The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Varric]

Varric carefully keeps his face still. "Any other changes in her behavior? Other rumors starting- is the dining alone a new behavior?" he asks intently.

[GamesMaster]

"Recent, yeah. In the past two years. Didn't used to be every week,  but it has for the past year and a half. As for changes, impossible to say. She doesn't host -- Bartrand Tethras, her husband, meets with people at restaurants instead. She's only seen on his arm, never out and about on her own without him or her bodyguard, Brodie Tethras -- a distant cousin of her husband's he's press-ganged into guarding her when he's busy. So most of what I've got is rumor, no solid intel."

[Varric]

Varric rubs his face again, looking aged. "...thanks. I have a couple of extra heavy books on Alessian economics I'll have sent to your shop," he says absently, eyes distant.

[GamesMaster]

He nods. "You want my advice? Follow the husband. Whatever he's up to, that's the key. Why's he treat her like one of those fancy Mini Quetzls that're all the rage? What's he so scared of? That's the lynchpin. There're those as say he lost her in a bet with the Carta and he's scared they'll call it in any day now, but I don't buy it. He lets her come here, after all. This is the only place she's ever seen alone."

[Varric]

That gets his attention back. "The only place? And she does it regularly?" he asks sharply. She's creating a pattern for someone... me? Maybe, he said more than a year...

[GamesMaster]

"Every week. Dines alone, the waiters under strict orders not to bother her or let anyone up." 

[Varric]

Varric nods slowly. Wonder what Zev would want to loan his ring for a day... "Mary, you want to order something to go for tomorrow, flag someone. I'm good to leave."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian nods, grinning at him. "Thanks, boss," she says, cheerily. 

[Carver Amell]

"And, the best part is, they said I can maybe someday turn into a wolf! Wouldn't that be so cool? Hunter and I could run off on adventures and everything!"

Carver's enthusiasm is infectious; the only thing warmer than his smile as he tells his sister and her... friend?... about his new talent is the weather. It is hot. So hot, they've gone to the porch to escape, and are tempted to go swimming -- maybe naked, all three of them and the poor panting pup at their feet. At least Merrill has her lesson, in the Oak which is nice and cool; Vig is keeping an eye on her, and Roland has already gone fishing, hoping the water keeps him cool. 

So it's just the three of them who spy the caravan coming into town, with a paladin in heavy armor on a fine horse at the head of it. 

[Aveline Vallen]

The paladin dismounts with a nearly inaudible clank just at the edge of town. Standing nearly as tall as Lightsong, she appears bigger thanks to her bearing and imposing gaze. Brilliant red-orange hair tightly tied in a bun, heavy gleaming mithril fullplate, an oversized one-hander shield on her back and tabard with Vangal's symbol in steel grey and gold all add to the sheer presence she exudes. She starts to stride into town, then suddenly stops, head snapping around to lock eyes on Beth. Without hesitation, she diverts towards the trio.

[Bethany]

Beth giggles a little, smiling goofily at her brother. "I bet Merrill would love to brush you," she teases. "The only thing she seems to like as much as you is Hunter." Well, and that baby dragon maybe but she's still barely a baby.

[Carver Amell]

His eyelids droop a bit. "Man... that sounds amazing. I should turn into a wolf and you both could brush me and make me a really handsome collar and I could walk around like your pet dog."

[Shisou]

Shiori grins, but before she can say anything, she glances past Carver. "Uh. Is that-- is that Captain Vallen?" Because of course Soushi-Hime knows most of the guard captains by sight. 

[Bethany]

"Capta-" Beths eyes widen as she sits up, having been laying with her head in Shisou's lap. "Shit," she whispers, spotting the paladin striding towards them. "Umm. My name's Betty and we've never been to Nyra," she hisses quickly.

Sensing the sudden tension, Hunter stirs with a grunt, then flops back down on his back with all four legs splayed in a vain attempt to shed extra heat. Why my person not play in water or dig under nice tree, the mabari thinks mournfully.

[Carver Amell]

"Shit. Too late. Get in the house, I'll deal with her," says Carver, hopping up to his feet to stride toward Aveline.