Quote from BaconExpert982 >>

"No, just friendly conversation," Kerri smiles. "How long have you known Threestrings?"

 “Oh, well ever since I started working here, about a month or so. Isn’t he so talented? I’m so sorry, I don’t have much time to chat, Durnan will take it off of my pay.”

As the white rain falls upon the glittering fancy boys Aimee smiles and says,

"I didn't even have to ask him to do that! He just knew!"

She finishes off the last bite of a pastry as they go, knowing she'll need to keep her strength up for the ascent.

"So, Cico? What's the name of this prophecy seer person again that I need to meet?"

Cico watches the magical crow leave its unwanted gifts on those below then looks at Aimee when she says she didn't make the bird do that.

"I suspect your inner character influences the bird more than you know," Cico says as the begin heading up the mountain.

Looking down at the girls he chooses the circuitous route. They have both shown themselves to be stronger than they look and could likely make the climb as well as he could, but those shorter legs may be better suited to the steady road.

"I believe Prior Hlam is a monk not a prophet," Cico says in answer to Aimee's question. "He may not see magically but I understand that little happens in this city without his knowledge."

"Are we doing a scramble? I'm all full of pie, and ready to go!", Lyss says, slapping her belly.

Cico looks down at Lyss and her stomach filled with pie.

"Let's walk the trail first while that digests," Cico says, finding himself strangely at ease speaking with the young ones. He has often thought children are easier to talk to. There is little hidden meaning in their words. "You will vomit if you start climbing with a stomach that full."

Lyss nods at Cico's sage wisdom. "That'd be a criminal waste of pie. At least until I can fly like Whispers and barf it all over people I don't like!"

"Don't want to be criminals, right Cico? Pie says put!"

Aimee's smile becomes speculative,

"Pretty sure whatshername said it was a prophet! I probably should have listened closer, but she did say I was special! Not the, "oh, aren't you just soooo special" kind of special either!"

After a few minutes of walking,

"Boy, I wish I could fly too! I'd try not to poop on anyone even! At first!"

"If you can manage not to do it now," Cico says, "it should not be hard for you not to do it when you're flying."

He mulls over the rest of Aimee's comments for a few moments as they walk.

"You do have power," Cico finally says. "Both of you. Enough to get yourselves into serious trouble. And you both say what you're thinking. That will also get you into trouble. Despite what most people say, I do not think that they really want to hear the truth most of the time."

He looks up at the mountain as they walk,.

"Whatever is happening in this city, you two will play a very large part in shaping it's final form."

"I meant more that if I could fly, it might be worth barfing the pie if I can land it on someone so it's not as much of a waste. But for now, I'll be keeping it in my tum."

"I don't always say what I'm thinking, sometimes I say stuff I made up... though I guess I had to think it, to say it, so it is what I'm thinking? I might've confused myself. But I'm good at lying, if I have to, and can usually tell when other people are too. If they don't lie to me, I usually don't have to lie to them. You're not good at lying, are you, Cico? If you want me to teach you, let me know. You can be my student!"

Edvord is slightly annoyed by the approach of his brother. Before responding to Aldrik he whispers back uncharacteristically fast to Havi as he clasps the vial, "Time is short, but my interest is piqued. What is the symbol of your master?"

As their conversation ends, Edvord turns to Aldrik, "New technology... technology that I have not read of... how interesting. Give me but a moment to finish my business and we may depart."

(Sorry Eddie, Aldrik would have waited for you to complete your dealings and not interrupted -- that was my intent, but wanted to get my post across)

Aimee nods eagerly,

"I wasn't good at lying at all but then Lyss taught me and I'm super good at it! I don't lie much but when I do you'd never know!"

She looks at Cico and says,

"You've got excellent taste in pastries Sir Cico!"

Deception13

Cico Insight: 20  

Cico looks at Aimee and frowns when she makes a comment about his taste in pastry.

”Are you trying to teach me lying now? Why would you lie about whether you think I have excellent taste or not? That will not change which pies that I like or how I feel about myself.”

Cico walks on quietly for several moments trying to figure out the ease which many fabricate what they say and why they do it.

Cico, Lyss and Aimee continue around the mountain, the path takes you around the back of the palace and castle built into the base of the mountain. Whilst towering from the bottom, they almost seem insignificant from this angle. Night falls, and a few hours later you find yourself below the cave again as the winds lick at your face, the path ahead splits in two. One narrows out, yet seems to continue your trajectory around the mountain. A wider path diverts back downhill. Scaling the mountain up still seems to be an option from here.

Havi slides over a piece of paper to Edvord before nodding to Aldrik. “Seems like you have family matters to attend to, I shall take my leave.”

"Up and up we go! We'll be able to sleep here right Cico?"

She looks down and says more quietly, thoughtfully,

"How fast you think you could get going down this mountain in a little wagon?"

“Fast enough that would likely kill yourself at the bottom,” Cico says looking down the mountain.

”We could try climbing now to get to the cave sooner. I assume we could sleep there.” Cico says looking up the remaining hill. 

He pulls some rope out of his pack and begins climbing up, letting the rope down to help the others if they need it.

"I don't feel full of pie anymore, I'm up for a scramble!", Lyss proclaims.

After Havi leaves Edvord finally responds to Aldrik, addressing both Aldrik and Keri, "I might have an interesting lead... but I need to do a bit of research before speaking more. As for solving murders, perhaps it is best to wait for the whole gang to be present... last time we went on an adventure a few of the younger folk almost perished. Assuming we have what Mirt requested, let us return to him... hopefully there is a reward accompanying this tom-foolery."

"Ooohhh, almost certainly! But imagine the ride!"

Aimee has Granjul fly up and check out the cave while she waits for the rope.