"We'll see what we can do. Assuming you're willing to leave her alone in the meantime."

Mott gives Raafi a look of contempt. "Don't presume to tell me how to conduct myself, miscreant. I am already being generous."

What does Siesta seem to think of this.

Siesta is watching this conversation like they're playing catch with something priceless and fragile, but she seems surprised and hopeful about the deal offered. Raafi may or may not be able to tell from just her expression, but she would definitely prefer he not push his luck.

Fortunately, he's pretty good at that sort of thing.

"Fine."

"Excellent." Mott claps his hands. "I will look forward to your return. Men, escort Vallière and her familiar to their carriage. I'm sure they have no wish to dally."

The guards shoulder their spears and, er, wait for the noble(s) to start moving.

Raafi lands, and they can go. (He's limping, just barely noticeably.)

Scyelen shoots him worried looks as they leave.

The carriage is right where they left it, the driver staring a bit at the armed escort but not commenting.

He gets in, and then casts something that dries his clothes and the carriage seat. "I'm all right, sweetheart. He whacked me pretty good catching me but I'd be fine even if I couldn't heal it."

Scyelen sighs in relief.

"Okay. That's good. That went... better than expected, though?"

"Seems like it." Hug? "I'm a little worried that this book is going to turn out to be something we don't want to give him, but we can find out."

Hug.

"Yeah. From Kirche."

Scyelen is not as uncomfortable around Kirche as she was before Miss Vaux got involved, but it's still awkward. Actually, at this point Raafi might be more uncomfortable around Kirche than Scyelen is...

He's handling her better than he was, since Miss Vaux explained about her, but that's pretty plausible, yes.

"Do you have an idea of how we might get it from her?"

It's Kirche, Scyelen doesn't say. There is one thing they both already know Kirche wants, after all, but...

"Ask her?"

"Well, yes. We'll be back by dinner, you can ask her then?"

"Okay."

He nods and goes to give her a little squeeze, but winces at how this presses on his bruises. "Let me heal this up, one minute."

Casting it looks similar to his other spells, and results in a brief flash of blue light. "Much better."

Eventually the carriage makes it back to the academy. They're a little early for dinner, even.

Raafi'd like to see if Miss Vaux is busy, if Scyelen doesn't need him for anything.

Scyelen was kind of hoping he'd do most of the talking with Kirche, actually. She mumbles something to this effect.

"I'll be back for dinner, sweetheart. I have a couple of questions for Miss Vaux but I think she's going to want time to think about them, anyway."

Scyelen nods. "Okay. Should I wait for you then? Before I ask Kirche, I mean?"

"Mmhmm. I should be back before you go, anyway, I don't think you'll be waiting."

"I'll come with you," she decides.

"- if you don't mind waiting outside, I suppose."