Nathaniel just smiles and says, "You are talking to the wrong person, I'm afraid. I am not a sorcerer and know little about becoming one."

At this point Mistress Althea says, "There are other varieties of Jartinal Weed. Maybe you won't get such an adverse reaction from one of them."

Narim then says, "What you have to understand, Brand, is that this is an unknown area. With some people it is a simple of them wearing a particular metal. There is one recent alumni who is only a sorcerer when they are wearing a band of iron on their arm, and I know of a Seeker of the Temple of Donai who must wear a headbank of gold to keep her magick."

"Early days, Alaric," says Nathaniel, trying to reassure Brand. "But I know you won't rest until you find out the answers to those questions, so let us help you to do that."

Brand nods, "Then let us investigate what we can, and hope another -- spark -- can be found."

[[ If Brand can not get a sense of the time he will say ]]

"I was unconscious for a time, does anyone know what was the last candle?"

[[ If it's late (meaning approaching dinner time at home), he will say ]]

Brand glances around the room and says, "I am afraid that I must apologise to you all; I have several matters I must attend to...but would like to return this evening, if that is possible?

[[ Else (not late) ]]

"So how should we proceed? Perhaps contact with some wood from the plant may be sufficient? Is it possible that some other substance might be a spark?"

[[ End If ]]

"You haven't been asleep very long," says Mistress Althea. "Maybe ten minutes."

"So how should we proceed?" asks Brand. "Perhaps contact with some wood from the plant may be sufficient? Is it possible that some other substance might be a spark?"

Before any answers can be given the sound of more people arriving can be heard and the next ten minutes or so are spent explaining over and over what has just happened to a number of different groups of people, including the personal assistant to the archmagus: Haneena.

As people continue to talk, Brand gets the impression that it is unlikely that any further 'experimenting' will happen today. It is also getting late.

Eventually, Master Nathaniel tells everyone he is tired and that he would like to have a nap. Brand gets the feeling this is not the case, and that Nathaniel just wants all the jabbering to stop.

Brand stands up, concern for his friend clear on his face, adopting a more formal tone due to the unknown throngs. "Would you still like me to return later, Master? It would be no trouble, though may not be for a few hours."

[[ Brand wants to head home for dinner (or at least speak to hi father), and get back to the bookshop by 6/8(?) candles. Does he have time to talk with Althea and with Nathaniel's carer before he leaves the school? ]]

 [[ My move is above, but question about candles: WorldAnvil says Candle callers call out hours since dawn. Standard candles are 1 hour. So...6pm (normal dinner time at residence, I think), is 12 candles? That does  not gell with this link.
Am I correct in concluding they also call candles after dusk AND dawn?

Do they standardise at all? eg. 12 hour 'Day' and 'Night' or do the number of candles vary?

What happens at Dawn/Dusk? Is it  0 candles or 1 candles?]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

 [[ My move is above, but question about candles: WorldAnvil says Candle callers call out hours since dawn. Standard candles are 1 hour. So...6pm (normal dinner time at residence, I think), is 12 candles? That does  not gell with this link.
Am I correct in concluding they also call candles after dusk AND dawn?

Do they standardise at all? eg. 12 hour 'Day' and 'Night' or do the number of candles vary?

What happens at Dawn/Dusk? Is it  0 candles or 1 candles?]]

[[The number of candles restarts at both dawn and dusk to tie in with the appropriate Mithran religious rites. No candle calling is done at either of these times because it would interfere with these ceremonies, but the first candles for the new period—be it day or night—are lit. So the first call after dusk is named the first candle and it occurs about an hour after the sun sets. The system is far from precise, but clockwork hasn't been invented yet and it does provide a means for people to coordinate in a city.]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Brand stands up, concern for his friend clear on his face, adopting a more formal tone due to the unknown throngs. "Would you still like me to return later, Master? It would be no trouble, though may not be for a few hours."

[[ Brand wants to head home for dinner (or at least speak to hi father), and get back to the bookshop by 6/8(?) candles. Does he have time to talk with Althea and with Nathaniel's carer before he leaves the school? ]]

[[Yes.]]

Althea and the young female librarian's assistant take the hint and start moving people out of Nathaniel's small bedroom. Brand asks Master Nathaniel his question and is rewarded with a nod.

"Very well, I shall return later."

He turns to Mistress Althea, "Will there be any problem getting into the school later in the night?"

[[ He is also keeping any eye on Ms Smit, and if she looks like she is going to leave, he will interrupt his conversation. I'm hoping she will fuss about Nathaniel for a little while. ]]

The assistant librarian is making sure that Nathaniel is comfortable while Brand talks with Mistress Althea.

"If you give me a moment," Althea says looking towards the door, "I will write you a letter saying that I wish to see you this evening. That should get you in through the gate..."

"Then she adds, "You might also tell whoever is there when you leave that you will be coming back. Chances are, it will be the same person when you come back."

"Wait here," she says. "I will go to the office and write the letter."

Mistress Althea then leaves the room leaving Brand alone with Master Nathaniel and the assistant librarian.

At a convenient juncture, if such is to be found, Brand smiles at her and says, "I don't think we have been properly introduced. My name is Alaric...and I am very glad Nathaniel has such a devoted assistant. He might be dead by now if you had not raised the alarm so quickly."

[[ He assesses her for signs of sadness, guilt or other emotions that might mean something else is afoot ]]

She blushes when she becomes the subject of Brand's attention and says, "I'm only doing what anyone else would do."

After this, she makes for the door.

[[Make an Insight check for quality; less than 10 is considered a failure.]]

Insight: 10

Brand raises his hands, trying to demonstrate he means no threat, "Please, wait! I'm sorry...I did not mean to offend. Before you go I did want to ask one question, if that is acceptable?"

The young Stemian woman, who is not much older than Brand, stops at the door waiting to hear Brand's question. She is looking a little anxious.

[[Brand's Insight into this woman is she is man shy, especially around men close to her own age (i.e., she seemed quite happy dealing with Nathaniel).]]

[[That is it for tonight, I'm afraid. I'm tired. Ciao.]]

[[  No worries. ]]

Brand steps back a little to give them both some space, "The people who visited Nathaniel...there were three of them, I'd be interested in knowing what you can tell me about them. It looked like the guard hung back, and talked to you...or someone else in the library?"

For a moment she looks uncertain about what Brand is talking about and then she says, "You mean the Glory?"

When Brand nods, she says, "Umm, her dark skin is very strange, I haven't seen anyone like her before... She said they needed to talk to Master Nathaniel about something important. Something that she was investigating. But I don't think they had ever met before..."

She thinks for a moment and then adds, "I think it was Journeyman Serkin who brought her here... She's a strange one that one. Even more shy than I am. A real bookworm. She said she was working for the Crown and had a letter of authority, but it was the Glory who was in charge."

She ends by saying, "The Temple guard with them wasn't much interested in what Master Nathaniel had to say... He asked me about the avatar, but I couldn't tell him anything because I don't know anything. I haven't even seen her. I wasn't there when she manifested her power and she's been kept away from us all since then."

"Can I go now?" she asks, once more looking down.

Brand nods and smiles, "Thank you, yes. Thank you again for your help, I do appreciate it."

Then, as she turns to leave, he says, "Oh there was one more thing. Did you perhaps catch his name... the guard I mean? I might like to talk to him later."

"Arthur," she replies. "He said his name was Arthur."

She then takes her leave after telling Master Nathaniel that she would be back soon with his dinner.

After she has gone, Master Nathaniel asks, "You seem very interested in that Temple guard. Why?"

Brand notes that Nathaniel's recent experience seems to have given him new energy. It can be seen particularly in his eyes, which now that their irises are visible, seem to have a strange new intensity, which is a little bit disturbing.

"Confidentially, he was in the garrison of Last Chance. A few days before the garrison was wiped out. I was investigating corrupt dealings with the Itich at the time."

He shrugs, "It may be nothing, in which case he is just a very lucky man."

"Do you think it's coincidence that the Glory and her entourage visit then you get attacked by that creature... Within, literally, seconds?"

"It was I that stirred up the creature," Nathaniel says, "Or perhaps my astral visit to the Temple of Donai. I am now convinced that it followed me back here to my body."

Then he adds, "You should not suspect the Glory, Alaric. She acted in my best interests and used her powers to restore life to this pitiful shell. It is not her fault that my silver cord had been severed."

"Its not only the Glory I'm concerned about. There's Serkin and that guarlrd as well "

"So, what was it you were looking for at the temple...you mentioned the Warlord's murder?"