At Slidell's comment I re-enter the room with a slight bow and a smile
"I would be honored to share a drink with a devil summoner and aspiring world tyrant. I have a small issue I'd like to discuss with all of you anyway."
I turn to Vesh and nod "I agree with your sentiment; he was rather unnerving, but in my experience its best not to show the wealthy and powerful that you don't like them. I also agree that he was casing us. I wonder what he wants?"
"Well, I hope you boys have fun, but I think I'm going to go to bed. Good night, all. Lady be with you."With a elegant poise she turns to go, but if one where to look closely one can see her gnaw her lip in disquiet.
"Wait," says Vesh as Ehlissa makes to leave. "Please, all of you," he says haltingly, "I feel we've been thrown together for some reason."
He looks at them all before adding, "Please spare a few minutes this evening for one drink together, without outside company, that we may choose together what to do from here. If anything." Vesh begins to blush slightly despite himself.
"Well,..." Slidell drawled slowly.
"I suppose, since we're all HERE anyway."
With a warm smile for Naelah and a conspiritorial wink for Ehlissa, SLidell extends his elbows. Not to the ladies, but towards Vesh and Malcolm!
"Now. About these 'drinking songs' I've heard so much about,..."
"Now. About these 'drinking songs' I've heard so much about,..."
"Now. About these 'drinking songs' I've heard so much about,..."
" SLidell extends his elbows. Not to the ladies, but towards Vesh and Malcolm!...
Vesh looks from Ehlissa to Naelah to Slidell and says with a shrug, "What the hell." He locks arms with the goofy wizard and adds, "Keep in mind, you're not really my type."
After a pause Vesh adds, "I prefer evokers."
Vesh is smiling broader than he has in months.
Ehlissa shakes her head with a slight smile, "Come on, Naelah, I'm sure we'll be just fine without them!" she says jokingly.
I give a mock bow to Ehlissa and Naelah before taking Slidell's arm and going down the stairs. When Vesh comments I turn and say "I lean more towards enchantresses persoanlly. There was this enchantress in Riddleport who sold all sorts of magical items down on Raven street. Most beautiful woman you can imagine. Words can't describe her. She would make Desna herself look like an ancient hag. Course she tried to sacrifice me to the demon Malcanthet so that cut our relationship a little short, but it was fun while it lasted." with a grin.
Ehlissa shakes her head with a slight smile, "Come on, Naelah, I'm sure we'll be just fine without them!" she says jokingly.
Vesh addresses Naelah and Ehlissa, "Be sure to collect Corran, we wouldn't want him to feel left out! Of course, with the two of you on his arm, I think I am the one feeling left out. No offence to these fine gentlemen." He nods to Slidell and Sir Malcolm.
Course she tried to sacrifice me to the demon Malcanthet so that cut our relationship a little short, but it was fun while it lasted." with a grin.
"And I thought I had trouble with women!" Says Vesh with a grin.
"I lean more towards enchantresses persoanlly. There was this enchantress in Riddleport who sold all sorts of magical items down on Raven street. Most beautiful woman you can imagine. Words can't describe her. She would make Desna herself look like an ancient hag. Course she tried to sacrifice me to the demon Malcanthet so that cut our relationship a little short, but it was fun while it lasted." with a grin.
Slidell shakes his head emphatically.
"Nope. What you want is a Transmuter-ess!" He exclaims grinning.Despite his arms being entangled in the other gentlemen's, he somehow managed to describe unlikely patterns in the air with his hands as he spoke.
"With the proper application of 'Alter Self' and "Polymorph' spells, there's nothing that they,..can't,..."
He fades off as he realizes what he is saying, and who is listening to him say it. He coughs self conciously.
"At least, that's what I've HEARD. I wouldn't actually KNOW. I've never,...actually,..."
For the first time since anybody in the group has met him, Slidell not only seems to be at a loss for words, but he is actually blushing!
Clearing his throat again, he begins singing in a pleasant baritone and walking faster, almost dragging the other two with him, as if he can leave his embarrassment behind.
"OH!
A Pirate's life is a wonderful life,
They never bury your bones!
But when it's all over,
A jolly sea rover
Drops in on his friend Davy Jones!
OH!
His very good friend Davy Jones!"
I laugh at the wizards sudden awkwardness and say "Aye, I'll have to seek such a lady out some time."
After Slidell finishes his short tune I say "Come on. I always found my singing voice to be improved by a few ales.", signaling the barkeep for three ales once we reach the common room.
"Come on. I always found my singing voice to be improved by a few ales.", signaling the barkeep for three ales once we reach the common room.
Feeling--despite all of the strange events of the last two days--a sense of belonging and safety for the first time in a long time, Vesh waits until all five friends have something to drink and stands, hand scratching Veren on the head behind his ears. He raises his ale and says, "At the risk of sounding pig-headed, a toast to us! As uncommon a fellowship as ever there was. I am glad, and honored, to be in your company, and though I hardly know you, I count you as friends." He qualfs half his ale and smiles broadly at each one in turn.
"Now," he says a little more seriously, "it seems that Sir Malcolm has some business to discuss regarding the items that I collected yesterday--items that no one seems to want. But, perhaps we should find a quieter table. I think I see one large enough for all of us in the corner over there. I'd like to talk about other things as well..." He looks at Corran and Naelah as he says this, and then gestures to the table in the corner.
"Ok, what did you want to discuss?" Corran says as he sits down at the indicated table.
Ehlissa and Naelah make their way to see the 'boys'.
When Corran, Ehlissa, and Naelah arrive I stand and raise my mug, shouting "Comrads, come and join us for some ale, merriment and perhaps a buisness proposition."
Once they arrive at the table I order ales for them as well and lean forward, saying "If you recall we recovered some valuable goods from the goblins. The armor and some of the weapons were of fine quality but too small for us to use so I did some asking around and an old friend of mine knows a guy back home who would be interested in buying them from us. What say you? Should I sell em'? Equal shares to all of us!" with a wide grin.
After acknowledging the crowded common room—and the free ale—Vesh turns his attention to addressing Corran’s last question.
“Both you and Ehlissa made it quite clear that the dispensation of the goblin items is not one in which you are greatly interested, so I vote for selling the items—the dog slicers and armor—and splitting the proceeds in an equitable manner. For my part, I would like to keep the champion’s arrows; they are well-crafted and enchanted. I have a way with a bow … when I carry one.” He says with a smile. “I will gladly forfeit my portion of the value of the armor and knives for them.”
Waving his hand, Vesh says, “But goblin armor and weapons are not what I wanted to talk about.” He says. “I think that we have been thrown together for some reason, and I think that yesterday’s attack was strange.”
“ I, for one, have never done anything worthwhile with my life until I joined all of you in repelling the goblin attack. I think Desna is telling me that I should change that. I would like to get to the bottom of why the attack happened, and why the body of Father Zantus’ predecessor was stolen.” Here, Vesh swallows hard.
“But I cannot do so alone.”
"Unless there are any objections, the arrows are yours." I say and then look searchingly into my near empty mug "I for one don't believe much in destiny. Luck yes, but not destiny. Still, we do seem to work well together so what the Hell? I'll give it a try." I finish with a grin and I raise my mug, draining it "To us and to new beginnings."
Ehlissa seems to relax more and become a girl again rather than a noblewoman.
"It is strange, yes! Most odd - it was as if they knew that the festival was going to be taking place and that they knew the place to create the most mayhem. They were very organized as well!" she remarks.
After acknowledging the beer with his own flagon, Slidell responds to Malcolm's question,
"Sure, fine with me. I didn't go looking to loot goblin bodies, but THEY don't need the gear anymore. And I can certainly use the research funds!"
He takes another long draft as the others note the oddities connected to the attack.
"Yes," He nods, almost serious for once. "There are far too many incongruities to this particular event. I noted markings from at LEAST 3 different tribes in the portion of the attack that we were involved in. Add to that, that there was least one other group whose sole purpose seems to have been the removal of the corpse of the good father's predecessor, (and WHAT do goblins want with the body of a priest five years dead?) and you have FOUR separate tribes involved in a single, coordinated attack. This level of cooperation is something I've never heard of in all my research into the smaller Fae. And I have done a LOT of reading in my time." He smirks, realizing full well that he is tooting his own horn, and takes another swig.
"Speaking of cooperation, something about the timing of the event is bothering me as well. Did anyone else notice that the attack happened almost immediately after the good father set off his Thunderstone? Almost as if THAT was the signal for the attack?!? If the setting off of a thunderstone is common practice at events here in Sandpoint, Then my (admittedly suspicious) mind jumps to the possibility that someone INSIDE Sandpoint had to have been involved in at least the planning of the assault!" He finished his last sentence with a lowered voice so as not to alarm their neighbors at nearby tables. Which gave his last statement a hissing, sibilant ominousness.
"Also, if my calculations are correct," He continued, with a glance at the others that dared them to double-check his math, "Due to the minimal time between the setting off of the thunderstone, and the initial assault, I suspect that there were already a group of goblins inside the walls, again, indicating the possibility of inside help, and an unusual level of cooperation AND patience from the little blighters! Considering how annoyingly dangerous the little pests can be on their own, the thought that someone, or someTHING, could convince or coerce several tribes to work together causes me,... concern."
Slidell smiles at Vesh, "I was planning on examining the gravesite first thing in the morning, and then try to figure out how a gate was mysteriously 'left' open. Anyone care to come and look for clues?!!" He says, obviously excited about tackling the mystery.
He finishes his beer, and orders another, as he listens and processes his companions responses and thoughts. Then, in another apparent change of topic, pipes in again.
"I don't believe in coincidence, but what I've discovered today would make even the most devout follower of the god of luck become a doubting Thomas! This town seems to have suffered more than its fair share of calamities in recent history."
Briefly, (For Slidell!) he outlines quietly what he discovered earlier while researching the town's history in the Town Hall. Including the (to him, unresolved) rampage of terror of the 'Chopper', the mysteriously tragic death of Ameiko's mother by falling off of her balcony, and the mysterious church fire which killed the former priest and his adopted daughter, and how close they all are in time.
"Do you see what I mean?!" he asks low voiced, excitement shining in his eyes, "Taken individually, even the Chopper can be seen as a terrible tragedy, but taken together, the timeline alone almost entirely precludes the impossibility of outside influence!" He bubbles smiling as his multi-syllabic vocabulary finally clears the logjam it was creating in his throat.
Ehlissa blinks. Once. Twice.
"Yes."
(an awkward pause)
"It WAS all very strange.
The issue of the goblin loot resolved, Vesh smiles as Slidell recounts his suspicions. The wizard is already on the scent. Vesh thinks to himself as he absently scratches behind Veren’s ears.
“First thing in the morning, then,” Vesh says to Slidell. And, looking down at Veren he adds “It will be nice to get out beyond the walls tomorrow, wouldn’t you say?” He looks up and smiles at Naelah and then the rest of the party.
I smile at Slidell's minorly paranoid, somewhat melodramatic speech but just the same when he's done I nod, saying "Yes, it does seem rather convientently coincidental doesn't it? I'll accompany you to the gravesite tomarrow, and although I've no particular skill in solving mysteries but I'll come along just the same." I lean back in my chair, considering what Slidell's theories.
"Good morning," says Vesh to his companions. He bends and greets Veren, "Sorry," he says to the wolf, "I thought the graveyard was beyond the wall. Perhaps later we can explore the wilds, eh?"
I'm talking to a wolf, Vesh thinks and turns a little red. He pulls his scarf around his face to hide his embarrassment, pretending to be cold in the morning fog.
Slidell 'Hmmm's' to himself for a moment, taking note of the proximity of the fog-shrouded gate to the graveyard. Then takes out the now familiar crumpled paper and pops a sweet into his mouth. He then extends the bag to the others. The gesture seems to be more out of habit than genuine interest in sharing, as he is obviously already fully involved in the mystery before him.
"I KNEW I should have come here yesterday!" he fusses. "Maybe they've been so busy cleaning up the streets, they haven't gotten to the gravesite yet." he adds hopefully, sounding suspiciously like a kid who wonders if the 'Secret Saint in Red' has left his usual yearly gift for good boys and girls a day early this year.
Slidell turned suddenly to Ehlissa. "You seem to be comfortable speaking with the military crowd. And I heard that YOU made a few friends yesterday in the practice field." He added, nodding at Corran with a smirk. "Would you mind asking the nice, but probably touchy (and understandably so) nice gentlemen with the long, pointy objects if they know, (or if anyone has figured out) what happened to the gate 2 days ago?"
He had the decency to look mildly embarrassed.
"Normally, I'd ask them myself. But I have this allergy. To long, pointy objects wielded by probably touchy people. To pain in general, actually. And I REALLY want to see this gravesite. I can't help but feel there's something we're missing here. One of those little pieces of the puzzle that's hard to find, but when you do the whole thing suddenly falls into place. Thank you!" He finishes briskly with a flashed smile.
He then turns his head to the raven on his shoulder, and whispers quietly into it's ear. With what sounds suspiciously like a sigh of longsuffering, Veran launches himself into the air, circles the group once, and flaps off towards the graveyard. His wingbeats strangely muffled by the thick fog. Slidell then turns to the others, and flashes his trademark grin.
"Well come along, pick up the pace. This is the FUN part!" He blurts while smiling. With that he turns, and holding his traveling cloak closed against the morning's damp chill, heads straight towards the gate to the Sandpoint Boneyard.
He waves pleasantly at the Acolyte tending the garden by the back wall and strides boldly thru the gates. A few feet in he stops, looks around, and mutters. "A prominent, long-time priest. Tragic death. He wouldn't be with the 'common' graves, probably a larger than usual headstone, and recently disturbed,..... AH!" He starts walking briskly, but is brought up short after 2 steps by a loud "CAW" from the unseen Veran.
"I knew that!" Slidell fussed at the fog-shrouded familiar. "This blasted fogs got me turned around, that's all!" He starts off again, following his familiars' directions until he arrives at what can only be the burial place of Sandpoint's former resident priest. He looks at the grave, the tombstone, and the surrounding area while talking softly to either himself or his familiar. (No one can ever be sure exactly which it seems.) Finally he stops, pulls out the candy bag, pops a piece, and once again offers it to the others.
"OK. Here's what I've got. What do YOU guys see?"
Ehlissa turns on the babbling mage, "What?! What are you implying, you ridiculous oaf?! I have had enough of your snide comments and innuendo! If you wish to use me as some sort of doxy, then you have another thing coming you... you... Errgh!" she rants in frustration.
"I shall ask him point blank and show you there is no need for your snide trickery here!" with that she storms off to the guard.
She stops in her tracks and asks in a peevish manner, "Corran? Are you coming with me, or with them?"
I smile at the contact and say "I'm glad that the items are acceptable. Perhaps we can do buisness again sometime." I briefly look through the bag before taking it back to the Rusty Dragon, asking Ameiko if there is a safe place where she can keep it locked up until we return.
I arrive in the square just in time to hear Slidell's request and Ehilssa's tempermental response. "I don't think that he was implying that you were anyone's doxy, nor that it was your feminine wiles that would get you the information, but the fact that there is a certain camaradier between warriors. Calm down."
As Ehlissa storms off I mutter "Although feminine wiles can certainly help." under my breath and follow Slidell to the gravesite, saying "She seems a mite high strung doesn't she?" as I examine the grave.
"I don't think that he was implying that you were anyone's doxy, nor that it was your feminine wiles that would get you the information, but the fact that there is a certain camaradier between warriors. Calm down."
Slidell either did not hear Ehlissa's retort, or he simply didn't take offense to it, as he continues with the same infectious, irritating smile.
"I think you may have misunderstood Ehlissa. I am well aware of my strong points. (And I have a few,) BUT, talking to and making comfortable armed and armored warriors, who are high-strung because of a recent unexpected attack, AND who are on high-alert because they don't know what caused it or if there will be others, AND who have probably lost friends or family, AND who have possibly been chewed out royally for something that likely wasn't their fault, (IE,...an open gate,) AND who would probably take any comment from a 'civilian' as unwelcome at best and criticism at worst,... ISN'T ONE OF THEM!"
Slidell leaned forward still smiling, and in a Faux conspiratorial whisper continued.
"I know it's hard to believe, but I'm not exactly EVERYONE'S favorite cup of tea!"
With that he straightens, turns,
He either misses completely, or wisely ignores, Malcolm's comment as the group splits.
"She seems a mite high strung doesn't she?"
"Mmmm,..." Slidell replies wisely, his attention fully focused upon the grave. "Personally, I think she's a bit young to be wound quite so tight. But,..." he added, actually sparing time to glance at Sir Malcolm and smirk, "I'M hardly in a position to pass judgement on others' personality flaws now, am I?" Turning back to the grave, he can barely be heard to mutter,... "There is more to that young lady than meets the eye,..."
"Mis- SLIDELL" Ehlissa replies after a couple of deep breaths, "I am well aware of how nervous these men are, and how awful the attacks were. I know what losing someone you love is like! Please don't treat me like a child; I've had enough of th-" she stops mid-sentence, and seems to look younger and more vulnerable, "I, you're so much like- I, I'll go."
She leaves, drawing herself up to walk tall. A close observer might see that her eyes are barely brimmed with unshed tears.
Vesh is quiet as the exchange between Slidell and Ehlissa takes place. She certainly has a fire in her belly. He thinks to himself.
He then follows Slidell, and the others with him, to the gravesite. Once there, he loosens his scarf somewhat and begins to search the site closely ... all the while frowning.
"Hey Slidell, Vesh. Come over here. I thik I found out how the goblins got into the cemetery." I say, waving my companions over.
Corran (and presumably Ehlissa) will move back and inform Sidell of the guard's report.
Well, that certainly fits the "traitor" theory of the mage. Maybe he is on to something?
"The Sheriff spoke to us, and he wants to meet us all at noon"
Looking around, you see the acolyte peering at you from behind the gate. When he meets your gaze, he hurriedly retreats out of sight.
"We may have church company soon." Vesh announces as the acolyte disappears.
"Slidell." Vesh says seriously. He holds up the broken blade of a goblin dog slicer and its broken handle and puts them together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. "Definitely goblins." His frown deepens, "What do you see, here?"
Before Slidell can respond, Malcolm says from over towards the wall:
"Hey Slidell, Vesh. Come over here. I thik I found out how the goblins got into the cemetery."
Dropping the blade and handle in the dirt, Vesh looks at the ladder and the impressions in the earth. "Or, how they got the body out," he says. Vesh props the ladder up onto the wall and starts to climb. He looks over the other side...
...then looks down from the top of the wall to Naelah and Veren, "Kath o thakh?"
At that moment, Corran and Ehlissa return and announce:
"The Sheriff spoke to us, and he wants to meet us all at noon"
Ehlissa asks in a reserved manner, "What have you chaps found?"
Looking around, you see the acolyte peering at you from behind the gate. When he meets your gaze, he hurriedly retreats out of sight.
"We may have church company soon." Vesh announces as the acolyte disappears.
"Great! It's a date!" Replies Slidell, obviously still distracted with his examinations.
"Slidell." Vesh says seriously. He holds up the broken blade of a goblin dog slicer and its broken handle and puts them together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. "Definitely goblins." His frown deepens, "What do you see, here?"
Before Slidell can respond, Malcolm says from over towards the wall:
"Hey Slidell, Vesh. Come over here. I thik I found out how the goblins got into the cemetery."
Dropping the blade and handle in the dirt, Vesh looks at the ladder and the impressions in the earth. "Or, how they got the body out," he says. Vesh props the ladder up onto the wall and starts to climb. He looks over the other side...
...then looks down from the top of the wall to Naelah and Veren, "Kath o thakh?"
"Yes,..." Slidell slowly agrees. "Far more likely. Hmmm,..."
At that moment, Corran and Ehlissa return and announce:
"The Sheriff spoke to us, and he wants to meet us all at noon"
Ehlissa asks in a reserved manner, "What have you chaps found?"
"Wonderful, I'll check my calendar. Who? What?! He wants to meet with us TODAY? Interesting. Did he say why? Nevermind, nevermind! Ladies first! What did you find out?!" He asks like a kid in a candy store.
As Corran and Ehlissa relate their experience at the gate, Slidell searches the voluminous pockets of his greatcloak and pulls out a well-worn pipe and proceeds to fill it. Not with Tabac, but with a small amount of fluid from a corked metal vial. He places the pipe into his mouth without lighting it and begins puffing methodically. Within a few moments, bubbles, tiny at first but gradually growing larger, begin escaping from the pipe and floating lethargically away on the damp, chill air. An unusually large bubble doesn't float very far, but lingers over Slidell's head as he puffs and paces. The bubble finally bursts with a particularly loud 'POP', over his head.
"A-HAH! Gotit!" He exclaims, turning to the others, and finally noticing the odd looks being sent his way. Much to the amusement of his familiar, if the poorly disguised, high-pitched chortling is any indication.
"What?" He asks innocently. "I happen to LIKE the pipe, it helps me think. I just can't stand the feeling of the smoke in my lungs. I do miss the flavor though, and heaven help me if I accidentally inhale too hard,..." He looks around again. "WHAT?!"
"ANYway, as I was saying, I think I have a picture here. The broken weapons confirm that it was goblins that dug up the body. Nothing we didn't already suspect, but it verifies. The placement of the ladder would seem to indicate they exited over the wall with the body they dug up. Again, displaying a frightening amount of caution and forethought." He looks at everyone directly, and intensely.
"Think about it, The goblins supposedly entered through a presumably already unlocked gate. They then run a short distance to the graveyard, and dig up a very specific body. To my knowledge, goblins are not only small, but inherently lazy. Why go to the trouble to drag a body OVER the wall, when you can just drag it out the way you came in? "
"Answer- The planner behind this realized that by the time they would recover the body, the gates would already be remanned, or at the least, that they would have traffic from the surviving goblins being routed towards them! By removing the body over the wall, they avoid being caught with the body, thus preventing discovery of the presumably 'real' reason behind the attack until it's too late to prevent it! " Slidell puffs some more on his pipe, producing more bubbles. The grin on his face would seem to indicate that he's very pleased with himself.
"AH!" He continues suddenly, "Then there's this!" He exclaims, running the short distance over to the open grave. "This grave headstone has two names on it. The Priest's, and Nualia. That's his step daughter. I found a death report in the Town Hall filed by the sheriff. BUT! there's only room in this grave for ONE body! Since the story I heard was that the sheriff and mayor were upset over the theft of the PRIESTS' body, we can presume that he was the one buried there. We're still left with the question of WHY goblins, or anyone working WITH goblins, would want to steal a priest's body. But NOW I also have to wonder, why have a tombstone for two, and a death report to match, when you only have one body?!?"
Slidell replaces the pipe in his mouth once more, and puffs happily. The bubbles and smirky smile would seem to indicate that he is not only pleased with himself, but awaiting the accolades that are his due. However, a VERY observant person might notice that eyes don't match his face. They seem to be looking for something else,... maybe an affirmation, or confirmation, or,... something.
But NOW I also have to wonder, why have a tombstone for two, and a death report to match, when you only have one body?!?"
"Perhaps we should ask the good Father, hmm?" Vesh replies as he slides down the ladder onto the soft ground below. "We have time before our meeting."
He places the ladder back on the ground. "Maybe some of us should go ask the Priest about the Nualia's body and the rest should take a look beyond the wall to see if we can find tracks." He glances at Naelah and Veren as he says this.
Ehlissa listens carefully and intently to the mage's theories and queries. Once he has finished she says, "That sounds very plausible. Well done, Slidell; I don't think anyone else could have put all of these things together like that. We really are on to something."
Turning to Vesh, she replies to his proposition, "Good thinking, Vesh; Malcolm; you and Slidell, and you, Corran should investigate the tracks. Vesh; you, Naelah and I will talk to the priest."
She looks at everyone and then nods, "Right. Let's go."
I have to be decisive; I can't believe what I almost said! Everything I wanted to get away from is here! Or have I brought it with me?
She looks at everyone and then nods, "Right. Let's go."
"Sounds good," says Vesh, "though I might suggest that Naelah accompany the others. Veren might prove useful in finding a trail. Though too much time might've passed for him to pick up a scent, he'll certainly prove more useful out there than with Father Zantus. You and I can go to the priest." He moves to fall in line beside Ehlissa.
"That sounds very plausible. Well done, Slidell; I don't think anyone else could have put all of these things together like that. We really are on to something."
Slidell beams, his smile actually reaching his eyes. He goes to puff his pipe, frowns, looks in the bowl, and with a petulant look turns the pipe upside down to let the last 2 drops of fluid fall onto the ground.
Turning to Vesh, she replies to his proposition, "Good thinking, Vesh; Malcolm; you and Slidell, and you, Corran should investigate the tracks. Vesh; you, Naelah and I will talk to the priest."
She looks at everyone and then nods, "Right. Let's go."
Slidell returned the pipe to one of the pockets of his oversized traveling cloak. "I agree with Vesh. Neahlah's skills will certainly be more useful than mine at searching for clues outside the wall. She can take my place, and I'll go with you and Vesh!" He smiles at Neahlah as he passes her and takes position next to Ehlissa, opposite of Vesh.
"Oooo, If we hurry, we'll have time to stop for a snack before we go to meet with the Mayor and Sheriff. There is a little bakery on a side street that the kids tell me make the best rolls! I know we just had breakfast, but all this exercise makes me hungry. Nothing like a brisk morning stroll to build up an appetite!"
"Candy?" He asks, extending the familiar crumpled paper towards Ehlissa and Vesh as he pops one into his own mouth.
Ehlissa smiles in a tired manner, "Slidell is indeed very talented; but it seems that his bubbles are alchemical," she says by way of explanation, to forestall the lengthy tract on the pipe that the young wizrd would inevitably come out with.
"Sorry if we looked suspicious, but yes, we were trying to find clues to the disappearance; I'm afraid we have a meeting now, but it was lovely to meet you again, Father." Ehlissa beams more warmly.