Turn 94

Having arrived at the tail end of the meeting, ibn Fadil listens to Val's synopsis and introduces Michal.
    "Michal. Fellow who was following me the other day. Incidentally, why were you doing that?"
    "Just trying to learn more about you."
    The half-elf wonders about that, but his strenuous day is finally catching up with him. Upon finding out why everyone else is still up, he puts on his best 'who am I to criticize' face and shrugs. If they want to go looking for beings that would rather remain hidden, that's their lookout; he just prays they don't get themselves killed and maroon him here.

* * *

    The expeditionary force is quickly equipped for several days in the wilderness and--to the surprise and renewed awe of the townsfolk--the _Distraction_ lifts off on her mission, with a distinctly pale Tomek on the bridge trying as best he can to give directions.
    With the passing of years, the change in seasons, and the different angle of air travel, it is unfortunately not as simple as "Thataway." The ship spends most of the day on a meandering course, landing occasionally to gain the benefit of a more familiar perspective, and by early afternoon is over very deep forest, the plumes of smoke from farms and villages left far behind.
    "I *think* it was around here," their guide says, squinting at the distant mountains. "That angle looks right, and this lake is where I remember it."

* * *

    In the morning ibn Fadil introduces the rest of the group to Michal and keeps him in their rooms, asking the others to bring up some breakfast for them both. After the others have finally gone off on their expedition, and he has watched the boy put away an astonishing amount of food, he starts pleasantly asking him questions about Stoat and his organization, seeking to draw out whatever information or speculations he may have, looking for any hint of outside influence on Stoat and trying to find out why he thought attacking Lord Tesfaye's guests was a worthwhile idea. He expects to learn a fair amount about Michal as well. It like a friendly conversation rather than an interrogation, and he encourages Michal to express himself freely.
    And he talks quite a bit, though most of it comes as no particular surprise given ibn Fadil's experience. He's vague about his own past, but the half-elf suspects he was born to a prostitute and has spent his life on the fringe.
    Stoat, meanwhile, is the sort of person cities seem to generate out of their own shadows, director -- by virtue of strength and cunning - of activities the legitimate authorities don't want but can't get rid of. He is currently uncontested in his authority over the poorest quarter of the town, but it seems there are people even there he avoids conflict with; some of the priests spend time there, for instance. And there are, somewhat surprisingly, rumors that one old widow is actually a witch.
    As for his motive in the attack, Michal shrugs. "Money, I thought, but it's not like I get told."
    "Does it make sense to you that he would target people who are guests of Lord Tesfaye?"
    He shrugs. "You'd have to ask him, I dunno. Everything else going on, maybe he figured no one would care as much."
    "Oh? Which other things that are going on?"
    He gives ibn Fadil a raised-brow look. "Uh, like people getting cut to bits in the middle of festival."
    "That is only one thing." He slouches further down in his seat. "Do you get many visitors from other towns here?"
    "Summer, sure. Not at this time of year. Too many storms." He looks curious about the question.
    "Many from inland, near the mountains?"
    "Not so many. Some. Why?"
    He smiles faintly, and answers as much for the benefit of Yestin and Valarin as for young Michal. "We must consider the possibility that this Stoat was put up to attacking us by someone working for our competitors. Who, we understand, have been trading iron to some border lord near the mountains."
    Michal looks a little stunned, but also curious. Yestin and Valarin look thoughtful.
    "Not something that can be ruled out," the giff allows. "Though of course we've no idea if Lord--if that person has agents here who could carry out something like that."
    "Quite," ibn Fadil says. He straightens in his chair and addresses Valarin. "Captain, I took the liberty of suggesting to Michal that he consider the idea of signing on with us, and that at the very least we might give him a ride to the capitol. As he was preparing to skip town when I met him again, that seemed like the only way to get a chance to talk with him further."
    Val looks distinctly annoyed, but says, "We'll talk later."
    

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