With that, the party headed for The Brave Axe. After checking into their rooms, Arya went to the common room for a drink.
That night, the group went to the common room at The Brave Axe. Arya and Zelda ordered the “Home Cookin’ special”. Strife ordered the same, and also a beer. “I’ve got it,” he said when the waitress presented the tab. He pulled out a few of the coins he had recovered from the dead halfling. “Thanks, old boy,” he remarked.
As they dined, Arya listened to talk in the common room, hoping to hear useful information. Nothing of much importance could be discerned. One man was complaining about his wife not giving it up. But afterwards, a different waitress approached the party. Forty-ish, frumpy, gray-streaked hair, but pleasant and friendly. She recognized Arya.
“You were here before? About two weeks back? There was a bit of a commotion?” she asked Arya.
“Who’s asking?” replied Arya, cautiously.
“I saw them hassling you,” answered the waitress. “I’m Della.” She looked around, then quietly added, “I can tell you about them, if you’re interested. More things too.”
“Go on,” said Arya. Della then told her about the young men. “There was Dawes Thellin. His father works at the court here in town. Thinks he’s special. He hangs around with a few other local ne’er-do-wells, all sons of respectable families. Black sheep, you might say.”
“Yes, we’ve heard about him,” said Arya.
According to Della, the punk who had grabbed her (“Arsie”) was named Arsenius Wark, the son of a wealthy merchant family. There was also Lomin Bello, from a family of respectable members of the Church of Rao, and Nuall Styre, of the Styre arms dealing family. “And by the way,” she whispered, “did you notice that older fellow who was nearby? I saw Dawes talking to him earlier, having dinner with him, before you got here.” She looked around, as if to ensure she wasn’t being observed, then added, “He had an accent. He sounded like he was from . . . Ket.”
"I see," Arya replied, nonchalantly.
"Yes he was," Della continued. "Now, nobody ever pays attention to an old frump like me, so I hear lots of things!" She sounded proud of herself. "And Dawes was telling this other man about his "connections", including his father, who's in the government!"
"He did?"
"He most certainly did," insisted Della. "Told him there was a meeting scheduled for a few days from now. Overheard his father talking about it. Said his father was going to be there, and they were going to talk about the situation with Ket. Also the "Thornward transition", he called it. Then the other man thanked Dawes, and gave him a pouch. Looked like a money pouch to me!"
“That’s quite a story,” said Arya. She pulled out a gold piece and gave it to Della. “Would you be interested in an . . . arrangement?” she asked. Della was open to the suggestion. Arya offered her a similar sum in return for regular reports, payable each time they met.
“Thank you, young lady!” said Della. “You won’t be sorry!”
Having had enough excitement for the day, the party then retired.
Next morning after breakfast, on Arya’s suggestion, the adventurers proceeded back to the office of Tovan Lirk, the Mitrik police prefect. “Ah, my friends from out of town,” he said, smiling. “Have you heard anything new now that you’re back?” he inquired politely.
Arya related the new information she had received form Della. “Dawes may still be passing on information to the Ketites. We understand his father is some kind of court official. But you know that already. And that he talks too much. About what he hears.”
The prefect was not pleased with the new information. “We warned him the last time. It seems that some people are incapable of taking good advice.” Lirk reached for a cord hanging near his desk, pulled it, and sat back down. Soon an officer entered the office. “Have a squad bring Dawes Thellin and his merry band in,” Lirk instructed the officer. The officer acknowledged Lirk’s orders and left to carry them out.
“What will happen to them?” Zelda inquired. “Since a warning didn’t work, maybe a few days of government accommodations will,” Lirk answered, wryly. Then he reached into his desk and pulled out a stack of cards. He gave one to each of the adventurers.
“You’ve been most helpful. If you even find yourselves in a . . . situation where we can help, don’t hesitate to call on us.” Arya and the rest of the party acknowledged the prefect, then took their leave. “Nice to have friends in high places,” said Stealth after they had left police headquarters.
The adventurers spent the rest of the day out and about in Mitrik. Zelda took the time to receive instruction in the enlarge person spell.
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