"...okay."

"Do you have any questions, before I talk to them about that?"

She thinks about it for a couple of seconds then shakes her head.

"All right. And I don't expect your father will think to look for us at the temple, if Kiraavi will help us get there without running into him, and being polite will help - do you want to come with me, or should I leave you in my room or something?"

"...your room."

"Sure." He gathers up his bag and the boxed pastry. "I'm at the Plump Pillow, it's up this way."

She nods and follows.

He takes the side entrance in - it's pure habit, by this point, choosing inns with that option, for this reason among others - and shows her to his room, a modest one on the second floor. "You can have the bed, I know how to get comfortable on the floor. Have you had dinner?"

Headshake.

Nod. "I'll pick something up on my way back, if you're okay waiting that long. What do you want?"

Shrug. "Doesn't matter."

"All right. Go ahead and have your dessert while I'm gone, if you want, I'll pick up some more pastries for the road, too."

Nodnod. She reaches for the dessert.

And off he goes.

The city seems oblivious to whatever's happening; as the evening slowly turns into night, people close up shop and retire to their homes. Some restaurants are still open, but not many.

He stops at a few on the way, explaining that he's running an errand but will be done in about half an hour and need to pick up dinner afterward; with any luck he should be able to arrange for three or four small entrees' worth of food to be waiting for him on his walk back.

Yeah sure restaurants are amenable, they'll be waiting.

Good.

And then the temple.

There are a couple of people praying, but Takuma is nowhere to be seen.

He looks around for a private niche; failing that he'll just take an out-of-the-way corner. "Aarethil?"

"Welcome again, traveller."

"I met Takuma's kid this evening."

"I see."

"They want to come with me. And Kiraavi will be interested in sending people who're a better fit here, but only if people are allowed to leave."

"...Takuma is a very good, loyal follower. They understand in a way most do not."