<JETMODE> *Kender has had a long, exhausting day and night, but he's up at the crack of dawn, feeding the bat and the cat, and grabbing himself a little breakfast.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod's snoring. ^_^

<JETMODE> *Kender accidentally drops a pan to the floor with a clatter.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod snrks with a start and rolls over, one eye glaring at Kender.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *merrily* Good morning, Jarod!

<TIAMAT> *Jarod scowls. "I don't see anything good about being awake at this hour, Kender.

<JETMODE> <Kender> We have a lot to do today, you know.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: I don't know where you're getting this "we" business.

<JETMODE> *Kender shoots him a stricken look and nearly drops the pan again.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod sits up with a yawn, grinning sleepily. "You drop that pan again and I'll hit you over the head with it. What's for breakfast?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Cat food, for you.

<JETMODE> *He does grin over his shoulder, though.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod scowls. "Huh, some way to treat your roommate, and after following Bailey for nearly ten hours yesterday...

<JETMODE> <Kender> Gee, Jarod, you're such a good friend! Why don't you take a day off? ... ... is that what you want me to say? *he sticks his tongue out*

<JETMODE> *We'll say Kender's making eggs over a small open flame stove. Picture it more like a dorm room than a hotel.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod snorts at Kender's last remark and goes about getting dressed.

<JETMODE> <Kender> How many eggs?

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Uh? Oh, two's fine. *he pulls his robe on over his tunic and pants.

<JETMODE> <Kender> 'Kay. *continues cooking* We might actually do it, you know?

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: I'm surprised to hear you say "might". *he ambles over to the fire, peering over Kender's shoulder at the food.

<JETMODE> *It's cooking nicely, Jarod.

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. Well, sometimes I get worried, too. *flips the eggs neatly* They're almost done.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod pulls some plates off a shelf and fills two glasses with water from a pitcher.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: What're you going to do now?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Well ... here -- *he tips the eggs onto Jarod's plate and starts on his own* .. I thought of Teal, but I really don't want to bother him anymore ... so maybe the lady who helped us at first would be able to get in. Or know someone. Or something.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod starts in on his own. "Did you even get her name?

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. no ... did you?

<TIAMAT> *Jarod takes a drink of the water. "Tch. It's Farore. But that's about all I know about her.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Oh.. *scratches head* I guess the name's not much to go on, is it. *for a moment, he looks positively miserable*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Oh geez, stop it, will you? You get ME depressed when you look like that. Somebody's gotta know her.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *a little sheepish* Okay.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod finishes his eggs and, er, goes about cleaning off his dishes. "Come on, the sooner we get going, the sooner we'll find her. We can cover more ground if we split up, too, and I'll stop down on the magic floor later to pick Cassie up.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Hang on. *he wolfs his food quickly and puts his plate down, darting over to the other area* Cinno, it's time to go.

<JETMODE> *The cat, curled up in the middle of his bed, rumbles impolitely.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod, to Cinno: Hey, if he's dragging me along on this escapade, then you're coming too!

<JETMODE> *Cinno lifts his head and hisses at Jarod, slapping his tail on the covers.

<JETMODE> <Kender> No, you don't get to try to eat Stellalune today. Come on. *he holds his arms out, and the cat glares at him for a moment before taking the invitation*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Geez, you've got the weirdest pets...

<JETMODE> <Kender> Stellalune isn't mine, remember?

<JETMODE> *Cinno crawls up to Kender's shoulders and flops as best as he can, still grumbling.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: You're still taking care of her. Him. It. Whatever. Come on. *he leads the way out* Where do you want to start?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *pained* Him. .. I guess I could try the training grounds..

<JETMODE> *Cinno grumbles at this.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Oh, I know it stinks. Just put up with it.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod nods. "Then I'll start up toward the top floors and we'll work our way back together. Meet you at the Rustling Ghost for lunch around noon?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Sure. *grins* See you then!

<TIAMAT> *Jarod gives a wave and goes for the nearest stair case, taking the steps two at a time.

<JETMODE> *And Kender would go for the stairs down, making for the training grounds.

<TIAMAT> *Even at this early hour, the training ground is pretty busy, mostly with knights and other fighters, though occasionally you'll see a couple mages practicing defensive moves with their staves.

<JETMODE> *Kender scans the grounds curiously, waving at one or two people he's met. Cinno attempts to burrow under his hat.

<TIAMAT> *After a few minutes, a voice hails him from behind. "Oy, Oanesdale! Get over here!

<JETMODE> *He spins, startled, and nearly dislodges Cinno, who takes the opportunity to dig his laws in. "Ow! Ow!" He swats at the cat, who snarls at him and bites his hand.

<TIAMAT> *It's Gilbert the Beast Master, waving to him from over by the stables.

<JETMODE> *Kender waves with his unbitten hand and makes his way over. "Good morning!"

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert hrmphs. "Where've you been, boy? You haven't tended the stables in a week!

<JETMODE> <Kender> *goes red* Oh.. er.. I'm sorry. *guilty look* It's.. it's been a busy week.

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert nods slowly. "Aah yes, so it has...your friend, what's her name...Whisper? had her trial yesterday, didn't she?

<JETMODE> *Kender nods. "It.. it wasn't.. ... it was bad."

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert: Aye, so I heard. I'm sorry, laddie.

<JETMODE> *Cinno spits something rude in general and leaps to a convenient flat surface to groom himself.

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert shoots the cat a glare. "Watch your language while you're in these stables, you hear me?

<JETMODE> *Cinno grumbles at him.

<JETMODE> <Kender> It's okay. We're going to get her out. *stubborn look* Oh! .. Er, do you know someone named Farore?

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert strokes his beard, thinking. "Farore, huh? Farore...*pause* Tall kinda gal, pale skin, greenish hair?

<JETMODE> *Kender nods. "That's her."

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert nods. "I thought so! 'smatter of fact, she was here not too long ago, looking for you, even!

<JETMODE> <Kender> *mystified* She was?

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert: Yup. 'course since I haven't seen ya lately, I wasn't able to tell her much.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Do you know where she went?

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert shakes his head. "Not a clue. *pause* Though I think she mighta left you something...*he rumages around in the many pockets of his vest, muttering to himself* Ahyeah, here we go! *he hands Kender a small, very crumpled piece of parchment.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *uncrumples it, peering*

<TIAMAT> *It reads, very simply: "Salamander Gold, 10 am. Be prompt."

<JETMODE> <Kender> Er, Gilbert, what time is it?

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert: Eh? *he looks up at the sun* "Oh...'bout 9:45 or so."

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. um .. I gotta go! *mashes the paper into his pocket and turns to run*

<JETMODE> *Cinno howls and leaps down to follow him.

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert gives a shout and a wave. "Oy, you put some time in down at these stables this week, you hear! Good luck with your friend, lad!

<JETMODE> <Kender> *waves over his shoulder* Yeah! Thanks!

<JETMODE> *We'll say he charges in at 10:05 after getting turned around twice and asking someone for directions.

<JETMODE> *He stands in the doorway panting for a moment, and Cinno trots in calling him all sorts of bad names.

<TIAMAT> *Salamander Gold is several stories up, on the sixth or seventh floor -- kinda close to Jasmine's. It's a large, roomy tavern with one wall made up entirely of glass windows overlooking the arena and a good-sized bar running along another. Sitting at one of the small, round tables next to the glass window-wall is Miss Greenhair.

<JETMODE> *Kender spots her and stumbles over, slumping into the other chair. "Sorry.. I'm.. late.."

<TIAMAT> *Farore, who was watching the match in the arena, doesn't turn when he approaches. "Got lost, did you?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> Sorta.. I didn't get your message 'til late, either..

<TIAMAT> *Farore turns toward him as the fight finishes, smiling faintly. "That's quite all right. *she hails the bartender* A drink for my friend here, if you please. *he nods and starts mixing something up while Farore continues* I understand you wanted to see me."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *nods, catching his breath* We.. uh, I mean.. Can I ask a favor?

<TIAMAT> *The bartender brings Kender's drink, which is surprisingly cool and refreshing without being alcoholic. Farore waits until he's back behind the bar before responding. "You need help finding the real ankh.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *looks at his drink* Yeah. .. Jarod tracked that Stephan Bailey guy to the Silver Knight, but.. we can't get in there.

<TIAMAT> *Farore nods. "They have very limited membership. I even had a bit of a hard time getting in; most of their members are male. Even so, I don't go there often. But I'll see what I can do, if that's what you're asking."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *looks up hopefully* Really? I.. that'd be great, but -- I.. I dunno how I can pay you or anything..

<TIAMAT> *Farore shakes her head. "I don't need payment of any kind."

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. if you say so.

<TIAMAT> *Farore: The club doesn't open until dusk, so I'm afraid we'll have to wait. I trust you have enough to keep you busy until then?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> *nods* I'll be all right.. er, do you want us to meet you?

<TIAMAT> *Farore thinks for a moment, then nods. "Back here, tomorrow morning at 9. But come alone. We don't want to look too conspicuous.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Okay. .. thanks very much.

<TIAMAT> *Farore nods and stands. "I have things to attend to, so if you'll excuse me ... *she tosses the bartender a few coins as she walks out.

<JETMODE> *Kender looks down at his drink again. With a sigh, he finishes it off.