Chapter 88

"Can I help you, Ranger, sir?" the shopkeeper asked, smiling affably.

"Is it starting to feel like that's your name yet?" Riley wondered.

Tobias nodded subtly in agreement with her projected words, "I need a detailed map of Ashenvale, something with the streets clearly marked if possible."

"Something of that detail would cost a bit, sir, a silver at least. They require a great amount of work, very fine," he replied.

Sighing, with a deft motion, the coin appeared in Tobias' hand.

"But we already have a map," Riley complained.

"We do, but I need something I can mark up," he explained as the shopkeeper vanished into a back room, appearing a moment later with a rolled-up scroll of heavy vellum.

"Thank you for your patronage," he bowed as they made their way out.

"You've been spendy today," Riley hopped after him, the tingling bell above the door heralding their exit.

"Thank the Thriteen for Justinian and his largesse. We need to be ready, and I'm starting to think we're on our own out here, but I suppose that figures," Tobias said, turning in the direction of the Prancing Cockatrice.

Pulling at her own map, Riley could see that line now firmly established, one of many cutting through the shadowy fog of where she hadn't yet been.

"Wystan did say they were operating in loops," she agreed, reflecting on her own journeys.

The route from Tobias' childhood home to the Academy was clearly visible, including the path that took them by his favorite tea vendor, as was the Prancing Cockatrice, and their route out with Cid as they began training.

Habits. Everyone had to live, so everyone had them, so why wouldn't it be true of monsters as well?

"Everything has needs. You need materials at the moment; I need to talk." Riley began.

"You always need to talk," Tobias teased with a chuckle.

"Hey! So maybe that's something else; maybe what we're hunting has needs, too, or goals? Why do they hunt what they hunt? Is it drive, aggression, or cruelty? If it's Chadrick, and it's gotta be Chadrick, he has a burning need to be the biggest prick in the room, even if I'm pretty sure he's the smallest, so are the victims related? Maybe some perceived slight?" Riley rambled, ripping off her memories of "Law and Order" for all they were worth.

"I understand what you're doing, and I appreciate it, but we're just getting started here. Asking questions is important, considering angles is important, at least that's the way I'm approaching it, but speculating wildly isn't going to help, Riley. We need to go over this scroll that Wystan gave us this morning and see what we can see, then speculate from a foundation of knowledge," Tobias lectured.

"And you say you've never done this before, but will there be lunch somewhere in there? I'm hungry, and it's past high sun," her stomach grumbled in emphasis.

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"Well, I haven't, but I've done a lot of research and had to work things out; this doesn't seem all that different. You start with a foundation of hard facts in alchemical research, and you let that lead you to other facts. I could be completely off, but I think that will also apply here," Tobias replied.

"Seems logical, makes sense to me," Riley agreed, trying to ignore her growling stomach.

Stealing another quick glance at her map, they seemed to be getting close.

"There's also Lady Godwin, that's a lead, right, an angle?" Riley said, making conversation.

"Yes, but right now, I want to focus less on the noble angle and look for other causes," Tobias replied.

Riley stopped in her tracks. "Why? We already know he's involved!"

"No, we don't. It's a solid working theory and feeds into our biases. Chadrick travels. He has commitments and obligations that take him out of the city as the viceroy, so we can't be sure he was here for all of them. Research is not about validating your pet theories; it's about looking for new ones and challenging what you know. I've got a grudge, so I'm going to work against it, not for it. This is about the pursuit of truth, not emotional satisfaction. I'm not going to be blind here," he reasoned.

"You're way more analytical than me, and you seem more focused. Your emotions have gotten calmer at least," Riley observed as the sign for the Prancing Cockatrice came into view.

"And you're fidgety and hungry, so let's get some lunch," Tobias offered.

Riley's ears perked at the mention of food, "I'm sold."

Tobias chuckled, "I knew you would be."

"This bond thing, it's kinda weird in a cool way," Riley observed.

"I've gotten to see a bit of your world, no thoughts really, just emotions and images. You think of those metal carriages a lot when we're walking, and those plays projected on screens, those things made up a lot of your life, didn't it?" he asked as they came to the door of the Prancing Cockatrice.

"They did; life is a lot quieter here and slow. For instance, we haven't been home yet," she replied.

"Would you have lunch sent up to our room, along with some grasses, clover, and jogana fruit for my companion?" Tobias asked the barkeep.

A tentative quiet hung over the Pracning Cockatrice, just past its lunchtime rush. Straggling diners dwelled in corners, eating quietly, enjoying the restive peace.

"Of course, sir, right away," he replied congenially, calling for a waitress.

"I'm hoping we can return home tomorrow. Right now, this investigation is eating up the day, and Ma and Da are working no doubt. We're going to have to find the right moment," he said as they climbed the stairs, finally arriving at their room.

Tobias plopped down at the desk chair, setting out the map and the report scroll upon it before running his hand through his hair with a sigh.

"Gods, today has already been exhausting," he complained.

"It has," Riley stretched out, paw over paw, and yawned as a sharp knock drew her to startled attention.

"Enter!" Tobias shouted.

Sabine strode in with their tray and set it down on the dining table before shutting the door. "How'd things go with Wystan and the castle? Anything to report?"

Riley could smell the food, the distracting scents of her own meal, drawing all focus, carrying her to her seat.

"Is it okay to speak freely?" Tobias asked, rising and switching chairs, setting Riley's bowl in front of her before attending to his own.

"I'm your station chief; if you can't talk to me, who can you talk to?" Sabine asked with a shrug.

"I got the report scroll and met with a friend of mine in the castle. Wystan is about as corrupt as they come, a monster in his own right. I don't like the man," Tobias reported.

"He is. Scum often rises to the top, Ranger, but you can't let your revulsion get in the way of your mission," she lectured.

"It won't. I've a firm grounding in the idea there are things outside of my control. That said, Wystan has his own agenda, and we should consider that going forward," Tobias replied, taking up his bowl of stew, which smelled like a dozen things Riley had never encountered before.

"Cherock stew, it's a root vegetable," Tobias projected quietly to Riley, filling up the brief pause.

"Excellent, you're learning already; working with the unreliable is what we do. You're going to have to compartmentalize and glean the good stuff from the cockatrice crap. So who's this contact in the castle?" Sabine asked.

"A friend from school. He tends to know the gossip and is abreast of events. I thought he'd be a good person to tap," Tobias replied.

"Good thinking, I'll leave you to your lunch. Keep me apprised," Sabine said, before exiting.