"Do you remember what you were talking about right before they got upset? Was it a specific story, perhaps?"

Aldric took a moment to think before speaking his reply. "We were not really discussing any one thing when we spoke." Aldric said. "We were just talking about recent events. You marrying Cassandra, the March, Master Durwith's youngest granddaughter announcing that she was expecting her firstborn soon, one of Lady Andraste's most promising pupils going off to see the world. That sort of thing." While your grandfather claimed these were all recent events, all of these things actually happened about thirty years ago.

The events Grandfather listed were not recent. The wedding and the pregnancy and the pupil leaving happened nearly thirty years ago. His memory was clearly damaged.

But the founders were here today. If they got upset, it was likely because something he said struck a nerve in the present. Words were unreliable right now. I knew that pure thoughts might be more telling than the workings of an old brain.

"That sounds like a very full conversation, Aldric," I said softly, encouraging him to stay on the topic.

I rested my hand on the railing of the gazebo. The sapphire gems on my arcane glove pulsed with a faint, brief light. I focused my will to reach out with my magic. I wanted to brush against the surface of his mind. I needed to see what was truly happening inside his thoughts when the mood shifted.

"That sounds like a very full conversation, Aldric,"

"Does it?" Aldric asked while bringing a hand to his chin in thought on the matter.

Meanwhile, as you slipped into his mind, you found your grandfather's surface thoughts to be a mind-bending maze of jumbled thoughts, confused feelings, and burning memories. You turned one corner to find a memory of Aldric speaking to someone with an inordinate amount of pride in a unique set of dice made for some sort of board game. You turned another corner to find Aldric thinking about both increasing and decreasing the size of his serving staff at the same time. You go straight ahead and find his internal monologue muttering vague words of encouragement and advocacy for perseverance.

After about six seconds of navigating this maze, you began to feel slightly dizzy. You also got the distinct feeling that brushing against Aldric's mind for too long would bode ill for the wellbeing of your own mind.

The maze of thoughts was overwhelming. It was not a stream of consciousness. It was a storm. I saw strange dice. I heard contradictory thoughts about servants. I felt a vague sense of perseverance. But mostly I felt a sharp pain in my own head.

I cut the magical connection instantly. I felt like I might fall if I stayed inside his mind for another second. The dizziness lingered for a moment. I had to steady myself against the railing.

I felt a surge of frustration rise in my chest. First I had spent my time staring at an ice sculpture because Flurry acted strange. That turned out to be nothing. Now I had risked my own mind to look into my grandfather s thoughts. That was for nothing too. Every effort I made today seemed useless.

"Yes, it does," I said. My voice sounded a bit strained. "But we should not overthink it. It is a party after all. We should just enjoy the moment."

I took a long drink from my glass. I needed to wash away the taste of the failed spell and hide my annoyance. It was better to just stand here and wait for the ceremony to begin.

"Yes, it does, but we should not overthink it. It is a party after all. We should just enjoy the moment."

"Quite right. Quite right." Aldric said with a nod of agreement. "With all that business about the Great Modron March putting people on edge, a respite such as this in a time such as this should be enjoyed to its fullest extent."

You didn't need to wait long after that. A servant approached Orthog Troll-Puncher at the buffet table and whispered something in the half-orc's ear that caused him to sigh, head over to the priests haranguing the presiding cleric, and see them off with a few well placed glares. Once the cleric was in place, music with no discernible source began playing across the grand lawn. With the song being played traditionally used to signal that the wedding was about to begin in earnest, every guest who heard the music began making their way to the chairs set up in front of the dais.

The music started to play across the lawn. It was the signal we had been waiting for. I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I was glad to be done with the idle chatter and the useless investigations.

"Shall we?" I asked Lady Agnes and my grandfather.

I offered my arm to Lady Agnes. I made sure Aldric was moving with us. We joined the stream of guests heading toward the dais. I found the chair reserved for me and took my seat. It was time to watch Professor Finch get married.