Welcome to Gaia! ::

"He may be with Mica, but then again he may have been assigned a cell for his own use. I suggested he be roomed with Andra. But Mica over ruled me saying he would be keeping a different schedule than my aide though he did not explain why." she says leading the way into the courtyard and through a side door near her clinic.

Kero nods as he follows wondering why the piper would be keeping odd hours, when a vaguely familiar musical trill caught his ear. Someone is playing one of Tam's older tunes and quite well at that. He tells Shar he'll join her in a moment and follows the sound to a shadowy alcove.

The music stops before he enters and a familiar voice calls out. "Heyla, ... my how you have grown..."

As his eyes adjust he sees the slender form of a neko, sitting cross legged on the bench, it's tail flicking side to side as if to keep time to the music. The robes are new. The last time he saw this particular feline, he was in the accompaniment of his sister and he had been dressed in a motley collection of rags and ribbons.

Corby shrugs. "Ye get what ye get. Can I help it everyone thinks I'm a boy. Ever since Crystal died, I've been living at the temple, kind of on charity... they gave me a home and well... I've grown to like it... the whole belief system and all. Where's the prodigal bard anyway. The Dawnlord said he's traveling."

Corby's face grows exceedingly grim. "Some crazed idiots attacked us five years ago after one of our gigs. They seemed to believe that because she wasn't human they could do what they wanted to do with her. Of course I objected, but five to two is not the best of odds and our instruments were cased. I know some bardic spells, but I've never been good singing in a fight... and they were all far bigger than I...

" I woke up in a pool of blood only half of which was mine. They had gutted her... probably because she gave them a piece of her mind. I'll never know. She was still alive but she died in my arms. I... I kind of lost it and tried to follow them, but my injuries were worse than I thought... I passed out and a priest of the Morning Star found me. He got me to help and went back to bury Chrys. Then, I don't know why, he came back to take care of me. He stayed until I was healed and since I had no where else to go... I went with him. I've been with the temple ever since... as his acolyte... didn't even know you and Talesian were anywhere near until one day I over heard someone talking about this pipe playing cat at one of the regional temples... I had to see if it was you... because if you were here, he had to be near."

Corby shakes his head no. "Too dark... even for these kitty cat eyes," he says pointing to his slitted green orbs. "Besides... the Dawn Lord wouldn't approve. Like I said... I'm here now... may only be an acolyte... but it fits me."

**did he time travel?**

**five years is an awful long time for a scent to linger... hate to say it, I don't think he can do it... but there may be another way.... trouble is, would Talesian or Corby approve of it?**

He finds the trail that the twins had taken from the village, little changed except for more undergrowth than Corby remembered. Seems no one uses it much these days. Eventually he comes to an area he thinks corresponds to the one in the Neko's memories.

**northern spirit sighs... seems a certain void mage hasn't changed after all... oh well.... Tam will just have to deal...**

He doesn't find anyone in town who seems to remember the night with any degree of accuracy, though he does find some hints that may or may not pertain to the matter. Trouble is, none of these people have any guilt of that matter brewing in their hearts. Some know of it, but vaguely, more of a tale heard in the tavern or across the back fence. Most of what he hears is a wash of everyday troubles... petty grievances... nit picking mostly... typical village fare... this neighbor grumbling about that one. Ye really can't expect the average individual to dwell on something that may not have involved them for more than a few days at a time.