"Come along if you want," she replied, her voice bored and uncaring as ever. "Guess you're a better pick than most of these other idiots."

Kat was clearly on edge. Tahira was not an expert on interpreting body language, but the leopard was eyeing her master uneasily and, considering how close the two were, that was the only cue she needed to sense the woman’s discomfort. However, she had long ago learned when it was best to stifle her curiosity. As long as it did not interfere with their mission, the diminutive woman’s issues were none of her concern. Cocking her head to the side, she recalled something that might be of use to the two of them. 

“I believe the library holds a tome which refers to these ‘Drakas’ at some length,” Tahira said. “You can make ready to depart while I retrieve it.”

Turning her back on the duo, she moved away from the job board and went through the door to the library. Her fingers traced a path along the spine of several books as she moved up and down the shelves, seeking the one she had mentioned. [i]Ah, there[i]. Her hand touched the well-worn bindings of a tome which was simply entitled [i]On Shoba[/i], and penned by an unknown scholar on the subject. She had yet to read it, but its inclusion in the tavern’s surprisingly extensive library lent something to its credibility, so she removed it from the shelf, making a note of where it belonged. Leaving the library as quickly as she had entered, she ascended to the second floor to receive the leather satchel that hung from a hook in the wall of her room. Slipping the book into one of its pockets, she returned to the place she had left Kat, satisfied she was prepared.