Thea’s grateful smile only deepened at Calanon’s gesture with his bowl.
	Rayadell glanced to him at Merek’s questions, waiting along with the man for Calanon’s answer. An elk? He had a steed? The corners of her mouth pulled down slightly when he confirmed the Elk’s existence. This could pose an issue.
	Merek nodded as Calanon spoke, bringing is bowl to the counter and setting it there for washing. 
	“Nonsense!” Thea scolded Calanon's statement about sleeping in the stables, a look of offence at the mere suggestion crossing her face. “If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll give you the bedding most in need of washing. Or, if you wish, it would be no problem to draw a bath for you.”
	Rayadell glanced up as Merek exited through the back door, presumably to lead the elk to his bed for the night.
	When the Elf requested a second helping, Thea gladly dished more out for him before returning to finish up her own bowl.
	“Yes, yes. Of course.” Thea nodded at Calanon's question, Rayadell’s gaze turning to her. The woman placed her spoon down, the majority of her food eaten. “The more you know, the better. It’s said it was created by the greatest Healers our world has ever seen: the [i]Medella Latrones[/i]. Their story is not one well known. Not long after the dawn of time, they were a tight-knit band who lived in the coldest regions to discourage outsiders from seeking them out, because their powers went well beyond healing. But they refused to do anything else.
	“They had one objective: create something that could cure even the worst ailments, something they could distribute so our world could be free of illnesses and curses.” Thea gave a sad sigh. “Alas, their end came in a bloody war, but not before they succeeded. They managed to create a single talisman that worked for their cause.
	“Worried it would be destroyed out of man's fear of them and what they could do, their leader took the talisman and locked it in ice deep in a cave in the mountains.” She shook her head dismally. “Sadly, there are far too many rumors about what it looks like to narrow it down, and even more as to whether or not there are remaining wards or guardians. [i]That[/i] will be up to you to discover, I’m afraid. Though I doubt you need to be told, expect anything, and keep a cautious eye out.”
	“You know the specific mountain where the cave is located?” Rayadell’s brows rose slightly.
	“We believe so, yes.” Thea rose from her seat and went to the side of the counter. She retrieved a large piece of parchment rolled into a tube. Returning to the table, she moved her bowl aside and unrolled the tube, revealing a fairly detailed map. She turned it so its wording faced her guests.
	“This is us.” Thea placed a finger on the town labeled ‘Caldavail.’ “We believe the talisman is located about here.” She moved her finger to a broken mountain range surrounding another settlement. One of the peaks had been circled in a familiar red ink. Above it, written in the same hand as the letter Rayadell had received, were the words, ‘[i]Glacialis Montis.[/i]’ “Ice Mountain,” she translated. “The entire area’s a winter wonderland, between frozen wastelands and snow-capped mountains. Other than the few towns and cities that have managed to survive out there, of course.”