Chapter 1: Into Haranshire

The corners of Aldeera's mouth turn up slightly, but her expression does not change. "Fair compensation, indeed. I agree to the terms." Frankly, it was more than she expected, having fully anticipated that they would be doing it out of the goodness of their hearts.

The warrior listened carefully and nodded his agreement to help. "I would hope we could find her quickly."

"Looks like we have a new job then. And a new location to try first, this Kuiper's place."

Almadel thinks for a second or two.

"Any other places we should look? Anywhere she's likely to go to gather components? Any other people she's known to visit?"

Although Tauster seems glad to get a positive response, Almadel's question catches him a bit by surprise.

"Visit? Uhm, none that I know of. She's pretty autonomous, really, very strong character. If I'm not teaching her or given her a task, she's doing her own thing. As far as I know, she'd be visiting family in Milborne, then returning here, so that's as much as I can tell you. However, now that I think of it, if you're seeing Squire Marlen to cash in your delivery reward, you might as well let him know about those bandits. He might offer a reward if you take them out, or he might know of any other things in the area that need doing while you're around. So far as my role as your employer goes, since you've agreed to look out for my apprentice, I'll cover your lodging here for tonight but you best be on your way tomorrow."

The warrior nodded his agreement, "Of course, first thing we should be on the road."

He looked at the others in the group, "Perhaps we should see the Squire about the payment when we finish our meal. That will free us to begin our search in the morning."

Hanzel nods; it'd be best to get the payment sorted sooner rather than later.

"Agreed. Bounties for bandits are always a nice addition, but a dangerous pursuit. One would think we'd have seen a sign had the girl come this way, but perhaps we should sleep on it. And get paid before that."

With no rush to keep drinking the night away, you say your goodbyes after Tauster makes arrangements for your lodging and head to sleep. The Hound and Tails is a much more frustrating experience than sleeping at the Baron of Mutton in Milborne was; only shared rooms are available here and the beds aren't exactly cozy. Besides their decrepit frame and suspiciously stained sheets, the beds are also home to many
inquisitive and hungry bugs. Probably beats camping outside while on the move, but only marginally.

28th of Readying (Spring), 576 CY

Breakfast the next morning is an equally hideous affair of cold, fatty mutton pies and ale swillings served by a yawning waitress who clearly had a long shift the night prior. Although things are served to you anyway as part of the lodging, you can't help but recall how the ale tasted last night and Tauster's warning to avoid the pies.

"Did anyone else stay up last night? I had a bunch of thoughts and if I'm honest, I hadn't planned for what I'd do after delivering the box. I'll come with you to Squire Marlen and collect the pay but past that, I think I'd rather stay put for a bit. Besides, who knows, maybe Jelenneth will show up here while you're away, or maybe it'd be a good idea to keep an eye on this Tauster fellow."

"Fair enough," Aldeera says, "And probably a good idea."

"Shall we go and look for Squire Marlen, then?" Hanzel asks. Once they have their coin, they can resupply before heading off, provided they have no other business keeping them in this town.

Devon woke and gathered his things. He'd slept in worst places, but maybe being on the ground in the forest would have been better. He orders something simple and avoids the pies.

"Yes. Let us finish our business here so that we can get to finding the missing girl."

The warrior heads to where they were told they would find Squire Marlen and be able to get their pay for the delivery.

"Aye," agrees the gnome who seemed quite unphased by the conditions of the night. He picks something stringy from his teeth, the origin of which was likely something in one of the meals despite its unknown nature.

It's a short trek to the house of Squire Marlen, easily discernable by the fact that it's the only one with an armed and armored guard standing watch outside its front door.

"Halt there, citizens! State your names and purpose of visitation."

The warrior had been a guard upon occasion, boring work which often went unappreciated. Devon smiled at the guard, "Devon Kane, myself and these others have completed a delivery for the wizard Tauster. He has signed this letter of receipt and we have come to see Squire Marlen about payment, as well as some other inquiries."

The guard leans on his polearm, looking bored but a bit amused by Devon's answer.

"Right, so this must be the part where I ask you to hand over the letter and I'll take it to him cuz he's a busy man you can't just walk up and talk to, then you refuse and say it's important and private and you'll only hand it to him in person and then I send someone to get him. Let's just skip that and save us all the hassle, but the boss is pretty tight about us being all rough and tough, so if he asks you, be sure to tell 'im I gave you a hard time before I let you through, alright?"

The gnome grunts, understanding this game quite well. He does not, however, make any attempt to speak for the group.

Aldeera rolls her eyes, but nods, passing by the guard and into the house proper.

Aldeera finds the door locked, but the guard shouts something about a group here to see Squire Marlen and having the all-clear. Some other voice, perhaps a servant or another guard, says something undiscernible behind the door and then the sound of footsteps. Within a few minutes, there's keys on a lock from the inside and the door opens to reveal an old, rake-thin man with a beak of a nose and beady eyes looking down at the group.

"Right then," the man says with a rather squeaky voice looking at the guard, "who are these lot and why've you let them through?"

"Tauster's employee's, sirrah. Say they have a letter to turn in for their cash payment. Wouldn't hand it over, said they must deliver it to you personally and also discuss something personal."

"Is that so?" Marlen says turning his head to register everyone's face one by one. "Well, tis my duty to handle this payment and I'd love to hear all about you lot, please, do come in, join me in my office."

Umbar enters the place, cognizant of the eyes that land on him for the rarity of being a gnome. He picks a place by a side-wall from where he can observe the whole room.