[Batista Dyer ]

As Batista Dyer was exiting the Town Hall, with her bag of cloth swatches
under her arm, she noticed Brion Hillrover returning. The warpiper's
expression was grimly set and the agent decided that she had "forgotten"
something and after checking her bag, and shaking her head, she pivoted
and returned to interior of the Hall. Hillrover was worth keeping track
of; she had overheard comments earlier that he had come in with a wet bag,
and after consulting with Mr. Gilford had gone back out. Though,
according to the rumors, that had been much earlier in the day.

::Good afternoon to you, Mr. Hillrover,:: she sent as she moved to walk
beside him.

"And to ye also, Miss Dyer," the warpiper said, looking down at the
petite, dark-haired cloth merchant. He smiled, "I thought all of the
decorating was said and done."

::It is,:: Batista sent, adding her own charming smile, ::But for the
chairs in one of the offices - sadly I have learned that I can't get the
color that was wanted in a velvet.:: Her smile turned rueful, ::Nor does
it help that I have left the newly-chosen swatch behind.::

"Hard to keep track of everything, particularly with the festival going
on, and if I remember correctly, ye're helping Councilwoman Crisir with
the gowns for Mr. Amberghylles' wedding?"

Batista had never underestimated the warpiper - his blue eyes missed
little, and she had no doubt that he had his own network of "ears" for
Allenel Gilford. A fact that she had witnessed in the tent city, when she
- as Cari, along with an assortment of Refusers, had taken brief sanctuary
within Gilford's tents. And so far neither the lawyer or the piper had
called her on her past. Anymore than she had mentioned their friendship
with the Politi weavers. Bits of the past that were hardly dangerous
anymore - just inconvient. Or at least she pretended her past was an
inconvience - in truth it provided a perfectly legitmate cover.

::Indeed I am,:: Batista answered, ::Fortunately, he didn't order many
dresses for the bridesmaids, but what we are doing is enough.:: She looked
up at the warpiper and sent, ::Though I'm sure you have also been kept
busy enough.....With of the Queen of Havenwood coming and a royal envoy
from Bleckner...the Council is in a true whirl....::

"It is at that," Brion answered; unaware that the young agent had
registered the hint of disquiet at mention of the envoy. They had been
strolling through the halls, and had now come abreast Allenel Gilford's
office. The warpiper nodded in the direction of the door and said, "If ye
will excuse me, Miss Dyer, I need to be stopping here."

::I'll wish you a pleasant day then,:: Batista sent, acting like she would
be continuing down the hall. She wished she could risk scanning the
warpiper more deeply, but knew that he had too many skilled allies to risk
it. Which also held true for Mr. Gilford, though he seemed to have his own
natural defenses.

After wandering down a side hall Batista made her way back down to the
main lobby, and outside.

She began to make her way back towards her shop - already planning out
what disguise she needed to wear that evening. So far she had little to go
on in regards to the missing envoy, or any hint as to the identity of the
murdered man. On one previous expedition she had managed down the
fisherman, Gwit, who had caught the body, but had learned little from him.

Nor was her interest on solving the murder, unless the victim turned out
to be the King's envoy, and unfortunately what few facts there were hinted
that the body was indeed his.