"I suggest we find somewhere to spend the night," Mindartis says, looking to Del. "Need me to carry you?"

"Come on, let's get back to my mom's place."  Raven says in a tired voice.  "We did a good job here though..." She yawns hugely.  She then starts leading the way back to her mom's tavern.

"I want to check on the children in the morning," Elwin announced to no one in particular as they headed toward the tavern. He was still a bit... angry? Worried? Sorrowful? Whatever, he finally decided... they'd saved them. At least there was that.

Not wanting to be a complete downer, he turned to Del and smiled. "Sorry about the hoop, Good Del. Would have been nice to have that in our back pocket, but I'm sure we'll find our own ways of crossing the planes, yeah?"

"That hoop is better off in the hands of the authorities," Mindartis says, "though I do understand why you might want to hang on to it."

Looking at Elwin, Quentin says, "If you don't mind I'd like to join you on the follow through. Make sure they understand. After I trance I'll try to see if I can think of any magic that explains the slowing down. I know its Transmutation and that is my speciality. Crossing planes though....that'll take some serious study."  Deciding not to say something aloud Quentin says Elwin a message to tell him

 Later that day after trancing Quentin will attempt to create of the transmutation spells he knows that would slow or paralyze someone in some way. 

Arcana: 18

On the walk back to the L&S, Del answers M I must disagree with you, Lord Mindartis. Authorities bollux stuff up all the time, and we've seen some evidence of corruption. Captain Akwot, whoever that is, for example. Not suspecting Lt Hooleran, mind, but she has superiors and peers. We must just hope no ill comes of it.

"Are you suggesting that this city was willingly letting their own children get kidnapped?" Mindartis asks

No, I believe that most of the citizens, police and government are on the up-and-up. But one or two malicious insiders could do a lot of damage. Not that I know that there is an insider. But even absent corruption, the police response to the kidnapping crisis was to harass homeless kids, "well intentioned" I guess, but driving kids into hiding makes them harder to help and easier to prey on - for the 'candyman' or any ordinary thief. I lived the hustlers' life in Slate City - and I have living parents. I suspect Brother Edwin had it worse, you can see how personally this is affecting him. 

Mindartis nods, "I can't say I know how that feels. Honestly many of the things that occur on this plane confuse me. We change so much and feel so strongly in the Feywild that this place feels stagnant to me. That brief time in the Shadowfell did remind me of something though," Mindartis laughs. "You people are much less stagnant than the people of the Shadowfell are. So for now let's allow you to rest and hope that this 'Auntie' doesn't decide to exact her revenge while I'm trying to meditate."

Surprised by the covert message, Elwin relaxed a bit as he responded:

You return to the great Willow, exhausted and ready for bed as the sun continues to rise. The magical willow-vine lifts, though beautiful, natural and silent, are not nearly as stable as the precision machinery at Hickory, now that you have basis for comparison. 

An enormous (and familiar) skunk rests on the branch outside the entrance of the Lark and Swallow. Raven's mother Marita, grabs her in a hug as she enters.  "Where HAVE you been?" she asks. "Or is this not a good time to ask?" she adds, with a nod of her head toward the common room, where Captain Kibble of the Queen's Guard is enjoying a bowl of the inn's oat porridge. "Someone is looking for you."

"Well then," Mindartis says, "Is he looking for any of us in particular?"

"All of you," she says. "But she especially mentioned Elwin and Galanodel..."

Del heaves an enormous sigh We have been up 24 hours straight, captain, and we just recovered about a third of the missing kids. Or some, I don't know, eleven but maybe not all were reported. Or kids Del is babbling from exhaustion. Give us some hours

"Really? What on earth could this be about...." asked the warlock as he headed towards the table where the Queen's Guardman sat.

Mindartis follows Elwin

"We have been doing good work." Raven tells her mom.  "We rescued a bunch of those lost kids last night."  She gives her mom a quick hug, then heads towards the captain with the rest.

"Really?" says the gnome, her serious little face lighting up at the news of the rescued kids. "That's wonderful news, you'll have to tell me all about it on the drive the the castle."

"Lemmet Naica was apprehended last night. He turned up at the Grinning Goblin and asked the innkeeper to hide him. Problem was, the innkeeper was not happy with the quality of the liquor Naica had sold him. Bigger problem, when Naica sold him the hooch, he was magically disguised as a buxom redhead. He had to explain himself, and the innkeeper wasn't happy with the change. So, as soon as Naica went to bed, the innkeeper sent for the police, and they snapped the manacles on him while he was in trance."

"Since the trial is likely to be a simple one, the king insists on getting it out of the way at once, so he can attend to more important matters of state without being badgered by the Naicas and Simuls. Elwin Cold and Galanodel Tosh are vital witnesses.  I have a summons to the castle with your names on it.  Also, that job I spoke to you about, that you seemed interested in...I mentioned your names, and someone wants to talk to you about it."

"The attorneys for the defense and prosecution want to interview you before the trial...but I suppose we can let them sweat if you really need to take a nap. I can't give you more than four hours, though, with maybe an hour or so more to nap on the drive."

"Four hours is all I need," Mindartis admits. "The rest might need a bit more. But it's something."

"Four hours will be fine for now," said Elwin. True, he'd have preferred a full night's rest, but he had been mostly rested up as of late, so one short night wouldn't hurt. It also might just be enough time for his patron to meet with him, he figured.

"In which case," he added, turning to Raven's mother. "I'll head to my room now, if that's alright." Gaining a nod of consent, he made his way to his bed, where he promptly doffed his shield, then laid down for a quick recharge, shield beside him, backpack in his arms.