CHAPTER 82 Attacking the Beastman

CHAPTER 82

Attacking the Beastman

Brownie

Bronwynn waited, pretending patience.

“We have discovered that one of our poisoners might be the one brewing up molten ash vane,” her father said slowly. “The timing of the assassinations matches with one of our deliveries.”

His eyes glanced at Rufus for a second, and she realized he must’ve already known and was waiting for her parents to tell her.

“Alright.” She shrugged.

It seemed bad … but a small part of her thought that if someone was going to flounce around the continent dealing out the most powerful poison known to kind, she would’ve been a bit offended to learn her family had no part in the party.

They were a centuries-old assassin guild, and she was proud of them.

She should’ve been more concerned since Rufus, one of the head investigators, now knew about their involvement … but again, why worry when he was calmly sitting beside her eating olives? He might have his perks active, but that was not the face of a beastman coming to tell her that he would be dragging her entire family before the Continental Council.

“There’s more.” Her mother pulled out their family crest and placed it on the table in front of them.

Brownie didn’t pick it up; she wasn’t an assassin.

“We would like you to take Rufus with you to the Hollow and introduce him to our people there,” Mama said, her voice unwavering.

The bard still didn’t pick it up. Brownie knew what holding the family crest meant—and that was why she’d never accepted the proof of her Stannard lineage before .

“I could simply hunt for the poisoner myself?” Rufus offered, frowning at the crest. “No need for Minstrel Bronwynn to do anything she doesn’t want.”

“You won’t find them without the crest, dear, and you’re obviously not from the Assassin Assembly. You’re the Commander General ,” her mother pointed out. “Everyone will recognize you.”

They were correct, but that didn’t mean Brownie was going to pick up the crest.

Her mother continued. “We have two poisoners in the Dark Enchanted Forest, and if it were Sanders, then I would say go for it. He lives in Plittsmouth and is a well-known apothecary. He even has a shop on the main boulevard selling all manner of concoctions. But the other poisoner we have a contract with isn’t so easily found.”

“Mia doesn’t like people ,” Her father stated.

“She lives deep inside the Dark Enchanted Forest,” her mother explained. “And drops off her delivery in a cave behind the Hollow that’s warded. Even the person picking up the poisons hasn’t met her.”

She further explained. “The poisoners don’t work for us . We work for them. They make what they can, and then our operatives deliver their poisons to respective paying customers. We act as a protective shield and middleman. It’s one of many, many contracts we have as a long-standing family in the business.”

“I still don’t see why I need to do it?” Brownie cut in, crossing her arms. “Why don’t you send a message to someone in the Hollow to meet us, and they can sort everything out.”

Rufus coughed. “Does the … person picking up the poisons have a family crest?”

“No,” her father stressed. “They’re a contractor. They just do pick up, no contact.”

Her mother tapped the table. “If you want to speak to someone and receive an honest answer, then you’ll need to bring this and show it to them. Even then , Mia might not see you. She’s very private.”

“My point still stands,” Brownie repeated, “I am happy to bring Rufus with me to the Hollow, but I won’t be helping him with that part of his quest. I am not, and will never be, involved in that part of the family. I promised, and you promised.”

The crest remained on the table, untouched, as her parents shared a look. Even in the silence, Brownie remained unmoving.

“Alright.” Her father sighed and reached out to retrieve the badge, but he didn’t put it away and instead tossed it at Rufus.

The beastman caught it midair.

“Why are you giving me this?” he asked, inspecting the palm-size silver plaque. It was a calligraphed, jagged black spiral that ended with a small drop of red blood in the center. The spiral was a whip, and there was a small mark near the start of the outside that represented the handle.

“Even if Brownie cannot help you,” her father said, “maybe the person who delivers the poison can .”

Rufus ran his fingers over the surface of her family crest and turned to Brownie. He must have seen something in her because a second later, the crest was placed politely on the table and pushed back toward her parents.

“Thank you, but I’ll find my own way to complete the quest,” he stated. He flashed Brownie a reassuring smile. “Though I’ll still take a ride, if that’s alright with you.”

“Absolutely.” Brownie nodded eagerly.

“Rufus, the guild master has ordered us to help facilitate your quest in any way we can. First, because we know you will consider this in your report to the Continental Council; we have not accepted any illegal contracts to use molten ash vane, nor have we any plans to do so in the future.” Her mother reached out, but took up her cup and sipped the drink, leaving the crest where it was. “And secondly … if you really are going to be seeing our daughter more formally, then you might become part of the family.”

Brownie opened her mouth, but her mother didn’t let her interrupt, instead adding, “And not the assassin guild part; the Stannard part.”

The sentiment was very sweet, and Brownie was distracted from her earlier defensiveness by the feeling of love and welcome her parents were offering Rufus. In all her life, she’d never brought home a lover or prospective mate, so it was a new experience. And they’d welcomed him with open arms.

She hadn’t thought his stalking talk would’ve won them over so easily.

“I would be honored to formally court your daughter,” Rufus said, reaching out and taking Bronwynn’s hand. In a show of affection that made her positively swoon , the beastman lifted it to his lips and kissed the back. It was romantic and sweet, and she didn’t know how she stopped herself from attacking the beastman then and there.

Brownie said the first thing that came to mind to distract her. “I’m sorry I’m not able to help you more than this …”

There was a smile teasing at the corner of his lips.

“You don’t have to worry,” the beastman stated. “No matter how much someone tries to hide in the woods, I’ll find them. I think you all keep forgetting I am the Commander General of the Dark Enchanted Forest .”