“Amongst my people, I know of possible causes or how this may be resolved, but here, on this plane, I’m uncertain of possible details or issues. Can you please tell me of anything that may cause a person to become angry easily when they do not normally do so?”

Kukurnal’s excitement quickly became serious, concern washing over his countenance, “Is all OK?”

Joe nodded, “I believe so. Truly. It may be something as simple as depress… sadness, or anger because of their circumstances, but I want to make certain that there are not any other causes. I know how to help with life issues, but not with magic or curses or jobs. Please, help me.”

“You know of one. Dungeon madness. Is this…?”

Joe quickly shook his head, “No. I have made certain to always be with my apprentices. It is not dungeon madness.”

Kukurnal nodded his head, “Then curses could also be…”

Joe interjected, “That was my concern as well, but no curses were removed or found.”

Kukurnal nodded then, thoughtful, “Then I can only think of the esoteric or the extreme. Some monsters are able to affect the mind and cause harm. Could this be the case?”

“Can they do so in the city? In the inn?”

Kukurnal sighed, chewing a lip before shaking his head quickly, “Unlikely, truly. Any creature that powerful or with that range would destroy Coushar easily, and any such creature that is weak would have surely been found by you, the guards, or the defenses.”

Joe nodded, “Yes. I believed so as well. Is there a disease that may do such a thing?”

Kukurnal’s eyebrows rose at that one and he looked at Joe with some consideration, “Do you know of some?”

“Amongst my people, we have one, yes. But I do not know if it is here.”

“Truly!? What is it? Can you expla…”

“I promise to explain, after, please,” Joe insisted earnestly.

“Ah. Yes. I can see this must be important. Hmm… then I am uncertain how I could be able to help or be certain.”

Joe sighed, shaking his head and acting a bit, “I am truly lost. Dungeons can do so. Curses can do so. Diseases can do so. So many things can do so. I wonder if even jobs can do so… it seems so…” Joe trailed off when Kukurnal perked up and turned to Joe, looking at him pensively.

“Jobs can do so.”

Joe’s eyes widened, “Really? How? Which jobs?”

“There are several jobs. The most common and well known are criminal jobs. They tend to lower the mood and empathy of others and even can cause anger, although extreme situations usually are required for anger.”

“Criminal jobs?” Joe asked with some fake astonishment.

“Minor criminals and major criminals, although major criminals are more likely to affect the person.”

“How so?”

“People become much more belligerent to authority, selfish, and … to some extent, angry.”

Joe’s eyebrows crunched, worry and thought heavy on him, “Hmm. How would… How do you know?”

“Criminal Jobs turn your status ashen or black. Are your apprentices…?”

Joe sighed, half relief and half frustration on play for Kukurnal to see. The visible relief relaxed Kukurnal and he sat back, “Good. Good! I was concerned.”

Joe sighed and laughed, “Well, that is a relief. Garnedell is a pink red and Zilnek and Kilniara are the blue of crafters. I’m relieved that it is not such, but now I must find another reason for their anguish and anger. I believe it is simply their hard life. That would make sense, but I’m uncertain how I may be of help.”

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Kukurnal nodded, concern showing and they fell into a silence, commiserating and comfortable but ultimately dissatisfying as they were unable to resolve the issue. They remained silent for several moments before Joe finally sighed deeply and sat back.

“So. How much do I owe for this piece of knowledge?”

Kukurnal smiled, “I thought we agreed to fair exchange?”

Joe laughed a short laugh, and nodded, “Yes. Would you like to have a debate or conversation?”

“Now?”

“Sure. We could return to the inn and enjoy a meal… supper? I’ll need a bath first, but I would enjoy it if you joined us for the evening meal.”

“I was going to come this evening anyway. I would love to see you there.”

Joe nodded, smiling, “Then I will see you this evening.”

“Wonderful!”

Joe waved and nodded, heading to the bath, where he enjoyed a leisurely time soaking and did very little but lay in the bath, his mind spent circling how he could help Zilnek. After spending almost two hours bathing and enjoying the various hot, warm, and cold baths, he headed to the inn and prepared for the evening. He laughed when he walked into the inn and found Kukurnal already in the dining area, waiting for him. Kukurnal heard his laugh and looked up, grinning in excitement.

* * *

A young Acokzau woman wandered down the streets enjoying free time in a leisurely fashion, although with an obvious direction as she took corners quickly and easily. She came upon crafters street and turned upon it. Here she slowed and smiled, a reminiscent smile of good memories until she came upon a small home shop bustling with activity. It was a tailor shop with a half a dozen children eagerly exploring or simply playing in and around it. Five adults or almost adults sat within the shop chatting with one another with the ease of long acquaintance, some of it upon their craft, and much of it the typical gossip of bored or extremely skilled artisans capable of continuing their task with rote action leaving mind and tongue free to speak. They chatted easily, two older adults, the parents, mostly rather focused on the work, with the other three the older children of the adults coming into their craft.

The Acokzau young woman came upon the home and all the children outside swarmed upon her, excited to see her; obviously a close family friend. One of the younger tailors inside stood excitedly to see her and then asked the parents if she could take time to meet with the Acokzau. The parents seemed happy enough with to allow it, and the Acokzau and the young tailor woman were soon saying goodbye and eagerly enjoying one another's company as they fled from crafters street towards the bakers street.

Unbeknownst to her, two young, unkempt men trailed behind her, watching carefully; one with a bad goatee and another with a scar running down from his left ear to the left corner of his mouth. They grew more interested and focused when the young tailor girl joined the Acokzau, but they quickly dismissed her after examining her for a few moments.

"An ulvan," Goatee noted.

"Hmm," Scar grunted.

"Should stay away."

"MmmHmm."

"Next?"

"Hmmm... wait," Scar considered carefully before rejecting the option to move on.

They fell silent again, saying little, only watching until the two women finished enjoying their time pillaging the various bakeries on the street and gossiping rapidly and often. The two obviously had not seen one another in some time, but they only needed to remain patient for a time. They didn't stay long and the Acokzau returned her tailor friend back to the tailor shop well before dusk, offering her goodbyes before leaving.

"Now?" Goatee asked.

"Hmmm..." Scar grunted a response to acknowledge the question but did not do anything.

The other fell silent at that and they conintued to trail after her. After a bit, they began to check their surroundings. The streets, however, remained crowded and the two men simply skulked on behind her until she walked into an inn for the evening. They looked at the inn carefully, then glanced at each other before turning away.

“An inn,” Scar noted, a greedy smile coming to his face.

“Hmm… No one here should know her," Goatee replied with his own smile.

Scar frowned, "Tailor girl."

"An exception... maybe visiting?"

Scar paused at that, "Maybe a chance."

Goatee grinned, asking, "Then... for the second?”

Scar snorted, shaking his head, “He’s a pervert. He would love her but he’d never pay us. He still hasn’t paid for the last two. No. She will be useful for the other thing.”

Goatee grimaced, “It’s a waste. She would fetch a good price.”

Scar shook his head and looked at him in disgust and anger, “You’ve been tainted by the second! Acokzau are worthless except as fighters or basic slaves. No one but the pervert finds them…Bleh!” he ended, grimacing in distaste.

Goatee looked at him a bit funny, “You are too picky, sometimes.”

Scar deliberately looked up at him while he spat to the side before growling, “You haven’t seen nothing. Not worth the heat or being tracked down. She needs to disappear and not be found. Otherwise, it’s not worth it. She won’t bring enough to be worth the trouble.”

Goatee frowned and sighed, “Really?”

Scar smiled, “You haven’t been to the greater clans. Find an elf, a good kin like a marsupial or mammal, maybe a dryad… elemental! There’s good steel there, but an Acokzau,” Scar shook his head and snorted, “you’d be lucky to get copper.”

Goatee’s eyes went up at that, “Copper’d be nice!”

“Not if the whole clan be comin’ down on your head, you dunce!”

Goatee frowned and nodded before shrugging, “Then the factory?”

“She’d be good for the factory. Only if she’s alone.”

Goatee nodded, “I’ll send one of the kids to trail her, let us know when she’s alone.

“She was alone today,” Scar spoke a bit indignantly.

“Weren't ready... too many people. And she might not be alone every day.”

Scar grunted, then nodded, “Send someone good."

"Want reports?"

Scar grimaced, "Nah... too annoying. Just when she's alone."