“And for today’s agenda--” Roland clapped his hands together but a dim blue light glowed from Craig’s bag, along with a slight vibrating noise.

“Ah, apologies must be my nephew and niece. They are adventurers you see, often asking me for advice--”

Lawrence observed with interest the Stone of Sending which Craig gingerly took out of his pouch and was wrapped in layers of cloth.

“Ah, yes, Uncle Craig here, what is it?” Craig asked cheerfully, his smile bright on his face.

“Let’s just wait for uh…” Jacob said, gesturing at Craig and everyone nodded. However, Craig sat up for a moment, as he listened to the details of the message.

“Are Sending Stones rare here?” Lawrence asked and Roland nodded.

“Craig here had two, one he gave to his adventuring nephew and niece. You see, he took care of them for quite a while-”

“Okay, Kessler is right, Kunivia, you get to a safe place. The town right? I’ll be right over.” Craig said, standing up and grabbing his personal effects, surprising everyone present.

"Is everything okay?" Roland asked and Craig shook his head.

"They accepted a quest to explore some oddities at a cave but now they're being hunted by rotting corpses... I... I need to go." Craig said and Lawrence stood up, holding back his shoulder.

"Is it far from here?" Lawrence asked and Craig nodded. Singing Gardens was about a week's travel non-stop. They had to travel to Ludium, then another 3 days towards the border.

"Singing Gardens is one of those frontier towns that pops up once in awhile hoping to discover a mine in order to become a more permanent territory granted recognition by a noble or by the King. There should be an Adventurers' Guild there for sure. We can get more help there." Roland suggested and Craig nodded.

"Apologies, Lawrence, I need to go help my kin," Craig said and Lawrence nodded.

"Let's go then."

A silence falls over the room and Roland laughs, sitting down and pouring himself a glass of wine.

"Oh well, the agenda can wait. You can take the Honourable Carstein with you. After all, he should see more of the world before joining us in a game of thrones."

"We can talk on the way there. It is urgent, yes?" Lawrence said, walking to his room to put on his entire suit of armour as well as his sword. He slung his shield behind his back and fastened his sword to his waist. Roland had taken the liberty to requisition two horses from the Owl Cavalry.

"How about taking a few bodyguards with you?" Jacob asked and before Craig or Lawrence could reply, Roland shot down the idea.

"I apologize for sounding harsh, but sending heavy cavalry, footmen or skilled archers thundering through the domain of other lords is a huge way to get attention," Roland interjected and Lawrence couldn't help but agree. They have been trying their damnest to change the reputation of Tears and Black Bay to that of an up and coming trading city with generous grants and even more generous terms of business.

However, if any of them led a good fifty men thundering towards a frontier town and anything untoward happen to the town, caused or not caused by them, Lawrence and his men will be blamed.

"I wish all of you good fortune in the battles to come." Roland smiled as Craig and Lawrence mounted their horses. Lawrence waved and as he and his friend slowly rode out of the town, many of the townsfolks waved at them as well, with some shouting, "Safe passage, Honourable Carstein!"

As Lawrence waved back, he thought to himself, "Ah, this is indeed the kampung spirit."