Separate and Distract...

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​Soon Aralt realized that he had made a mistake and came on too strong.  “They aren’t going to say anything until I leave,” he thought.  “Now what do I do?”  It was then that he saw Meen by the refreshment table trying to put a few extra cookies into her pocket.  “That’s the answer,” Aralt realized and decided to take a new approach.

​Turning around he started addressing the entire group again. "It has been a very long time since I have seen the village and met with the people," Aral said trying to gentle his voice.   Looking at the Dowager, since he realized that most of the council deferred to her, he continued, "Is there someone who could show me around?"  Both surprise and relief filled Griselda with this request.  "This would be a perfect way to get the Herald out of the council chamber so that I can talk with the others," she thought to herself.  "But who should go with him?"  She would have had Fiddlefaddle as her man servant do it but he was back at the mansion and she did not want to wait for him to arrive if she summoned him.  Drat was with Dree and most of the other minions were off or busy.  It was Aralt who solved the problem by asking if the pyksee was available.  Not having a better choice, and with Ffion’s approval, soon Aralt and Meen were walking down the streets of the village.

​“She’s got a lot of bounce,” thought the Herald as Meen leaped more than walked everywhere.  “And she doesn’t appear to be too sharp.  Perfect!”  After visiting a few of the shops and making sure that nobody from the council chambers was following them, Aralt decided it was time to spring his trap.  “Pyksee.  I am sorry, I meant to say Meen, what do you do for fun around here?” he asked.

“I like to leap and bounce over stuff.  Me and some of my friends will go out and jump over the giant mushrooms sometimes and other times we play games like tag or leap the frog."​

​“We haven’t been able to play leap the frog lately because my toad friend can’t hop until his leg heals.  Do you want to play?” Meen asked.

​“Not at the moment but I might.  I was thinking about a game I used to play as a child but it would take more than just a couple of us and we need someone taller than you or me,” answered Aralt.  “As a matter of fact, they would have to be really tall.  How about your friend Hungry?”

​Not realizing what Aralt was doing, Meen answered maybe a little more truthfully than she should have… “You mean Dree? I don’t think he can, the council has him staying in his room in the caves under the Baron’s mansion.”  Before the pyksee realized the importance of what she had said, Aralt quickly asked Meen to pick up something to drink for him at the tea shop he had visited earlier that day.  As she bounded off, the Herald watched her go and smiled.  “Now to get rid of her while I check out the caves,” he said to himself.