I was dropped rather roughly just in front of the path leading up to the Dawn Treader. In keeping with what I promised, I didn't remove my blindfold until a decent interval had passed. Dusk had fallen, leading me to conclude that the strange interrogation I'd just been subjected to had lasted longer than I'd anticipated. Certain natural conclusions had already jumped into my mind. Once, when I'd nearly fallen out of whatever they used to transport me, I was steadied by what could only be a set of talons. That together with the raspy cawing could only mean that one of those we sought must be a crow. If I was wise, I could have tried to reason with him, perhaps even convincing him to turn on his employer. I suspected that, like me, he would resent having to be second to a more formidable intelligence.

As nice as it would have been to gripe a bit and then collapse into bed and shut out everything having to do with Daughters-of-Eve for the next ten hours or so, I had a trek back to the office, in the dark, even. Aching paws, at least, would compliment my pounding head nicely. Managing to put one paw in front of the other, repeated several hundred times, I made it back in a fairly respectable time. I couldn't stifle a groan when I heard the rise and fall of two voices. Sunblade's was unmistakable; strangely, I couldn't shake the suspicion that I had also heard the second speaker's voice before. Sunblade has told me thousands of times that detection involves acquiring knowledge without giving any thing away. I'm not usually a fan of eavesdropping unless there's no way I'm going to get caught…and, of course, when I can learn something useful. I was only standing outside the door to catch my breath after my hike back. If I happened to be in the exact right spot for words to carry, I can scarcely be blamed for that.

"Why have you finally decided that Greenbough and I are worthy of your confidence, and why, when you weren't forthcoming with us at first, should I now take you at your word?" My partner's statement preceded several moments of silence.

"How could I know you weren't in league with them?" At this point, it dawned on me that Sunblade was talking to the faun from the scene of the crime (if crime it was—I was beginning to have doubts about that). "You might have come back to secure the last piece of proof you were there." Terrance sounded indignant.

I buried my face in my paws. Depending on what the faun's new story was, I might have been spared everything I'd been through in the past twenty-four hours. It was time for Terrance Leroy to enlighten us. I pulled the door open and their eyes gravitated towards me.

"Greenbough!" Sunblade called out, "your timing is a credit to our agency. He was just about to show me the item he picked up at the base of the willow tree. You surely noticed him, seeing as you were concealed in the branches."

Terrance glowered at me. "You should have revealed yourself immediately." I shrugged, seeing as he was likely right. Still, knowing that he /had/ come to share with us finally, I had no doubt he'd continue. The faun was seated on a low stool directly across from Sunblade, and he was already shifting uncomfortably. We had discovered over the years just how to put a potential suspect off his ease to produce answers. The fire in the grate illuminated Terrance's face while keeping Sunblade in shadow. Terrance looked at me, and we sized one another up. I made certain that the faun was the one to blink first. Slowly, he handed over a bundle which he'd wrapped in the folds of his thick scarf to protect it. My partner indicated that I should be the one to open it, and my clumsy paws made slow work of untying it; even when I saw the contents, I'll admit—only because there's no way these pages are ever going to be seen—that I was as confused as ever.

I held a book, or what might /pass/ for a book, at least, though whatever language it had been scribbled in wasn't even remotely related to anything I'd ever seen. I tossed to Sunblade, at which point our guest gave a sharp gasp of horror at my careless treatment. Sunblade hides it well, but I could tell he was as perplexed as I was. He rested his chin on his hands, in one of his "thoughtful" poses.

"What lead you to remove this from the scene, Terrance Leroy?" His tone was faintly accusatory, and our visitor obviously considered it as such.

The faun, of course, shut up immediately, no surprise there.

I figured it was time for me to intervene. "Sunblade, for all he knew, we were two of the kidnappers. He's coming forward now." I nudged a bowl of walnuts towards the faun. "Hungry?" Grabbing a nut in my paw, I lobbed it towards Sunblade; it found its target and bounced off nicely. The centaur glared my direction as I hefted a second nut. Aiming between his eyes I let fly. " He's /helping/ us, remember?" With a disdainful and piercing scowl in Terrance's direction, Sunblade caught the walnut and proceeded to casually crush it between his teeth as the faun watched, mouth agape.

With a put upon sigh, I turned to the faun. "My apologies. Sunblade is taking this case a bit seriously. Now, you were saying…"

Sufficiently convinced now that he'd seen me intimidate my significantly larger partner, Terrance continued. "They left it…the ones who took the girl. There were a few of them, even bigger than /he/ is," he gestured towards Sunblade, "and I hid—you would have done the same—so I didn't see their faces. I figured you'd be able to understand it; if there's any way I can help her...I've never seen anyone so lovely. I can't make heads or tails of that book either. Really…other than that you know everything I do."

Sunblade looked like he was about to say something else at this, but a sharp look from me put an end to that, and he merely nodded.

"I'm certain we do, Terrance, and you've been most forthcoming with us." Sunblade rolled his eyes at me, but I ignored him. The faun stood and shook my paw, then turned to the centaur, giving him a brusque nod instead. "Well, if there's anything else I can recall, I'll make sure you're aware of it. I trust there's no more reason for me to stay?"

"Of course not," I answered, and he passed out the door.

Sunblade chuckled wryly as soon as Terrance was fully out of earshot. "It never ceases to amaze me how that works, but we never fail. You could, however, have managed to throw those projectiles at me more softly. Now…it will take time to find someone who can enlighten us about what this book contains. Other than the age, the place the paper was made, and the slight indentation in the back cover, I see nothing of note here. In the meantime, we must not wait to act."

I gave a firm nod as I went for the bowl of nuts again, out of hunger this time. "I have a plan."

"That's what concerns me."