* 7 * 4/8/12

Crossroad Keep was quiet, almost silent. Sand and Zhjaeve were still in the library with Aldanon, but the rest had gathered in the main hall to eat.

Khelgar's sudden, booming voice startled the others: "Alright, it's time we get out of here, my muscles are aching for a good stretchin'."

Qara spoke up next, "The dwarf's right; we haven't seen action in days."

Grobnar looked amiss. "What? We have somewhere to go? Did I miss the assigning of a quest? Well, I suppose that wouldn't be unexpected since I've been holed up like a hermit in the basement for a fortnight. Why, I'd actually contend that it'd be more of a surprise if I did hear what was going on!"

Qara stood up. "Alright, we're definitely out of here. You can tell it's a lazy day when Grobnar is able to finish his prattling with no interruptions."

Lily considered. "Well, we've just been waiting on Aldanon to finish...whatever that lovable old bat plans on doing to locate the King of Shadows. I suppose we could go find some more ore veins or something."

Bishop rolled his eyes. "Have we really been reduced to doing a peasant's work? Count me out," he proclaimed harshly, disgust thickening his voice.

"Has anyone seen Casavir lately?" Elanee interrupted, making heads turn.

The ranger snorted, "No. Is there a problem with that?" His outburst was ignored.

"I haven't seen him since a day or so ago. I just assumed he was holed up in the room with you," Ammon added, facing Lily.

Bishop laughed. "If he had been, we would know; she would be sporting a halo and wings and bending over for Tyr by now."

"Bishop, would you shut up?!" Lily exploded.

"Why? Oh, I see. The truth embarrasses you, doesn't it?" He smirked.

She marched over to him and gave him a hard slap across the face. He barely recoiled, but was nonetheless shocked, looking straight back at her. When he fully regained his composure, he was grinning, eyes locked on hers, only a mere foot away. Lily huffed.

Silence emanated through the room for a few moments, only to be broken once again by Khelgar trying to draw attention away from the two:

"Where's the old lad gotten off to, do you think? It'll be strange not having him beside me at the front ranks."

After cooling down a little, Lily chimed in, "He was helping some girls rid their village of undead stalkers. It was a solo quest, I guess, because they only enlisted his help." She stopped and thought. "Come to think of it, that was probably a bad idea, letting him go alone."

Khelgar looked puzzled. "Why? He can take care of himself from what I've seen, and I don't think some measly undead warriors could give a paladin too much trouble."

"It's not that. It's that the ones who wanted his help were basically his raving fan girls. It was kind of funny to watch. I wouldn't be surprised if they kidnapped him, given the crazed look on their faces when they saw him."

"Casavir has fan girls?" Neeshka almost squealed in delight. "I wish I could've seen that!"

The conversation seemed due for a snarky comment by Bishop, but none was heard. He was staring at Lily with an odd look in his eye, one no one in the room had ever seen from him. Just as they began to notice, though, the look disappeared, and his mouth shifted back to a conniving and challenging grin.

But no matter. Elanee decided, "Someone should probably look for him instead of hunting for resources. Pentin will be okay for ore for now."

"In that case, I'll pass and catch the next trip out. I'm not really in the mood for babysitting a grown man," proclaimed Qara, sitting back down and poking at her food.

"Heck, even if this wasn't about Cas, I'd still take any excuse to get my blood pumpin' instead of sittin' around here wasting away!" Khelgar enthused. He was beginning to get pretty stir crazy.

Neeshka agreed. "I'll totally go. Wherever we're going, there might be some good loot, and I'm dying to get out of here for awhile anyway. My skills are getting rusty."

"No need to bother Zhjaeve and Sand for this mission with a full party, then, I suppose. I'll be with them, trying to decipher what Aldanon throws their way. I speak Old Man." Ammon winked. When the rest of the group merely guffawed, he shook his head with a frown and walked off to the library.

"I will say that I'm out as well. I was curious where he's gone, but I'd rather stay and talk with Kistrel. He seems like he'd have some interesting stories," Elanee mused.

"He's also a gigantic spider." Bishop had returned from his silence. "Anyway, I guess I could use the exercise. I agree, I feel cooped up being in here all the time. A real man's domain is outside depressing stone walls."

"What about you, Grobnar?" Lily asked.

Grobnar shook his head while talking. "I'm sorry, but I don't feel comfortable leaving the Construct yet. I think I'd also like a little time to myself to think...some recent events over."

Lily nodded. "I understand. The four of us, then. We won't have as much up-front support, but I trust we'll be strong enough anyway."

"You know, I do know how to use other weapons besides bows," came Bishop's sarcastic reply.

"That'd be nice," Lily bit contemplatively.

Bishop gave her a look. "Give me Lorne's old falchion," he commanded. Khelgar handed it over from his holding bag.

"The village was southwest, not too far from Westcliff," explained their Leader while casting Haste on the entire party.

"Woohoo! Alright then, guys, we're off to hunt for some treasure!" Neeshka exclaimed with excitement.

"And a paladin," Lily reminded her with a smile.