>>7821
> I personally don't have a problem with
[...]
> it seems perfectly reasonable

Sorry I didn't mean to sound like I was dismissing your input. I remember considering those points when I wrote it the first time, and decided that there wasn't a better way to deal with the subject matter without diving down a rabbit-hole of exposition so I just threw it in the way you see here.

In the case of the pile of ash, two dead guards would make this look really bad, of course, but since there are two separate, unrelated crimes it would make both parties have better chances of getting away with it.

And in full novel form, this would come out as Quicksilver learns that the guard-stabber is wanted for magically crisping the innkeeper.
"Well, at least we don't owe anyone back-rent." might be Anon's response. Which really cheeses off poor Hops.
That's probably their first lover's spat, actually. Could be well used both to explain the intrusion, and help build the couple's daily interactions.