crownfall
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DTK 29.2
🕑 Added 2023-04-06 23:07:45 +0000 UTCAN: malform chapter fix
We walked with mom to the town meeting room — a luxurious use of the limited space in our buildings. Maritha stayed behind at the house after helping clean the workshop.
Mom hummed to herself as she walked.
Sandy and I exchanged terrified glances with each other behind her back, her gesturing at me with increasing urgency at my mom. I didn’t know what she meant to signal, but I knew her concern: Henri knew both me and Sandy were clearing the dungeon.
I was still afraid to tell mom that I was as well. She had come to the conclusion that I wasn’t on her own. Telling her I hadn’t been selected as a noble was bad enough; I couldn’t imagine telling her I had been clearing the dungeon in secret.
Mom sent a glance back at Sandy.
“You’ll have to show me what you’ve been making soon.” She said.
“Oh yeah. Gwen makes all kinds of outfits. Ones that turn us invisible, or grant super strength.”
Mom nodded, not commenting further. I elbowed Sandy, gesturing with my eyes, but she shrugged.
We made it to the door to the town hall. Mom stopped outside, turning and leveling an eye at us.
“Wait out here girls.” She said.
“Uh —“ Sandy started, then stopped. “Okay.”
She folded her arms and turned. Mom pushed the door open.
Henri looked up from a rolled cigarette, pouring over paper spread out in front of him. His eyes jumped to me first, then to Sandy, then to my mom. They grew panicked.
“Henri!” Mom said, her voice cheerful. “Let’s talk!”
The door closed and cut off our vision.
“You said I made us outfits!” I hissed at Sandy. “We should’ve gone in with her.”
“It would’ve been even more suspicious if we tried to stop her from talking to him alone.” Sandy whispered back, looking around and rubbing her arms. The chill of late autumn was starting to set in.
“Do you think he tells her?”
“He’s not a snitch.” Sandy said this last part proudly. “He will support us.”
The confidence in her voice flagged at the end.
“What do we do now?” I asked, staring absently at the door.
“Finish the mining outfit?” Sandy said.
I rubbed my face.
“She’s got to be asking about that too. That means she knows Gerald is involved. If she…”
I trailed off as I looked behind Sandy.
Marielle strode through town, hands folded gently, walking right toward us. She was practically glaring at Sandy, though her expression softened when she met me looking.
“Girls!” She said.
Gerald looked like a kicked puppy behind her. He only met my eyes for a second before returning to the ground.
We waved and nodded.
“Is Henri inside?” She asked Sandy, turning to look over at her. Marielle and Sandy were about the same height. I could feel the electricity exchanged in a single glance.
“He is.” Sandy said after a moment.
Marielle nodded, opening the door.
“Why don’t you join us?” Marielle asked Sandy. “Since this involves you.”
Henri was gesturing wildly on the other side, standing on his side of the table and whispering in an increasingly loud hiss. Mom hadn’t sat down. She stared down at Henri across the table, arms folded. Then her eyes locked onto mine.
My heart sunk.
She pursed her lips.
I followed Gerald inside. I didn’t know how much Henri had told her — they had clearly been fighting.
“Henri.”
“Mari.” He said. His mouth was half cocked in a smile but his eyes were tired.
“I’m glad you’re here. I wanted to talk.” Mari said, looking over her shoulder at Sandy. “About your daughter.”
“Mom…” Gerald said.
She just raised a hand to ward him off.
“What about her?” Henri asked.
“About her clearing the dungeon. You’re one of the only people with sense in this town. It’s time for us to leave.” She turned and looked at me. “Now that Gwen isn’t — now that we know she’s taking after her mother, there’s no need for you to vote for us to stay.”
The last part was directed at my mom.
“If my daughter wants to stay in the town, I will stay in the town.” My mom said. It was that simple to her.
“Ridiculous. That attitude is bad for all of us.” She said. “And it’s exactly why I’m going to tell Valjean Sandy has been clearing the dungeon.”
“Mom!” Gerald said, but he took a step back.
“Do you have any proof?” Sandy asked nonchalantly.
“We will when he puts you under house arrest and the town continues collapsing.” She said, staring down Sandy.
“Sandy’s not — stop it.” He said. He looked between me and my mom, his face covered in panic and duress.
Henri looked like he was holding back a laugh
“Of course she is, Gerald. You need to learn not to be so naive. How much can you hang out with these people and not realize?” She asked, waving at Sandy.
“I’m the one clearing the dungeon.” He said.
“What?” She asked. “No. You’re not.”
Henri smiled wider. My mom looked at me, bewildered.
Gerald summoned his shield out of his inventory. It was twice as wide as he was and it slammed into the floor with a floorboard shattering crack.
“Gerald…” she said, her voice dangerous as she walked across the room and grabbed the edge of the shield. “You’re not a noble.”
Gerald recalled his shield to his inventory.
“I am!” He said. “I’m the one clearing the dungeon. I’m the person killing the monsters. So if you want to tell Valjean someone is clearing the dungeon, you’ll have to tell him its me.”
Armor grew up his legs as he summoned it out of his inventory. Gerald frowned, upset, and then the leg armor flashed, and he disappeared.
“Well, there you have it.” Henri said, blowing smoke. “I’ll tell Valjean for you if you’d like.”
“No.” Mari said, even as she stared at where Gerald had been. She shook her head. “He’s not a noble. He’s a crafter. Even if he thinks he is a… no. He can’t be.”
Her mouth parted slightly then closed. She side-eyed Henri. Mom looked bewildered.
“Did you know?” She asked me.
“Yes. That’s why we need the mining set.”
“There’s nothing to know. Ignore Gerald. I will talk to him. I… see your point now, Henri.” Mari said. “None of us need to make haste to talk to Valjean.”
Then Mari walked out.
When the door closed behind her, Henri spoke.
“So.” He said. “Esme says I should be doing more to support you three.”
