Once she saw the structure, Isa understood Joth’s reaction. What Mery had blithely called “Cooper’s Room” was actually - according to the sign - “The True and Venerable Hall of Coopers, Barrel Makers, and Caskmen.”

The structure itself was one of the largest she’d yet seen in Denney. The main building was 2 stories tall with wings spread out to each side of the building. A small dome sat atop the whole thing. After a moment Isa said, “I’ve seen state capitals that were smaller.”

Joth stood beside her looking up. “Yeah, Vermont’s for one.”

“Do they really make that many barrels here?”

“I don’t know, and I’m not sure it’d be wise to ask. Shall we?” Joth swept his arm out, and with a laugh Isa walked up the 4 steps to the main entrance.

Once inside they were greeted by a young woman behind an enormous desk made to look like a barrel. “Hello!” she smiled broadly. “Where are you folks from?”

“Ah, from Bywater, I guess.” Isa shrugged.

“Bywater….” she began to leaf through a large book that was sitting on the desk. “Bywater, Bywater.” After a moment, she stretched her arms across the pages and smiled again. “I’m sorry. Are you affiliated with a guild in a larger town?”

“We’re here,” Joth returned her smile, “to meet a friend -- Mery Braydon.”

“Oh sure. Mery and her brother have been here a few days.” She glanced to her left. “They might be in the dining room still. I can send a note in.” She grimaced. “I can’t let you past this area unless you are vouchsafed. You understand.”

Isa took the proffered paper and pencil and scrawled a hasty note. A few minutes later a smiling Mery was standing in front of them. “You brought a wizard. That’s grand.”

“Mery, it’s good to see you.” Joth nodded his head.

“He wanted to help,” said Isa.

“A wizard is always welcome. That’s what my Ma always said.” With that Mery turned to the woman behind the desk. “Rachel, can you spare 2 rooms for my friends?”

“Let me see,” Rachel replied as she ran her finger down a page-long column. She muttered a few names under her breath. “I have one room, toward the back. First floor, 8c.”

Joth and Isa looked at each other. He said, “I could look elsewhere for accommodation. It’s--”

“If Mery wouldn’t mind the company, I--” Isa started and then stopped. She almost couldn’t believe how bold she’d just been! “I mean, if there’s a second bed,” she finished.

With a broad grin Mery said, “I don’t mind at all.” She turned to Rachel. “Well, that’s settled. Rachel, 8c for our wizard friend here. Joth Windbane, is he. And this is Isa. Isa Chamberlin. They are assisting me for the Master, yeah?”

The woman nodded and jotted down the names in her book.

“A spot of lunch then, and we can talk? Wat’s in the dining room. He’s picked up his first bard level.” Mery smiled. “And the lute, thankfully. His singing is terrible.”

“Wait!” Rachel reached over the desk. “Peace bond.”

Joth and Mery both stopped, and Isa said, “Huh?”

“Your weapons,” said Rachel. “You can’t carry your staff around, and you’ll have to peace bond your sword.” She pointed at Joth who was already digging into his bag, “And his spellbook.”

“Um, OK.” Isa stood still and smiled. “Is it a spell?”

“It’s a ribbon, love.” Mery pointed at the white strips in Rachel’s hand.

The young woman came around the desk and knelt beside Isa. She wrapped the ribbon around the hilt of Isa’s rapier and through the handguard. Isa stood and watched, not knowing where to put her hands, so she crossed her arms and tried not to look at the woman on her knees.

A few seconds later Rachel was standing again and facing Joth. He held out his spellbook like an offering, and with a few quick motions Rachel wrapped the white ribbon around it. Joth’s spellbook looked like a giftwrapped present. “There,” she said and smiled. “And I’ll hold your staff here until you leave the building.”

Mery nodded, so Isa handed it to Rachel.

As Mery led them to the dining room she said, “New staff, there? Looks nice. What happened to the scimitar?”

“I, ah, sold it. It just wasn’t my style.”

“Hope you got a pretty bag of coin for it.”

“I took her to a place I know here in town,” said Joth. “We did OK, I think.”

“Hmmm,” was all Mery said.

To fill the silence Isa said, “Wat leveled? That’s great, so he’s ….?”

“He’s just a 1st level bard,” said Mery. “But he’s got his ranks of rogue, as well. ‘Ranks of Rogue’ - I rather like that. We had a spot of trouble on the road here, and it’s so easy to level when you’re new. Now the grind begins.” She grinned as they approached the table.

A skinny young man swallowed a bite of food and stood up. Just days ago Isa had been hiding from him, ready to attack him, but here she was about to break bread with him. “Hi Wat, good to see you again. This is my friend Joth. He’s a wizard, and he came along to lend us a hand.”

Joth cleared his throat. “Hello, young man.”

“You still living with that old gent, aren’t ya?” Mery said. “You’re turning into him!”

Isa sat down and looked from Joth to Mery. “How do you two know each other again?”

“It’s a long story,” said Joth.

“Aye, it is,” Mery agreed. “Besides, we don’t want to bore the ‘young man’ now, do we?” She gestured at the dishes on the table. “Lotta dwarves in the guild here these days, so they’ve taken to serving dwarf style.” She waved her hand over the table. “You share and mostly use bread as your fork.”

“It’s good bread,” Wat added.

“I ate this way at Zileek’s in Bywater.” Isa pulled the bread toward her. Breakfast had been a long time and many miles ago, even if she hadn’t walked the miles herself. She turned to Joth. “You messaged him, right?”

“Yes.” It came out almost as a sigh.

“Look, I told you I needed to stop by and see him, and you said you’d--”

“Hey now,” Mery kept her voice low, “we can have our friendly discussions outside. Coopers are a quiet bunch, and they like to eat in peace.” She glanced around for emphasis.

Isa ducked her head and concentrated on lunch. Until she noticed Wat creating small pills of bread and tucking them in his pocket. Mery noticed Isa noticing and gave a small shake of her head.

A mystery for later? Isa thought to herself.

When they’d finished eating Mery leaned forward. “Up for a little reconnoitering?” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Thanks to my young apprentice, we know where,” she lowered her voice to a whisper, “the warehouse is.”

It seemed that no one was going to mention exactly how Wat had come to share the information about the warehouse, but Isa quite remembered the house, the music room, and the magical interrogation.

She gave a small sigh. Mery had been as gentle as she could be, given the circumstances, and the proof was sitting beside Isa right now, hoarding bits of bread for some reason.

Joth wiped his mouth and said, “Lead the way.”

Once Isa had retrieved her staff and Joth had returned the ribbons from his spellbook and her rapier, they walked out into the afternoon light of Deney. Isa said, “It’s just ribbon? Nothing else?”

“No,” Mery answered. “Just ribbon. It’s symbolic like. Any spellcaster could fire off at least a few spells, peace bond or not. And sweet Rachel didn’t check you for daggers in your boots, did she?”

“I don’t have daggers in my boots,” Isa said.

“Pah, and you call yourself a fighter?”

“Mery,” Wat spoke up suddenly. “I’m gonna go do that thing.” He hurried away without waiting for an answer.

“What’s up with him?” Isa watched him corner the far corner. “Does he have a girlfriend or something?”

“Or something,” said Mery. “Several of them.” She laughed. “I’ve got him practicing animal friendship. It’s a 1st level bard spell. Nice and easy. Tame an animal for 24 hours with a bit of food, a wee morsel as my granny used to say.” Mery shrugged. “It was the first real magic spell I learned, so I figured, why not?”

“Mine was floating disk,” Joth said. “But lots of people do find familiar. Can’t go wrong with animals, right?”

“Aye,” said Mery, and she gave Joth a brief smile. “Now, about Thorn and her warehouse….” Mery gestured down the road opposite of the way Wat had gone.

“I could have sworn that Thorn was a man,” said Isa. “Someone mentioned that. I just don’t remember who.”

“Can’t blame a criminal mastermind for sowing lies,” said Mery as she started down the street.

“But you knew, didn’t you?” Joth said to Mery.

She sighed and turned around. “My business to know things.”

“It true; you weren’t surprised at the house, were you?” Isa took a step toward Mery.

“Rumors, theories, guesses. That’s what you have to go on with a project like this.” Mery spread her arms. “It’s called building a case, people. Tisn’t wizardry.”

“You’re like a detective?” Isa asked. “Like a police detective?”

“I don’t know those words, but detectin’ is part of what I do, yeah.”

“They don’t have police here, Isa.” Joth muttered.

“Let’s push semantics aside.” Isa felt herself getting annoyed at both of them. “And get to the heart of my question.”

“It’s not a secret, Isa!” Mery took a step closer to her. “I help people uncover information, find lost things, stop bad things from happening. ’S what I do, lass.” She paused and looked into Isa’s eyes. “Alright then? Are ya satisfied? At least for now?”

Isa shrugged. “I just need to know details. If I’m going to be of any help I need to know.”

“Well,” Mery rubbed her hands, “let’s start right now. The warehouse.” She cocked her head. “It’s--”

“Near the docks.” Isa finished. “I remember that from your time with Wat.”

“Yes, and if you’ll step around the corner with me, we can do a little arranging before we head that way. Wizard Windbane, do you use disguise self much? Thinking we should change ourselves up, and for the lady….” Mery pulled a small box from her bag. “This is a disguise kit. Ever play dress-up back home? We’re going to make you a little less you. The spell only lasts an hour, so we’ll get you settled first, eh?”