"Be calm Nimue." Maric said as he held his wife, trying to soothe her. "I do not believe that she was truly dead. When she came in last night, I thought that I noticed something strange about her aura. However, I merely dismissed it, thinking that it was just her troubled spirit deciding whether to stay or go on to the next world. Obviously, I was wrong, and this 'poison' we were led to believe she took, was instead a brew to create the illusion of death."<br/><br/>When he noticed that Samantha had arrived, Maric turned to her with Nimue's hand still in his. He appeared troubled, his brow furrowed in thought and his eyes clouded with worry.<br/><br/>"She must have, but not without help I think." The paladin answered while gesturing to the footprints. "It seems she had an accomplice to aid her. To what end, I do not know, but we mustn't act rashly Samantha. While I applaud your courage, I would advise against attempting to kill her. Taking another's life is no trivial matter, I assure you. It changes a person."<br/><br/>Letting go of Nimue's hand, Maric walked to the young girl and gently held her shoulders. The taller person looked down at her with caring yet worried eyes.<br/><br/>"Samantha, you are a good person. Your heart is pure, and your actions are always to help those you care for. I do not wish for you to go through something as serious as taking somebody's life, for I fear what would happen to you as a result. While I welcome you to aid us in apprehending that woman, and getting to the bottom of this, I beg of you to stay your rage."