Victorious advance

[Ebiris]

"Someone who's going to... take care of business?" Marie asks as she continues doing her best to extract blood from the proverbial stone.

[Anastasia]

"Hmm..." Smiling a bit, "That doesn't sound like something an innocent songstress does," he says, "I'll show you mine if you show me yours."

[Ebiris]

"I never said I was innocent," Marie banters back. "A girl has to know how to defend herself on the road when she looks an easy target for bandits and robbers. But also know when things are too dangerous and it's better to run away."

[Anastasia]

"Hmm." Smiling even more, "Oh, alright. They're east - well east, and heading east towards Chillander's frozen realm," Is the answer you get. "I'm staying well to the west now."

[Ebiris]

"Hmm, I was planning on working my way up there after reaching the Citadel of Light," Marie admits. "I heard about the new country beyond the mountains at the end of the world and wanted to see it. All my songs would be new to them, and I could pick up new ones from them in turn."

[Anastasia]

"I'd be careful. I heard a powerful Sharran is the one going east," Is the answer you get.

[Ebiris]

"I might extend my stay in the Citadel, thinking on it. Where did you hear this anyway?" she asks.

[Anastasia]

"Oh, some heroes who owed me a favor," The male(?) elf says. "I shouldn't tell who it was, they told me in confidence."

[Ebiris]

Given that she's an eladrin who was once an elf and has epic perception, I think Marie should be able to clock an elf's gender instantly without any dubiety.

"Heroes, huh? Well I hope they're heroic enough to do something about it. There was this Shar worshipping nymph causing all sorts of trouble near Balmuria a few years ago, really don't want to see something like that happening here."

[Anastasia]

Marie's pretty sure it's a female elf who just acts manly and doesn't do a good job at it.

"Be careful, that sounds terrible," The elf says, "I'll stay here where it's safe."

[Ebiris]

"I will," she says, having a drink of her neglected wine and then glancing at it and the elf's drink. "Also let me buy you another drink to say thanks for sharing."

[Anastasia]

You get a wineglass raised to you in thanks for that.

Anything else to do here?

[Ebiris]

I'm good. Marie will use the Seira teleport network to get to Elandra's Rest and continue her investigations from there.

[Anastasia]

As Marie goes to do that?

My love. Naeys has found omens that warn of dark tidings and fates surrounding me. While they are not around you, be aware and be cautious. For I know nothing would wound me as much as something happening to you.

[Ebiris]

Marie prays back that she's being careful and chasing down a lead pointing her to Northeastern Pallanth.