Today has been a long day. I'm not entirely sure where to start, so I suppose I should start from the beginning. Otherwise it shan't make sense. It still seems like so much of a blur to me.

This morning Phelan, Kora and I left before the others had finished eating breakfast. Aniki left when we did because she wanted to check in with Katie and Brian. We headed off in opposite directions; Aniki was headed for the Court, and we were going to meet up with Kavrin and his younger brother. We went to their lodgings first, hoping to intercept them 'afore they left for the day. Luck was with us; we caught them as they were leaving.

This was my first time meeting either of them, and they didn't fit with the picture I had of them in my mind. The taller one - I was correct in assuming this was Kavrin - reminded me of Ersken at first glance. They had the same build, the same brown curls. Then I caught sight of his face. Erskens' eyes are soft and he smiles more often than not. Kavrins' eyes were dark and cold, his mouth turned down into a scowl when he saw Kora and Phelan. The younger brother was a good head shorter, with the same hair and green eyes. He looked to be about eleven or twelve, and Kavrin looked to be a few years older than me.

"What do you want?" Kavrin asked, the younger brother stepped back, standing just behind his brother like a shadow.

"Just a few words with your brother." It was Phelan who spoke. We had decided on this earlier. We thought they might trust him more, be more willing to open up to him. Kavrin looked as though he would argue, but the younger brother shrugged and stepped forward.

"I don't see why not." His curiosity showed on his face. His expression wasn't as guarded as his brothers. Phelan escorted the younger brother around the corner. We had already discussed the questions he was to ask. We'd spend nearly an hour going over them to make sure we didn't leave anything out. Kora and I stood there, trying our best to look casual although we were both anxious to hear what the boy had to say. Kavrin stood, bouncing on the balls of his feet, glancing around continuously. He looked jumpy, as though he was ready to flee at any moment.

I strained my ears to hear what Phelan and the boy were discussing, but I could only snatch a few words. "...worried...your brother..." That was Phelan. His voice was easily recognized between the two of them; it would have been easy to recognize even if I didn't know it so well. The other was higher pitched and had nothing of the intensity in Phelan's voice. "...can't remember...something about..." I began pacing in frustration. Patience had never been one of my strong points.

It seemed like eternity before Phelan and the boy emerged again. When they did, I stopped pacing and Kavrin took a step forward before halting. I managed to catch Phelan's eye and he nodded. I felt hope blossom in my chest. Maybe we were getting somewhere after all!

"Do you need anything else?" Kavrin's voice echoed the irritation on his face. I started; for half a second I'd forgotten he was there.

"No," Phelan replied. "Thank you for your time." Kavrin just took his brother by the arm and strode off into the maze of streets and alleys that made up this part of the city.

He refused to say anything until we were well away, closeted away in one of the private rooms at The Gryphon, one of the taverns in this area with a better reputation. At that point, both Kora and I were impatient to hear what he had to say. He noticed, and held a hand up to stop the flood of questions.

"Before you say anything, let me tell you what I know." He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head. "The boy, Evyn, doesn't remember anything. He doesn't even remember delivering the note. He doesn't know anything. What he did tell me, was that his brother is currently involved with Mistress Carver. And he's Gifted." Kora sighed.

"I didn't expect he'd remember anything. I told you there's magic out there that can block things like that, or enchant people."

"I know. I should have believed you in the first place. I know." Phelan had been one of the most skeptical of the boy - Evyn's lack of information. He had always been a bit skeptical of magic, and things involving sorcery. "What I can't figure is how the older brother, Kavrin fits in with all this." He looked at me. "Beka?"

"Mistress Carver wrote the note that Evyn delivered," I began slowly.

"Maybe Kavrin's the one who enchanted him in the first place," Kora said. "She asked him to do it, and..." Phelan and I were already shaking our heads.

"I doubt it. Kavrin's protective of his brother. I doubt he'd enchant him at the request of some girl he's seeing. Besides, he could just ask Evyn to deliver it. He's trusting enough that he'd do it without asking questions."

"So where does that leave us?" Kora asked, poking idly at the bit of food left on her plate.

"More confused than ever," I replied. After a few moments, I asked, "Phelan? Is there anyway you can talk to Kavrin tonight when you're at the Court?" He shrugged.

"I can try. He's bound to be suspicious after today, but it can't hurt. Why?"

"Ask him about the note. He knows something he's not telling us. See what you can get out of him. If he doesn't give anything away, I'll try talking to him tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Kora asked. "Will you have time?" I nodded.

"Tunstall, Goodwin and I are collecting the Happy Bags tomorrow. There's usually a bit of spare time. There should be plenty of time since...since Rosto's gone."

I know, I know, it's very unhelpful. Sorry. But at least it's something, right?