Harsh Follow-Up

> MAIL TIME!
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## Summary

Flint and Xaillen talk with Xaillen talking about how Raquel had been kidnapped. Xaillen has a lead but wants Flint and himself to break away from the group since he doesn't trust everyone else given that, in his mind, they allowed the corrupt guard to kidnap her and spent the entire carriage ride trying to justify themselves without ever once considering they were wrong. With Raquel now in the hands of a crimelord, this has all but confirmed for Xaillen that he was right all along and should never have trusted them. Xaillen is hoping to hear from the doctor at the asylum again. Flint is unsure about Xaillen's distrust of the others. Xaillen explains his distrust through a past experience he had where someone he knew was lynched by a town who became fearful and paranoid about her, while people he knew told him to be quiet and ignore the problem. And again, in Kord, the guards turn an innocent person into a scapegoat... while his own party tells him to ignore the problem. Xaillen explodes with anger, blaming the others for Raquels kidnapping, but realizes that he's being unfair. He admits that he's been blaming everyone else for his own failures. That if he had actually SUCCEEDED in getting her away from the guards, none of this would have happened. That it is HIS responsibility to save people, not theirs. But he also calls this another reason for leaving the party out of the investigation. That they're all ordinary people or innocent victims who shouldn't get involved with crime lords. Flint retorts by mentioning that everyone chose to be here to help. Xaillen isn't sure of that while he does admit that he can't do this alone, he's still unsure about working with everyone else. He decides to follow Flint's lead but suggests seeing the doctor when Flint finishes his potion.

Hoshimi then comes to the door bringing mail for everyone. Xaillen gets a letter and pockets it. Hoshimi realizes that the Valentines were coming for Xaillen. Hoshimi gets a letter from her co-workers asking for them to come home. Olwen also got a letter from her brother saying that they're happy she's okay while a letter from her sergeant says that she's on leave. There's also a sarcastic letter from Adrian's sisters. Olwen makes breakfast including pancakes, potatoes, eggs, tea and beef for Seven. Olwen gives Sybl a bunch of pancakes but both he and Seven don't know what pancakes are. Seven loves the sweet pancakes while Adrian notes that he prefers elven toast with honey. When Seven wants Hoshimi to try a pancakes it lands on Hoshimi's face since she's so interested in the letter she got. Hoshimi peels the pancake off her face and leaves. Seven and Olwen are worried when she returns. Hoshimi mentions that she needs to return to Urzaban as quickly as possible. Olwen offers to help her get there since Nicholas Hollyhock is still out there. She mentions that it's mostly him by himself which raises questions with Xaillen.

Adrian gets up and tells Olwen that they should see someone. Seven offers to help and Adrian agrees. Seven says they should all be happy like Sybl. Adrian gives Xaillen a list of questions to ask the asylum doctor. This takes Xaillen by surprise and with Flint's approval Xaillen mentions that they should keep what they're doing a secret since Hollyhock is out there. He begins sending letters to his family to find out about Hollyhock as Hoshimi leaves. Seven notices that Hoshimi is missing as Adrian spots the letter on the table. He notes why Hoshimi left and Seven is slightly discourages. Regardless she decides to help out to be muscle for someone who hurt Adrian. The three of them head out as Flint pulls Sybl to the lab with Xaillen.

## Notable events

* Xaillen, Hoshimi, Adrian Tanlaial and Olwen Edgeworth all get letters
* The party has breakfast together