Then
Nalcara sighed as she looked across the rooftops of Carpenden. It was not a huge city but it was large enough. They had most certainly come through this way, but where had they gone? And how long ago? She had to be catching up. She hoped. Slipping to invisibility, she stepped off the roof of the stable she'd spent the night in, and began to weave through the buildings around it. She would need to start checking the inns for some trace of her quarry's passage, and perhaps there destination. Fortunately for her, Jix seemed to make an impression where ever she went.
Nalcara had spoken with dozens of boatmen who'd ferried them down the waterways flowing south. "Yeah, I member the green fairy girl." One old timer had told her. "Tiny thing, but she wern't afeared 'o' nuffin'. Saw her fly out by herself ta take care 'o' some bastards shootin' at us from the bank. Dunno what she did, but they didn't like it."
Several of the wealthier families along the route remembered the mage and her fairy as well. The adults spoke of the mage and the work she'd done for them. The children had different stories. "Jix? Yes! When Garand was being mean to us she made him small and scared him away."
She'd heard of their new companion from a caravan that they had traveled with. "Oh, aye. Tallish girl. Blonde hair. Traveling with the mage and her fairy. Did most of the talkin'. Though the green one put her two copper in pretty regular."
"That sounds just like her." Nalcara said. "Do you know where they went."
The man shrugged. "They split with us at Highhelm. Headed 'cross the mountains I think. South."
South. Always south. Nalcara took some dim satisfaction in that they were running out of land. She worried they might be headed to Absalom, or worse yet, across the Inner Sea, but she would cross that bridge if it came to that. For now, she focused on the next clue.
The atomie cruised stealthily around town, surveying the local inns, before landing behind one and assuming her human shape with the 'alter self' spell. A 'disguise self' was also necessary, as her clothing didn't adjust, but it made her indistinguishable from any other woman out for a stroll. And so disguised, she could interview innkeepers without causing a scene.
"Sorry. No green fairies here." The barman said. "Heard about one bein' in town, but didn't come in here."
"I see. Well, thank you for your time." Nalcara hadn't learned anything useful. None of the inns recalled an atomie passing through. The trail was growing cold, and she wracked her brain for any shred of a lead. "Are there any magic shops near by?" Sarah was a wizard after all. Maybe she stopped for supplies.
"Oh, yeah. There's that elf on the edge of town." The barman replied. "Couldn't tell you where, exactly. Never been. And I guess there's a new one near by, just opened up. Guard can probably tell you where.
New mage in town! Opened a shop! Eldest, could it be? Nalcara stammered another thank you to the confused barkeep and rushed out the door. Once outside, she scanned the street for a guard's uniform. It took her a few blocks to actually spot one. "Excuse me, good sir, but I'm told there is a new shop for magic around here." She struggled to keep her voice calm and polite. She could be so close! Was she? "Could I trouble you for directions?"
"Of course, ma'am." The guard was a somewhat hulking young man, but pleasant enough. "Two blocks up and one over. But you're in luck. That's the mage, over there. Just follow her. Looks like she's headed home."
Nalcara's breath actually caught in her throat as she turned to follow the guard's pointing finger.
Now
"Good morning, Terra." Narani said as she strolled into Leather Bound. She was dressed simply, in a snug blouse and breeches with her Calistrian holy symbol hanging in modest cleavage. A whip coiled on her hip and leather boots completed the ensemble. "Is Sarah ready for me?"
"Hey Nara." The girl replied brightly from behind her counter. "She ought to be. She's been working in there since before dawn... and it's... oh gosh, I'd better get her some lunch. She forgets to eat when she gets like this. Just go ahead and knock on the door. Tell her I'll be in in a bit."
Narani chuckled. "She's lucky to have you." She moved toward the door. "Most days I'd have been more than happy to let my superiors starve."
"Well, I do like having a job." Terra replied, slipping out from behind the counter. "And, you know, no magic shop without a mage."
Narani rapped lightly on the door she knew led to Sarah's workshop. Receiving a vocal reply, she entered, finding the room warm and steamy, stemming from a bubbling cauldron over the fireplace. "Ah, I see your plan." The cleric purred. "You keep it so warm in here, you expect me to start shedding clothes to stay comfortable. Clever. Shall I just strip now?"
"W-hat?" Sarah stammered as she turned to greet her visitor. "I didn't... I mean..."
The mage closed her eyes and took a breath, recognizing her friend's teasing. "You've got me. I don't actually need your assistance. I just wanted to stare at your naked backside bent over my desk. Hello Nara. Thank you for coming."
"Oh, don't tease, Sarah." Narani pouted before breaking into a grin. "Terra says lunch will be served shortly. Now, how does this work? I've never made potions before."
"The difficult part is done." Replied Sarah, gesturing to the cauldron. "In a few minutes, I'll hand you a vial with the base solution, you cast a spell in to it and cork it. How many healing spells do you have available?"
"I asked Calistria for four of the lowest tier. Cure lights, as the adventurers call them." Narani replied.
"Very good." Said Sarah. "I should be able the finish off the rest with the spells I have prepared. Will two of the potions be appropriate compensation?"
Narani accepted a lightly steaming vial the mage offered her. "Most agreeable. We don't have a potion-maker at the shrine. All our potions are purchased." She eye-balled the liquid before casting her spell in to it. The substance illuminated briefly before settling to a translucent blue-green. "Huh. That's it?" The cleric held the glass up to the light of the window before corking it. "Looks like a potion to me."
Narani finished her work quickly, setting two of the new potions down on Sarah's workbench, and slipping two into her belt pouch. "Wonderful! Next time you do this, let me know a day or so in advance, so I can ask for the proper spells."
"Of course." Sarah smiled back. "I know how that works. Thank you for your help. If we keep this up every few weeks, we should be able to build a fair stock of potions."
"Indeed." The cleric returned. "There was one more thing I wanted to discuss. On Fireday, a bard will be performing at the Maiden. She's a friend and member of the Society. She passes through now and again, and winters with Lara at the manor. I'd like to introduce you. She is however, quite popular, and I'm guessing the place will be quite crowded."
Sarah felt her stomach clench as her friend spoke. Crowds; people in general, still made her cringe. The Moonday meetings were getting easier, but those were populated by, for the most part, friends. Strangers, even distant acquaintances gave her fits. And in large numbers... She raised her eyes to the cleric who was gazing back calmly. She knew exactly what she was asking, damn it.
"You will, of course, be my guest and join me at Lara's table." Narani put in, anticipating the mage's hesitation. "Jean and Sini will also be joining us. And I've invited Jossi. Terra, it seems, has already been invited to join Korina with some other guards."
Sarah exhaled a long breath. "You've put some preparation in to this, so it would be rude to disappoint. Shall I meet you there?"
"I will drop by and escort you." Narani replied with a warm smile. "I am aware how difficult this will be, so I will do what I can to make it easier. I am a professional companion after all."
"I feel better already." Sarah said with a hint of her trademark deadpan humor.
Narani rolled her eyes but could not suppress a grin. "You will have the time of your life." She smirked. "Just you wait." She turned to leave. "I'll see you on Fireday."
"Time of my life." Sarah sighed when the cleric had gone. "Some how I doubt--" *clonk* The mage started as a block of wood that had until that point, been seated squarely on the side plane of her workbench came loose and fell to the floor. She considered it a moment before glancing out the window to the sundial in the back. "Huh." She muttered. "Right on time."
- - -
Sarah was not having the time of her life. The atmosphere around her was indeed festive. However, the Shackled Maiden was packed to near bursting. Many of the trademark dungeon accoutrements had been moved aside to make room for the extra people. The mage's nerves were practically humming. Granted, it could have been worse. She sat at the Lady Silver's table, which was a small buffer from the greater mass of people. And there were many familiar faces sprinkled through out the crowd. Terra was visible with Captain Tarnhoff at a raucous table nearby. The dancers had been conscripted as waitstaff for the evening. In fact most of the Society seemed to be here tonight, though it was odd to see them with their husbands and families.
Then there was the headliner; the bard that had drawn such a large crowd. A voluptuous, dusky-skinned woman named Katerna Starfall. She was certainly a distraction. Her wit was razor sharp. Her voice was crystal clear. Her outfit was cut to accentuate the form underneath. She worked the entire crowd effortlessly. If Sarah allowed her mind to relax, she could almost forget where she was. Almost.
"She's really good, right?"
Sarah glanced to Jossi, seated to her left. She had been working to make conversation all night, and the mage had been struggling not to disappoint her. "She does have an impressive vocal range. And the influence she's had on the local dancers is obvious. Her humor is a little... base for my taste, but I suppose for a tavern crowd it's perfect. I can see why she's popular."
"Uh," The young engineer blinked, having gotten a bit more than she expected. "Glad you're enjoying it?"
"Analysis helps Sarah cope with the dearth of people here tonight." Said Narani from Sarah's other side. "I do apologize, Sarah. This is even more of a crowd than I expected. I'd like to introduce you to Kata before I escort you home, however."
