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[center][h2][color=darkgray]*******[/color][/h2][/center]

	In contrast to the lively action and near lack of standing room from the night before, Neil & Bob's Public House stood open and bereft of patronage. The proprietor and the barmaid, seemingly ever-present in the establishment, remained the only persons aside from the party in sight. The openness itself allowed for the hint of an echo in some places. 

	Lea took to her job with industry, clearing off and wiping down the last of the tables for detail. She might have put the chairs top the freshly cleaned tables, and indeed moved to start doing this until Robert waved her away from the task. So far as the Pub's owner was concerned, there were more important things at hand than making sure the furniture was arranged in a manner convenient for later floor care. 

	With this thought, he stepped over to the box which Marita placed upon the counter and nodded his thanks, giving no other attention to the words spoken to him from the others nearby. He gingerly opened the container, breathing a small sigh of relief when he looked upon what lay within. With a sense of urgency, Robert lifted its contents and gave them a more thorough inspection. Just as what went into the box at the silversmith's, what came out was a set of chained shackles, the interior of each manacle inlaid with freshly solidified silver. There wasn't a lot of art to this project, nor did there need to be. [color=darkgray]"Good... good."[/color] 

	A quick check out of a window later, and a marginally less stressed Bob reevaluated his guests. Addressing things mentioned now, he replied, [color=darkgray]"Cavendish is a dangerous man. That isn't a slight that he'll forget. You all are targets now."[/color] His eyes hovered over Kathryn's new hammer. [color=darkgray]"You... You lot must have really angered him with that one."[/color] Robert looked like he wanted to smiled a little, but in the end could not. Instead he looked back to Marita and spoke, [color=darkgray]"Folk in this town are good people. A little more cowardly than they let on; decent enough. [i]Most[/i] of them."[/color] 
	
	As before, Robert was picking his words carefully. [color=darkgray]"The ones you got to worry about already know you. I suspect you will know who they are in a couple hours, too."[/color] A quick subject change, [color=darkgray]"Stay as long as you need. If you have another place to go or friends in town, don't tell me about it. I can't help you anyway, but nothing says Lea or Daisy can't."[/color] These last words were evasive, out of apparent necessity. [color=darkgray]"Bedding in the other room's been changed if you want to lay down for a time. Rest in there or pull a couple out here - makes no difference to me."[/color]

	The mention of Cavendish using magic brought a sudden hesitance to Robert's movements and speech. When he finally could say something, it was again very careful. [color=darkgray]"The Constable and I have some things in common. I was a fighting man in my younger days. Army term of service, nothing grand. I don't know a thing about magic. No one in my family, neither. Might surprise a lot of folks if I levitate a fork at suppertime. Not that I can, 'cause I can't. But if I were to, it ain't because I took to study, and it's not because some god let me, neither. A man like me would have to [i]agree[/i] to something. Sign on the dotted, you know? No, I'm content with my tavern. Magic is overrated, far as I'm concerned."[/color] 

	To Baronfjord, who made a simple comment about a rat problem, the response given was likewise simple. [color=darkgray]"Yeah. Little guys can get vicious sometimes. Take care and avoid if you can."[/color]

	Kosara's observations mostly went by without response. He seemed to be waging an internal argument to keep to a neutral path of neither confirming nor denying any statements on this ilk, resigning himself to merely saying nothing. When she did bring up something he could comment on, he took to it with his usual ambiguity, [color=darkgray]"Menu's above the bar. If'n you're hungry, talk to Daisy or Lea. I can't help you directly out of the kindness of my heart. Matter of fact, I need to get back home soon. I have a project to finish before nightfall."[/color] He raised the shackles briefly and set them back in the box. [color=darkgray]"I can't do a thing for anybody tonight. Do not come looking for me."[/color] He made it a point to look at each of the party members in turn, hoping that his words sunk in. [color=darkgray]"If we got any more business, now is the time. Otherwise, I'm leaving you in Lea's care."[/color]

	To her credit, the barmaid was doing a competent job holding back the nervousness that she felt right then. Competent, but not excellent. It showed around the edges. [color=darkgray][i]"I'll see what I can't do about that bacon and cheese, Miss!"[/i][/color] she declared, motioning with a hand that trembled just a little.