The genasi looked at Janelle. "In that case, double thanks for the bread this morning. Has anything changed in the last two weeks about your supply of ale? Who you get it from, maybe? Or the kind of ale you get, or who delivers or handles the ale? [/section]
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Brue opted for honesty. "Aye, I reckon it is a queer question, right enough. I'm asking because I'm thinking the reason folks are sick is the ale or the water. The ale might be the more likely of the two, 'specially since one of the kegs was short. Did it look like it the bung had been removed prior to your getting that keg, d'you recall? Or was the keg merely not filled properly, but it remained sealed? Are there any other places is Mosstone that trade in ale, beside the Nymph? Maybe I should be asking there, too." Brue watched Janelle closely for non-verbal cues. If it was the ale, there was a possibility Janelle was in on it.[/section]
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Brue nodded. "Could well be that Preston was just as unaware as you. He's only the deliveryman, after all. And, yes, could I have a look at the empty, please?" Brue leaned in and lowered her voice. "I'll do my best to be discrete when I look. Don't want folks in a panic or to lay blame where it shouldn't be portioned. It it does turn out to be the ale--and I'm not saying it is--it wouldn't be the Nymph's fault."[/section]
The genasi bent down and looked at the keg. She checked the lid, the keg's vertical wooden planks. Brue inspected at the bung. If there was a lid that seemed as if it would pry off, she tried that, too. She sniffed at the inside of the keg as well. She traced the outline of the dancing pig brand on the outside of the keg. Where've I seen that before? She was silent while she worked.[/section]
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Brue picked up the prybar from the corner and returned to the keg. She found purchase on the lip of the keg lid for the sturdy metal tines of the prybar and heaved, using her stout body as leverage.[/section]
