Shiela gazes intently at Alejandro as he recounts the group’s activities, but does not react to any of it. She asks a few questions of clarification, first of Alejandro, then each of the assembly save one. Her eye falls briefly on Krangk and she opens her mouth to say something, but then stops, shaking her head and scowling. After a few seconds of silence, she purses her lips and pauses, then turns over her shoulder.
“Do you agree with all of that?” she murmurs.
A whispered response from her elbow is barely audible, and Sheila grimaces in obvious annoyance.
“Out loud, girl! I don’t care if they see you,” Shiela snaps. She flicks a wrist in a brief arcane gesture, and Natalya appears behind her left shoulder. Natalya appears better rested, groomed and nourished since you last saw her, but has obviously been crying.
“Well?” Shiela again demands, not even looking at Natalya.
“As far as I know, that’s all true.” Natalya says softly. She glances up to quizzical faces, and sees mixtures of concern, pity and loathing. Her expression changes instantaneously, and she deftly wipes away tears and flashes a brilliant smile.
“Sadly, it seems you let the leader get away," she says. "I’m afraid I’ll be keeping my boots. But at least Ayala won’t be pushing the rest of the girls around after me. Her reputation is mud.” She grins triumphantly.
“Hmm…” Shiela nods in agreement. “Yes, so it is. But that doesn’t mean she is incapable of mischief. A lycanthrope in the city can always find friends… or make them. You all must be on guard against Ayala in the future.” She stops, noting an accusing look in the eye of several adventurers. She furrows her brow quizzically for a moment, then nods.
“Oh yes. Take no offense at my having Natalya here. I wanted her to hear this for her own benefit as much as for mine. And I didn’t want the presence of a young lady to…. Flavor the retelling of your adventures.” She smirks at Alejandro. “As if it needed more flavor.”
She rises to her feet and continues. “It seems you still have much to accomplish at the Crow. I suggest that you leave the treasures of Thassilonian make here while you return to your delve. It will give me an opportunity to study and catalog them. I may also be able to refer you to some merchants in town who will pay you for them.”
She stalks toward the door, then pauses and quickly turns back. “It seems that word of your activities is out, for good or for ill. Just make sure that your true purpose at the Crow is not known. You must find that Shard quickly… and the less competition you have for it, the better.”
She pulls a small leather bag from her waist. “I have let it be known in town that your presence at the Crow was simply to clean out a nest of thieves and collect bounties. Through a contact on the Watch, I have communicated to Leiutenant Kassedei that your failure to return prisoners was not simply bloodlust, but the fault of a lycanthrope who was imposing her will on the Tower Girls and driving them to resist against all reason. She consented to give a portion of the reward due for the capture of some of those you killed.” She tosses the bag at Uli.
“Be sure to share with your friends, Uli,” Shiela says with a smile. “I expect to see you all again soon. With news of the next Shard.”
