Mavec furrowed his brow at the screechy, gleeful noises emanating from the cheese forge. "That sounds bad, but he seems happy. So I'm just going to say congrats, Bait." He said as he slumped, his shoulders exasperated. "Now, since we have that out of the way, can we get on to the Academy? We need to get that formula back from Warren as soon as possible."
"Hold on, isn't there something we need to do here?" Naya asked.
"If I do be remembering correctly our dear maid Sorali used to work for one of the names in the encrypted journal. Perhaps we can learn something from here if we be asking nicely," Illaria said.
"A solid plan, not to mention, we'll need to speak with our lawyers first before we head to the Academy. If you want to go do that, Mavec, we'll take care of things here." Alvec assured him.
"Aye, not to mention we do be needing some time to get my folks settled in at the boarding house," Illaria said.
"I'd also like to go home and visit my parents," Sarbie chimed in. "That is if we don't think I'll be needed for a little while."
"We have been attacked before in Sha-Laial, but I think we can split our tasks a bit," Alvec said as he briefly settled on a division of tasks. "Rem, you'll go with Sarbie. Since I can mystically sense if he's in any danger, and he can sense if I am, it's the safest for both of us. Illaria, you'll just be across the street; take Echo so you have someone to help you haul anything you need moved to the door. Mavec, you're also not leaving the street, so you go take care of briefing the lawyers on what we're looking to accomplish with this meeting while Naya and I try to get some information out of Sorali. Maybe she can shed some more light onto what exactly is happening to those who meet with Ghol." Alvec said as he gave the group a curt nod and spun on his heels, heading into the tower.
Naya, Alvec and Sorali.
The tower was immaculately clean. Something that came as no surprise to either of them. After all, their maid had little cleaning beyond upkeep when the Cheese Acolytes were away for an extended trip. It had been weeks between the travel to Ac-Aziza, the events there, and their travel homeward. The wizard and the huntress crept through the house with an air of uncertainty clinging to them. They didn't actually know where Sorali would be this time of day. It was entirely possible she wouldn't even be in the building with how little there was to do here. Finding the hearth and kitchen empty, the pair ascended the stairs. Their personal rooms also looked to have been clear of company. Alvec thanked his stars that his efforts to negate the stink of Bait's room still seemed to be holding strong. The pair took the final set of stairs to the top room. Upon entering, they found Sorali, her bright red hair tucked up into a ponytail, polishing the glass display case Alvec had placed the remains of the six strengths in.
She still wore the traditional maid's uniform; she could wear what she wanted, but she clung to that old outfit. Naya dashed forward and threw both arms around her, bringing her into a wild bear hug that nearly lifted the other woman off the ground.
"Master Naya, it's a pleasure to see you again. Master Alvec, welcome back as well." Sorali said a moment after Naya released her. Sorali straightened her apron out and gave them a bright, cheerful smile. "I've heard some pretty outlandish tales of your adventures from the bards. How much of it is true?" She asked as her eyes seemed to sparkle with excitement.
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"Most of it!" Naya practically shouted. "We foiled an infernal invasion and cut off Crowley's hand. Hell, he may even be dead for all we know."
"I wouldn't count on it. The bastard won't die that easily." Alvec said.
"OH! And let's not forget that we also found Alusai's grave and several of his last creations." Naya blurted out. Alvec rolled his eyes.
"The public doesn't exactly know about that bit, and we're going to keep it that way for now, right Sorali?" Alvec asked while smiling wide, displaying his canines just a little more than he usually would.
"Absolutely, master Alvec, wouldn't dream of mentioning that to any bards. Not even Inillia, you have my word." She said.
"Speaking of confidentiality, I do actually have some questions for you about your previous employer," Alvec stated.
The woman tensed up at his words. "I really can't talk about my services prior to my employment here; it would be unbecoming."
"Yeah, but Sorali, it's really important," Naya said as she clasped both hands together and faced her. "Fate of the Empire and all that! I swear."
"She's not bluffing; it is a matter of grave importance," Alvec confirmed.
"May I ask how? I was just a chambermaid... I literally was there to empty the lord's pots; it was a far less glamorous position than dusting this tower."
"It's difficult for us to answer that," Naya said as she frowned at their maid. "I'm worried saying too much could put you in danger."
"I'm with Naya on this; too much info right now could be dangerous. Let's just say it's related to the infernal invasion plans we foiled and call it a day. Is that a good enough reason to share some information with us?" Alvec said. It was a lie, through and through. The only shred of truth to the words was that it had been in a healer's tent just after the battle with Crowley that they had learned something of the nature of this threat.
Sorali nodded silently in agreement. "If it's that serious, then I think I can answer a few questions, so long as you swear you'll never repeat where you learned the information from. I don't think anyone knows I work for you yet." Sorali said, extending her hand and placing her pinky finger out. Naya swiftly looped her pinky around Sorali's.
"I swear by the spirits, my life, and Echo's that we'll be true to our word and speak not of this to anyone else," Naya said.
"I swear on my name, my honor, and my very magic that I'll say nothing of your involvement," Alvec said solemnly.
"Alright, what is that you want to be knowing?"
"We know that Lord TaeOl had a meeting with Ghol of the Gold Banner, after he returned did he start acting strange in anyway?" Alvec asked.
Sorali pursed her lips together, her usual joyful demeanor replaced by a pensive scowl. "I told you I was his chambermaid. Well, that was sort of a lie. I was supposed to be emptying his personal chamber pots in one of his workshops and private rooms. The thing is, though, I never had to. I don't know if he was just extremely constipated, but in all the months I worked for him, he never once left anything for me to clean up. I don't think I ever saw him eat, either. It was... worrying. I tried asking about it, but people thought I was just making up stories. So, eventually, I decided to leave. Coincidentally, that happened right around the same time they announced staff layoffs anyway."
"So are you suggesting the man never shat? Like some sort of strange monster?" Naya asked.
"No, I'd never call any of my employers strange or monsters," Sorali said, waving her hands. "It was probably nothing; he must have been doing it somewhere, right?" Sorali asked.
"I'm not sure he was," Alvec replied as he pulled a chair out and sat down at it. "Naya, if my theory is right, then it's plausible their physiology could have been altered enough to cause such a strange situation."
"I mean, you saw what it was doing to us before we broke free. Illaria's hair was fusing into a fin."
"What are you both talking about?" Sorali asked.
"Secrets, forget you heard anything," Alvec said with a smile.
"That's going to be a hard sentence to forget." She replied back. Alvec nodded in agreement.
"Is there anything else that stood out to you?" Naya asked.
"Well, his wife had a cat, but he forced one of his servants to get rid of it. Thankfully that just meant that the servant adopted it, and I remember him hiring a team of hunters to kill off any Sparrows or Owls on the property. Said he couldn't stand the noise." Sorali said. "Is that the sort of strange you were thinking of?" She asked.
"Oh, he was 100% affected. Those are the creatures that represent the three sisters. Not sure why he hated them so much, but trying to get rid of them doesn't bode well." Naya said.