| You Can’t Trust an Ajikhani to do an Erisian’s Job
Of course, things went badly wrong. My fault entirely, I'm afraid: I made a classic blunder, and actually trusted a foreigner to do something both simple and important.
One task. Just one. Keep the Lady Delphine safe from any further kidnapping attempts.
And could Rakhir manage this? Or even die an honorable death while failing in the attempt? No, and no again.
And who was this fearsome kidnapper? I shall describe him for you: He wore a conical straw hat, one large enough to conceal his features. And his fists were shrouded in white vapor; their impact hurt, and were sufficient to beat Rakhir unconscious, but without dealing any lasting damage.
To be entirely honest, I thought that he might really have leapt forth from mouth of a wine bottle. Alas, I soon, discovered that Rakhir's description was disturbingly accurate.
In the meantime, our chief concern was finding the missing Delphine. Kenji, having returned from his evening of wagering somewhat poorer for the experience (by design, or so he claimed), joined us in the search. Rakhir proved unable to track his assailant through the cobbled CITY streets, although I grant that he did make a game attempt at it.
The madman, I think, attempted to commune with the spirits of CITY in hopes of learning something. He may even have succeeded, but since not *once* in the course of our acquintence did he *ever* say anything that even *remotely* resembled sense, we never did find out.
We were, regretfully, at something of a loss.
But not for long. There is an old Erisian saying that was pertinent to our situation, "When in doubt, use your brain! Find a foe, and cause him pain."
Wisdom indeed. And thanks to Mop Mop Bow, we had Sanjuro Roeh's address. Our path, then, was clear. | 
And yet another word from our sponsors
