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Examining both treasures carefully, you reach out towards the dagger before pausing, glancing up at Master Tomoe. He nods, offering the blade out to you with a courteous gesture. Picking it up and turning it over in your hands, you wonder just how old the blade might be – and, perhaps more importantly, how much bloodshed it might have seen.
“It suits you,” Master Tomoe remarks, “Unfortunately, I don't have a sword to match. But, that blade you have already seems to suit you well enough. Rushing water is a symbol of purification, you know. I wonder why your father chose to have THAT engraved on the blade.”
“I won't get the chance to ask him, will I?” you reply, placing the dagger back in its case, “Yes, this will suit me fine.”
“A pleasure doing business with you, Master Pale,” the older man murmurs, sliding the box towards you, “Oh, and one other thing. By chance, did you learn anything... else while searching for poor Master Leigh?”
You look up at Master Tomoe, at the dark gleam of his eyes. “No, nothing else,” you answer simply, “Was there something else we were supposed to find?”
There's no hiding the flash of irritation that passes through Master Tomoe's eyes, but it vanishes as soon as it arrives. “No, of course not,” he lies, “If there had been something else, I would have mentioned it wouldn't I?”
“Naturally,” Juno says, her words dripping with venom.
-
Juno is silent as you leave her father's office, allowing a deep scowl to creep into the blank mask of her face. “So,” you ask quietly, “Was that true?”
“Highly doubtful,” she replies with a sneer, “Was WHAT true?”
“That someone tried to assassinate your father,” you clarify, “That you stopped them.”
“Oh,” Juno grimaces, “Yes, actually. That part IS true. Here, look.” Pausing here, she glances down the corridor to see if there are any servants wandering by. Satisfied that the coast is clear, she moves aside the neck of her gown to reveal the top of her breast. The sight of her bare flesh causes the breath to catch in your throat, but your eyes are drawn to the long scar across her collarbone instead.
“This was a good few years back. I was just a girl really, recently returned from the Choir. And this man, this virtuous paladin, didn't hesitate to try and cut me down,” she murmurs, “He was a fool. He should have stopped to make sure that I was dead.”
These words hang in the air as you hear soft footsteps approaching from around the corner. Juno hastily puts her gown back in order before Ariel rounds the corning, giving you both a funny look. “Why do you two look so...” she pauses, thinking to herself, “So suspicious?”
“Well, it's only natural for ME to look suspicious,” Juno explains, “And I'm afraid that I must be rubbing off on poor Master Pale. I think they call that “guilt by association”, these days.”
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