Chapter 16: Dinner Time Detective
"Deductive reasoning...," Kyle began his discussion with those around him. They were all part of the Royal Adventurers, plus Sir Rollins.
Everyone was standing in High on the Hog Tavern, but the place looked different. The only people present were Kyle and the others.
The kitchen staff was dismissed. The Tables were put together to serve no more than twenty people.
"...it's a methodical approach to solving mysteries. It's with the tools of deductive reasoning and various other crime-solving techniques I plan to solve this case," Kyle said as he looked at those around him.
"Why did you invite us here? Did you find your person?" Sir Rollins asked.
"I'm almost there, but to accomplish the goal of finding our culprits, I need all of you to help me. Sir Rollins, I gave you a list of people I needed you to invite over.
Have you been able to locate everyone?" Kyle asked.
"I have my men escorting them over now. They should start gathering soon," he said.
"Each of you has a part to play in the upcoming events. Sir Rollins, make sure everyone is unarmed. Mage Melfor, I'll be relying on you to disarm any magic weapons or potions.
Hemler, your job is to restrain anyone who tries to get physical. Lady Sif, you're my bodyguard and you'll oversee the dinner service.
Gilbor, you're going to check out everyone's homes, offices, and whatever. I believe Sir Rollins has given you the appropriate addresses?" Kyle asked looking at Gilbor. He nodded his head and slipped out the back door.
"Finally, Jewjwin, I need you watching the exits. Make sure no one gets away. As for me, I will be conducting the inquiry. Does everyone know their jobs?" Everyone nodded their heads.
"Then please get to your positions. Our first guest is arriving. Kyle had his super senses on the entire time and could hear someone coming to the tavern door.
Sir Rollins and the Mage Melfor took up their positions next to the entrance. As each person entered, they were searched and disarmed. Sir Rollins treated everyone very roughly.
The first to walk in was Mr. Mahony, the owner of the Tavern. He wasn't sure why he was there, so he came in cheerfully.
"Mahony, please turn over any weapons you have," Sir Rollins asked.
"I don't have any weapons on me," he said.
Sir Rollins grabbed Mr. Mahony's arm and pulled out a knife up his sleeve. Then a belt sword from his pants, and finally, he reached down and pulled out some spiked balls with poison tips from around his ankle.
"Other than the weapons I need for personal protection of course! You know how it is Sir Rollins," Mr. Mahony said with an embarrassed smile.
He was escorted to his place at one of the tables. Each place had a nameplate for each of the guests who would be joining them.
The next guest was an older woman with curly grey hair and large glasses. She was wearing very drab colors. It was Mrs. Saseo, the town librarian.
She ran the small library for the adventurers' guild in town. It contained books on every branch of interest for adventurers whether it was maps, magic books, or records, and techniques for picking locks.
One of the perks for joining the Adventurer's Guild was having access to these books that most of its members couldn't afford on their own.
They had to use merit points to read the books in the library. It was Mrs. Saseo who ran the library like a well-oiled machine.
Next, were the leaders of the Pig Iron Mercenaries, Amu Yakada, Pretty Painted Ladies Adventurers, Jina Bedew, Reliable Men for a Day Mercenaries, Tayorinai Otoko, and Flowery Words Merchants, Mal Vacana.
The people who came were confused when they saw the others there. Mal Vacana couldn't help but ask Amu Yakada who was sitting across from him, "What they got you on buddy?"
Amu looked insulted by the question. "They don't got me on nothin.' I have no idea why a respectable mercenary like me is here with a person of such questionable morals as a fast-dealing merchant like you.
"Hmm. He is very questionable," Tayorinai Otoko said.
"If yous asks me I'd say yous is all qwestionable peoples." Jina Bedew said.
"Quiet, all of you," Hemler said.
Wong Ndisik one of the twitchiest guys in town walked in next. He looked around looking at everything very suspiciously. "Sir Rollins, your man wouldn't tell me why I was invited here. Can you tell me?" he asked.
"I can," Sir Rollins said. Everyone turned their attention toward Sir Rollins and Wong Ndisik waiting to hear why they were there.
"But I'm not going to, Show Mr. Wong to his seat," Sir Rollins said.
All of the "guests" were disgruntled hearing him play with both Wong and them. They all felt Wonged by their treatment.
The next guests to enter surprised almost everyone. They were the wives of the members of the Royal Adventurers: Narwina Goldlace (Hemler's wife), Foma (Gilbor's wife), and Gazmina Frumajella (Jewjwin's wife).
"Foma, where are your children?" Narwina asked the Hobbit woman.
"Out with their father learnin' the family trade," she said simply and quietly. Foma wasn't much of a talker, but she wasn't weak she just treated her words like gold.
The other women in the group often went to her for advice. Even Lady Sif paid a visit to her recently concerning a certain someone's conduct in her brother's home.
After Foma had a good laugh, she helped Lady Sif calm down and pointed out the boy was just eccentric. He was probably a genius as geniuses often acted like that.
If he wasn't a genius then he probably wasn't very skilled with women; which was also a good sign. That's if Lady Sif were looking at him as a possible suitor.
Lady Sif claimed that such an idea was ridiculous, but Foma noticed she seemed much happier after their conversation.
All of the women were shown to their own seats.
"Should I help Lady Sif with the food?" Foma asked.
Kyle smiled good-naturedly toward her and told her, "there's no need. I know how hard you work, it's good to have a rest from time to time," he said with a wink.
Foma seemed to understand something from the wink and didn't move from her seat.
The others were becoming more and more impatient. "Sir Rollins, why are we here and why does this G-Hawk kid seem to be in charge, isn't he just a pup the Royals found on the side of the road?" Amu Yakada asked not missing a chance to insult Kyle.
"How dare you talk about my future brother-in-law like that!" Sir Rollins said.
"Brother!" Lady Sif shouted as she turned beat-red.
"Oh, Lady Sif finally has a man, congratulations little sister, Gazmina and the other women started congratulating her.
At first, Kyle ignored Sir Rollins's words, but now that all the women were asking about betrothal gifts, and when the big day was, he became extremely embarrassed.
"Ask him, he's the one who proposed and ran," Lady Sif said.
The change in attitude was too swift for Kyle who stood there lost for a few moments. He woke up after a few seconds.
"I think we should, Uhm, get things going, won't you bring out the first course Sif?" Kyle said.
"It's just like a man to be unwilling to commit to a date, don't you let him worm out of it little Sif," Narwina said.
Seeing the spot he was in, Hemler cleared his throat," Hrrf, Hrrf, Uhm, G-Hawk, perhaps you can tell us why we are here?" Kyle looked at him gratefully.
"Yes, yes indeed, we are here today because one of you is none other than the leader of the Bear Droppings Bandit Group and we're going to ferret him, or her out today!"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
straythought
straythought It's time for a little dinner theater.
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