[center][h2][b][color=#d31c0a]Deo’Irah[/color][/b][/h2][/center]

Much of Irah’s remaining time before they were called to dinner went to maintenance of the baths in order to ensure that everyone would have a chance to clean themselves up before dinner, and the small gaps of time she was afforded were used to put on her eveningwear, move her coach and ox somewhere more suitable with Jordan taking the lead on such an initiative already, and fetch from her coach a couple of extra bits: namely a weighty and cumbersome tome–which was really a binding containing many individual sets of notes stitched together–that did not leave her side and a handful of extra discs of pressed and processed tea leaves. Irah chose to sit near Madara and motioned for Lhirin to follow suit if he wished, as there was a matter of potential business and mutual professional interest that might be fruitful if they wished to discuss it, and listened on intently as her fingers unconsciously traced through the mixed leaves of the tome as Vela proffered the reward she’d mentioned. Irah made the quick mental calculation that between a hundred rodlin of their individual contributions 75 or so of that had already been spent on the vial of piaan that Lhirin had used and the rest on healing potions freely offered… which left their current reward of 125 rodlin each from the bounty and another 125 each for the next bout… her arithmetic was interrupted by a brief pang of nausea and a momentary rush of dizziness, but it had gotten as far as it needed to. She took notice of and returned the Baroness’ glance, only quipping back once she’d finished speaking.

[color=#d31c0a][b]“Peace within often requires peace without, especially for a vampire. This one has made his choices clear, and so ours become clear in turn.”[/b][/color] she offered with a quick smile before her focus was returned to the collection of papers in front of her. It hadn’t escaped her notice that Madara carried with her chemical preparations of the medicinal sort, and that she might well want to stock up on some choice goods if they did intend to travel together. Irah never really kept too much track of the injuries she and Lhirin sustained about the road–most things could be ameliorated with very simple potioncraft and their own combined anatomical knowledge, but if she suddenly had to start being worried about a number of active melee combatants… well, it would do them good to have a minimum number of supplies ready and a plan to acquire more acutely needed things as necessary. To that end she and Madara and Jordan (or more likely both him and his master, given recent experiences of his exacting nature) would need to discuss how they meant to manage the logistics of moving their combined goods.

[color=#d31c0a][b]“If we’re to look after this lot, I thought it prudent we discuss what you and I have and what we’ll need more of. It could be some time before Bren awakens, so I will be happy to set up and take over his alchemical duties in the interim if the townsfolk have need and can work on stocking up if not… moving with a group this size I reckon getting a medicine chest together is eminently sensible.”[/b][/color] Irah spoke to Madara, not making a particular effort to hide or raise her voice. She seemed to be thumbing through her works and making notes to particular pages as she did, simultaneously moving herself and things on the table so as to let the Manor’s staff fill the tables. She immediately went for the bowl of roasted nuts, nudging Lhirin and prompting him to place one in her mouth. He would no doubt recognise the glance and head tilt as the opening for something she had performed for him many times, universally recognisable as the “hands are full and I’m reading, feed me” gesture. She savoured the salty roasted flavour for only a moment as another soft ripple of nausea overcame her, and the space they left behind filled with a dull ache that would worsen before it got better–her penance for her recklessness. She found within the pain a dark satisfaction, of having taken on the sins of the world for her flesh to purify. Mercy to those who deserved it, and malice to the same–there would be plenty of time to question the surviving crusaders and look into the mystery that had been left to them… wouldn’t there? She supposed Lady Bor hadn’t given them a time frame.

[color=#d31c0a][b]“Supposing we accept, when would we be starting?”[/b][/color] she asked, having to consciously avoid glancing over towards Freagon.