<b>Fishyard - Yartar Cart and Barge</b><br/><br/>Betty greeted Haliyra with genuine affection, but politely refused the offer of refreshment. It felt important to treat the meeting as purely business, rather than an opportunity for gossip. The redhead described what had occurred, as much to get things straight in her own mind than to inform the young thief. It seemed certain the Mistress would want the story first hand, but it did make the waiting less intolerable.<br/><br/>"A charming elf approached my stall," she began, once they had both taken their chairs, "at first I thought her just a simple, (though delightful),<i>fish</i>. But all through out conversation, her hands spelt out messages in some variation of the cant. So I wanted to ask the Mistress whether this elf was a sister or if I could treat her as just other, (rather toothsome), mark."<br/><br/>At the Guild Mistress' sudden appearance, Betty leapt to her feet and bowed gently in recognition. She knew Ms Coin was dangerous, but couldn't quite put her finger on what about the woman gave her that impression. No matter, the alchemist was certain that she was much better off keeping on the Guild's good side.<br/><br/>After the brief but otherwise enjoyable hug, Betty repeated her story, explaining once again that she felt it important to make sure Tathariel wasn't protected somehow and that she was effectively seeking the Guild's approval before taking any further action.<br/><br/>It came as an unwelcome surprise when Ms Coin began to talk off the recent abductions. Although that turned quickly to relief when she was offered the Guild's protection. Betty was, however, left wondering at just how much the wily Guild Mistress knew. When the conversation turned to alchemy, a lot of the tension seemed to fade, even though the questions were certainly loaded. But despite any trepidation she might feel, the chemist tried to make her answer as full as possible.<br/><br/>"It is a relatively simple matter to strengthen a potion meant to aid those who have difficulty sleeping to the point where it will induce slumber in even the most vigilant of individuals," Betty began, rapidly warming to the topic, "but to charm another's senses would be much less straight-forward. Much as my love philtres only enhance what is already present, such potions would perhaps, at best, disinhibit the drinker, in much the same way as alcohol. To confound someone's reason would require a powerful brew and some very rare ingredients. I fear magic would probably remain the more viable solution, although I seem to remember reading somewhere that elves and their kin are resistant to such enchantments."<br/><br/>This time, Betty didn't refuse the offer of refreshment, taking occasional scalding hot sips between overlong sentences, while being especially careful not to knock over the crockery with her erratic but enthusiastic explanatory gestures.