* 26 * 7/14/12

Khelgar made his way back to the inn, his mind still preoccupied with what he just witnessed. Despite his distraction, he knew the way back by heart, because after all, the inn did double as a tavern, and Khelgar was Khelgar.

"I've never seen them flirt so openly like that," he overheard Elanee mention just as he walked in. "Before I thought it was one-sided, but maybe something really is going on between them," she mused with a smile.

"You seem quite delighted at that possibility, Elanee," Sand stated flatly while taking a sip. He was pacing himself now since Queen Lightweight was out of the room, and he didn't want to take her place on the alcohol intolerance scale again.

"I don't know, maybe," the druid shrugged faintly, though her expression was coy.

"They're cute in their denial," Neeshka oozed, daydreaming about how it'd be like if the two were together, her tail flicking to and fro.

Khelgar kept his mouth shut, choosing only to reclaim his seat.

But he knew he couldn't remain silent for long.

"Was Lily okay, or did she trip and fall in a ditch?" Qara asked with a tinge of humor.

"She was okay," the dwarf returned simply, nodding a few times for emphasis but not taking his eyes off the ground.

Grobnar piped up. "Oh, that's a relief! I was rather worried!" He appeared a lot more relaxed, reclining more in his seat. His posture imitated that of a classy gentleman, but he was still drinking from a glass of orange juice. Neeshka couldn't help but snort.

Khelgar breathed a sigh in amelioration and resumed his drinking, but this was again short-lived.

After awhile: "Where was she?" continued Qara.

The dwarf spit out his ale. Everyone gaped at him, with Neeshka bursting out in laughter again.

"S-she...was in the Temple of Tyr," he answered, then, hastily: "What a good lass!" He laughed nervously, trying to play it off as unimportant.

"Oh, so she must've found Casavir. That's a sensible place for him to go," Elanee reasoned.

"Especially considering what he must've been thinking about after all that attention she gave him," Ammon said with a hearty laugh. Most of the others joined the old crone, but Khelgar shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

It's not my business to tell, he argued with himself. But they're dead-on.

Just then, they all heard the door to the entrance of the inn slam. They whirled in its direction.

And found that Bishop's door, previously closed, was wide open.