[center][h2][b][color=20B2AA] Jandar Varan[/color][/b][/h2][h3][color=20B2AA]Eldra, Shalador[/color][/h3][/center]
It was decided they would stay in the bookshop till dusk, which was just as well, because Jandar needed rest and Fatima couldn’t work another illusion, though her makeup skills weren’t half-bad. 

The Warlord escorted Dareen inside, subtly leaning on her as he did. He sat himself only after pulling out a chair for her. Jandar slumped on the table top, thinking. He was brought out of his reverie only when the shop-owner’s daughter brought them stew and bread. Jandar served himself a portion, tearing off a small piece of bread to go with it. He ate slowly, savoring the taste. It was plain, true, but he was tired, and the warm, thick, filling substance was heavenly after his ordeal. Besides, it would lend him strength for their escape.

The moment with the guards passing by later on was incredibly tense, but thankfully, they soon passed without incidence. Jandar relaxed minutely. The bookshop owner informed them that leaving now was optimal, and the Warlord inclined his head in thanks. [color=20B2AA]“That will be all,”[/color] he confirmed, soothing the old man’s nerves. 

[color=20B2AA]“Thank you for the hospitality,”[/color] he said sincerely. [color=20B2AA]“And…sorry for [i]before[/i],”[/color] he added with a faint grimace, referring both to how gruff he himself had been as well as for the whole incident that occurred in the man’s shop in general. [color=20B2AA]“If it would help, I can offer you a small amount of marks,”[/color] Jandar continued, summoning a few of the coins directly from the vanished pouch her carried with him – not enough that he’d miss it, but enough that it’d make a difference for the old man and his family.

The Warlord stood up with care so as to not aggravate his injured back, and walked to the old man. He offered the few marks to him, holding them out on an open palm. [color=20B2AA]“If you can make contact with SaDiablo somehow, relay to him that someone from Kaeleer will be in the ruined town south of here…but not for long,”[/color] he murmured, gazing at the shop owner shrewdly. It was a risk in more ways than one to relay such a message, true, but Jandar had a feeling that their link to SaDiablo shouldn’t be severed, despite Mikhail’s wariness. The Warlord agreed with the Prince’s warning that SaDiablo wasn’t an ally, but that could change, and if it did…Well. Jandar was rather certain that they had to make the man an ally, and that they could.

After his exchange with the old man, Jandar turned to the others. [color=20B2AA]“Shall we?”[/color] he asked, heading to Dareen, and holding out an arm to her. When they were all ready, he’d escort her outside, just as he’d been doing previously, all the while keeping an eye on Fatima. He was now also sure that Mikhail was an excellent addition, not only as another set of eyes, but also because he was practically a ghost when he wanted to be; even his allies often lost sight of him. 

They weren’t too far into the town, and Jandar had memorized the way they’d come in, so going out shouldn’t be too difficult. If the patrols were truly as partly as the old man had suggested, they could even kill them if it came down to it, though Jandar would rather avoid something that would alert the town’s Queen – Laska, as SaDiablo had named her. Plans and precautions in mind, the Warlord headed outside, alert of their surroundings.