Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

"I'm not... wait. The guards, they were wearing Light sashes. Some of them," Bethany whispers back. "The ones the guards at the Lantern and such."

[GamesMaster]

"Okay," she says, too calmly. "So I'll find him, break in, get him out, bring him here, and you can flee Nyra together."

[Bethany]

"From the Lantern guards?" Beth asks, craning her neck to look up at Ari. 

[GamesMaster]

"If I have to." She sounds bold, but Beth knows her well enough to know she's totally bluffing.

[Bethany]

Beth lets out a watery laugh before pressing a kiss to Ari's cheek. "Thank you," she whispers. "Thank you for lying."

[Tethras Clan]

Biting her lip, Merrill offers tentatively, "but dad didn't do it. So... won't he be fine?"

[GamesMaster]

"Maybe," hedges Ari. "He's a dwarf, he's maybe going to be fine?"

[Bethany]

"Dad's brilliant," Beth assures them all, especially herself. "He's clever and- and he always has a plan. He'll... work this out. I mean, after last time, he had to have prepared for, well, not this specifically, but for being... taken again."

[GamesMaster]

"Gotcha," says Ari, then hesitates. "So... what do we do? I mean, I'm supposed to be guarding the hideout, but..."

[Tethras Clan]

"Well, maybe we can help? Last time dad stopped things by finding Rosemary so maybe if we find, um, Bombmary we can make it stop this time," Merrill offers.

[GamesMaster]

"That's... not the worst plan," admits Ari. "What do we know so far?"

[Bethany]

"Well... Nikolaos said it was an alchemical bomb, in her carriage," Beth begins slowly. "Dad confirmed with magic he didn't do it though."

[GamesMaster]

"Okay, that's a start. Someone had access to the carriage, they made or bought a bomb, and they hated her enough to want her dead. She's a Light so maybe a lot of people hated her, but usually people are scared of the Guard so they don't bomb people. So it's probably someone way too into politics or someone she personally hates."

[Tethras Clan]

"Oh that makes sense," Merrill says brightly, clapping her hands with delight. "So who doesn't like Miss Huntinghawk? I like her name, it's pretty but also all grrr! Or well, scree! Umm, anyway."

[Bethany]

"I... don't really know much about the nobility. I wish we could find Helene... they would know, I'm sure. Don't suppose you know anyone that follows noble gossip, do you Ari?" Beth asks a bit hopelessly.