Hazelnuts and plaid

[NPCs]

Vosang opens his mouth, pauses, then asks slowly, almost warily, "would you like a two minute break?"

[Marian Hawke]

"Just... just a moment, please. I'll be alright. Just..." 

She takes a few more deep breaths, rubbing the tears from her eyes as she settles. "My apologies. I've been trying not to... to think too much about it."

[NPCs]

"You are fit to continue then?" he asks instead of offering comfort. Despite that omission, the question lacks malice or even the unyielding insistence that had categorized his tone previously.

[Marian Hawke]

"Yes," she whispers, with a nod. 

[NPCs]

"Very good." He clears his throat lightly. "Please identify those whom you believe have the means and motive to attack you or those others you named by way of Missus zi'Hawke's death."

[Marian Hawke]

"The Iron Bitch and any of her followers. That's the biggest one. Any of the other Lights could do it, though I'm not sure who among them hates me that much. It's possible someone wants revenge for Denarius, he was a big player and surely had allies."

[NPCs]

"Denarius?"

[Marian Hawke]

"Zevran's former master. He was a lich. We destroyed him."

[NPCs]

"Before or after he became a lich? And destroyed to what extent?"

[Marian Hawke]

"After. We ripped out his heart, smashed his phylactery, burned down his tent, and salted the earth behind him."

[NPCs]

"Thorough," Vosang observes. "Not impossible to come back from but unreasonably difficult. Who among the Lights-- or any other political, social or mercantile leaders-- would you say is likely to wish you ruined or broken for whatever reason?"

[Marian Hawke]

She winces. "Lord Balair? zi'Vetinari? Lady Beliet? Anyone who wants my seat and thinks I'm easy pickings?"

[NPCs]

"Is that solely to motive or do you also suspect them capable as well?"

[Marian Hawke]

"Without knowing how someone... I told you this is my fault, I had the poison on hand and she got into it. It was an accident. I don't know how you would cause an accident like that. So I don't know who could do it. I guess anyone could have stopped by, if they knew where the bottle was, and handed it to Merrill to have over tea, but they'd have been sick too, unless they knew what kind it was and had an antidote, or something, but this seems incredibly far-fetched for someone like Lord Balair."

[NPCs]

"And, ah, The Iron Bitch? Why do you believe That One would be--"

"State secret."

Vosang's mouth snaps shut and he stares at Panis, who doesn't give any hint of why he's suddenly spoken up on his face.

"That is... highly irregular," he finally says cautiously. "I need--"

"The nature is classified. Suffice to say that by my judgment and scale, That One has more than the required motivation to target the Hawke family, up to and only just perhaps not including direct action by Conquest nirself." Panis doesn't bother to remark on Sirena's ability to have done this if so desired, given well, Heptad.

"...understood." The ratfolk frowns, then pushes it aside. "Do you have anything else to add on the subject of possible enemies, of yourself specifically, another member of your Clan or your Clan as a whole?