" Damn!" railed Aramil, completely caught offguard with the missing treasures. " We have been fools to allow such seasoned scandal into our lives!" He flashed his fiery eyes at the sage " When Teflar and I were arrested, I made sure I tucked away the scrolls into a secret sidepouch. Teflar reports the scrolls went unpicked on him as well." The magician paced the floor with utter lack of congenialty " But I can't speak for how Salimen, Leah, and Torynth lost theirs, but I bet it's in the hands of the orcs as we speak!"

Gailwind walked over to where Nanith was sitting and stood directly in front of him. " That is not where all of them are, Aramil." the elf said flatly. With a quick wristsnap, a crisp paper unfolded before the thief's eyes revealing the contents within " Unless of course, Phantinus tended to distribute his fondness for raspberry tort!"

Nanith looked away from the elves and sighed without an ode of contention. " Yes, it is true." Ninnipin's will to fight seemed lost.

Aramil froze in his stance and tension grew within his small frame " What have I heard? What have you revealed to us halfling!"

The rogue looked at the mage directly while sitting in his balled recovery position. His spirit seemed soured to his past actions. " Back in Pinedroi, I stole from Oktavianus one of the scrolls you talk about. At that stage, I had no idea what I was getting involved in."

Erelis shifted uncomfortably and monitored the reactions of the two lone Ravens. Roslyn and Timbra excused themselves to help rescue, once again, Pomeer, from the pittrap.

Nanith proceeded " I�m not going to make any apologies for what I did. I have no idea what the group I acquired the scroll for is going to do with it."

Aramil marched up to the hobbit and practically reached out to strangle him.
" What do you think was going to happen you wee bastard!" snapped the wizard " Now our world is in far more jeopardy because of your selfish backstreet finagling!"

Erelis interjected placidly lest the council get out of control. " Guys, I have to point out a couple things. Nanith is guilty and we realize that, but I find truth in his heart that he is now here for our best efforts. It is true now that we will have a hard time claiming this scroll in official hands of the Pinedroin government, but also realize that even if we had that in our possession, it may be useless if we cannot retrieve your other parchments as well!"

Aramil yelled back " Useless!? Are you kidding me? You have no idea what is at stake here, Erelis. Any fragment of secrecy is now gone. We are now known to anyone else trying to avoid or harm us. We are doomed if we do not retrieve that shard and the scrolls, but I think it is now beyond our reach."

Gailwind squatted next to the glum hobbit " Tell us more. You need to reveal all the treachery involved here." Nanith stood up slowly and grimaced; his body was clearly hurting. " They are also willing to pay me a hefty sum of money if I return the shard to them." He locked eyes with Gailwind and implored " After what I�ve seen and heard, I don�t intend to complete the task. It most surely would mean my death if this group should ever find out what I told you today."

Aramil spat back with renewed frustration " Oh, is that how it is then?! Worry about your own hide instead of the other lives you had placed in danger?"

Nanith admitted " I know now that I�ve been a fool, but I�m willing to sacrifice all for the sake of the Starpoint Raven�s quest. I offer you my hand and promise to fight by the group�s side until we find the shard." The halfling extended his shaky appendage out for anyone to accept.

Noone moved to console the rogue. Aramil responded " Right now, you have no choice. You are as desperate as the rest of us while you are down here. Your desire is easily spoken for the situation you are in. You are no different now than a floundering man clutching a piece of driftwood in the rough ocean."

As Aramil finished his words, Timbra and Roslyn reentered the room carrying Pomeer between them. " Busted an ankle he 'as." said the attentive gnome.