Lydie almost forgot her nerves when walking past the kitchen. The large room full of sizzling meats, steaming broths, grilling vegetables, and a colorful wall of bottles of various beverages was a bustle of moving bodies and hurried chatter. The four men and women staffing the area worked with an impressive efficiency and knowledge. Lydie would have been tempted to wander and steal a more proper peek, possibly a little nibble here and there too, if Vertinac didn't lead on with Tun and Sentha on their heels. Down the quiet, cool hallway they moved until Vertinac brought them to one of the two doors at the end. He opened it to reveal a small yet organized and well-lit office full mostly of books and assorted knick-knacks. Lydie assumed the other door led to the modest house-like attachment on the northern side of the inn where Vertinac likely lived.

"Here. There's enough seats for everyone." Vertinac offered. He grabbed the plusher chair in the corner for her, set out simpler ones for the guards, and took a seat in his large chair behind the desk.

"Thank you." Tun nodded with appreciation as he sat too.

"Now, your employee mentioned you made a report to the city yesterday about the men being reported now, correct?" Sentha wondered after taking his chair.

"Yes. One of our patrons returned to his room after forgettin' something, and he found that the men had slipped inside just beforehand. The tallest one was going through his drawer."

"What happened next?"

"The men bolted down the stairs with Mr. Qualn on their heels. I managed to corral them for a moment, but they slipped away. A pair of guards were nearby, and they gave chase. The men got away from even them though."

"Miss Dvanda, how were you aware the men Mr. Tahar mentioned are the same men who you claim stole from you? Were you there for the previous incident?" Sentha turned to her.

"No, I was away from the inn at the time. I recognized the men from two nights ago. They bothered me during dinner." Lydie replied. She found more confidence now being away from the many prying eyes of other patrons, although the guards continued to put her on edge. Sentha was clearly the main questioner. Tun listened, but he busied himself with another task. From his dark brown leather bag hanging from his side, he pulled out a fine wooden slab not so dissimilar from the calling slab Miss Everson used. Lydie's eyes went wide in both amazement and discomfort as Tun popped open a sharp protrusion from a dip in the silver ring on his finger, cut a light gash on his thumb with it, pressed his bloody skin against the lower right corner of the slab, and retracted it after the corner grew green at which point a shimmering light from the ring stitched together Tun's skin until no wound remained. Like before, a stack of papers appeared in the slab.

"What were the men doing to bother you?" Sentha continued, his eyes darting back and forth between her and her line of sight.

"Um, they motioned me over to their table, but I didn't go. They kept trying to get my attention, they made inappropriate gestures in my direction, and their conversation seemed to follow along the same line. Mi'in reprimanded them for me, and I didn't see or hear of them again until today's incident." Lydie explained. She did her best not to squirm as Vertinac's expression hardened intensely at the revelation.

"Please go ahead and explain then today's incident with them using as much detail as you can."

"I was out with Kenth, my...um, my ward. He's not yet a year old. We were heading back to the inn when the tallest of them men beckoned to us on the street. He-"

"Pardon me, but which street?" Sentha interrupted as Tun switched expertly from writing on fresh paper and consulting the papers he summoned.

"I don't know the street name. It has that large general store with the two regal looking statues."

Tun nodded in recognition, resumed his report, and Sentha prompted her on, "Please continue."

"The men introduced themselves as Daryn, Fehnd, and Ki'nar," Lydie pressed forward after a breath, describing each of the men in turn, "I excused myself and tried to leave, but Daryn halted me. I told him not to touch me. He began giving me fake pleasantries, and I told him not to bother as we both knew what he actually wanted from me. All three men then tried to proposition me to make some sort of contract in order to pay me for my...'company', I suppose."

A gruff growl disguised as a cough burgeoned from Vertinac's throat. Lydie's cheeks burned. Despite his clear protectiveness, she would have rathered he stay in the dark about such particulars.

"I told them no and walked away. The three encroached close to me as I moved. Daryn suggested another proposition of me gaining employment at the Burden's Respite so they could be customers of me that way. I told them no again, and they finally let me be. I hurried here to notice soon after I entered my room that my money from my pocket was gone. The coin had been there shortly before the encounter, and there was no hole or break where the coins could fall. My suspicion is that when they were close Daryn distracted me on the left knowing I would get riled up while Fehnd pickpocketed the money from my right."

"How much money was taken?"

"Nine nell."

"What happened after you noticed the money was gone?"

"I came back downstairs to ask Vertinac if Mi'in was around. I questioned her if she knew more of the men, and when she said she didn't know all that much we reapproached Vertinac. After discussing the matter for a moment, Mi'in volunteered to get some guards to make a report."

"And that has brought us to where we are now. I see. Is there anything more you wish to state?"

"No. T-That's about it."

"Your description of the three men in question matches, although the names found by the other guards in the previous report are different. I presume they are changing aliases to make tracking them difficult," Tun joined in again, "Your statement is straightforward as well. I would just like to ask to be thorough, is there any previous connection with you to these men? Or was it all a matter of happenstance?"

"I...I don't know," Lydie mumbled again, forcing her voice louder as the guards raised brows in unison, "I was in an accident that claimed my memory and was only released from the healing ward several days ago. As of the moment, I know nothing about myself or anyone I might have known in the past."

"What is the status of your citizenship?" Tun asked.

"One of the healers was extremely kind and paid for a sponsorship for Kenth and I."

"And is the city aware of this predicament of yours?"

"Yes, the healing ward requested a search for knowledge. I've been to the Records Auxiliary twice over the matter."

Tun nodded one last time.

"We will look into this immediately," Sentha resumed, "Miss Dvanda, if you will sign here after reading this declaration to confirm that there is no known falsity in your words and that you are not making this report to accuse these men of a crime they did not commit for reasons other than breakage of the law."

Lydie did as requested. Sentha then handed the document to Vertinac who signed as well. After some pleasantries, the guards bowed and excused themselves out.

"See? It's a quick and simple process as long as you're honest and straightforward. The guards'll be sure ta catch them idiots soon too." Vertinac comforted as he stretched back in his chair.

"I do hope so, but I still don't understand a lot. What's Kimaiten's law of knowledge and accountability?"

"Oh, that. It's for your protection. The second person is there ta make sure the guards don't try to do anythin' funny or twist your words around in the report. It's so rare that it happens that most people don't care one way or the other, but it never hurts to take advantage of it. I figured you'd want the support too."

"I do appreciate it. Thank you."

"Of course," Vertinac accepted with a wave of his hand, "Where's that babe of yours, by the way? It's the first time I've seen you without 'im."

"Kenth is..." Lydie stiffened up as realization hit her, which then had her standing up and speaking with haste, "I left him in the crib in our room. I completely forgot. I didn't expect to be gone for more than a brief moment. Excuse me."

Off she rushed, leaving Vertinac behind with a quiet chuckle on his lips.