"So are we clear on what we're doing?" Amadeo asks, readying his book for the day as they finish breakfast.

"Crystal. You just do your job and I'll do mine." Tyrion loads his crossbow and straps it to his back.

"We sure this'll work?" Anna shunts her rod into the holster on her hip and sets to washing the rest of the dishes.

"Not entirely, but the only way to be sure is to try it." Hope cracks her neck and rubs her eyes.

"Very well then. We'll hold down the fort. You all just be careful." Soren hobbles into the main room, no longer limping but not quite fully unhindered. "Put that monster in her place."

"We'll be fine, Dad." Amadeo slips his book into the holster at his side, stretching. "She'd be foolish to start a fight in the council chambers, especially if it's four to one."

"Just be safe, dears. I can't be held responsible for the rampage that will ensue if any of my babies are hurt." Ruby opens the front door, the warm morning air filling the space of the main room.

"I'm sorry, any of your what?" Tyrion raises an eyebrow, arms folding. "I mean, we're the same age, Ruby."

"Just go with it. You've been here too long, and now she's adopted you." Amadeo pats the halfling's shoulder with a soft chuckle.

"Everyone needs a mother. Simple fact of life." Ruby leans down, giving Tyrion a peck on the cheek that sends his face into a bright pink state. She then moves to Hope and does the same, coming up behind Anna and getting the back of her head before giving Amadeo a warm hug. She whispers something in his ear, and he turns red. "Mom!"

"You heard me. I didn't stutter!" Ruby giggles and nudges him softly.

The party steps out into the morning light, and though the fog remains, they could almost swear it has lessened. "She's making a path for us." Amadeo theorizes, taking a few steps and watching the fog seem to part before them. "Let's go. We'll finish this today."

"What'd she say to give you that reaction, lad?" Tyrion asks, raising an eyebrow.

The wizard clenches a fist, a flame burning in his eyes. "Go get the bitch."

****************************************

The walk to the council chambers is quiet. Amadeo clutches the journal tightly and looks over the homes and businesses as they approach the main street. "Be on your guard. I doubt she'll do anything too foolish, but cornered foxes can be more dangerous than you might think."

Tyrion scoffs. "How dangerous can she be? She's an old woman."

"Who has spent sixty years appearing young and beautiful, hiding her vicious and self-serving nature behind a mask of lawfulness. No telling what she might have up her sleeve." Amadeo points down the lane. "There it is. The bigger building, the one with the four pointed star on it."

The building in question, as they see rising out of the fog, is one of the few brick and mortar structures in the village. Stone steps lead up to a double door guarded by a pair of men in some kind of uniform with the four pointed star across the chest, heads covered by skull caps and holding long spears. "Someone thinks very highly of themselves." Tyrion snorts, spitting a wad of phlegm and saliva into the dirt.

"I hope you know which chamber these elders are in." Hope scans the perimeter, eyeing corners and the area of the roof curiously.

Amadeo nods, gesturing to a large window just under the four pointed star. "Second floor, furthest chamber back. I guess they think the long walk to meet them makes them somehow more important."

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Anna folds her arms and looks around. "Is it just the two guards?"

"There's always more inside. Not heavily armed or well trained, from what I've seen. Guards aren't generally used to actually fighting in my experience." Tyrion stretches. "But with large enough numbers, even a bee sting can become deadly."

"Just don't start a fight until we're sure there's gonna be one." Amadeo walks up the steps. The guards eye him quietly for a moment, and one of them steps forward, unkempt hair covering part of his face as he clutches his spear to lean on it.

"What business you got with the elder council?" His speech is somewhat slurred, probably as a result of the jaw that appears to be mildly dislocated.

"We came to report an assault at the Ravenwood residence." The wizard is soon joined by his companions, and the guards take a moment to eye each of them curiously.

"Some friends you've got. At any rate, the council's got another case right now, but you can go on in and wait. They should be able to see you soon. Let em pass, Rolf."

"Thank you, Will." Amadeo steps past, leaving the guard bewildered.

"How do you know his name?" Anna asks curiously as Will looks inside at them.

"Went to school with him. He took a shovel to the face when we were about fourteen. The local doctor didn't set it properly, so now he talks with a slur. Nice guy, but I don't think he remembers me."

"He looks like a thug." The elf looks back at Will before turning around to face the party again.

"Don't let that fool you. He's a perfect gentleman. Dating Cassandra, in fact. The mayor didn't have anything bad to say about him, from what I hear." Amadeo moves down the hall with purpose, the scattered doors around them closed to prevent wandering eyes from prying. At each door stands more pairs of guards.

"What are all these rooms for?" Tyrion eyes the closed doors suspiciously, fingers dancing along his crossbow's grip.

"File rooms, mostly. Others serve as offices for some of the clerks who work for the council."

"How do you know so much about this place, lad? Had a few run ins, have you?" The halfling smirks, and Amadeo chuckles, waving his hand dismissively.

"Nah, nothing so serious as that. Kira and I accompanied our folks here when they tried to convince the council and the mayor to give the land to them. While they were negotiating, we were free to wander about the place. I also accompanied my master here a few times to full out requests for food and drink to be delivered to his tower. One thing you don't want to do is go through those doors there."

At the end of the hallway, on either side of the single set of stairs, a door made of iron bars sits. Anna's ears perk up before she covers them. "I can hear shouting."

"Dungeons. That's where they jail those who've been found guilty...and those they wish to find guilty."

"They just keep people under this place? That's horrible!" Anna holds her hands tighter around her ears.

"Thankfully, they're not tortured anymore. That used to be the standard method for confession. The council has since learned that people will say anything to make you stop pulling their teeth. Now it's a system of evidence and witnesses. They set up a permanent truth circle in the council chamber."

"Those only work if your will isn't strong enough to resist. I've seen the things in use before." Tyrion pipes up as they head up the stairs, which hit a landing and split left and right in separate directions before returning together and connecting to the upper floor. Here, there are only three doors, one on the left with another on the right and the third directly across from the stairs. Anna steps up to the closed center door and presses her ear to it. "Hmm...There's people in there talking about somethin. Bit too muffled to understand, though."

"Then we'll wait." Amadeo enters the door on the left, stepping into a small waiting room and flopping into a chair.

Hope stands by the door, arms folded. "So you think this'll work?"

"Oh, most definitely. Just trust me." The wizard folds his fingers together, the journal laying in his lap.

"I do trust you." She looks toward the council door, nudging Anna. "What do ya got?"

The elf leans her head out for a moment before popping back in. "They're coming. That's quite a few sets of feet."

The central door opens, a group of men and women walking out and chattering together loudly.

"It's not fair!" One says.

"Course it's not, but that's the elders' decision." Another responds.

A third sighs, rubbing her forehead. "We'll make them see reason. Just give it time."

"Wonder what that was about." Tyrion watches the group exit as another person enters the waiting room. A gnome woman with a crooked nose adjusts her glasses when she steps in, looking over the group and bowing her head. "A thousand pardons. The council will see you now. Please be sure to show all due respect."

"Certainly. But if I may ask, what was all the commotion about just now?" Amadeo rises and prepares to step out.

"Ah, the farmers. They're complaining of increasing taxes despite their gradually depleting yield. The council wants to use the extra money to build a statue commemorating the Harbinger of Seasons, ironically." The gnome sighs, muttering something under her breath. Anna's ears perk up before the gnome moves aside. "Please, go on in."

"Thank you." Amadeo exits the waiting room, walking into the council chamber with the party in tow.