Flint chewed on his mustache as his thick black brows knit together, a sure sign of a slow smoldering anger building in the normally easygoing dwarf.  Well, easy going as far as dwarf standards went at least.<strong>  “Silver bolts?  That’s not good.  But that doesn’t surprise me if the Cabal is somehow involved.  Those vipers seem to know every dirty little secret.”</strong><br/><br/>He paused and blew out a deep breath before continuing,<strong>“Look Aunt Velma, I know I probably don’t have to tell you this, because you’re smarter than most people I know, but I’m going to say it anyways.  The cabal isn’t a group like my guild, or the mages, or even the defenders.  If they do have an internal structure, or leadership, no one knows who pulls the strings.  Certainly no one ever talks about it.  They’re more like a semi secret fraternity or what have you than a guild.  But there’s more than a few very popular and powerful people who openly wear the badges of that guild.  Just because someone from that guild was after you doesn’t mean it’s a conspiracy, and I’d be very careful about what you say in regard to them, you never know who might be a member.”</strong><br/><br/>He paused then and took a look around, making sure that there was no one near enough to be listening.  Certainly there were people going about their own business on the street, but no one seemed to be paying any attention to a dwarf and human talking outside of a bar.  So he continued,<strong>“As to this ‘rat lord’ I can’t say I have heard anything.  But if he or she is a member of the cabal, they are likely keeping themselves secret.  I can ask some of the members I trust and keep my inquiry quiet.  Or if you like I could even put out active feelers, make it seem like I need someone to do a job.  But that might tip your hand, let someone know that you’re onto them.  But if you do go into the sewers to look for this guy, make sure you go to the library at the academy first, they’ve got a guy there that’s been actively keeping track of the tunnels as they recover them.  Word is he’s got the most complete and up to date map of the underground network.  I doubt he’d part with it, but maybe he might let you copy it for a price?”</strong><br/><br/>Flint shrugged,<strong>“I dunno.  But I’ll have Tinka here first thing in the morning.  In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s here before sun up.  Just uh… don’t let her too close to your lab.  She gets a little handsy at times.”</strong><br/><br/>Flint stuck his hand out to Velma to shake her hand, ready to say goodbye unless she had anything else.<br/>