The three riders sat at a darkened table in a nearby tavern hardly touching their now warm ales; Azais monitoring the stable hand and his master down yet another round of whiskey.
Sedriks has a notebook out, ostensibly working on new music pieces, but Quiz and Azais could see the bard was scrawling notations between the notes, keeping track of the exact wording the travelers used and charting in rest beats for how long a distance they had traveled.
"What's so important that you needed to get some privacy from the others to talk to us about, Azais? And why this tavern... this booth... at this precise hour?" the gnome asks quietly.
"You know I am searching for my friend and teacher Ioleth after the attack on our cabin. I've heard rumours an elf matching her description was seen fleeing South of the Forks on a stolen horse. The stable hand apparently 'frozen solid'." She ever so slightly inclined her head towards the two figures she had been watching "I spotted these 2 a few days ago new in town, and recognised them from my time in the stables up there with Maren and Nettle.
They come here every night and drink too much whisky; so much so that I hope a pretty and familiar face will get them to loosen their tongues about what happened."
Like clockwork, the sound of the travellers, chatting about their voyage south and the "Ice Horse Bandit," as the Lothlarin rumor mill was calling it, drifted over to their table. Quiz raised an eyebrow and looked at the others.
"Better yet." The bard murmurs out the side of his mouth, a curious sort of ventriloquism to throw his voice for just the two companions, "Yon travelers complain that their cart horse were stolen, some bad business. Boy found frozen like a lake jumper. Sounds like ye' mentor's doin'. A few days hence before they arrived, mayhap a week past? Speculation but there are nay many who can freeze a man whole."
"Especially not in the heart of summer." Quiz nodded, his thin fingers idly rubbing a few drops of fallen ale around on the table.
"We cannae easily find her though? If she nay wantin' tae be found."
"Although my time with her was brief, I believe I know where she may flee.
Sou’Brook is a large city with many strange things occurring- as we all know too well; a frozen person here or there would be the least of the city's stories. "
"Ye think she came here? I suppose it' possible."
Sedriks turns his back to the two, his attention captured by another bard telling tales and the news from Wyford and the Forks. A series of complicated whistle codes and hand signals follow, too blisteringly quick to catch.
"The Riders haven't exactly been... subtle in Sou'Brook," Quiz said carefully. "If Ioleth was here, it's likely she would be able to find us. Is there a possibility she may not want to be found?"
"She was not exactly well received by ALL the riders, it wouldn't surprise me she would want to keep her distance, especially as you say 'we have not been subtle', and attention is surely the last thing she desires."
"So what would you want of her, then? Just a simple check to ensure her health? Or... something more?"
"I am concerned for her health yes, but also more." Azais paused briefly "As Sedriks is aware I have been 'noticed' by the Witch Queen herself as of late, and I seek guidance on the path this may lead me. Since Ioleth was my teacher I am hoping she can help me here."
Quiz nods slowly. "Can you speak with the Witch Queen? Request favours or power? Does she ask things of you?"
"She is not a power I like to be in debt to." Azais says a little firmly, tightening her grip on her ale. "So asking for her help in finding Ioleth is a last resort" she finishes more softly to the gnome.
"I've never been sure how your magic differs from mine — I used to think we were elemental poles in opposition, but Shamhat has been helping me explore distinctions and flavours of spell power lately."
"Truthfully my friend, I am still trying to understand my magik, especially as of late. It has been explosive and dangerous, as you saw in the delve." She cast her eyes to the ground.
Looking up she called over the bar maiden and ordered 3 glasses of whiskey, as she waited for her return she subtly loosened her hair and twisted bitterkiss out of sight. Quietly whispered to the bard and gnome "I’ll be right back" Azais scooped up the 3 mugs moving with graceful speed across the cramped space, and gently placed them in front of the stable hand and master just as they finishing their last mouthful. She had timed it perfectly.
The pyromancer watches Azais chat amiably with the patrons for a few moments before she wanders back to their table. "Any extra information you pulled from them?" he asks.
"As I suspected, he is the boy who was frozen and his master's horse stolen. They are in Sou'Brook attempting to find it again as they heard the same rumours I did. They let slip they've heard - just this night - a woman matching the boy’s description was seen not far from here hiding out in an old barn."
Sedriks turns back, a fresh sheet of parchment as the bard transcribes the strange lyrical countersign, murmuring as he goes. "I've asked some of the local talent what they've seen, a bandaged or wounded elf woman aye."
“I would ask we waste no more time and go seek her immediately. If she is wounded she needs help. Luckily those two” looking at the stable hand and master “are too drunk to action their knowledge tonight” she said with a smirk.
"Give it a moment yet, a juggler tha' bard knows is on their way back with more information. Perhaps more plentiful eyes will yield appropriate gains."
Azais looked agitated but nodded; she was eager to help her friend but knew the bard was right.
A half candlemark later, a young dancer makes their way past the Bard's table, dropping off a scrap of paper. Unfurling it, Sedriks casually glances over the notes before leaning close to Azais. "Ioleth was spotted, just yon morning down at the docks. She was with other elves, negotiating passage on a ship to Viran."
Azais looked wide eyed at Sedirks struggling to contain her sudden fear at the knowledge Ioleth was fleeing.
"Well, let us get to findin' her. Somethin' about a barn?"
The three riders enter the thankfully empty streets, making their way to where the stable hand described. It was not long until Azais felt a noticeable temperature drop, she was close. Around a corner they came across a rundown barn, a delicate crown of bones above the door, Azais’ heartbeat quickened.
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