Headed by a Snake

Coraline was led by Lucrezia into the adjacent corridor... Once they were far enough away from the denizens of the dining hall, the Popoto woman halted her steps. Then... her tears began to fall in earnest.

Lucrezia dabbed a handkerchief to the corner of her eye, "Oh, Coraline... I don't know what to do."

"What's wrong, Auntie Lu?" Coraline rubbed the back of her tiny Aunt's hand, cooing softly, "Hey, it's okay. I'm here. Talk to me."

Coraline glared at Lone, who was standing at the side. He was pursing his lips, looking generally lost.

"What-are-you-doing-here?" She whispered harshly.

Lone scratched the side of his head. "I uh... I'm standing guard?" He whispered back.

"No, it's fine..." Lucrezia forced a smile and turned towards the boy who couldn't read the mood. "Thank you for taking care of Miss Coraline. You must keep her safe, Mister Lone. I'm counting on you."

Lone smiled. "As long as I can protect her smile, I'll be happy."

That was ridiculous. Coraline didn't need anyone's protection. She was an adventurer!

...She mentally reviewed the ways she could teach the boy a lesson...

⌈Electric Grasp⌋, maybe? No... Miss Maisie might not be able to heal that kind of injury-- and the smell would be terrible.

⌈Flame Wheel⌋? Err... Casting a fire spell while aboard a ship made of wood would be stupidity at the highest level.

⌈Force Punch⌋ should be fine, though. It would just rearrange the stupid boy's insides.

Oh, but the formations would still prevent her from casting offensive spells. None of those would work...

"It's... it's my husband," Lucrezia choked on a sob.

Oh... no.

Coraline took both of Lucrezia's hands in hers, "Stay calm, Auntie... Just... take a deep breath and talk to me."

"He's... just..." She sniffed, "He's a terrible drunk, you know..."

"Does... does he hit you?" Coraline asked.

She would commit murder for this woman.

...Or at least beat up an old man.

Lucrezia gasped, "Oh! Eleven heavens, no! ...Giorgio would never, ever hurt me. But... others... I'm not so certain."

Coraline led her Auntie to a pair of seats in the hallway. She sat by her, patiently keeping hold of the older woman's hand... Lucrezia steadied her breathing... but each tear that fell from her eyes stoked the flames of fury in Coraline's heart.

"Take your time, Auntie Lu... I'm here..."

Lucrezia nodded, her mouth twisted in distress... "Sometimes... when he comes home after drinking with his coworkers... Giorgio... he has the guiltiest look in his eyes. I always know these things-- we've been married for so many years..."

Coraline frowned, "You think... that maybe... Mister Giorgio is cheating on you?"

"No..." Lucrezia grimaced, shaking her head, "It's not that... but there's something else... He's hiding... a terrible secret, I'm sure. You know, terrible things...

"My husband is a businessman... a ruthless one. He's had his share of bad partners over the years... he's had to cut costs, forcing dozens, if not hundreds of people out of work... then he's had to deal with competitors... and not all of them on friendly terms."

Coraline nodded, closing her eyes... her mind racing through endless possibilities. Hiring assassins was not an uncommon practice for wealthy businessmen... Some Dark Guilds even specialized in it.

But... she had a terrible gut feeling that... that was not the reason Lucrezia was crying.

"Auntie Lu..." She placed her hands on Lucrezia's small shoulders, "Tell me what's really wrong..."

Honestly, Coraline didn't want to hear the answer... She was afraid of the secret of Lucrezia's tears.

"When Giorgio and I-- when we went back to our room to change for dinner... I... I saw it..." Lucrezia's eyes betrayed her pain-- and every word she spoke seemed to hurt her more and more.

"In our room... I... I found..." Slowly... she looked up... round beads of tears dripping down her cheeks, "--the weapon used to kill... M-master Highblade."

Coraline's heart fell into the pit of her stomach. She stared past Lucrezia, her eyes out of focus.

No... no, that was impossible. Mister Giorgio... was the murderer?

No! She couldn't believe it! "Th-there must be... some kind of mistake?"

The friendly old man in the dining hall? The man who wanted nothing more than to enjoy his second honeymoon with his sweet old wife? Mister Giorgio had MURDERED an Ancient in cold blood? And for what? To steal his heirloom weapons?!

Lucrezia shook her head, wiping at her eyes, "I... I found Giorgio's jeweled dagger underneath the bed... still covered in blood. He... he hid it right away, but... I know what I saw...

"Giorgio... he bought it for this trip... to protect us, he said..." The woman laughed derisively... "I argued against it... I do hate weapons... But my husband-- he wouldn't take no for an answer.

"I never thought... that he..." Lucrezia placed her gloved palms against her face, "I just can't believe it, Coraline... What should I do?"

Coraline pulled her Aunt close into an embrace. The older woman, hurt and distraught, cried into her chest without reservation.

A dagger... that fit the profile of the weapon used to kill Arod Highblade...

She looked over to Lone, who nodded solemnly.

"I'll take care of it, Auntie..." Coraline whispered, "Don't you worry..."

...

Barza Keith, the Lone Shadowdark, led Coraline and Lady Lucrezia back into the dining room.

Mister Elladan and Mister Giorgio were playing their board game. Boss was working on his puzzle box.

Ramon, Felicity, and Maisie weren't around, but they were all together... and Olesya was locked in the hold...

Everyone was accounted for.

He needed to ensure Coraline's safety as she confronted Mister Giorgio about his crime.

The Popoto wasn't a very large or intimidating person... but Lone knew not to underestimate anyone based on their looks. His sworn brother, Pale, was half his size and about half his age. That guy was one of the strongest people he knew.

Lone didn't know Giorgio's Class... or whether or not he had a Metal-Rank. But still... it sounded like he'd killed an Elven Warrior in one-on-one combat.

That kind of skill, Lone had to respect.

Mister Giorgio was dangerous.

So... in order to be completely, entirely, absolutely certain he could handle the situation... he needed to ask Tycon to back him up.

He walked quickly over to the leather chair Boss where Boss was sitting. Straightening his back, he pounded his chest with his fist, rendering the sharpest, strongest salute he'd ever performed in his life, "Sir Tycon!"

"No."

"I humbly-- wait, what?"

Tycon waved dismissively, "I'm busy... so whatever you were going to ask me, the answer is no. Come back later."

Boss Tycon's concentration was fully focused on his dumb puzzle box!

"But... but Boss!" Lone bared his teeth, anxiety rumbling in his gut, "Y-you've been working on that thing non-stop for bells! Nearly a whole sun!"

Put it down just for a few minutes and HELP me!

"Indeed," Tycon took a deep breath, rolling his eyes to stare at the ceiling. "And it's quite frustrating that I have yet to find its solution."

"Boss, please!" Lone bowed his head.

"What does it concern?"

"Protecting the love of my life from danger and death."

"Not my problem," Tycon didn't even bother looking up. "Do it yourself."

Lone turned his back, his head dipped in shame.

He had failed.

He forgot to account for the fact that Boss was... really, really into that puzzle box. And when he'd made up his mind, he was impossible to convince otherwise.

ARRRGH!

It didn't matter! He was strong enough to protect both himself and Coraline from danger, anyroad!

He didn't need any help!

He was an Iron-Rank Ranger!

That Class was really strong and really rare! Probably!

There weren't more than TWO in Sol Invictus, after all!

He marched straight back to Coraline and placed his hands on her shoulders, "Don't worry. I'll protect you."

The girl narrowed her eyes and... frowned.

...Oh. Maybe... he was overreacting? He removed his hands, keeping his empty palms forward, "S-sorry."

Coraline sighed. "Just... just stand over there."

"Y-yeah. I will."

"Mister Giorgio Castiglioni!" Coraline raised her voice.

The Popoto immediately seemed to sense that something was different.

Slowly, he slid down from his chair. He adjusted his collar and straightened his coat and trousers. Placing his hands behind his back, he strode confidently towards the three of them.

Elladan quietly stood, as well, his face marked with worry. The mood was... strange...

Confrontation was inevitable.

Mister Giorgio raised an eyebrow, "You called for me, Miss Coraline?"

He was getting too close. Lone took a step forward, standing tall... his senses focused to a keen edge. If there were any sign of hostility, he'd put his life on the line to protect the woman he l-- liked.

Coraline crossed her arms, shifting her weight to the side, "You have a confession to make, Mister Giorgio."

The older Popoto narrowed his eyes, "Oh... I see..."

Giorgio took in a deep breath, turning and pacing to the side...

It was impossible for the man to get away. The three of them were between Giorgio and the first exit. Elladan had circled around, blocking the second. The last door led to the kitchen... and the old man couldn't escape through there.

But when people knew they were trapped... they became desperate. And when they became desperate... they'd become unpredictable. That was what Lone worried about the most... a crazed, final stand, from a man with nothing left to lose.