Firebrand glances at the guards tailing them, while doing his best not to look like he's glancing back at the guards tailing them.

"Is it possible that these guards might not be acting at the behest of the Queen?" Firebrand asks suspiciously. "That is to say, could it be that their true allegiance lies with someone or something other than this land's legitimate authority?"

"We could always ask them," Ophelia chimes in. "Then again, if their intentions are unsavory, perhaps it's best we lose them." She takes a deep breath and looks through Minerva's eyes, trying to read the body language of their pursuers.

Insight check: I rolled a 6 but I'll use one of my Inspiration die to add 5 to that roll

Jada angles the halberd so he can see the royal guards on the reflective surface of the axe blade. He examines their movement and tries to infer whether they intend to harm the party as they follow the cart.

Insight

6

Firebrand squints at the guards thoughtfully, sniffing at the air to try as he does so in the hopes that he can collect any traces of their scent to ascertain their motives. He knows that it's a longshot, but he will try to ascertain whether they have ill intent.

Insight: 8

Glyph continues to watch the city from his seat in the cart, trying not to look in the direction of said guards.

Perception: 18

(Can you tell me what there is in the street on my side of the cart? Is it mostly just people commuting and how many people are walking behind us, are there still shops? I can roll another perception if necessary. Also what is the road made of?)

"We can go the long way but I feel we might need to engage them. I know Maitland wanted our associations with the Barakah-Set secret. But as for the Queen Regent honestly, I don't know her position with these guards or where their own allegiances lay," Adruus explains. "All the knowledge I have is based on correspondence sent to Maitland from Barakah-Set however in secrecy," he adds. "If they engage us I recommend exercising extreme caution and restraint," the monk finishes glancing once again up at the sky above the party.

Firebrand looking up the avian guards thinks to himself they are honestly following the party but as a fighter you know they look very defensive, not offensive. Their movements do not look threatening and they do not have drawn weapons. They just look like they're following the party with the intention to fulfill their duty as guards against perceived threats. 

"I don't think that they're trying to do us harm," Firebrand says after a moment's hesitation. "They haven't drawn their weapons yet... it seems to me that they are monitoring us because they feel it's their duty to do so to make sure the people of this place are safe. Though I'm not sure why they would see us as a potential threat, except maybe they're afraid that Jada or I might try to drive this thing again."

The dragonborn chuckles quietly at his own joke, allowing himself to relax a bit. Then another thought occurs to him.

"Or perhaps their concern is Maitland's condition... perhaps their fear is that what ails him could be a dangerous contagion. I suppose we would have to ask them to find out what's on their minds."

"I still do not like being followed. If they mean no harm then the royal guards could have approached us before we left." says Jada. Maybe they are decoys or something else happening in the background. He keeps his guard up and wishes they come to their destination soon. Bah, I hate intrigue.

“Oh, I agree, wholeheartedly, dear Firebrand,” Glyph says, with a very, very conspicuous laugh at the dragonborn’s joke. “Yes, I’m sure they’re just doing their job. Still, it may be necessary to have a little chat with them. I’ve got loads of experience negotiating. Once talked hag out of eating three gnomes, it’s all in my third boo . . . “

The half-elf pauses again and decides to leave the stories to another time. He appears to be unaccustomed to not bragging or going on-and-on with references to his past and exploits.  Glancing in the direction of the guards, but not directly at them, he flashes a dazzlingly white smile at some of the passersby. Hopefully the method of secrecy in that communication was secure. 

Upon a moment's reflection he begins to wonder how many more of Maitland's surprises and secrets will pop up.

As Ophelia navigates the streets of Anjara she turns the problem over in her head. If they are meant to inform on our movements, leading them to our goal may put our group in danger. If they are here to guard us, what is it they are guarding us from? Is there another threat at play we aren't aware of? She glances around, looking for anyone else who might be following their cart. She has Minerva move to fly parallel to the guards and signal that she's aware of their presence.

"I feel we got a bit more than we bargained for here," Glyph mutters quietly to Ophelia, uncharacteristically straightforward. "How much of this is news to you? I only recall a scant bit of information in Maitland's journals on political infighting, but it failed to impress upon me that we may be thrown into the middle of it upon our arrival."

Pursing his lips again, he continues his whisper. "What say you, dear driver? Confront, ignore, misdirect?"

(trying to be quiet so Arduus can't hear, so stealth if you need it 26)

"Personally, I think we should ignore them," Firebrand says quietly. "They'll probably lose interest in us soon enough when they figure out that we aren't causing any trouble. If not, we can talk to them when we get to our destination."

"I am in agreement. Lets continue on to our destination. If anything happens I'll be ready" says Jada. He taps his halberd impatiently as the cart rumbles down the avenue.

The royal guards acknowledge Minerva but they do not engage the familiar. Arduus then instructions Ophelia to continue to an inn that's just ahead.

"We will stop here and maybe under the cover of darkness we can seek out the Barakah-Set family," Adruus instructions Ophelia to go to the inn.

The inn, the Opal Oasis, is a towering stone building with three floors and a large garden courtyard in front. The inn's garden is well-kept with it's walls thick with jasmine keeping a large water feature private surrounded by lush green plants and the large date palm trees. 

"We might part with coin but these guards will either approach or lose interest," he adds.

Arduus hops off the cart and approaches a human man in beige robes wearing a purple turban on his head. They speak briefly before waving the party towards the entrance of the inn.

"I have hired rooms. They take the cart if someone could assist with Maitland's transportation," Adruus explains looking to the party. 

As Adruus explains this two attendants with covered faces qnd turbans come towards the party to take the cart.

Under the pretext of checking through his pack, Glyph falls a bit behind the rest of the group. He closes the pack, slings it over his shoulder, and turns, looking up at the large inn. He raises a hand to shield his eyes from the sun, a rather fixed smile on his face. He moves his other hand off Beatrix's hilt and rests it on his hip, saying in a too-loud voice, "Well, this is certainly a nice surprise! Looks like top-notch accommodations, especially given our current predicament. I'll wager we'll at least get some cool shade and a decent drink . . ."

Perhaps he didn't hear Arduus clearly, or perhaps he did. Regardless, he places a hand on his large dragonborn friend's shoulder. Looking up at Firebrand, he says, "Maybe a nice wyvern whisky or a Ferguson-Mosiondz, something celebratory!"

The half-elf pauses, fully aware that there's very likely no chance trade routes have brought such alcoholic imports. "We've arrived! That sounds splendid, eh? What say you, Firebrand? We can settle our affairs and savor a moment?"

By the end of the conversation, Glyph has attempted to seemingly, unconsciously steer Firebrand next to Maitland's motionless body.

Ophelia brings the cart to a stop outside the Opal Oasis. "Perhaps we're in luck. The guards know we're aware of them. If their aim was to ambush us, they likely would have broken off once their presence was exposed." She peers through the fence at the lavish garden. "Perhaps we might dispense with this charade and speak with them directly?"

As Ophelia speaks aloud she glances up and her assumptions were right, the guards are no longer aloft.

"As I said we're meant to be as incognito as possible.  Ma...Master Brookstone could you possibly suggest to other travelers and the staff we're...uh here as your party. You're possibly researching a story and that...the professor fell ill on the journey here," Adruus asks Glyph looking particularly out of character with this request having often shied away from Glyph's many tales! "You...are already drawing attention, " the monk points out as a group of humans, the first the party has spotted, is gathered in the garden and staring at Glyph with looks of delight!

"If we are staying then I will help with Maitland" says Jada. He leans his halberd against the Inn's wall. Then he enters the cart and lifts Maitland with a princess carry. He looks for a nearby Inn attendant and asks "Can you show us to our rooms? They are ill and needs rest"

"The sun is setting.  There's little to do until later if someone wants to try to see if they can reach the Barakah-Set family under the cover of darkness," Adruus reminds the party. "We get Maitland settled. I will remain with them but send this," he holds a thick envelope,  "a letter of introduction that Maitland wrote last night in anticipation of being unable to introduce the party properly," he adds. "You can see the Verdant Towers from the gardens.  The villa won't be hard to find," he offers the envelope up to anyone of the party.  "I would like help just getting Maitland settled in our room. I have secured three adjoining rooms on the 3rd floor but have told the attendants we are simple explorers. If Master Brookstone agrees to my deception just file in accordingly as his party members, " he finshes. 

Firebrand considers the suggestion to have someone try to reach the Barakah-Set family under the cover of darkness, and he suddenly has an idea.

"Perhaps it would behoove us to have one or two of us go into the city to divert attention, while the stealthiest of our number contacts the Barakah-Set family," the dragonborn suggests.