Nanith deterred " I much prefer to nestle up beneath some cotton sheets rather than the cool, hard steps you garnish so fondly, sir. Then again, you ARE a dwarf and suited to much rougher rock pillows." The hobbit chuckled " My tender noggin couldn't take it. Wouldn't you much rather have a drink my great Uncle left for any despondant travelers?! I think a few barrels of Selendran schnapps is in the root cellar."

Gailwind frowned " Oktavianus, I must have a word with you." He told the hobbit to furnish the home for them to stay the night and waited for the priest to approach. When the hobbit went inside and was out of earshot, the lorist protested " I am not here to challenge any group decisions, but act as a guide only. I am, therefore, beside myself when I can only attest that there are TWO of us still living and we are taking on strangers that have not proved comparable to our mission. How sure are you of this halfling we call Nanith? You seem overly accomodating recently. I hope you aren't becoming desperate in these hard times." Gailwind waited for a response as dishes clanked inside the domicile.

" I agree elf. However, we can use all the help we can get. If the warmarshall acknowledges the shortling, we should welcome him in our group. Though confident in our abilities, finding and retrieving the shard would be impossible without more numbers."

Gailwind paused considering the risk. He watched the dwarf walk to the door before responding " As I said, I'll leave it up to you, but be careful. I'm not sure we know all the dangers of our journey just yet."

The two walked slowly into the home and found Nanith setting plates onto a small table in a hospitable kitchen. He smiled broadly and asked everyone what they wanted to eat. " I'm sure I could find money around here and hire a cook. Are you both game?"

Shaking his head,, the dwarf examined the halfling more closely as the last dish was set into place. " Tell us Nanith, what is your intention? Who assigned you to our group and why should we believe or even trust you?" He stomped his hammer on the wooden floor to underscore the seriousness of his questions. Nanith's smile diminished at the dwarf's demanding tone.
Oktavianus pressed further " Did you receive a letter of instatement from the courthouse as we did? And if so, where is it?" The cleric smoothed his medallion as he seemed to take heed to Gailwind's warnings.

Nanith sighed deeply while fetching mugs out of the cupboard. He took his time tottering around the pantry letting the Raven pair wonder at his forthcoming answers. Scowling at the dwarf, he replied " It looks like your encounters with the orcs have made you more skeptical then I had first thought, Oktavianus. I've already told you my intentions. As for you believing and trusting me..." Nanith shrugged nonchalantly " You're right... you shouldn't trust me. 'I' wouldn't trust me." Nanith stepped away from the table parading to the others with outstretched arms. " As for the letter that you seek, I do not have one." The hobbit paced the kitchen while the two looked at eachother with quizzical expression.
" Why the warmarshall did not present me with one, I do not know. It would not bother someone that cannot read anyway." Nanith stopped and looked at the pair once more " However, as I have mentioned before, I'll gladly go with you to the warmarshall to put your minds at ease. My willingness alone should tell you that I'm not lying about who employs me." Gailwind seemed distracted in thought and kept silent. He seemed to defer to Oktavianus for any reply. The dwarf scratched his head " You say you are getting a cook? Well, I'm hungry! Hurry and go get one lad!"

Nanith headed for the door " I'm going to find us something wonderful to eat. I hope to find you here when I get back. However, if I don't, farewell until next time, for you can be sure our paths will cross once again." With that, the hobbit opened the door, turned and gave a courteous bow. Gailwind walked over and sat uncomfortably in a lounge chair as the dwarf watched the halfling leave.

When the door shut firmly, Oktavianus raged " What the devil! What are we going to do now! He may just leave us here and bring back some ruffians." He paced the living room as Gailwind pulled out a quill and parchment. " Oktavianus..." the sage sounded forlorn " I think I have to admit something that I had not told you before."

The dwarf paused in midstride and glared at the sage.

The elf scribbled on a parchment and slowly met the cleric's gaze " The king's champion...he gave me an enchanted ring capable of ...well...{he lowered his voice} I am obliged not to say at this time."

The dwarf was beside himself "WHAT!? You carry a magic prop that could have helped us....!!!!!"

"Shhh!" the sage snapped sharply " Lower your voice. I am sorry I didn't tell you before, but I had sworn allegiance to not let word get out. I fear we number two and cannot afford to be roughed up if this Nanith runs with a bad crowd." The lorist walked over to a countertop and scrawled his quill gently across a parchment he pulled from a notebook " I'll give you directions to where I hid the ring in Pinedroi. You are to read it now and retrieve it after supper, okay?" The dwarf scratched his beard with confusion.
Gailwind stressed " TRUST me on this. We can't afford any more mistakes. I must leave you now for awhile. I must seek out a new lead I just thought of when you were at the tavern. You must watch Nanith. Do not let him trick you into saying anything about our mission nor let him follow you when you find the ring." The elf headed for the door. " I'll be back later tonight." The dwarf seemed upset " What time?!"

" Soon." the elf replied

With that, he opened the door and slipped out into the street. The dwarf immediately opened the folded paper and read the scription. After a few moments, he chuckled to himself " Stupid elf."