Virka flashed a smile to the girl who greeted him.  [color=a187be]"Hey, Fay,"[/color] he replied amiably, [color=a187be]"There was a border raid, but I haven't heard the whole to-do."[/color]  He glanced up in thought.  [color=a187be]"I may get sent on an errand soon -"[/color] he looked back down and winked at the girl, [color=a187be][color=a187be]"-then I'll know better than anyone what's going on.  But what say we go ask your mother?  She oughtta have all the details."[/color][/color]

Virka led the way toward one of the fancier doors out of the yadi.  He had noticed the scratches on Faylinn's arm and thought, "Good for you, kiddo."  Jumping into things and getting messy was the most thorough way to learn.

[color=a187be]"Ah, Vörn,"[/color] Virka cheerfully greeted the guard at the next door.
[color=a2d39c]"Sorry, Virka,"[/color] Vörn said, [color=a2d39c]"The queen is busy and said not to let you in."[/color]
[color=a187be]"Not to let ME in?"[/color]  Virka grinned at that, then pushed Faylinn forward slightly.
[color=a187be]"Well, how about this sweet girl?  Surely she wouldn't mind her own daughter stopping in."[/color]

Vörn glanced at Faylinn and bit the edge of his lip.  What the queen had actually said was, "I must attend to this matter.  Don't let anyone bother me while I do, especially not that lout Virka."  But that usually didn't apply to the royal family.  But did the princess actually want in, or was she just spying for Virka?  [color=a2d39c]"Um,-"[/color] Vörn began, but Virka had begun talking again.

[color=a187be]"Of course, you could just tell us all the news yourself.  Being a foreign diplomat, I of course must know all the details.  And surely the queen's private guard would have heard more than a common street guard."[/color]

Now this was something Vörn could do.  [color=a2d39c]"Oh,"[/color] he said, [color=a2d39c]"I know that Her Majesty has General Viska and Lady Ský Tunglið with her, and that she sent Fela and Leita out almost as soon as she heard the news."[/color]

Virka was familiar with Fela and Leita, the brother-and-sister scout duo.  They wouldn't dilly-dally.  But what were they sent to learn?  Motivation was clear, and if they were trying to catch someone who hadn't been apprehended with the others, Grípa would have gone too.  They must be tracking the bandits' trail...backwards?

[color=a187be]"Why, they're tracking the trail backwards!"[/color] announced Virka, not one to let his genius go unknown.
[color=a2d39c]"Uh, yeah,"[/color] replied Vörn in a tone that said he'd thought it obvious, [color=a2d39c]"We can't take any definitive action without being sure of where they came from."[/color]