"I hear you have prepared Greases?"

"That's right, chief! Three Greases, one Color Spray, just in case we run into something with wings."

"And you have Light today? What else in the cantrip slots?"

"Prestidigitation, Mage Hand, and Message."

Nod. He shows the map to the new arrivals and goes over their itinerary again.

It... is probably not a good idea to try to sell the party on helping out with his problems while they're in a room crawling with paladins. (Not that the party is much better on that front, but pitching two people on his plan should be easier, maybe once he's had a chance to prove his usefulness?)

"Got it, chief."

"Did you intend to procure additional supplies before our departure, or will we be setting out as-is?"

"Is there something you feel we need?"

"A few additional scrolls for emergencies, such as Lesser Restoration or Remove Blindness/Deafness, could hardly go amiss, though I suppose we could always make camp and wait for dawn if absolutely necessary. I presume a scroll of Breath of Life would be out of our price range, even if the Fiducia still has any in stock."

"I do not have any money at this time."

"I believe I saw Lord Gwerm in this tavern? Does he not owe you a commission for ensuring his safe return?"

"Gwerm? That guy is loaded."

"I suppose if he wants to pay me and not whoever actually escorted him I am not obliged to refuse and a couple of emergency scrolls would not be amiss."

Horgus Gwerm can be located!

"It's good to see you, Select. Anevia tells me you were instrumental in seeing her through the Maze, and thereby in enabling her to dispatch a patrol to rescue me. I have compensated them already, of course, but let it not be said that Lord Horgus Gwerm does not keep his word!"

He hands Blai a sack of literal physical coins. (It's only arguable whether their agreement even applies, but the Select seems competent; as ways to direct money to competent people interested in defending the city without leaving anyone with the impression that he'll continue to spend a fortune on Mendev's defense after the crisis go, this one seems reasonable enough.)

"I did have... another task... that I was interested in hiring you for, if you will have the time for it, though I understand there are most likely many demands on your time."

"It's not impossible we will finish our errands ahead of time but I would not plan on it, no."

"Very well. If you do find yourself with extra time, feel free to let me know; I don't know if I'll be able to find another party with the necessary discretion." He lowers his voice slightly. "If you do decide to take me up on it, make sure you have Lady Camellia with you. I'll feel safer with someone like her watching our backs."

"Would you?" blinks Blai. It's... slightly better than "for gods' sake why".

From the look of things, Seelah is having a similar reaction.

The corners of Camellia's mouth quirk up.

"Yes, of course! She is of noble birth, after all."

"Hey! For all you know, my dad was the king of Brevoy!"

"Should it be the case that we no longer have Camellia with us for whatever by the time your offer rises to top priority I am willing to skip it," Blai says.

Horgus Gwerm scratches the back of his neck and looks away. "Yes, well, I don't mean to keep you."

"Personally, I'd take any hunter from downstairs over some stuffy noble who thinks he's better than everyone just because his parents have a fancy title!"

Horgus Gwerm will generously pretend that he didn't hear that.