"Friends, who were going their separate ways. Mostly home," Bel said. "Sensible people don't live a life of itinerant blades for hire for long. I was going to help a friend search for her missing brother." At least partially because Bel had never met someone less suited for leaving her home village and dealing with people than that particular friend. Sylvia's utter lack of guile was sometimes useful, but most often made Bel assume something terrible would happen to her. "I'm told time does not pass while we are here. We've had one person who could confirm that, having left and returned. Neither of his own will. So whatever business you had will be stalled."

He shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe you'll learn something useful here. Depending on what you were doing." It was an invitation to talk more. Bel is nosy.