“I went after you. I know you don’t believe me, but it was for the best.” He says pleadingly. “The guards found me. I should have suspected they were there. They can’t get into my flat, so I suppose jumping me was the only hope they had.”
“So you still came after me…? With the gun and all?” Mulberry says sadly.
“Yes.” He says, closing his eyes and looking away.
“I see… So what happened to your firearm?” the mare asks.
“They probably confiscated it and put it somewhere.” He then seems to realize something and says, “I see. You want it for protection don’t you? Not a bad idea. Unfortunately that’s the only one I had. Perhaps the smith has something you could use, though I wouldn’t trust him either.”
Mulberry takes a note of this and then asks, “…Why would the guard be after you? Did they know about about Hard Tack?”
“I-” he starts, but the mare finishes, “…Can’t tell me. I should have suspected.
There is a long silence. Mulberry was sort of hoping she could maybe guilt him into saying something, but he is being far more tight-lipped than he usually is. She thought there could be no secrets between them, but she supposes she was wrong.
“Well… Anyway… How do you expect me to sleep in that flat? Since… You know…” She says, searching for the words. “Hard Tack is there.”
“Oh don’t worry. He’s definitely dead.” Antoine replies.
“Yes, that’s exactly the problem!” Mulberry says exasperatedly, dropping all pretense.
Antoine seems confused by this response, “He… I mean he’s not going to get up, if that’s what you are worried about.”
His fiance sighs, and as she does she feels a pressure on her shoulder. She turns to see Gamble’s claw.
“I hate to say this, but because of the fog you may be here a while. Do you have a place to stay? You can sleep in River’s old room if you’d like.” he says.