Everard returned to the ship with Cassimir and Latihir. He had to turn Cassimir down because their houses were related but he offered Alessir as an alternative instead which lifted up Cassimir's flagging spirits.

He meant with Hassir and found out that he had been unable to coax his son Amir out of the forest so he would be taking Yudil and Alessir along instead.

Alessir had not too long docked his own ship the Cassime, and was in the process of offloading his cargo.

Yudil, Latihir and Onir were discussing the painted circle in the Earthen Cauldron and Everard envisioned more standing around in that chamber in his future.

He went to complain to Hassir about it and his cousin poured him a drink instead.

"It'll be fine, after this you'll be able to rest. I heard from Cassimir you're trying to set him up with Alessir?" Hassir asked him.

"He aimed at me, so I had to shift it," Everard explained.

"Cassimir aimed at you? For mariage? Are you serious?" Hassir asked.

"Yes, he did."

Hassir laughed and laughed, while Everard glared at him.

Unable to redeem himself, Hassir poured Everard more rum to distract him and the conversation died there.

***

Everard's premonition about being stuck waiting around in the dungeons came true.

Although he really couldn't figure out what was so compelling about the stone circle with a courser head in the middle of what otherwise seemed to be gibberish to him, it didn't stop a certain nerdy subsect of his family from being held spellbound by it.

Yudil, the lastest victim, was a scientist and so his approach to this investigation was even more meticulous and careful than either Latihir or Onir had been. He was taking notes and making drawing and enlisting Alessir to help him accurately measure each section.

He had a gelatinous cube with him that was bouncing up and down by his side in what looked to be a steady rhythm. He didn't know why Yudil would have such a pet, but it somehow suit.

"This is so fascinating!" Yudil cried out, "If I knew the dungeons had in such marvels I would have come a long time ago."

Alessir was quiet, not even protesting Yudil's demands on his time and effort.

Everard resigned himself to being stuck here for an extended period of time and found a bar of dried rations in his pack and started eating.