The lantern light does little to illuminate the darkness ahead, so in the luminescent gloom it is not until the boat is almost at another tie-off point that we see the outline of a group of figures standing, waiting expectantly at the side of the canal, a large set of open stairs made up of cobble-like stones behind them, disappearing into darkness.

The stone workings are on the opposite side of the canal to the one Hood and Madeleine descended to previously, and as the boat draws alongside them, Hood and Madeleine carefully stand, as too does the Countess, their eyes shifting to accommodate the darkness, revealing the group to be made up of Hy-Jinx, Helmet, Dozer and Bembry. The latter bowing deferentially to the Countess as the boat comes to a stop.

As Madeleine steps from the boat she hesitates for a moment before turning. “Pardon, Madam Masque, but I was lead to believe that you had a favour to ask of Master Hood for the assistance we are to afford him”

“The favour has already been performed my dear,” she says cryptically, “Here, do not leave these behind,” handing Madeleine the deck of Allegoricals now tied neatly in a thin golden ribbon. Madeleine is clearly surprised, confused almost, but accepts them formally without comment. “Now,” the Countess continues, “there is one last thing that this pantomime must enact.” Saying this, the Countess draws forth an envelope, extending it towards Hood between her fingers. “Take this - an oath fulfilled - but under no circumstances open it until you know it is safe to do so.” Her voice is stern and serious and Hood accepts the gift in the manner in which it has been given, slipping it into a pocket in his smock and then bowing deeply to her, contemplating the unusual instructions. The Countess dips her mask with a nod of her head in response to Hood’s bow. “Whenever we shall meet again,” she says, lifting a hand in a wave of farewell, as her guardsman unhooks the tie-off, boards the boat, and the two float slowly off downstream, the graceful, carved swan, smoothly parting the waterway before it.

Hy-Jinx breaks the silence: “Everyone ready for mischief? I know I am.”

“Where are we?” asks Madeleine, trying to get her bearings

“Several levels below the bell tower,” responds Hy-Jinx. “Up those stairs and left to a chamber and then a long ladder climb to the top.”

“Why can’t you just take us several levels below the library instead?” asks Madeleine, half joking, half serious.

“Good question. Bembry?” Hy-Jinx deflects.

“The canal and tunnels extend quite extensively about the city environs but all of them skirt around the library for some reason. This is actually the closest point there is in terms of approach,” Bembry responds.

“Makes sense, I suppose.” Madeleine seems lost in thought. “The library was part of the original founding settlement before Kera’Bur became Kera’Bur - part of a monastery and temple dedicated to the Goddess Aspartemane,” Madeleine says this to no one in particular, her mind on other things, her brain just churning out information without mind. After a moment, a cat like ripple runs through Madeleine’s body, as if she’s shaken off whatever mental weight she’s been carrying due to her previous encounter and has changed her focus to the physical. She looks at the assembled group before her, “I trust we are prepared?” she says, her voice now more forceful and commanding.

“Dozer is acting donkey for the evening” grins Hy-Jinx, as Dozer indicates all of the equipment that is attached to his large frame. “Knives and crossbow for me,” continues Hy-Jinx

“Same for me,” chimes in Bembry, who like Dozer has a rope wound about his torso from shoulder to waist.

“My trusty sword,” says Helmet proudly.

“Your rusty what?” queries Hy-Jinx.

“My TRUSTY sword.” repeats Helmet emphatically.

“How about you Hood?” Hy-Jinx asks.

Hood holds up his hands, splaying his fingers, and the other five watch as his finger tips glow orange, and purple energy crackles and fizzles from his finger ends.

“Yep, Hood’s geared too,” says Hy-Jinx.

“Then we are ready,” says Madeleine, turning her smile pointedly to Hy-Jinx. “Mischief?”

“Oh yes! Mischief!” replies Hy-Jinx enthusiastically, clapping her hands together and bouncing up and down.