"Marvelous." He hands Finnean to Lann. "If you don't mind accompanying us there's still a fair few demons around."

"Of course! I'm not going to run off and abandon you to the demons."

Great. "Mr. Jefto, Nenio, did the construct say anything?"

"It did! Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain enough information about the process of creating it to determine how it could be replicated. The workmanship is surprisingly good for a Mendevian creation, as it claims to be. I will have to amend the section of my encyclopedia that discusses the lack of arcane talent in Mendev."

"Our guy is almost certainly Melroun, unless Sister Kerismei totally messed up when she narrowed down the suspects. Got a description and everything."

"Very well. In case there's something untidy about the rest of this excursion what should we know about your friends?"

"I don't want you to hurt them! Except Melroun, you can totally hurt Melroun. He's not that scary on his own, though, pretty sure I could take him all by myself."

"I do not mean to instigate anything."

"They're all, you know, sneaky-burglar types. Sister Kerismei's the strongest, but don't just focus on her, next thing you know you'll have two more behind you stabbing you in the back. As far as I know I'm the only one of the bunch with real magic, but if someone's hiding a little sorcery they might not tell me. And they're not bad people, really, so don't waste your smites."

They threatened to kill him??? She would really expect a smite to work???

Blai attempts to agree with Seelah by meaningful look alone, and they can go on their way.

They spot a lone dretch on the way back to the hideout, but Lann and Finnean are able to drop it from a distance. The hideout is in the same place as ever.

"Brother Woljif. I see you have returned." Sister Kerismei raises an eyebrow.

Woljif points at one of the tieflings kneeling on the side of the room. "Melroun's your guy."

"Is not," says Melroun indignantly. "Come on, get me a Truthtelling, I'll prove it."

"I believe she priced it at five crowns."

"I can pay it," says Melroun.

"Very well," says Sister Kerismei. (She absolutely does not trust him, but she also doesn't trust Woljif not to be making things up.)

Unhappy tail-twitch.

Dyra approaches him and places one hand on his forehead. "Abadar's Tru-"

Melroun tackles her to the ground. "Hail Voetiel! Hail Hepzamirah!"

Yeah-huh they're all gonna fuck up Melroun now right? And get Dyra pulled out and healed?

Lann and Finnean are sure trying to!

So are the various thieflings who were standing near him!

"Alive, if you please," says Sister Kerismei.

 "Any closer and the girl gets—"

The thieflings are pretty sure that this means 'stab me more.' Melroun goes down; Dyra is unconscious but breathing.

Stabilize. Stabilize. Then he scoops Dyra up and burns the second Weapons Against Evil to Cure her.

"I appreciate the healing but I still intend to charge you extra for travelling other places in the future," says Dyra solemnly. "—We didn't negotiate a price for the healing, what would you normally charge?"

(Meanwhile, Sister Kerismei waves her hand, and two of the thieflings start to drag Melroun's unconscious body to another corner of the room.)

"I wouldn't," says Blai, "I'm afraid I would have made a terrible Abadaran, but if it would make you feel better we can ask Fiducia Rathimus to come up with an appropriate rate." He glances over at Kerismei.

She inspects her dagger and smiles. "I have a few questions for our traitor. No need to trouble yourself."