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Adustes took a few short steps away and reached out to one of the nearby tables, grasped the back of a chair and slid it back toward the bard, seating himself when it had been drawn sufficiently close.
"That was quite an intriguing tale you wove. Is that a song you perform often?"

So, she only occasionally told the tale. That was a good start, but there was much more Adustes would need to find out before it could be counted it good news.
"I heard part of this same tale some time ago, but was never able to hear all of it. As I said, I found it intriguing. I was hoping you could tell me more about it, starting with the origin of the story.
"How long have you known of it? How did you first come across it? Do you know if it is well-known in this land, or others nearby?" he asked, pausing between questions long enough for her to respond.
His explanation wasn't a good one, he knew, considering the line of questions that followed it. But it didn't necessarily matter, so long as he got his answers.

Adustes' lip twitched in irritation - not at the ambiguity of the bard's answers, but because of the answers he received, neither was as he had hoped. He crossed his arms, attempting to appear more casual than troubled, seemingly oblivious to the minor screech as the gal-ralan's protruding spikes scraped over the metal of the opposing gauntlet.
After a moment's contemplation, he decided there wouldn't likely be any harm in explaining truthfully. Perhaps if he were lucky, it would loosen the girl's tongue.
"Very well. It is not the fate of the dwarves that interests me, but their settlement. I seek an object that is, or at least was, held there; and this very night I will be departing in search of that fortress. I thought it prudent to discern what I could about the popularity of your song, so that I might not waste my time with the journey if it has already been pilfered."

(Bluff: 5+17=22)

Adustes briefly raised one eyebrow at her musing. It shouldn't have surprised him that she knew of his business; after all, Vellek had approached him previously informed. It seemed word had traveled through this town more quickly than usual, if even the bards knew of him on the third night since he'd arrived.
"Your song held no word of the item. But if widely spread, be it your doing or that of any other storyteller, it reduces the chances that the ruins remain untouched."

"And I have yet to receive any information of value," he said with a scowl. "Amend that, and you shall be compensated."
He reached a hand into his belt pouch, withdrawing a few coins and briefly holding them up for the girl to see, then closed his fist over them. "I did not ask whether your audience heeded your words. I asked for the frequency with which you performed that song, and if you are aware of the same in regards to other bards in any lands to which you may have traveled. Now, have you anything worthwhile to offer me?"

Adustes' scowl faded as he considered the girl's words. That the dwarves knew of it was no surprise. Over time, they may forget the exact location of the fallen civilizations of their kin, but never the existence of them. And dwarves were much more likely to travel to such places to reclaim them rather than loot them. If they had returned to those ruins, it should have been common knowledge. Adustes had nothing to fear from the bearded folk.
She sang of it nearly everywhere she went? That didn't bode well for his mission. He hoped that she hadn't been traveling for too long. She appeared young, but her elven or fey heritage was easily apparent. Even he couldn't tell just by looking if she was a couple decades or several centuries old. There was no telling how long she'd been wandering the land.
It was a safe assumption that she'd been to the cities she'd named. He was familiar with Talanthus, one of the three central trading cities in the western corner of the kingdom. Targaas and Drasek were almost dead center of the nation, if he recalled correctly. That was not good news, but at least it excluded Kalthas. If word reached the capital, the fool king would undoubtedly send a small force to take the fortress, for use against the barbarians.
But, she had said that it wasn't a common story in those places, and only one other bard she'd come across told the tale. With the war in the north, few would dare travel into the barbarian lands without an army beside them, and those brave enough to do so were more likely to be drawn to the battles on the front lines.
All things considered, the odds still seemed to be in his favor.
"Thank you," he said as he rose from the chair. He retracted his hand and slipped it back into his belt pouch. Rather than pocketing the coins in hand, he withdrew another, and held out a silver piece and a pair of gold coins.
A thought occurred to him as he waited for her to take the coins. Many bards were more than simple performers; there was magic in their songs. They were adept in inspiring greatness in others, improving morale -which would likely prove quite useful with the group he'd assembled, and were generally knowledgeable individuals. And there was the entertainment value as well. She could be valuable to have around. If not, then perhaps he could at least prevent her from spreading the tale in his absence. Even if he was leaving soon, the trip would be long without the aid of magic or a mount. Anyone using one or the other could easily overtake him and arrive long before he did.
"Are you able to use magic?" he asked.

Adustes' brow furrowed and he stood slightly straighter, his usual display of surprise. He didn't understand why, but the girl seemed somehow insulted by his question. Perhaps using magic was something she aspired to, but had yet to achieve? Perhaps--
He was wasting his time. Fey were difficult to understand even by their own kind. It could be something as simple as an imagined slight, or a breach in etiquette among her particular race, whatever it might be. She could have decided on a whim that she didn't like him. Whatever it was, it required more time than he was willing to give to unravel it.
Regardless, she was preparing to part ways. It seemed she'd made her decision. "Very well," he said, and began to turn back to the group he'd assembled.
He stopped at the sound of her voice and looked back. Maybe he had misinterpreted her....
Her claim definitely caught his interest. If it was true, such a power could make her very useful. Battles with monsters could be averted before they could begin, if she could so affect them quickly.
"That would be even better," he said, a heartless grin spreading across his lips. True or not, it still benefited him to bring her along. She could prove her worth -along with the rest of the party- when, and if, they came across any hostile creatures.
"Would you be interested in accompanying me?"

"Excellent," Adustes said. "We were preparing to depart momentarily. I believe the journey should take us four weeks, including our return. Have you any preparations to make? Or are you ready to leave now?"