A note has been delivered to the Keiltyn, through one of the elaborate systems the Temple has created to protect the identity of its field operatives. Very likely it was just this morning that a certain Golden Vixen held the envelope in her small black hand, to place in a drop box. Her scent is still fresh on the paper, despite having passed through at least three other paws since then. The letter, now in Kani's hand, is an invitation that Rilikin join a certain vixen, for a hopefully productive lunch. It instructs the fox to wait for her outside Gran's lumber, and that is exactly what he is doing.

Its business as usual at the Lumber yard, inside the open gates the crew of Rhians can be seen, along with brief glimpses of the rest of the workmen. Unfortunately no vixen, golden or otherwise, is within sight.

The Keiltyn, back in his role as Rilikin, is dressed once again in overdone finery suitable to the persona: fine black silk breeches, cloak and vest over a crimson tunic, all with intricate edgework. Jeweled spatlike sandals are fitted to his digitigrade hindpaws, and other, similar ornaments grace his forearms, neck, and between his ears. He waits, looking about, sniffing at the wind… and then showing a bit of disgust, this isn't exactly his sort of surroundings.

Rilikin sighs disapprovingly, then begins to pace back and forth, peeking into the bustle of the lumberyard every now and then. "A proper lady is fashionably late, yet… reasonably so.", he mumbles to himself.

Someone who seems quite a home in these surroundings walks out of the yard. It is the Jupani foreman, easily recognizable by his scruffy pelt and haggard expression. He mutters to himself, "Dagh cursed Rhians," as he pulls out a small pouch. Noticing Riliken he asks, "What are you doing here?"

Rilikin's ears flick back a bit as he regards the Jupani. "Pacing, obviously. If you mean, in your blunt way, to be asking why I am presently in front of your establishment, I am waiting for an employee of yours to arrive. A female of golden fur of a race similar to mine. She goes by the name of Maza… Might you have seen her recently?"

The Jupani, Stavros was his name the Keiltyn recalls, snorts. "No. Do you expect Miss dainty paws to be in the yard doing work? She's got more important things to do, like go to lunch. I guess that's what you're here for, her lunch." The wolf takes some dry leaves out of his pouch, and starts to crush them against his palm.

Rilikin pretends not to notice the sarcasm. "Impressive that you realize such… Stavros, was it? That many of the most important dealings are made over lunch… as well as trifles such as the exchange of goods, the standing and fate of one's servants and employees, all that sort of thing. And yes, I am here for her lunch." He stops pacing and peers up and down the street for a moment… then, noticing the Jupani's tobacco, moves to carefully stand upwind. "If she arrives before the first serving of dinner, that is."

Stavros snorts again, and takes out a pipe. He spends a moment cramming the leaves into the hollowed out knotwood and making sure it is packed down tightly. He mutters, "If it's notstump-thick Rhians its flippant arteesans. Does this ever end." Grumbling some more he pulls out a match, and works on lighting his tobacco.

Rilikin resumes pacing. "I believe you mean 'artist'. An artisan, as you… say it, is what one finds in the bazaar. I am an artist, thank you." He seems to accidentally walk into a downwind whiff of the Jupani's tobacco smoke, wrinkles his muzzle, sneezes, makes a disgusted chuff, and then paces back up to the other side of the gate. "Maza has not been about at all, you say?"

"Her Majesty hasn't arrived yet," the Jupani says, carefully nursing his tobacco alight.

Rilikin hrfs. "Very well. Then I shall wait for her." He turns to peer into the yard and at the activity within, looking rather bored… and absently combing at his already-immaculate fur.

"Perhaps she'll consent to filling out the shipping forms before you buy her lunch too." Stavros says, taking deep draws on his pipe and leaning back against the wall.

Rilikin idly glances sideways at the Jupani. "Shipping forms?"

"But I wouldn't presume to interrupt something as special as her lunch with actual work." The Jupani huffs, a small cloud of smoke wafting in the Keiltyn's direction. "You wanted the stack of cr… authentically aged working wood right? There's a pile of it we've been tripping over for a week and a half now."

The fox's ears perk a bit. "Really? And yes, that's correct. So your Rhians have managed to restrain their tendency to destroy art, very good. I look forward to obtaining it, so that I may begin my work." He looks off into the distance, thinking. "It's such a feeling, when one reads the feel of the wood, feels what pieces go together, how the raw material speaks to one's spirit, calls for a shape… " He coughs. "Not that you'd understand, of course, but I am pleased. I do hope Maza arrives soon, I shall ask her of the forms."

The wolf puffs his pipe, till a cloud of haze hangs around his head. "Yeh, right. I'll do those forms for half the price of her meal, right now if you want. Otherwise I expect I'll see you here tomorrow… around lunch. It's good that you understand the finer points of business operation, as you said earlier."

"Otherwise I'd suspect she was taking you for a free meal and light conversation." The wolf looks at the sky.

Rilikin hrmphs. "There is more to business than the cost or profit of the moment. And I should have you know that I rather enjoy her conversation and company, she is a rare and special sort. There is more to life than a paltry few coins saved. Your offer is appreciated, but I shall wait for Maza."

"Suit yourself, but if the guy it's meant for shows, it's going to him, and you'll be waiting another month." Stavros takes one long final drag on his pipe, then bangs it out against the wall.

Rilikin stops… and turns to face Stavros. "Guy… it's meant for? How do you mean?"

The Jupani takes his time to put away his pipe and tobacco pouch before answering the Keiltyn. "I have an order here, for one of Maza's special customers, which is exactly the sort of wood you are interested in. He should have been buy to pick it up, and hasn't. If you want it, I can arrange for it to be delivered, or, you can wait and see what plans Maza has."

Rilikin tilts his head. "Special? Moreso than my needs? I should like to wait for her and… see what plans she has, yes." He looks mystified. "Whatever could be a greater need than art? Is this another artist, do you know of this customer?"

Stavros picks under his muzzle, working at something behind one of his teeth, or by implication making a contemptuous gesture at the Keiltyn. "I know the customer, and the customer knows the deal. Gran isn't going to let it sit there much longer, he's already asked me twice why it isn't charcoal. Now you can wait and see if Maza decides to give it to you before it goes to the dogs or the briquer, or you can purchase it now."

Rilikin's ears flick back slightly. "I will wait for Maza before I make a decision. You might want to remind Gran that the value I offer is far higher than that which he would be paid for… charcoal. I'm beginning to wonder if perhaps this other customer has been getting a better selection than is available to me." He sniffs, and idly brushes a bit of nonexistent dust from his paw's fur. "I would also wonder what Gran would think should he learn that you'd lost him a lucrative deal by rudely pressuring his client. I imagine he'd not be too pleased."

The Jupani pulls back his lips in a very hungry smile. "Oh, he wouldn't be pleased, but you're not his customer, your Maza's. Gran s'been asking about where you went to, but she is givin' him the run around. Ol' Gran doesn't like to see ju… well worked wood sitting about, but if you don't show your nose, he's going to tell me to briq it, and I will. Unless you'd like to make another deal now, instead of throwing that money away on Maza's lunch."

A quiet flick of the tail, and the Keiltyn's eyes narrow slightly. "I do not wish my raw materials made into charcoal. Very well, I will consider… another deal. Perhaps. What do you propose? And how will you deal with this other customer?"

"He knows he has to pick it up within a few days of bein' told, or it'll be gone. He's had over a week." Stavros sticks his thumbs into the waistband of his pants, choking his hands on his hips as he leans. "We can go in and do it official like, with the forms. Or, if you've got the cash, I'll give you a better deal than Maza will, tell em both I briq'd it, and make an arrangement for you to get it tonight. Gran won't care if it go on the books for at least as much as he figures its worth in charcoal, especially if he don't see you hanging around."

Rilikin's tone shows just a bit of disdain. "Really. Such a careful way to run a business. It would tarnish my reputation if it were known I obtained my materials in such an… underground manner. Yet I need the wood." He pauses, thinking. "One more request. Some of the wood will doubtless be unsuitable. I do not wish to have it piled about my studio, I do not want to arouse suspicion of my work's integrity by paying someone to remove the unsuitable wood, it would look… bad. Nor do I want any more connection with this lumber yard than is necessary." He looks quietly at Stavros. "If you can provide me with the name of this other customer, so that I may dispose of the unsuitable wood on my own by selling it in a nice, clean transaction, then I believe I may be able to make a deal with you. With an added bonus, of course. Finder's fee and all?" He smiles a bit.

Stavros' brow wrinkles in thought, "Well… hmm. This other gentleman has a reputation to protect too, and he likes his privacy… I don't think you'd like dealing with him either, he's not long on patience. I tell you what, you come to me when you're ready, and I'll arrange for his dogs to go wherever you want. I'll give you what Maza charges him, so you'll know they're paying the right amount when they pick it up."

"We can consider that service part of the finder's fee," he adds with a wolfish grin.

Rilikin coughs. "And how am I to know that these dogs are his, not yours? I have not yet seen proof that this gentleman even exists, that he's anything more than a fabrication to encourage my haste in the matter. That I should give you the deal and the fee, and not Maza. Rather convenient of this 'customer' to be in need of the very same merchandise, hm?" He opens a beltpouch, removes a coin, and idly flips it in his paw. A copper, by the looks of it. "Your offer sounds quite reasonable, profitable for you as well. And it can be. I need the aged, worked wood for my creations, my vision. Such is true. Cost is not important. But I will not be shystered, I must have proof of honesty before I can consider your deal, even if I'm not to deal with this person directly. Nobles such as my employer, Sevram, do not maintain their position by allowing their servants to be made fools of. He has told me this, many times."

"I'd hardly send my own workers to go an pay you to cart wood off, especially at what Maza charges." The Jupani snorts, "If cost doesn't matter, and you want to do things all above board, we can go inside, and I'll settle for Gran's commission rate. Receipts and everything, you'll make Sevram proud. I just reckoned your employer might have appreciated a bit of cost cutting creativity… especially from an artist like yourself. A little imagination in ways of saving money, or saving some for yourself."

"I gotta get back to supervising, or those Rhian's will have all got stuck in the corner. So make up your mind quick, deal or no deal." Stavros states.

Another slight flattening of ears. "Oh, he'd certainly appreciate it, yes. As would I appreciate no-one knowing that I've had to descend to such levels to obtain what I need to accomplish my work, and that would include not having my respected name on record in the books of such a… " His muzzle wrinkles. "… class establishment. Art is often misunderstood. Very well then, you have a deal, though I do still wish proof that this other customer is more than a ploy to press my decision. How would you wish to exchange payment and goods?"

The Jupani considers the copper coin in the Kieltyn's hand, "Well, what you got there looks just about right. You can give me that now, and your wood will show up wherever you want it tonight. As for proof… what do you want? A name won't mean anything, those can be made up too. I can tell you how I get in touch with him, iffen you want to try that, but it's notlike I've got a signed picture saying 'To Stavros with love' or something. He's a private man."

"You gonna just have to decide if you can trust me or not," The wolf says with a small smile. "I'll sell you straight. Now Maza's a looker and she knows it, you don't want her brushtail to be doing the thinking for you. That vixen's a smart gal, and she looks out for her own interests."

Rilikin considers. And then turns his paw to lightly toss the coin to Stavros… but pauses. "As if you're not looking out for your own interests, hm? She is… as you so uncouthly put it, attractive, yes, but I am most concerned with business at the moment. If she offers me what I need at any future time, I shall deal with her as well. But for now… Yes, if you can inform me as to how you get in touch with this other customer, it's a deal. That is the last I'll ask of you."

Stavros explains, "Okay, you take a letter explaining when and where, and you put it in the mailslot of this building. It looks abandoned, but don't worry about that, now it's located… "

As Stavros speaks, however, an open carriage clatters down the street, pulled by two drokkars; the Kavi chauffeur says, "We're here! Five shekels please, miss." A golden vixen waves to Rilikin from the back of the cab.

"Rilly!" Maza exclaims excitedly. "I'm sorry I'm so late! I lost track of the time, and then I had to engage this nice gentleman to get me here before you left. Would you be a sweetheart and pay him for me?" She pats her tail, trying to get it back in order from the windy ride.

The wolf reaches for the coin in the Keiltyn's paw.

Rilikin's ears droop, then splay a bit. He winces, closes his eyes for a second… then very quickly slips the coin to Stavros and speaks in a quick whisper. "Very well. There will be an empty hauling cart on this street, left curb, seven blocks further up in the direction of the Scholar's Quarter, but not quite in the quarter itself. It will have a red canvas on it, and will be tied in front of an herbalist's shop, closed for the evening. You may leave the wood there. Also leave a note of where this mailslot is." With that, he hurries over to the carriage, digging out shekels to pay the driver with. "Maza! How nice to see you, I'd wondered where you were… Hadn't had lunch yet?"

Stavros nods at the fox's back, and makes the coin disappear along with his pipe and pouch. He waves cheerily at Maza on the carriage, though with a somewhat unfriendly smile. "Well, gotta get back to work." He turns and walks into the yard, a little happier than usual.

Maza looks suspicious as she stares at Stavros, but then smiles and flicks her tail at Rilikin as he pays the Kavi driver. "Do get in, won't you, Rilly? Where did you want to go for lunch today? No, no, I had to work late at my other job. I'm so sorry I kept you waiting!"

The golden vixen glances back at Stavros again and then murmurs, "I hope you didn't believe anything that wolf had to say. He'll say anything for a few shekels, dear."

Rilikin smiles and climbs up into the carriage. "Lunch? Ah, anywhere you'd like today. I didn't know you had another job, what would that be?" He chuckles softly at her concern. "Yes, I've just found that out. Still, information is a valuable commodity in this world, hm? Though his wasn't, some rubbish about competing artists."

Maza slips her arm around Rilikin's waist and smiles. "Oh, I do some cleaning up work. I'll look forward to quitting it though. Kavi! Take us to the Sea and Shore on Cattersly Square! My friend Rilly will pay for it." She pauses, and then says softly to Rilikin, "Oh, I'm sure no one else would want – would want to try and steal your idea. I'd testify that you had the idea first, and then they'd look like thieves!"

The golden vixen swishes her tail happily as the open cab begins to clatter off.

Rilikin inhales a little at Maza's touch, then relaxes and smiles warmly, hesitantly sliding his arm back around her shoulders in return, his tail curling to softly brush hers. "Cleaning-up work? You? In such a base position? That's not right." He blinks at Maza's choice of restaurant, then grins. "An excellent choice. And as for stealing my idea… I agree. Ah well. It was only a few shekels I gave him for poor information while I was waiting, I imagine he'll buy more of that noxious tobacco." Another warm smile at Maza, and he just settles back comfortably into the carriage seat. "You've been well, I hope?"

The golden vixen smiles. "Well… A girl has to do what she can to get by. Rephidim's not a good place to be shekel-less in, dear." She noses at Rilikin's cheekruff as the cab jounces over the cobblestones of the city of Rephidim. "I work for an agency, so I clean out one home or another. So trust me when I say I know your idea is absolutely original!" She winks.

Rilikin glances out of the carriage at a grubby, tattered-clothed Kavi trying to sell something or the other to a pedestrian. "No, no it's not. It's why I am concerned about you, I don't wish to see you… rf… " His ears splay at the nuzzle, and he smiles as he turns his head to nuzzle softly back. It takes him a moment to get his thoughts in order again afterwards. "Clean… oh! So it's fine homes, then… That's not quite as bad, I suppose." He grins at the wink. "So you're getting to be a bit of a spy of decor style? Thank you. I always worry that I'll stumble on something that's been done before. That's reassuring."

Maza smiles demurely. "Oh, I could give you lots of good advice about decorating, dearest Rilikin. Of course you know far better than me what looks good, but I'm sure I could be a lot of help to you!"

Rilikin just happily watches the smile, then nods. And lets his tailtip rest softly against Maza's as he speaks. "I'd be quite interested in hearing your ideas, actually. New ideas, fresh concepts… it's important. One can't always think of everything, it takes inspiration." He smiles. "And you do inspire me."

"Oh, do I?" Maza flutters her tailtip flatteredly, her ears perking forward, and holds Rilikin's hand. "Do tell?"

The Kavi-directed cab turns a corner and trots down a lane toward an establishment with which Rilikin is familiar; the Sea and Shore's a medium-range restaurant with pretensions of grandeur, in that it specially orders seafood from airship merchants and has arrangements with butchers to chop meat fresh. Hence, its food comes from the sea and the shore. The front is plain white stone with an anchor crossed by a bow hung over the lintel.

Rilikin gives Maza's hand a soft squeeze. "Extremely so." His ears splay, blushing slightly inside. "Beauty is inspiration, and you certainly are. That is… " He smiles embarrassedly, then his ears perk and swivel as the carriage nears the restaurant. His eyes stay on Maza, though. And look slightly glassy, matching his somewhat dazed smile.

The golden vixen murrrrrs. "Oh, Rilikin! You're such a sweetheart… " She pays the Kavi this time, her delicate fingers flicking another five shekels into the outstretched paw, and then she leads the Keiltyn 'interior decorator' into the restaurant.

The decor is in some need of refurbishing; the deep purple velvet on the wall and the booth dividers looks in need of replacement, and the brass has acquired a patina of green that would have been scrubbed off in finer restaurants; some brass is made to be aged, but this isn't. Still, the maitre'd looks pleased to welcome both Maza and her fine companion, Rilikin, and show them to a table, and then to present them with somewhat overpriced menus and a selection of wines.

Rilikin seems not to notice the tarnished former finery, though he does, of course, see it. He looks over the menu, quietly avoiding a salad this time and selecting a rare grilled rugrhat dish… though he waits to see what Maza would like first in the way of wines before ordering. And just watches her.

The golden vixen smiles and brushes her tail with Rilikin's, a to-and-fro swaying. "Oh, everything looks so good! I think I'll have… Ah! The veal of Rughrat in a red wine sauce, with the crickhen-and-cheese packets." She licks her thin black lips. The waiter bows and takes the order, then promises to be back promptly with their appetizers.

Dinner looks likely to take the same course as the last time: great food, great company, Maza's voice bubbling along in light conversation as shallow as a brook…

Rilikin seems to almost melt at just about anything Maza does. But he keeps his composure regardless, and remembers to ask what he wanted to ask as he waits for the food to arrive. "Maza? With my work… One thing I'm a bit worried about. That wolf at the lumberyard, and someone else about the place mentioned that there was… another customer interested in the wood. Not an artist, perhaps, but someone who wanted it regardless?" He looks down and butters a roll. "I was just wondering if you knew who that was, perhaps."

Under the table, Rilikin lets his tailtip curl softly with Maza's as he smiles at her, tilting his head curiously.

The golden vixen blinks. "Well! What did that Stavros tell you about this customer?" She butters some of the bread and munches on it, looking at Rilikin worriedly.

Rilikin swallows a bit of his own bread and shakes his head. "That was my concern. He refused to tell me anything about the customer other than that they regularly picked up the same sort of wood… unless, of course, I paid him. I wasn't willing to. So now I'm quite worried."

"Oh, well, I represent Gran to a great many people," Maza says airily. "But that wood now, that's very special wood. You see… " She leans forward to whisper into the Keiltyn's ears, motioning for him to lean to her as if they were going to share lover's confidences.

Rilikin perks his ears, and leans forward, cupping them forward as well to listen.

Maza whispers to Rilikin, "It's made from crates that used to go through the port customs. So, they put their stamp on them, so they don't need to inspect them again, and they know what's inside. Up to a while ago, the shopkeepers were just paying Gran's men a shekel a week to take them away and break them up to use for charcoal, or sand off the marks to make new crates. But I realized that they could be used just as well to make more crates, so people could get things they wanted inside the port without having them be searched. The Temple was just going to tax them after all, and no one wants to pay taxes to the Temple, right?" She smiles sweetly and then gives the Keiltyn a mischievous ear-nip.

Rilikin yips softly at the nip, then grins at Maza, eyes narrowing mischievously. "Of course no-one wants to pay taxes. Now… that is ingenious. Did you think of this all yourself? Sevram's minister of accounts is constantly complaining of excessive Temple taxes, he'd be quite pleased with that, certainly." He chuckles, then looks into Maza's eyes with another warm, wide smile on his muzzle. "You're devious, I like that."

Maza beams, and fluffs her tail as she preens a bit, basking in the glow of praise. "Thank you, dearest Rilikin! Of course I thought of it all by myself! And I can think of a lot of ways to save you money too, you'll see! So, any road, I told someone this idea and he offered to buy a bunch of these crates every week for just that purpose. He pays a little more because, after all, he doesn't want people to know about it, and Stav – I and Stavros make sure he has a good supply of crates that are in good shape." She bats her eyelashes at Rilikin. "Of course you won't tell anyone what he's doing, right? And since he hasn't sent a man by to pick up crates in weeks, I can let you have a lot of it right away for a little less… "

Rilikin lets his ears splay again, then shakes his head and whispers back. "Of course I won't tell. And… " He thinks. "Quite honestly… of the wood that I buy, I cannot use the pieces that are stamped. Ink does not come free of wood without sanding, which would of course ruin the piece's character and natural patina. And the stamps, as you say, are dated. That would ruin any work they appeared in, destroy the image of age if a piece seemed too modern." He smiles. "I would be willing to sell the stamped pieces among the wood I purchase from you to this… person, whatever their name is? And give you the profits, I don't need them. I simply wish to dispose of the stamped bits, to protect my artistic image." He grins.

Maza smiles. "Well, why didn't you say so! I thought you wanted those especially, because they proved that the crates had been 'used'." She squeezes Rilikin's hands in hers, then ohs! and leans back as the waiter brings the food to the table, picking up the wooden covers to release the heady aromas of the meats.

Rilikin chuckles softly. "Ah, but who would buy a room furnished with aged wood… that had the same modern stamps as their last disposed-of crates of imported food? Such a thing would not bring me large profits, no." He leans forward again, inhaling the scent of the meat… and Maza's soft flowery scent as he whispers into her ear. "The wealthy nobles will buy anything one cares to call rare and special art, if it is presented correctly. It is a way to impress their fellows, all think alike." With that, he gives Maza's ear a much softer, gentle playnip, then sits back to give her a conspiratorial grin and wink before delicately sampling his food.

Maza laughs and winks to her fellow conspirator. Lunch goes quite well after that, with Maza suggesting all sorts of whimsical schemes… For instance, she suggests to Rilikin, many homes might benefit from having secret passages; they make the homes feel bigger, but do not take so much time to furnish because no one cares about the woodworking in such passages, and they allow one to hide one's wealth away more effectively than if one had to display it. "Of course," she suggests. "You'd have to promise them you'd burn the blueprints after you made them, or else someone would find out about them… What good is a secret everyone knows about?"

Rilikin agrees with Maza about the secret passages, even suggesting that bored (and boring) nobles might pay to have them decorated with an air of cloak-and-dagger mystery. He chuckles softly. "Oh, quite. Burn the edge of the blueprint, then immediately extinguish it and keep it in a safe location for future reference? It would, truthfully, have been burned, no?" He grins at Maza, sharing 'conspiracies' the rest of lunch… then once again pays for the meal and offers to escort her home.

Maza accepts with good grace and winks at Rilikin. "Why, I would never have thought of that, dear! You see, we work well together!" Dessert is two cups of fruit sorbets that clears the palates marvelously, and then Maza slips her arm into Rilikin's so that he can escort her home.

Rilikin summons another Drokar-pulled carriage to take Maza home, sharing now-knowing grins with her on the ride, besides the soft tailbrushes and his arm around her shoulders. "Work well together indeed."

This time Maza gives Rilikin a soft kiss on the lips before she slips inside, tail uncurling from about his side. She murmurs, "You'll have to take me on a tour of your offices sometimes! And maybe I can do some secretarial work for you, hmm, dearest Rilly? 'Til later, dar'un!"

Rilikin nods softly, his eyes wide after returning the soft kiss, a quiet smile on his muzzle. "Yes, I'll have to. You'd make a wonderful secretary, I'm sure… Take care, Maza. Till later. " He waves as she goes inside her home, then turns, gives the Kavi carriage driver a wry grin, climbs back in, and asks to be taken to the Noble's Quarter. And then just sinks into the carriage seat, Maza's scent still with him… to sigh heavily, look up at the blue afternoon sky, and wonder just what he's gotten himself into.

Kani is quite distracted for the rest of that day. So much so, in fact, that he almost misses his rendezvous for re-entry to the Temple. Almost, that is… Rilikin is just barely at the appointed place when a wagon carrying goods for the Temple makes a stop, then is no longer there when it leaves. The Temple gate guards, of course, know not to question or inspect certain marked boxes, they have their orders from Inquisition; So in this way does Kani return from being undercover.

After making his way back to his quarters, concealed in robes, his plan is for a good day's sleep… the rest of the day, that is. And with fur still damp after a bath with both water and oils needed to remove his "Rilikin" coloring, (and an hour's worth of grooming) he sets out to find a nice spot in the afternoon sun to do exactly that… but sleep won't come to him, not with all he has to think about. After rolling and snuffling annoyedly for a time, trying to doze off, he finally gives up and heads off to his office to write his report. Perhaps that will set his thoughts in order.

I believe I have made great progress in the further investigation of the smuggling ring, especially in the area of those to whom the boxes are being sold. I do not yet have a name for this purchaser, yet I have not one but two contacts that do know his name, even how to contact him. And I believe I've obtained the trust of one of them as well.

Kani writes a bit more on the specifics of what Stavros said to him at the lumberyard, and explains of the deal to purchase the wood… and then pauses, setting down his stylus and taking a sip of keyrf from the steaming mug beside it. One of the Inquisition's Savanites quietly brushes and grooms the Keiltyn's tail as he works, Kani having accepted her offer when she noticed the still-bedraggled damp state of his fluffy tail as he made his way to his office. He picks up his quill once more, sighing quietly as he starts on the 'hard part' of this. Behind him, the Savanite's round ears perk at the sigh, but she knows better than to ask.

The second of my two contacts is named Maza. Currently I seem to have her trust, and she would seem to be on the verge of 'bringing me in' to the entire scheme, perhaps as another partner. Either way, it would afford me the chance to directly meet and interact with the customer of the boxes, the smuggler himself who has been using the Gallee gangs to steal goods. Maza would seem to be the more intelligent of the two I've been involved with, and truly does not seem to have a malevolent nature, is simply a playful sort who doesn't quite realize the seriousness of her involvement. She is not one who would, I believe, ever consider harming an innocent individual, she is no worse than any of the quick-thinking merchants of the Bazaar, and she also has not been directly involved in any theft or any crime save that of selling stamped boxes to a buyer, rather than destroying them. It is the smuggler who has been purchasing these boxes and using them in the blatant commission of crimes, I feel, who must be finally and publicly brought to justice. And I intend to do so. Therefore, as for Maza, I recommend using her as a continued resource of sorts. She does seem to have a propensity for getting involved in underworld activities, though through more of a 'get rich quick' hopefulness than any maliciousness. I would like, then, after this smuggler is apprehended, to continue using this Rilikin persona with Maza. She is trusting him more and more, and though she is not a dangerous, hardened criminal, may well lead me to other, dangerous or malicious criminals as she inadvertently gets in well over her head in future attempts at 'quick money'. To simplify facts, Maza, a common, harmless marketeer sort, would remain free yet under watch, and she would likely draw Rilikin into interactions with many, many other criminal sorts that he can then gather evidence on for arrest with rock-solid cases. I await discussing this area of investigation with you, and in the meantime, through my current use of Maza, I become ever closer to encountering the actual criminal who has used these crates to willingly bypass Customs and steal thousands of shekels' worth of goods. I shall then inform you as to a plan to apprehend them with overwhelming evidence.

Kani looks over his words for a moment, considering, and then closes his eyes. True, he hasn't mentioned anything of the fact that Maza did admit that she thought of the whole scheme. And though that tears at his sense of duty, he just can't turn her in for some reason. He thinks, {She's not a violent, malicious criminal, she's just trying to make her way in a hard world. And though justice must always be upheld, what she's done isn't so bad… is it? And the idea to use her to catch the "bigger fish" instead… that's certainly justice, yes?} He finally sighs again, folding the report and sealing it into an envelope just as the Savanite finishes grooming his tail. And though he knows it'll probably just confuse her, he softly slips her a few shekels in gratitude before she leaves, then touches a finger to his muzzle-tip and shakes his head. {With all that's going on with the Nagai right now, she might need it sometime soon.}, he thinks, {and it's a harsh world out there without it. I wish Maza didn't feel she needed to do what she's done. Hopefully… I can make her see that.}