Ritzel laid out the map across the table in his home office. Dinner had been good. Delziel hadn't actually eaten a real meal in months... not since the last time he'd visited Eloi's family. After dinner, Ritzel's wife had shooed the children to bed, leaving her husband to reconvene their business conversation.

Peachy hovered over their heads, his dragonfly wings buzzing in an ambient hum punctuated by the sound of Ritzel's wall clock. Next to that clock was a large map of the continent, the irregular circle cut into slices, much like the hours radiating from the spike of Mt. Pallin at the center.

Delziel glanced over the map. It was smaller than the one on the wall, focused on the Seven, Six, and Five-slope areas. It was also more accurate than what he currently had in his office in the capital of Alvon. The main city had expanded downslope, he'd noticed on the way to Ritzel's house. There were several blocks of a high-end shopping district and housing for big merchants. There was even a theater district now, and the original city center was now museums, according to Ritzel.

Outside of the city, there were three new mine locations and two new beastkin villages identified in addition to the one traditionally allied with Eloi and Cammie's original hometown, making a total of five. Delziel hadn't realized the beasktin presence in Alvon was that high. Then again, near Mt. Pallin, all three countries were united in their survival against the monsters that were born on its slopes.

"This is where the berrykin were reported missing," Ritzel pointed at a spot northeast of the city, close to the Five-marker line. Delziel didn't like that. A year ago, due to reports of an unexpected landslide on the Five-slope, the Knights of Emelet had gone to investigate. Specifically, he, Celestia, and Peachy. They'd found evidence that the landslide was manufactured. It had uncovered a cave system that led deeper into Mt. Pallin...

Celestia had wanted to check it out immediately. Delziel had suggested getting backup, or at least waiting for Peachy to return from checking the rockslide, since it was too dangerous for people who couldn't fly. That was when it had happened... He'd finally told her how much he resented her perfection. She'd run into the caves without him, and by the time he'd caught up...

The capital of Six-slope was pretty far from where Celestia had died, but the missing people... that was getting a little too close. He hoped it wasn't the same creature that had killed Celestia, but the proximity was too coincidental.

"I wonder if it has anything to do with what killed Celestia oso," Peachy said, earning a glare from Delziel.

He'd not wanted to worry Ritzel. The man had his hands full with the area and kids and keeping people calm without having to think about monsters strong enough to kill half-Emelets like Celestia.

"I hope not," Ritzel said, standing back and scratching his neck, expression going through worry to a different kind of worry as he looked at Delziel. His doubts that Delziel would be enough clearly crossed his mind.

"If it is, I'll take care of it," Delziel said flatly. He didn't want to entertain this conversation. Celestia may have been dead, but Cohgia's safety still remained in the hands of the living. "That's what the Knights of Emelet are for, and if I need backup, I'll call for it. However, the area is untamed. It might just be random monsters killing the inexperienced." He ignored the continued unease. "What about the missing humans?" he asked to put the conversation back on track.

"Same area. Since this started, I've had National Guard out scouring the slope for any other hidden villages. But their primary mission has been to protect the mining camps. Their coverage is very thin." He pointed at the new mines. "The new villages we found have been isolated so long that getting their trust wasn't easy, but after giving medical help and stationing some people to assist in defending them from monsters, they opened up." Ritzel pointed at another unidentified mark on the map. "On a brighter note, they found some Ancient ruins as well. Not sure what era they're from, though. I sent a request to the Scholars Foundation for some people to come out and investigate. They said they'd come in a few weeks. But you know scholars. They might be delayed for months."

Peachy chuckled. "They do tend to get lost in their books oso." He turned to look at Delziel. "So what's the plan?"

"Tomorrow, we'll go out to here," Delziel pointed at the outpost closest to where the disappearances were happening. "Do they have a gant I can use to do a search in the forest?"

Ritzel nodded. "The National Guard has some. They've fortified the mining camp there, but things are a bit rough. I'd suggest getting your own supplies before heading out."

Peachy gave Delziel a look with a slight tip of his head. He didn't need to say I Told You So, but Peachy wasn't above being petty about being right.

Choosing to ignore the look, Delziel kept his gaze on Ritzel with a nod.

Ritzel's lips twitched as he caught on that there was something unspoken happening. "The stores should open by seven tomorrow. It's two hours by gant to this outpost. Enough time for my wife to send you out with a good breakfast, if you're inclined to stay that long. There should be a supply train heading that direction in the morning. You can join for most of the way."

Peachy's pompoms sparked with excitement. "That'll be great!"

Ritzel stepped away to his desk to grab a packet of papers. "Here are the files of the missing."

Taking them, Delziel spread them out so Peachy could read as well. There were twelve more than he'd gotten in his original briefing from Marcia. Most notably, they had pictures, not just physical descriptions.

"Piney oso?" Peachy asked in shock. "Oh, and there's Lemon oso!"

Delziel glanced over to find the picture of a yellow berrykin with red eyes.

"I hope she's okay oso," Peachy said, though he didn't sound like he had much hope of that. Considering some of these people had been missing for weeks, the odds of finding them alive were low. "She always said she wanted to adventure oso."

Ritzel patted Peachy's shoulder. "Maybe she's just gotten into trouble and hid somewhere?"

"We can stop by the village," Delziel said. "Ask around for any other information they might have."

Immediately perking, Peachy nodded. "Thanks oso."

Delziel returned to looking at the papers, memorizing the faces, just in case he came across any of them. His itinerary for tomorrow was growing by the moment, it seemed.