"You want to help?" Assallya's hat-donning asked in response to the tavern proprietor's greeting. "Then you stay right were you are." The Black Hat drew his cape back just far enough to show off his scabbard-bound saber. Assallya went about filling her silver basin before performing the enchantments to conjure the missing prisoner's visage under close scrutiny by the patrons and keeper of the tavern as well as her Black Hat escort.

The elf's conjuring ritual was nearly complete when the door to the Waterfront was thrown open. Sir Vatikar, joined by two of his Black Hats entered the tavern, led a veritable herd of anxious townsfolk inside. The villagers crammed inside elbow to elbow, congregating around the dread knight. Vatikar stood above Assallya as she completed the conjuring. At last the ritual was finished, and the water in the silver basin began to vibrate and froth with magical energy. As the waters settled, a reflection of the missing prisoner shone in the bowl for all to see. The townsfolk crowded above the table under the watch of Vatikar and three of the Black Hats, too busy studying reflection of the girl with long brown hair to notice that two of the Black Hats had not entered the tavern.

"Look now into these waters, and look upon the face of this fugitive," Vatikar said for everyone in the tavern to hear. "This girl, and those who might be harboring her, are enemies of His Majesty and the whole of his dominion. As subjects of His Majesty Lord Octa, she is foe to you lot as well."

"But," Vatikar looked up from the reflection to look over the throng gathered within the tavern, "I am not naive enough to think that each of you truly feels such loyalty, such conviction, to His Majesty. In fact, it would not surprise me if there are among you those who would dare wish ill upon His Majesty. And so, in requisitioning your help, I regret to inform you all that... [i]certain measures[/i] must be taken to ensure we all truly have His Majesty's interests in our hearts."

As if on cue, the door to the tavern burst open, revealing to all the townspeople where the remaining two Black Hats had gone. The two men were each dragging someone into the tavern against their will. One firmly held an elderly woman by the wrists, who resisted meekly against the Black Hat. But in the arms of the other, was a wriggling boy - perhaps ten or twelve years old. The squirming child caught the eyes of one of the few women within the tavern, and cried out immediately.

"Mother!" The boy wailed. His cries elicited horrified gasps from the gathered villagers.

"You will help me find this girl," said Vatikar. "And you will not run off to notify anyone of this matter. For each one of you that in the course of this search goes missing, I will execute two of your neighbors." 

Vatikar then looked over at the old woman and the screaming boy.

"Starting with them."