"The situation," Eponine replied mechanically to Maria, "is normal, Lady Maria.  We hunted down a witch last night.  I lost a few men.  It doesn't matter," Eponine added quickly before Maria had a chance to offer any condolences, "they know what they're getting themselves into.  They know that their sacrifices are worth the safety of their families."

Fantine milled about, serving the drinks that Maria had ordered.

"I did hear a...disturbing rumor," Eponine added after take a sip that was perhaps a little too big and perhaps still a little too hot to be considered normal.  She felt her magic drain by a tiny fraction as the slightly scalded inside of her mouth was being slowly, magically healed.  Eponine tried her best to hide that anything was wrong, it wouldn't do to have Fantine worry about something this small.  Fantine on the other hand, saw very clearly the way her sister had drank without feeling, without tasting, but kept her worry to herself.

"An...effigy...was found in a neighboring fief," Eponine continued, "the effigy had an unused grief seed on it."  Though usually stone-faced, at this last statement, Eponine narrowed her eyes slightly in what could only be described as a confused rage.  Grief seeds were a form of currency in their own right; even if one was not a magical girl, one could always use it to barter or negotiate with a magical girl.  For someone to leave something that valuable laying around, and in such a conspicuous arrangement spoke of a senselessness and blatant disregard of the system that Eponine, quite frankly, could not tolerate.