Twenty-nine

"I only know the very basics so far, so it'd be... Sebastian's turn to talk. Maybe someone here gets a better idea what we should look into." She looked at the half-elf.

He smiled, though outwardly a little troubled. That disappeared quickly the moment Auker stopped staring at Sylvie and looked instead at him. From that moment on, he looked placid. Almost as if he was in control. "Thanks for the vote of confidence... but as of yet we have not found anything. There are the mages to consider, of course.

"But with Brannig out of town and another down with an illness, the only one I've gotten close to is Montmore. So I don't know what to think about this: one is down with an illness and thus unavailable. One has left town and the third, well, I wouldn't rule him out either."

"Uh huh."

"The other things I'd want to know are why this Ludovic from... Hilyet or wherever wanted to talk to Brannig three days ago."

"Er, why?" Auker said.

Sebastian blinked. "Why, I don't believe in coincidences. But so far, do you think it is utterly idiotic to suspect the local mages?"

"Somewhat," Auker said. "I know Montmore and Vannar enough... Vannar's a sweet old man, uh, for all his dustiness. As for Montmore, I think he abhors water almost as much as he dislikes fire."

"So you know Montmore?" Sebastian asked. Other than just through observation...

"Yeah. Why?"

Sebastian glanced at Sylvie briefly. "Would he lend you a book if you asked for it?"

Auker blinked. "I don't see why he wouldn't. What book?"

"Let's talk about that later. So you think Brannig is more likely?"

"Well, no. I don't really see what any of the mages would have to gain."

"More fame, a more comfortable position?"

"I highly doubt it," Auker said and glared at Sebastian reproachfully. "Are you always suspecting everyone, every time you do this?"

"No," Sebastian said, minding Auker's tone. I always forget someone crucial. "But be mindful of the fact that the Lady Land confirmed magic is doing this."

"It isn't necessarily a local mage or a mage at all," she said. "But whatever it is, I'm sure mages would know better."

Sebastian sighed and nodded. He couldn't say it, of course, but he suspected that sooner or later the knot would be undone by a chance encounter of some sort. "Thank you, Auker. I don't have any other ideas yet except listening to local gossip. Maybe next door."

Auker shrugged and fell silent.

"What was that about Ludovic and Brannig, exactly?"

Sebastian turned to look at Sylvie again. "I told you earlier that I'd seen him in the theatre. It was a few days ago. But what was of note was that his associate or friend mentioned Brannig." But then...? Something seemed to him a little odd.

Sylvie made a face. She wasn't good enough at acting and subterfuge to try to get any information from Ludovic directly, especially with this timing.

"Makes me wonder if talking to the lady who seems to be taking care of Brannig's house now would be any use, or just as much of a risk."

Sebastian smiled faintly, feeling as if he was on the same page. "It could be of use," he said, arching both eyebrows as he looked at Auker.

The priestess hmmphed. "Martha, I take it. She's his, er, widowed aunt." The Hat kept a very neutral face, which Auker seemed to approve of. "She's a bit difficult... just be thankful you've never had to discuss lottery with her."

"I see," said Sebastian. "I suppose you don't know her that well?"

Auker shrugged and eyed both Sylvie and Sebastian for a while. "A little. That's about it. For what it's worth, she's far too chatty to be trusted with any secrets, so it's likely she doesn't know anything."

This time Sebastian shrugged.

I must have caught her at a bad moment, then. Sylvie remembered Martha couldn't get rid of her fast enough.

"And I know a few of Ludovic's associates by name and sight, if figuring out who it was he talked to might help."

Sebastian nodded and crossed his arms. "Anything helps - the little details matter, so knowing the man's name would be perfect. Any other ideas so far?"

Auker shook her head. "This isn't really my usual line of work..."

"Mine neither." Sylvie added somewhat distractedly, "Research, yes, but you don't have to worry about plants scheming."

The half-elf looked just as distracted as Sylvie sounded. He was furiously trying to remember something to say about the man accompanying Ludovic at the theatre. "All right. So, while I try to remember what the man with Ludovic looked like... which one do you think we ought to go for first: Montmore, so that we could perhaps get you something to research - or Martha, so we might see what information can be found from there?"

"Or we could split up and try to take care of both at the same time."

He smiled, glancing at Sylvie. Still thinking as if you were alone. "Good idea," he said, turning his head toward Auker just in time to see her blow her nose into a handkerchief.

Auker sniffed and met the look. "What?"

"Would you be willing help with the book?"

The priestess's expression didn't even as much as flinch toward a look of surprise. Instead she raised an eyebrow. "All right. But..." she raised a digit. "You'll owe me."

The half-elf nodded, looking a hint amused and distracted, saying nothing. Auker blew her nose again.

"So, apart from that associate of Ludovic, anything else right now?"

"Nothing I can think of. The rest will present itself," Sebastian said in thoughtful tone. He was confident about that. Then he stood up and paced a little. "I can't describe the associate too well. He was taller than me - tall enough to have to duck to get through doors without hitting his head. Dark of hair, no beard, no moustache. He seemed fit."

Sylvie smiled a little. "A small bit of luck; that can only be Brice. I think he's a distant cousin of Ludovic." If someone had told her yesterday that later she'd be wishing to have shown more interest to the family politics, she wouldn'T have believed it.

Auker looked as if she wanted to say something, but didn't. Sebastian, on the other hand, looked at Sylvie in a fashion that spoke of his amusement. "I don't suppose you would know what kind of things he usually does? Managing employees, negotiating?"

"Bookkeeping, I think."

Sebastian thought about that for a moment. "Do you know where Ludovic's lot are staying?"

"They have their own property." Sylvie added some quick directions, a bit surprised at keeping quite calm. It helped looking at it as a puzzle, a particular kind of job.

"So, what do we do and how should we go about it?" Without really thinking about it, she considered Sebastian in charge of things, since he had brought the problem to her attention and was himself involved in attempts to solve it.

A smile had appeared when the mention 'their own property' came to be revealed. "We go about it," he said and allowed the smile to grow, "as you suggested. I will go talk to Martha and see if there's something worth learning there while you and Auker have tea with Montmore. Or wine, as he seems to prefer."

Auker nodded. "I suppose he doesn't have much to do on days like this... other than drink wine and read, that is."

Sylvie turned to Auker. "And you don't have anthing better to do, either?"

Auker met the look with a slightly incredulous one. "I realise he's technically working for a different deity, and not one I approve of entirely, but he's still a part of my personal pantheon. On top of that, this is the church of Fortuna. Bad luck if you don't get in from the rain."

The half-elf was counting something with his fingers, looking as if he wasn't listening.

Sylvie shrugged and decided it was not really the right time to ask what exactly a pantheon was. "We'd better get on with things, then."

"Mmhm. I'll get my coat," Auker said and got up, making her way out of the room soon enough.

Sebastian drummed a simple rhythm against the floor.