The sun was setting. The day was over, and for Kaeev, the work was over, too.
Well, almost. A quick check felt to be in order before he retired for the night. He dropped off some things at his own hut before continuing on to the Ishnu Lodge.
When he opened the door, the dust was the first thing to greet him, and he returned the courtesy with a loud sneeze. “Mmnnuuh,” he said as he was still recovering from the sneeze, when something occurred to him: the dust of this room usually didn’t hang in the air this thick.
Unless…
“Oh, no,” he said, fearing a worse possible explanation before stepping out, shutting the door and running back to his own home to fetch something. He returned promptly with an enchanted lantern, which he lit as he stepped back into the room. He looked around quickly, letting the lantern float around to give adequate lighting where he needed it, but found nothing to be that disturbed. Some things may have been moved, but everything seemed at least near where he last left it, with nothing appearing to be missing. But he could see markings in the dust, evidence enough for him that someone had been here recently.
He came out, the lantern following him as he rested his hands on his sides and looked around, looking mildly puzzled. He then went and checked the stores in their vault. It too was relatively undisturbed since his recent cleaning. This seemed even more puzzling to him, though it did seem to rule out the notion of a burglary having taken place.
The only other plausible answer was that another Ishnu had been here. But who? There wasn’t any evidence to suggest anyone specific, he thought. No lost bolt or washer on the floor from one of Brother Gohir’s mechanical contraptions. Maybe Brother Mishkwaki had returned? Sister Red Earth didn’t seem to hint in her letters that she’d be dropping by. Her sister, on the other hand…
Kaeev closed his eyes tight as he tensed briefly, expecting that thought to be the cue for a surprise tackle from Kickfeather. But no tackle came.
This was only slightly relieving. Whoever it was, friend or thief, the shaman expected they would be back.
And he’d be waiting for them.
((I'll be around later tonight, if you want to continue this in-game. << ))
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