“So many questions you have,” Jadarl mused, “all valid, of course.”

Jadarl pushed Leon’s mask slightly to the side with his right hand and leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “Well, firstly, I did not kill the three of you for several reasons. I would very much like to know who sent you here, and I think it easiest to learn that from you directly.”

Iliskra blinked and looked sideways at Leon and then back to Jadarl, keeping her expression as plain as possible. The hooded man’s eyes twinkled, “I know you are not from this city. Our enemies across the river regularly employ mercenaries in their struggle to claim Scardale Town. And the locals questioned at the Dragontail Inn say that the three of you only recently began spending the nights there.”

Jadarl had not hinted at the Ashaba Talons. It seemed he believed that either the holdouts of the city watch or the Red Wizards had hired Iliskra, Leon, and Ibdur. Or Jadarl may have excluded any remark on the cities’ thieves guild to try and subtly coax some look of relief to the surface of his captives. The half-elf’s visage remained stony and her mind as clear as she could manage as Jadarl continued.

“I very much need to know who sent the three of you. If you are in fact mercenaries hired by one of our adversaries here in Scardale Town or if one of our foes… outside the Dales has sent you.”

“Shagarm has many enemies I take it.” Iliskra barbed.

“Yes,” Jadarl replied without hesitation, “but not nearly as many as I do.”