In addition to the Eeee guards and a Vykarin visible patrolling the grounds of the Embassy, a few lupine Temple Guards can be seen holding a token position in the Old Cemetery, near the site where a work crew is figuring out the best way to seal up the security breach discovered recently.

The Embassy guards let in a winged "Aeolun" and a foppish-looking fox, carrying some small bundles. At the front door, the fox swings his lute from off of his back, and starts strumming it.

Envoy turns to the fox. "Thanks for carrying the wine-skins." She then turns to the nearest guard. "I need to use the kitchen to prepare your suppers, can you point it out to me?"

The fox bows to everyone visible, then starts crooning, "When you want a worm,"

"Or something wiggly that squirms,"

"You'll get it on your table,"

"Express from Little Babel – "

"The best tasting bug, I confirm!"

The fox finishes his ditty, then bows several times, his tail and hat-feather flopping about. "Thank you! Thank you so much! You're wonderful!"

Envoy whispers to the guard, "I've got stew for the Jupanis."

The fox, his part fulfilled, quickly dashes away, heading out the front gate. "For food on the run … you know the one! LITTLE BABEL EXPRESS!" And then, in a flash, he's gone.

The Exile makes sure to count the number of wine-skins after the fox vanishes.

A dark shape loops about overhead, casting a familiar shadow over the foppish vulpine as she spirals down towards the singing, such as it is. "Hello! Hi – Oh." Brishen lands, furling her wings as she looks off towards the Embassy gate. "I've seen him in the oddest places."

Brishen looks towards Envoy, smiling. "I hope you got the crunchy crickets."

Envoy smiles back, "They didn't have any cherry sauce I'm afraid. Can you help me in the kitchen? You seem to be the only one here that's not busy being paranoid."

Brishen casts an impish smile towards the Aeolun, before turning on her heels and heading for the Embassy. "It's hard to be paranoid when you know everyone's out to get you." She unfurls her wings a little and hops into the air, gliding for a few feet before touching earth again.

Shouldering the wine-skins, Envoy follows the Ambassador into the Embassy.

Brishen grins. "The kitchen's this way. Degarde and I have done a pretty good job of keeping it in decent shape, though that's mostly because we don't use much of it."

Envoy sets her bundles down, and works on getting the fire started. "Your order is in the little paper boxes. The clay pots are for the Temple Guards, I have to heat them up." With a free hand, she signs, "Will they search for slaves?"

Brishen clatters vigorously in another part of the kitchen, gathering up pots and pans and utensils. What she lacks in skill, she makes up in enthusiasm. "Turbulent. I haven't had much to eat all day." She glances down at the grass-stains on the knees of her snug pants, smirking. "I won't even mention the mopping." Her fingers wiggle, briefly. "They are." Plates and bowls are set down next to the Aeolun. "Though I've found another way to pay them, for now. It'll hurt, though." She glances towards the door. "Degarde knows hand-sign, by the way. And the Temple thinks I'm up to something. The Arch-Inquisitrix tried to pull something off last night, while they were fishing Amaranth out of that tunnel. Did you hear about it?"

"I heard you had some excitement around here, with the Temple catching the ghost," Envoy says, as she places the little stew-pots near the fire. "Are they searching from the hole into the Cemetery?" she signs.

Brishen stretches absently, stretching her wings out behind her. Her hands dart about in front of her, hidden by the aforementioned leathery membranes. "Ugh. I'm already thinking about going to bed. I haven't worked this hard in ages." "They've gone through the whole tunnel – It looks like Kame Ikata was down there, once, or someone who painted an awful lot like him. And they'll be poking around in the Cemetery. Inquisitrix Esther wanted to put guards around the whole Embassy."

Envoy grins a little, and unwraps several large loaves of bread on the counter top while the stew warms up. "Do you know how much longer the Temple Guards will be stationed here? I'll need to let the cafeteria know." She starts slicing the thick loaves lengthwise with a chitin knife.

Brishen furls her wings. "I'm not sure." She leans back against a counter, where she can keep an eye on the entrances. "Until the tunnel is sealed, maybe longer." A hand flickers, close along her side. "Maybe a lot longer. They're interested in making sure the Embassy is safe now, but I didn't like the way the Inquisitrix looked at me. They're up to something. They wanted to put Temple guards in the Embassy itself."

Envoy is silent while she scoops trenches out of the thick bread sections. Once her hands are free, she signs, "Need a time to bring friends to warehouse. You going too then?"

Brishen flutters into activity again, moving pots and pans around, tucking things away, cleaning a few spots she missed earlier and piling more stuff near the Aeolun. Some of it may even be useful. "No. I'm not leaving until I know the people I leave behind will be safe. And – I need to find Reico." She shakes her head, slightly. "We have to get the Savanites out of here, though. Do you think you can get them out of the Old City without the Temple noticing?"

Envoy nods to Brishen, and goes back to the fireplace to stir the stew. "Just give me a time," she signs with the hand not holding a ladle.

Brishen sticks the tip of her tongue out. "Everyone will be on edge for a while. And the longer we wait the closer the Temple gets." She clatters a few pots around. "Tomorrow night. Will you need my help?"

Taking up the warmest pot, Envoy carries it to the counter and begins to ladle the stew into the scooped-out bread. "I will try to get neighbors to help. Shouldn't risk you being out yet."

Brishen blinks. "I have very interesting neighbors, Envoy."

Envoy starts to stack the 'trenchers' onto a large plate, and signs, "And they have been very helpful so far." The Exile's dolphin grin seems a little less … innocent now.

Brishen grins a cheery, almost radiant grin. "I smell crunchy crickets." She dives for the box containing the crunchy morsels. "I can imagine! Do they often pretend to be ghosts?"

"Not all of them," the Exile signs, then slings the wine-skins over her shoulder and picks up the platter of open-faced sandwiches. "I'll go take these to the Temple Guards, then clean up in here. Same order again tomorrow night?"

Brishen smiles. "I'm looking forward to it!" She sticks her nose into the box, crunching faintly. "I'm glad for the help. I'll pass word along that the Savanites will be moved tomorrow night."

Envoy nods once more before carrying the food out of the kitchen, "And you really should get some rest and a bath, Madame Ambassador."

Brishen smirks, crossing her arms. "That is not a bad idea." She yawns, covering her mouth with a hand. "Got a feeling I'll need it. See you soon."

Envoy heads outside to feed the 'graveyard-shift' Jupani guards, making small-talk and asking about the capture of Amaranth. "Hey, did they ever catch that dragon that was supposed to live out this way?" she asks.

Brishen slips up to her room, along with the box of crickets. Once there, she quietly closes and locks the door, then sets her dinner down on a small end table. For a few minutes she stands in the middle of the room, looking about absently, then, after looking towards the window, she quickly begins to move a few items around: A few trinkets, mostly, a pouch, her sword – which is stuffed under a large cushion. When she's done, little looks different, but everything is within quick reach. Then, she flops down on the floor next to a sturdy wooden chest, from which she removes a battered and very familiar satchel. Dusty leather is brushed clean as the young ambassador smiles.