Gryphons in Greenden

"Oh, so now we're going to buy potatoes?"

You turn and smile cheerfully at Erric. "I thought you liked potatoes, Erric. Besides, money makes the world go 'round."

"And the tongues wag, I know, I know," Erric sighs as you approach the old woman and her cart of potatoes.

She eyes you suspiciously until you pick up a few of the pathetically small tubers and hand them to Erric.

"How much, ma'am?" you ask politely as she wipes her nose on a ragged sleeve.

She looks you up and down with a sort of sneer on her face. "A penny apiece, boy. And you know you shouldn't be wearin' swords 'round 'ere unless you're of a mind to use 'em. Draws attention, it does."

"Oh, these? They're play swords," Erric put in. "We're here to join the circus."

Both you and the old woman ignore him. You hand her three pennies. "We're actually looking to know if you've seen any unfamiliar Reds around here lately."

She shakes her head. "Best keep your nose out o' Red business, boy. It's like to get bloodied, ye ken?"

You put your hands in your pockets and look down at her. "What does it take to get involved in Red business?"

She smiles a toothless smile up at you. "More potatoes."

You buy four more potatoes, to Erric's dismay. "The Reds?"

"Were here not so long ago. Up to summat, they were. Didn't buy no potatoes, even though I told 'em they'd make good prisoner feed, for cheap too."

"Prisoner feed?"

"They had a few. Big fellas. Put 'em up in the stables, like as I can recall. Brigands or highwaymen or summat."

You thank the old woman and walk away to gather your thoughts. Erric holds out his hands, full of potatoes. "What am I supposed to do with these?" he whines.

"Put them in your saddlebags, why don't you?"

"As if we're going to eat them later, I suppose. You know very well I don't like potatoes." He grins. "Too starchy."

"You may be glad of them. Just put them away. Let me think for a second."

He shrugs and obeys. "When your brain starts hurting, it's time to go get laid. Just so you know."

You can't help but smile at that, but you're trying to think hard as well. Everyone you've spoken to has indicated that the prisoners were male, probably soldiers of the Princess's guard. So where is the princess? Disguised, perhaps? Dead? Either way, you have to get to those prisoners and speak to them about what happened. Maybe someone at the tavern will know. Or maybe you should ask more people.