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Evan put aside his hunger as he rushed across the lobby and stepped into the function room. The Michaeline priest ran his eye over the scene before him. On the far wall, a hearth burned with a moderate fire.

At the far end of the room was a display case resting on an oak platform, a foot and a half off the floor. The enclosure had a glass top and front panel. The other sides were made of pine.

Five dwarves were standing along the front of the case. Each dwarf wore a blue cloak with a hood and stared intently at the jewel inside the glass.

Facing the dwarves and standing behind the display stood a man and an elven woman. The man was attractive and tall; his blue eyes sparkled and his brown hair was neatly combed. Like Evan, he was clean-shaven. A black woolen cloak and black leather boots accented his grey shirt and trousers. Off his belt hung a coiled whip. The image of a lyre was clearly visible on his left breast. Evan recognized the symbol; it was the patch worn by members of the College of Bardic Lore.

The elf was pretty and slim with long dark hair and bright green eyes, features common among elves. She wore a beige blouse, olive trousers, and black boots. Strapped to her belt hung a dagger with a pearl embedded in the hilt and sheathed in a burgundy leather case.

"Bah!" said one of the dwarves as Evan drew near. "It's all an act. Let's go. We have better things to do with our time." The other dwarves nodded in agreement and together strode out of the function room in single file.

Evan watched them go. Turning back to the bard and the elf he said, "They are right, of course. This can't be a real Gem of Elvenkind."

"You doubt my uncle's word too?" said the elf.

"Your uncle..." said Evan slowly before recognition came to him. "You're Tindolen's niece Iriel?"

The woman's eyes widen and she reached out with her right hand to the bard. "James," she said, "he knows my name!" Speaking to Evan, she said, "You know my name. But we've never met before. Are you a mage reading my mind?"

James saw the red Michaeline cross on Evan's shirt and his priest's collar. "He's not a mage; he's a priest, a Michaeline priest." He unfurled his whip and said to Evan. "But even so mind reading isn't appreciated by me or my girlfriend."

"Relax," said Evan. "I'm not a mind reader, just a good friend of Tindolen. I have spent many hours at Tindolen's jewelry shop as a boy. I used to listen to Tindolen talk for hours about his family back in Oldarmare, and most especially, his niece. He's quite proud of you, you know."

James and Iriel relaxed; the bard lowered his whip and said, "Sorry."

Iriel shrugged. "Perhaps, but he has many nieces and nephews. I'm just glad he sent for me a few months ago so I could see the world. I love living and working with humans. I'm learning so much! And Uncle has been so helpful. He got me this job working for Mr. Jones as a serving girl."

"You mean until Mayor Bigsbee decided to celebrate St. Sebastian's week," noted Evan.

"Yes, until Mayor Bigsbee wanted to celebrate St.