[[ This link is where Minton said he was dead.  This link is the story Minton told.

Brand is once again trying to be accurate. ]]

Brand's gaze becomes distant as he tries to recall the conversation that occurred 5.5 months ago yesterday.

"It's an odd tale. One would probably expect that. Minton told me that Wamzut's body was destroyed while travelling between worlds...by someone who seemed to want him dead, who also set spirit beings upon him. It did not sound at all like an accident or mishap."

"With his body destroyed he managed to return to this world and was able to possess the body of a young half-alfaren woman. Attina was the name, I think."

"Yes, Attina." he says, nodding to himself. "This Attina was later involved in the death of one Harlan, a Donai Seeker apparently. This would have been around N days ago." [[ Minton said 2 days before he was healed, and Brand has established when he was healed, I just can't remember. ]]

Brand frowns for a moment, thinking of Nathaniel possessing his own body. "Come to think of it, Minton started by saying he was dead, but he never mentioned the woman dying..****y that she had not returned, I assume to the School."

Brand thinks for a time, then smiles, "I'm glad you asked the question. I must have been too shocked to think clearly. I retract what I said. Minton said he was dead, but my money's on the old guy...woman...whatever."

 [[ Updated my move above...finished now ]]

Melitta stays silent for some time after Brand finishes telling his story. Then she says, "An alfaren you say? Are you sure?"

When Brand nods in reply, Melitta laughs out loud and then says, "It surely cannot be a coincidence. What a shock this will be to Isatics."

[[Time for bed. Ciao.]]

"You obviously know something about this Alfaren woman. What is it?"

"Nothing first hand," Melitta replies, "But it was one of ours who killed the Seeker. The fellow who actually owns this house, Simad. He did it to save an alfaren woman the Seeker was attacking for some reason. They are so rare, it must be the same one, the one Wamzut has somehow possessed... Strange, I did not take him to be a necromancer..."

After a moment, Melitta continues. "Anyway, Simad took her to Isatic's hidden shrine—she had been badly cut by the Seeker—to tend to her wounds and a short time later the Mithrans found them and attacked in force... Isatics is vague on the details, but they all apparently escaped and went their own ways. The alfaren hasn't been seen since, and Simad has apparently fled the city—coward that he is."

Brand breathes a sigh of relief, still smiling. "That is good news indeed! Though it does not progress my understanding of the stones. Do you have any idea where I might find Wamzut now?"

"None," replies Melitta. "I only found out about the alfaren from Isatics a couple of days ago, and only found out about Wamzut from yourself just now. However, unless he has some way of hiding his features, I suspect he must have also fled the city. The Temple's fear of the other is high at the moment, and the alfaren's look would certainly attract lots of attention."

Brand nods, "Fleeing the overzealous temple guards would be wisest. So...are you able to suggest the best was to get one of the stones safely investigated?"

"I would not trust Isatics," says Melitta. "But Helas is a man of knowledge, and not too ambitious. He might be able to help, or at least know of a trustworthy magus in the Scholar's Ward."

"Very well, I'll look into it. Do you know anything of Madame Danass - should I try her?"

[[ Listens to answer, explaining she's some kind of mystic if Melitta asks ]]

Tilting his head to one side, Brand purses his lips then asks, "Is there anything more you are willing to tell me of your ... adventures ... though I doubt that is the right word?"

"I Remember hearing of this Madame Damass you speak of, but know little about her... Something about a curse, if I remember correctly? Do you know her?"

After Brand explains what he believes Damass is, Melitta just shrugs and can add nothing.

"Is there anything more you are willing to tell me of your ... adventures?" asks Brand. "... Though I doubt that is the right word?"

"Perhaps another time," says Melitta. "Everything is too new and there are things that must be kept secret, even from you, I'm afraid."

Then she adds, "Talk to Helas. I will try to keep Isatics from meddling, but if he tries to interfere, tell him you are under my protection. He fears me, and that should keep him in place. But, I must warn you, dealing with gods is tricky enough; dealing with devils and demons must surely be harder."

Brand draws in his breath slowly, and nods. "Very well. I like Helas."

"Do you know much about latent sorcery? I just discovered that I am one, and was hoping to see if there might be more than one trigger...it's Jartinal Weed, and I don't want to spend my day with a cup of tea in my hand. Do you know if there might be more than one trigger? Or...anything else that might be helpful?"

"Sorry, but I know nothing about latent sorcery," she replies. "But I do know that there are many more ways to gain power than just sorcery. It just depends on how much of yourself you are willing to give up. Be wary, Alaric. You may regret—"

At this point, there is a knock at the door.

"Ah," says Melitta, "Our char. Can you get that please, Alaric."

Brand stands and heads to the door warily, hand on his dagger, opening it with his foot blocking the door, so that whoever is behind the door can not initially see him. When it's open a crack, he quickly glances through the gap and checks it's Delilah and that she has tea. If so, and there's noone else there, he smiles and opens the door wide enough for her to enter.

When Brand opens the door, he see the older woman in the corridor. She is not carrying char, and she looks worried.

"There something going on outside," she says, trying to peer in through the slightly opened door. "We may have to make a run for it."

Brand glances at Melitta, waiting for her OK to open the door wider. "Trouble, it seems."

Melitta gets to her feet and comes to the door. "What is it?" she demands of the woman outside, who face looks anxious in the light of the candle she is carrying.

"Not sure," the woman replies. "But there's the sound of men in the service road at the back of the house and they have magical light sources from the look of it. Jay and Delilah have gone out to check."

"You should have gone," says Melitta, going through the door. "I don't trust Delilah not to do something stupid."

"I'm just doing what Jay told me too," answers the woman.

Melitta turns to look at Brand and then says, "This is not your fight, Brand. I suggest you leave." She then turns back to the woman and asks, "Is there a way up to the roof?"

The woman just shrugs and says, "I don't know, this is not my house."

"I'll get my pack, if that's OK with you and Azad...and the roof is a good option for me as well."

"Melitta, I'm willing to fight with you...though I'd prefer not if its the city guard...I still have some respect left for them. Sometimes flight is a better option for all concerned."

Melitta moves a little way apart and reaches over her shoulder. Suddenly, a long sword glowing with a purple light is in her hand.

"You might be right," she says in answer to Brand's comment. "But I won't leave anyone behind."

Then she adds, "Come on," and begins leading the way downstairs.

The three make their way downstairs where they find Adzo trying to peek through a gap in the kitchen shutters. As soon as the creature becomes aware of their presence, it quickly returns to the corner where Brand's belongings lie.

[[Slight retcon: Adzo is not a Wizard's familiar, so he can't be 'put away' into a pocket dimension like they can. He is also not one of the better Warlock's familiars, which can also do the pocket dimension trick. What this means is that Adzo couldn't pop into existence, so instead he would have had to float into the kitchen behind Melitta rather than just appear.]]

"Adzo, here!" says Melitta, gesturing to the creature. 

The creature complies and Melitta reaches out and touches its craggy hide and murmurs some words, at which point the creature fades from view.

"Stay behind me and guard," she says.

Then she turns to Brand and asks, "How do I contact you, if I need to?"

"Master Helas, failing that the School and failing that the Brand residence on Empire Row. But be cautious with the latter. Contact me, even if you don't need to. How shall I contact you?"

"Where to now? The roof?"

Brand gathers his gear and moves the stones to the usual home.