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As Mel explains her story, Alice's eyes go wide. "You're from Brookside? I heard da saying something about bad news from there. I'd never heard of the place before." Then as the story concludes, Alice also grows uncomfortable and uncertain. She wrings her floury apron over and over, also not knowing what to say. Then a middle-aged, slightly plump woman emerges from the kitchen. She pulls Mel into a firm, warm embrace and refuses to let go.
Alice blanches. "The orcs were coming? What happened?"
Alice examines the bow with interest as Mel holds it out but doesn't take it in her hands. She leans forward and looks up and down its considerable length. She whispers in a small voice "It's beautiful..." She pushes a few loose strands of hair out of her face and points at the snowbell. "What's that?"
Mel steps out of the mirror into the basement of the Cozy Badger, followed shortly by David and Perrin. Alice happens to take a peak downstairs a few seconds later and sees her disheveled younger brother. "David!" She hurtles down the stairs and nearly tackles her younger brother, both crying but trying not to.
After a few minutes, Alice chokes a thank you to you and heads upstairs with David.
Basement:
Perrin's finger passes through the mirror's surface as if it were the surface of a pond, creating ripples. But when he tries to remove it, he finds that he can't pull it backward. Alice yelps in alarm and, hiking up her skirts, scampers back up the stairs.
Tavern: Alice comes running up the stairs, breathless. She stammers out "There's something strange going on downstairs with a magic mirror!" keeping her voice low to avoid drawing the customers' attention.
Basement: The mirror doesn't say anything. Alice pipes up "What? The mirror is a portal? What do you mean? And where's David?"
Tavern:
Alice gives Mel a slight, shy smile, not exactly ready to be happy yet but glad to have this woman helping her out. She shouts back "I hear you!" And runs down the kitchen stairs with a couple tankards. Basement: The mirror is a little heavy for Perrin but he successfully lifts it off the wall. He doesn't see any secret passages. Just then, footsteps are heard coming down in the basement. Alice looks at the mirror in suprise "Oh! We've never moved that big thing. It was there when Da bought the place. I had no idea that mirror was back there!" There are enough crates and barrels on either side of the wardrobe that the tight, dark space between it and the wall could go years without drawing attention.
Mel: Alice seems to calm down somewhat now that she has help serving the customers and more people looking for her brother. She begins humming to herself then quietly and hesitantly singing "My mother bids me bind my hair
'Tis sad to think the days are gone,
And while I spin my flaxen thread,
But by the end of the song, her mood has picked up considerably and she sings clearly and audibly, though a worried tear still rolls down her cheek from time to time.
Soon, Alice is able to breathe much more easily. An extra pair of fairly competent hands makes a big difference. Soon, food is getting out to patrons in a timely manner. Alice nods at Mel's and Kazador's words. "Yes! Please find him. He's 10 years old, about this tall, and has a lot of curly brown hair." She thinks for a second then adds a few afterthoughts while pulling bread from the oven. "Blue eyes. Freckles. Small scar on the bridge of his nose."
Alice shakes her head. "There is but Ma keeps it locked. We had a few kids snatch food or knives from the kitchen."
Alice looks at the both of you shyly "I wouldn't want to impose... 'Never bother the guests!' Oh but I don't care if you're bothered. Please help! Last I knew, Pa sent him into the basement to get some pickles. A few minutes later, Pa asked me if I'd seen him."
Alice sobs. "That's the thing. He wasn't supposed to be gone at all. David's never run off like that. He always asks if he can go out."
Alice nods, trying to pull herself together in the kitchen. Choking and hiccuping, she manages to say "Yes. David. Haven't seen him in a couple hours. Man and Da went to look for him. Have me stay here." She looks at the pair of you with tears welling up in her brown eyes. "He'll be ok, right?"
Alice sniffs back a so. "Oh um... Well... A little..." And breaks down sobbing. "It's just not like him! He wouldn't run off without telling Ma or Da!" Patrons throw her disconcerted looks as the girls breaks down in the tavern area of the inn.
As Perrin heads back into the Badger, he sees a frazzled looking Alice working the front. She rushes in and out of the kitchen, serving patrons with a stiff smile plastered on her face. DC 15 Sense motive: She is clearly very worried and stressed.
The young lady comes by your table, seeing Mel taking a drink. "Would you like some more water?" She holds up a tin pitcher helpfully.
Alice waves to a middle-aged man behind the bar slicing hot bread. "Da! These folks want to know about the city. Where they can find things and the like."
Alice turns to Mel and curtsies. "Aye, ma'am. You can call me Alice, if it pleases you. I can help with that. You could go to the Hall and purchase a trade book. Or if you'd like, I can ask my father to give you a general idea of where to find things."
The young lady comes over to your table, smiling brightly. "Is there anything else I can get for you? It seems your doctor friend is sleeping in. My father said that he stayed up late working on who knows what. Weird sounds and all from his room." She looks to Mel and Kazador questioningly "Is that normal for him?"
A young female voice calls from the other side of the door at each room "Breakfast is served downstairs until second bell!" |
