“I think we’re done with bathing,” said Alice.
“Yeah, done,” said Mery. She had grabbed a towel and come to stand beside Marissa. “You’re a magic user then?”
Marissa shied away from Mery’s hand reaching for her hair. “I am but—”
“Magical accident, I’m guessing? Your hair.”
“It’s hair dye. Nothing fantastical about it.” Isa grabbed Marissa’s shoulders. “Why are you here? How do you know Ysel? Is this your fault?”
“Is what my fault?”
“This! All of this. Did you send me here? A couple of months ago I left your house and ended up here.” Isa took the towel that Lund offered but continued speaking. “I moved heaven and earth to get back to Portland, but I’m back here again. And I just need to know if it’s your fault.”
“I had nothing to do with this, with you. I’m as much at Her whims as anyone.”
“So Ysel brought me here the first time, too?”
“Our clothes won’t be ready for another half hour or so.” Lund spoke up for the first time since Marissa had unveiled herself. “That is the most comfortable place to sit in here.” He gestured to the soaking tub.
“He’s right,” said Alice as she walked back to the tub.
“I don’t need to bathe.” Marissa shook her head.
“But you need to be naked,” said Mery. “‘Naked men tell the truth.’ That’s what the philosopher Panktel said. Of course, he must not have had sex with any men because that is decidedly not true. Men will say anything if they think it will get them laid. But,” she dropped her towel, “the basic premise holds up. Strip.”
Marissa put her bag by the door, slipped out of her cape, and pulled her shirt over her head.
Marissa Mills, here? Think, Isa – probably not her real name. Isa couldn’t help but wonder at this strange event. Ysel had implied that Isa was simply a handy tool in Ysel’s moment of need, but what if that wasn’t true? What if Ysel was behind it all? But to what end? Had She arranged for Isa to meet up with Joth and subsequently Fedru? Had that been the long-term goal? Get close to Fedru to spy on him? That or worse?
Marissa had seemed— Wait, she’d known Marissa for years, so just how far did this all go? “Are you an assassin?” Isa blurted out. “A half-elf assassin? Or a spy?”
“An assassin?” Marissa laughed. “No. More like a field researcher.” She slipped out of her pants and stepped into the bath.
“Researching what?” Alice’s voice was cold.
Marissa cocked her head at Alice’s tone. “I’ve always been interested in other places – you know that – and so when I—”
“Bullshit.” Mery pointed a finger at Marissa. “Another good reason to make you strip – no hidden weapons.”
“Do you think I’m dangerous?” Marissa said to Lund.
“I don’t know what to think,” he said.
“I do,” said Alice. “I know what to think. I know what to feel anyway. Betrayed. That’s what I feel. We’ve been friends for over three years. That’s a lot of time that you spent not telling me the truth.”
Isa slipped her hand into Alice’s and squeezed. “Even longer for me. Care to explain that?”
Marissa slid down and let the water cover her head. When she surfaced, she said, “I knew I was going to have to explain to you both, and that was scarier than anything else I’ve faced. Look, I’m on your side. Bottom line, I’m on your side. Be mad at me. I’d be mad at me if I were you. But trust that I’m here to help.”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Ysel—” Isa began.
“She sent me to find you because you got sidetracked.”
“That’s no lie,” Alice said softly. “That tomb….”
“We have only your word on that,” said Lund with a shrug. “Truth or lie, that can’t be determined with what we have in front of us.”
Marissa nodded. “I guess that’s true.”
“I could cast a zone of truth tomorrow,” said Mery. “But if you’re as smart as I think you are, you could lie all day long in there, and maybe I’d never detect it.”
“Trust.” Marissa spread her hands out, resting them on the surface of the water. “That’s what we’re left with.”
“Not exactly.” Lund vaulted out of the tub and was beside Marissa’s bag in two strides. “I wouldn’t normally do this,” he said as he pulled open Marissa’s bag. “But this will solve— well, not everything, but your notebook will answer some questions, won’t it?”
“That’s private!” Isa and Marissa both spoke at once. Marissa started to get out of the tub, but Alice put a hand on her arm. “This is better,” she said. “No secrets. I’ll get mine, too. If anyone wants to look at it, they can.”
Lund nodded and went back to reading Marissa’s notebook.
“What so interesting?” Marissa called.
“You have a rank of monk?” he raised his head. “And four levels of druid. How long have you been on this assignment?” Lund flipped to Marissa’s quest log.
“Five years,” said Isa.
“Yeah, give or take.” Marissa shrugged.
Alice held up her notebook. “Any takers? Anyone want to plumb the enigma that is Alice Fondel?”
“I’ll take a look.” Marissa held out her hand.
“Five years and you’re only a level five?” Mery asked her. “Not a lot of excitement with these two, huh?”
Isa didn’t hear Mery’s question. She was thinking about her own notebook. She hadn’t looked at it yet and shouldn’t she be the first to see her new age? She pulled herself out of the bath and crouched over her bag. Mindful of the white feather, Isa carefully pulled out her notebook.
“Isa’s joined the party.” Mery laughed and sat on the edge of the tub. “Lund, hand me over my bag, will you?”
Lund closed Marissa’s notebook, walked over, and handed it to her. “Thank you,” he said softly. “And let me get mine. I’ve— I was a soldier for a while.”
“Lund! My bag?” Mery shook her head and went to retrieve her notebook.
Marissa shook her head and said to Lund, “I already know you’re a good person.”
“Fair’s fair,” he said. When Marissa didn’t take the notebook, he said, “Please.”
Marissa's Character Sheet
Name: Marissa Mills
Race: Half Elf
Height & Weight: 5ft 10 inches / 185 lbs
Class: Druid/Monk Level: 4/1
Alignment: Good
Background: Spy
Hit Points: 23 AC: 13 (leather)
Current Hit Points: 23
Combat: +5 to Hit
Weapons: +1 Quarterstaff /Shillelagh 1d8 +3 (bludgeoning) and Unarmed Strike +4 to hit for 2 damage (bludgeoning)
STR
12
+1
DEX
14
+2
CON
8
-1
INT
15
+2
WIS
16
+3
CHA
17
+3
Saving Throws: Int +5 and Wis +6
2
Acrobatics (Dex)
3
Medicine (Wis)
3
Animal Handling (Wis)
5
Nature* (Int)
2
Arcana (Int)
6
Perception* (Wis)
1
Athletics (Str)
6
Performance* (Cha)
6
Deception* (Cha)
3
Persuasion (Cha)
2
History (Int)
2
Religion (Int)
3
Insight (Wis)
5
Sleight of Hand* (Dex)
3
Intimidation (Cha)
5
Stealth* (Dex)
2
Investigation (Int)
3
Survival (Wis)
Special Attack: Wild Shape – beast form for 2 hours. Unarmed Strike as a bonus action (Monk)
Extra Features: Natural Recovery: recover (2) spells during a short rest. Feat: Observant which allows lip-reading and gives +5 to passive perception (+21) and passive investigation (+17)
Spells: Cantrips- Guidance, Shillelagh, Druidcraft, Gust. 1st Level- Animal Friendship, Beast Bond, Charm Person, Earth Tremor. 2nd Level- Barkskin, Locate Animal or Plant, Pass Without a Trace, Spider Climb.