Looking For the Lost One|Zephyr, Talen'sul

[Kender Bard]

Talon wiped the sweat off his brow as he stood on the threshold of Zephyr. He glanced around, highstrung, on edge.

"Where do we start now?" he wondered aloud. "Should we comb the village or ask around?"

[Northen Light36]

Saph thinks for moment. "Let's start by getting a couple of rooms at the inn," he tells Talon. "We need to be practical here. The chances are we won't find your sister tonight. After we've gotten rooms, we'll head to the market." Saph pauses, aware that Talon will want to feel he's doing something practical. "Actually, why don't you head to the market while I get us rooms? Don't ask about your sister. I don't want to risk the guy who took her hearing that someone's here looking for her. We've got a good description of the guy though, make up a story about why you're looking for him and ask around. He has to buy his food somewhere, so there's a good chance someone will know him."

[Kender Bard]

"Good thinking," Talon sighed, nodding. He was very glad Saph was here now. While Talon felt he was capable of taking care of things himself, he had gotten very dependent on having Amaro there as the acting tactician. It was comforting to be given something to do rather than worrying that what he was doing was the best course of action. Waving, Talon headed off to the market and began his hunt.

He even bought a knickknack for his son and something to nibble on as he wandered the market, all the while chatting it up with the owner of the wares and anyone within earshot who would listen about how he was looking for a young man, dark complexion with brown hair and eyes. He'd seen the poor man drop a few things out of his pack. They looked trivial (and in actuality, they were just whatever Talon could pull out of his belt pouch that was commonplace enough to pass as something anyone else would carry) but he certainly did hate to see a guy lose something that might possess some sentimental value...

[Northen Light36]

"Hmm," a fruit vendor comments after listening to Talon's story. "Was he carrying a sword on his back by any chance? Because your description sounds a bit like Burak."

[Kender Bard]

"Burak?" Talon repeats, trying to keep the excitement out of his voice. "Not sure what his name was, but I think he had a sword. Kinda hard to remember THAT, just about everyone has a sword these days, after the last battle with Maelstrom and all. But yeah, I bet he did. Know where I could find him?"

[Northen Light36]

The vendor looks thoughtful. "Well, not exactly. He's new to the area, came from Maelstrom I think... Nice guy though. Very friendly. But he doesn't live in the village. Think he has a place just outside Zaphyr. There aren't too many of those, you should be able to find him easily enough I'd think."

[Kender Bard]

Talon tipped the man and gave him his thanks, taking his purchases and hastening to the inn where he hoped to find Saph and share these findings. "Saph!" he called out as he walked in.

[Northen Light36]

Saph comes over instantly. "I was just about to come looking for you," he tells Talon. "Did you find anything?"

[Kender Bard]

"Yeah," Talon says quietly, leaning over so he wouldn't announce his findings to the whole world. "I think I got the guy. His name is Burak, and he's from Maelstrom. Has a place just outside of Zephyr."

[Northen Light36]

"Come on, I got us rooms. We can talk more privately there," Saph tells Talon and leads the other man off. "Maelstrom hmm?" he remarks, once they're in the room he got himself. "Then he's probably a Storm. Your sister's a water isn't she?" Saph's expression darkens a little. "Well I think we can stop wondering why he took her." Saph sighes. "Well at least there's a benefit if she's been taken as a slave..."

[Kender Bard]

"The only benefit I can see is that it means she's still alive," Talon growls, furious. He paces about the room, anxious. "Damn the Storms!" he growled, then bit his tongue. "No, no, I can't condemn the whole race for the bigotry of others..."

[Northen Light36]

"Better that she's alive then dead," Saph points out sharply. "Injuries can be healed. And speaking from experience, slavers try not to damage their belongings too much, it cuts down on how much work they can do." Saph puts a hand on Talon's shoulder, holding the other man firmly. "Calm down Talon. We're going to find her, all right? And we'll get her out before to much can happen. But we've got to go into this with clear heads."

Saph sighes. "Look, we can be fairly certain your sister isn't in mortal danger. That means we have some time to find her. Therefore we are both going to get some rest for an hour or two so we're refreshed. Then we'll start hunting for her, all right?"

[Kender Bard]

Talon sighed heavily and nodded. "Fair enough. Thank you, Saph, for coming with me. I probably wouldn't have botched this by now."

[Northen Light36]

"I doubt it," Saph replies. "And it's a fair trade, don't you think? You did save my wife and daughters." Smiling, he pats Talon on the shoulder. "Go rest, Talon. I'll see you in a few hours."

(*has Celestia do the time warp*)

Three hours later, Saph knocks lightly on Talon's door. "Talon, are you awake? It's time to go."

[Kender Bard]

"I'm awake," Talon calls out. He sounds a little tired, but when he opens the door he looks relatively refreshed, just worried. "Can we head out yet?"