Once Rose pointed out the hidden body, Aria gawked. And when her compatriot noted the arrows, it triggered her recollection of the ones Garland had fired at her, and she recognized them too. "The downside of this being such a good-natured, and not particularly caring-for-law, plane," Aria nodded grimly, "...a relative lack of security, guards, law enforcement and such, for 'tis little inclination or need. I remember that fellow, an estate guard, when I interviewed here."<br/><br/>They found the doors to indeed be locked; many people in Brightwater didn't, for the aforementioned reasons, but Aria wasn't surprised that someone who bothered with bodyguards for public events  (or her residence) would do so. She mentioned this, but then had a new thought midsentence and added, "Hmm, but the doors were unlocked when I interviewed. I remember because I made a comment about it, and how if she were bothering with bodyguards and preparations like recall spells, it seemed she ought."<br/><br/>She mentioned with a bit of both a wry smile and a blush that she had instruction and practice with lockpicking, though it was hard to tell just by a glance how hard a given lock would be or how long it would take, and the act sometimes made sounds that someone inside like Garland might hear - or they might be seen while at it, of course, either by enemies inside or by neighbors who'd get the wrong idea. Rose's idea to 'blink' right through the door seemed much faster and simpler to her, and as a bonus, it was a useful state to be in if they suddenly found trouble waiting on the other side.<br/><br/>Phasing through the grand doors, they found a chamber which, though opulent, was far from the formality usually associated with luxury. The light came in dim, even romantic, rosy and golden shades from domed stain glass above. Many rugs and potted plants dotted the hemispherical chamber. Little magically recirculating waterfalls trickled down pillars or sections of wall. Nude statues of men, elves, and celestials seemed to dance right off their pedestals. Plush reclining chaise-lounges slung around an open circular dais in the center, probably a spot for dancers and minstrels to perform at parties.<br/><br/>The chamber was like a mixture of foyer, lounge, and indoor conservatory. Open archways with no doors raced here and there, leading to other rooms and probably to those catwalks between the other four parts of the mansion.<br/><br/>Like the outside, the place was still and quiet, save for the babbling of water. Faintly, elsewhere in the mansion, Rose's acute feline hearing would pick out a crash, like that of a piece of furniture, followed by a flurry of papery sounds, and deep- and dry-voiced whooping laughter.