"Promise not to close it and not to tell Tauriell?" Niamh replies but lets her backpack drop rattling and crawls into the sack.
Lini holds the sack open. "It's nice, isn't it? If you put a few chairs and a table in it would make a nice room."
"Nice idea." Niamh responds and sticks her head out. "How much would that cost?" she follows her head with the rest of her body and stands up in front of Lini.
"Do you want magic furniture? If not you're asking the wrong person." Lini replies.
"Oh, sorry. I meant the sack." Niamh says.
"Ah, yes. That costs 2.500 gold." Lini replies.
Niamh gives Lini the 2.500 gold. "Thank you. Can I help you with anything? I really don't know what to do now."
"Are you good at crafting stuff?" Lini asks.
"Nope. But as an inspiring and generous bard I can help you with music." Niamh says with a grin and sits down cross-legged on her sack. "Transverse flute or violin?" she asks the gnome.
"Both?" Lini replies.
"At the same time? That would be a challenge. Because I would have to grow myself two more arms." Niamh jokes and decides to start with the transverse flute.
"I could try to construct you some additional arms." Lini suggests. Then she goes back to her work and feels greatly inspired and everything seems to be much easier.
Meanwhile at Mrs. Heidmarch's office
_____________________
"It would help if you told your friend here to stop playing games and tell me what she wants. And what she has to offer as a compensation for me to provide it." Abomentolor replies to Mrs. Heidmarch ignoring Captain Uriana. "And who is she? Someone forgot to introduce us."
"We want you to do nothing. We are just not sure if it is within your capabilities. What kind of incentive would be needed to get you to agree." Mrs. Heidmarch replies.
"What do you mean with 'nothing'?" Abomentolor inquires looking at Mrs. Heidmarch and that woman from the city watch with suspicion.
"We want you to not seek out the guy who probably paid for your murder. We want you to keep a low profile and would prefer you not getting killed again for the next time here in Magnimar." Mrs. Heidmarch elaborates.
"I'm not sure I still agree on the last point." Captain Uriana comments.
"Get in line if you want me dead." Abomentolor dismisses Uriana's comment.
And to Mrs. Heidmarch he replies "Why is that? Does she need time to sweep something under the rug? When I shall not seek out that guy in his wagon he is obviously not in custody yet."
"He is not. But as we have your supposed murderer and can question her it wouldn't help to get all of that resolved in a lawful way if you run back there and kill a dozen people." Uriana snarls at the gnome.
"You'll forgive me if I'm not too enthusiastic about you dealing with a well known gang leader that operates his illicit business for how many years in Magnimar?" Abomentolor addresses Uriana.
"This is different. This was murder." Uriana replies.
"And looking the other direction doesn't work as well if the victim is important enough for someone to care about. I know how it is. I have seen the watch's tendency to look the other way if the problem is in Underbridge." Abomentolor gives back in a bitter tone.
"You think you can do better?" Uriana asks. "But one way or the other. You are not going to start an open war with the Gallowed in the middle of Magnimar."
"Challenge accepted." Abomentolor grins. "And I'm feeling generous. I don't feel too well at the moment. So I'll take the time to get back to full health. I'll even pay for the girls serving me myself if the city is too penny-pinching to offer. What time do you need, more than two days? For I would have fixed that in two days max." he teases Uriana.
Uriana takes a deep breath and with a glance to the side at Mrs. Heidmarch she replies "If you think you're that good. I'll talk to the mayor about getting you appointed as the one solely responsible to enforce law and order in Underbridge." With a mischievous grin. "I don't know who you'll be reporting to, but I'll make sure it's not me."
"Until then you don't leave your spa and keep out of trouble. I'll try to get that done as fast as possible, but I hope for it to not take longer than two weeks. Deal?" She asks the gnome.
"First you tell me who you are." Abomentolor inquires.
"Captain Acacia Uriana, head of the Magnimar City Watch." she replies offering a hand.
"My name is Abomentolor Goblinburner. And we have a deal Captain." Abomentolor grins and takes the hand.
"Wonderful. Now that this is resolved I'd like to have a word with you Mrs. Heidmarch before we leave."
"Officer Kasadei, lead the squad back to the Arvensoar."
"Yes ma'm." Officer Kasadei replies and leaves with the other officers.
"Thank you Archibald Alterton for your service. If you like we can drink a cup of tea together in the salon." Mrs. Heidmarch offers.
"Thank you for the offer, but this was on short notice and I don't have much time. Maybe another time?" Alterton asks.
"Of course. Thank you again and good bye then." Mrs. Heidmarch replies.
"Good bye." Alterton says and leaves.
"Abomentolor, would you please wait for me in the salon? Margaret will bring you tea or something else there." Mrs. Heidmarch requests of the gnome.
"Sure." Abomentolor gets up and on shaky legs moves to the salon. As he is there he is glad to sit down again on the sofa.
"Are you serious? I was joking when I suggested that." Mrs. Heidmarch inquires.
"I only promised to ask the mayor. And for that I get that gnome two weeks out of my hair. And if the mayor approves that it is not my responsibility. And he'll get an appointment contract to ensure he behaves. That I can tell you for sure." Uriana answers.
"Nice. And what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Would you please appoint someone to keep an eye on Abomentolor? If he has second thoughts I'd like to know it immediately." Uriana requests.
"That I can organize. I already have an idea whom I'll take for that." Mrs. Heidmarch replies.
"Fine. Then I'll leave too. There is enough left to do for me. Have a nice day." Uriana says her good bye.
"Same to you." Mrs. Heidmarch replies. She then writes a note.
Dear Mrs. Deverin.
Sooner than I expected a possibility opened that I can offer a job with the pathfinders for your daughter. It is nothing big. But she can tag along a renown Pathfinder for the next weeks here in Magnimar. The work is not too hard and I would pay her a generous two gold per week as an allowance and small reward.
But the job starts immediately. So if your daughter wants to take this job she would have to come with Margaret immediately.
Best Regards
Venture Captain Sheila Heidmarch.
She leaves the office and hands the note to Margaret. "Please bring me some tea and then deliver this letter to Mrs Deverin personally. She shall read it and decide if her daughter comes back with you."
Mrs. Heidmarch then takes a seat in an comfortable armchair. "You're really interested in taking over the responsibility for Underbridge?" she asks Abomentolor.
"We'll see what she really can offer after she asks the mayor." Abomentolor replies.
"I see." Mrs. Heidmarch replies and dips a cookie in her tea. "We agreed to get someone to keep you company for the time. And you don't need to pay her yourself. But I'm not sure what kind of service you are looking for so maybe you have to organize some of that yourself."
"Who is offering. You or Captain Uriana?" Abomentolor asks.
"Me." Mrs. Heidmarch replies.
"Thought so." Abomentolor states with a smile.
Margaret enters the salon. "I brought the young lady as requested. And I told her already the basics of what the job will be about. I gave her the guest room on the first floor. She will be back here any moment."