Taking the Stern

[Ryan Avery]

(Timeline: 2 days after Hannah's arrest)

It had been two days since Ryan had seen Hannah. The newspapers were a little slow to report, but the town did a good enough job. Ryan heard talk at the An Taosigh that Hannah's shop had been vandalized. He'd been too busy with work to deal with much else and had not felt much like talking. An owl had arrived from Holly St James but he'd not answered it just yet. He just wanted these current events to settle in on him a little so he could start molding them. One thing he'd not asked Hannah, because perhaps it didn't matter, was if she was guilt.

He could imagine Hannah sticking herself out and helping a werewolf. He'd have never approved, but she had a strong will or her own, and in truth, he held her in high regard precisely because of it. She had a hot little temper that came bubbling up and over every now and again and she'd entirely forget herself.  She could be downright destructive and amused Ryan no end. He had provoked her a few times in their early friendship just to see what would happen.

He smileda little at those memories as turned the corner and made his way to Rory Fallon's Pub. He was in his auror cloths- black pant and shirt, his badge still around his neck. He'd arrived on the Ferry and walked the half hour walk to the pub in the fine summer night.

Chad had been assigned all over the place these days and he had no idea where the hell the guy was this evening. He didn't bother to owl him. They'd catch up when the time was right.

Ryan had seen to dispatching a letter out to Jarek. He knew it would take some time to get to him because his boat had to relatively close to port before the owls could deliver, but he knew the guy needed to know and he needed to get his ass back here and take care of business. Things in this town were changing at breakneck speed.

He also needed to meet wth Stuart and get the guy to see reason. He needed to step out now. Hannah didn't need a load of weight around her neck when Jarek returned, but something about the way that guy looked standing there with a candle for Hannah, let Ryan know that the two of them had gotten in a bit too deep. Ryan intended to steer that wayward ship back to port even it was through sabotage. Stuart would ruin her reputation even more should word get out.  That would not bode well in the eyes of the community. The guy needed to hook up with another girl and get the eyes off he and Hannah.

Ryan entered the pub and shouldered through the crowd. His table was empty and waiting for him as usual at this seven o'clock hour. Ryan took a seat,  put his feet up on the chair in front of him, and leaned his head back against the wood paneled wall. He just needed a couple whiskeys, some food and some pretty girls tossing smiles at him and all would be right in this moment. He'd direct himself toward the pleasures of the world and not the pains.

[Zephyr LaRoche]

Zippy's first day as an unemployed woman since arriving in Cat's Claw had been a pleasant one, despite the constant internal nagging about being without a job. She had stayed on for a few weeks after delivering her unorthodox resignation to Mr. Avery on the dance floor at the goblin party. She couldn't imagine just up and quitting the Avery estate and leaving Mrs. Croft high and dry. She had grown to love the woman, and Ferdinand as well.

Since the mind-reading incident she had taken care to stay out of Mr. Avery's way. It wasn't a particularly difficult thing to do -- he seemed to be so busy with work that he was hardly around. Zippy had time to consider what had led up to the mind-reading and why, and at this point she had decided to put the incident behind her and press on. Her acceptance of the mind-reading in no way negated its effects upon her; rather, she still felt the way he had pushed into her mind, especially at night in her dreams. Yet, unlike her brother, she was the kind of person who felt that the past was best left in the past, and to drag it around with you in the present only made life more difficult.

She had awoken late and dressed in her favorite green peasant skirt and white blouse, and she spent a leisurely day wandering around Cat's Claw. In the early afternoon she hitched a wagon ride with one of the house-elves who was picking up household provisions and had spent the afternoon at the open air market, browsing the tables and the stalls to get acquainted with what was here. She had virtually begun working at the Avery estate within a few weeks of arriving in Cat's Claw and never really had the opportunity to go out and see the sights. She made a note of shops she would be frequenting when she did the grocery shopping for herself and Stuart.

Zippy left the market at 4:30 and walked to Stuart's apartment, about a fifteen minute walk. When she came to Cat's Claw she had only her bag with a few clothes, and this was all she carried with her to her new home at 2612 Avon Street. Stuart had told her that he would be home at 4:00, and when she went up the stairs and looked through the screen door, there he was in the kitchen. She was surprised he still had the beard and teased him about it. He seemed a bit tense and rough around the edges, but he showed her the room she would be staying in and they had eaten a companionable dinner together. She filled him in on the reasons why she had quit her job and he had been upset by what Mr. Avery had done, but she made Stuart promise that he wouldn't retaliate in any way. "It's over with, Stu," she said. "If it ever comes up again we'll deal with it then, but for right now just let it go. I know I have." She also told him about Eve, but he remained quiet and ill at ease when she questioned him about his love life. "Maybe later, Zip," he had said, and had put to rest the notion of any further discussion.

After making herself at home by unpacking her clothes and setting her room to rights, Zippy wanted to go out. She asked Stuart to come with her but he declined, citing exhaustion as his excuse. He gave her a key and she left without him. Rory Fallon's was a few blocks away, and it was a place she knew. She also knew that she would be able to get a drink there without being accosted.

She pushed the door open and entered the bar. It was busier than she expected it to be on a Thursday evening. She made her way through the crowd and spotted a familiar figure alone at a table, scoping out the crowd. Mr. Avery.

Zippy stopped in front of him and smiled. "Hi. Lonely tonight? Want some company?"

[Ryan Avery]

Ryan had gotten his first whiskey and had ordered lamb chops, potatoes, salad and bread. The food came thankfully quite quickly. He had an insatiable appetite tonight to the point of focusing on his food more than the pretty women who were surely filing in at this hour. When he heard a voice, he was mid chew and he looked up and swallowed. It was Zephyr LaRoche.

"Of course. I knew you'd miss me." He smiled and gestured toward the chair that Chad usually occupied. The table was crowded with his food, but there was still a little elbow room. "You want me to order you some food?" Ryan asked, picking his fork back up to take another bite.

Ryan was surprised this young woman would want to get anywhere near him. She'd treated him like he'd had a plague after that long ago morning when he'd impulsively acted to find out if she was tied in to some very dangerous people. "Are you enjoying your freedom?" he asked, between mouthfuls.

[Zephyr LaRoche]

Zippy laughed when he said that she missed him. That was so like him to say that. She found that as irritating as Mr. Avery could be, she did like his sense of humor. "Well, we'll have to miss each other a little more," she replied. "I'm going to get a drink. And thank you, but no, you don't need to order anything for me. I've already eaten." She would have offered to get a drink for him but he had a nearly full glass of whiskey in front of him.

She reached the bar and ordered a vermouth on the rocks for herself. After paying, she took it back to Mr. Avery's table, where he was still working on his dinner. She pulled out the chair opposite from him, sat and took a sip of her drink.

"I've only been a free woman for less than a day, but yes, I have been enjoying it. So far." Zippy paused to look around the bar. The crowd was a mix of younger and older people, some in the traditional farmer's garb and others dressed to the nines. She idly tapped her glass and looked back at the man across the table. "I hope you don't mind me sitting here while you're eating. Where has Chad been? I haven't seen him in ages."

[Ryan Avery]

Ryan would have offered to buy her a drink, but she already slipped back into the crowd, ordered one and returned. She took a seat as Ryan continued to eat and still felt hungry. The waitress came to clear away his empty bread and salad plate. He was nearly finished with the meat and potatoes. He smiled at the pretty waitress and ordered two more chops and a pint of Guinness.

"Damn, I am so hungry today," he said almost to himself. His appetite seemed as if it wouldn't be quenched. He never liked to feel that anything got the best of him, including his hunger, but he's work to satisfy it tonight. There was no need to keep things in check tonight. He'd be taking on a lot tomorrow, and that was hours and hours away.

He liked the sound of Zephyr's accent. It still amused him. He said nothing when she asked if he minded if she sat down. He just looked at her and kept eating. When she asked about Chad, he shrugged. "Busy, I suppose."

He wasn't sure what Zephyr knew about her brother's affair with Hannah. While he had no need to tell the secrets he knew of Zephyr, he had no debt to keep Stuart's secrets. The people at the nearest table stood and made their way to the door.  No one was in earshot of quiet conversation. "Did you hear your brother's girlfriend was arrested for carrying wolfsbane?"

Ryan pushed his cleaned plate aside and waited for seconds.

[Zephyr LaRoche]

Zippy glanced occasionally at Mr. Avery as he wolfed down his food. She didn't want to stare but he was really packing it away, like he hadn't eaten in a week. He must really love the food here, she thought. Mr. Avery. Why was she still calling him that? She wasn't his employee any more. She decided that from now on she was just going to call him what everyone else not in his employ called him -- Ryan.

She was watching a game of darts being played as Ryan polished off his plate, and almost didn't catch what he said because of the din of the crowd. He asked if she had heard about Stuart's girlfriend being arrested in such a quiet voice that at first thought she had misheard him. Zippy glanced over, holding his gaze for a moment as she wondered how to respond. She didn't know anything at all about her brother's girlfriend. Rumors had been flying all over a few weeks ago about him and the woman who ran the apothecary, but she didn't have anything conclusive to go on that would indicate that she was Stuart's girlfriend. Maybe she was. Zippy had no idea -- Stuart certainly wasn't being forthcoming about it. She knew that he had gotten a hold of something called wolfsbane, and it had been a godsend to Zippy while she was at the Avery estate. She also knew that this apothecary woman was the person who brewed the wolfsbane, and this, evidently, was the woman about whom Ryan was speaking. Is that how Stuart has been paying for the medicine? she wondered, and immediately shoved the thought from her mind as her cheeks colored.

She dropped her gaze and lifted her eyes to watch the dart game. She wasn't about to admit to Ryan that she didn't know what was going on in her brother's life, nor would she give away any of Stuart's secrets -- what little she knew.

"I read in this morning's paper that someone was arrested, if that's who you mean." She shrugged non-committally. She had seen the name, Hannah Winter, and knew that was the person who Stuart had asked her to check on at the Avery estate several weeks ago. "I understand she's in prison now."

[Ryan Avery]

"He's been screwing her for a few weeks now. But she's already committed. She's got a boyfriend and a kid." Ryan stated the information as simple fact. His food arrived and the waitress offered him sweet little smile and brushed his hand a little as she placed the plate before him. She then set  his Guinness down, gave a little nervous laugh and left.

Ryan began to cut into the new chops set before him. He chewed the bit of meat in his mouth and then waved the fork a little in the air as he spoke. "He needs to disappear now. Tell him I said so. His fun is over. I owled her boyfriend and he'll be home in the next few days. He's a wizard I'd even think twice about tangling with."

The pub remained quite lively and Ryan glanced around. "Bring him here with you. Surely he can find someone knew to warm his bed."

He looked fixed his eyes briefly on Zephyr's. She was such a cute lass, shame she wasted herself on women. He shifted his attention back to his plate of food.

[Zephyr LaRoche]

That certainly startled her. Zippy turned quickly and stared at Ryan for a moment, surprised by his blunt words, as a waitress came by with a new plate of food. They shared a flirtatious moment and Zippy used the time to recover from what he said. Was Stuart breaking up a family? She didn't want to believe it about her brother, but it made sense. No wonder he was being so evasive.

She said nothing, merely watching Ryan cut into his food. His next words did nothing to comfort her, and she tried to keep her dismay from registering on her face. She looked away so he wouldn't see what she was thinking. "He needs to disappear." And now Ryan had owled the woman's boyfriend, who, according to Ryan, was a powerful wizard.

Oh, Stuart. What did you get yourself into?

Zippy was suddenly glad that she had moved in with her brother. If all of this was true, he was getting into entirely too much trouble left to his own devices. She knew he'd been lonely and was missing Ainne, but apparently he had gone too far. As much as she didn't want to think about anyone "warming his bed", as Ryan put it, she also knew that Stuart was someone who didn't like to be alone.

"He can take care of himself," she said, trying to muster some conviction behind her words. "Besides, I'm sure he would never do anything like that. How do you know he's been seeing this woman. More rumors?"

[Ryan Avery]

When Zephyr said Stuart could take care of himself, he stopped mid-chew and nearly laughed. "Trust me, he can't. That guy has no idea how to deal with women." Ryan recalled his outing to the Dark Door Cantina with Stuart.  "It was safer for him to screw someone who is taken. It's easier to walk away."

Ryan finally finished his food and push the plate to the side. He leaned back and began to sip his Guinness. When Zephyr  continued defend her brothers honor and to ask how he knew, he looked her straight in the eye. "I know because she told me. She's my healer. It's like women and their hairdressers, you know? They think they know you and they spill all their sorted  stories. Anyway, I told her it was a great idea, so long as she ditched him before her boyfriend got back."

Ryan would not reveal his true relationship to Hannah. In the town's eyes, she was just his healer, nothing more. "Her boyfriend, why he is Jarek Ivanov. I know you are new to these parts, but his name is big in our world. He was captain of the Vrastra Vultures in Bulgaria five years ago. He lead an amazing team. He's also a Durmstrang graduate. That school instructs students in the Dark Arts. He knows things many common wizards in Ireland don't. He could kill someone in five different ways with one flick of his wand."

He was exaggerating on the last part, but she was a muggle. She wouldn't know the difference. He hoped she'd run home and tell Stuart.

[Zephyr LaRoche]

Ryan was one hundred percent correct on one count, anyway, Zippy thought. Stuart really didn't know how to deal with women. She recalled how shocked the family had been at the swiftness in which he and Ainne had married. They were all sure she was pregnant, and they were all surprised that she hadn't been. Zippy leaned back in her chair and sighed, sorry that she had come out for the evening. Why did every encounter with Ryan Avery leave her feeling like a wrung-out dishrag?

Then he said something that was like a knife in her heart. He said that he had advised Hannah Winter to screw Stuart and ditch him when her boyfriend came back. Zippy was shocked and disgusted. Were she and her brother just playthings for these people, to be tossed around on their whims and desires? She felt like they had been targeted ever since they stepped off the boat. They came here as foreigners and non-magical folk, and ever since then it seemed like everyone in town had their hungry eyes on them. They were mice walking into a cattery.

She had wanted to like Ryan Avery. She was sure Stuart had wanted to like Hannah Winter. Now she felt like these two had colluded to make their lives as miserable as they possibly could, and for what? A bit of enjoyment? Zippy had thought that Ryan was doing a good deed by producing papers that enabled them to stay; now she knew that he had done it so that he and this Hannah could amuse themselves. After reading the article in this morning's paper about her, Zippy could see that she was a cruel and cold-blooded person. And poor Stuart had been caught in her machinations.

She hated this man in front of her. She hated this woman who had so callously toyed with her brother with the intent of throwing him away when she was done. She hated this horrible town which, at every turn, took great pains to remind her that she was a second class citizen. If they had known she was a werewolf it would have been worse. She would have been classified as sub-human.

She didn't hear the rest of Ryan's words. She tuned him out, not caring what vile garbage came out of his mouth any more. He was a horrid person on the day she met him and he had not proven himself any different. She tossed back the rest of her drink and stood. "I need to get going," she said quietly. "I have to start looking for work in the morning." She looked at him, her expression somber. "Enjoy the rest of your evening."

[Chad Stevens]

((I'm assuming she is leaving, or is gone.))

Chad had walked through the pub doors listening to the soft clatter of silverware and heavy mugs hitting the worn wood of the tables.  Distant music played in the background, all Irish lyrics that had you bobbing and weaving to the worst of them by the end of the night.  Already some of the younger lads in the fiery corner were singing to an old ballad, their vocals tensing over the higher pitched notes as they bellowed to the tune.  Chad brushed his jacket of some leaf litter and only chuckled like many other locals.  Chad could remember being that young, that foolhearty and entering Rory's pub.  Ending up completely bolloxed and under the table belting out the lyrics to every Irish Ballad under the table until you were hoarse and redfaced. 

Those young boys were heading in that direction, but it was just a part of life.  Chad took his turn to the back corner and only nodded to Ryan as he waved over the newest meat in the pub.  Those big blue eyes and ripe apples had Chad smirking already as he ticked off his order on his fingers, asking for the nightly roast along with the fixings, heavy gravy and the bread to smear into it all.  He finished it off with an ale and lifted his legs onto the stool across from him, comfortably watching the tale view of the new waitress before tearing his eyes over to Ryan, his grin changing slightly.

"Finally a bit of peace.  Been a hell of three days."  He had said massaging his temple for a few moments.

[Ryan Avery]

As Zephyr took an abrupt leave, Ryan just watched her go. He didn't say another word, just sipped his ale. He hoped she'd being going home to scare her brother of Hannah's tail.  It would do no good to have another scandal hanging over her at this time. Public opinion could sway the Wizengamot, there was no doubt about it. As impartial as they were suppose to be, they were also citizens of this community and had to live in it after they went home at night.

It would also do no good to have a spotlight shined on these two Americans and stir even more interest in them. They were just beginning to blend in as squibs. Should they be found out as muggles, the Dray might take a keen interest in them. Kevin's favorite toys of late were young pretty muggle women. Zephyr fit that to a tee. The Guild had word that Kevin had some secret lair where he was both using and desposing of the young women. No one knew the location,  but the guild's spies were working to gather more information. For now, Brennan remained untouchable.

Zephyr was a muggle and innocent by most estimations. She'd never understand what had to be done and her brother would never understand that sex doesn't equal love. They are not interchangeable just because you think they are. Ryan hadn't gotten Stuart entirely sorted in his mind, but he seemed the moody and clingy sort. He needed a woman to ground him, but seemed eager to pick one that was unavailable. Odd choice. The town was filled with young and quite single young women who would probably love his funny accent enough to look past the rest.  His sister obviously inherited the gene for looks.

The waitress returned to clear away his empty plate just as Chad came out of nowhere and sat down and ordered dinner. Ryan ordered peach pie, which was going to taste like hell with his ale, so he drank it down a little faster.

"I can't stop eating tonight," Ryan said as Chad massaged his temples and spoke grudgingly about the last three days.  "I know. You heard about Hannah, right?"

The rowdy lads in the back were hitting some pretty poor notes and Ryan winced a little. "You sang way better back in the good ol days." Ryan rarely got drunk even in their school days, but Chad could really tie one on. He provided all the entertainment necessary on many of their wild romps about the city. Ryan preferred to say fairly sober and look for fights or flirt with other lads girlfriends.

[Chad Stevens]

Chad nodded about Hannah and then looked over to the corner table once more chuckling softly.  "I did.  Those lot just don't understand notes anymore."  It made Chad feel a little old watching the graduating youth from Whispers celebrate over in the corner by getting completely bolloxed and sing out to their hearts content.  It would go on for the entire summer like that until Fall time would come and reality sunk in that all would need to find jobs or get better educations to do something more.  It would be then that those menial workers would remain here and those of a higher cut thread would go off to schooling to get better jobs.  It also reminded Chad that he was getting older, others that were in his class had gone off and had children and Chad had still not found himself a Filly worth while.  But that didn't matter, when the right time came, that was Chad's new motto to Aggie who still butchered him with questions.  And his new reply would be 'when the right time comes Aggie, I'll know its the one'.  Frankly Chad just didn't have the desire to do anything more then bed up and be on his way. 

Looking at the food that arrived and thanking the waitress he cut into the roast with his fork and shoveled it in with some potatoes and a slice of bread.  Chewing he swallowed a portion.  "Yeah, can you believe Brennan actually wanted me to go pick her up?  ME!  Thankfully MacKenna had called me out for another stupid werewolf scare and so I didn't have to go.  He did it because he knows I know her.  He wanted a familiar to do it, and luckily you were off that night because he was searching for you."  He said pointing his fork at Ryan.  Swallowing the large mass that was in his mouth he took a giant gulp of the ale to help ease down the food.

"I've heard she has had some visitors, including that American.  He better be careful, gossip is going around that he may be dealing for her."  He said nodding.  "Crazier things have happened."  Rolling his eyes at some of the Carrick guards who shuffled into the pub, took a look around and then left Chad looked back to Ryan.

"I hate those guys.  A person just sneezes around that hellsbane crap and they haul them on down to be interrogated, oh but they don't do it.  No they ask for me to do it.  Poor Mrs. O'Leary, had a damn cold was hauled down.  I took one look at the woman and told them they should have taken her to the hospital not here.  They are so jumpy."  He rolled his eyes and heaved a heavy sigh.  "I wish the city would just stop freaking out and that Brennan would stop putting these horror stories into everyone's head."  Shoveling more meat and potatoes into his mouth he quieted down overcome with hunger and desire to eat.

[Ryan Avery]

"Brennan's day is coming. It's just a matter of time." Ryan finished of his ale and watched Chad shovelling his own dinner down. Brennan's name was on Ryan's list, but he had others to kill first. He was working his way toward him by picking off those who'd been part of the plot against her. It was Ryan's calling card to Kevin. He wanted Kevin to know he was coming for him.

This plan was a long time away. Each kill had to be carefully planned and excuted without leaving a trace of himself behind. If the anonymous letter sent to Chad for Ryan was right, Damon Owens would be the next on Ryan's list. If Owens truly did have his mother's wand, Ryan would get it back and leave a body in its place.

The waitress arrived with the pie and Ryan started on it as Chad continued about Stuart visiting Hannah. "I don't know about that guy. He's an odd one. He's been screwing Hannah for a few weeks.  I think that's all there is to them.  But yeah, he could easily become suspect now. I just tormented his sister a bit before you showed up. She'll go give her brother what for about his whole mess with Hannah, you can be sure." Ryan smirked a little over his pie. "Besides, Jarek's coming back."

Ryan hadn't mentioned giving Hannah the advice to sleep with Stuart while her boyfriend was AWOL.  For all the wildness Chad stirred up, he'd not give that sort of advice or approve of it--especially with the lassies. Ryan knew that deep down, Chad was one of the good guys. He'd settle down sooner or later. He'd have a wife and a bunch of kids and be happy as a pig in a mud bog.

Ryan scowled a little as Chad talked about the state of the city. "It's going to get worse before it gets better. The Brennan want everyone on edge. They want us all to be distracted so they can do their dirty deeds. By the time these fools figure out that the Brennans don't give a damn about anything but their own interests, it will be too late. Magical Royalists my ass. They don't give a rat's ass about preserving tradtion. It's a ruse." Ryan's voice had gone up a little and he quieted. Speaking out openly against the current party in power was a sure fire way to get your ass locked up in Hackballs Cross on some trumped up charge, or to lose your job with the government.

Ryan didn't finish the pie. He shoved it aside. "I'm on patrol tomorrow night, babysitting the Carrick Guards. Are you?" Ryan had only been checking his own scheduled delivered to his desk and not the main assignment board. "I hate it. The stupid feckers make more work for nothing, you're right. I was thinking of carrying a bit of hellsbane in my pocket with a sneeze inducing spell on it and tell them I am doing a routine check of the guards. It could be quite entertaining." Ryan finally smiled a little again, liking the plan more and more. "Maybe a rash inducing spell as well."

[Chad Stevens]

Chad looked at Ryan as he spoke.  His eyes glanced around the room, glad that everyone was immersed in their own conversations.  Chad knew what Ryan was talking about, but if Ryan was going to remain a ghost he couldn't go around saying stuff like that, not even in Rory's pub.  Sure, here Chad and Ryan were loved with the old "Boys will be Boys" motto whenever the two got into trouble, but that didn't mean the guards or Brennan had to like them and it only took one spread of gossip to get the two in trouble. 

As the pie was placed in front of Ryan, Chad made a face.  "Pie and ale?"  He shuddered, that was even too disgusting for him.  Swallowing down his potatoes he grabbed some of the fresh greens and hefted into them listening intently as Ryan explained what he had done just moments before.  Nearly choking on his food he washed it down with an ale and grinned brightly.  "Oh that old dog.  Has no idea who's girlfriend he is messing with does he?  I know I would never tango with Jarek.  Its always those quiet ones you have to worry about"  Pointing his fork at Ryan he nodded.  Hannah and Ryan had a very close relationship that no one really could put their finger on, was it a love/hate thing?  No one really knew, but on the other end Chad was friends with Jarek and had gone to a few quidditch matches with the guy.  Jarek was a kind person but not someone Chad would want to mess with, especially in a duel, the man knew his stuff that was for sure.  Many times Chad had tried to get Jarek into applying to be an auror, but he couldn't persuade him, not yet at least.

Of course Chad would have gone ape wild if he had heard what Ryan had said to Hannah.  Chad was about trust and trusting the person you were with.  He'd never cheat on a girl, of course that had been proved when the papers went out about him and Tara, Rose hadn't believed him but luckily Ryan had finally realized the truth.  Chad just wasn't the sort, he didn't believe in doing that stuff, he also didn't believe in stealing other people's girlfriends, and so he didn't like what Stuart was doing.  He felt that was low, no matter if Jarek was in town or not, you just didn't mess with another man's girl.  It was the man reason Chad and Ryan got into fights, and Ryan knew how to push Chad's buttons.

Ryan was right about one thing.  It was going to get a whole lot worse around here before it got any better, and if people thought the Brennan's were going to bring something good out of this they were all dead wrong.  They weren't going to change anything, just bring mayhem, destruction, and probably a great depression.  However, the idea of hellsbane and the Carrick Guards sent Chad into laughter.  "Oh yeah I'm working tomorrow.  I like that idea, I really like that idea.  We could do like every fifth one or something to really throw them off.  Oh that would be grand."  He chuckled lowly thinking of how funny that would.  "I'd love to see their faces.  Perhaps we could make the whole lot get sick, they will think the hellsbane doesn't work and then throw it out.  I mean come on, have we actually caught any werewolves?  I don't think so."

Finishing off his plate by smearing the last slice of bread into the potatoes and gravy he bit into it and finished it off shoving the plate away and rubbing his now full and satisfied stomach.