Nicholas tosses a salute and a nod at Caleb, as the group leaves the Spicy Lady. His eyes flash warningly at Amiri, but he breezily responds with, "Well, of course my old homestead is our main objective. No one had any Independent ties there, I assure you! Ugh! The very thought! They brought nothing but trouble to my dear Athens! But, ah, if he's on the way, we may as well stop in with your old friend. Introduce us! I'd love to hear the latest, from someone who's been here a bit longer."

More surreptitiously ---> "Let's not mention such things just anywhere. If you think that your contact doesn't have anything more for us, we should at least drop in so he knows us. Or just point his place out to us, on the way to my 'homestead', which is all we need to call our goal."

Suddenly, he gasps with joy and rushes over to a ruined building. "Oh! My favorite tavern! We must be going the right way! Ah, good times! I wonder if ol' Aaron is still around!"