Twenty-six

He looked up and registered with a bit of amusement that Kai seemed to actually have spent a night in the room he had rented.

"Good morning." Another thought bubbled up. "Ah, before I forget it, Sylvie told me to pass on something." He considered for a moment to make sure he remembered it correctly. "She said that the mage was out of town."

Sebastian-Kai raised both eyebrows at the mention of Sylvie. Damnation. He had worried about missing Sylvie the previous day, but it had completely slipped out of his mind again. "Thank you. And good morning." He glanced at the common room. "I don't suppose those are freshly baked rolls that I'm smelling?"

"Right. Normal bread is less fiddly work baking."

Sebastian-Kai nodded and smiled absentmindedly. "And a wonderful way to start a day. Might I have some, and tea as well, please?"

"The bread needs to cool a bit still before I can cut it; you're early today."

However, tea was already done, so Crow supplied Kai with a cup of it.

"Thank you. I suppose I am, today," he said and smelled the tea, smiling dreamily at it. There were few things that were as pleasant in the morning as warm tea.

Work called, so Crow disappeared into the kitchen.

Sebastian considered for the first time that it might be slightly suspicious that he had rented a room but never stayed the night there. It was of course nobody's business but his own, so he let the thought fade out when he went to take a seat. With a cup of tea in his hand and the rain beating outside, he almost felt relaxed again - almost, since the rain was no longer a thing to be enjoyed.

Somehow, though, he still managed to lean back in his chair and stare at the ceiling absentmindedly. He considered any possible questions he might have and counted the boards.

The thought had crossed Crow's mind, but he did not tend to pry into other peoples' matters. At least a few of the other inhabitants seemed more curious, at least judging from the looks they gave Kai when they came in. Or maybe it was just the usual.

To Sebastian-Kai, at the very least, it felt like the usual looks people gave to strangers that looked even "stranger" than normal. He thought nothing of it and sipped his tea, closed his eyes and waited, listening and collecting his thoughts. There was always a pattern, the half-elf reminded himself, a method to the madness.

Today's breakfast was bread and butter and smoked fish. After taking it to the common room, Crow again disappeared for a while, relying on the guests to sort out things between them.

Sebastian drummed his fingers against the table thoughtfully and made up his mind. He stood up and went to claim some of the fish and the bread for himself, avoiding the butter.

Then, for the moment content with simply the food, he sat back down and ate in silence, occasionally glancing at the other guests as he waited for Crow to reappear again.

As the room filled and most either concentrated on their food or on talk with someone they knew, Kai dropped from their attention. At one table conversation revolved around a two-headed dragon.

Sebastian smiled a hint amusedly at the talk of the dragon, but largely ignored the conversation, instead watching the kitchen door intently. He had enough time to finish his tea before Mr. Crow returned to the common room, and when the proprietor did so, Sebastian stood up and approached him.

"The fish is wonderful," he said as an opener, helping himself to some more. "Do you have a moment?"

Crow raised an eyebrow and smiled wryly. "For what, fish?"

Sebastian chuckled. "No, although if you did use something special for the fish, I'm interested." A pause. Then, more quietly, "I was just wondering about my room."

"About what?" Crow suspected more trouble of some kind, be it asking for a refund because Kai didn't use it much.

"Oh, that one particular thing," Sebastian-Kai said with a smile he hoped was as disarming as it could be. "Who was staying there before me?"

"Why do you ask?" Crow shot right back, not charmed in the least.

Sebastian-Kai tilted his head, internally frustrated but not showing it the least. "Maybe we should go to my room to talk."

Crow looked around and since others took their time, or even arrived just now, said, "Well, if it doesn't take too long, we can get it over with now."

"It won't," Sebastian promised and led the way.

Once upstairs and inside the room, the half-elf walked to pick up the lantern left by the would-be burglar. Without wasting any of Crow's precious time, he launched into an explanation. "Last night, when I came back, there was a woman in my room, with a lantern. She'd come through the window, again."

The immediate answer was another curse. Crow shook his head. "And you think it's about the room rather than you?"

"I'm not entirely certain, but I would guess so."

Crow narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms, considering. Passing oninformation about tenants went agaisnt his principles, but in this case, maybe it would be justified, or even necessary.

"Hm, did you get a good enough look at the intruder so you can describe her?"

Oh dear, Sebastian thought, then - perhaps instinctively - just... partially guessed as if he had never hesitated at all.

"Shorter than me --" at least that wasn't a guess "-- thin as a reed. Dark hair, not exactly sure if it was wavy or curly... pale. I couldn't see much more in the dark."


Crow sighed. "That'd indeed fit the last one who lived here. A couple more people, too, but that'd be a bit much of a coincidence. Name of Kirrya. I had to lock her out because she couldn't pay rent anymore." He paused a moment to think. "She was a bit funny when it came to that, but why would she break in? You said she went through your belongings the first time."

Sebastian-Kai made a note to be very nice to Auker (and so indirectly the Lady Luck) and nodded, then squinted as if trying to remember something.

He picked his path and, quite smoothly, sank into his usual trickster persona. "She looked to be carrying something when she left... the lantern was on the floor right next to the bed, as was a tiny puddle I cleaned up." Almost as if as an afterthought, he glanced at the bed and crouched next to it. "It looks like one of the floorboards is loose."

"Would you mind making sure it can be lifted and has empty space under it? Just, you know, to be sure." Crow rubbed his face, weary of all this nonsense.

"Looks like it," Sebastian-Kai said after a moment, not the least concerned that the proprietor seemed to be having a hard time. He had bigger worries, and just sighed when he stood up again. "Hopefully that's the last of her, then."

"You'd be willing to let it lie?" Crow was in two minds on that issue: break-ins should definitely not get unpunished, but if Kirrya was persecuted, there was no chance of keeping things quiet. And if break-ins in House Crow did not become the talk of town, there'd be no real harm done.

Sebastian-Kai raised an eyebrow. "The only thing I've lost is some of the tea that got wet during the first break-in... are you -- oh, it's not my business." He practically muttered the last few words, waving it off with a hand although he had - quite frankly - expected something like this. Despite his earlier unconcern, he felt a little bad for Mister Crow. "If you can give me some tea to replace what I lost, certainly."

"Assuming you'd take a reasonable amount from our stock, and remain as discreet as you seem to have been, I think we have a deal.
Having someone check the facade and renovate it so it's not as easy to climb up as it seems now will be expensive enough."

He nodded and rubbed his eyes. "All right. That works." He doubted, however, that anyone would be checking the facade until it stopped raining.

Sebastian sighed.

Crow echoed the sigh and shook his head as he left. What an odd week that was.

Sister Auker was extremely unhappy with the weather. What freak weather it was. It was just the kind that would follow a certain emerald-eyed grey scoundrel. She barked a short laugh and mopped the floor, thoroughly sick of doing so multiple times during the day. She liked it clean.

Just when she was finished, one of her sources of misery walked in. She greeted him with language unsuitable for a lady of her position.

"I'm sorry," he said, taking the mop from her before she could do anything painful with it. "I won't be staying long, sister."

"Well, that there's a real relief," huffed Auker. "But what do you want?"

Sebastian considered his options for a moment. "The Old Lady has told me something alarming. I want you to understand that this is internal business."

Internal business, thought Auker. As if she had someone to whom she could tell rumours. "And that is?"

"The rain's not natural."

"What?"

"Just what I said. The clouds aren't moving, but they're gathering and piling up, and so the rain keeps falling and falling. The flooding's started already and I wouldn't be surprised if the wells are going to go bad soon." Not that it was exactly difficult to get fresh water. He stopped talking as that thought struck him, watching Auker's reaction.

She took it surprisingly well. "All right. The Old Lady. That's fine: just don't forget your Young Lady." Auker smirked. "What? Why the odd look?"

Sebastian muttered something and waved it off. He put the mop against the door. "Let's not talk about it, sister. I have work to do, and I need to know what you know to do it."

"I don't have a clue," Auker said. "Especially not about you."

Sebastian chuckled. "I need to know a few things about the local churches. Does Canyet have other nature cult shrines, churches or temples here?"

"Sorry, only outside. And not too many, really. Two, and the Old Lady's the other one. The Grain Maid gets her worship on the fields --" Sebastian didn't ask "-- or the cairns built between fields."

"That won't do much good at all," he mumbled. "What about the criminal gods?"

"Beats me. They don't hassle us."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously," Auker repeated a little annoyedly and motioned the half-elf to follow her to the kitchen. "Why would they?"

"Never mind," Sebastian said. "Do you know anything about them?"

Auker laughed and didn't answer until she was sat in front of the fire. "You're not the only thief to worship Fortuna," she said, turning to see if her jibe hurt him the slightest bit. Unfortunately for her Sebastian knew he was a thief and would have admitted it as well, although he would also have pointed out a few key differences between him and the common cutthroat. "That's to say we have a bit of competition between the local thiefly god, Smiling Jack, but it's not a crusade for goodness sakes."

Sebastian snorted. "Fine. I don't suppose you'd know where I could find Smiling Jack's kin then?"

"I'd try the neighbour," Auker said. "I don't see what this has to do with the weather of course."

The gambling lair. Of course. "Thank you. Then my other question. Do you know the mages in this town?"

"I know Brannig. The three other mages are petty old men or young dabblers. Maybe aside from Montmore. Handsome young man. Very charming. He's interested in good literature and ghosts more than anything."

"He sounds like a dabbler," Sebastian snorted.

"Anything but," Auker said a little quietly, then shook her head. "Brannig's more of an all-rounder. Middle-aged. The brand of mage who doesn't like stereotypes too much. He's a huge guy. Not much to look at, aside from, haha, maybe his build."

Sebastian stared at Auker for a while, disturbed by the things she paid attention to, the tones she used. Certainly the Lady Luck's worshippers were opportunists, revelers and many other things, but Auker had refined it to a sophisticated, almost intelligent form of - well - implied debauchery that shamed giggling young noblewomen planning their dalliances with Lord so-and-so.

He was, in fact, impressed.

"Well," the Hat said, "maybe... ah. Oh. Yes. One of them's out of town, at least."

"Sounds more like Brannig to me," Auker said. "I can't see Montmore leaving in weather like this, but Brannig, yeah."

"I wish I'd have asked my --" for a split second he tried to find the right word, then settled on the most obvious one "-- friend exactly who it was she was meeting, then."

"Friend, uh? Her name start with an S?" Auker joked, earning another look from Sebastian. "Kidding. Like the first time," she said glumly.

Well. That explains a few things. "It does, actually, but that's a different matter... are you certain Montmore wouldn't know?" But even so, he thought there might have been use for Montmore as well.

"Fochs, I'm not sure about anything when it comes to those know-nothing refined magelings. And not Montmore or Brannig either. Sorry."

Sebastian sighed. "Thank you, sister."

"Don't mention it. Fortuna hasn't told me anything, by the way. Aside from who you are. Big surprise there."

"How did that happen, anyway? I thought you figured it out when we first met."

"Oh, no. I didn't. Until that red-haired lady, what's her name... until I had some foreigner come over and ask a few questions about the faith."

Sebastian grinned at the fire. "That would have been my friend Sylvie, then."

"Sylvie? Yeah. That's her name." Pause. "So... friend?"

"As close to one as I can have I suppose," the Hat said and watched the fire, ignoring Auker (or at least her unwelcome curiosity).

Auker left to tend to the shrine when she heard the front door open and close again, and so Sebastian found himself enjoying the silence and the warmth, thinking about these tiny little circles that pervaded his life. Everything was always connected in the end. It was quite maddening, as a matter of fact.

It occurred to him, also, that if Brannig was gone and Montmore wasn't likely to have a clue about the weather, there was only one person he could turn to. She could also tell him whether or not it was Brannig who had left town or not. Those little circles... Maybe he didn't mind this one, he thought with a faint smile.

The morning at Old Ivy was somewhat hectic for an entirely differen treason: The racket and chaos that one single pigeon-sized dragon thoroughly fed up with being locked indoors was astounding.

"If the stupid thing wants to fly around, it should do so outside." Gemma glared at Ayu-Asra, who for the moment sat atop a shelf in the kitchen and cawed.

"He would, if not for the rain." Sylvie looked out of the window. The rain was too heavy for the small dragon. A big room would help, but where do you get one? Hm... "Say, I've seen some tarpaulins in the back storage... Would any of those be big enough to cover the inner yard?"

Gemma hesitated a moment before she followed the idea. "I don't think so, but with two it should work." Shaking her head, she added, "so much work for the little pest."

"Sorry. I can't keep him quiet."

Riya was recruited to help. Though Riya didn't have very much love for the lizard, she was nonetheless happy to help - or maybe it was just to get the lizard out of the house. She didn't really like to think about what all Ayu-Asra did inside Old Ivy. She didn't like the rain too much either, but it was better than the scaly little creature that was as likely to nibble as he was to beg for food or scratchies.

She was happy however that it was her holding the tarpaulins and Sylvie tying the knots. But it was still wet and cold. "The things you do for pets, huh?" she asked in as loud a voice as she thought she would need.

Sylvie hmph-d in reply. "Unfortunately I don't have the heart to just cut his heads off since I got used to him." Ayu-Asra watched them, sitting on a windowsill, swishing his tails to and fro.

Riya giggled. "An answer after my own heart!" She shot the dragon a brief look. "Too bad he doesn't seem to get the message."

Sylvie made a noncomittal noise and pulled the knot taut. "To be honest, the prospect of a relatively dry place at least sort-of outside does seem appealing to me, too."

"Um, yeah," Riya said and looked around a little sadly. She missed the sunshine now. "I guess me too. I bet Fren's somewhere dry and warm," she said, imagining her brother laughing at her wet misfortune. "Boy, he'd have hated this even more than I do."

"He's not an outdoors person?"

"He is. That's exactly the problem. He'd have hated to be stuck inside with mother all day... er, all week at this pace."

"Right, it was a stupid question. He wouldn't have gone to sea otherwise." On to the next anchoring point.

Riya made a sound in response and was quiet until Sylvie was tying the next knot. "I still don't know how or when he decided to go to sea, actually. He never told a thing until he had everything planned and ready."

"But at that point he did?"

Riya inhaled through her teeth. "Yes. Sure, mother didn't like the trick very much - and it was a bit rude, really -, but Fren was always like that. Just a bit stupid, starryeyed."

"So, is my memory playing tricks on me? I thought you mentioned you wanted to..."

Sigh. "I want to. I know it's not that simple. I really, really, really want out of this town. But I aim to come back, too. Fren, bah, Fren only sees one goal at a time, in no big pictures."

Sylvie gave a dry little chuckle. Did that remind her of someone? Hmmmyes, maybe.

"And what options did you consider?"

"Nothing serious," she said dryly. "Mainly sarcastic ideas such as cooking for a ship or becoming some sort of missionary. Not at all serious."

Sylvie finished the knot and looked at Riya before moving on. "If you say so."

"I thought that was my line," Riya said, voice full of dark humour.

There was a pause filled with the sounds of rain and the clucking of a dragon, before Sylvie andwered, "If you say so."

Riya groaned and rolled her eyes. "You're impossible." Then: "Expeditions, maybe." Maybe that was a bit too starryeyed, too.

Sylvie considered while continuing the work.

"What kind of expeditions?"

"Oh. I don't know. I wouldn't scoff at even establishing new trading routes, but... I think I share a bit of Fren's obsession. Not the sea, but the shore. Hah, I don't know."

"I'd like to help you there, but I'm not familiar with the coasts in... Well, I mean I don't even know where expeditions usually start."

"The kind of expeditions I'm thinking of get funding from academies or universities. Sometimes from governments." Riya paused. Oh, all right. "I wasn't... well. I've thought about studying cartography somewhere and becoming so good, they'd want me to map something. The coasts, preferrably." Why did she feel like Sylvie was going to be amused somehow?

"Difficult, but the direction sounds good to me." She turned to walk under the eaves around the yard to take care of the other side.

"Where there's a will, there's a way. If a simpleton like Fren can make it work, so can I," said Riya, almost stumbling as she followed Sylvie. "Besides! Mael's going to inherit the shop anyway..."

"Well, that's one problem less."

"Yeah," Riya said quietly, surprised by how much another person's approval (of some kind) meant. She rarely thought of those things.

This side was harder work, since they had to keep the tarpaulin up in the rain already. After finishsing the first know, Sylvie asked, "And what do your parents think of your plans?"

Riya laughed and then took a few deep breaths. "I've only told them that I'd maybe want to study. Whether or not I can afford it..."

Sylvie hummed thoughtfully and twitched as the dragon took off to the other side of the yard. While he made hesitantly happy noises, the humans fell silent and kept working.

While they were working on the second tarpaulin, it became clear that the water would pool behind the gate that led out on the street, the way it would be channelled, so they'd have to leave it open, at least for a while.

When they were working On the last knots, a carriage stopped in front of the house, bringing a visitor who had noticed them working. Instead of entering the shop, Ludovic stepped through the gate, keeping to the side to avoid the rivulet near the middle of the passage.

"Good morning, ladies." He paused a moment in surprise. Ayu-Asra, hidden in the ivy at the left of the yard, watched silently as they returned the greeting with little enthusiasm.

Riya was actually slightly surprised to see him, but made no comment toward that. "Have you come to talk to father?" she said as politely as she could with her hands full and the weather draining her good mood.

"No, I'm on the way to a different business partner, but wondered... Sylvie?" His voice was low and soft as the pattering rain would allow.

"Yes?" She did not look up from the knot she was tying, and kept her voice neutral.

"I wondered if you had time for a second... meeting. You seemed upset, but I'm sure with another chance...?" He made quite the impression of shy and insecure suitor. He had practised it.

Sylvie took a deep breath and looked at him directly. "Quite apart from the fact that I have work to do, I have no interest in private meetings with you, and I would consider it dishonest to agree to one."

Ludovic twitched, and for a moment anger was plain on his face, but he masked it again. Somewhat more coolly, with a decent attempt at gentle mockery, he said, "Work like playing here in the mud? The world holds much better things for you, you just have to take the opportunity."

His offered hand earned him nothing but a cold look. "I prefer mud, thank you." Giving him a bright smile, she added, "Was there anything else?"

He stared at her and shook slowly his head in disbelief, not even registering the question.

"Good. Goodbye." She started working on the last knot.

He shrugged and said, "Well, it's your life you're ruining. Goodbye." He nodded at Riya and turned to leave before his anger could get the better of him. This was still the house of a business partner, after all.

A man in a raincloak had appeared by the gate at that moment and stopped to watch the tarpaulin operation with eyes that seemed much too bright in the light of the rain-darkened day, reflecting the light. Sebastian blinked a few times as he turned to look from the tarpaulin to the people present - especially Ludovic earned a look that was more curious than perplexed. He didn't ask, opting instead to make his way to the tarpaulin, plotting his course past Ludovic.

Ludovic was to absorbed in his own thoughts to even notice him.

"Hello, Old Ivy," Sebastian said as he took his first unhurried step. "Trying to keep the water from doing something unwanted to the house?"

Sylvie recognised the voice. "Nearly. Trying to keep a dragon from doing something unwanted to the house," she answered. "Hello Kai."

Ludovic slowed down and looked at the figure in the dim light with a hint of suspicion.

Kai raised an eyebrow at Ludovic and smiled placidly. He finished pulling the hood down. "I think I understand. Hello Sylvie, Riya." To Ludovic, he only said: "Sir."

Ludovic answered Kai's greeting with a curt nod and left. He'd have to consider things.

"Hey," said Riya, smiling broadly. She had been expecting to see something entertaining, whereas Kai kept a largely noncommital expression and paid more attention to the tarpaulin.

"Not a bad idea, actually. You could almost watch the lightning flashes in peace from under this."

"Uh, lightning flashes?" Riya asked.

"Right until a lightning flash sets them on fire, I guess," Sylvie answered, smiling.

Since by now they were all friends there, Ayu-Asra came out of his hiding spot and flew around the yard. It was not so big it would not make him dizzy if he kept that up to long, but it was better.

Kai grinned. "That's right," he said, watching Ayu-Asra, trying to imagine what the dragon felt like. "Alternatively I suppose they could collapse."

Riya looked at them both bemusedly.

"If I were in the habit of betting, I'd put my money on Ayu-Ara tearing them down." She looked from Kai to the dragon to the stream of water pouring down from the makeshift roof and continued more seriously. "We need a bucket or a vat or so to slow that down, or it'll wash a hole into the ground.

"So, how are you doing?" Sylvie asked. Ayu-Asra landed on her right shoulder and in one fluid movement pulled himself behind her head. Looking over her left shoulder, he cooed at Kai.

Sebastian nodded and watched Riya walk off. "I'm all right," he said, but smiled easily. He waved absentmindedly at the dragon and moved his single small, guilty braid behind his ear. "I'm worrying, though," he continued, certain Riya couldn't hear them anymore at that stage.

"What's the matter?" Sylvie made a small step in Kai's direction and gave him her full attention. Not knowing at all what to expect made her a bit wary.

He began to say something - and hesitated. For a moment he thought darkly of how crazy the situation was. He was supposed to be at this particular moment both "Kai" and... well, the man from the stories. And then there was one thing - would she believe him? His life was so strange that he sometimes forgot how hard it was to believe in extraordinary things.

"I don't understand it myself. After you dropped by yesterday, the Lady Land's boys and girls gave me a proper talking to. According to the Lady, this --" he made a sweeping gesture around the yard "-- is not natural. The clouds don't move, and she wants me to do something about it." And has wanted that for as long as there has been rain, and you were asleep at the helm.

Kai sighed and rubbed his face. A week of erratic sleep was finally getting to him along with the sudden buzz of stress... that on the other hand made him focus so much, much better, too. "They don't move, but they gather, and this isn't just around here," he continue softly, just barely loud enough to be heard in the rain. "It's the entire damn area."

Sylvie stared at him for a few moments. That came a bit out of the blue, only it didn't.

"I guess you're certain there's no misunderstanding or some kind of joke going on on some level, right?"

Sebastian smiled weakly. "I'm certain. She doesn't make jokes. The local church is angry and scared at the same time. I'm... well, actually, I wanted to say I'm surprised. I'm mainly annoyed."

"Annoyed?" Sylvie repeated incredulously. It seemed like an oddly mild reaction.

"Compared to the church, who are practically bloodthirsty - now. I'm saving my anger for when I find out who's done this," he said with a tiny, tiny edge to his voice that he couldn't hide. "Or at least I plan to do so."

"So you're going to keep it secret, rather than turning to any kind of authorities?" It was meant as a neutral question; Sylvie didn't even know where to turn with an issue like that, here.

"Would the authorities listen to a man that looks like me - a complete and utter foreigner?" He chuckled and added a little dryly: "Besides, I was just made the authority on behalf of the Old Lady."

Sylvie shrugged. She wouldn't pretend to understand his gods.

"And apart from that a good reason not to tell everyone is - what? If it's deliberate, whoever is behind it would hole up with great care?"

He smiled. "That's likely only if they'd get scared of the ruckus. Picture this, though, like a townsperson or farmer would. After half a week of rain, some strange-looking stranger starts touring temples and taverns, saying that the weather is... what? Magical? Whose magic?"

Sylvie nodded in direction of the kitchen, which Ayu-Asra took as a signal to take off and stretch his wings a bit more. "Some people are more open-minded, and are locals to whom other locals might listen." After a hissing sigh she added, "But 'whose magic' is the problem right there, isn't it? There are very few people who know about magic in this city, but can you ask them for any information before knowing they are not causing this?"

Kai relaxed, happy to have someone to talk to about the problem with the rain. "That seems to be the problem, actually. Auker told me about the mages in the city, and she felt that there was one among them that might have some idea. I was supposed to ask you if it's the same person you tried to meet, incidentally. His name is Brannig."

He blinked and looked over his shoulder at the gates. Wait a moment.

"No, I don't..." She paused and reconsidered. "The lady who told me he's out of town called him 'Bran', so unless it's two mages with very similar names, that'd be him."

Sebastian nodded and stared at the gates. He had wondered why the carriage had looked familiar. The half-elf didn't have a good facial memory and thus hadn't been certain about the small man, but now... "All right," he said thoughtfully and shrugged. "That man..."

"Brannig?" Sylvie started wondering when Riya would be back.

No, the man who was just here." But there was a connection to Brannig there, too. He remembered the face now. "He was being quite loud in the theatre during a play. But Brannig was mentioned by this man's... I think associate."

"His name's Ludovic, and he's the eldest son of a family of rich traders from Hilyet." She rubbed her forehead. "Let me think a moment what that was about Bran... She said he left yesterday, that would be the day before yesterday now, so after the rain settled in, and that he'd be gone more than a week. What for? Something about ghosts I think."

"His name's Ludovic, and he's the eldest son of a family of rich traders from Hilyet." She rubbed her forehead. "Let me think a moment what that was about Bran... She said he left yesterday, that would be the day before yesterday now, so after the rain settled in, and that he'd be gone more than a week. What for? Something about ghosts I think."

Ludovic. Rich trader. "Ghosts?"

Just at that moment Riya poked her head out the door and shot a look of accusation at them. "It's quite a bit dryer inside, you know!" she called over from the door.

Kai grinned. "I don't believe you!" he called back.

Sylvie smiled at Riya over her shoulder before turning back to Kai and whispering, "So, you're the authority, you said - keep it from them or not?"

"Who do you mean by them?" he asked just as quietly, head tilted to one side as he watched her.

"The family here. We need help from someone who's familiar with the people in this city."

Kai looked like his mind had skipped the past few seconds. He realised what he had done, right there. "There's Auker and the lad she has working for her. The fewer who know, the better," the half-elf said thoughtfully. That she believed him and was - apparently - willing to help puzzled him momentarily.

"We... you want to help?" he then asked, looking at her curiously. He was so used to doing these things alone that the thought seemed... unconventional (a word he rarely used).

She answered with a short-lived 'are you stupid?' look. "I'm not sure how much I can help, but, yes, or course. Do you think I could just sit back, worry, and not at least try to help?"

"I didn't think about it one way or the other," he said, meeting the look with a smile and a look that both suggested that he certainly felt stupid. "But I see what you mean, though. Sorry for the dumb question."

Sylvie looked at the kitchen door, wondering when Riya would be back. "Sorry for wasting time snapping."

"I'm not sure if I would be more of a help or a hindrance, but if you don't find any local mage you can trust, I might be the only help you can when it comes to dealing with magic." If her abilities would suffice was an entirely different question.

"I probably deserved it," he muttered, then assailed the rest of what she had to say. (Thinking about it, yes, he did deserve it.) "I'm thankful for any help you can give, really. But we'll --"

Just then, like clockwork, the door opened and Riya poked her head out, bucket in hand, looking at them with askance.

It took Sylvie a moment to remember what had been going on before Kai had started explaining. Then she thanked Riya, smiling, and placed the bucket so the water streaming from the tarpaulin got collected before it overflowed.

"Don't be too late," Riya said in as Gemma-like a tone as she could muster, then retreated with a snicker. Kai raised an eyebrow at the closed door.

"Charming," he said with mild amusement.

"She might mean that tea's waiting. You were saying?"

Kai smiled. "I thought she did, too. I was saying that we'll have to talk more about it later."

"When and where?" I'm afraid I'll have to work with Garren for some hours at least."

"I'm going to go talk to Montmore after this - if I can find him," Sebastian said with a frown, starting to make his way toward the door. "As to where, well, House Crow seems the best option. When do you suppose you'll be done?"

"It's more a question of how long I can keep on working without getting too distracted. Late, no, mid afternoon." She didn't like letting responsibilities slide like that, but Garren had said he could do without her help, and there were priorities... But if she didn't think she could just walk out, not being able to explain the reason.

"All right. Mid afternoon," he said and placed his hand on the door handle. Kai nodded just once, then pulled the door open.

"Was there a leak in the tarpaulin?" Riya, the only person in the kitchen, asked Sylvie and Kai as she poured tea into the three cups on the table. She had conjured up cookies from somewhere and had put them on a plate in the middle of the table.

"Not yet," Sylvie answered lightly. She sat down and wrapped her fingers around a cup to warm them. "Where's Mael? Didn't you say he'd be here?"

Kai hung his cloak and tilted his head at the new name, watching the table momentarily before taking his seat by the vacant cup. He watched Riya attentively as she grinned and said: "Loga happened. All she has to do is ask and he'll do it... I think I've trained him well."

Kai looked slightly amused and then turned a look at Sylvie, happy to just listen.

She grinned back, but couldn't think of anything else to say.

So Riya continued instead. "Yes, they needed a hand with patching the roof. I bet that's wonderful work."

"Oh, yes, it is, especially if you're patching it in this weather," said Kai and smelled the tea. It was indeed the one he had hoped it was.

"You've patched roofs before?"

"Among other things. I'm not a city boy."

"So I remember. So what brings you here?"

Kai chuckled. "I needed a little advice from Sylvie. That and just visiting by itself. I like good conversations."

"I'd bet the weather comes up even more often than usual lately," Sylvie said without thinking.

"Constantly," Riya said. "No reason not to. Pretty much the opposite, actually."

"And why not. I bet there are many farmers cursing it already. I think the theatre might be relieved, though. I'm uncertain if there'll be tomatoes after this," Kai said and smelled his tea again.


"Don't they make extra money by selling them to the audience anymore?"

Kai raised both eyebrows and grinned at Sylvie. "I hadn't thought of that. I should go ask."

"Ask them about the ceremonial armour too while you're at it?" Riya asked innocently.

Sylvie now felt a little guilty she'd brought that up when talking to Riya. She watched Kai's reaction, taking a sip of tea.

He smiled. "Maybe I will, then. Maybe they can tell me how hard it is to get dry tomato juice off the armour, too."


"Paint it red and it's not so big a problem, I guess." Sylvie looked out of the window. No rain to see now, but occasionally a dragon flying by.

Kai smiled and tasted the tea. "So how have things been here then?"

"Nothing to complain about. The house is keeping itself together, Sylvie and father barely hear when they're called down for dinner..."

"The more concentrated we work, the sooner we'll be finished." She smiled, but again sounded tired, or distracted.

Kai looked at Sylvie as if slightly worried, but nodded anyway. It sounded reasonable. Hells, if she liked it... why not? But that made him feel a little guilty, on the other hand. Still...

"You should really at least take longer breaks by the sound of you," Riya said in a motherly fashion - something else she had picked up from Gemma. "Too much work is not good."

"Are you talking about work even when you're taking a break, or are my ears deceiving me?" Garren appeared in the door and took in the little scene.

Sylvie met his smile with a sheepish one and shrugged, and he came in and turned to the not so regular guest.

"And you are Kai, yes?"

The silvermaned foreigner nodded and smiled, while Riya got up to fetch another cup. "I am, sir," he said, glancing at Sylvie momentarily. "And you're Garren, the master of the house."


"Yes to the first; the second is debatable, I think." He shook Kai's hand and sat down.

"Mother keeps a tight watch," Riya said deadpan and set a cup in front of her father.

Kai grinned, evaluating the man's handshake as he spoke. He found that he rather liked the man already. "Tight watch or no, I'd like to say thank you for the hospitality. It's been first class."

Garren looked surprised. "So you have not been told yet I spend most of my time cooped up?" He smiled for a moment and continued more seriously, "You're welcome, I'm sure."

Kai nodded, returning the smile. Yes, he did indeed think he would like this one.

Riya poured Garren some tea before taking a seat and her own cup of tea. "Well," she said, "you said it. Not me."

Kai glanced at Sylvie, still smiling.

She was slowly relaxing. Just switching off worries for a while to instead chat was not as easy for her as it seemed to be for Kai.

Garren thanked Riya and said, "I think when I picked up the habit my reasoning was that the sooner work was finished, the more time I had for other things. Somehow 'other things' turned into 'other work'. Luckily I have people watching out for me." He nodded in Riya's direction, but he looked at Sylvie.

Sylvie chuckled, slightly embarrassed realising that that first reasoning of his matched a not quite realised idea she'd been following the last few days.

Riya didn't have words. She smiled happily instead, respecting some invisible border or unspoken treaty she had with her father.

A smile also made a stay on Kai's face, wan and mellow. For a moment he wondered if it was all right to say anything to that - a wonder that in itself caused him to question if there was something wrong with him. The internal conflict smoothed itself swiftly. "It seems to me like it's going all right."

"Quite so."

"Mm. How is the work coming along, anyway?" he asked, looking at both Garren and Sylvie.

"We might finish the rough work the day after tomorrow," Sylvie said, looking questioningly at Garren, who was tasting the tea.

He nodded slowly. "Mind, if you do want to get over with it, you could just go through the rest of the notes and check if there's anything you'd like to add for my benefit, and leave the comparisons to me." Since Sylvie hesitated, he added, "I think I'm familiar enough with your style for that to work by now."

She sighed. "Well, yes, if you're sure." Realising how ungrateful she sounded, she blushed. "I mean, yes, there is something else want to look into, I just don't want to appear I'm running from a job."

Riya's answer to that was to look amused. "What. Do you think we don't know you well enough to know what that meant? Come on," she chuckled, noting that Kai was following the conversation with a faraway expression.

After a sigh she answered, "I might forget my own head next."

"You could borrow one from Ayu-Asra if you do," Kai suggested innocently.

"He needs both of them." Sylvie frowned. "I was going to say it'd look ridiculous, too, but I'm not sure it'd be worse than running around without a head."

"I'd say equally bad. At least in the latter case it would be hard to find out if people would prefer a dragon's head, though."

Staring off into the distance and looking far from happy, Sylvie said, "That would be, well, awkward."

"A bit more than that," said Riya.

Kai was likewise staring at nothing as he sipped his tea.

Then Riya slowly looked at her father, then Sylvie. "So did you want to do that or something?" she asked, looking at Kai - who met her look with one of his own that seemed to say 'what are you looking at me for?'.

Sylvie blinked at her owlishly. "What?"

"Um. I didn't understand if you're going to be working or going through the notes, I mean."


"Speed things up a bit, yes." She noticed her cup was nearly empty by now.

Kai peeled off his fingerless gloves and tried to warm his hands more with the half-full cup of tea.

"More tea, Sylvie?" Riya asked, sipping her own.

She just shook her head. and rested her elbows on the table.

Garren raised an eyebrow, and after a moment's consideration said, "Say, Kai, do you get asked how you fare in our city so often you're tired of it?"

Kai, directing a bright green look at Garren, grinned, appreciating the way the question was formed. "I don't believe I do. I've only heard it thrice during the past five days, and that's not too many by my reasoning. To tell you how, though - all right. I was recommended a good place to stay and so far it's been extremely peaceful and friendly."

"That's good to hear."

Kai nodded. "There's of course the unmentionable," he pointed a thumb at the window, "hindering outdoor activities, but I think I had enough of that on the way here."

Garren grinned, seeing Ayu-Asra landing in the window just then, but didn't comment on that.

"It will be over soon, I'm sure. Rain can't last forever."

"True," Kai said thoughtfully, turning to stare at Ayu-Asra as well. The half-elf waved at the dragon, then made a connection between the window and another window. "Say, one thing," he said and sank his hand into his pocket. Very soon, he was holding a small pouch from which he pulled the tin he had found.

He set it on the table and opened it, watching for the reactions of everyone else by the table as he carefully pulled out the glass item. "Could any of you tell me what this is? I've never seen something like this, and I wondered if it's something native to this country or city."

"Doesn't seem familiar." Garren carefully picked it up and had a closer look, but eventually shook his head and set the thing on the table.

Meanwhile Ayu-Asra had leaped over onto the table and snatched two cookies. Sylvie pulled him off in time for the tabletop to be clear and glass-items in no immediate danger of getting knocked over.

"Can't say I've seen that either," Riya said, feeling the item's surface with a fingertip - and trying to ignore Ayu-Asra.

"All right. Thanks," Kai said, drumming his fingertips against the table. His gaze fell upon Ayu-Asra. "Hello."

The dragon's left head gave the half-elf a quick look, nudged its perpetual companion, and off the whole critter was out of sight under the bench.

"He's even weirder than usual after being stuck indoors for days," Sylvie said by way of apology. And then, "Is that glass or crystal?"

"Mm, well, that's pets for you," he said, then looked at Sylvie. "I'm not at all certain."

Garren commented, "If glass, it's a precious kind; it seemed rather heavy."

Sylvie took the bauble for a closer look. It was nearly force of habit that made her supplement that look a touch of magic. As soon as her mind's fingers reached for the object, her real hands twitched and nearly dropped it. She shook her head in surprise, mumbled a "sorry" and tried again, better prepared. After just a few moments, she gave up, fingers itching and a buzz that wanted to become a headache at the back of her skull.

"It's lead glass." She hesitated a moment, but since she hadn't kept her magic entirely secret fromt he Old Ivy family went on, "It's enchanted, but I would need some time to figure out more." Swallowing curiosity and a bit of pride, she added, "I'm not familiar with that kind of enchantment, so a local mage could probably work way more quickly," and handed the thing to Kai.

Kai looked surprised, having sat completely still and consumed by his curiosity. "Thank you," he said softly, looking at the item for a while before putting it away - now with caution. He liked to deal with magic as little as possible, because knowing his luck (sigh), there was usually something very wrong. It was also why he was frustrated by the Lady Land's hints. It just couldn't be good, and he was walking straight into its path.

"Maybe I should," he said. "Any idea where I could find one?"


Garren answered, "Closest is Brannig, near Wellgate -"

"Only he's out of town for a while," Sylvie interrupted.

He continued barely missing a beat, "Vannar on New East Road, or Montmore, At the Loft. I don't know who'd be the better choice... Vannar is more experience and thus has broader knowledge, but I seem to remember him being poor of health?" He looked at Riya, figuring she might pay more attention to gossip.

Riya looked back. "That's right. Poor guy. They say it's because someone in his family died." She'd heard so many versions of who it was that she didn't even try to find out who it really was. "And it's not like he's really very young anymore."

Kai looked from one person to another as they spoke, finally sighing in sympathy. "Thanks. I'll go see Montmore then," he said.

Garren explained where he could find Montmore - inside near the west portion of the second city wall, and they were outside the east of it.

Sylvie got lost in her own thoughts. The enchantment on that glass thing had been more densely crammed than anything she was familiar with; getting through that cocoon to find out what it actually did would take her quite a lot of time. She wondered if that was normal for artifacts here when Garren told Kai, "Hopefully that didn't come across as a hint you should leave."

Riya kept her face blank. She had a decent relationship with her father, but sometimes she felt a little awkward. Like now.

Unlike her, Kai seemed to enjoy the words, smiled and went around the question with a faint shake of his head. He wasn't going to overstay his welcome, of course. "Not at all. Don't let me keep you from your work, of course," the half-elf said in return, trying to hint that he wouldn't mind being told he had overstayed his welcome. It wasn't anything new anyway, he mused and emptied his cup of tea.

They chatted about this and that for a while. Kai found himself asking Garren about his work and relating his story of his faiths again. Riya sat quietly throughout the conversation, collecting empty dishes.

Finally, Kai pulled his gloves on and flashed a smile. "Thank you again for the hospitality. I ought to go and give you a chance to work in peace."

"And we should not keep you from your business, I guess." Garren and Sylvie bade him goodbye in the corridor where he'd left the coat, Sylvie adding, "See you later, then." Garren was already walking up the stairs.

Kai raised a hand and waved, watching them go a little sadly. He had enjoyed the talk, although a part of him wished it had been just Sylvie.

In the middle of this thought, Riya took away the last dish. "You're meeting later?"

For the first time, Kai directed all of his attention to the daughter of the Old Ivy family. What he thought he recognised worried him a little, but he smiled anyway. What good was denying it, anyway? "Maybe," he said and took his raincloak. "I hope so."

It was too bad Ludovic wasn't around to hear that, then, Riya thought. She had been cautious of the man before, but after the conversation outside, she had finally made up her mind concerning him. About Kai she wasn't so certain. He was too nice... but Riya was certain Sylvie could take care of herself should he turn out to be some lunatic. "That's nice," she said mischievously. "Let me show you to the door."

"Thank you," Kai said, feeling awkward but certainly not showing it.

Once outside, he went to check the tarpaulin again. He really should have thought of something like this, not that he had any tarp. Oh well. That chain of thoughts cut short, he considered his options. It was too early to go say hello to Smiling Jack, too early to go back to House Crow and wait for Sylvie and much too early to go bother Auker. That left Montmore, which was just as well, really.

Sebastian whistled as he walked.

In the afternoon Sylvie found herself quite surprised how easily she had focussed on her notes today. She had expected the things "Kai" had told her to be preying on her mind more, and did not like the possible explanation that crossed her mind: It was so big a problem she was afraid of thinking about it.

Garren had no objections to her leaving for the day, saying he had more than enough material to keep himself occupied.

After fetching her coat and sparing a minute to check on Ayu-Asra, who seemed happy enough to stay here now, she went to House Crow.

Sebastian sat downstairs, looking somewhat troubled as he made the glass artefact spin on the table and waited for his meal. This apathetic state didn't last for long when Sylvie walked in, causing the half-elf to look up, smile and wave.

"Hello. Have you had something to eat yet?" he asked, glancing toward the counter where Mister Crow wasn't standing this time. At the same time he put the glass item back in its protective tin, leaving it on the table.

Sylvie returned his smile a bit nervously and sat down. "Of course. You've been too busy that long?"

"Yes. He talked a lot," Sebastian said a little subduedly, nimble fingers making another small braid. "I had to break the ice a bit first."