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Mercy chuckled at his comment and looked around for a moment to get her bearing staightened, they would need to find a sign or light of sorts, "Well as long as we are companions looking for a roost might as well have an interesting converstation." She started to walk off toward the center of the district, there would some place around there as it was one of the busiest points there. She was rather pleasant, this was uncommon, but not rare as she would be happy when she was relaxed and not bothered with meaningless acts. "So Kasar,Sir, what is it, may I ask, that you do? For I am sure that you are not a one of those rich licks from the other disricts."

Grondax shrugged and removed his hand, "Either way in the world of deals there is no one more worthy of trust. I won't pretend to be a good person, not in this," Grondax mused on the word, "Hell as you aptly called it, but I will keep our deal sacred unless you break it."

"The ingredients for the dye will be here in the morning," Grondax made his way to the door and turned back, "I have business with the man outside. He has happened to put his trust in my abilities and I plan to reward him as such. Eventually you'll realize that I take care of my own."

Grondax opened the door, "You will find none of my men about until morning, but of course at that time they will have a pawn shop to set up here. They'll be able to help you with any trivial chores you ask of them, but unless you ask you won't exist as far as they are concerned. You have my word as part of our agreement that they won't so much as be sent to fetch you. I will do all things personally, and the only time you'll have to even interact with them will be in this shop for deliveries and supplies."

Grondax shrugged, "but of course that doesn't mean they will have orders to go out of their way to avoid you. Don't think overly much of it if one passes you in the street, or happens to have business in a place you were headed to."

"Good day to you, I look forward to those dyes." Grondax bowed his head slightly and left the building. He would make a note to include the dye ingredients with everything else heading to the pawn shop in the morning.

Larry followed after her, unfastening the oilskin cloak and shaking it a few times. He folded it over the indicated seat sloppily, sitting down with a whuffing noise. "Yes, I can understand that. I'm Lawrence Gilman. Awful name, Lawrence. Very stuffy. I much prefer Larry. My mother calls me Lawrence. And my brothers and sisters, when they're trying to irritate me. So it's very nice to meet you, Annie."

Larry looked at Severin thoughtfully.

"He's retired. I don't know much about it, but you can't very well expect me to say he's a bad doctor even if he was one. He's a good man, I think, and that's what's important. I threw a rock at him and he still decided to meet me in the middle of a monsoon. Just to help me do a job. I suspect he's a good doctor. He's the one who spotted those two and suggested we should help, you know. I just met him this morning ...And we'll try to keep the party down for your boss."

Larry lifted the now unconcealed baby from his makeshift papoose, settling her a comfortably into his lap. His voice was suddenly higher-pitched, and he babbled to her seriously.

"And you're just waking up, yes you are. You're sleepy. Yes. What a beautiful girl. Who's a beautiful girl? We've had a bit of drama, so our trip is sidetracked, but some girls have gotten into some trouble and it's only right we help them. Doc's on the case. Yes he is. Do you like all this rain? Yes you do! Who's a beautiful girl?"

Annie nodded, understanding. She still got 'Annabelle Lewis' yelled at her at least once a week, for reasons she couldn't begin to name. It was nice to have someone understand how aggitating having a long first name was, though she secretly thought Lawrence was better than Annabelle any day. She stretched out her leg with a slightly muffled moaning sound: the rain had made her knee unnaturally stiff, and it hurt to move it. She knew better than to let it sit, though. People lost their limbs by not working with them after an injury.

"Well, good men very often make good doctors. Though I've known some good people who did not make good doctors, but I suppose you must have your heart in your work, and the knowledge to put it there." Annie shook her head. "I imagine he must be kind, if he agreed to help you with your job. Are you in shop-keeping?" He looked like the type. Many of the shop owners around nowadays had neat, clean clothes, as he did, and the hairstyle was similar.

Annie was pulled from her reverie when the man's voice shot up a few octaves and began babbling without stop. When she located the cause, a small, blue-haired girl, she stiffened. She had never been around babies before! Well, unless you counted her younger sister, but she was a stillborn, not alive. And...well...it made her nervous. What if she did something to upset the child? Then, certainly, the babe would scream. Babies always screamed. She saw them enough on the street to know that. And she also knew that if the babe screamed, her boss would awaken.

Annie decided to say something. "Ah...is she yours? I...well, if she gets upset and cries..." Her voice faltered for a bit. "Well, if my boss wakes up, you're going to have to buy a lot of bread to make up for it." She tried to make it as joking as possible, but only a blind man wouldn't be able to see the glimmers of fear begin to race behind her brown eyes.

As Valerius caught up, Grondax handed him the umbrella, “I give it to you Lieutenant; you are invaluable.” Grondax turned his head back and smiled, “I couldn’t have done it better myself. I am indeed indebted to you for your performance.”

As they reached the crossroads Grondax made up his mind. He stopped. “We have reached a crossroads my dear Valerius between the Harbor and my abode. I realize after this adventure you deserve a break; however, I have something I would like to show you. If you are willing it will only take a minute. I will spare a man to take you back to the harbor afterwards, and you can keep the umbrella.” Grondax had noticed how the man seemed to enjoy the umbrella. It would be a small token of gratitude if the man was willing to hear Grondax out. More than worth it in the Barons mind.

"Very well then right this way," Grondax entered the manor district of Marsalle Estates, "Do not worry about the umbrella; I have two more in case anything were to happen to that one. I can only use one at a time, so better for them not to go to waste." Grondax tossed the umbrella back to the man. "I'm sure you will find good use in it."

They walked towards one of the smaller houses with only two guards out in front. "You clearly have skill as a soldier. I appreciate that. If I may ask why did you decide to enter the ranks of the military?"

The Baron nodded to the two men who opened the gates for them to enter. They then made their way inside the building. There were several statues inside the foyer, as well as a split staircase to the upstairs over which hung a chandelier. The carpet was a lush red. Pictures on the wall depicted lovely scenes. The theme of roses was not out of place in this house as even the knobs, upon closer inspection, were made in the shape of roses.

Annie continued to exercise her leg, thinking over what the man had said. So, he was like some kind of...lost and found executive, then. She didn't really know what that would indicate, though she supposed his work would have something to do with mysteries and other such things. She had heard many stories about people like that in her youth, and Larry seemed to fit the description. "I see. A self-inflicted hobby. Interesting." She nodded and slapped her knee, wanting to see if she could get a reaction. It was a feeble one, but at least it happened.

Annie's attention was quickly diverted to the small girl, whose blue hair and horns certainly were attention-grabbing. Annie decided not to remark on these, however, and simply raised a hand tentatively. "May I?" She asked, watching the child with curious eyes. "I've never seen a baby this close, only my sister, but she was stillborn." She said the last bit without remorse, after all, it had happened a long, long time ago.

"Then she's no relation?" She asked. "Did you find her? That's very kind of you. I probably wouldn't have taken a child if I found her on the street." Her mouth flickered with what could have been taken as a smile or a grimace: she wasn't proud of her character, but what could she do? The nicest thing she did all day was to let these people into the shop, what with her boss and all. At least I can hope he had a lot to drink last night, she reflected, sarcasm dripping from her thoughts. Maybe he won't awake.

Valerius could find nothing to object to in that. Catching the umbrella deftly, the lieutenant placed it on his shoulder and, permitting himself a moment of glee, twirled it.

Then, he remembered that he was in the presence of a general and needed to concentrate on the matter at hand. His surroundings told him that they had just entered the rich district. Valerius had had to pass around this place once before on his journey from the barracks to the harbor and had been rather effectively kept out by the large walls, so he'd never gotten a chance to see inside the houses. Having become accustomed to living with only essential things, Valerius felt out of place in the splendor of the manor.

Naturally, generals and high-ranking officers had better bunks and rooms than the rest of army. The carpet here was probably worth more than everything Valerius owned. If this was the general's residence, it was no wonder that he could afford to give away camouflage on a whim.

The question brought Valerius back from his reverie. "Thank you, sir. My grandfather actually inspired me to give it shot. He was a brigadier general and died before I was born. My family always used to tell me all these stories about what he'd done..."

He sighed, and realized he was getting off-track. "Anyway, sir, I found that I had considerable skill in code-breaking and tactical formats. Sword-play and defensive skills required work, but they came with time. I enlisted for the thrill, to prevent events like this--" he jerked his head in the direction of Sehket's tower, "--from happening, and to carry on the family name."