crusaders. that damnable Deus Vult was practically impossible to dodge for her.
It came out almost instantly. 5, 6 guys just as strong as her, dead within 10 seconds if not mortally wounded? And if he decided to invoke the Sanctus Ultor…
She had seen it once and it had put the fear of the gods straight back in her.
He had been on their side yes, it knocked him out for 4-5 days yes. But seeing it once. She told herself she didn’t care how big the reward was, she would make sure Bradford never saw her as a target, she liked the man, might even have pursued him, but he frightened her big time whenever he was close to go on a warpath.
After witnessing Bradford going all out that one time, it had made perfect sense why his asylum application was so quickly taken care of.
Less then 200 people were at Bradfords level or stronger. She could tell, He was close to level 12.
Yea she hated Torren but she outright feared Bradford today. He was one of the most reasonable men she had ever met but even reasonable men had their limits.
He had been very clear he would jump to their defense in the case of an invasion on the sole promise, him and his family would receive fair treatment.
That basically gave Marlin by extension, and without his knowledge protection by and from the law, as if he was a noble. Bradford had distinctly told her this in confidence and didn’t want Marlin to know.
”Did marlin pick up on this whole ‘invasion in the making’ just from talking to Torren once”? She thought to herself. “Forget his fucking birth circumstance, that perception of his is way to fucking scary”. She shuddered.
Torren POV
Something itched, something bothered him, he felt anxious? “Why am i feeling anxious? Why do i feel fear”?
”Are you Torren the constable for the recent murder case”?
Torren looked up. He nearly pissed his pants. His fate levels started dropping, his divine favor started dropping.
“Ow shit this is bad”, he thought. “Of all the people why in gods name is ‘Bradford of the Radiant Dawn’ here? He retired didn’t he”!? Torren’s thoughts where running wild.
“Can i help you sir? Yes i am the Constable on the case we know who the killer is but have not found her, she has eluded us so far”.
The man Bradford sat down. “A birdy told me 3, 3 lust potions where used, do you have any idea how that could have happened? As a champion i cannot overlook this”. His voice was commanding.
”ow just my rotten luck. I should never have given that bitch 4 favors! God damnit, the location of Bradford and his family is classified how on earth did i run into him here”!? Torren cursed his luck.
”should i start from the beginning and give you a quick rundown”? He asked wringing his hands.
”that would be best, keep it brief but don’t leave any important details out”.
Bradford POV
Listening to the creep made his skin crawl. The only silver lining was that indeed Marlin was officially struck off the list for investigation. However Bradford knew better then to rely on the word of this snake. As stupid as Marlin had been with running his mouth, from what Bradford could tell it had done not as much damage as he initially feared. How Marlin kept managing that was an absolute mystery to him. He didn’t tell the man Marlin was his son, figured it be better for this man to find that out himself naturally.
Bradlord started half listening to the case he had grasped what he needed. His old home kingdom Avalonia, had fallen further down the hole. Bradford knew those 3 potions must have come out of the royal vaults. And for some reason. Avalonia was conspiring with another unknown kingdom against the Valkor Kingdom.
Bradford had chosen Valkor as his asylum due to their reputation of honorable conduct even among the nobles and royalty.
Marlin had given no indication he had picked up on any of this intrigue, he had been focused entirely on this man Torren. How Marlin had feared the corruption Torren had and what it represented. Bradford saw how Marlin might have jumped to that but also saw this man had juicier targets in sight than some random foul mouthed nobody.
”seems you still struggle to read the things you subconsciously pick up on Marlin”. Bradford thought. “Perhaps a relocation closer to North Haven, for me and Betty might be a good idea”.
After he was done, Bradford went to the T’jut tribe and talked with them about his findings. Wanting to make sure they understood what was about to happen. They thanked him profusely, to which he thanked them for accepting Marlin. He shared a midday meal with the Father of Milly and Bron a fierce T’jut Archon. Before he knew it he had a loose alliance with the tribe who figured it was high time to try their luck North. North Haven sounded pleasant this time of year.
Torren POV
Torren patted himself on the back. His fate levels had only dropped by half, and his Divine Favor by a third. Bradford’s had left in time for him to not discover Torren’s secret. God how he hated how Champions had such ludicrous impact on the comings and going of fate, how it had ruined meticulous gathering of Favor and molding fate to his advantage. That was the price of being a cultist. You never knew when you might meet one such as Bradford.
Bradford POV
on the way back to his cabin, he couldn’t quite shake something, like he had overlooked a rather important piece.