Then it hit me. "Oh, yeah, Dad, why don't we go to Granny Maera's house?" I suggested. She clearly said if we needed a place to stay we could go to hers. I thought to myself, she probably knew this would happen. Tsk.

"Yeah, that's right!" Father looked hopeful. "Problem now is how to get there."

Just then, Astraya, who had been mumbling random words, said the obvious over Father's shoulder. "Ask around," she slurred, adding more soft nonsense.

"Yes, baby girl, good idea. Let's ask around," Father said.

"So how are we going to do it, Dad?" I asked.

"Hmmm, I guess you mean how we could best utilize our numbers?" he replied.

"Yeah, Dad," I added.

"Okay then. Best approach is to split up in twos, since I'm already carrying your sister."

Rose interrupted, her voice condescending, "Ahem, I'm sure you realize this by now. Not everyone is a fan of your occupation. What good is splitting up?"

I snapped back at her, "You sure talk a lot, you know that? As if you aren't part of us now. Meaning they aren't a fan of you also. And besides, not everyone has an issue with my father, only a little."

The realization finally dawned on her face. "Oh. Ammm. Yeah. Fine. I guess we have no choice. Splitting up it is."

"Good," I replied. "Now let my father find a way out."

"Alright, we'll meet up with you guys here in this spot in ten minutes, as I will go to town square," Father said. His best option would be to meet that official in charge of the missing board. He probably should know, right?

Father was right; I was also convinced by this logic.

"Alright," Father headed toward the town square. Rose and I began to go in the opposite direction.

Rose's expression was a mix of pride and desperation as we walked, looking for people to ask. Most people had gone home, making the scenery quite scanty. Rose opened her mouth once more. "Fine. You go ask the commoners. I will just watch. I'll make sure no one tries anything funny," she bit out, clearly still struggling with the humiliation.

"Look, Astraga!" she shook my shoulder vigorously. "See them under the tree? Look at those men!"

They were men, alright, visible from where we stood, but the closer we got, the more things we could uncover.

"They look kind of too drunk, if you ask me. Let's not ask them," I replied.

Rose dismissed me with a haughty sniff. "When your dad's not around, I'm the adult here, hmph! Come on, let's go, Astraga.

"I don't think these guys would have the answers. Let's keep…" Rose didn't finish her thought, instead running towards the old men's location with sudden, misplaced confidence.

"Speak louder! Can't hear none of what you're saying, young lady!" the white-bearded man shouted and the white haired man chuckled.

"Astraga, quick! What's her name again?" she turned to me frantically.

I replied beside her, "Granny Maera."

"Oh, yeah, right!" She had the name now and shouted, "GRANNY MAERA!"

"Gamby Mayer? Ohh, speak louder!" the white-bearded old man yelled, cupping his ear.

These men were definitely drunk. We were literally in front of them, yet Rose was making a fool of herself by shouting louder.

"No, no, no, listen! GRAN-NY MAAEEERAAA!" she enunciated, slowly.

"Ganny Terray!" he yelled back, completely misunderstanding. The white-haired man chuckled more, smacking his knee apparently, this was comedy gold for him.

"Nooo, nooo! What? Why aren't you getting it? Granny Maera! Simple as that!" Rose yelled, exasperated.

"Gramly Maeyaa!" he continued shouting back, trying to help, but it was hopeless.

"What? That's not even close!" she turned to me, her voice shrill. "Are these men impaired?"

I gave Rose a confused look that clearly said, But I told you so.

The one with white hair chuckled, laughing away. "That old bat got bad hearing! He can't hear jack properly, hahaha!" He coughed loudly.

"Well, do you know her?" Rose asked the laughing man, cutting through his mirth.

"Never heard of her! I don't care about anyone in this town, anyways! I do as much as possible to not remember them as well," he slurred, taking a large gulp from the mug. He stared at the mug with a serious tone, his eyes suddenly glazed over. "Just enjoy life, soon. It might be our last."

He took a big gulp, and the other old man shouted, "Greedy old bat, save some for me!"

"Well, Astraga, this is why you don't go around asking strangers questions! What were we thinking?" Rose hissed at me.

"We? You're clearly the one who came to them!"

"What? No! I was being proactive, as we wanted to—"

"Oh, if of all people to ask directions, you ask those two, you must definitely be new around Blackroot, I see," a female voice cut in, clearly ending our argument. Her face became visible; a middle-aged looking woman who dressed more like a mother than anything.

"And what's that supposed to mean, ahn, Clara?" white haired man challenged the woman, annoyed at her statement.

"Oh, but you know her name?" Rose asked Clara, trying to score a point.

"Of course. She's the one who supplies us booze," he replied simply, smacking the barrel they were emptying.

"Alright, don't you think you're too old to be drinking this late at night? It's dangerous," she admonished the white-haired man, recalling the talk of missing people.

"I don't give a damn! I'm old already. Whatever happens, happens," he slurred defiantly.

The woman who had just approached shook her head, watching the old men pass the mug around. "You two are just impossible," she muttered to them.

Rose instantly turned to her, seizing the opportunity. "Hello, ma'am! We just wanted to know where to find Granny Maera."

"Yes, please," I added quickly. "Father said everyone in town would know where she lived."

"Oh, Granny Maera, hmmm," she said, holding her chin in thought. "If I remember correctly…"

Finally! Someone who knew the way, I said to myself, relieved that the useless shouting was over.

Clara frowned slightly. "I can't really remember the exact location of her house, but I do know it's closer to the Blackroot Forest. Hmmmm."

Crap, she also don't know? I thought to myself. It's really getting late. I wonder what Father's doing if he had any progress.

Rose now spoke out, pleading. "Please, any assistance you can offer us would be great." Her eyes were watery; clearly, she was not planning to sleep outside.

"I see. Are you family, or what?" Clara asked.

"We are close friends to her," I replied quickly.

"Close friends? Hmmm, oh, close friends!" Clara snapped her fingers. "Speaking of close friends, I do know a few people who could know where she stays."

"Please tell us! Thank you so much!" Rose looked ecstatic, a mixture of relief and desperation washing over her face.

Clara ticked them off on her fingers. "Well, I do know the town florist, ahmm, the town's lumberjack, and ummm, who else?" she thought carefully. "The town's butcher. These are people that know most of Blackroot's people and homes. If there is anyone that could know where Granny Maera's home was, it was any of these three."

"So, which one would we go to?" Rose asked, looking at me for guidance.

I thought carefully, trying to save time and get the best result. Who would most likely know where Granny Maera stayed? Hmmm.

Clara offered her opinion. "Well, I do know the florist. She usually talks a lot with her customers, so most likely her."

Rose nodded. "Great, then we go to hers! Show us the way."

No. The florist was an option, but that in itself didn't feel like the best route. We needed someone who would regularly need to leave and get resources, someone who needed to be mobile, especially around Blackroot's greenery.

That was it. The lumberjack. It came to me immediately.

"No, let's go to the lumberjack," I decided. "Granny Maera's house is closer to the forest. He must likely goes to her side regularly since he usually needs wood."

"Wow, you might be right. If that's the case, his place isn't actually far from here. I could take you there," Clara said, impressed by the deduction.

Rose turned and looked at me, a grudging acceptance in her eyes. "Fine, but if you're wrong… we'll see."

I smirked. "Well, let's see then."

As we began to walk away from the old men, Father and Astraya were already coming back toward us. Astraya was fast asleep on his back, and Father waved when he saw us.

Clara looked surprised. "People of yours?"

"Yes, that's my dad and sister," I confirmed.

"Oh, I see," Clara replied as they approached.

Father, making his usual light mood jokes, said, "Who knew finding Granny Maera would be this much of a challenge? Harl said he didn't know; he thinks most likely the florist would know where she stayed."

"But, Father said. offering his analysis, "Harl also mentioned the lumberjack. I believe that would have been the one I would've gone to.

Father had came to the same conclusion that the lumberjack was most likely to know her exact place."

"Same as us, Dad," I replied. 'We also came up with the same conclusion,'

Father then said 'But Harl didn't know the way to the lumberjack and was also hesitant to leave, sigh."

"Great! Thank you so much!" father exclaimed, relief washing over him. A guide was exactly what we needed.

Before we could take a single step, a figure appeared without warning or sound. Nobody noticed his arrival. One moment the space behind us was empty, the next, it was occupied by a tall, cloaked man.

Rose looked completely stunned. Everyone froze as the man spoke, his voice low and grating.

"Excuse me, you wouldn't happen to have seen a girl pass by with some woods?"

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