Madalina sat across from Vianola with a cup of tea in her hands. She fluttered her gaze across the other woman's face as they sat in relative silence, a question burning in her throat. The redhead was looking down at her own teacup, so Madalina figured that she might as well ask to break the tension.
"Vianola, how did you find me?"
"We're living in the same building, so it wasn't too hard. Just had to ask the manager." Her answer was said with a little smirk.
"Just like that. I haven't seen you since we graduated."
"Since YOU graduated." Vianola took a long sip of her now lukewarm tea. Madalina's brow furrowed at the correction and she looked away, having forgotten how much Vianola got under her skin.
"That is right. I apologize, my lady. I had forgotten that you dropped out."
"Not by choice. My world turned upside down after my brother died."
The tension between them turned into quietness as Madalina contemplated what to say to that.
"I'm sorry."
"It was a long time ago now, Mads. Don't apologize. I've heard enough of those for my whole life." Vianola swirled the glass, mixing up the tea leaves that had fallen into her cup.
"Then what should we speak of instead?"
"Is it too early to ask about … the fire?"
The pale woman's shoulders tensed considerably. Her free hand curled into a fist against her dress, as she looked away, towards the window. She could still feel the rush of fire against her skin and hear the roaring blaze.
Vianola took that as a yes.
"I'm so sorry, Madalina. Really. I don't know what happened, but it's a damn shame. Your folks were good people. Your mom always treated me to seconds whenever I asked for them."
Tears welled up in Madalina's eye at the thought of her mother. If she knew what that fateful night entailed, she would have hugged both of her parents before turning in for the night. She could not hold back a sob at the idea of never seeing them again.
"Hey, hey … it's … well, it isn't okay, but I'm here for you." Vianola set her cup down and took one of Madalina's dainty hands in her own. She squeezed softly as the woman in white sniffled and hiccupped, trying to regain control of her emotions.
"Thank you, Vianola. My mother and father are sorely missed." She managed to say once she had calmed, pulling her hand away, glad for the lacy gloves that covered her burn scars.
Vianola felt a twinge of regret in saying that Madalina had only wanted the inheritance money from the fire; It was clear to her now that the woman across from her was both shaken and heartbroken by the events that had transpired.
"Vianola," She managed after a moment, "Will you help me? Find the truth of the accident, or the murders?"
Vianola hesitated. Consoling a friend was one thing, but helping with a criminal investigation and two murder cases was another.
"Sorry, Madalina. That's too much. Even for me." Vianola had her wild streak, and sure she had danced around the law from time to time, but getting involved would certainly land her back in jail.
Madalina sighed. "I supposed I would ask. Thank you anyways. Shall we turn to … other matters?"
The two continued their conversation well into the afternoon, and at the end, Vianola offered Madalina something that would take her mind off of the fire: An invitation to the next Winter's Kiss dance that would be held in the castle of Icegrowth.
Madalina took it eagerly, and as they said their goodbyes, she wondered if this distraction would help or hinder her case.
She had to get ready for anything. Noble women attended these dances all the time, and there was alcohol, food, and of course, fashion to take into account.
She had to go dress shopping, as all of her clothes had burnt in the fire except for a handful of dresses. She got ready to go and hopped into a carriage outside, directing it to the market district.
Across the street, another carriage lowered the blinds so that the people inside of it could not be seen. Inside of it sat Pelleas and Bula, who were keeping tabs on the young lady.
Neither of them spoke. They simply nodded at one another, and silently exited the carriage, being cautious, but casual. They didn't want Madalina to feel like she was being tailed, after all.
Bula turned around to speak to Pelleas, but they had slipped away into the crowd, no doubt seeing something that they wanted to buy. The market square was full of shops and twinking crystal lights, and it wasn't hard to lose someone in the crowd.
When Bula turned around again, she found that Madalina Chantilly had also slipped away, leaving the orc to her own devices.
But where had either of them gone?
A choice presented itself to Bula; She could either try to find their mark, or she could try to find her partner. She swore under her breath, and then went after Madalina, figuring that Pelleas could find HER after they were done messing around.
She turned her hat down to cover her eyes as she waded through the crowds, ignoring the lights that had turned into advertisements up above her with the use of magic. The sun was setting already, and if she was going to find Madalina, she would have to hurry.
A scream echoed out through the marketplace, nearly inaudible over the rush of people talking. Bula swore again and moved quicker through the crowds, bursting into a sprint as soon as she saw what was going on.
Lord Teloran had found her mark first. The two were standing by one another, as the crowd began to stop to watch the confrontation.
Madalina was the picture of fury, hands curled into tight fists and her body shaking with barely-contained rage. One of her hands had frost circling the wrist, which meant that she really WAS about to burst.
Bula was too slow to stop her – Too far to hear what that bastard was saying – As Madalina Chantilly raised her hand back and slapped him across the face, making the onlookers gasp in shock.
"Out of the way! Icegrowth ID!" Bula barked, at long last getting close enough to separate the two. Madalina was a small woman, so she had no problem grabbing her and pushing her back (albeit gently) from lord Teloran.
"Get this woman away from me before I have her arrested for assault," Lord Teloran hissed, wiping frost off his face.
"Get out of here, Teloran. I've got this under control." Bula answered, as lord Teloran began to turn tail and go back to his carriage.
Madalina was a mess. Shaking like a leaf and near catatonic, Bula asked her only one question:
"What happened?"