A book and many things to do

[Anastasia]

No good. Early on in the day you realize your head simply isn't in it still, quickly enough to at least salvage most of the day.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa heads out to clear her head and find something to help with.

[Anastasia]

Gimme a d100 then.

[Iron Dragoon]

[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 5, total 5[/blockquote]

[Anastasia]

You get about halfway downstairs when you see someone coming up the stairs. Bastian, taking them at a steady clip. "Alyssa," he calls, "Is Jarem back yet?"

[Iron Dragoon]

"I've been reading so I have no idea where he is. What's going on?"

[Anastasia]

"Got a lead," Bastian says, "Along with some big news."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods, "We'll get runners to find them, then. Let's wait in my study."

[Anastasia]

Bastian sits back while runners go do that, pulling out a silver flask and tossing it to you, before pulling out one of his own. "Have a sip," Bastian offers, pulling out another and doing just that. It's a silvery flask, whirling designs on it that don't make anything in particular, but are rather elegant and pretty.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa does so!

[Anastasia]

It's deeply cold ice water, pure and chilling. Colder than merely water with ice cubes, the sort of cold that comes from a tiny bit of meltwater in the winter, when it's scavenged off a mostly frozen stream.

Bastian has a long pull on it, "Found these....about a thousand years ago?" he says, "The coldest, cleanest water I've ever had and it's an infinite supply. Forgot I had them, found them when I was checking some things.""

[Iron Dragoon]

"Is everyone that works for me older than me by hundreds and hundreds of years?"

[Anastasia]

Bastian has another long gulp before wiping his brow with the back of his forearm. "What's eternity?" Bastian says, "You'll grow into it."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Well, unless Shar kills us."

[Anastasia]

Bastian's answer is more water before capping his flask and putting it away. "First of all, I don't know if you've heard but the efreet had a change of leadership and got a beggar's peace. Groveled like dogs," Bastian growls. "The new leader is a coward representing a tribe of cowards."