Dining & More Meetings

After five minutes of walking, Winnacer leads them to a pleasant looking whitewashed building just off the Market Square:

"Frankonian Restaurant 'Beaucoup d'Argent'," he reads. "Hmmmm, I've never tried Frankonian food before but heard that it's very good. Let's give it a try."

They all walk inside and see that the inside of the restaurant looks to be very pleasant indeed, with just a few tables, each covered by a white tablecloth. The restaurant is totally empty apart from two smartly dressed waiters who are standing chatting to each other in the corner. The waiters don't look up as the group enters and so they seat themselves around the largest table in the center of the room.

Aithne sits on the opposite side of the table from Winnacer, next to Yaz, while Milan pulls Granny's chair out for her to allow her to sit.

They then sit at the table and wait.

And wait.

After ten minutes, during which time the two waiters simply continue to chat to each other, Winnacer is starting to get a little impatient:

"Um .. . excuse me. Do you think that we could get some service here?"

The waiters continue chatting to each other, obviously ignoring them all. Another five minutes go by and everyone is now getting very hungry. Winnacer is starting to get a little annoyed. He stands up from his seat and speaks in his most commanding voice:

"Please. We really would like to eat now."

One of the waiters looks over at him with a scowl. He throws a napkin down upon an empty table in annoyance and marches over:

"Vhat eez it zat you vant?" he enquires with a scowl.

"We really would like to eat. This is a restaurant, isn't it?" Winnacer asks.

"Oh, Meeester Funny Man, is eet?" the waiter replies sarcastically.

He then lets out a deep sigh:

"Very vell zen. Zees ees vhat ve ave for today. Listen carefully to vat I ave to say, because I am not going to say eet twice."

"On ze menu today ve ave, Boeuf Bourgignon, Filet de Beouf, Steak au Poivre, Poulet Frite, Duck a l'Orange, Escargots, Coq au Vin, Pate de Foie Gras, Poisson de Mer an some uzzer stuff which eez too good for you Bo'avians."

"Now vhat eez it zat you vant? I ave not got all day."

Not understanding anything at all that is on the menu, and knowing all too well that the waiter is not going to be explaining anything, they all just pick dishes at random.

Apart from Yaz.

"I don't eat the flesh of Prirodna's children," he says. "Can I just have some vegetables."

"Typeekal," the waiter replies. "You vith the pointy ears are always ze same."

"I'll have the .. .errm .. . second one," Milan says, not remembering anything on the menu at all.

"Ze Filet de Beouf?" the waiter replies.

"Y-y-yes," Milan stutters.

"An 'ow vould you like zat 'Sir'?" he asks sarcastically. "Rare, medium or well done?"

"Oooh, I'd like it done well," Milan replies. "I don't want to be eating nothing that's not done well."

The waiter gives Milan a look of total hatred as he finishes his order. Having taken everyone's order now, he storms off into the kitchen, slamming the door behind him.

In the quiet restaurant, they can hear the sound of an altercation between two Frankonians, which gets rapidly more and more heated until they can hear the sound of kitchenware and plates being hurled around the kitchen.

After five minutes, the waiter returns, looking absolutely livid.

"Errm .. . could we get some wine while we're waiting?" Winnacer asks. "Perhaps a bottle of your house red?"

Cursing to himself, the waiter wanders back into the kitchen and storms back out again with a bottle of red wine in his hand.

He pours a small amount into Winnacer's glass:

"Vould sir care to try?" the waiter says with even more sarcasm than before. "Not zat sir vould know ze difference between ze finest Cabernet Sauvignon an donkey piss mixed viz blood, I'm sure."

Winnacer sniffs and then samples the wine:

"That will be fine," he says.

The waiter pours out the wine to everyone and then disappears back into the kitchen. They drink the wine and wait.

And wait and wait.

Just as Winnacer is debating whether or not to go into the kitchen and have a word with the waiter again, the doors to the kitchen fly open again and the two waiters storm out carrying large plates, over which are metal covers. They place them on the table, before simultaneously pulling off the covers.

They all stare at the plates. They are all more than 18" in diameter, yet they almost have to search the plate with a magnifying glass to find the food. It is however incredibly artfully laid out.

"Bon Appetit," the waiter scowls and heads off back to the corner of the room to carry on chatting. After three minutes, the morsels on their plates has all been devoured. The quality of the food was fine, although the fact that the meat sprayed blood over the tablecloth when they cut into it was a little off-putting, with Yaz fighting the urge to vomit as he sees them do so.

They then wait for the tables to be cleared.

And wait and wait.

"Errm .. . could we have the check, please?" Winnacer asks.

The waiter sighs once again and storms back over:

"Zat vill be eighty gold pieces," the waiter replies.

Winnacer reluctantly pays the check before leading the others out of the restaurant ,shaking his head as they reenter the teeming streets of Olmutz. The meal took so long to get that it is already 4.30 by the time they exit and the streets are already dark:

"So, now we need to get Granny back and have a good word with her grandson," Winnacer says to Milan.

Milan looks up at Winnacer with puppy dog eyes, but Winnacer is having none of it.

"Lead the way please, Milan."

With shoulders hanging low, Milan leads them across the marketplace, supporting Granny by the hand.

As they walk, Winnacer cannot help but notice Aithne keeping a berth from him. He has attempted to give her the room she seems to need from him for the most part of the day, but by this time his confusion gets the best of him. He walks over to Aithne and attempts a smile:

"Hey there. Are you OK?"

She nods but does not meet his gaze.

Not willing to give up quite yet, Winnacer follows up with:

"Did I say something to upset you? Or were you just unimpressed with my choice for lunch?"

Aithne, not really liking her discomfort, speaks:

"Lunch was fine. I am trying to figure out why you think I have much track with those who steal. I think you have the wrong impression about me."

It is Winnacer's turn to look confused. He makes as too speak, then catches himself as he thinks about it. He then blinks twice as his mouth falls slack. He responds excitedly:

"Oh.....Oh Spravedelna!.....I didn't mean it like THAT!"

Winnacer's face is so unselfconsciously earnest as he stands abashed in front of her that Yaz and Milan almost can't help to feel bad for him.

Almost.

"I...I only meant that you seem to have the same sharp eye that our old elven friend, Jihan, had," the LawBringer explains. "The way his eyes flashed quickly around the room, they soaked up everything in front of them. Nothing ever got by him, Spravedelna bless his soul."

"You have his eyes."

Winnacer peers at her again and gets quiet:

"Yes, you really do have his eyes."

"Beggin' your pardon, Lord Winnacer," Milan interjects, "but she don't. We left 'em in his face, don't you remember?"

Aithne backs up a step, even more confused, if possible:

"I have my mother's eyes. She was human," she states solemnly.

Winnacer continues, his apology more subdued:

"Now, I really believe that Spravedelna sent you to help us. It is Her way to guide those that appreciate Her virtues together, to cover the individual flaws that each of use are inescapably etched with."

"To be quite honest with you, I can be quite the dullard. I get too lax with my speech and often assume people understand how I feel about things. The way I can stumble over my words is the same way I stumble over my feet or stumble into a spiked pit....or as it has seemed of late, into some raging inferno."

"I miss things. I can't help it. But I see you never do, I can see it in the way you look around. Somehow I became the leader of this operation, but I really need somebody to tell me when I'm being stupid....or just missing something."

"I never thought for a minute you mixed your hands in with the filthy elements. I can see Spravedelna smiling upon you, I feel the warmth of your soul. I have no doubt of your heart."

"What I thought was that you would just...see....how to do it. That while we walked through the market, you might just see the trail we need to follow to find a man to handle Jihan's old job. I just assumed you could figure it out and that I would be able to trust your Judgement."

"I am very sorry, Aithne."

Winnacer's eyes fall to his feet and he bows to Aithne:

"I have insulted you and shamed myself with my sloppy use of language. I wish to ask for an opportunity to make it up to you."

"Um, it's OK," replies Aithne, "but I have no special gift, as you see it. I'm just the fairly average child of a human woman and a green elf male. I'm sorry to disappoint you."

By the time Aithne and Winnacer have finished talking, they are on the other side of the Market Square.

Milan points and calls out:

"That's him. That's Granny's grandson."

They all look over and see an unsavory looking character in his early twenties leaning against the side of a tavern, supping from a flagon of ale. His face is partially obscured by a hood and he looks to be filthy. He looks up at Milan as he approaches and sighs.

Winnacer agrees with the hooded man and also cannot help but sigh and shakes his head a little. He gives Milan a nudge, his glance evident that Winnacer wishes his squire to fix his own mess here. He follows Milan over to the man, folding his arms as he watches what is sure to be interesting.

Milan nervously looks back at Winnacer, very unsure of himself, obviously. He meekly walks up to the man and starts to speak:

"Um," he says and then looks very uncomfortable.

The grandson frowns:

"Is there a problem with the merchandise or something?"

"N-n-no," Milan weakly replies. "Sh-sh-she's very nice. It's just that my Lord won't let me keep her."

The grandson shrugs:

"I'm sorry to hear that," he replies, not looking very sorry at all, "but we had a deal and a deal's a deal."

"I'm sorry, but all my merchandise is non-returnable. In any case, all the money you gave me is gone already. I've got a wife and seventeen children to support, y'know?"

He takes another swig from his flagon of ale.

"A wife and seventeen children to support?" Milan says his eyes opening wide. "No wonder you needed the money. You really are a poor man."

The grandson stifles a snigger:

"Yeah, I've been dealt a very bad hand in life," he says, shaking his head.

"No," he continues, "I'm sorry, but you can't have your money back."

Milan looks sadly at his feet once more, waiting to see whether Winnacer will interject.

After an awkward pause, the grandson sighs and speaks:

"Look, if you really can't keep her, then I suppose that I can take her back again. I can't really afford to keep her, but I suppose that we shall just have to make some sacrifices."

A look of relief immediately comes to Milan:

"Really? You'll take her back from me? That really is very, very kind of you. Thank you so much."

The grandson shrugs and smiles weakly:

"Yeah, well that's just the sort of guy I am; a fool to myself."

He looks up at Granny Legerova:

"All right, Granny, looks like you'll have to come home with me again tonight."

Granny looks disappointed too as she turns to Milan:

"This really is such a shame. You are such a nice boy, and with such nice friends as well. Oh well, perhaps your Lord will let you have another Granny of your very own some other day."

She gives Milan a frail hug and a kiss and says goodbye to the rest of the party and then hobbles back to her grandson.

Winnacer leans forward to the cloaked man as Milan is busy saying his goodbyes and quietly whispers to him:

"Enjoy the ill-gained monies earned from the boy with three times your heart. Just know that Spravedelna Herself has taken note of your duplicity and your name shall forever be prominent in Her Book of Punishments. I hope your immortal soul was worth the gold coins."

Winnacer allows his own gaze to drop to his silver gavel, allowing ample time for the con artist to catch sight of it as well, before walking away.

"Spravedelna can bite me," the grandson shouts after the departing LawBringer. "Zlodey has probably stolen her Book of Punishments and sold it to Obkod in any case."

Winnacer then looks at the assortment of useless items that Milan is still carrying around with him:

"I think that we've all done quite enough shopping for the day. Let's head back to the Great Library now to meet up with Clarissa and Will."

They all agree and start to head across the now-thinning Market Square, heading back for the parish of Kitry. On the way, Aithne looks back over her shoulder at the reunited granny and grandson. She sees that the pair of them are laughing so hard that they can barely stand. Granny reaches into her purse and pulls out a hip flask, which she starts to drink from and then she lights up a thin cigar. Her grandson pulls a pouch out from under his jacket and starts to count the coins into Granny's outstretched hand.

The group continues to walk slowly back towards the Great Library. On the way, Winnacer speaks to Yaz:

"While we're at the Library, we should really see the Vice Patriarch and get all of our gear identified. If we don't do it today, then we might not have time to get it all done."

"Sounds OK to me," Yaz says. "But most of our gear is stashed at the Cathedral of Spravedelna, isn't it?"

"That's right," Winnacer says. "I suppose that we might as well move the wagon to the Great Library. I was planning on returning to the Cathedral of Spravedelna tonight in any case and so Milan and I can bring it over then."

They arrive at the Great Library to see that Will is early and waiting for the rest of the group, still in a somber mood. They can see that he has also been shopping, dressed in some new clothes of the same modest, durable fashion as are his norm.

Yaz walks up to Will as soon as he sees him:

"Will, I know you don't know anything about these bracers of mine, or the scimitar, but do you think your bastard Kitry friends do? Can you maybe take them and find out if they have, like, a story or anything?"

Will looks askance at Yaz:

"I shall see what my bastard Kitry friends can ascertain."

Winnacer throws Yaz a look, but says nothing more of it. Together, they all enter the Library and soon find Clarissa still intently engrossed in a book that she is reading by candlelight.

"Hi, Clarissa, we're back," Winnacer says.

"Good to see you, Winn," Clarissa replies, closing the book. "Oh, first things first. That feisty little friend of yours turned up just after you left here in the morning. She'd got some rough looking guy with her for some reason, but seemed to like him hanging around her. He seemed quite fond of her as well."

"Anyway, I told them that you would be coming back here about now and that, if they couldn't make it, then they could catch up with you later tonight at the 'One Elm'."

"She was saying something about the Church of Kozlo or something to me, but I didn't really understand what it was about. I told her to speak to Vice Patriarch Nechas about the matter, as he knows a lot more than I will ever do about the other religions in Bohavia. She spent a couple of hours with him and then headed off."

Will nods:

"Actually I was hoping to talk to the Vice Patriarch myself. Is he around?"

Clarissa nods:

"Yes, you're in luck. He went out shortly after his meeting with Faewen'il and her ... um ... friend. He only just got back 15 minutes ago. I can take you to him if you like?"

"Thank you," replies Will, "that would be very kind of you."

"I wouldn't mind having a word with him myself, actually," Winnacer adds. "We might as well all go to see him."

Clarissa nods and leads them all to the back of the Library and into the rooms at the rear. They carry on until Clarissa leads them to a door, which she knocks upon. A voice from inside bids them to enter and so she opens the door to allow them inside.

"I'll leave you with Vice Patriarch Nechas," Clarissa says. "I really need to carry on with my studies."

They walk inside and are greeted by a thin man in his late fifties. He is rather gaunt looking, with a gray face and thinning gray hair to match. He smiles warmly and bids them all to sit in his small, cramped office, piled high with books and other sundry items.

"Good to meet you all," he says jovially. "Clarissa has been telling me all about you. It is indeed a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Likewise," replies Winnacer.

"Now is there anything specific that you wanted to speak about or is this just a social visit?" the Vice patriarch continues.

"A bit of both really," Winnacer replies. "It is good to make your acquaintance, but there was also something specific we need your assistance with. As Clarissa may already have told you, we have had a great deal of assistance with Konan of Hradetz Kralovye in the past and hopefully that assistance will be extended by other branches of your Faith. I have a letter in my possession if you need more proof of the situation."

Vice Patriarch Nechas smiles:

"Thank you, but that isn't necessary. Your friend the magess was here earlier today. She is a very persuasive person and answered all of the questions that I set for her until I was sure that she could be trusted."

"She wanted me to make a deal with some of Kitry's 'special' worshippers, which I was happy to make. She also asked me whether it would be possible for some of our people to look into the history of some rather 'unique' items that have come into her possession."

"Actually, that's the main reason for our visit to you as well," Winnacer interjects. "All of us have some items that we are interested in finding a little more about."

Vice Patriarch Nechas nods:

"That shouldn't be a problem at all. We're pleased to do whatever we can to aid your cause. As you know, we of the Faith of Kitry are not warriors and so we are prepared to use our other skills to assist you."

"However, I would like to start upon the task as quickly as possible. I understand from Clarissa that you are only staying for three days. I will need all of that time to get the items investigated, and so I would be obliged if you could let me have them as soon as possible."

"That's fine," Winancer replies, "we shall bring them to you before the end of the day."

"Excellent," the Vice Patriarch replies. "Now is there anything else that I can help you with, or will that be all?"

"We've heard many stories about the coming of the Slovenes to Olmutz," Winnacer replies. "Can you better inform us about the truths and circumstances?"

"I'm not really the best person to advise you on this matter," Vice Patriarch Nechas replies. "The Followers of Kitry are more specialized in matters of ancient knowledge rather than that of a transitory nature."

"I doubt that I know much more about this matter than know already. All I have heard are rumors that the Slovenes have broken through the Nyemetz lines and seem to heading in the general direction of Olmutz. I'm afraid that this is all that I have heard on the matter."

"If you require any more information, then I would suggest that you make inquiries at the Fortress of Radegast. They make a point of keeping themselves well informed about such matters."

Having finished with the Vice Patriarch, they say their goodbyes and leave his office. Will, however, stays behind in order to speak further to him:

"Actually, there is one other task that I would ask for your assistance with," the bard starts. "During the time that we were investigating the Tower of the Necromancer Boscobelous, we were set upon by werewolves and all of us were badly injured before we were able to slay them. During the combat, however, I was unfortunate enough to be cursed with the disease of lycanthropy."

The Vice Patriarch shakes his head:

"Terrible, what an awful thing to have happened."

"Konan of Hradetz was kind enough to try and end the curse for me," Will continues, "but sadly his efforts were in vain and so I am still infected by the disease. It was Konan who suggested that I try one of the other main Libraries to see if there was another Senior Librarian who might have more success with the action."

The Vice Patriarch nods:

"We are always glad to be of assistance to those who are working towards our goals. Personally, Kitry has not yet blessed me with the powers to cure such a terrible disease and so I am unable to assist you. The High Patriarch, Yodathlion, however, definitely does possess the powers, although he is currently still at work on finding the question to the ultimate answer."

"Let me speak to him and see if he would agree to take time out from his work to cure you of this terrible curse."

"Thank you," Will replies, before saying his farewells to the man and heading off to join with the others, who he finds are chatting with Clarissa outside.

As soon as Will returns, Winnacer speaks to them all:

"I think that we should see about moving the wagon from the Cathedral of Spravedelna now, and then to call it a day by returning to the 'One Elm'."

He looks over to Clarissa:

"Would you be able to join us?"

"I'm sorry, Winn," she replies. "I'd love to, but I still have to finish my studies for the day. Perhaps tomorrow night?"

Winnacer nods, then says his goodbyes and they all head out of the Library towards the Cathedral of Spravedelna. They reach it after just ten minutes and enter the Cathedral to see that it is currently half full of people just beginning Evensong.

Winnacer turns to the others:

"I really would like to take part in this. Perhaps it might be better if you three organized getting the wagon over to the Library of Kitry and then we can all meet up back at the 'One Elm' afterwards."

Aithne, Yaz and Will are only delighted to do so, having no wish whatsoever to hang about in the Cathedral while Winnacer and the other Spravedelnans give their worship. As they head towards the stables, Milan heads off after them:

"Not so fast, Milan," Winnacer says sternly. "After your actions today, I really think that it would be a good idea if you were to participate in this."

Milan looks a little sulky, but reluctantly he follows Winnacer to sit down upon one of the pews at the back. For the next half-hour, Winnacer follows along with the service, singing hymns and listening intently to the sermons. Milan, on the other hand, looks bored witless, his finger straying into his nostril a number of times as he stares about the huge building with glazed eyes. Winnacer sees that it is not the Chief Justice that is performing the ceremony, but rather a thin middle-aged woman dressed in the usual Spravedelnan finery.

Eventually the service finishes and the worshippers file out of the Cathedral heading back home. As they do so, Winnacer leaves his seat and walks up to speak to the woman as she gets up from her personal private prayers.

"Good evening," Winnacer says. "I was wondering whether Chief Justice Soukup might be available?"

"I'm sorry," the woman replies, "but he is rather busy at the moment. You're the LawBringer from Pardubitze aren't you? May I help you, I wonder? I am High Priestress Kadymova, the Second of the Faith here."

Winnacer shakes her hand:

"LawBringer Winnacer Duene Stradheim of Pardubitze," Winnacer replies. "I'm very pleased to meet you."

"Actually, all I wanted to speak to him about is paying my tithes and also to see whether I could obtain a book that can give me a little more guidance in the Laws of Spravedelna."

High Priestess Kadymova nods:

"I can see to that. There's no need to bother the Chief Justice with it. Please follow me to my office."

The High Priestess leads Winnacer to the rooms at the side of the Cathedral, with Milan trotting in the wake of the pair of them.

They all sit down in the High Priestess' office and Winnacer puts his money pouch on the table:

"As the Chief Justice may have told you, we cleared a secret Nemotz temple last week. This is part of the money that we were able to locate within the place. I wish to give my tithes to you in the hope that you can use it to help the Just of the city. I will not be returning to Pardubitze for a while and so I wanted to give it to you now."

"Thank you very much for your kind donation, LawBringer Stradheim," the High Priestess replies. "Please be assured that it will be spent on furthering Her Will."

"You also mentioned that you needed further guidance on the ways of Spravedelna?"

"That's correct," Winnacer replies. "I have managed to read the first volume of Her Laws, but I understand that there is much more that I need to learn about Her Ways."

"Yes," High Priestess Kadymova replies. "The Laws of Spravedelna are many."

She gets up from behind her desk and picks up a large tome from her bookshelf:

"This is the second volume of Her Laws," she says handing the tome to Winnacer. "Please take it with the blessings of the Cathedral of Spravedelna in Olmutz."

"Thank you," Winnacer replies.

He looks through the book and sees that he has a great deal of reading ahead of him.

"Now, will there by anything else?" the High Priestess asks.

"Yes," Winnacer replies. "I was wondering whether you could tell me a little more about the composition of the clergy here?"

"Certainly," Kaymova replies. "There are around sixty of us living and working at the Cathedral. Around one third of our number are acolytes, another third initiates and the other third hold higher ranks within the Church."

"As for the followers, they number just under 400. You will find that, everywhere in Olmutz, there is a very high ratio of clerics to congregation because of the Olmutz' position as the clerical capital, even though it is not a particularly populous city compared to many of the others in the country. Before the Nyemetz' invasion, most of our followers were employed by the law courts or worked for the city guard, but all of these positions were eradicated after the Nyemetz took over. As a result, the majority of the congregation work in other parishes and so this parish is more of a residential area now."

"What about LawBringers? How many have you got who are attached to the Cathedral?" Winnacer asks next.

"There are four LawBringers currently working for the Olmutz Chapter," the High Priestess responds. "Two of them have been away from the Cathedral for several months on longterm projects that I am not at liberty to give you any more information about, I'm sorry. One more is based here and is helping to plan a possible defense of the city along with paladins from several of the other Faiths. The other one you will have seen along with the Chief Justice at the meeting at the One Elm yesterday. He is heading up the operation to finish the cleansing of the Nemotz Temple. He left to meet up with the Lechitians earlier this morning."

"I was also wondering whether it might be possible to obtain some more holy water?" Winnacer asks. "On the mission that we will be embarking on in two days' time, I believe that it could be very useful against the Unjust. I have also obtained a new weapon and armor and so I would be obliged if you could arrange for it to receive Spravedelna's blessing."

The High Priestess nods:

"That shouldn't be a problem at all. Bring the weapons and armor here any time after tomorrow morning and I will personally bless them for you."

Winnacer and Milan then take their leave of the Cathedral and make the short journey to the 'One Elm'. Here they see that Aithne, Yaz and Will have returned, after safely transferring the wagon to the Great Library. With them are Padre Kokal and Tadeus, the pair of them looking a little unhappy.

Winnacer greets the pair of them:

"So, Padre, how did your visit to the Cathedral of Radegast go?"

The Padre shakes his head:

"It's bad news, I'm afraid. I met wit' th' Supreme Commander tellin' 'im o' what I've been doin' o'er th' past couple o' weeks. There's a big panic on 'ere what wit' th' Slovenes 'eadin' this way. Th' Supreme Commander tol' me th't it be Radegast's will th't I stay 'ere in th' city to 'elp 'em prepare for a possible seige."

He shakes his head:

"I was really wantin' t' accompany ye t' Opava t' carry on wit' ye, but if it is Radegast's will th't I stay 'ere, then so be it."

Winnacer sighs:

"Well, it will be a shame to lose you, Kokal, but I understand your reasons for staying."

He looks at Tadeus:

"And what about you, Tadeus?"

"The Supreme Commander said that he would be very happy to take me as an acolyte," the squire replies nervously. "It will be a shame to have to leave you and Milan, but I decided that I want to be just like Xavier. It's what I want to do, Sir."

Winnacer smiles and puts a hand on the boy's shoulder:

"I understand," he says. "Then join the Church of Radegast with our blessings. Xavier would be very proud of you were he still alive today."

"However, I hope that we can at least spend the next two days together so that we have a little more time to say our goodbyes."

"That won't be a problem," Kokal interjects. "Th' Supreme Commander said 'e could start whenever 'e likes."

"In that case I look forward to seeing you bright and early in the morning," he says to Tadeus with a smile. "You and Milan have been slacking at your drills and we can't have the Radegastians thinking that you've learned nothing in the time you've spent with us."

Winnacer then looks at the others:

"So what plans has everyone got for the evening? As for myself, I have some letters that I need to write and so I am planning on just heading for my room now."

"I'm going out around the city," Aithne says. "I promised that I would keep an eye out to see if there is anyone with the type of skills that Winnacer was asking me about, and so that's what I'm planning on doing now."

"I'll join you all for sparring practice in the morning," she finishes before heading out of the door.

Neither Will nor Yaz have much that they fancy doing for the evening and so they head for their rooms. It is obvious that Will simply wants more solitude, while Yaz simply heads off to his room through boredom.

Winnacer sits alone in the bar of the inn for a couple of hours, drinking a glass of mulled wine while working on some letters. Once the letters are written, it is already getting late and so he heads off to his room and gets an early night so as to be up bright and early in the morning.