The al-Rhayidhian sky captain bowed to Breanna as she walked off the gangplank at the Portsdale sky dock. In his accented Kelltic, he said, "M'Lady, is always a pleasure to have such company as yours on a journey. Until we meet again."

Breanna curtsied lightly to him. "Travel by sky ship is always a pleasure, Good Captain. And fine company is always to be enjoyed." She hoped the reply was right. The al-Rhayidhians had some overly formal customs from time to time.

The sky captain smiled graciously. "I thank you, Lady Ithell."

Bree walked briskly across the gangplank to the sky dock's platform, fighting the urge to skip. Travel by sky ship was a pleasure. Being able to watch the land unfolding below the bow as the Wind Master kept a good breeze to the ship's stern was something Bree could never imagine being boring.

"Lady Ithell?" a voice jarred her from her thoughts. The dock's master was standing ahead of her, looking surprised. "Baron del Cartach told us you were expected next week," he continued. "I shall let the Baron know you have arrived early."

"No!" Breanna replied too hastily. She covered her bad manners with a charming smile and continued more courteously, "Really, Master Finnea, that won't be necessary, I'll surprise Baron del Cartach. I'm sure he'll appreciate it." She smiled to herself.

The sky ship had arrived well ahead of schedule in Ithell's Town, and Breanna wanted to get this trip over with. The twins were going to be two years old soon, and this trip was not going to be a fun one. The situation in Ithell's Town had become complicated. The drow had all but vanished from the area around Ithell's Town, much to Bree's relief, so the town felt much safer. Trade villages had popped up along the route between Llwelyn in the Kingdom of the Five Crowns and Ithell's Town, and between Ithell's Town and Kells, far to the south. The villages closer to Ithell's Town had unified around Eric, since they owed their existence to his trade town. Some of them had even approached Eric and suggested that he designate himself a baron, so they could swear fealty to him as a new barony.

As if that wasn't enough, Janus, Eric's father, had sent word that the King of the Kingdom of the Five Crowns desperately wanted to claim Ithell's Town as part of his kingdom, so he could collect taxes from the prospering trade city. Eric very clearly had no desire to agree to that, but he did not want to endanger his trade routes, either. Eric was playing a delicate game of keeping the king at a distance without outright angering him.

And, if Eric didn't have enough to juggle, he had also heard rumors that the Duke of Llwelyn had made some quiet rumblings about succession from the Kingdom of the Five Crowns. A number of other outlying villages in the Plains of Albion had long considered themselves quasi-independent, but having the second largest city leave the kingdom would certainly have repercussions. And, if rumors were true, the Duke was interested in forming a confederation of cities, much like the Dales, that included Ithell's Town.

With such rumors abound, Eric wanted to consult with Bilbus and Adria over what advise they may have. Bilbus's recent experience playing the Game of Houses in the Dales, combined with Adria's lifetime growing up in it, would be invaluable, but Eric could not safely travel in person. Instead, he asked Bree to visit under the auspices of checking in on one of her former students, now an apothecary in his own right practicing in Portsdale. And, while in town, she would naturally have to visit with the del Cartachs.

Portsdale had grown in the two years since Bree last visited. The sky dock had been on the edge of town, close to the Vasmar shore, but there were newer buildings all around the dock. Some of the buildings showed the larger proportions of orcish construction, with taller stories and much larger doors. On the roads, she could see numerous orcs, dressed similarly to the Portsdale townsfolk, conducting business. A pair of orcs stood with a pair of men, all garbed in leather armor, keeping watch over one of the larger intersections. In a clearing nearby, a number of children played gleefully around a muddy puddle, running across it and jumping noisily in it, splashing water everywhere.

The temptation to join their game was strong, but Bree gathered her travel bag, slung it over her shoulder, and proceeded down the stairs to the ground level. A man in the office on the ground floor looked up at her. "M'lady! Do you require an escort? I did not know this sky ship carried passengers."

"No, no," Breanna replied. "I know my way around town. Thank you."

Before the man could protest, Bree walked out onto the street. The bustle was definitely much more pronounced than it had been last time. Villagers were everywhere, and wagons rolled along the road, laden with goods destined for shop or for the ports of town. Bree strolled along, humming to herself. The trip may have been for unpleasant business reasons, but she was determined to enjoy what she could of it.

The old del Quintin manor house - now the del Cartach mansion - was in front of her all too soon. The lovely day and her diversionary stroll were at an end. Sighing to herself, Bree walked into the house.

It was much as she remembered it, with the roomy atrium arranged with a few chairs for commoners to wait for an audience with the Baron or his wife. Presently, there were two women in their mid twenties standing together near the entrance. Bilbus held court, if that's what one could call it, in a roomy receiving room opposite the entrance. The door was shut, of course, with a lone guard that Bree did not recognize. She approached the guard.

He watched as she approached, disinterested.

"I would like an audience with Baron del Cartach," Breanna said simply.

"He is holding audience now," the guard replied, bored. "You may see him soon, after he is finished with them." He nodded his head towards the two other women.

"Thank you," Bree said, somewhat irritated at the poor manners the guard portrayed. Surely Bilbus didn't tolerate such manners. And, even if he did, Adria would skin the man if she saw him behaving in the manner.

Breanna picked one of the chairs and sat down, setting her travel pack on the floor next to it, to wait.

The two women were speaking in hushed tones, arguing. Breanna was close enough that she couldn't help but overhear them as their voices kept getting louder.

"We can't talk to the baron," one of them insisted. "He's friends with them."

"Joycelinn, he's the Baron of Portsdale. He's not like the other Dalesian lords, I tell you. Even if the orcs are friends, if they're responsible, he will take care of the problem. He will get your boy back."

"Madalayne, I can't do this. I can't. They took my boy. They took Rand. And the Baron won't get him back."

"You don't know they took him," Madalayne replied sternly. "Only the gods know where Rand is."

"But I've heard stories," Joycelinn protested. "Other children who have disappeared. Rand is not the only one."

Bree stole a glance towards the women. Joycelinn's eyes were moist. She tugged absently at a lock of her auburn hair as she glanced nervously towards the audience chamber's door.

"If no one tells the Baron," Madalayne observed, "then other children will disappear."

With a shudder and a chill down her spine, Breanna remembered her own kidnapping at the hand of orcs all those years ago. Breanna coughed politely and at the ladies. To annoyed glances she said quietly, "Ladies, I am sorry to interrupt, I couldn't help but overhear. My name is Breanna, and I am a traveler here as well. When did your son go missing? Is there any possibility that maybe he has run off on his own? My own children, while still very young, are notorious for escaping even the most watchful of caretakers, and I swear to you it always scares my husband and I to death! What makes you believe orcs have a hand in this?"

Breanna walked over to the other two women. Joycelinn looked past her towards the guard. Seeing no response from the man, she looked back at Breanna. "I would like to think he is just playing a game, but it's been three days, and none of the other boys have seen him. I heard another woman at the orphanage when I was looking for Rand. She says her boy disappeared - he had been out playing with some children, splashing in a puddle. She looked away for a minute, and her boy was gone. The other children were laughing, and they said he had disappeared. If it's not orcs using dark magicks, what could it be? I've heard the stories of orcs eating people. Maybe these orcs are just making friends with us so they can..." Joycelinn shuddered.

Breanna shuddered as well. By all the gods, there were children playing in a puddle as I came in. "Joycelinn? I know this will sound odd, but can you tell me has there been a lot of rain in this area lately? How long have you waited to see the Baron?"

Joycelinn shook her head. "No, there hasn't been any unusual amounts of rain. Just what I'd call normal."

Madalayne nodded in agreement, and added, "We've been here perhaps a quarter hour. The guard said something about Baron del Cartach meeting with the head of his navy."

With a smile that was meant to be reassuring, Bree said quietly, "I see. Shall we see if we can hurry him up a bit?"

Madalayne and Joycelinn looked at the other woman with confusion on their faces. Turning her back on the women, Bree pulled her signet ring on its chain from her blouse, strode confidently over to her travel bag, slung it on her shoulder and walked towards the closed doors.

The guard took notice of the approaching woman. Wiping a hand on his leather armored jacket, he said, "You need to wait your turn, miss. The Baron is in a very important meeting, and he mustn't be disturbed. And those two other lasses were here before you."

Bree smiled warmly at the guard, "Oh, I have every intention of waiting my turn, kind sir. However, I do not believe that the Baron would be at all upset to be disturbed by his friend, and sometimes advisor, the Lady Breanna Ithell of Ithell's Town." Gesturing to Joycelinn and Madalayne, she continued, "These ladies have pressing business with the baron that cannot wait any longer. Please knock on the door, and tell the baron that I am here, and that we kindly request to speak with him."

The guard's jaw dropped, and he immediately stiffened as he regained his composure. Behind Breanna, she her a quiet shriek, and Joycelinn's voice tensely moaning, "She's the baron's friend! I told you this was a mistake!" A piteous whimper followed the quiet exclamation.

Joycelinn was struggling to break free of Madalayne's grip. Madalayne was staring at Breanna in utter disbelief, her grip slipping as she digested what Breanna's announcement.

Breanna winced, and said under her breath to no one in particular, "Kuso! Why is it that attempting to be diplomatic in this town always seems to go the wrong way?"

With a deep calming breath, she turned back to face the two women, "Joycelinn, I know that this must be hard for you, but Madalayne is right. Bringing this to the attention of the baron and baroness is the best course of action right now. Let's see if they can help get your Rand and the others safely back. Right now there is another group of children outside playing. How many of those children have to go missing before you do something, anything to stop it? Let me help you get in to see Baron del Cartach."

The guard opened the door and stepped in. "Baron del Cartach, Admiral Pete, Commander Sulz, my apologies. A noble woman by the name of Lady Ithell is here, and she seeks an audience with you. She says it is a matter most urgent."

"Bree?" a familiar voice asked. Breanna could hear a rustle in the audience chamber, and shortly a familiar goatee'd face appeared in the doorway. Bilbus beamed. "Bree, you're early!" Breanna could see that Bilbus wore his familiar dark leather armor, despite him nominally holding audience.

Behind her, Breanna could hear another terrified yelp, and the sound of someone running. A look over her shoulder showed Joycelinn at the door to the mansion, fumbling with the catch momentarily before flinging it open to run out. Madalayne still stood behind Bree, stony faced as she stared at the Baron del Cartach.

Bilbus nodded his head towards the hastily departing woman. "What's with her?"

Bree couldn't help but grin at her thief-turned-noble friend before her expression turned serious once more. "It seems that several children in Portsdale have gone missing recently." She nodded towards the door and Madalayne behind her. "These women very bravely came to make you aware of the problem and to seek your aid. You should hear them out Bilbus. The stories are very disturbing." Turning to the guard, Bree asked, "Kind sir, would you please step out, and gently see if you can bring Madame Joycelinn back to us here? If she will not come, would you please look for the group of children playing by the puddle a couple blocks over and just watch over them?"

The guard looked to Bilbus, who nodded, before heading out the door.

Making herself at home, Breanna set her bag by the door and moved toward the side board bar. "I'm parched!" Bree filled two of the glasses she found there with watered wine, looking the question at Bilbus, Is it safe? At his slight nod, she walked back to Madalayne and handed the lady the glass before taking a sip of her own. "Madalayne, what can you tell us about these children who have gone missing? What was it that the children said about the puddle?"

Madalayne took the glass, her hand shaking as she looked towards the towering orc on the far side of the room, wrapped in the colorful silks of a Karasimian-styled robe. The orc growled towards her and Breanna, baring teeth in a frightening grimace, and Breanna replied with a greeting. Another man slouched on a chair near the orc, a Captain's jacket tossed on the floor next to him. He grinned and winked at the women, eyeing both of them in a manner that was far from innocent.

Realizing that the Lady had addressed her, Madalayne took a long sip from the watered wine. "I .. I don't know much, M'lady. I don't have any of my own. Joycelinn's boy disappeared, and she came to me telling me wild tales of children missing and orcs taking them." She covered her mouth with her free hand and looked fearfully at Bilbus.

"Orcs aren't taking children," Bilbus replied. "If they were, I would have heard about it." He growled at the large orc, who scowled menacingly and shook his head emphatically. "It's not the orcs. How many kids? Where at?"

Madalayne uncovered her mouth. She shrugged her shoulders and dipped her head slightly. "Baron del Cartach, I'm sorry. I don't know. Joycelinn insisted that other children are missing, and that orcs are involved, and that there are magicks involved somehow."

Breanna nodded, "Yes, Joycelinn as very insistent that other children were missing. She mentioned that when she had checked at the orphanage there were others missing and that the orcs were using dark magics to steal them away." Breanna held up a hand to Sultz, "I know, and I believe you Commander. The troubling part of the story was that the children playing with those who have gone missing say they are playing near a puddle and the child simply disappears. We have seen similar things in the not so distant past and it doesn't tend to end well. I'm hoping Madalayne can tell us more."

Breanna looked towards the open door trying to see if the guard had caught up to the running woman.

The guard had given up the chase quickly - he had made it perhaps twenty paces down the road before he gave up. Joycelinn was fast, and there was enough traffic on the road for her to easily evade the slower guard. He returned to the mansion and shrugged his shoulders as he wiped his sweaty brow. He adjusted the bulky maille shirt he wore and bowed to Bilbus when he saw the baron.

"You're talking about disappearing, not just missing children," Bilbus stated. "The orcs aren't doing it. The elves could have the magicks to do it, but I don't think they would. I'll ask Adria to see what she can find. In the meantime, what do we do? I can't just go out wandering around asking about missing children. I'm a little too well known here in Portsdale, and I can't really go in disguise for a few days without people realizing that I'm missing." Bilbus got a familiar grin on his face, one that caused Breanna to giggle. "But you're not that well known, Bree. Not to that many people. You can figure out what is going on."

"Funny, I was just having that same thought," Breanna agreed. "I do have some other business to discuss with you, however it can wait a little while. Madalayne, I don't want to take up any more of your time. I'm sure you have other things you need to attend to. Thank you so much for sharing what you know. If I could please impose on you a little further, do you think you can tell me where I might find Joycelinn in about an hour? I have a few other stops to make and maybe if I can give her an hour or so to calm down, maybe she would be willing to talk with me further."

Madalayne curtsied lightly to Breanna. "Of course, m'lady. I would guess Joycelinn would return to her home." She provided directions to Breanna.

Bree rummaged through her travel pack to grab the smaller healers pack. Turning to the winded guard, she asked, "Could you please have someone take this bag to my guest room whenever it is ready?" At the guard's bow, she smiled grimly at the men gathered in the room. "Well this ought to be more interesting than waiting for an audience. Madalayne, may I walk with you a bit?"

Once out of earshot of the men Bree said quietly, "I'm sorry I didn't properly introduce myself. My name is Lady Breanna Ithell of Ithell's Town. And your name?"

"I am Madalayne del Rusa, m'lady."

"I know this will sound odd, but do you think Joycelinn is telling the truth?"

Madalayne shrugged. "I don't know of any reason why she would be lying. I've known her for years. She really believes orcs are involved."

"By all the gods I hope not! There are enough crazy things happening in the world without adding renegade orcs to the mix. I hope to speak with Joycelinn here in a while, maybe she can tell me more."

Breanna was walking towards where she had seen the children playing not more than half an hour before.

"M'lady, is there anything else you need from me?"

Breanna smiled warmly at the younger woman, "Only one other thing: if you hear anything else about children disappearing or anything else out of the ordinary, come find me. I'm staying with the baron, but if it's more convenient for you, you can leave word for me with Keegan, the apothecary on the main road. Thank you for staying."

Bree continued walking towards where she remembered the children playing.