The three weary and smelly sewer jacks parted company at the same sewer cover they had climbed down. It was full night in Middenheim by now which was a surprising disappointment as she climbed up and out of the sewer with the help of Cydric's proffered hand. If the dead skaven had caused any excitement it was long over and while the street lamps burned their oil cheerfully, there was no sign of the watch. There was a slight eriee mist hanging over the streets and while they occasionally caught sight of figures moving in the fog, they were untroubled upon their return to the inn.

Camilla had been expecting the same rioutous bussiness from the previous evening, and was working hard to conjure a lie that would explain both the smell and their tattered and battle scared clothing, but as they approached she saw it was unusually empty. Rather than waste time they bulled right in to find that the place was indeed deserted. A young man who bore an obvious resemblance to the Innkeeper sat on one of the bar tables facing one of the pantries. Another young man whom Camilla didn't recognise sat watching the door, a large coachgun of somesort in his lap. Both youths relaxed when they saw Cydric and Camilla step through the door.

One of the large bar tables had been upended and pulled across the opening to the pantry, now empty of its ususal trove of food. A large man with a bloody pressure cut on his forehead stood there gagged and tied. Camilla figured that he could have gotten free of the bindings and gotten over the table, but certainly not in time to avoid a cudgel to the skull or the blast of a coach gun.

[b]"Herr Reiner,"[/b] said the boy with the blunderbuss, his face washed with relief as he hopped down of the table and made his way over to the pair of them. His eyes widened at the sight of them, and probably the smell as well, but he choose not to ask.

[b]"My cousin and my uncle," [/b]he made a gesture to the boy watching the pantry, [b]"Found this man like the Lady Du Courrone said, he told me to keep him here till he gets back. He went looking for you I think."[/b]

Camilla blinked, momentarily flumoxed, then she recalled that Bella had gone up to the room with 'a large man' and she had told the innkeeper to try to track him down. Certainly she had never expected the man would manage it, but apparently either he was more formidable than he seemed or he was proof of the aphorism that everybody got lucky sometimes.

[b]"He was trying to get out the Eastern gate,"[/b] the boy went on proudly, [b]"I figured he would go that way because its the quickest route out of the city after dark."[/b] Camilla arched an eyebrow impressed. That was quick and clear thinking in a crisis.

[b]"We need to get word to the Count's Chamberlain, bring me quill and ink and ill write it out for you, also get someone to get some water heated for ..."[/b] she trailed off as the boys face fell. Bella would normally have done that particular task she realised.

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