"What exactly does she need?"

"I dunno. She wants to talk ta you about something. Seems urgent. Wouldn't tell me."

"I can understand why."

"What's the need in saying that like that?"

"You don't have the most sensitive aura about you, Vert, is all I'm saying."

Lydie's lips almost curled into a smile. Her ears picked up the last of Vertinac's and Mi'in's conversation as the pair moved into the common area of the inn. She wondered how long the two had known each other. They sounded like good friends. Unfortunately, Lydie's brief merriment faded as the inn owner pointed her out to his employee. He, completely obvious to both woman, picked a spot at the bar to overhear the forthcoming conversation. The frown he hid after Mi'in rolled her eyes and guided Lydie closer to the stairs stuck out even more apparently.

"Is something the matter?" Mi'in asked.

"A little. I was wondering...those three men you told off for me the other night?"

"Yes?" Mi'in's brows instantly arched in acknowledgment and concern.

"Do you happen to know anything of them?"

"Not much other than they're despicable. Vertinac ran them out of the inn yesterday afternoon for trying to steal from one of the rooms. They managed to give the guards a slip, from what we've heard."

"It was definitely them then."

"They bother you again?"

"Yes. Hardly six or seven minutes ago. I was walking back here, and they approached me on the sidewalk. The three pestered me for a moment before I finally got them to leave. Unfortunately, when I returned to my room I discovered the money I'd gotten today from selling some of my clothes was gone from my pocket. There's no way for them to have fallen out, so someone had to have stolen my nell."

"I suppose we should have let Vertinac listen in. He's the one who made the report yesterday. He'll want to hear of this." Mi'in shrugged in hopeless amusement, "Come with me, hun."

Vertinac stood proud at their quick defeat of keeping him excluded, although his smugness faded into his typical mildly unapproachable expression at Mi'in's reproachful stare.

"Those three asses from yesterday risked sticking their necks out again," she revealed, "Seems as if they've stolen from...I'm sorry, hun, I've yet to even ask your name."

"It's Lydie."

"Seems as if they've stolen Miss Lydie's money from her pocket."

"Why didn't ya mention that when you came in?" Vertinac asked.

"Well, I hadn't realized the money was gone yet. I met them only a few streets down from here on my way back."

"Sticking out their necks indeed. What good do they think is gonna come their way mucking aroun' the area where the guards know they've been? It's the idiots' own undoing though, I guess. Tryin' ta steal is bad enough. Now they're repeat offenders who've stolen for real."

"Shall I go call some boys over here? Or do you want me to send Veli out?" Mi'in offered.

"I'd rather ya go. You know how much Veli wanders when given the chance."

"You don't have to go through the trouble," Lydie said, "I...I just wanted to know if the men were still staying here or hanging around so I could avoid them or-"

"Why would ya not want to report it? Given that you don't have much money, wouldn't you want to do wha'ever you could to get it back?" Vertinac interrupted in surprise.

"Of course I'd like the money back, but how hard are the guards truly going to try to get back a measly nine nell when there has to be more important matters to take care of?"

Vertinac raised one of his thick brows. Mi'in tilted her head in suppressed confusion.

"Lass, I get that ya aren't aware of much, but in Darshal a crime's a crime. Don't matter if they took one hundred rist or a single kyne. If those three broke a law, they are due to stand before the Justiciar. The guards are sworn to do all they can to make that happen. They'll care." Vertinac explained.

"Exactly," Mi'in encouraged with a smile, "So I'll be right back."

Off she dashed. Lydie fidgeted nervously even as gratefulness for someone standing up for her relaxed her muscles. All the guards she'd seen walking around in their ruby red and dark sapphire colored uniforms intimidated her immensely. Now she had to talk to them?

"How much money did they take?" Vertinac's voice broke into her fretting mind, "All of it? I hope not."

"No, my original money remains untouched. I sold some of our clothes, and that money is what the men took."

"I see."

The air grew awkward for a moment. Lydie bored her gaze into the stone of the counter, far too concerned about the matter at hand to push on the conversation. Vertinac stood torn between digger deeper at her worries or letting her bed. He took a step away, hesitated as he waited for her to draw him back, and did another shuffling step while his head moved back and forth a time or two more than necessary at her and the other tasks available. In the end, Vertinac kept a watch on her from the side of his eye while he continued his work. Seven minutes later, Lydie jerked and morphed into a statue when Mi'in returned with two male guards in tow. Both stood tall and impressive even when taking off their helmets produced an amusing sight of flattened, lightly sweaty hair. The one of golden russet-brown skin with deep green eyes reached a height taller than Vertinac while his companion of the deepest of umber skin walked confidently with muscles stretching his seams. Mi'in, diminutive in comparison, talked at ease with them. Lydie's mouth turned to sand and her bones to frail twigs the moment the barmaid motioned in her direction.

"Good afternoon, ma'am." the muscled one reached her first.

"G-good afternoon." Lydie replied timidly.

"I am Sentha, and this is my companion, Tun. You are the one reporting a theft?"

"Yes."

"As per the law of Kimaiten's knowledge and accountability, you are offered the opportunity to present your statement in the presence of another of good standing with the ultimate judge. You are free to waive this right if desired." Tun announced to her the practice, enunciated words.

Lydie withdrew deeply. This was a large part of why she hadn't wanted to do this. Despite her slow intake of the world around her, Lydie knew nothing. What law was Tun talking about? Was the supposed opportunity something no one in their right mind would reject, or was it something everyone declined? Was it her who was accountable, or the guards? A dozen questions burdened her thoughts, leaving her mouth dipping open as she stared blankly at Sentha and Tun. They stared back awaiting her response while half the inn curiously took notice of the affair. Desperate, Lydie sought out Vertinac.

"I'll be her second." he jumped in without missing a beat, walking out from behind the corner.

"Your name, sir?" Sentha asked.

"Vertinac Tahar."

"Will the Justiciar find you satisfactory for this report?"

"He will."

"And your name is, ma'am?" Tun continued with her.

"L-Lydie Dvanda."

"What is your relationship with Mr. Tahar, Miss Dvanda?"

"A, um...a...friendly acquaintance." Lydie struggled.

Tun pulled out a booklet of paper and began writing. Sentha, meanwhile, looked at all the eyes facing their direction.

"Would you prefer to make the statement outside?" he motioned to the quieter street.

"This is my inn. I have my office in the back, if that is acceptable." Vertinac suggested.

"That is much more acceptable, thank you. Please, lead on."

Vertinac's large hand clapped gently on her shoulder. With a gentle push, he got her stubbornly scared feet moving forward around the corner and behind the bar as the two guards closely trailed their heels.