"Oh dear. What happened?"
"She was drinking from this bottle," says Wyam, holding up the bottle he'd found by her side and offering it to Spectrum to see if he could figure out what it was.
Spectrum takes the bottle and raises an eyebrow at how full it is.
"And she had nothing else?"
He sniffs it and pours a few small pools onto a silver mirror. Then he sprinkles some different powders from his leather case onto them to observe their reaction.
"Where did she get this?"
"Wolfsbane. Miss Noro was poisoned. Where did she get this canteen?"
Chaise's brow raises. "That's unusual, but I suppose the sheriff might have had some reason for it."
"Wolfsbane will leave you feeling nauseous and weakened for a few days, but you should be past the worst of it. This should help." Spectrum says handing Noro a packet with the concoction he'd been working on. "Though I'd recommend sticking to water for a while. Even your capable kidneys would be taxed by the mixing of poison and additional liqueur."
"As for the bottle itself, it could have been confiscated from a suspect. It could also be that someone is trying to poison the sheriff. I find it unlikely that if the sheriff himself were planning on poisoning someone, that he would leave the evidence on his desk."
"Perhaps we can find out where the bottle came from."
"It's not important right now. What may be, though, is that I found a book Tsuto had hidden in his sleeve," says Wyam.
Recovering the little black book from where he'd secured it, he offered it to Spectrum.
"I didn't want to open it without knowing if there was some kind of trap or spell on it, but I'd hazard a guess it could be a journal of some kind that may be able to tell us what he's been up to."
"That looks useful," Chaise says, looking at the book with interest. "Good job on being cautious. I'll try to check it for traps first and see if it's magical in nature. Spectrum should do so too."
|
Noro just sits there on the floor hoping to recover her strength. still feeling a bit out of it. letting the others deal with his date book. sure that is important.
yeah don't worry about me, I'll just sit here, I'll be fine she thinks to herself.
Noro make sure she remains out of sight of anyone or anything in a jail cell to prevent the possibility of escape attempts by taking advantage of her condition.
The little book is small, leather-bound, and a journal. It contains more than two-dozen parchment pages split between annotated maps of Sandpoint and crude erotic drawings of a slender female figure with, alternately, wings, huge breasts, two swords, and wings, horns, a forked tail and fangs.
The maps of Sandpoint are annotated with what are quite clearly battle plans. One of the plans is circled, showing an assault by thirty goblins; you recognize it instantly as the attack Sandpoint suffered previously. The next several pages show an assault by over two hundred goblins. None of these plans are circled, and several are scratched out.
The notebook has little writing in it; mostly a few poems about Tsuto's hardship as a child and his complex feelings for Ameiko. There are, however, three short passages of interest.
"A deranged mind to be sure." Spectrum says, reading over Chaise's shoulder. "A number of things are much clearer however. I believe we should look into the identity of this 'Tobyn', and also return to the Glassworks to find the tunnel mentioned."
Noro recognizes the drawings as of Nualia, the deceased daughter of Father Tobyn, the former priest of the town. Both burnt to death in the fire which destroyed the original Sandpoint Cathedral.
"The attack is what worries me. We don't know when they'll strike and we've little defense against it. And we still have little idea behind the motivation for Tsuto calling Ameiko to the factory."
Chaise recognizes Nualia as well.
"Perhaps he will simply tell us. Or if not us, then perhaps his sister."
It was a frusterating few minutes attempting to get Tsuto to speak. Spectrum was the first to abandon trying to speak with him. Instead he sent Glimmer to deliver a message to Array.
Please tell Array to inform Miss Amiko that we have retrieved her brother's journal, but he has decided not to answer any questions. We would appreciate help if she is willing to give it.
A few minutes later a tiny dragon was landing on the roof of the Rusty Dragon, mentally communicating with the other one who was still in Amiko's room.
Spectrum says they found Tsutos journal, but that Tsuto won't tell them anything. He was hoping Amiko might be able to help.
Array didn't even bother lifting his head or opening his eyes. He just sighed, annoyed at the interruption of his nap and said Spectum has your brother's book. Your brother isn't talking.
Ameiko turns to Array and thinks for a few moments before shrugging. "He's not talking? That's not the Tsuto I know; he could never be shut up, and if he tried he never lasted long. After all this... I just don't think I know him any more, and can help. Wish pointy-ears good luck, but... I'm sorry."
"I agree, Spectrum: closing the tunnel should be our first goal. We'll need to find someone to watch this lot, though, before we go," says Spectrum, none-too-gently handling Tsuto back into his cell following the fruitless questioning session.
Chaise raises his hand. "I can watch him for now. I'll probably be up late since I have to write down everything that happened today. We may want to use Tsuto's equipment--some of them are magical and may be valuable in what I suspect to be our coming battles."
Glimmer returns and delivers Amiko's message.
She said she doesn't think she can help. I think she just doesn't want to talk to him.
And she said your ears are pointy.
Spectrum nods and sighs, then raises a sculpted eyebrow at that last bit.
"...I am guessing something is being lost in translation." he said dryly.
"I think we should keep our group together. Another can watch Tsuto. If we are returning to the Glassworks, it may be dangerous."
What do your ears have to do with talking to the bad guy?
"Nothing." Spectrum said with a small shake of his head.
Then why would she... I don't understand.
The little dragon looked around for anyone to explain the situation, not really realizing that they all had much larger issues on their minds.
Chaise nods. "Alright."
Isme on Chaise's shoulder gives a screeching sigh then says something in Varisian.
Chaise just smiles.
Shortly before you all sleep, you hear the sounds of the funeral parade returning from the glassworks, the bodies of the deceased in boxes before they will be dressed and buried.
The night passes and the sun rises. Father Zantus, hearing of Noro's condition, arrives and examines her carefully; pulling out some very old, very dusty scrolls, he reads through them and tries to activate their magic. On the third try, golden light seeps from the pages and Noro feels her strength return.