Ophilia, H'aanit and Alfyn had found a decent Inn as close to the city library as they could. The Cleric who was still carrying all of the generous stipend that the Cathedral had provided when she started out insisted on hiring a room that covered a big portion of the top floor of the building as it contained not only three good sized beds but a large fireplace, dining table and a private bath-tub. The Innkeeper had also agreed to allow Linde inside but only in their room so the extra space was very welcome.

As soon as they had closed the door behind them Ophilia dumped her pack on the nearest bed. 'I can't believe how fast I ran through all my spare clothes.' she groaned unbuttoning her clerical robe and dumping the muddy garment on the floor leaving herself stood only in a long thick under-dress. 'Whatever possessed anyone to decide that white is a good colour for robes.. it really doesn't travel well.'

'I thinke it's supposed to represent thy purity and virtue.' H'aanit said raising an eyebrow at the Cleric.

With a sigh, Ophilia took her last clean robe from her pack and shook it out. 'I had best drop into the laundry on my way to the library.' She looked over at Alfyn who had turned his back but appeared to be blushing furiously.

'By the flame!' Ophilia exclaimed in impatience. 'I would assume that you would be quite used to the sight of an undressed female!' Alfyn made an odd choking sound.

'Oh.. oh dear..' The cleric started to blush as well 'I meant in the course of your work not... I mean I wasn't trying to insinuate that you.. oh .. '

H'aanit started to laugh a low throaty chuckle.

'That's work 'ain't it,' the poor boy mumbled. 'You got the injury to focus on instead of..of..'

'Doth thou really intend to dig thyself any bigger a hole to fall into Alfyn?' H'aanit's amusement grew. 'Ophilia cover thyself before the lad faints.'

'I AM covered,' the cleric sighed but she did move over to the screened space in the corner of the room with her clean clothes and a basin of water to freshen up.

'Will you both be coming to the Library with me?' Ophilia enquired after a few moments of splashing water.

'Linde and I shoulde hunt outside the city until nightfall.' H'aanit replied, 'Truthe be that neither of us are comfortable in towns and she will requireth the freedom if we are to spend the night here with thou. It will get easier with time perchance'.

Ophilia emerged fully dressed from behind the screen and sat next to her friend giving her a consoling hug.

'I will see if I can find anything on this 'Redeye' beast. If anything is recorded it will be here I am sure.' Ophilia reached out to give Linde a reassuring pat.

'Wilt thou accompany Ophilia, Master Alfyn?' H'aanit asked formally of the lad who had finally returned to his normal colouring and was busy trying to establish some order in his healing satchel. 'I admit I woulde be much relieved to knoweth she had someone with her.'

'Which I don't actually need if you have other things you want to do.' Ophilia objected gently.

'No, I'd really like to come.' Alfyn replied 'I ain't had a huge exposure to book-work but I reckon there must be some real interesting stuff on medicinal plants. Besides, I'm intrigued by your Kindling thing too. Be good to know a bit more.'

'Then let us eat and get about our business.' Ophilia declared excitedly

The afternoon passed pleasantly. The librarian was extremely helpful, sourcing books and information for both Alfyn and Ophilia and she even suggested that she set up a meeting for the following afternoon with a particular scholar - Professor Albright - who had an active interest in history and theology and who the Librarian was sure would be extremely pleased to help with her research.

On the subject of Redeye they had drawn a blank but even there the librarian refused to admit defeat and said she would speak to a few people she knew who had an interest in unusual beasts.

Alfyn was amazed by all of the botanical journals that they found particularly the ones with delicately drawn illustration of flora - so much so that they stopped at a bookstore on their way back and Ophilia insisted on purchasing two such books - one for Alfyn and one to be sent back home to his friend and colleague Zeph, for she pointed out quite firmly that the education of an apothecary was most certainly an excellent use of church money. The colourful hair-ribbons that she added for Zeph's sister could not be likewise explained but nearly brought Alfyn to tears which had amused her greatly.

When they returned to the Inn, Ophilia begged some time alone to take a bath so Alfyn stayed down in the bar while she returned to their room to await the bathwater to be brought up. In the meantime she decided that she really needed to sew up the pocket on her robe which has started to tear.

Stripping to her under-dress once more, she wrapped herself in a blanket against the later afternoon chill, found her sewing kit and settled in front of the fire to attend the task. Very soon the air filled with some colourful and inventive language - her thumb and finger were bleeding - and she threw the robe across the room in dismay. She HATED sewing.

'Well, that was hardly very ladylike your holiness.' Therion appeared suddenly, staring in the window of the room at her. He slithered his body gracefully down somehow unlatching the window from the outside and landing with ease on his feet.

'We have a perfectly serviceable door you know.' Ophilia scowled at him.

'I was up on the roof when I heard such language that I assumed you must be being attacked by a hoard of pirates so I took the quickest route.' Therion went and picked up the robe that the girl had thrown across the room then sat down next to her by the fire.

'How did you find us?' Ophilia's crankiness was replaced with genuine curiosity. 'To be honest, when you took off so fast this morning I really didn't expect to see you again. Alf said you would be back but I had my doubts.'

'So, it turns out that tracking down the Flamebearer, an Amazonian Huntress with her snow Leopard and a dullard country apothecary isn't actually that hard.' Therion had managed to untangle the thread and the needle and had started to deftly sew the pocket with neat even stitches.

'Oh, Therion, you sew so well!' the girl exclaimed in delight. 'I'm pretty terrible at it. I spend more time bleeding than stitching'. She showed him her bloody fingers as evidence.

'It just takes practise and patience.' Therion said 'And most clothing don't come with the range of pockets I require so I adapt them myself.' He looked up archly at her 'And of course any task that requires nimble fingers is useful for keeping my edge sharp.'

'You just can't help but throw your thievery in my face can you?' Ophilia noted.

There was a long uncomfortable silence.

'Hmmm, well..' When Therion finally spoke his voice was soft, very unlike his usual sarcastic tone. 'It's not like you can talk is it Sister? I believe you have made use of your own light fingers in the past, as well as a comprehensive list of other misdemeanours.'

'I beg your pardon!' She exclaimed 'I don't think...'

'Let me see..' he interrupted her but kept his eyes firmly down on his needlework. 'First there was the theft of a prison cell key, then aiding a criminal to escape.' He looked up briefly when she made a small hiss of dismay and noted her horrified expression. Lowering his eyes again he ploughed on. 'Does hiding said criminal constitute a separate sin or does it come under the escape one? I guess it doesn't matter. Oh of course I can't forget the use of healing magic when not qualified to do so. Tell me Ophilia have I missed anything? I was kinda out of it at the time so some of the finer details are a bit hazy.'

'You recognised me.' Ophilia spoke so softly he could hardly hear her. 'I recognised you almost straight away.'

'In truth I didn't. Someone was gossiping about the Flamebearer and recounted a story of how she lost some toes after giving away her boots and her cloak. You realise that your boots were way too small for me don't you?'

'Yes, Therion. I realise it was stupid, but your feet were so cold.' She self-consciously pushed her own feet further underneath herself as if to hide them. 'And I'm ashamed to admit that you HAVE missed out a sin that I committed that evening. In fact it was the biggest one of all.'

'Oh?' he raised an eyebrow at her.

'When I witnessed the way they treated you I was so... angry. Rage, pride, ego - take your pick, they are all unfitting in a cleric. I was thirteen and full of self-righteousness. I decided there and then that I would rescue and heal you since you had so cruelly been denied.' She shook her head and her voice turned bitter. 'I failed to be sensible or at all thoughtful. It would have only taken a visit to the Archbishop to explain the situation - what I had witnessed - and you would have been released. He would have made sure you got the proper care you needed to recover and seen to it that you were fed and warm and safe.' Ophilia put out a hand to touch his arm, but pulled it back quickly when the thief flinched away. 'All of that was due to you,' she sighed. 'It should have been given to you - but because of my poor decision to act alone all you got was some half-baked acolyte healing, a pair of boots that didn't fit and an apple.'

'And a necklace. I assume the portrait inside were your parents.' He added quietly.

She waved away his protest. 'My behaviour that night shames me Therion. And I am so very sorry.'

He looked at her, his expression blank then shook his head. 'Wow. I think you really are as mad as they say.' Therion bit off the piece of thread he had been using and handed Ophilia her robe back.

'Yes,' she agreed, 'Probably.'

They were suddenly interrupted by a knock at the door and several buckets of hot water were delivered filling the bath-tub.

'So if we're done reminiscing I wouldn't mind taking my bath now.' Ophilia said crisply. 'Do I have to bar the window after you?'

'Nah, I'll use the door this time.' He rose to his feet and made his way across the room.

'Therion.' Her voice was serious. He paused where he stood, not looking back.

'I don't mean this as a judgement - just honesty. I... I don't think that I can like a thief... and on the same note I don't believe that you could like a cleric either.' She looked down at the robe he had mended and saw the little row of flowers he had embroidered along the top of the pocket. 'We are more than just that one thing though.' He waited, silent as she composed her thoughts. 'Maybe one day I could like the man and if that were the case then it would require at least acceptance of the thief.'

Therion smiled, glad that there was no-one to see it. Damn it hurt the muscles in his face. 'I sincerely doubt that will ever happen your Holiness' he replied.