"You'll keep an eye out, won't you, while I change," asked Sage. One of the blankets tied between bare posts in a native changing screen. Bright island daylight streaming through cast a lissome silhouette of Sage abandoning her nightgown and testing a leg into a more rugged work of cloth than she'd ever had occasion to wear. Adventurer's clothes, resistant to the rigors of the road like a fine saddle.<br/><br/>Zoe was at once thrilled by Faelyn's news.<br/>"You've seen them? With them, was there a woman of chestnut curls, a mole, here, upon her lip?"<br/><br/>Sage stepped from the screen a new woman, ready to face the challenges ahead in breeches and tunic, boots and raincloak. She nodded her thanks to Aloisa, and avoided this line of conversation.<br/><br/>But Zoe had become distracted by the idea, and it was Michelle next to change.<br/>"Was there a fine-boned woman there, fair and eyes blue of robin's-egg, timid of disposition?" Zoe asked.<br/>An island breeze buffet into the mud hollow where the docks erected, and made the curtain dance while still Michelle was half uncovered. She gave a shriek, and Zoe caught the blanket by whipping tail to hold steady.<br/><br/>There were thankfully few to see it. The busy traffic of crewmen delivering cargo to the waiting wagons had dispersed, like peasants before the royal procession. Deliberate, solemn, Doctor Rehner appeared at the gangplank. Behind her came a long pine box, bore by six brass handles by as many strong sailors. Filthy bilge-water dripped from its soaked bottom, and as it angled down the gangplank there was a thumping, a settling. It was a thumping which continued, erratic, between steeled pallbearers. What was contained within wanted nothing more than to spring forth. Doctor Rehner accompanied it to the final wagon, and leaden it loaded, sparing room for more.<br/><br/>"I do appreciate the wisdom in your caution," Zoe answered Corinne. "But I must know whether my dearest friends live. It will not be so very long, before we see one another again, so take heart."