Lady Katherine de Bellefeuille has been missing for more than twenty-four hours, and at times it seems more than half of Rephidim is out searching for her. All Elise's connections in the Temple have been prevailed upon, and word has spread through relatives, friends, and acquaintances. Many have dropped by the manor to offer their sympathy, though under the circumstances Elise would prefer solitude over adding their anxieties to her own. At least Katherine's fiance, Grant de Ayde, has been suitably employed searching the streets for some sign of her.

None of their best joint efforts have yet borne any fruit, not even those of the scryer enlisted from the College. For the moment, Elise is left on her own, browsing over maps of Rephidim, lines drawn on them to reflect routes observed by various carriages, certain spots marked out as noteworthy for one reason or another. It seems like she's been looking at them for a long time, without coming any closer to finding what she seeks – or even how she hopes to find it.

Indigo enters the room, her four ears waving in agitation. "Miss! One of the servants just found this on the kitchen porch – " She holds out a fist-sized lump of brick with a piece of folded paper tied to it with string. " – I thought you should see it."

The lady of the manor looks up from her assorted maps, her eyes squinting as she catches the light of the window. She had been studying them so intently that her eyes had become accustomed to her own shadow cast as it was by her hair and her back that faces the window. Beside her and partially hidden behind her cast lays her sister's old stuffed Drokar, moved at some point by the lady to her side in one of her stronger moments of despair. "Hand it here, Indigo. Let us see what it says," she says in a tired voice. Her hand is held out to receive the letter and open it.

The Aelfin hands her the brick. "It's exactly as she found it, Miss," the woman says, timidly. When the lady unties and unfolds the paper, she finds it to read, in badly-formed, blocky letters, We hav youre Sister. Leave 20,000 shekels at the Cemmetery of the Olde City at Midnight on Midssumer's Eve. If the Temple comes, or other Trickery involved, it shall meen Youre Sisters Life.

The woman's expression changes from tired to dark all at once. Her muzzle creases in a deep frown and her head lowers slightly, hair falling across her face and causing a shadow to cover whatever her eyes might have revealed. "See that my mount is made ready. Fetch my mentor, Lord de Ayde if he is present, and if the mage is here bring him as well," the lady commands. Slowly she begins to rise, her right hand moving to take her crutch up and the letter clutched so tightly in her left that it crumples in her hand.

The secretary bows. "As you wish, miss. Lord de Ayde is out, and the mage who was assisting has returned to the Guild Hall to prepare further spells on the matter. Shall I send for him, Lady?"

The woman rises full and settles uneasily on her crutch before she begins to hobble towards the door. "No, fetch no one who is not present. See who is available and return to me without notifying anyone but my mentor. We will convene in the downstairs parlor," answers the noblewoman as she heads for the door.

The Naga tutor rises from his coil by the empty fireplace, slithering towards Elise and giving a bow. "My lady, have you news?" he asks. His usually dapper clothing looks atypically rumpled, his face lined by anxiety.

"Indeed," responds the lady. She hobbles forth from the door to meet him half way across the room. Her left hand offers a crumpled piece of parchment. "The kidnappers have made their demand. Twenty thousand shekels to be delivered at midnight on Midsummer's Eve to the graveyard of the Old City."

Tremaine accepts the paper, scanning it briefly with a scowl on his face. "What do you mean to do, my lady? That is a great deal of money to raise, in so short a space a time."

The woman's eyes turn from her mentor to stare in to the fireplace. For a moment her thoughts wander and she remembers the nights here alone with her sister after her parents died to war. They came, alone and in pairs, to console them both. She wonders now if it will be her alone meeting them and finds she must dismiss the thought quickly lest she break down now when she cannot afford to do so. "Twenty thousand is a great sum, indeed. To even raise it will bring suspicion if it is possible at all. I wonder … I wonder if they mean this money, or if is but a ruse of some sort. Regardless, I will see the funds are raised. If they cannot be, I will arrange false shekels in placement of that which I cannot raise." She pauses to think, then continues, "The Temple will not be notified until my sister is recovered. I intend to seek the assistance of that Light Mage, but I must not demand him formally. We will notify him of a payment delay … site a flaw in his work, an error in the contract."

"I intend to draw him here of his own accord through lies, provocation, or trickery. But it must not be known we have summoned him for our use," the lady continues.

Tremaine lets his hand fall to his side. "You realize that, if the mage has not been able to find her yet, it is most likely because they have magical aid of their own … or she has already been removed from Rephidim."

The woman's closes her eyes and nods slowly. "So it is … ," she agrees quietly. Elise moves from the center of the parlor and eases herself in to a chair and lays her crutch beside her. "There is no guarantee her life will be spared should we agree to the terms. I had considered planting a magic-imbued shekel in the bag and locating them through that manner after my sister had been recovered safely. I am not so sure now … I … I wonder who they are. I doubt highly they are common criminals. They escape the notice of the Temple and magic? At the very least they have access to a vessel, or mages, and were easily able to evade our pursuit. Tell me Tremaine, what ordinary rogues have such at their disposal?"

"Rich ones, my lady?" the Naga offers. "In Faraon's day, we saw acts equally subtle and nefarious. Since his 'thieves' guild' has been broken, I think the Temple hoped that the days when rogues had access to such resources had passed. But … it would appear not." He sighs heavily.

The lady inclines her head to her mentor's review. "Therefore … what do rich rogues need of ransom? Certainly it is useful, but I would suggest that is not the whole of it. You do not find such kidnappings quite so common with the fall of Faraon and the thieves' guild. I, myself and my sister, cannot be the best target if one chose money or ease of kidnapping. Plus they were aware of our party that day. This would suggest to me we face a group who is well funded, interested in my family, and aware of our doings." She lifts her head and regards the Naga scholar, asking, "What think you?"

Tremaine flicks his tongue out a few times, thoughtfully. "Twenty thousand shekels might be sufficient motive even for one with the resources to employ a mage; not all mages are rich, or even of the College, much as that august body would wish otherwise. Though I cannot fault your reasoning regarding their choice of targets. Why do you think that they knew of the party?"

"They have proven they have knowledge enough of my estate that they were aware of the party itself. To kidnap my sister, a cart and several men, men enough to disable my two guards, would need to have been hidden in the vicinity or readied to arrive exactly when the party would end. To hide a cart and men would have been potentially obvious if they were unaware of how long they must wait. I believe they knew," the lady explains. She takes in a breath and continues her review of the situation before the man can interrupt, "To evade capture they would require a ship or mages ready. Magic spells must be prepared, and some of them must be quite specific or else they would need be maintained for several days if they did not know and were but waiting for a chance. A ship would be easier, and if a ship was used it may still be listed on the ship manifest of the port authority. No, I believe they chose us and knew. Perhaps we have a spy among us."

A few more flicks of the serpent's tongue follow this suggestion. "The fact of the party was hardly a secret; the probable timing of it could be readily obtained from any of our servants without them deliberately meaning us harm – or even from the servants of those who were invited."

"Of course you are right." The lady shifts uneasily in her seat, and the glances to the fireplace again. "Deduction was never my calling, I fear, and it visible no more so than now. What we have then is a ship or a mage, an informant who would readily speak to whomever might ask, a cart, and the coach of a noble proceeding towards town. Tell me, has the elder Lord de Ayde left the city?"

"The elder Lord de Ayde? No, I do not believe he has gone anywhere, though I do not follow his activities. What makes you think of him?" Tremaine asks.

Elise watches the dead black soot of the fireplace with unfocused eyes that look somewhere beyond as she thinks. "His coach did not proceed to his apartments. It proceeded to the city, as did the second vehicle. I find that rather odd," she tells the Naga.

"I see." The Naga slithers around the room before Elise's chair, his version of pacing, and all too familiar from her days of listening to him lecture. "I cannot imagine what motive he would have for involvement in such an infamous plot, however. After all, she is to be his daughter soon enough, and his house stands more to gain from that than mere shekels, even twenty thousand of them. Perhaps he only went to indulge his passion for gambling, or to return the coach?" he offers.

"Gambling, you say?" inquires Elise curiously. "And just how much does this man gamble?"

Tremaine looks guilty, hunching his shoulders slightly. "Ah … occasionally, my lady. Well – in truth, enough to worry Lady Katherine. She had implored me not to mention it to you, not wishing you to think ill of your future relations."

With a nod and a gesture the woman bids the man to continue. "Do go on."

"I am afraid I really do not know much more than that, except that Lady Katherine fretted over it, as a possible obstacle to her marriage," Tremaine begins, then continues in a way which belies his avowed ignorance. "The de Aydes of Rephidim, as I am sure you know, have not been a wealthy family for since the grandfather's day. The grandfather gambled away much of their fortune, and it's felt that his son inherited some of the distressing habit, though he does not indulge in it to the same degree – nor can he, really. I know that Lord Grant de Ayde has a long-standing vow never to drink nor gamble, in response to the troubles his family has had with both."

"Interesting," is the only word Elise offers to this new look at the de Aydes. The does not say anything further for a good half a minute, her hand gesturing the man not to interrupt her as she considers. "Are you aware of any outstanding debts owed by the de Aydes such that they would require payment immediately? I have heard the Darkside establishments can be rather … hard on those who cannot afford to pay."

He answers with an emphatic shake of his head. "No, my lady. Lady Katherine assured me that their finances, though strained, were well in hand." He pauses. "… though I will confess that I took her at her word, and did not look into the matter any further, myself."

The woman nods her head again. "Let me put this to you. The elder Lord de Ayde acquires a substantial and significant debt which must be paid. He is too proud or desperate to ask for money, and arranges a kidnapping of my sister – possibly with her consent. I deliver the money as a good sister might, or perhaps Grant de Ayde is made to rescue her, and all is well and money that would have been theirs anyway is put to clearing this debt without arousing my ire and thus jeopardizing their marriage," the lady poodle suggests, her eyes flicking to regard her mentor's reaction.

The mentor's jaw drops open for a moment, and then he closes it again with a snap. He considers the idea for a little while longer, then shakes his head. "No, I cannot think it of her. Lady Katherine would never consent to a plan that would frighten all of us to such a degree. Even if she had – she would surely not have let delivery of the note be delayed by more than a day, nor postponed her safe return for two more." Tremaine shakes his head again. "No, she would surely resort to some less drastic measure. She has her jewelry and free access to the Bellefeuille accounts. It would be a deal of trouble to raise so much … but I believe she could do it with far less trouble and concern than such a scheme as this."

A deeper frown forms on Elise's face as she turns to regard the ashes again. "I had hoped perhaps that may be the case. Better deception and lies from my sister than … than this … " She sighs, and shakes her head wearily. "What of the elder de Ayde, would you think him capable? Or perhaps those he chooses to gamble against?"

"I … I would like to exonerate him with a word, my lady, but I am afraid I simply am not familiar enough with him to say. I know that he gambles most at a gentleman's club in the High Crafters' Quarters, but beyond that I cannot vouch for the establishment's character." Tremaine sighs again. "I would say, however, that the son, Lord Grant, has always been a fine, upstanding young man, just what a gentleman and an officer ought. I cannot believe myself or Lady Katherine so deceived in him as to think that he might have any part in this."

"It deserves consideration, and careful inspection. I will not lose my sister because I was unwilling to challenge the honor of one man," declares the elder de Bellefeuille sister with a hint of defiance in her weary voice. "I must speak with Grant de Ayde. Look in to the matter of how this note managed to arrive at all and send him to me, here, when he arrives. Have Indigo bring me a report on how readily twenty thousand shekels can be raised. We will convene again when Grand de Ayde returns."

Tremaine nods, and shuffles out the door, almost bumping into Armand as the butler was approaching it. The Rottweiler bows, and says, "My lady, the Inquisitrix Faith is here, and wishes to speak with you."

Elise raises her brow and moves to stand. "Show her in, Armand. I will meet her here," says the lady.

Tremaine pauses, a look of silent inquiry on his face. At Elise's nod and a wave of her hand, he continues to make his way out. A moment later, the Khatta Inquisitrix is shown into the parlor. She salutes Elise, and says, "Thank you for seeing me, Lady de Bellefeuille. Do you have any further news for the Temple?"

The salute is returned with a slight bow, the best response the lady can manage with her leg in a cast and while holding her crutch. "I have questions, Inquisitrix. Do sit down and perhaps you might help me," answers the head of the household.

A slight smile flickers on the Inquisitrix's face at this lack of response. "It is certainly my intent to help you, Lady de Bellefeuille," she says, her voice cool and uninflected. She takes a seat on the edge of the small sofa.

Elise resumes her seat and lays her crutch across her lap. Her hands are folded and placed on its length. "You are aware there were two vehicles that evening? A cart, and the conveyance of the elder de Ayde?" she inquires.

"I am. I have further information on both vehicles, in fact. If you would care to hear?" She flips open her notebook, and leafs through the pages briefly.

"Of course, Inquisitrix. Tell me what you know," bids the lady of the manor.

"The wagon stopped at the Bazaar, and unloaded a shipment of fresh bugs for Eeeeat Up, an Eeee grocery. It was covered to prevent any loose insects from escaping. There does not seem to be anything further suspicious about it beyond that – the driver, the establishment, and the grower are all well-known figures and the wagon made its delivery at the usual time. Though the coincidence of that timing is surprising, it appears to be only that – coincidence. De Ayde's carriage, however – " The Khatta pauses to flip a page.

"Were my sister hidden amongst a array of bugs, I assure you Inquisitrix, no force on Sinai or in the heavens would prevent her from screaming." The thought causes Elise's frown to waver, but as fast as it occurs, it is gone. "As for the de Ayde vehicle, well … what have you found?"

"To begin with, the carriage is not 'his'. It is one of several owned by Kilroy's Revenge, a gentleman's club in the Crafter's Quarter. That establishment often lends its vehicles to its 'best customers' – of which, we have discerned, the elder Lord de Ayde is one. According to the records at Kilroy's, Lord de Ayde returned the coach approximately an hour and a half after the reported disappearance of your sister." Faith pauses. "Here, we have a discrepancy in stories. Lord de Ayde says that he made no stops prior to his return of the coach, and that he spent the remainder of the evening at Kilroy's in play. Had he left the party, traveling at the speed imputed to him by those passer-bys you spoke with, he should have taken no more than fifteen or twenty minutes to cover the ground."

"Yet he did not, did he, Inquisitrix?" asks the poodle, leading the feline to continue her review of the events.

"It would appear he took much longer, yes. This could be a discrepancy of their records, of course. The waitresses we inquired of did not mark the hour of his arrival, but the dealer was quite firm on noting it." The feline reads from her notes, "'He sat down at my table a few minutes after I returned from my break; that would have been about four o'clock.' The dealer was familiar with de Ayde by sight; according to him, the man plays at his table regularly – " She pauses. " – and, according to the records of Kilroy's, loses."

The Gallee leans forward slightly, fingers tapping against her palms. "I do not suppose, Inquisitrix, you are aware of any outstanding debts owed to this establishment by the elder de Ayde?" She watches the Inquisitrix's face, though given previous encounters with Faith, she hardly expects to see her betray anything by expression.

True to form, the Inquisitrix's face shows nothing. "Yes. Lord de Ayde seemed surprised when we told him the sum, but he did not dispute the amount. He owes Kilroy's Revenge nineteen thousand, two hundred and fifty-three shekels."

The lady's head raises in surprise at the revelation. "You have been most helpful, Inquisitrix," she says, and for once in the evening she no longer sounds tired.