"Krokus? I ain't never heard the name-" She pauses, recognition flickering behind her eyes. "Bald, bearded man? Skin the color of bronze and thick as a Beastman? I knew him by a different name."

She nods.

"Right lazy bastard by my reckoning. Only thing he put much effort into was lying his way into a meal and a thong of rings. What justice is there if a man like him lives while my Irissa's met the void?"

"Justice was delivered. Quick enough, too. Was he married?"

"I doubt it. Not before the Conquest, at least."

"Told you it should have been slow."

He nods, acknowledging the point.

"Do you know anything about the third fighter with them? Catorius, a Sage?"

"I remember him. An older gentleman. Smarter than most, like he had the whole Vellum Citadel bouncing around in his head. A tad 'off' in that way magicians so often are. Eyes as hungry as a flame."

"'Old' doesn't help us single him out much," says the old Sage.

"Neither does 'arrogant and a little mad'," says the Sage-hater.

"Done, Verse?"

She waves him off a bit, "So, Irissa... she killed one of my sisters. I thought I needed to avenge them, to make it right, because I'd failed them. But actually talking to you... it's cleared some stuff up. I guess what I'm saying is I miss my sisters, and you miss your daughters, and that's just the way of things."

She nods.

"Then I guess we'll leave you to your farm, ma'am."

"My apologies for intruding," he says, turning to go and gesturing for the others to follow.

"Peacebinder!", she calls, and waits for him to turn back. "You want 'opportunities to make things right'?"

"I truly do."

"You found one. Don't make her regret it. Or me regret suggesting you."

He straightens, and gives a big smile. "I will do my best, ma'am."

And then he's back turning to go.

What a relief! She nods and smiles one last time at Essa before walking after them, anxiety spiking hard in her belly.

She doesn't know these people. Verse is just ... intense, like that one airship pilot. Lantry reminds her of Engels, affable yet secretive. Eb is a cynic, but sort of still trying. All of them - intimidate her, yes, confront that feeling and understand it, how it's affecting you and how that might not be for the best. She never will know them, if she doesn't poke them.

...She comes close to Kohl after a bit of walking. "Chief McAllen, chief of the Guard and promoted to sort of like a Fatebinder of Bristol when the great frost came, would have said it would not be justice to find a crime to make what you want to do easier."

"She'd do it anyway. Better an execution, for a crime truly committed, than a murder sanctioned by an officer of Justice. Not to say your chief's standards are wrong."

"I see. I don't know this place," she acknowledges again, shaking her head. "And more talk can wait for a table like you said."

"Did Madam Essa tell you much about Kyros's Law? It's much more absolute than how most Tiersmen handled it before the Conquest. I can't imagine how Bristol did."

"The nine laws, in generalities - or in summary, at least." Here is a tough leather notebook. "...Peace, Destruction, Archons, Adjucation, Name in Vain, what cannot be known, no unsanctioned magic, stay the hell away from the Oldwalls, economic regulation."