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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7535344" data-attributes="member: 143">Chapter 231“It wasn’t your fault,” Quellan said.“You were lucky that you weren’t killed by the fall,” Kosk said.“Yeah, lucky,” Glori said.The reunited companions were in the small private dining room at the back of the inn.  A small fire had been started in the hearth, but it hadn’t yet taken the chill out of the room.  Voices could be heard in the common room, where the officers of the Watch were taking statements from the witnesses who had been present.Bredan was pacing back and forth.  “You’re sure you didn’t see anything?”“I’m sorry,” Glori said.  “It all happened too fast.  He was big, and quick.”The hall door swung open and Kalasien came in.  He didn’t speak until he had closed the door behind him and came over to where the others were gathered.  “I think we have things covered with the Watch, though it took a considerable bribe to convince them to hand over Kavin’s body to us.  I told him that it was a matter of religious ritual.”“Did you learn anything from him?” Bredan asked Quellan.“I only had a minute to examine him,” the cleric said.  “But he bore several unusual wounds.  There were two stab wounds, one of which was poisoned.”“Poisoned?” Glori asked.“I didn’t have enough time to determine the nature of the toxin,” Quellan said.  “The other wound was deep.  I found this.”He held up a small object, which the others crowded around to examine.  It was a small steel blade, lacking a handle but with a thick flange at the base for gripping.“That looks like a throwing knife,” Kosk said.  “Though I’ve not seen its like before.”“That’s called a wedge,” Kalasien said.  “A popular weapon of Syvalian assassins.  You have to get fairly close to use it, however.”“I thought his neck had been broken,” Bredan said.“That was what ultimately killed him,” Quellan said.  “But that was strange as well.  All around the throat there were these black marks.  As if the skin had been… killed, somehow.”“Kavin was an experienced veteran,” Kalasien said.  “It would not have been easy to sneak up on him.”“The guy who pushed me out the window, he was quiet for his size,” Glori said.  “He hid in Quellan and Kosk’s room and came at me from behind.  I wouldn’t have heard him coming at all if the door hadn’t squeaked slightly.”“We are fortunate that they did not linger to make certain of you,” Quellan said.  He put his hand on her shoulder, and after a moment she reached up to squeeze it.“Yeah, they didn’t even take my lyre, and it was sitting right there by my bed.”“They were only interested in Xeeta,” Bredan said.  “We have to find her.”“We have a mission,” Kalasien said.“We’re not leaving without her,” Bredan said.“It’s a big city,” Kalasien said.Bredan turned to Quellan and Glori.  “You found me in Severon, which is even bigger than Li Syval.  Can you do the same for Xeeta?”Quellan nodded.  “I have my locating spell, but I will need to rest and pray before I can use it.  And its range is limited.”“We’ll do our best,” Glori said.“Do we have any idea who took her?” Kosk asked.“It was the cult,” Bredan said.  “It has to be the tiefling cult.”“Didn’t Xeeta and Rodan say they were destroyed?” Glori asked.“Maybe some of the leaders escaped,” Kosk said.  “As Kalasien said, it’s a big city, plenty of places to hide.”“We’ll finish the job,” Bredan said.“If you’re intent on this,” Kalasien said, “I can help.  I have some contacts among the city’s less… savory quarters.  But be careful.  If this draws the attention of the Ruling Council, it could draw trouble down on us that I would be powerless to stop.  In that case the only option would be to run.”“I understand,” Bredan said.“Where are Haverd and Elias?” Glori asked.“They’re getting our things together,” Kalasien said.“We’re not staying here?” Quellan asked.  “Do you think that the cult will try something else, now that they’ve gotten what they wanted?”“We should welcome another attempt,” Kosk said.  “Maybe we could catch one of them and make them talk.”“It’s not the cult I’m worried about,” Kalasien said.  “I’ve paid off the Watch, but there are plenty of other factions who would be interested in what happened here.  Better if we just slip away and not be here in case someone comes around asking questions.  I’ve got another place lined up, one where folks don’t ask strangers with gold any questions.”“Let’s hope that purse of yours doesn’t run dry,” Kosk said.“Yes,” Kalasien said, meeting the dwarf’s gaze squarely.  “Let’s hope it doesn’t.”“We should be looking for her,” Bredan said.  “The longer we wait, the longer the trail has to grow cold.”“There’s nothing we can do until Quellan prepares his spells,” Glori said.  “We won’t save her by rushing off blindly into a city that we don’t know.”  She rose and put a hand on his arm.  “We’ll find her, Bredan.  I don’t like waiting any more than you.  But we’ll find her.”</blockquote>

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