Sergeant Talos watched the two disappear from sight before turning towards the ranger and the shield maiden, "So, Willow, what's your story?"

"Not much of a story to tell," The Ranger replied wistfully, "Willow Bark is the name that I took when I became a Ranger. My real name is Prince Willow of the House of Bark, fourth in line to The Oaken Throne of the Elven Kingdom of Northaven. I am here because my father, King Sunrider tenth of his name, wishes to win an elven empire through a series of arranged marriages involving my other brothers and princesses in neighboring elven kingdoms. All of my brothers have married save for me."

The Ranger immediately stopped there.

Sergeant Talos rubbed his chin as he listened to the ranger explain. He did notice that Serna was quiet for a change. The party was split up now and things were starting to get interesting. "I see. I wondered why the Bronze Man asked you about exile. Guess that's a good enough answer for now."

"I'm glad you approve," The Ranger nodded, "I confess that I am reluctant to say more."

A little fairy about the size of a cat blinked in front of Serna. She had blue hair with a leafy green tunic, and rainbow wings, "Hello! I can't find my friends? I got lost trying to keep up. Will you help me?"

The fairy was invisible to Willow and Talos but Serna could see her plain as day.

"Who are you?" Serna took a step back from the creature, "And what are you doing here?"

The fairy seemed nervous, "I miss them terribly. My name is Caliaphy. You know like music."

"Serna, did you say something?" Willow asked.

"Yeah, this fairy just appeared in front of me asking for help," Serna added, "Don't you see it?"

Talos looked completely confused, "Fairy? Are you sure? We don't see anything, or hear anything, girlie. Are you sure, you have breathed in some strange fumes?"

"I'm not imagining things," Serna protested to both Willow and Talos, "There is a fairy right in front of me."

Willow dropped down to one knee and looked Serna in the eye, "I believe you. Point to the space which the fairy is occupying."

The Shield Maiden pointed to an empty space before her and Willow did his best to stare into that space. His goal was simple. To use his Elven eyes and ears to pierce whatever veil or glamour stood before him.

The glamour prevented both Talos and Willow to see or hear the fairy. Time seemed to slow down around Serna as the scene in the merchants district changed before her eyes.

In the distance, a parrot squawked from a railing from a nearby shoppe, "A DISTURBER OF THE PEACE! ACK! DISTURBER OF THE PEACE!"

Serna ignored the parrot and concentrated on the fairy, "Are you real? Are you a trick? Or are you just an illusion?"

*******

Neven began to examine the well to find a keyhole within which he could fit the key.

The key given to Neven unlocked the grate just inside the mouth of the well. It took them about a minute to descend down the ladder and into a torch lit tunnel that lead to a door with writing on it. A thieves cant was inscribed. A universal one written in Common and Undercommon.

The Thief examined the thieves cant written on the door but did not say it aloud. Irzen merely stepped away to the side as though the gloom of the sewer enshrouded him.

The door's locks clicked before opening up to the next area. Following the passage for about another one hundred feet it opened up to a large room. A hand full of thieves were there including Gabe and Seri. Another vixen, like Calish was making potions to the far left. Most of them consisted of humans, elves, half elves, and halflings.

"According to Calish, you were successful in burgling a item worth of fifty gold pieces and in the time allowed. I'm impressed. A deal is a deal, Neven. So what is it that you wish to know?" Seri walked forward and stopped in the center of the large room.

"I wish to know where the holy relic that was stolen this morning from the Temple of Bahamut is kept," Neven boldly announced without a moment's hesitation, "And I wish to know who stole it. Are you willing to tell me what I need to know?"

Gabe looked at Seri for a moment before answering, "The relic? Oh, the religious item that went missing from the Temple of Bahamut."

Seri crossed her arms eyeing both Neven and Irzen in silence as if she were studying the two but saw nothing, "You're looking for Jasper and Sarafina, aren't you? Let me guess, the sergeant was sent to watch you and your friends for Major Zilc. Who, by the way is an absolute creep! He's the one you should be concerned about. Acting really shady of late for the last couple of days."

"I am not after them," Neven clarified to the thieves present, "I am only after the relic. I would like to speak to them to find out how they were able to steal a holy relic from a temple crawling with paladins and priests. Even for an accomplished thief, that is no easy trick."

"Did you say our names, Seri?" Came a familiar voice. One of the ginger haired boy that Neven and Irzen recognize from the tavern. "The Relic is in a place safe from that creep. Who set us up to take the fall."

"I agree with you that Major Zilc is a creep!" Neven conceded, "But how did he set you up to take a fall?"

Sarafina stepped out of the shadows to the left of Gabe in utter silence, "Here's the deal, outsiders, you help us get evidence that Major Zilc isn't who he claims to be, and we'll give you the relic to be returned to the temple."

Neven looked to Irzen who merely hunched his shoulders before he turned back to the others, "How do you know Major Zilc isn't who he claims to be? Do you think him to be a doppleganger? Or a powerful illusionist? What evidence would we need? And to whom would we give such evidence? And who would believe us even if we did it?"