Drink With Me

[Brian]

Kevin rubs at his temples.  "Understandably," he says.

Mattias coughs, and nods.  "It's safe, yes."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn nods.  "Thank you."  Taking the substitute blade, he places it in the cloth and wraps it carefully, making sure to conceal it entirely.  Taking it in his arms, he bows.  "Then I will make arrangements to have this guarded.  I will return in an hour, my Lord."

[Brian]

Kevin nods at you like he expected nothing less.  Mattias and Eske look a bit bewildered, but move to follow you; Radagast looks perfectly content to stay where he is.

Sighing, Ekim wraps the sword of Seven Shadows in his apron, along with the shards of your katana.

[Bjorn]

"If it would be convenient, Lord Ekim," Bjorn says, pausing on his way out the door, "might I speak with you once I've finished with the arrangments?  In, perhaps, half an hour or so?"

[Brian]

Ekim nods.  "I will be in the forge," he replies, the bundled sword-and-fragments seeming tiny in his hands.  "As always."

[Bjorn]

"Thank you, my Lord."

With that, Bjorn steps out of the room, pausing temporarily to wait for Eske and Mattias.  When they've caught up with him, he nods to them.  "You look a bit confused.  It must be rather difficult to suddenly be caught up in the thick of things.  Are you both doing well?"

[Brian]

"Imprisonment was less than kind," Eske says slowly.  "I was ... between places, and in no place, if this makes any sense.  I...."  He trails off, eyes becoming slightly absent, and then shakes his head.  "I am unsettled.  But well enough for this.  There will be time to rest when the Dreadmarch is stopped."

Mattias looks at Eske doubtfully.  "It was trying, in the wastes.  I imagine that it was more trying here, in the sieges, though," he says.

[Bjorn]

"Don't push yourself too hard, Gatemaster," Bjorn says with a note of gentleness.  "Your aid is invaluable -- but that only makes it more important that you take care of yourself."

He sighs.  "Things have been busy, and if you'll excuse me, there are things I must take care of.  If I can be of any assistance to either of you, please let me know."  He grins wryly.  "It seems that I'm usually easy to find."

[Brian]

Mattias nods at you.  "We shall rest, to recover what strength we have before you begin," he says.  "If you require us, we will remain in the library."

[Bjorn]

With a return nod, Bjorn sets off to look for the Captain of the Guard, making sure, in passing, that three of the guards remain with Eske and Mattias.

[Brian]

The most highly decorated guard you saw is standing with the other five in front of the library, actually.  The one that said everything wrong possible to Phil.  He still looks a bit nervous about it.  If he's not actually the Captain of the Guard, he'd probably know where to find him.

[Bjorn]

"Ah, pardon me," Bjorn says politely to the decorated guard.  "I'm not as familiar as I could be with the garrison.  Might I ask your name?"

[Brian]

"I'm Eron," he manages, standing stiffly at attention.  "Eron Stuarts.  Is there anything I can help you with, Sir?"

[Bjorn]

Bjorn nods.  "Are you the Captain of the Guard, Master Stuarts?"

[Brian]

"Yes, Sir," he says, relaxing very slightly, and nodding.  Mattias and Eske wander in through the doors, and vanish into the library, where Radagast and Kevin are still speaking, though quietly.