Heart of Artifice: Part I--Engineered Enigma

[Rystil Arden]

"Oh, there's other children missing too?--Thank goodness!" Keynes exclaims, relieved, "Err, well I don't mean I'm glad they're missing, of course. Pete and Lucy are nice kids, and they're kind to my Ed. I was just worried that Ed might have commit suicide or something, but it sounds like that isn't it from the sound of things. Maybe they're just off playing and got carried away...for four days. Yes, that must be it. At least he's still safe."

 

[Velmont]

"So he has been missing too? Do you know where Ed meet his friend generally? Have you seen any unusual things the days before and after his dissapearance? Or maybe in Ed's habits? I don't presume anything yet, just trying to figure why they are gone for so long." asks Kharas.

 

[Rystil Arden]

"He always says he's going off to meet Pete and the girls. I think I'm a good judge of character, and I trust that Pete Moseley--he's a responsible young man. Takes after his father. Usually I have Ed stay and help around the shop, but if he's going out with those three, well, I let him off on an exception--he needs more contact with girls anyway, it'll do him good."

 

[Erekose13]

"Can you think of any reasons that Ed and the other children might have been targeted by kidnappers? It is quite odd, to me at least, that someone would kidnap all three. Lucy was abducted from her room, so they were not together when it happened. Any information you have on Ed and where he and the other three might have hung out or been involved in would be very helpful." says Aethelus.

 

[Rystil Arden]

"You know, I couldn't say. What in the world do two professors' daughters who parents study vastly different areas, plus a House Cannith scion's son and a tailor's son have in common? Beats me."

 

[Erekose13]

"They have enough in common to be fast friends. Do you know where they met or what their association was? replies Aethelus.

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Let's see--I think it revolves around Lucy Henley. Digory Henley worked with Noah d'Cannith in the past and is a colleague of Sophie Popplewell, so their kids met from that. And I'm Elizabeth Henley's tailor, so Ed met Lucy when Elizabeth brought her here to get fitted for a dress.."

 

[Erekose13]

"I see. Digory, Noah, and Sophie are all colleagues. That in and of itself is something of interest. You wouldn't happen to know where the Popplewell residence is do you?" asks Aethelus.

 

[Rystil Arden]

"I wouldn't say all three of them are colleagues, no. Sophie works at the same university as Digory, that's all. Only Digory ever worked with Noah, not Sophie--Sophie doesn't study constructs. I could be wrong about any of that, though--this is just gossip I hear from Elizabeth. You should ask her if you want to be sure."

"I think she said Sophie Popplewell is on sabbatical and vacationing somewhere...I think Xen'drik, so you probably won't find her, if I recall correctly. I'm not exactly sure where she lives, but somewhere on University grounds."

 

[Velmont]

"Xen'drik? Unusual place to relax... but do you know if she is there with her daugther?" asks Kharas