The headwoman fills the hall's open doorway, one hand hovering beside the iron-banded ledger chest. Behind Azamaria, Iven keeps their injured side guarded as villagers cluster around the well.
The Headwoman
Inside, both of you. Quickly. If the cord-marked hunters are searching this village, I would rather know what they seek before they reach my door.
She draws the ledger chest open, revealing pages crowded with names, road marks, and dates. A fresh entry has been cut from the binding, leaving a ragged strip of parchment behind.
Iven Marr
That is the mark. The ash-gray cord's knot, beside a route toward the high woods.
The Headwoman
It was written three nights ago. A lone traveler matching your brother's description took the high woods track. The entry was removed this morning.
From the well, a villager steps back and quietly drops a coil of ash-gray cord into the dust. Every watching face turns toward it, and the route to Azamaria's brother becomes a trail already touched by the kidnappers' network.
✓ Quest Accepted
Get the headwoman to reveal the missing ledger entry
✓ Quest Accepted
Identify the villager aiding the kidnappers