Dorgan storms off in a great disappointment, but Josiane lingers a moment longer at the campsite... there seems nothing to speak of what went on here, the camp fire is long gone cold. There are signs that the company camped here the previous evening, but that's to be expected.doctorx wrote:Josiane casts around their former campsite for any sign of where Garven and her favourite mule might have gone. Any sign of tracks or any other indication as to their fate?
In fact, everything is exactly as it aught to be. But something still riles her... but what? What, what, what?? What is that? There lies a half-burned leaf, stuck between the stones that circle the ashes of the camp fire.
She kneels by the ashes to pick it up. A strange, thick leaf it is. Very fibrous, and of a very dark due. It looks to have been folded, into an envelope 4in or so wide. But now it is empty and half burned. It is certainly alien to these parts; Josiane has never seen its like. And it is not wholly consumed, so it must have got there after the fire was reduced to mere ashes. In other words, after the company left the campsite...
It's a riddle to be sure.
