Random 40

"On the plus side you just happened to get a room in which someone had left some belongings, among which is something that may be the first model of whatever is causing this weather," Sylvie added, slightly guiltily bringing things back on track. "And she broke in, and finding out about her was the reason for that visit next door, and until two days ago she worked there..." She looked at Sebastian.

Auker was quiet this time, deciding that it was perhaps for the better to listen instead of gabbing.

For his part, Sebastian met the look and smiled. "And I met someone who could tell me about that model and provide me with a set of contacts," he pointed out. A few things bothered him immensely about Lady Luck's contributions. He was fairly sure the more fickle of his patrons had been dropping hints here and there for him to see...

"Yes, it's starting to balance out," he continued. But a week of bad luck and then moderate to high levels of good luck on a couple of days? This wasn't the end yet by a long shot.

Trying to bring things back on track, anyway. She returned his smile before getting back to business.

"Well, we know where we might find her, but I'm wondering how things might work out when or if we find her. What exactly happened?"

A nod. "I caught her the second time. Not physically. Oh, I gave her chase. It's just that she started shouting about a rape during the chase... I didn't consider it healthy to hang around at that point. And you know, it's not that difficult to identify me in the dark with these eyes. If she sees me, I'm fairly sure she won't stay around."

Sylvie pulled a face at that story and considered options.

"Was that two days ago?"

"Yes indeed," he beamed.

So one possible reason why she hadn't shown for work next door since then would be her knowing Sebastian visited here regularly, and she wanted to avoid running into him.

"I'll ask for her, and try to talk to her... damn, what for knowing how close she is to whoever made that thing. Or has any of you a better idea than asking her directly?"

Auker chuckled. "Tie her up."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow at Auker.

"I'm serious. What's the worst that could happen?" the priestess continued. Meanwhile, the Fox covered his head. He hated it when they said that. Every single damn acolyte, priest and missionary.

"I'd rather avoid that if I could," Sebastian said. "On the other hand, what's stopping her from just running off to warn the people behind this?"

Auker snorted. "You could break in... again."

"You're... curiously straightforward, Auker," the half-elf said and then summed it up: "No, I think we don't have a better idea."

"Or just running off and hiding somewhere else without saying anything," Sylvie mused. Then she brightened a little.

"So, assuming I can meet her face to face and ask her, what could happen?

She could go and warn whoever is behind it all, whether she told a truth or lie first. The best we could get out of that situation would be managing to track her to that contact."

"Shadowing her isn't an impossibility," Sebastian admitted. "So if you talk to her... we follow her afterwards? It might be best if I wait outside altogether. Just in case."

Auker yawned. This really wasn't that fascinating.

"Thanks."

Sylvie considered the issue from the other end and more or less though aloud. "You said 'belongings', so there were things besides the spindle. So there's something to offer in trade for information."

"Yes. Personal effects, really. I took the liberty of going through her things since she did the same for mine," Sebastian snorted and looked at Auker. "Shouldn't you be in bed?"

Auker smirked. "Let me worry about that. I want to hear this."

"Resentment about that aside, what do you think about investing some of your funds into a bribe? I think you've been at this longer than I." She didn't like asking for money, but quite apart from the fact he'd claimed Lady Land had put him in charge, he could afford it better than her.

"You have the right idea," Sebastian said and went to fetch his messenger bag. He had just dropped it off at the end of the table, he was sure. "Whether or not it will work, well, that depends on her loyalty," he continued as he fished for his purse. When he found it, he handed it over to Sylvie and wiped his hands.

Auker stared at the purse. "Where the... you never told me you were rich."

"I usually am not," he said dryly and shrugged.

"Auker, were you going to come along, too?"

"Huh?" Auker said. "You're certainly making my life interesting," she said with a frown. "Do I need to?"

"Not really," Sebastian said.

"Good. It means I can get some food done," she sighed, glancing at the dragon.

Sylvie latched on that glance. "Could you watch Ayu-Asra, then? He'll be the friend of anyone who gives him food. Please?" She really didn't trust the dragon to not do anything unhelpful.

Sebastian wondered if by making food she meant warming up some of that chicken soup... but in all likelihood, she had thrown it away. Or so he hoped.

Auker grinned. "Sure thing. We're going to be the best of friends."

The half-elf coughed.

"Thank you. I think we should get moving, then."

"Yes," said Sebastian, taking his hat from the edge of the table. He had his thoughts about which one would crack first -- the dragon or the priestess. "Do you know where the Newt is?"

"Yes. It's on Elmsend."

She gave Auker a warning that dragons got hot when they sat in the fire, and to hiss at him if he did something he should stop, and also picked up two chips of pinewood. Then she emptied the rest out of the small bag of raisins she kept on her belt in Auker's hand. "Distract him a bit until we're out of the door, hm?"

Ayu-Asra sat on the back of the chair Sylvie had occupied before that, but watched her closely, ready to take off any moment.

Auker grinned at the request and walked next to the chair. She put one of the raisins on the table and said, "Here boy."

Sebastian felt the urge to laugh again. Looking at his face one could not have guessed.

"There's more here," she said, backing up toward the corridor door, putting one of the raisins in her mouth.

Ayu-Asra half-spread his crests and stared at Auker. Then he launched himself into the air and from there aimed directly at Auker's hand.

Auker decided she was going to be playful. "That's just the appetiser," she said, moving her hand toward the corridor door.

The dragon grabbed hold of her wrist with his forefeet, and wrapped his hindfeet and tails around her forearm.

Sylvie went for the door before he let go again, or Auker would start calling for help.

Sebastian grinned as he shut the door after them. Auker had started using baby talk again.

Sylvie started walking. It was not exactly near here.

She stuck the two pieces of wood into the back of her belt, then turned the raisin-bag inside out and dusted off the inside with her fingers, turned it back and started dividing the contents of Sebastian's purse about in half.

Among the things she knew were that half of that was still a lot of money for someone staying at the Newt, that giving away large sums of money did not agree with her, even if it were someone else's - and that she was even more uncomfortable with the whole idea since she had not quite enough sleep last night. She'd have to chose any trick she might try carefully. Look on the bright side, you don't have to worry about the lizard.

Sebastian had rolled down his sleeves and was presently huddling under his raincloak (and hat, to which he had to hold on to occasionally when a gust of wind and raindrops blew unexpectedly), and didn't seem to be at all nervous or worried. On the contrary: he seemed to be extremely pleased. He hummed a slow, soothing melody that could very well have been a lullaby.

After a while the half-elf's head turned toward Sylvie. "You're worried," he finally said. Saying it softly wasn't possible in this weather. He stepped over a puddle.