Engelian Adventures

"I'll ask around the shopkeepers and try to get some support. There is no doubt some paying off going on and some might prefer the devil they know. I'll let you know."

Sam nods and asks, "Is there anything you would like me to do today?"

"We're going to need a fresh supply of jartinal weed. I need to stay at the shop. Perhaps you could help Naomi go and buy some. Let's go and check with her."

Sam says okay and the two go to where Naomi is picking through the jartinal weed that Guilliame was able to save, removing any part of the weed that was blackened by the fire.

"Hello Granny Naomi, what happened here?" asks Sam.

"Vandals," replies Naomi. "Broke into the yard and set fire to our drying racks. I don't know what the world is coming too."

Sam frowns and asks Guilliame, "Does this have anything to do with what we were just talking about?"

"I don't think so, but I can't be certain. I'm going to be taking some extra precautions at home as well."

"Hmmm. It seems you are attracting unwanted attention from someone," Sam says and then adds, "This isn't something to do with the king's decree about religion, is it?"

"I think the attacks on the house are indirectly related to that.Followers of the old religions have been targeted around here. Some of the Mithran guard has been threatening people. They chase off some and bully the ones that stay. I stood up to one attack and they didn't like it. Since then the house has been attacked twice. It probably isn't anything to do with the thugs down in the markets but I just don't know. I just know that some of the street kids seem messed up in it but I can't see them doing it off their own bat."

Sam looks a bit shocked at this. "I hadn't heard that the Mithrans were running people out of town. That's terrible."

He then turns to Granny Naomi and begins speaking in Stemican. "Have you had any problems, Old Mother? You practice the ways of Liluri... As do I. I would hate the hear that they were troubling you."

Granny Naomi replies, also in Stemian, saying, "No, but my local leader took his family and left the city." She then shrugs and adds, "But this too will pass, as do all the things of men."

Sam then turns to Guilliame and says in Sorendenese, "I will help you in any way I can."

"Well it's good to have you here. You are a great help generally but in case anyone does come threatening things I'm sure your presence will discourage them. Keep an eye out for any signs of trouble."

Show Sam the strange rock.

"On a completely different matter what do you think of this strange rock. It has some magick but I can't work out what it does." 

Sam takes the rock and Guilliame sees him close his eyes and open them with his mage sight active, but after a long moment's scrutiny he hands the rock back, a frown on his face.

"Yes, it is magical, but if it has a spell on it, I can't see it," he says and then adds, "Mind you, I am a novice at the arts of the arcane, so that is hardly surprising. Where did you get it?"

"Thanks for trying. It belongs to a woman who's just moved here. She is paying me to analyse it but I can't work it out. I just won't be able to charge her anything."

"Maybe someone at the School might be able to help," Sam says. "When do you need to know by?"

"She is coming back this afternoon. I'll ask if she wants me to follow up with someone else."

Guilliame and Sam do minor chores around the shop during the afternoon and Guilliame is discouraged that no one comes into the shop during that time.

Towards the end of the day, Mrs Abdel arrives, looking expectant.

"Master, de Marchant," she begins. "Have you had any luck?"

"Good afternoon. I'm afraid I haven't had any luck. I won't charge as I can't tell you anything. The only thing I can suggest is that if you leave it with me I might be able to find a collegue that can ascertain what it might do. I would have to charge you for the extra time though. What would you like me to do?" 

Mrs Abdel's excitement falls from her face, but then smiles and asks, "What I'm really interested in is whether or not they have any value."

She then holds out her hand for the rock and says, "Thank you for not charging me anything... I respect that. But I will take it and see if I can find someone in the Mercantile District to see if they can identify it, and perhaps they might be willing to give me some coin for it."

"Good luck. I suspect it is worth more than just the value of the stone."

Mrs Abdel accepts the stone and then gives Guilliame a slight bow before saying her goodbyes and leaving the store.

"Bad luck," says Samuel companionably. "I should probably go back to School now. I'm busy until just after the 2nd candle of the afternoon tomorrow. Is it okay if I come then for our visit to these ruffians?"

"I'd like to talk to Narim and give it a couple of days first. I'll let you know."

Sam nods and then wishes Guilliame a nice evening before he heads off back to the School.

"Nice lad," says Granny Naomi after he has gone. "How are you feeling? And what would you like for dinner? I could do a vegetable mash?"