The Forgotten Wish

"It's an old Dwarven saying.  It means when goblins come in and take over, or hide in a dwarven mine to cause mayhem, each rock has to be turned over to find them and root out the trouble.   And landlords should not normally be bad...Probably not unless they are having trouble with a tenant that is not paying on time or is somehow damaging their property."  

"Rick thinks dwarves should maybe consider less offensive old sayings."

He slurps some soup before continuing,

"Landlords always complaining about dark oil marks on wood, guards coming around at all hours and things like that. Dark wood looks better and is water resistant! Neighborhood is safer with more guards around! Rick makes places better when Rick is living there."

Rick slurps more soup,

"And Rick always pays. Sometimes Rick pays in things other than coins, but Rick always pays!"

Sylvera's expression sours as the captain speaks, though it's unclear for what reason. Regardless, she quickly washes it away with a small sip of wine. Rather than further commenting on the topic of insulting royalty, she ignores the comment altogether. Instead she says, "Never you mind. It's not your fault. The only thing you could have done differently was drag the commoner to me, or at least send for me to take care of him myself. But then it would have been me inconveniencing you with my worker." She gives a wry smile, "So I suppose I would prefer it be this way. Besides, perhaps a night in prison will shake him to his senses."

She examines her wine glass again, her expression going serious at the captain's third comment, "Yes. On that we can agree." 

She stays quiet for a moment after his offer, finally letting some irritation slip through, "Are you implying that I cannot handle my own personnel? I already informed you that I intend to be gone by tomorrow, so I have no issue taking your offer. Still, it pains me to think that you would question my authority based on one new worker's slip up." She sets the wine glass on the table, leaning forward and fixing him with her blue eyes, "A wise person learns from their mistakes. Only a fool makes the same one twice. Do you think I am a fool?" 

Suddenly she laughs, a musical sound, then stands up, "If I didn't know better, I would think you wanted to be rid of me. I suppose my worker must have said some highly insulting things that you are so eager to forget and be rid of him... I'd better increase that commoner's workload for spouting such nonsense. If not for him, perhaps we could have had a much more pleasant meeting." She says all this in a lighthearted tone, all the while preparing to be on her way. "What's done is done I suppose. But I will see you in the morning again yes? Before I depart?"

As Slick and Oren reach back to the tavern proper, after some proper discussion both on matters on subject and not, they intend to return to Pallen and bring him up to date on all that has happened. Little would they expect that when they arrive back to the high elf, and order more soup after that well deserved heist, that they would find more than just Pallen sitting at that table.

Sitting there is a man the duo recognizes to be the mostly reserved assistant of Richard. It might be a bit harder to recall his name was Bjorn, but luckily Pallen helps remind the both of them as they slide up to the table, and he speaks first.

"Oren, Rick! How are the others faring? Bjorn came to find us after Breldo got arrested, and he's been telling me all he knows," he says, glancing back, and the worker speaking up in turn.

"I snuck out. I don't think this Vanstrom character is going to do anything to my boss, but... He's spent some time ensuring that everything you friend said was nonsense before insisting we should lodge in a private room there. What exactly happened on your end?"

---

The hungover Tyrion's brow furrows as he begins trying to recall exactly what they wanted out of that interrogation at Breldo's inquiry, but kind of shrugs. The girl gives a wry look.

"They gave up pretty quick with me, must have figured the others were enough. I think they wanted him specifically over there, trying to make us say one specific merchant, and when there's only one person selling antiques here, there'd only be one person to point the finger to."

---

The guard Khond is talking to seems only barely able to resist an eyeroll, although another guard comes in to mutter a few words among each other. It's hard to catch what exactly what they are saying, but the basic gist seems to be that if they are in fact dealing with royals, to maybe not cause more of a fuss than there already was- To which the guard turns back to Khond with a compromise.

"I'll take down a message to him for you if you want, and I'll relay whatever he wants back. Sound fair?"

---

Moments between Sylvera and Vanstrom seem almost tense at times, despite how the accomodations should have put both of them at ease. Vanstrom for his part, continues shrugging most of it off: noting that Breldo never mentioned his loyalty to a noble, cheerfully agreeing that "Sometimes the commoners just need a small wakeup call", but it eventually all boils down to the deal. To which Vanstrom gives a smile as Sylvera agrees.

Of course, the agreement is followed by further protests, to which he responds with a pretty clear forced chuckle.

"Oh my apologies, I wouldn't want to imply anything. But having one new worker might make it all the more applicable, given how you don't know how unpredictable they may be. I merely do not want to take any risks, is all, and have rightful justice disturbed by false accusations, which is why I'm letting him go under the condition that he doesn't try and stir up even more trouble."

"But yes miss Lark, we have a deal. If you come here in the morning, I'll personally be there to order his release."

"Rick mostly had questions about the story Vanstrom was telling, Rick was surprised at many of the details and Rick wanted to know more. While Rick was looking for guards to ask, Breldo and Urea ran into Rick and asked about friend Oren. Together Rick and Breldo and Urea went to Vanstrom to ask questions about the bandit story and about Oren. Breldo was dumb and strongly implied Vanstrom was lying, which Vanstrom most certainly was, in the guardhouse with many, many guards around and listening. Boss Pallen knows what happened after that. Then friend Oren and Rick did more investigating to try and find out why friend Oren was arrested along with a shopkeeper, friend Oren found information that the shopkeeper bought things that had been Vandstrom's family's. Rick suspects Oren was in the wrong shop at the wrong time and Vanstrom is using Vanstrom's position to get petty revenge."

Rick turns to Oren,

"Does friend Oren agree?"

Khond nods, "Alright then, that will do.  All I need to relay to him is that our lady is addressing the matter personally, so he should prepare himself for her ire once he is released."

Bjorn listens intently to Slicks explanation in between sipping his own drink, occasionally nodding, and giving a curious look when they mention finding evidence, somehow... But as Slick finishes explaining, does the help give his own input.

"Boss was far too busy to pay attention to all of it, but I've noted that a bunch of the guards seem to find it all odd. But, y'know- They're not going to argue with their boss who's also got noble privileges, right?"

"As for the entire meeting we had with him... He never quite said anything along the lines of knowing for certain what happened, but it was fifty percent talking it in a way that suggested it had to be an ambus, thirty percent boasting about himself, and twenty percent just straight buttering up the boss. But he was also really adamant about the fact that we should be reporting this to the guard once we arrive at Mhurgot. How Mezzra isn't doing their job proper or something."

---

The guard let's out a snorting laughter at Khond, and seems almost pleased as he gives a resolute nod.

"Hah, right, of course. I'll go relay that right now."

Rick looks befuddled and slurps some more soup.

"Rick's got no clue what Vanstrom has against Mezzra."

Pallen shrugs, not entirely sure what to make of it either, at least in the grand picture.

"Not sure either. Maybe it's not as much about making Mezzra look bad, as it is to make Passley look better?"

"I shall see you tomorrow then," Sylvera gives a nod and a smile that doesn't touch her eyes in spite of its apparent warmth, then heads out and down to where she had left Nuria and Khond.

Once she sees them she says, "Come now. We are done here. We will retrieve... whatever his name was in the morning. The Captain has been gracious enough to let him go, but we both decided that a night in prison might teach him to think before he speaks." She sniffs, not waiting for them as she heads for the door, "We will collect him, and then leave directly after. So be ready in the morning."

"Maybe Breldo will know after Breldo gets out? Boss Pallen, Rick, Khond, Oren and the others can figure it out on the road to Mhurgot Mossley tomorrow!"

Slurp.

Vanstrom seems more than happy with Sylvera's acceptance, and graciously bids her goodbye. Assuming no forther protest from her accomplices, she and the others are let out without issue. Somewhere else, Breldo gets relayed the message that apparently their boss will be "very upset with him, and to prepare for her ire", and gets to pass something back to Khond should he so choose. But with that, they are free to return to the inn.

---

Back with Pallen, Slick thinks it over for a moment, before leaving it be until tomorrow. Bjorn seems to hesitate for a long moment, as if thinking... Then nods.

"Yeah. That's probably best."

After Rick's description of events, Oren has little else to offer, except "Yeah, that pretty much covers it.  It is all pretty confusing.  He is trying to save face or cover something up, maybe.  Get back lost family heirlooms?"    He shrugs a bit, clearly not fully understanding the reason behind all of the falsehoods and arrests.

Nuria meekly nods and scurries after Sylvera. It seems that she has done all she can for Breldo.

The group returns, updating a worried Pallen on the important bits that happened, and Bjorn eventually excuses himself to make sure that his own boss will be okay, too. Breldo and his cellmates converse a bit longer even if the setting is slightly morose, and people seem about ready to head to bed when he starts making friends with the spider that has webbed up the bars leaving outside. 

Morning arises with no other complications. 

Slick rises and begins the process of scraping greasy straw from his fur and will say to Khond,

"Rick will go see if breakfast is ready."

Oren awakens early enough that he can be slow to leave his bed. He stretches and yawns but allows himself ten good minutes to greet the morning after Rick leaves.  He will unhurriedly dress and carefully pack up for the road. He then awaits word about breakfast.  If there are any early morning shenanigans downstairs he plans on missing most of it. 

Slick wakes in the stables with Khond, while Oren and most others wake in the dormitory with the others. Pallen of course remains confined to his room until someone would go help him, barring the old elf would be stubborn enough to force himself despite his condition. Downstairs, a simple breakfast is already being prepared, a choice between porridge or bread.

Rick grabs some porridge and bread and heads up to Pallen's room and gives a knock,

"Boss Pallen? Rick is here with breakfast!"

A response comes back quite soon from inside.

"Yes, please do come in,"

Slick enters to find Pallen in the midst of getting up out of bed. Luckily, this doesn't seem to be something that is robbed from him, although even it comes with some apparent issues, clearly needing to put a decent bit of force behind what should be the simple act of rolling out of bed. His feet come hanging over the edge soon enough, and he manages to force a quick smile in Slick's direction.

"Thank you Rick, you've been a godsend. Erm..." he says, hesitating for a moment.

"I think... One of my hands is clenched in a fist. I think if you can squeeze the spoon in there, I'll manage."