Residue of Sorrow

Finding Knead-a-Break takes less time than Bryn would expect. In such a big city, a bakery could be anywhere, since everyone - poor and rich alike - eats bread. But Bryn finds that Knead-a-Break is not a simple bakery for the masses, and although it sells bread as well, there is no doubt that the pastries are targeting a slightly more refined audience. And while the prices aren't too high, they're not cheap either (OOC: to my understanding, Bryn chose to live comfortably? I'd say the price of what Bryn bought in Knead-a-Break is included in the daily expense there). Therefore, it is perhaps not too surprising that it isn't very far from the inn he slept in. Even though there's no clear division between poorer and richer areas as in certain other cities, once deep enough in such an area, one can tell the difference.

The bakery is, however, mostly empty when Bryn arrives there, despite it being a good time in the late morning and a pleasant day. Three other customers sit together at one table, chatting and enjoying the food. Upon opening the door, a small bell announces Bryn's arrival, attracting the attention of a young Elf who enters the room to greet his customer. The baking itself, it seems, is done in a separate room, behind a doorless archway. Bryn can't see the entire back room, but he can see a large stone oven and a flour-covered table. He can't see or hear anyone else back there, so it seems the young Elf is the only worker around at the time.

Based on his age, it is fair to assume the young Elf is Carmelo. But if it is, his mother is nowhere to be found. The young Wood Elf's skin tone is a bright one that could be found in Humans too, but his somewhat long hair's colour is like a flame. At least that part, Bryn knows, he did not inherit from his father. He is dressed all in black, other than a white apron and a white toque. He is kind and friendly, but it doesn't escape Bryn that the act is forced. 

Purchasing a double-sided coat that looks different on each side will require the dedicated work of a tailor and will probably cost more than two separate coats, although it does have its benefits. It'll surely take some time, too. Bryn can find such a tailor if he seeks one, but it won't be ready before the Commandant meets Arren, and it will cost Bryn 15 gold coins. Purchasing a set of Traveler's Clothes, Fine Clothes or Common Clothes costs as it is listed. A traveller's coat alone costs eight silver coins, and a fine coat alone costs six gold coins. 

There are jewellers in the city who'd happily buy a gem from Bryn. Since he's only selling a few, and especially if he is dressed in Otis' attire or other fine garments, no questions are asked. Bryn gets offers ranging between 10 and 30 gold coins per gem. It's possible that Bryn could find a better price if he can find a buyer who isn't taxed, but that would require some time and effort for searching (if you wish to try, make a Persuasion check, to see if Bryn manages to convince the right people to point him in the direction he seeks, as well as convincing the dealer to deal with him. Trying and failing might have consequences beyond failure to find a dealer, if the total is low).

Jewellers generally don't know if the gems will work as an arcane focus or not - if Bryn asks them at all - but they're willing to fashion one of the gems into a ring, or sell Bryn an existing ring instead. Since the gems are large enough to cut a large piece off and still have enough to fit on a ring, Bryn can pay for the making of such a ring with the gem of his choice, and the jeweller will keep any leftovers. ((One way or the other, Bryn can purchase a ring that will act as an arcane focus. I'll let you choose its aesthetics, but its look will match its price, make of that what you will.))

Bryn will find a place where he can buy Studded Leather, given that he has the coin to pay for it. Rather than a dedicated weapons shop, Bryn will find it at a shop directed more towards travelling and staying outdoors, along with appropriate clothes, bedrolls, backpacks and the like. The store wasn't hard to find, but it is located at a far edge of the city, far from the comfortable district where his inn is. It seems this location is favourable for the audience, which includes hunters and other outlanders, and therefore also sells the bowstring Bryn sought, at a silver coin for a bow's length. If Bryn shows the seller the bow, he'll comment on its beauty, but nothing more. Bryn can also find a quiver and arrows for their standard prices.

Although no place would sell a ready-made forgery kit, Bryn can buy what he needs from various shops until he will, for the total price of 15 gold coins (matching the price of the kit), make his own kit, including a leather casing to bundle it all together. 

For the disguise kit, Bryn can find a few wigs, a makeup kit and a sewing kit for mending/altering components as needed, for a total of 15 gold coins. Buying clothes for disguises, however, will need to be made separately, per case (I'll want you to detail exactly what you buy, especially if it's for Arren and the Commandant as well). 

Although it'll be a very busy day with a lot of walking, Bryn can just manage to do all that in one day (except where I mentioned something will take time, although Bryn can still ask a tailor to work during this day, it'll just not be ready yet). He'll be very tired by evening, though, having walked around the entire city all day (I assume he didn't wear the trousers. If he did, he'll still be tired, but his feet not nearly as sore).

Bryn will not have noticed anything that seems magical during this day.

Arren purchases the three metres of cord, which is certainly more than he needs, but perhaps he will find other uses for it. In any case, it won't be a bother in his backpack. He will also buy some wire if he finds any (OOC: wire snares look much easier to me!). Since he hasn't been able to find any hunter, he'll have to rely on trial and error to set up the traps, until he figures it out or he finds anyone that can teach him on the road.

Regarding the libraries, he considers contacting the Commandant, but quickly discards the idea, knowing she will be too busy—and likely not in the best mood—for him to bother her. Perhaps on a future visit to the capital he will be able to arrange access more easily.

He laughs when his mother calls him "baby boy" at his thirty-one years of age, though he suspects she will always see him that way, no matter how much time passes. In truth, he is simply happy to see her happy.

With nothing else pressing to do, the Sergeant enjoys the rest of his short vacation until it is time to head to Peite's bakery.

(OOC: Nothing more to do on my side.)

Bryn will not rush around trying to do everything in a day, but rather spend the 3 days in a more relaxed fashion pursuing his goals. He will pay for a comfortable lifestyle for the whole time, staying in the same inn and visiting the Knead-a-Break bakery each day he is there, hoping to see Kone or to hear some conversation that will give him an insight into the lives of the Piete family. At least if someone happens to mention the name of the young elf in passing.

Reluctant to do anything that will risk him falling fowl of the law, he will reluctantly accept the best official price for the gems, making 90 gold pieces.

Combining was he already had with these coins, he will purchase the following:

3 Days Comfortable Living Expenses (6GP), Traveller's Clothes (2GP), Common Clothes (5SP), Fine Coat (6GP), Arcane Focus Ring (10GP), Studded Leather Armour (45GP), Bowstring (1SP), Quiver (1GP), 20 Arrows (1GP), Forgery Kit - Self Made (15GP), Disguise Kit - Partial Self Made(15GP)

He will request the ring be made as a wide, heavy band of brushed, darkened silver. Instead of a raised claw or a protruding setting that would snag on a sleeve or catch a guard's eye, the gem is flush-set directly into the thickest part of the metal. The gem will be dark, with the overall effect meaning neither the band nor the gem will reflect the light. In order to provide the necessary arcane substance, the stone is a deep, cylindrical cut that extends down into the body of the ring itself, mostly hidden against his finger. On the surface, it appears only as a smooth, flat disk of polished crystal, no more ostentatious than a common merchant’s signet. Its dark, gunmetal-grey finish should make it look like a utilitarian piece of hardware when he’s dressed as a labourer, yet its clean, geometric lines would lend it a quiet, masculine elegance when he’s playing the noble. It's all about the setting.

He is aware that this all but wipes himself out, rationalising the fact with the hope that the Commandant will make good on her promise to cut him in on any bonus the soldiers receive which he can ask her to give straight to Kone.

He has no further funds to extend his disguise kit to clothes for himself, let alone the Commandant and Sergeant.

(OOC: Please shout if I misinterpreted any of the above. I won't add anything to Bryn's sheet until you have confirmed it is all ok)

Not sure what difference you saw between cord and wire. I tried googling it, but couldn't find any clear distinction. Not that I tried very hard. In any case, the two are interchangeable as far as I'm concerned, unless Arren wants to buy two different things for some purpose. Either way, the price will be the same.

The "three days" the Commandant mentioned were from before the night they spent outside Pyorre. Therefore, Bryn spends the next (first) day reaching Pyorre, then the second day buying all that he wanted. That leaves him with the third day, only until noon, assuming he doesn't want to be late (unless you want to play out that he misunderstood her, which I won't stop you from doing). Perhaps a simpler way to think of it is counting nights. Before the Commandant's planned meeting, Bryn will have spent two nights in Pyorre (so, for the moment, only 2x2GP for living expenses).

The third day, that is the day after the second night spent in Pyorre, is yet another pleasant day. The partially cloudy sky hides the sun at times, only for it to suddenly emerge as if playing a game of peek-a-boo. The city's streets are busy even at night, with Elves who seem to boast to all that they needn't sleep, but become even more crowded even at the early hours of the morning when many Humans or Gnomes awake and feel some unexplained need to show the Elves they do not own the streets for more than a few hours at night. Or something else, maybe. I didn't ask them why they're up so early.

Whenever Bryn and Arren choose to wake, it is surely a few hours before the planned meeting with the Commandant. Bryn is mostly free to do as he pleases, but Arren finds that sleeping in his house has a hidden yet undeniably high cost: chores. Samira won't stop Arren from leaving if he claims there's something he needs to do, but that kitchen won't clean itself, either.

Arren wakes in that half-asleep state people fall into when they do not need to rush anywhere. This is another perk of not being on duty: sleeping a bit longer and getting up far more calmly. He enters the kitchen still yawning, his eyes not yet fully open and his black hair looking as messy as one would expect in such a situation. Very different from how he wakes up when he is working.

He sees that his mother has already started washing the dishes, and that is when he realizes he should probably be helping with that as well.

"Wait, let me help," he says. "Though I'll have to leave with enough time to find the place where I'm meeting Commandant Nattensbarn. It's not at the central station as usual, but at a bakery. What was it called… Break-something? Knead Bread…? No, Knead-a-Break, that was it. Do you happen to know it?"

He picks up a broom and begins sweeping the floor.

"Anyway, I need to make sure I arrive on time or she'll be, well, not happy."

Once that is finished, he dries and stores the dishes. Meanwhile, he tells Samira about Corporal Peite, whose wife owns the bakery, and how he did not survive the fall in Tus.

"He was going to be my companion, replacing Lieutenant Tireur after his retirement. I wonder what that would have been like. I didn't even share a word with him, but I have the feeling he was a good man."

He remembers the small wave the real Tace Peite gave Walnuts and him when they realized he was going to be their new companion, that day in the interrogation room in Tus. Arren had taken it as a slightly shy gesture, but a friendly one.

"It's not going to be a happy visit to the Peite's bakery."

He keeps helping around the house, all the while keeping an eye on the time to make sure he will not be late for his meeting with the Commandant and Bryn.

When it is time to depart, Arren is already wearing his clean uniform. He hugs Samira warmly.

"Sorry I can't stay a bit longer, ummi. Take care, alright? I'll visit the next time we come to Pyorre… though I can't really say when that will be." 

Bryn did in fact have a very busy first full day in Pyorre, finding he had to walk quite far to gather all the resources he deemed necessary to make himself useful on his further travels with the Commandant and Sergeant.

After a decent hot meal and a goblet of good quality wine, he spends the early portion of the night in trance, and then rouses to spend some time concentrating on the magical items in his possession. Emil's Bow is now complete, having had the bowstring fitted the previous day, and he wonders whether that will effect the magic within immediately. He takes an arrow, knocks and draws it, pointing it at a nominal safe target. A beam of wood, perhaps with a piece of cloth or paper to use as an actual target. he doesn't release, just concentrates on the words from the glyphs, seeing if he trigger anything.

He also once again looks to the cargo trousers. He puts them on with his full suit of finery, less the fine trousers, and once again attempts to will them not to stand out so much, and to blend in with his surroundings. If there is no change, he will put on the fine coat he bought and see how much they conceal and whether it would do. It should at least be long enough to cover the strange pockets.

With that done, and the hour still relatively early, he heads down to breakfast. He had been so busy, he hadn't paid much attention to the other guests or staff until now. His plan for the day prior to meeting the soldiers is to be more aware of conversations. In fact before he heads down, he will ritually cast comprehend languages, testing that his new ring focus works and also allowing him to understand anything he overhears over breakfast. He is quite good with languages anyway but this will ensure nothing gets past him. As he casts the spell, the feels the slight vibrations in the stone within the metal band, as it seems to anchor the magic as he summons it.

He is in no rush today, and intends to give his sore feet a little rest and be more passive before heading to Knead-a-Break. It will also give him a chance to figure out exactly how is going to handle the proper meeting with the Piete's. He assumes the Commandant will be bringing the Corporal's belongings with her, and intends to speak with his family and explain the circumstances of his passing. If she does that, what more is he to do himself, beyond implicate them all and great risk? Where did that leave his promise to Emma?

When he leaves the inn, he will have the intention of finding Arren, prior to their meeting at the bakery. He doesn't expect to be able to, but as one of the glyphs on Emil's bow which he now carries properly contained the word find, he decides it is as good a test as any of the magic it contains. If by some miracle he does come across Arren...

About an hour or so before midday finds him back in his room at the inn,  where he will once again ritually cast comprehend languages before making his way to the bakery. He intends to arrive early, and occupy a table close to a window so he can see the street. He will be very observant of the comings and goings of people on the street, particularly as to whether there appears to be a mustering of military types, either in uniform or those he can identify as being in plain clothes. He will also be listening to conversation within the bakery, and being mindful of the other patrons. Especially any who linger a long time on one drink or pastry, or worse, buy and don't touch. He himself eats and drinks, and if he runs out will at least purchase another drink.

(OOC: Not sure what happens if he comes across Arren, I guess we can play out that encounter separately)

Although Samira doesn't frequent the bakery often, she says she's been there before, and gives Arren a somewhat vague idea of its location. Not a proper address, perhaps, but close enough that anyone in the area would most likely know to point him in the right direction. "But I don't understand. You just got back! You always stay longer."

"You better," Samira embraces Arren, squeezing the air out of his lungs. "Now take care. I don't want that woman of yours to appear without you one day."

Bryn feels a faint sense of confusion when he draws the bow, as if asking: 'What am I aiming at exactly?' But other than that, nothing special happens.

The trousers, meanwhile, finally yield to Bryn's wishes and change their appearance. However, after some trial and error, Bryn finds that they cannot take on just any form. The item's description has been updated. Please read the trousers' transformation limitations.

Sitting in Knead-a-Break, Bryn hears conversations of other patrons or from the street. Bryn can hear Meyen and Common mostly, but also a lot of Elvish, fitting the mix of Humans, Elves and Gnomes that populate the city. As there are barely any Halflings or Dwarves, Bryn doesn't hear either of their respective languages. The bakery looks the same as the other day. Since Bryn sits there for a longer length of time, he has more time to observe the Elf that works there alone. Or rather, his absence, since the Elf spends as much time as he can in the back room, whenever he is not needed at the front. He doesn't seem to work very hard, though, as the shelves aren't exactly packed with bread or other pastries.

At some point, two other youngsters arrive. A Gnome and another Elf. They stand and speak with the young Elf for a bit, and it is clear they know him well. Eavesdropping on their conversation, Bryn learns that they are Carmelo's friends and that the Peites already know of Tace's death. Although Carmelo claims he is fine, it seems his mother isn't taking it so well, which is why he is tending to the bakery.

I assume Bryn doesn't walk the streets with a bow in hand, but either way, nothing happens that would help him locate Arren before the Sergeant's arrival later.

When Arren finally arrives at the bakery, he'll find Bryn sitting at one table, and two other customers who do not intend to sit, buying two loaves of bread. There's not a lot of time left before the Commandant's arrival, but the two do have a few minutes in the bakery to sit with each other, or separately. Other than Arren, Bryn sees soldiers occasionally, but not more than usual, nor do any of them behave strangely.

At midday, the sound of a horse's tapping over the cobblestone attracts Bryn and Arren's attention. A single soldier arrives... but it is not Commandant Nattensbarn. When the horse reaches the bakery, the soldier dismounts and hitches the horse to a nearby pole, then unties a wooden crate from the horse's back. He carries the crate into the bakery, looks around briefly until his eyes fall on Arren, in his uniform, at which point he hurries to the Sergeant. 

"Sergeant Al-Nasrid... sir?" The soldier, a young Elf whose low rank tells Arren he cannot have been serving for more than a year, places the crate in front of Arren and salutes the superior soldier. "Commandant Nattensbarn says she couldn't make it today and asked me to deliver this to you here, sir!" The pitch of his voice is a little high, he talks a little too loudly, and he looks pretty nervous. The "this is my first time doing something, and I must not fail" kind of nervous. "She said she wrote you a letter inside, in case you have any questions... sir!"

If asked, the soldier doesn't know anything about what's inside or why the Commandant couldn't come. He was sent urgently and rode straight to the bakery. He waits until Arren dismisses him, standing silently, awkwardly, if Arren forgets or chooses not to do so.

"You won't have to speak to Gaitha if you squeeze the air out of me like that!" Arren protests jokingly. "I know… this isn't usual. But I think something urgent has happened that needs the Commandant's attention, and we did lose several days during our journey here," he tries to explain. "We'll have more days next time, don't worry."

"Hey," Arren greets Bryn once he finds him already sitting at the bakery. "How have you been? Everything alright? Though I'm sure you've found your way around the city just fine."

He pauses, watching Bryn for a moment, and when he notices he isn't wearing the brown cargo trousers, he asks jokingly, "Did you give up on those trousers already?"

Since they still have some time before the Commandant arrives—and because it would be a bit strange to sit at a table without ordering anything—he asks who he assumes must be Tace's son for a hot beverage and something sweet to go along with it. Who knows when they will be able to enjoy something like this again after they leave Pyorre...?

His eyes linger a bit longer than usual on the young Elf, wondering whether he takes more after his father or his mother and trying to imagine how Tace Peite might have looked, but he does not say anything on the topic. He prefers to wait for the Commandant to address that.

Once he is served, and after a few sips of his drink, Arren tells Bryn a bit about what he has been doing. It has not really been much, but he does mention that he bought some ingredients and materials to prepare snares, in the hope that they might eat a little better during their journeys, even if they will still have to rely on rations most of the time.

It is at that moment that the young soldier appears, and Arren can hardly believe his pointed ears. He frowns and shares a glance with Bryn, who is probably just as surprised as he is, and then turns back to the soldier, returning the salute.

"I see. Thank you for delivering this, soldier. That will be all."

Arren then stares at the crate for a few seconds, which he assumes must contain Tace Peite's belongings and maybe his own as well, musing, "…in case I have any questions? I have all  the questions."

He bends down to open the crate. Not completely, but enough to see what is inside and to retrieve the letter, which he begins to read immediately.

Bryn will adjust the trousers to fit in with the clothes Otis wears, so a fine looking dark grey pair with a pair of pockets on the back, one of which is more brown in colour and has a hole. On the front of one leg, near the waist, is an ink stain.

He sits in the Knead-a-Break quietly sipping his drink and ailing himself of a pastry, feeling sympathy for the young elf who is trying hard to put on a brave face. When he hears that his mother is not here because she is so upset, he is not surprised. The letters he read showed the love Kone and Tace shared. At this time he feels incredibly guilty for invading their privacy like he did, in reading those letters.

His mood is somber when Arren arrives, though he manages a small, genuine smile as he pushes out a chair with his foot.

"It's been a little hectic, finding my way around the city with so little time, but I have been good. It has been a pleasant change staying in comfort and eating well", he replies. "How about you? Did you make the most of the limited time off?".

When Arren mentions the trousers, he looks down at his lap, smoothing the fabric of the dark grey Otis-style pants. He lets his fingers linger over the "ink stain" on the thigh. "It turns out there was more to the trousers than was first revealed", he says with a knowing glint in his eye, hinting that his "finery" is more adaptable than it looks.

At an opportune moment after Arren has his drink and Carmelo has retreated into the back room, he leans in, a look of genuine sympathy on his face. "The news has reached them, as we suspected it would. The kid is putting on a brave face, but it seems his mother hasn't been up to working since", he confides in a whisper.

No sooner have the words left his lips than the sound of hooves announces the courier. He watches the interaction with a detached, observational air, though his eyebrows raise when Arren sends him a look of surprise.

Once the nervous young soldier has been dismissed and the crate sits between them, he sits back, crossing his arms. "I don't know her that well, Arren, but the Commandant certainly doesn't seem the sort to delegate something like this", he says, his voice tinged with curiosity.

He watches Arren’s face closely as the Sergeant reaches for the letter, his own hand instinctively moving toward his new ring, waiting to hear whatever news, or perhaps instruction, might be inside.

Calling it a letter is a bit of an exaggeration. Inside, resting on top of everything else, is a single piece of paper, torn from a larger sheet in a hurry, it seems, on which the Commandant scribbled in a rush in her tiny handwriting:

In five days at the port, at dawn.

Here are the late Tace Peite's belongings, as well as your bonuses for your hard work.

Aside from the Commandant's note, the crate contains a wooden box containing all of Tace Peite's belongings that Bryn left with in the carriage, except for weapons and armour, and five leather drawstring pouches, each containing 50 gold coins. 

Arren snorts, somewhat annoyed. "She certainly spared the ink."

But then he checks the note again—noticing how the paper was torn in a hurry—and adds, a little more concerned, "She wrote this in a rush. I wonder what happened."

He hands the letter to Bryn and then takes out the pouches, keeping two of them and giving the other three to Bryn.

"We can split the third one later. Now I guess we should call Carmelo." He pauses. "And then, well, we have five days on our own to do… whatever. I'll need to get my things from the station, though."

Bryn takes the scrap of paper from Arren, holding it at an angle to catch the midday light through the window. He doesn't just read the words; he examines the ink with the critical eye of a forger and a calligrapher.

Are the strokes jagged, indicating a lack of a hard surface? Does the pressure suggests she was writing in a state of high tension, or perhaps while standing.

He then takes the three pouches of gold and deftly slides them along with the note into his pack, ensuring they are muffled by his gear. The last thing he wants is to draw attention by clinking. 

He looks at the wooden box of Tace’s effects, then glances toward the back room where Carmelo is working. He shakes his head slowly.

"We shouldn't do this here, Arren. Not like this", he says, his voice dropping to a respectful whisper. "Giving a boy his father’s ghost over a counter while the ovens are hot... it’s not right. And the mother should be the one to receive these".

He leans across to make sure the crate lid is closed and unless Arren stops him, moves it under the table, so no accidental viewing can happen.

"Let’s tell the boy we have word of his father and his possessions, but ask for a time to meet them both together. Perhaps at their home after the shop closes. It gives them dignity, and it gives us a controlled environment to talk".

"Five days until the port. Until we find out what is happening with the Commandant, why she was in so much of a rush. I don't like it", he finally adds.

Arren shakes his head slightly, as if realizing he had been thoughtless to suggest giving the Peites the crate right there in the bakery, and nods to Bryn's idea.

"You're right. And very thoughtful. Yes, let's do that. This place is too public, and their feelings will be too shaken when we give them the crate. The'll definitely be more comfortable at their home."

He watches as Bryn slips the crate under the table, and when he does, Arren picks up his drink, swirling it a little in the cup before finishing the last few sips, listening to what the Elf is saying about the Commandant.

"You know? She did mention something before we arrived in Pyorre, when I asked her about the armoured man. Something about taking a vacation so we could go in search of those two. It would be great if she had just decided to press through a few more days of work before she could do that." He shakes his head. "I dont know. Sounds too good to be true, right?"

Arren pauses for a moment.

"I could try asking around as I fetch my gear. Perhaps Walnuts is still at the station and has heard something. But you know her—she shares only what she considers enough, and when she chooses to. Not a moment before. So I wouldn't be surprised if no one knows the reasons for this delay."

As he speaks to Bryn, he looks toward the counter from time to time to see if Carmelo appears. If he does, Arren will signal for him to approach their table.

"In any case, I was also thinking of asking other fellow soldiers whether they've seen or heard of any trails of bodies in their travels caused by a single strong and skilled attacker, possibly wielding a large weapon. I can't seem to get that out of my mind."

The young Elf doesn't really leave the back room unless called or unless he hears the doorbell when a new customer walks in. Not exactly an inviting attitude, which might explain why the place is somewhat empty.

If Arren calls to get his attention, though, the young Elf approaches. "How may I help you sirs?" He asks, and upon seeing Arren's empty cup, he adds: "Would you like to refill your cup?"

"Definitely too good to be true", Bryn replies. "There is likely much for her to report, beyond the reason she was summoned back. The issue of Emma and then the find in the mountains.... any of those things could have got her tied up. Let us hope merely figuratively", he adds, a note of genuine concern in his tone.

How dangerous is the political landscape Pyorre? Is the meeting at the port a properly scheduled deployment, or an escape from an unpleasant situation. Could the Commandant really be in trouble from rivals?

He nods in agreement as Arren speaks about asking around. "Are there any taverns in the city that the officers frequent more than others?", he wonders quietly.

He then goes on to ponder their future destination, "If we are leaving by ship, we are unlikely to come across this attacker any time soon. And in fact, our destination could be anywhere, including Meyen lands". After a pause, he adds with a chuckle, "Or she could just be arranging a farewell for the Lieutenant!".

If Arren does call Carmelo across, Bryn sits up straight and throws the young a smile, but lets the Sergeant speak first so the interaction remains formal.

"Oh yes, there definitely are," Arren answers regarding the taverns. "We can look around there too."

Since he sees Carmelo approaching, he does not add anything more about the reasons behind the Commandant’s delay, but the look on his face makes it clear that his concern is growing. Inwardly, he hopes nothing has gone wrong and that Flêche is safe, but he quickly focuses on the young Elf who has addressed them.

Noticing that Bryn is deferring to him, Arren clears his throat and speaks.

"Oh. Not for the moment, no, thank you. You are Carmelo, right? Tace Peite's son? I—" he begins, then glances toward Bryn and corrects himself, feeling it would be strange not to include him in the conversation. "—We only met your father briefly. He was meant to come work with us as part of Commandant Nattensbarn's personal guard."

He pauses for a moment, then adds, "We are deeply sorry for your loss."

Arren gives the young Elf a few moments, assuming that the mention of his father will stir Carmelo's emotions, and then continues.

"We have some of your father's belongings and would like to return them to you and your mother, Kone. But since we do not wish to trouble you here at the bakery, perhaps you would prefer to meet later at a more suitable place. Would you like us to bring them to your home?"

((Sorry, my last post was made from a mobile device, at night, so I forgot to answer your questions.))

Bryn thinks the paper was resting on a strong surface, yet not a hard one. Something that remains straight, but allows just a little pressure. Most likely a stack of papers or a book, as opposed to a hard table or a wall. Beyond that, it was clear that she wrote the note in a hurry and without caring much for the quality of the writing... not that Bryn recalls the Commandant's handwriting to be impressive in particular, even when she makes an effort. Actually, paired with its minimal size, it's a little hard to read, if anything. But at the very least, it comes out very distinct in this way, unlikely to be forged.

There are taverns frequented more often by soldiers, strictly after their shifts ended, closer to the central station and the barracks. Arren would know, however, that the majority of them don't travel often, instead staying around Pyorre.

Carmelo tenses a little the moment Arren mentions his father's name, but remains where he is and listens to Arren. The smile he made an effort to fake is gone from his face, though. "Do you have it here? There's no need to arrange something special. I'll take it to my mom once I'm done here. She wouldn't like to see you soldiers anyway."

"I understand," Arren says quietly. Perhaps I shouldn't have been here at all. And perhaps it's for the best that the Commandant isn't here either.

He glances toward Bryn, in case he wants to add anything.

Arren is ready to answer that they do indeed have Tace's belongings with them, but he waits for a moment, just in case Bryn—being a civilian—is able to speak to Carmelo in a way that might feel easier for him. Perhaps even to speak to Kone as well.

Bryn leans forward slightly, his expression softening to show genuine empathy.

"I truly am sorry for what happened to your father, Carmelo", he says quietly. "The little I knew of him made me feel like he was a good man - the sort who took his responsibilities seriously, both professional and personal"

He pauses, acknowledging Carmelo's defensive stance with a small, understanding nod. "As for his things, we really feel it's best to deliver them to your mother. I know how difficult this is for her - for you both - and we want to make it as easy as we can. I’m not enlisted myself, you see; I’m just a scribe who has become affiliated with the Sergeant here. I’m a civilian, much like yourself. Perhaps that will help your mother feel more comfortable".

"The truth is, I promised your mother’s friend, Emma Acunar, that I would speak with your mother personally. I wouldn't want to let Emma down, nor would I want to leave your father's effects on a shop counter like a simple delivery. If it would make things easier, we can arrive as discreetly as possible. We simply wish to ensure everything is returned to your family with the respect it deserves", he says, looking up at the obviously grief-stricken young elf.

Carmelo stands quietly for a few moments, weighing his options. "Suit yourselves," he acquiesces eventually, then gives directions to their house. It isn't far from the bakery. "I'd appreciate it if you do it before I'm closing here, though. It's hard enough to see her this way already. Now, if you don't mind..." 

Unless stopped, Carmelo returns to the back room, checking the oven for a moment but leaving what's inside there for a little longer.

If Bryn and Arren follow Carmelo's directions, they'll find themselves in front of a small, single-storied house. A small wooden sign nailed to the door confirms this is the Peites' house. In this part of the city, it isn't uncommon to find a small garden outside the house, and the Peites' house is no different, with a small plot of land with green sprouts that weren't planted too long ago and enjoy the day's soft rains. While there are several windows, they're all veiled with colourful curtains. There's no sign that anyone's inside, but neither Arren nor Bryn can see to be sure.