Deal or No Deal?

Her little gem had been reluctant to name a benefactor at first, but a few days in a damp pit had forced him to reconsider his position. Now Valkyrie had a name and a rough description of this Desota character who Balsam thought might rescue him.

 

Valkyrie approached the grove from the north. She'd been careful to hide her path from the little elf's pit to the place his friend was supposed to be. By sticking to streams and gullies her path was all but guaranteed to remain hidden from those who might seek to undermine her business and steal back what she'd rightly claimed.

"Now..." she thought as she eyed the grove. If she were a little tree climbing elf, where would she be?

She tipped her head back and eyed the mangrove tops. On her back, Inga did the same. They were twisted and heavy with gnarled limbs, and Valkyrie thought she could climb one if push came to shove. She was willing to bet the little tree nymph was in one of those.

After studied the trees Valkyrie raised her voice and called for Desota be name.