| Logs |
2000-01-30
| Starfall |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
Plotting and Planning
The Alewife pulls into Ettore's sheltered cove just as dusk falls over the island, wallowing a bit from the load of fish that Captain Wavedancer caught the day before. The villagers stream down to help offload and clean the catch by lantern light as the St. Genevieve siblings slowly make their way up the hill.
Dimitri quietly walks up the slope, his cloak wrapped about him to cut the evening's chill. He doesn't speak a word, but he does pause, once, to look back across the cove, towards Starfall and the Pravinchandra holdings.
Gunther meets the foxes halfway down the hill. "You've got some visitors, milords and milady."
Alex looks suddenly worried. "Who, Gunther?"
Dimitri looks back, eyes narrowing. "Visitors?"
Carroll looks up, tired, and asks, "The mansion staff?"
Alex wonders aloud, "How did they arrive? Did they see the Mare?"
Gunther nods to Carroll. "The staff, at least the senior people. And no, they didn't see the Mare."
Carroll nods, and murrs, "That puts everyone here then." He looks to his siblings, and murrs, "Shall we?"
Alex looks relieved... then suddenly worried again. She dusts off her pants a little... glances at her cloak and the scent of fish... then sighs, smiling, "There's no way she's not going to be upset. We might as well just go face the music."
Carroll nods and straightens his already correct collar, and dusts nothing off of his lapels. He murrs, "All right, then," and asks, "Where have you put them, Gunther?" Dimitri takes a deep, deep breath. And then follows Carroll up the hill.
Alex straightens, squares her shoulders, and puts on her 'nobility' face, "Shall we?" The dark fox frowns. The look on his face is bleak, like one facing a charge of forty hand of mounted cavalry.
Ettore Village
The village meeting hall is impressive
in a rustic way. Rough-hewn planks panel the walls of the building,
and enormous stone fireplaces at each end provide heat during the
winter. Tables and benches fill the space which is used for meetings
and community feasts.
A dozen or so older furs are sitting near one of the fireplaces, some looking a little out of place in the rustic setting, others handling it with aplomb. A fussy gray-haired badger jumps up as the sibs enter and bustles over.
Dimitri watches the fierce badger approach suspiciously. Carroll smiles, as the badger comes over, and murrs to the group, "Hello, everyone. I'm glad to see you all made it safely."
Alex beams in spite of herself as she enters the room and holds her arms wide to greet the badger, "Nanna! James! It's so good to see you all! Is everyone here and safe?"
"Just look at you all! Getting into all kinds of trouble, I dare say." The badger shakes her head at Dimitri's campaign earrings, clucks her tongue at Horatio's habitual dishevelment and Carroll's strained appearance, and gives Alex a fierce hug. "And just look at you, young lady. Dressed like a tomboy again and..." She stops to sniff. "...and smelling of old fish! What have you been doing??"
The head butler, a prim-looking hedgehog, follows more sedately. "As well as could be expected, Lady Alex."
Carroll lets Alex absorb the brunt of the matronly greeting and worry, and continues to the rest of the furrs in the room, taking off his overcoat as he moves closer to the fire and asking, "Has anyone explained what's going on? Have you all been properly introduced to the Grunwalds?"
Alex laughs delightedly, hugging Nanny and feeling more of a pang of homesickness than she'd thought to, "Oh, Nanna, it's so good to see you again! Is everyone okay? We have such stories to tell you -- you won't believe them!" She takes Nanna's paw in one hand, Dimitri's in the other, and heads back towards the fire, "Let's all get some hot drinks into us so Carroll can tell you everything!"
Gunther nods. "I've filled them in on events up to your departure, milord. Hildy's arranging housing for everyone right now."
Alex beams at the other furrs by the fire, "I'm so glad to see you're all safe -- we worried about you! Thank you all so much for helping us get the valuables out of the manor... when Daddy comes back we won't have anything missing that we have to account for to him!" Dimitri is dragged. He finds himself a place to sit, at the edge of the fire's glow.
Carroll nods, and murrs, "Thank you, Gunther." He looks back to the familiar staff, rudely pulled from their familiar surroundings, and once again feels the weight of a responsibility he's not used to. It shows in the slack drape of his tail and the way he stands. He murrs quietly, "Yes, thank you. And thank you for coming. Knowing that you're all here will be a great reassurance." He leans against the back of a chair and asks, "Has anyone any questions?"
James the hedgehog sniffs. "I daresay Mr. Subramayan will be a trifle put out at having to redecorate. On the other hand, if what Master Grunwald has told me is true it will save us the trouble of trying to retrieve our things after we recover your property." Alex covers a pleased grin.
Carroll murrs, "A terrible shame for him, I'm sure," and smiles a small smile. He turns to Nanny and murrs, "Alexandra is dressed like a tomboy and smelling of fish because she has just spent the last day aboard the Alewife, Ettore's one and only oceangoing vessel and fishing boat. You can expect to see a lot more of her this way, as she is the first mate of the Saucy Mare, and has been indispensable to me." Alex straightens proudly, and beams at Carroll. Carroll continues, gesturing to Horatio and then his black brother, "Horatio is our navigator and Dimitri is the Master of Marines. Together, I hope we can do something about this situation we find ourselves in."
Nanna blinks at that, not used to hearing her charges admit to 'misbehavior' proudly rather than with excuses or evasion. She sighs..."You're all grown up now, Miss Alex. But I hope you act more like a proper lady at least part of the time."
Dimitri dryly wuffs, "And it means I'm supposed to hit the other furrs."
Alex smiles at Nanny affectionately, "I'll act like a first mate on the Saucy Mare, Nanny... but I did do my best to try to be the proper lady of St. Genevieve here this last Solstice Vigil, yes."
Nanny smiles again. "Aye, Miz Hildy was telling me all about it. I wish I could've seen it..."
Alex says, "Really?" She looks curious, then grins, "You'll have to tell me about it later, Nanny, okay?"
Nanny gives Alex a Look. "You were there, dearie. You don't need me to tell you about it."
Alex laughs, then pats Nanny's paw, "All right, how's this? Next year we'll all have to meet again here, so you can see us all... is that a plan?"
Carroll murrs, "Our trip to Starfall was interesting. We spoke with the solicitor, Samuel Farwing, who seemed to think that several things were suspicious and will be looking in to those. Next is to solidify the plan of what's next, and go and do it."
Alex ohs! straightening, "Carroll! Ask if anyone here knows anything about what happened to the accountant, or where he disappeared to!"
Dimitri nods quietly. "The Pravinchandra offices or their shipping. And sooner rather than later."
Carroll ahs. He murrs, "That's a very good question. Our accountant who resigned at such a fortunate moment... does anyone know anything of him?"
The steward, Roland, shakes his head at Alex's question. "He left just after the Count was declared missing. This... foreclosure business kept me too busy to check into where he went afterwards." Alex nods thoughtfully, but remains silent, so she doesn't interrupt Carroll again. The chipmunk continues, "I must agree that the whole business was suspicious. Your father certainly never signed any such loans in my presence, and he habitually used me as his witness in financial matters." Alex nods quietly again, listening to the steward.
Carroll murrs, "Ah well. I didn't think to keep track of him, and you've all been busy with a sudden move." He closes his eyes, his ears and tail drooping. He murrs quietly, "I know. I didn't know about them either, Roland, and should have. It didn't occur to me to question the banks, to push back. Things were moving very quickly, and I didn't keep up." He looks then to Dimitri and asks, "Do you really think that's what we should do? I... I'm uncomfortable with that. Samuel suggested we lie low, and that information about Father would be helpful..."
Alex glances at Carroll, then murmurs gently, "Carroll. We were caught off guard, but it won't happen again. We're moving forward again. So... now we move to the next step in the plan... we figure out how to most hurt Pravinchandra while we search for Daddy, right? So... we have people here that can help us with ideas, that are familiar with parts of Starfall that we're not. So... let's ask them for their help and ideas, yes?"
Carroll looks quietly around the room, trying to read reactions... then finally murrs quietly, "We need to cost the bastard some money." He looks up again, from where his gaze had drifted to the floor, continuing, "Has anyone any suggestions?"
When Dimitri speaks his words are quiet but steel firm. "Yes. And now. We need to hurt House Pravinchandra for what he has done to us. Look around, Carroll, look at these people. We were supposed to protect them, and now we run like rats in the company of barn owls. And fast. He will know, too soon, that something is up. Folks missing, deliveries not made. And he will then be watching for us. And that will get more of us hurt when we do finally clash. And last... Carroll, House Pravinchandra has been herding us like sheep. Everything we have done has been in reaction to his moves. It is beyond the point where we should be the ones throwing House Pravinchandra off balance, forcing him to respond to us.." Alex nods firmly, in silent agreement.
James clears his throat. "If you want my opinion, I would say that finding your father should be your first priority. Anything you could do while working on that would be fine, of course, but the longer he is missing... the more I fear for his life." Alex nods again.
Carroll murrs quietly, "Yes, James." He looks to Dimitri and asks, "Are those two things possible to do at once?"
Alex says, "Carroll, we have the route he was supposed to take, yes? So... couldn't we follow that, in order to search for Daddy? And if we sighted any Pravin ships on the way... sink 'em!"
Carroll keeps looking at Dimitri. Alex adds, "And he's got offices in Starfall... the bank or his manor house would be unwise to hit, I'd think, but do we know anyone that has a grudge against the mongoose? Sometimes all it ta-" she realizes Carroll's not listening, and falls silent with a faint sigh.
Dimitri nods, "Especially if we can capture a Pravinchandra lackey who just might... talk." He gives Carroll a stern look. "And listen to Alex." Alex blinks! then blushes... and gives Dimitri a shy, small, pleased smile.
Carroll nods. He looks at his sister, and murrs, "I'm sorry, Alex. It's not the answer I wanted to hear, even if it is what we should do." He takes a breath and murrs, "It is what we will do, because it is what we should do."
Alex says gently, "Carroll... you're the leader of House St. Genevieve. You know we'll follow you... because we know you'll pick the right thing to do -- even if it is personally unpleasant."
Carroll looks at Alex tiredly. He murrs after a pause, and very softly, "I hope your trust is deserved, Alex." He adds a little more steadily, "Details on how to do this aren't something I have any experience with. I need you and Dimitri, using all the resources available to us, to take care of the actual planning, so we may begin. Can you do that, please?"
Alex leans forward to lightly pat Carroll's arm, "Of course, Carroll." She looks around thoughtfully, "So... who do we know that has a grudge against the mongoose? Does anyone here know anyone, or have any ideas?" She glances again at Carroll and smiles, "And Horatio and you should talk to whomever here that knows what Daddy's planned route was, right, so Horatio can plot the route for us to follow? And Dimitri..." she looks hopefully at Dimitri,"-maybe the armsmaster can help us in training the new recruits?"
Carroll nods, quietly. He smiles at Alex carefully and murrs, "Thank you, Alex." Alex's glance at Carroll has just a hint of worry in it, but she hides it quickly as she smiles in return at her oldest brother.
Horatio shrugs. "Daddy was heading for Alburtis, as far as I know... it's the main trade port with the Empire. We deliberately didn't go that way on our first trip, but it's easy enough to follow the normal route."
Dimitri looks back and nods, "I think Masters MacKenzie and Lady Natasha have that well in hand, Alex. We just need a target.
Alex nods quietly to Dimitri, then leans to murmur to him, "Would it be better to leave the weaponsmaster and guards here then?"
The St. Genevieve Armsmaster, an aging cougar, nods. "I've talked with MacKenzie about that. I'll be staying here to coordinate the village defenses in case something goes wrong -- he and Ms. Zhukov will be going with you."
Alex looks relieved, "Oh good! We were a bit worried about defending here properly... thank you, sir." She taps her fingers on her knee, frowning... then looks up at Dimitri, "Mitya, d'you know anyone um... 'on the street' that might know gossip about ships going in and out of Starfall? We're going to need someone that can tell us um... well, if we're successful in hurting Pravin ships I'm guessing they're going to start going out unmarked, you know? And pirates... any rumors of pirates we need to know about... is there anyone you know who might be able to do stuff like that for us?" She adds more quietly, "And anyone that does something stupid like brag in their cups... like of working for higher-ups, or of taking down nobility... we need to know that too..." She looks hopefully at Dimitri, mentally crossing her fingers he won't be offended at the question...
Dimitri blinks, his head tilting. "Not in Starfall... no. Not at all..." he lets his words fade out, but for just a heartbeat. Then he quietly continues. "But if I was to run across a couple folks of Lady Blackpool's, then I just might be able to get some news.
Alex looks relieved again... then tilts her head, studying the family retainers thoughtfully... in particular the guards and groundspeople... who looks like they could pull off disreputability?
Carroll listens to Alex planning, and nods, reassured by her confidence and ability. He lets her handle this issue, and moves off to one side to talk quietly with Gunther about other things, like housing and supplies and work at Ettore.
Dimitri shrugs quietly. "I've dealt with pirates before, mostly hunting them though. This would be quite different. The three rings here, would scare most off."
Alex frowns, shaking her head... they all look like what they are to her -- the trusted retainers of House St. Genevieve. She sighs and smiles faintly, "I... I don't know how to ask this... but Mitya -- well, all of you all here, really... do any of you know someone that could be a quiet ear for us, in the Starfall bars? Someone that's not quite so closely associated with us?"
Alex grins quietly, internally, wondering what Nanny is thinking of this discussion... then she blinks, "Hey... I have a question. What happened to Bryn?" She glances at Mitya, "You remember Bryn, right? Do you think she could pull this off?" She grins again to herself... she'd never admitted knowing Bryn that well to Nanny. She wonders if Nanny knew that anyway... or not.
Dimitri chuckles darkly. "If we gave her enough sweetcakes, yes?"
Alex nods quietly..."Mitya, can you do that? Can you coordinate with the folks here, and either find out what happened with Bryn and if we can get her to be our inside person in Starfall... or if that falls through, find someone else who can better do the job?"
Dimitri leans back and crosses his arms. "If I had known, I could have found her when we went to Starfall. Do you remember if we owe her money or does she owe us?" Alex glances inquiringly at James for the answer to that one.
James looks... displeased by this idea. "Miss Smith is not one of the furrs who I would want to trust on a mission of any importance. On the other hand, I can't think of anyone more disreputable whom your father would even know, let alone trust."
Alex covers a very amused grin... then recovers and nods politely, "So... do we owe her any back wages, James?" Carroll flicks an ear over and listens for a moment at Bryn's name, and smiles. He doesn't say anything, though.
Dimitri softly growls, "I hope we owe her. We owe her, she'll be easy to find. She owes us... impossible."
James looks annoyed by the suggestion. "Of course not. I daresay she owes us for breakages. And I know we were never paid back for the time the Count insisted we bail her out of jail and pay her fine."
Alex has to cover another sudden, broad grin, as it occurs to her to wonder if all the siblings were quite um... familiar with Bryn -- in one way or another! She nods again to James and sighs... then looks at Dimitri with a faintly rueful smile, "Well... I realize I'm not asking something easy... but... could you try, Mitya? Please?"
Dimitri nods, "Next time we go to Starfall, aye. Just remind me to leave my loose change, jewelry, and nice clothes here." He doesn't, however, seem displeased at all with the thought of finding Madame Smith.
Alex giggles softly, behind her hand... then straightens, looking more restrainedly pleased, "Okay! So... then the next question becomes -- do any of us here have any ideas as to whom might be holding a grudge against House Pravinchandra? Anyone at all, please... this is a brainstorming session, so we can always chose not to contact someone -- but if you don't mention someone you thought of, however outlandish, then we won't be able to consider them!" She looks around at everyone present, her ears pricked up both hopefully and expectantly.
Dimitri looks back, "Most of the older houses? No one likes a mercantile class upstart."
Carroll murrs, "Well, he's managed to upset quite a few people with his handling of the Longvalley estates that he acquired. The Baron's staff and many of his displaced tenants can't be pleased."
Alex nods, "That's an excellent start..." she looks at the steward, "Roland, could you make a list for us while we brainstorm, please?" She looks around, "Any other suggestions?" She tilts an inquiring ear at Dimitri, "Blackpool, maybe? Or um... Allende?"
Carroll nods at Dimitri's words, and concurs, "Half of the nobility is probably irritated with him to one degree of another."
Alex looks pleased, "Wonderful! They might not be willing to openly aid us... but if we can persuade them to look the other way at just the right time... !"
Whitepaws the cougar clears his throat. "I wouldn't go telling a whole bunch of furrs your plans if'n I were you. Too many chances to spill the beans."
Alex nods to the elderly weaponsmaster, "Very true... and we need someone extremely diplomatic to handle this, as well as help decide whom to contact." She grins, turning, "That's why I was going to ask Carroll to handle this... ?"
Carroll nods, and murrs, "I can, but I don't know if it's a good idea yet. We'll have to tread very carefully. It would be easier when he's a little off-balance already. And, if he's off balance, we probably don't have to ask -- they'll move of their own desires."
Alex nods, "Okay. Still, having the former retainers or displaced tenants know there's someone to go to that will help them hurt the mongoose... can't hurt." She beams, "So... thank you, Carroll, for agreeing to do this! I'm relieved it's in your capable hands."
Carroll murrs, "At this moment, there's no one I'd trust enough to talk to, Alex. I think our position is still too weak. But, I'll keep it in mind."
Shaking his head, Dimitri agrees with Master Whitepaws. "I don't think contacting the other nobles is a good idea. Once it becomes known that only Pravinchandra is being hurt, their loyalties will show of their own accord. Don't bother them unless we absolutely have to."
Carroll adds, "Let them all think the others are doing it, and worry." Alex nods.
The darkphase fox drifts along the back streets of Starfall, trying to remember where the family's rowdiest retainer spent her time. At the first two of Bryn's old haunts the only sign of the ferret is her unpaid bar tabs. At this point he pauses to think about it, and remembers one that she had mentioned when introducing him to 'a proper bit o' carousin', youngling' but had never taken him to visit. As he steps through the door of the smoke-hazy hovel with the legend 'The Horny Unicorn' on the battered sign over the door, the patrons suddenly quiet down and look at him.
Dimitri reaches up and with a simple, sharp motion folds down the hood of his cloak. Shaking out his ruff, he twitches his ears, the jangle of the golden campaign rings a light counterpoint to the sudden silence. Then he takes a few easy strides forward, with a turn every now and then. A turn, his greatsword balanced over one shoulder, its scabbarded blade arcing with each military precise pivot, almost threatening to take off the head of an unwary tavern furr. But only almost. His narrowed eyes, dark, scan the crowd, before he claims a place at the bar. He speaks two words, as he places a coin upon the battered wood. "An ale."
The bartender, an evil-looking porcupine, takes the coin and slaps a small mug of ale down on the counter. The patrons go back to talking -- a mutter of 'pretty soldier-boy' can be heard from behind Dimitri's back. Dimitri's ears flicker at the words, tracking the chatter. But all it receives is the smallest rustle of his coat. He takes a sip of the ale, deep and long, wiping his muzzle with his sleeve when he is done. He smiles, wry. "Quaint. I can see why she recommended here." He looks across the commons, seeking a familiar short form. Either that or the rustle of cards.
The ale isn't bad, actually... one suspects that this tavern's patrons wouldn't care for stuff that was too bad, and would make their displeasure known somewhat violently. The same voice calls out a bit louder this time, "She? And what would a pretty boy like you need with a female, eh?"
The tall dark fox just laughs, draining the rest of his ale in one smooth gulp. "Well, bucko, if'n I have to teach you that, then your momma didn't raise you right." His grin is dark, and his ears flicker. He sets the mug down and says, "Another."
Most of the patrons laugh at the exchange, willing to grant the newcomer the benefit of the doubt now. The bartender refills the mug. As the inn returns to its former noise level, he asks, "So what does bring you here, eh?"
Dimitri accepts the mug and sets a few more coins on the table. More than enough to cover a few rounds of ale. He turns slightly, so that their conversation has at least the image of being confidential. "I'm trying to find an old friend. The one who taught me how to cheat at cards. That would be Bryn. Let her know Mitya's looking for her."
The porcupine nods and the extra coins vanish from the counter. "Might be she's nearby. D'ye have a message for her, or just that?"
Ducking his muzzle, Dimitri nods. "I know she's just lost her job. Or at least one of them. Tell her a chat might be worth a coin or two. Tell her if she doesn't care for the coin, she knows what Mitya's words means, aye?" The bartender nods and moves along the bar, filling more mugs, talking briefly to one of the barmaids, and generally keeping an eye on things. Dimitri turns about then, slowly nursing his ale. Slow enough so as to keep steady on his feet, his senses sharp. But not slow enough to annoy the barkeep.
The fox is halfway through his third ale when the tavern door opens and a voice growls, "You!" Dimitri turns slowly to see a bull with his left arm in a sling, and a coyote favoring his right leg.
The black fox just smiles, looking across to the bull and the coyote. He shrugs, one paw holding his half filled mug, the other very close to his heavy sword. He flatly states, "Aren't you a little young to be out drinking?"
The bull bristles at that. "I think we'll see how tough you are without your friends." The coyote looks nervous, and whispers to his boss, only to earn another growl.
The porcupine glares. "No rough stuff in here, you."
Dimitri frowns quietly, leaning back just a bit. His eyes never leave the bull or the coyote. "Barkeep, what's your policy about blood in your bar?"
The porcupine mutters, "Just keep it out of the barrels. If you're the one who did that to him, I already owe you one."
Dimitri lets his paw slip the peace strap from his greatsword. "Am I going to have to stop you..." he pauses, so that his last word weighs even heavier. "...again."
The coyote moves off to the side, drawing a dagger. The bull pulls his sword out, takes a step forward, and then staggers. A look of vague surprise spreads over his face and he topples forward, revealing a dagger thrust into his back and the familiar form of Bryn. "In trouble already, youngling?"
Dimitri just gives the coyote a dark, dark look. "Are you a smart ruff or a dumb ruff, laddie?" Then he nods, making sure the coyote doesn't try anything truly stupid. Shrugging, Dimitri's cloak rustles. "Not any more. And of course, this means that once again I owe you. You planned that, didn't you."
Bryn just grins, an evil-looking expression. "Take a hike, Charlie. And try to pick a smarter boss next time, eh? Timmy here was even dumber than you are." The coyote looks at both of you nervously and sidles past Bryn to the door, then takes off into the night at a run.
Dimitri turns his head to the barkeep. "Two ales." And when he looks back, Dimitri nods across to the ferret. "Got a place where we may talk?"
The bartender sighs, pointing at the bull..."And can you get him out of here?"
Bryn nods. "We'll dump him somewhere else, Pete. C'mon, youngling, let's go." She takes the bull's legs and nods at Dimitri.
Leaving a few coins upon the bar, Dimitri snares his greatsword and walks to the door. Crouching, he grabs a firm hold on one of the bull's horns with his free hand and just lifts. It's not very graceful, but neither was Timmy. Either in life or... Dimitri follows Bryn's lead out of the tavern.
Bryn helps drag the bull out of the door and down the street about a block to a blind alley smelling of sewage. "Here ought to do." She checks his pouch, pockets a few coins. "Leave the rest of it, don't want to be seen carrying it." She leads the way down another alley, through a veritable rabbit warren of narrow streets, and ends up at another tavern, even more disreputable than the first one. "So... what brings you back looking for me?"
Settling into a tight booth, Dimitri runs one paw through his ruff. This ale he nurses, taking his time. "Old ties. New fortunes. And a chance for a down and dirty brawl with higher stakes than you'll find in any of the taverns I've wandered through tonight. First, the simple question. What's the word on the street, Byrn, on House St. Genevieve?"
The ferret looks interested. "Various things... mostly no one knows anything, though our little escapade tonight will spread. You've been rolled, is the consensus. Your father... harder to say. They say as the pirates sent him west." She looks at you very carefully. "I'm thinking that that expression may not mean what furrs normally assume it means."
Dimitri rubs his muzzle, his ears twitching just once. "That... that is most unusual. But then, then the times are very interesting, and some rumors might be..." Dimitri pauses, carefully considering, "...closer than others. So. Now the simple question to match the first. What's the word on the street about House Pravinchandra?"
Bryn shrugs. "Well, the opposite side of the coin, eh? They rolled you. He's a greedy scum-sucking bottom feeder who'd sell his mother for a half a gold crown and would sell his soul if he could find a taker... anything else?"
Dimitri smiles quietly. "How would you like a chance to stake that particular bottom feeder to the bottom of Starfall Bay?"
Bryn's habitual evil grin fades. "Depends. If he really had anything to do with your dad's disappearance, I'd give up beer to pull it off. If I had to, that is."
Dimitri looks across the table and nods once, very serious. "Then get used to water, Bryn. It's an acquired taste. What else do you think would bring me back here?" He gives the ferret a close and still look, no longer youngling to teacher. "We will find out what Pravinchandra did to Father. We need help, though. Sharp eyes where we can't afford to be seen, sharp ears to listen where we can't, and someone quick enough not to get caught."
Bryn nods. "You should know this now, methinks. Tim and I... well, we go back a long way. Back when we were both as young as you are. He was a young officer then, and I was a trooper... and we saved each other's lives I can't remember how many times..." She takes another sip of ale. "You're sure the mongoose had something to do with this mess, eh?"
Dimitri nods quietly. "Aye. Certainly. Spooked a furr or two in his employ on my way here. That and the mongoose's pup doesn't take well to losing at cards, Byrn."
Bryn sniffs. "No surprise. The apple don't fall far from the tree. Met him once in the old days. Pompous ass he was, even then. He was a captain on of his dad's ships back then. I swear he was upset with us from saving him from a pirate, like it meant he owed us something he hadn't intended to..." Her voice trails off. "Or maybe... just maybe, mind ye... we interrupted something else..." She stares past Dimitri for a minute. "Now that I think on it... he hadn't yet been boarded. But we never identified the captain of that pirate ship..."
Dimitri tilts his head, quiet. "That pirate, it wouldn't happened to have had an albatross as a scout now, would it have?"
Bryn shakes her head. "If it did, he took off without warning them."
Dimitri softly growls, "Well, between me and you Byrn, if Pravinchandra has ships that just might prey on his own shipping, well, let's just say it would not surprise me in the least. And what I need to know is quite simple. We need to know about the mongoose's shipping. What's in port, what's not. Where they are bound and when... manifests would be nice too..."
Bryn nods. "Easy enough. How would I get the info to you?"
Dimitri smiles, "I can be in Starfall every so often. That's a nice tavern where we first met. Just let the barkeep know it's fine for me to find you. And let him know when you are looking for me."
Bryn shrugs. "Might not be fresh enough to do you any good, but okay. I'll see if I can find out anythin' about who might have taken Tim's ship, too."
Dimitri nods, "That would be appreciated. You might also keep your ears up, if'n some folks are bragging about being pirates and such. Those might be leads to Father and the mongoose's ploys. And yes, especially if his destination west is unique. That, well, that would be the best news I would have heard in the last month. And Alex would be thrilled."
Bryn goes back to her evil grin. "If I find out what happened to your father, youngling, I'll be joining you for the trip. I think I still owe him one or two, and I'd hate to miss a chance to repay him."
Dimitri laughs softly, "Or having me in your debt again."
Bryn nods to herself. "Aye... but I'm counting a couple of those as still paying off your dad. The Alewife, is it? I'll keep a watch for her, then. Who's her captain?"
Dimitri looks up, nodding. "Kerry Wavedancer, he's the Captain. And how did you know that."
The ferret just grins again. "I have my little ways, youngling. I'll see you around." She slips out the side door, a moment before Dimitri realizes she's about to stick him with the bill again. He smiles quietly. The bill is fine. After all, it was Bryn who carried the bull's heavy half.