As Finn grabbed his money-pouch, Amaeda began to gather up the herbs needed and sort through some of the mess the dog had caused. Nothing too bad, nothing was broken beyond slight repair at least. "It's part of why they're usually hidden," she said as she took the money from the counter. "It's not too bad, as long as we keep it between ourselves."

She'd been content to start cleaning up when he suddenly stopped and turned around. Her blood turned to ice. Had he figured out her stupid, on the spot lie? No, he couldn't have. Maybe he'd been playing with her all along and was now going for the kill. However, he asked instead about news on Thatch's disappearance. "I'm sorry, I don't. I'll try to keep asking around though, it's a small town and news spreads quickly through it."