[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/Dfbnxwgc/8376b9373ea93d2f7caf58aaaae4702c.png[/img][/center] [center][h2]Kalla[/h2][/center] [hr] Maeve gave a small, polite bow as Allanon introduced Bizdil, the other swordsman who was going to work with them to catch the mysterious thief. [color=6ecff6]"Pleased to meet you, Bizdil."[/color] she said, before turning her attention back towards Allanon, who began explaining them the possible alternatives they had to begin their 'investigation'. [color=6ecff6]"Ice magic is my specialty, so I don't believe I can be of any help in magically tracking the lost items... After all, if I could do that, I would already have my silk ribbons back and the culprit's body would be frozen, slowly thawing under the desert sun."[/color] she said with an angry tone. After a few moments, Allanon mentioned her family's name, recognizing it was a family from Tundral. Maeve silently heard, interested as Allanon began talking about a healer he used to work with eight years ago named Craiv Hallas, inquiring if she knew about him. [color=6ecff6]"Craiv... Hallas... The heir of the Hallas family... I've heard they were once a great family but they've been in a steady decline."[/color] Maeve said, touching her lips with a thoughtful expression. [color=6ecff6]"I don't know much about Craiv or his family other than the rumors that are sometimes said by the high nobility. Although the nobility mostly speaks of the Hallas family with pity, as an once great family and nothing more, they say that the family was able to stabilize it's situation thanks to him back when it was on it's lowest and now it's even showing signs of steady recovery."[/color] Maeve said [color=6ecff6]"It's not like I had that much time to deal with lesser families between being the 'face' of the family by going to balls and events from the high society, trying to defend myself from being offered as a prize in a political marriage, thanks to those greedy old mummies that are the current elders of the family and trying to save the family from falling into the hands of my incompetent older brother, despite being simply better than him in every aspect..."[/color] Maeve said the last part with disgust in her voice. Just as she was talking about that though, particularly when she was remembering the times she duelled with suitors the elders kept throwing at her, she remembered of a particularly annoying one, that kept boasting about having met a particular duelist that was among the top ten in the world. [color=6ecff6]"Wait a moment... You said your name was Allanon [i]Valentis[/i]?"[/color] She asked, raising an eyebrow. [color=6ecff6]"It seems I've found myself a worthy sparring partner."[/color] Maeve said with a mischievous smirk, provoking him. Just as she said that though, Bizdil alerted them to the commotion going on in the market stalls, just outside of the inn. [color=6ecff6]"Judging by the shouts... I don't think it's just them reopening... That would be a good place to start playing detectives."[/color] Maeve said as she finished eating, getting up and walking towards Bizdil, who was already near the door. When Bizdil decided to open the door, a loud thump of something hitting the door could be heard, together with the sound of someone falling to the ground. Bizdil quickly apologized as he extended his hand towards the young girl. Much to Maeve's surprise, the moment she approached Bizdil and the girl to see what had happened, she immediately noticed that the girl had a much paler skin than people would normally have at Kalla. A single glance at her hands was enough for Maeve to say she was definitely an Isoli. Surprisingly enough, the very moment the girl saw Allanon, she immediately called for him, making it clear that they knew each other. [color=6ecff6]"You should be more careful Bizdil."[/color] Maeve said as she approached them. [color=6ecff6]"To meet another Isoli on Kalla of all places. Such a coincidence."[/color] Maeve said, with a curious expression as she looked at the girl. [color=6ecff6]"Maeve Orzhov."[/color] she said, with a polite, much more formal bow as she analyzed the girl's posture, the words she would use to greet her. While for most people, greeting someone and introducing themselves was a simple thing, for the Isoli nobles, even such small acts were a complex social dance and could say more about one's standing and even their own personality than people thought.