The rest of the ride back toward Sentinel over the next few days was shockingly peaceful. They encountered no criminals, highwaymen, killers, robbers, deranged maniacs, or assorted ne'er-do-wells on the roads. And once they were close enough that the outline of the city became visible on the horizon, they seemed to believe they were fully safe. After all, by that point, they could see roaming patrols of armed guards flying Arcadian pennants that fluttered in the breeze.

They reached the outer stables, at which point there was a bit of awkwardness among the group. It was, after all, a parting of the ways for some of them.

"Well," Igrei said, offering a polite bow to each member of the group in turn. "It was lovely to meet all of you. I just wish it had been under kinder circumstances. I shall wish you well on your journey and, should fate will it, we shall meet again under kind stars."

Elijah gave the elf a curious look. "You sure you don't wish to stay on with us? A lad of your skill, you would be fine security to have. I could even pay you."

Igrei smiled. "Thank you, Ser DiVenture, but no. I am here on clan business. And so long as there are mysteries of the Bleak to unfurl, that is the path I must walk."

"Take care of yourself, then," Coin replied. "You've a damn dangerous job." He supposed someone had to do it, but he was pleased to know it wasn't his job specifically.

"Ha. That phantasm was something of an outlier. But I shall be alright. Good luck, Coin. And don't stop practicing your magic." He turned to Pearl and bowed. "Lady Pearl. May your beauty shine eternal."

The bard smiled and chuckled. "My... and here I was thinking of all elves as being as frigid as Thalborea."

Lastly his eyes fell on Essine, a sympathetic smile on his face. "Don't let the witch's ominous words worry you too much, Essine. Whatever may have happened, you are still yourself. And always shall be."

The kobold managed a tiny smile. A rare sight of late. "This one thanks you, Igrei. This strange curse... it is a worrying thing to be burdened with. But this one shall be brave."

"Glad to hear it," Igrei said, smiling warmly. "Well then... Farewell, until we meet again!" Coin stood back to watch the elf go. Soon he had merged into the crowd filtering into Sentinel, distinguished only by the protruding point of his staff. But soon that too vanished once Igrei had gone far enough.

Pearl sighed. "I suppose I too should be on my way too. And my thanks for guiding me back to Sentinel. Even if we took a scenic path to get here."

"Ah, well, no trouble at all!" Elijah assured her, managing a small laugh.

"Only, well, I don't actually have anywhere else to go. And I suppose I could take up work at the local taverns. But... Oh I don't know. Maybe I'm insane, but I've actually come to enjoy the company of you lot." Her eyes darted briefly to Coin as she spoke.

Coin supposed they were better travelling companions than the bandits who had locked her in the cage. Coin had not given them much thought since the night he rescued Pearl, but that was another issue to be wary about.

Elijah had noticed Pearl's unsubtle glance, which had flown directly over Coin's shockingly dense head. He rolled his eyes. "Well, if you wish to be our travelling bard, you are welcome to. Someone to provide music while we camp, or earn an extra sum whenever we stop at inns or towns. I expect people travelling with me to earn their camp."

"Wonderful, wonderful! Needn't worry, a layabout bard is a harmful stereotype I don't contribute to!" she explained, motioning to the lute slung upon her back.

"Very well." Elijah turned to Coin. "I have a few errands to run. For one thing, I need to meet with Lady Greatglow to settle affairs. I sent a bird ahead to explain our delay but I doubt she'll be thrilled at how long this has all taken. At least the paintings made it to their destination in one piece."

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"Want me to come along?" the mimic asked.

Elijah considered this, then grimaced. "Best not. I'd rather just the one of us weather a potential tongue lashing. Besides, I have a special assignment for you. Instead of staying at an inn, I think we should visit my home for a few days respite."

"In... Hightown?" Coin asked.

Essine froze, her ears perking up sharply. "Th-this one cannot! I-if anyone were to see this one-"

Elijah gently took her hand. "I don't care what anyone says, lass. And Coin won't let anyone do anything to you." And, if worst came to worst, he'd throw his reputation and wealth around a bit to solve any potential issues.

Laws, rules, and societal norms were very malleable when you were rich enough.

"Right," Coin said, smiling at the kobold. And that seemed to be enough to put her mind at ease. "I can handle this, then. Just tell me where to go."

"The third house on Nobby Avenue. It has 'DiVenture' embossed on the nameplate on the wall. You remember the branching paths we passed the first time we came to Hightown? It's the rightmost one," Elijah explained.

"And... they know to expect us?" Coin asked. He'd rather not get turned away at the door.

"I sent a message ahead, don't worry. I'm not totally senseless yet." Elijah smiled and tapped his temple. "And come nightfall, we'll deal with Valle."

And so Coin led the way, with Essine and Pearl keeping a comfortable closeness to him. Sentinel was as busy now as it had been the last time Coin visited, the alleys and thoroughfares filled with a steady stream of people.

Though he couldn't help but notice how tense and uneasy some of the people he passed were, stealing uneasy glances at everyone around them.

They made their way through Lowtown, moving at a speedy pace, but it wasn't long until a shouting voice caught Coin's ear and gave him pause.

"The goblins are evolving! These malicious, wicked creatures are becoming smarter, arming themselves with weapons and organising into a veritable army!" The mimic froze and peered across the plaza, to where a man had positioned himself atop a stack of crates. He was a shabby fellow, wearing a soot-stained green cloak above moth-eaten clothing.

Despite his ragged appearance, a crowd had gathered to listen intently to his preaching.

"They prowl and skulk in the shadows of the countryside, but they grow emboldened by the day! Their attacks become more commonplace, more rampant, and slowly they are moving closer to the heart of Arcadia! To here! And yet our so-called Archchancellor does nothing! He ignores the problem, sequestered in his ivory tower! He-"

A few screams filled the air as armoured guards pushed through the crowd. The preacher made no move to resist as he was pulled from his makeshift pulpit, and even seemed to smile as he was bundled away into a nearby alley.

Pearl stared, dumbstruck. "You... mentioned goblins, didn't you?" she asked, looking to Coin.

He nodded stiffly, unblinking gaze affixed to the distant alley. When he looked closer, he could see the tattered remains of posters that had been forcibly torn from their moorings. One of them had just enough of the bottom in tact for Coin to read the words 'GOBLIN MENACE' in faded red ink.

Word was spreading about the threat they faced, at least.

"Come on," he said, motioning for the others to follow his lead.

He spied more remnants of torn posters throughout Lowtown, and even a few of them in the Merchant's Quarter. But by the time they reached Hightown, there wasn't a trace of any of the tension found in Lowtown.

People bustled and went about their business, upper class toffs who rarely thought of any issues more complicated then what they wanted for dinner that night. Goblins pillaging the countryside? An issue for countryside folk to deal with. If the goblins reached Sentinel, then they were certain their wealth could let them survive any hardship.

Eyes turned to Essine in passing, the presence of a kobold enough to snap them from their blissful ignorance. And a sharp gaze from Coin was enough to make them look away again.

They did not understand what it was about Coin's eyes that gave them such a sudden instinctual fear. Just some primal monkey reflex that told them they were making eye contact with a creature that could (and would if it needed to or simply felt like it) eat them whole.

Their path brought them along an immaculately clean cobblestone road, lined on either side by red-leafed trees that were treated with greater care than the people of Lowtown. Eventually they reached the walls and looming steel gate of the third house, the plate sporting Elijah's name just as he had said.

A winding brick path, lined by flowery shrubs, led the way up to the house itself. Coin stared toward the structure, his mouth running dry. Four floors tall with starkly cleaned red brick walls, a sloping black ceiling and rows of gleaming windows. To the far right side of the house sat a separate structure, an observatory with a telescope protruding from an opening in the roof.

There were other fine houses in Hightown, larger and grander in their opulence. But Elijah's estate was tidier, finely built, and seemed more respectable in its subtle beauty.

A rail-thin man stood behind the gate, watching them with a stony expression. A human, Coin reasoned, but the faint points to his ears made it clear he had some elf blood in him. He wore a finely tailored red jacket above a dark suit, and his raven hair was slicked back with a thick coating of pomade.

"You are Master Coin, yes?" he asked, paying no mind to Pearl or Essine.

"I am," Coin replied.

The stranger nodded, in a gesture so subtle one could only notice it through a frame-by-frame analysis. "I am Domajor, the estate manager." He made a gesture, causing the gates to silently unlock and glide open. "Welcome, then, to Venture Manor."