Reiner Stark -
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Having returned to camp with some fish and informing Dutch his attempts to reach out had borne fruit, he informed the soon to be dead man that the meeting would take place at Limpany, and that they were only allowed to take two people. Dutch suggested Arthur, but Reiner suggested having their best sharpshooter watching from the ridge line with a long rifle. Dutch had agreed, since Reiner's modifications made it possible to accurately hit targets from long range. They'd take Bill and Javier and keep Charles planted on the road near where the road near Limpany, the river and Flatneck Station met as a precaution. That way, Arthur could provide long-range cover fire while Charles rushed from the southwest, and John and Karen would keep the camp locked down. Since Limpany was close to Horseshoe Overlook, it meant that they could conveniently and quickly have more people if things popped off or a quickly acquired safe haven with medical supplies and ammo.
They'd just need for Reiner to break Micah out of jail while Arthur would be taking Lenny into Valentine for one night of hard drinking to take his mind off of things. But oh Dutch, you poor bastard. Reiner had been prepared for this for a long time, He had the knife ready and everything.
Reiner had already crossed the Dakota River and was heading to Strawberry. When Night fell, he'd kill Micah dead and the O'Driscoll too for good measure. His saddlebags had his distractions and party favours ready. He just had to light the fuse.
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Micah Bell III -
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Micah knew something was wrong when there was a massive explosion that woke the town and had everyone run to it. He couldn't see much, but he didn't have to. Something was burning.
This wasn't Dutch. He'd never agree to something like this for a Jail Break. Maybe Colm O'Driscoll might, but not Dutch.
''What in the hell is going on out there?'' His O'Driscoll cellmate asked.
''My God.'' What the fuck? A flaming Skull.
''God cannot help you, Bell.'' Says the Skull.
But Micah recognized the voice.
''Rei-'' The Skull melts the bars and grabs his throat.
''Guilty.'' Reiner said, and opened his mouth.
What the fuck was happening?
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Reiner Stark -
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Reiner had rode into Strawberry a day or two, and found the town in shock. He never enjoyed releasing the Demon, but he found it satisfying that Micah had his essence snuff like a torch in an instant at Tribal Council.
He was able to convince the sheriff to let him transport the body to Blackwater to try and claim the bounty. When in truth he'd be having the body shipped to Leviticus Cornwall through Pinkerton.
As he now sat on the Train, Reiner enjoyed the sound of the rain against his window.
Reiner would return to Lemoyne briefly, before returning to camp. He needed to make an in person appearance to finalize the transfer.
He'd also meet with La Muñeca. Knowing her she'd want to have exactly one thing and one thing only from him, in exchange for her help. But she'd get it and more for helping him kill Dutch.
Reiner was looking forward to the coming transition period.
If only because he would soon shed his false identity.
Taking his last name as his first name had helped him to birth a legend.
Reiner Stark and the Ghost Bison.
It certainly helped that he was fluent in various Native Languages.
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Tavish Gray, Mournful Patriarch -
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Beau was dead.
His heir apparent.
His heart was heavy, but he still had an heir as cold as it sounded in his mind. Beau had been burned from the inside out. How he didn't know, but it was difficult looking at his son's body.
''When Captain Reiner returns, ask him to come to me. The sooner the better. Also summon LeBlanc in the meantime, it's time to revise my will under the circumstances.'' He instructed his nephew Iain.
''Yes, Sir.''
''Jock, have the estate locked down. Put everyone on alert. Tell Archibald to put the town on alert as well.'' He couldn't discount the possibility that the Braithwaite's had something to do with Beau's death.
Better to be prepared and nothing happens, than to not be prepared and something happens.
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Reiner Stark, Missing His Girl -
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As soon as he arrived in Rhodes he was directed to the Gray estate. Arriving at Caliga Hall he found it basically under lock and key.
Looks like they found Beau. He had nothing against him, he was nice enough. But having him killed would inflame the feud and when he killed Gertrude the way he would, it would reach a boiling point. At that point the shine would hit Lemoyne proper. He'd always avoided the Lemoyne territory where applicable with his moonshine. The only time it ever crossed into Lemoyne was through people buying it and transporting themselves. But he'd ruthlessly enforced strict territory guidelines. They never sold in bulk in Lemoyne.
But now…
The time was fast approaching for when they would not only finally cross into Lemoyne, but also start operating stills in Lemoyne.
Hopefully General Gray was willing to help them in the short term.
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Reiner pushed open the doors angrily as the General trailed after him.
''Edward, wait!''
''You heard - ugh.'' Reiner punched the Gray's who tried to stop him, while others raised their weapons.
''Lower your weapons! We don't shed our own blood, do we look like Braithwaite's?'' General Gray… his father said.
''You had nearly thirty years to tell me!'' He said angrily. As Bucephalus came at his call.
''If you'd just let me ex-''.
''There's nothing to explain.'' He cut his father off. ''I understand far more than you realize. You aren't the only one with indiscretions that you cannot acknowledge father.'' The word felt foreign to him, as he sighed heavily. ''Just give me time. I'll come back for the funeral.'' He said before mounting Bucephalus and hesitating briefly before departing.
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Reiner had just finished puking his guts out, and was now enjoying a long soak in the tub back at camp with Tilly.
Reiner barely said a word. Had barely said a word since returning to the camp.
Tilly understood.
She scrubbed him briefly, but eventually she just mounted him and buried her face in the crook of his neck.
''What's happened?'' He didn't speak.
Tilly looked at him sternly and said it again. ''Reiner, what has happened?''
A single tear roll.
''My biggest problem has always been what's right in front of me. I can think twelve moves ahead. But that racist general I wanted to get away from? I had his son killed a few days ago, and the general confessed to me he had an affair with my mother nearly thirty years ago. That he is in fact my father.'' Reiner didn't know what was worse.
That he wanted Tilly to judge him and find him guilty.
Or that she wasn't judging him.
''It is not your fault. How could you have ever known?'' Tilly asked him.
''It should have been so obvious. My mother never spoke to me about my father. But she always went quiet whenever folks started talking about that family and the General. Now I find out my real father is a man I've spent nearly twenty years trying to get away from and the worst part is that I killed my own brother.'' Says Reiner.
Tilly did not say anything. Just held his face against her chest…
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(Author's Note:)
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Just a small chapter to get back into the story. It's been a little bit over a month since I've written this particular Artificer fic.
This was a tough chapter.
I was going to do some Lemons but it just didn't feel right in the end.
Next chapter, Dutch dies.
Maybe.
This was a really hard chapter for me to write emotionally. It made me think about my own late father and the fact out of the twenty two years I'd been alive before his death, I only knew him for twelve years up until that point.
Beau needed to die.
If only because it was necessary for Reiner's plans and mine.
I'll see you guys next chapter.
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