Gundren pulls Quinn aside for a whispered conversation:

 (So Quinn and Ruven are headed to Townmaster's Hall? Is Bryony headed to Alderleaf Farm? Where are Boona, Jurgen, and Syzygy headed, if anywhere?)

“A reasonable course of action,” Syzygy responds to Quinn. 

To the elf and suspiciously, “you didn’t feel anything, rat around in your mind, while you down in the manor?”

To Gundren...

Quinn takes off his hooded robe and wraps it around Grundren. 

"Jorbin, you don't look well. Wait here and warm yourself. I'll be back soon and then we can get you back home to Neverwinter." 

Ruven looks thoughtful. Hmm...no, I did not feel anything while I was down there...but then I do have an exceptionally large mind, I suppose it's possible someone came and went without notice. 

He looks back over the group and nods. Yes. I will travel with you to see the fool. You may call me Ruven. I am a researcher. As he makes this last statement, his cloak flaps around him despite there being no breeze.

The dwarf whispers back to Quinn:

 
The party ventures further down street to the Townmaster's Hall. The notice board out front still has the same official notice – the one about 100 gp contract on the marauders near Wyvern Tor. 

Inside, they find the Townmaster himself, Harbin Wester, alone, filling out a form. He stands and smiles upon their arrival. "Hello there! You're back!"

He looks up at Boona in awe, hunched over uncomfortably under the low (to her) ceiling. "My heavens! Be careful not to bump your head!"

Then he spots Ruven. "Oh! Goodness, you're hurt. Let me get you some bandages!" He opens a filing cabinet and rummages for first aid supplies.

Yes, back, and very much worse for wear. Bandages are the least you should be getting me, sir, as your information is outdated and worthless Ruven says angrily, his cloak flapping around him menacingly, The incomplete information led to this, he indicates the wound on his neck and bloody armor, and of course since it was already visited there was nothing for me to find. Were I tempered towards violence, I would toss you in the blasted pit myself. Now, compensate this gentleman what he is owed, compensate me for my burden, and we will be on our way.

Boona watched the stranger and Quinn converse uncomprehendingly her head turning first one way then the other, when they were seemingly finished she accompanied them to the building.

" Yes, might break nice building."

( Boona is going to be confused ( isn't she always?) and gobsmacked if someone gives her gold.  She won't refuse it......she's just never been paid before.)

Quinn clears his throat. 

“Actually, up until I met you, Ruven, my business with Sildar. But now, I’m not so sure I’m done with this sniveling little coward.”

He turns and glares at Harbin.

”Why the hell would you send Ruven into that death trap all while knowing we had already cleared it out and captured Glassstaff?”

He rushes forward, grabs him by his collar and continues barking in his face.

”What’s really going on here?! I’ve heard talk about that you’re a Red Cloak sympathizer! But is there more to it than that?! What’s your angle? Why did you send Ruven in there?

I’ve already lost two friends cleaning up this mess around here! And I’ll be dammed if I lose other due to your cowardice.”

Ruven sidles up next to Quinn and Harbin. Well, it seems my compatriot here is inclined towards violence. I would, perhaps, answer his questions, before we all get even angrier. For this last bit, Ruven not only flaps his cloak again, he also draws his rapier in a shower of sparks.

"Easy, now! Easy, friends," replies Harbin, turning rather pale. "This elven gentleman was a newcomer asking for books. I was brainstorming with him, trying to be helpful. I merely suggested the manor as a possibility. There were a lot of goods still left in there – salted pork and beef, sugar, apples, ale – Sildar sent a team in to haul it out. Excellent ale. I was just hypothesizing that perhaps Glasstaff, uh, or rather Albrek, might have left some books in there as well! He was always looking to buy more. I certainly had no intention of putting anyone in danger." 

He fidgets nervously. "Albrek is gone – Sildar took him to Neverwinter for imprisonment. The Redbrands appear to be gone as well. I did not imagine the Manor to still be so hazardous!"

Boona was troubled....Quinn was acting a little like members of her old group, was she really with friends?  Or did someone trick her again?

She began swaying a little and all the loose items and shutters not to mention peoples hair were tossed about by a light breeze that whistled through the room...

Blinking she realised Harbin had spoken...but she had been too distracted to listen...

Quinn releases him and steps away. He catches a glimpse of Boona swaying anxiously in his periphery and he realizes his temper is getting the best of him. He takes slow deep breath and tries to settle down.

In a low deliberate tone, Quinn addresses Harbin. "The past few days have been trying for me and this group. We've only tried to help this blasted town and all we have to show for it are two dead friends. I've just about had enough of you and all this business about the bloody mine. I'm ready to pack my stuff and head back into the Neverwinter woods to live out the rest of my days."

He takes another deep breath as he feels his adrenalin ready to surge. 

"Is Sildar still in town?.. Or did he leave for Neverwinter along with the escort? If he left, did he leave any message for us?"

Ruven sheathes his sword, never really intending to use it. The point has been made, and the mention of the mine has piqued his interest again.

Gundren, catching at least part of this exchange from the doorway, tries to get Quinn's attention. "Psst. Let's go," he beckons. He shakes his head at Quinn disapprovingly. "Don't do this now..."

"Sildar took Albrek back to Neverwinter, yes... No messages, no. He didn't know when you'd get back..." replies Harbin to Quinn, sweating profusely and still fidgeting. "Oh, hello Gundren! You're back!" he adds with a nervous smile, seeing the gesturing dwarf in the doorway.

"Hello, Harbin. These folks are with me, an' they were just leaving. Right, folks?" responds Gundren. "You and I will speak soon. Me and th' gang here have some business to attend to, first. Have you seen Nundro or Tharden? I'm keen to find them as soon as I can."

"No, they've been gone for a couple of weeks now. Camped out in the hills somewhere. I expect they're overdue for a resupply, so any day now, I expect," replies the townmaster. 

Ruven starts at the names, and turns and looks at the dwarf with a look of realization, and a happy smile. Yes, yes. About your business now. He'll push his way out the door, turning and waiting in the street for the rest to leave as well.

Boona shrugs and heads outdoors ducking low under the doorframe...

Quinn stands pat as the others leave the room.

"There's some fine people in this town. They've had a rough go of it for years now. Why don't you lay off the ale and salt pork and try to fix things around here."

He turns on his heels and joins the others outside. 

Once they join back up outside, Ruven looks a little giddy, his wounds now completely forgotten. You are one of the dwarf brothers looking for the lost mine he says to Gundren, then looks at the rest of the party. Which makes the rest of you the ones that defeated those brigands, and must have rescued the dwarf from wherever he was taken, as I had heard he was captured or killed. Finally...I have come from a very long way to study the lost mine. He turns back to Gundren, So, have you found it yet? I have questioned the members of this town quite futilely, I hope you have additional information I do not.

Quinn walks up quick and leans in very close to Ruven. He speaks in a fast, hurried but hushed voice.

"We have no idea what you're talking about. We are NOT who you think we are. Shut your mouth before you attract attention. We'll continue this discussion outside of town. "

Quinn's eyes scans the area before speaking up to the group. 

"We are leaving town. Quick. We move together and do not split up. Everyone, resupply as needed. Bryony, check in with your auntie. Then we go."

Very well Ruven says with a smile. I am prepared.