Alzeggra nodded in agreement with Perrin's suggestions.  "If anything, I'm more concerned about the Harmonium's interference in the case," she said.  "They're too unimaginative and orthodox to see all the angles."<br/><br/>Factol Darkflame's sudden presence felt out of place in the now dark room; the faint light of the chamber magnified into a riot of colors through her garb, bathing the floor and the body in shades, blue, green, yellow, and a myriad subtle shades thereof.  It was a strange sort of beauty, one which can be found amid the unlikeliest and least appropriate situations: not too many others could pull such a feat off without appearing jarring or callous.<br/><br/>"Good work," she said to Alzeggra and Peregrine.  Her rings felt cool to the touch as her fingers gently braced Alzeggra's chin, and the drow could not help but blush as their eyes met briefly.<br/><br/>"Uuumm, thank you," Alzeggra said, her face turning away slightly.  "Unfortunately, my spells were unable to find out much except the magic used in the murder.  Nilassa, the victim, was in the dark as to the killer's identity."  Darkflame's hand was still upon her, but she didn't brush it off; it felt soothing, reassuring, and took her mind away from the matter at hand, if only briefly.<br/><br/>"We have some controversial guests staying with us at the Festhall.  Their safety is paramount."<br/><br/>Alzeggra's thoughts wandered as to who she could mean.<em>The figures in cloaks?  No, they were in a hurry to leave.  I do recall hearing about a wild bacchanal yesterday between the Signers and Sensates.  I would assume that they cleared out by now.</em>She decided to refrain from asking until later, as it was clear she was presently focusing upon Nilassa.  She could detect a loss of composure in her eyes, if only for a second, as they fluttered at the dead woman.<br/><br/>It was enough to make her sad as well.  Alzeggra had lived and died many times in the realm of Ysgard, each snuff of life an important lesson of failure.  The experiences made her relatively jaded to the sensation of death, enough that the only fear which remained was but of her everlasting soul.  But many did not have such a privilege.  In another plane, another life, she could have met the same fate as Nilassa, her spirit now a petitioner in a distant realm, her memories soon to be gone like so many of the others.<br/><br/>She let out a sorrowful sigh as she contemplated this eventual finality.  Darkflame's hand departed from her face, and Alzeggra regretted not savoring it for a little while longer.<em>There can be time for that later,</em>she thought.<em>If later ever comes.</em>It was now time to follow Darkflame back to discuss the dreadful events again and again.<br/><br/><br/>"Soooo… outthought by the dead, huh?"<br/><br/>Alzeggra looked over to Perrin.  It was obvious that the naga was trying to get under her skin, but she was not so prideful to take it personally.  In retrospect, she should have given more thought to her two questions.<br/><br/>"I figured I'd start with the basics," she replied.  "But that didn't work out well.  Tomorrow I'll have another casting ready, and hopefully we'll make more progress."