As Mialee and Tanador pull even with the alleyway, you see your contact sitting on a barrel, seemingly seeking out a quiet spot to finish her break. The trio of more conspicuous party members are trailing a bit behind you.

Without glancing back at the others, Tandor takes Mialee's hand and pulls her into the alley.  Gilbert, stay here and guard the entrance.

Walking up to the contact, he says to her, "That Ataguan chocolate brandy is very good, don't you think?"

She rolls her eyes land licks her fingers, glancing around before tossing the skewer under a wagon. "Let me guess... first courier job? Think the two of you ought to leave some of those others shopping for kicknacks next time."

She clears her throat. "Chocolate brandy is rare this season."

And looks between the two of you expectantly.

"Psstt."

Liber hears someone trying to get his attention, because as soon as he moves his head to look the hiss is repeated, and the little kobold that was involved in the onion argument waves at him.

"Hmm?" as he turns around his mood drops a bit. "Ah. I'm honestly surprised you came to see me considering the.....business we had." setting himself into a neutral emotional position, he then asks "Why have you sought me out, at any rate?"

"Hey, if you'd just taken our side against the gnome, it would've gone smoother! I'm sorry, don't get mad! My mom sent me to let you guys know that her offer still stands! If someone can find dirt on the Tyenmo's that we can take to the council, and prove they're the ones that have been messing with us, it'll save our family! She's been teaching me how to run the shop, it'll be mine some day, but not if those noodle slingers put us out of business! Please? Can you see what you can do? I can even get you and your friends free meals before you decide, just for hearing her out!"

He ducks back out of sight as a group of folks wander past, chatting. 

Once they're past, he pops out long enough to give you directions to their shop, before scampering off through the chaos of the market.

Mialee looks to Tandor.

"I think we're good to go, yeah?"

Tandor nods then removes the package and hands it over.   Then he waits expectantly, ready for her to bolt.

She takes the box and turns it over in her hands, peering at the seams before nodding and slipping it into a satchel at her side and withdrawing an envelope sealed with a blob of brown wax, pressed flat to seal, but not bearing any insignia or mark.

"Been a pleasure."

She stands and turns to go before turning back.

"Just a word of advice, if you're planning on doing the clandestine meetings in the future... THIS,", she waves a hand at Tanador's vestments, "can certainly work in some places, but others it stands out as much as your dragonborn with the stink fingers and the dwarf with the stink face. Have her do the exchange, she looks like she can blend in better," she gives a nod at Mialee,  "and if your god or whatever says you gotta keep dressing like that, you keep watch... just glare at people, they'll think you're wondering about their sins and avoid looking at you. That's my advice anyway."

She continues walking off, making it a few steps before turning back.

"And maybe you were already thinking it, but since you're new... give it a minute or two, yeah? Don't come out right on my heels? You can pretend the pair of you slipped off for a bit of slap and tickle, muss your hair up, twist that priest robe up a bit."

She gives a teasing grin and heads out, stepping around the lounging Gilbert, who Tanador can swear is smirking.

Mialee smirks awkwardly. 

"Something to think about, I suppose." 

She waits for a moment to let the assistant move away, then leans in close to Tandor and whispers,

"You know, I bet we could open this letter and reseal it without much difficulty. There's always a risk of a secondary measure, but it should be easy to reseal, as there's no seal-mark."

She leans back out and shrugs. 

"We can do that later though. For now, do you have anywhere to safely store a letter? I could as well, but you were fine for the first leg of the journey. Up to you."

Tandor nods and places the letter where the package was, adjusting his raiment after.  "No, Mialee. We were hired to bring the letter back. That's what we'll do."  Nodding out the alley, he starts that way.  "Let's go back to the others."

Once outside, he tries for a sheepish look, and adjusts his clothes with a glance at Mialee.  "Sorry, guys.  Just a bit of fun."  He then gives his clothes a final pat where the letter now resides and nods at Dain, Alston, and Libre.  "What now?"

((I think DD is out until Tuesday.))

"well," liber takes a moment to analyze the situation, then explain "the kobolds are interested in hiring us, and they genuinely believe the gnomes are out to ruin them. there's food in it for us, even before taking the job." adjusting himself on his seat, the blue dragonborn continues "truth be told, I was going to head over to that corner anyway, there was a large magical explosion in the sky from the quarter next to it, so it bears investigation, if nothing else."

"I'd still be voting for checking out this business between the gnomes and kobolds." Dain speaks up. "Could be being a good way to be earning a bit of extra coin, be increasing our reputation around here, and get some free food in the doing of it."

Gilbert purrs loudly at the mention of free food and rubs himself on Dain's leg. A wise dwarf. You could learn from him, Tandor.

Tandor chuckles.  "Gilbert votes with you, Dain.  Me too.  I'm for the fish monger.  Who's with me?"

"well, i am, by virtue of bringing it up." 

"Let's see what the fish lass has to be saying then." Dain nods, nudging the animal away as it rubs against him.

A plan for how to spend your time at the Market decided on, you move in a circular fashion around, taking in the sights. Shortly, Gilbert alerts Tanador that they smell seafood cooking, and not long after, you see a banner proclaiming "Xungoon Family Seafood" above a cart, with a slate atop a table closer to the thoroughfare with the following dishes in chalk, all priced at 1 gold.

• fishcakes
• fresh wailing slug
• diamond-throated carp
• shimmering vampire fish
• quipper roe (has been crossed out in chalk)

The young kobold is perched on a stool at the counter, taking orders and money, while his mother prepares dishes and slides them along the counter to him to dispense to customers, the kid calling out names as customers step forward to take their food. Spotting you, he tugs on his mother's sleeve and jerks his head in your direction. She nods and finishes plating the dish she's working on and wipes her hands on a towel, leaving him to take over on the other meals being prepped and steps around to approach you, a satisfied smile on her face.

"Good evening, my boy Gammon said he'd spoken to you, and extended an offer of a meal as you consider my proposal. Don't worry about the line, what can I get you?"

"I'm quite interested in the vampire fish, please." Liber's appetite starts to increase upon looking at the food and types of it around him.

"I'd like one of the shimmer carp, please. And also some raw vampire fish, for my cat." Tandor indicates Gilbert.

Mialee takes a seat at the nearest empty table.

"I'd like some shimmering vampire fish, I suppose."

Then to the party-

"So what's the plan here? My talents don't usually fall along the lines of investigating thefts, but I'm willing to try."