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((Opening contributed by Elewyn Shaal))

A few hours’ time found Elewyn, Evan, and Bren sitting down in a small, but cozy room, connected to the workshop by a small, circular doorway. Introductions between the group were friendly, as Bren insisted that they both share in a cup of tea or coffee to get reacquainted. It has been several years since Evan left to join the legions of Baldur’s Gate, after all, yet when their drinks were finished, silence filled the room.

One would not consider Elewyn to be a good host. Instead of breaking the silence with a few words, she decided to take advantage of the chance to continue her reading; the sounds of flipping pages were all that could be heard in the small sitting room. This didn’t pose a problem with Evan since he was more than preoccupied by taking in all the oddities in the room.

As of late, one may consider that Elewyn and Bren had happened across a fair portion of money, for the speed of their research had near tripled. A large number of strange creations filled the workshop, all of which served some purpose but not all of which could be distinguished with an untrained eye. If Bren were to be asked, he would probably smile and say “fortune favors everyone at some time.” Elewyn would probably just shrug with a suppressed grin.

The truth lay in what Elewyn brought back after her first adventure… a book to be precise. Bound in adamantite and gold, the Book of Gud had little value in most of the known world, for what warrior would stoop low enough to set aside a sturdy blade or axe for the powerful book? Although no warrior purchased the tome, the scholars at Candlekeep found it quite interesting indeed.

Bren didn’t start any conversation… he just sat and watched the two with his two merry eyes; however, the shuffle of tiny feet caught his attention. Standing on a wooden table in the center of the room was a furry creature by the name of Rin and clenched in one of his tiny hands was a single, silver coin that the raccoon was busy trying to shine with his free paw. After a few wipes, he would tilt his head at his work, hoping to see his reflection, yet never seemed to achieve it. “Aw, bugger. This coin be tarnished I dare say. What worth be it if I cannot be seeing my own face a’smilin’ back at me? Rubbish! Rubbish I says!”

Elewyn smiled and shook her head. Bren grinned, but Evan looked at amazement at the raccoon. His first thoughts were that he was loosing his mind, yet as the raccoon kept speaking to himself with a very chittery voice, Evan just chuckled and kept his eyes on the animal.

Rin is most certainly a raccoon. Elewyn summoned him as a familiar soon after she traded the Book of Gud to the scholars at Candlekeep. Within a couple days after summoning, she got a crafty idea and set out to make a tiny scarf for Rin. This was no ordinary scarf, for as soon as she tied it around his neck, the raccoon spoke to her in the common tongue! His first words were, “’ey! You tied it too tight woman!”

After several minutes, Bren stood up. He gave the three a cheery nod and walked out of the room. The sound of a closing door a few seconds later told Elewyn that he had returned to his room.

Although the book that Elewyn was reading caught her interest, the fact that she had a guest in her home continued to gnaw at her mind like a bad memory. She looked up over her glasses at Evan, whom still had his eyes fixed on Rin, “Evan… how did you know that I was here at Candlekeep?”

Evan replied, eyes still on the raccoon, “Bren told me so.”

“Bren told you so? W-why would he do that? How would he know to tell you?”

Evan grinned, “Quite simple, really. We have been keeping close correspondence for several years. I tell him of the outside world, and he tells me of Candlekeep, his studies, many matters as such.”

Elewyn frowned slightly, “Regardless, that doesn’t answer my question. How would he know to tell you?”

Evan looks up from the raccoon and leans back in his seat. He draws out a small dagger from his belt and starts to pick at his fingernails with it, “Bren is my grandfather.” he said matter-of-factly.

Elewyn’s mouth dropped open in shock. Why was she never told? Perhaps it was because she never asked, but how would she know to ask? True, Bren isn’t the kind to tell another all about himself and about his family, regardless of his merry attitude towards life.

“Your… g-grandfather?” Elewyn adjusted her glasses in thought, her eyes widening with realization, “That must mean…”

Evan looked up from his dagger, his grin growing into a wide smile. He spoke as though he read Elewyn’s thoughts, “Aye… I was the one who told him about the fair at Baldur’s Gate, although it wasn’t my idea to get you involved.”

Elewyn was obviously still shocked, “But…”

“Truly, tis quite simple. I wrote to him that there was going to be a fair. He wrote me back, telling me that you were about to travel to Baldur’s Gate to visit your parents, and that he wanted me to enter you into the fair. I did so and had the invitation delivered to him. He wrote me later about how he gave you a sealed note with the invitation inside, but instructed you to not open it until you reached Baldur’s Gate.”

Elewyn sighed, “I see. I suppose I will have to overheat his tea next time to thank him. Still… I understand how you discovered that I am at Candlekeep, but why did you come?”

Evan’s smile quickly faded from his face, “I am here to make up for a mistake.”

“A mistake?”

“Aye. I received a letter from Bren when the fair started. He asked me to watch over you because he expected something to go wrong…. and apparently, something did. I was unable to attend the fair—my duties required me elsewhere.”

“I understand. Because you are here, does that mean that Bren expects another problem to occur?”

Evan shrugged, “Mayhap. Shall I go and ask him?”

Elewyn went back to her book, “If you wish. He should be in his room… the door on your immediate right when you first walk into the workshop from here.”