Guild had been suspicious of that bear at first. That bear, and the man who gave it to his daughter. No one's like that, he'd thought to himself at the time, just before he was dragged off to buy a My Little Pony backpack. (In fact, he remembered idly, he didn't even have to buy it. The man gave it away because a strap was broken, which didn't seem to bother his daughter at all - especially when Guild inspected the backpack later and found no broken straps whatsoever.) No one's like that. Especially no kind of sorcerer.
But there was no other explanation. Dad and Bespoke hadn't asked for anything in return. The bear was free of any kind of magic. It was just a bear. Just a simple teddy bear that offered comfort, nothing more.
His daughter had refused to part with it, last Guild remembered. And yet, here it was, being offered to him by a man he barely knew, a man he'd been rude to or otherwise dismissed; and yet that same man had helped in rescuing his family.
Guild had been suspicious of the bear at first. Now, it seemed like the perfect thing to take into prison with him.
"Thank you," he managed, looking Gabe straight in the eye. For everything was a silent implication, as far as Guild was concerned. He took the bear as best he could, a little awkwardly with his hands shackled together in front of him the way they were, but adequately enough for a man who was about to spend the next three centuries in prison.
He'd never believed anyone could be so selfless. He hardly wanted to believe it now. "What are you doing," he wondered aloud, "being friends with Pleasant?"
"Don't get him started," Pleasant answered instead. "You'll regret it. How long before the Sanctuary is up and running again?"
He was doing the same thing, Guild realised with a jolt. Just like Gabe, trying to give Guild something to focus on other than his own immediate future. Mutual influence? It was so very strange that it took him a startled moment to answer. "A few more days. Most of the artefacts have been returned to the Repository and some departments have already resumed work. The inmates will be taken to the Gaol tonight, under heavy security of course. Not that they mind," he added a little bitterly. "I expect they're quite appreciative of any opportunity to be out of those cages. At least I won't be in a cage when I'm in prison."
Pleasant nodded. "Good man. Keep looking on the bright side."
And just like that, the illusion of mutual influence was shattered. Guild scowled. "Why are you transporting me, anyway? A feeble attempt to get in some last-minute taunts? It really is quite pathetic."
Cain's head turned sharply to him, and Pleasant's skull tilted slightly. "We're transporting you because you requested it."
The notion was so ridiculous that Guild actually did laugh this time, strained and bitter though it was. "What is this nonsense? No, I didn't."
"I spoke to Detective Marr. She said you asked for us."
Guild grew more serious. It wasn't a joke; Pleasant sounded just as... not confused, exactly, but curious. Dumbfounded. "Why would I ask for you three?" Guild reminded Pleasant, slowly, as if he was talking to a child. "I don't like you. I certainly have no wish to spend my last few moments outside of a prison cell with you."
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But there was no other explanation. Dad and Bespoke hadn't asked for anything in return. The bear was free of any kind of magic. It was just a bear. Just a simple teddy bear that offered comfort, nothing more.
His daughter had refused to part with it, last Guild remembered. And yet, here it was, being offered to him by a man he barely knew, a man he'd been rude to or otherwise dismissed; and yet that same man had helped in rescuing his family.
Guild had been suspicious of the bear at first. Now, it seemed like the perfect thing to take into prison with him.
"Thank you," he managed, looking Gabe straight in the eye. For everything was a silent implication, as far as Guild was concerned. He took the bear as best he could, a little awkwardly with his hands shackled together in front of him the way they were, but adequately enough for a man who was about to spend the next three centuries in prison.
He'd never believed anyone could be so selfless. He hardly wanted to believe it now. "What are you doing," he wondered aloud, "being friends with Pleasant?"
"Don't get him started," Pleasant answered instead. "You'll regret it. How long before the Sanctuary is up and running again?"
He was doing the same thing, Guild realised with a jolt. Just like Gabe, trying to give Guild something to focus on other than his own immediate future. Mutual influence? It was so very strange that it took him a startled moment to answer. "A few more days. Most of the artefacts have been returned to the Repository and some departments have already resumed work. The inmates will be taken to the Gaol tonight, under heavy security of course. Not that they mind," he added a little bitterly. "I expect they're quite appreciative of any opportunity to be out of those cages. At least I won't be in a cage when I'm in prison."
Pleasant nodded. "Good man. Keep looking on the bright side."
And just like that, the illusion of mutual influence was shattered. Guild scowled. "Why are you transporting me, anyway? A feeble attempt to get in some last-minute taunts? It really is quite pathetic."
Cain's head turned sharply to him, and Pleasant's skull tilted slightly. "We're transporting you because you requested it."
The notion was so ridiculous that Guild actually did laugh this time, strained and bitter though it was. "What is this nonsense? No, I didn't."
"I spoke to Detective Marr. She said you asked for us."
Guild grew more serious. It wasn't a joke; Pleasant sounded just as... not confused, exactly, but curious. Dumbfounded. "Why would I ask for you three?" Guild reminded Pleasant, slowly, as if he was talking to a child. "I don't like you. I certainly have no wish to spend my last few moments outside of a prison cell with you."