by L. Itram and Ben Yackley Main * Story * Setting * Cast * Illustrations * About * Comment

Chapter 8: Meanwhile, on the Highway (Posted on 12/11/02 )

The moon was rising, a slender silver crescent hanging low over the trees in a twilit purple sky. Viola and Kai sat by a small campfire which was half hidden by alchemical equipment: flasks, bowls and crucibles in which bubbled various sinister-looking mixtures as well as small foldable stands designed to keep their contents fixed distances above the flames. Kai ground seeds in a mortar and pestle, pausing now and then to check on the contents of one container or another. Viola stared gloomily at the flames.

Today had not been a productive day, she mused. Due to her companion's dawdling and herb-gathering they had covered scarcely more than half the distance to the next inn; had she been alone, she would have been sleeping in a real bed by now instead of sitting by a campfire. Correction - had she been alone she would have been in Estevas by now instead of ten hours away in the middle of the wilderness. She glared at the fire.

"I'd say today's been a productive day," said Kai, poking the contents of one of the pots with a stick before turning back to the mix he was grinding. "Nearly two dozen new samples," he added after a slight pause. He glanced over at Viola and frowned slightly. Something was amiss. "We should be passing an inn tomorrow morning, Viola. We can check in there, spend the day exploring. Save you from sleeping outdoors again."

Viola couldn't contain her anger any longer. "Oh, can ye go any slower, Kai!"

"Wha?"

"We have been dawdling fer two days now on account o' yer precious samples! I could ha' been in Estevas yesterday, but no, ye must fool around with yer herbs. Were ye not so damned nice all the time I'd ha' left ye ta get lost on yer own without a second thought!"

Kai's ears drooped; he looked about as small and forlorn as was possible for a seven foot tall Ertseti. "I didn't know you were in a hurry, Viola..." Then wounded pride reasserted itself slightly. "But this is important research. That healing salve I used on you yesterday wasn't just 'fooling around'." Viola nodded reluctantly. "I had to use a higher dose because of your Instillment; I'm brewing up a more concentrated batch so you won't need as much. And look here --" he lifted the lid off a crucible to reveal a bubbling brown liquid. "This is an anti-venom. And that one over there grants temporary fire breath. Okay, maybe that's not quite vital but the others are."

"What's that one?" asks Viola, pointing to a large flask with mushrooms soaking in boiling water.

"That? Oh, that's dinner."

"Dinner?!" Viola stared at him, disbelieving. "Yer makin' us dinner?"

Kai shrunk back, "Well...yes. We haven't eaten since noon..."

"That's what I hate about ye, Kai! Ye can't stop bein' so nice ta me. But I'm hurryin' ta Estevas and ye've been naught but a chain 'round me tail!"

"I'm sorry, Viola...you never said you had to be there right away."

"What would ye ha' done if I'd said?" muttered Viola.

Kai handed her a bowl in response. "Look, it's not dark yet. We can still cover some more miles. Eat up your stew and I'll make something to get us really moving."

Viola accepted the bowl reluctantly and let Kai spoon in some of the mixture. "All right. A few more miles is better than nothing."

Kai beamed. "Great! We'll be on the road before you know it."

Viola sighed and slurped her soup, watching Kai rummage through his backpack, occasionally muttering things under his breath. "Right...right...ugh, I forgot I pickled the last of the wingbuds..." He sat on his heels and glared at a random spot of ground until inspiration struck. "I know!...no, wait, that takes three days. I could...no I can't...Wait, yes, I can!" She couldn't understand why he was going to all that trouble. Is he trying to placate me so I won't yell at him again? Or could it be that he's really this nice to everyone?

After several minutes of rummaging, followed by chopping and grinding of ingredients, Kai balanced yet another crucible on a portable ring-stand, then proceeded to sift the various powders and bits of plant matter into it along with a small amount of water "to make sure they mix. And now for the most important ingredient," he added, opening a small box and taking out a pinch of tiny yellow seeds. "These are seeds of wandering rosemary," he explained to Viola. "See, it's called that because the seeds drop off the plant and --"

"Kai!"

"-- then they go and, yes, what?"

"Just make the potion."

"Oh. All right."

As the potion brewed Viola helped Kai pack up his other mixtures, which he poured into jars and carefully labeled "Unfinished!!!!" Then they set to work on their soup which, he had explained, was made from dried mushrooms and freshly gathered local roots and herbs -- guaranteed to have no unusual side effects. She had to admit he was an excellent cook, though she never would have said so aloud... Yet, she felt decidedly awkward. Nobody in her life had ever cared enough to make food this good for her, or cared what she thought of it. And she had never really expected anyone to.

"Soup's okay?" Kai leaned over, trying to see her expression. "I can put in more pepper."

"No, it's ... it's very nice."

"Okay." Kai dried out his own bowl with a handful of grass. "It should be done boiling now... Yes, it's done." He slipped a lacquered wooden carrying case out of his bag. "No, finish up your dinner, there's one more step." As Viola sipped the last of her broth he unlatched the case and pulled out a small glass cup and --

"That's a featherglass, isn't it?" she commented, dredging up memories of her freshman Survey of Magical Materials course. "For collecting ether from the air?"

Kai closed the carrying case and carefully placed the round flask on top. It was half full of a misty liquid and had a stopper shaped like an elaborately branching fern or a feathery tree. "That's right. And I still have plenty left, which is a good thing since you're in a hurry. With one this size, I'd have to leave it out all day to get even half a cup's worth." He poured a careful amount into the cup, which she noticed was scored at regular intervals with fine horizontal lines. "Now where did I put my tongs? Here we go." In went the contents of the crucible as Kai swirled the mixture together, watching it turn golden brown. "Perfect. Now ... wait, hold this." Viola took the cup from him and watched as he moved the ring-stand and crucible away from the fire to cool, then carefully put away the featherglass. "Thank you. Now ... okay, why don't you just wait here. I'll be back in a minute." Before she could ask where he was going he took the cup and vanished into the bushes. "Don't look, I'll be out in a second. Just finish your stew!" Viola looked down at her empty bowl, then shrugged in bemusement.

Knowing him, he's probably off hunting for a ... what was it? ... a walking rosemary to carry our baggage. Is it getting brighter here?

Sure enough, a dull yellow glow was shining through the foliage. It didn't look -- or smell -- like fire, however. It didn't sound like fire, either, but there was a rumbling, grinding noise like rocks scraping together or, the thought creeped into Viola's head, like bones breaking. "Kai, what are ye doin' back there!?" He's found himself another monster! she thought. Or it's found him!

"I'm fine!" came the slightly shaky response. "Just -- stay there. I'll be out in a second."

Viola frowned but stayed by the campfire. He wouldn't sound so coherent if he were in the process of being eaten. She dried out her bowl and tucked it back in her bag.

"Sorry for the wait," said a voice behind her, "but I had to get my pants back on and it was sort of a reach. What?"

"Kai...was that what the potion was for?"

Kai looked down at his feet. "Uh ... yeah. You didn't think I grew legs every new moon, did you? That would just be weird." Indeed his lower body was now quadrupedal: a bulky square shape covered in matching grey-brown fur with four long thin legs and split hooves. If Viola had bothered to take any classes in ecology, she would have recognized it as remarkably similar to that of a waterbuck.

"I don't see why you're so shocked," he continued, swishing the tufted tail which poked out of -- Good grief, thought Viola, But he really does seem the sort of person who would try to put pants on an antelope. "I mean," he continued, kneeling to pack up the rest of the equipment, "You did the same thing to yourself, right? This'll only last a few hours, but even so -- "

"That was completely different!" Viola finally regained control of her voice. "And if ye dunna understand why, I canna explain it ta ye."

Kai cringed. "Yeah, okay, if you say so. Anyway, this was the best I could do on short notice. Let's get everything packed up, okay?"

"Aye..." mumbled Viola.

I don't understand it at all, she mused, packing up her own luggage, first he changes his plans, now he changes his body and all because I say I'm in a hurry. What's wrong with this guy? "Here, ye need a hand with that, Kai? I'm all finished."

Kai had been right about one thing, thought Viola as she perched sidesaddle, clinging to his backpack with two arms while the other pair clutched her own luggage: this was certainly faster, even if a bit uncomfortable. Growing up in the city, she didn't have much experience in riding bareback and certainly not with her arms full of camping gear. It must be at least as bad for him, however, especially at this speed.

"Kai, are ye doin' okay?" she shouted over the wind.

"Yeah," he panted, "Doing -- just -- fine."

"Are ye sure yer okay?" she asked, fifteen minutes later.

"Yeah!" A pause. "No! Not -- used -- to this." He slowed down to a canter, then a walk. "I need -- a break."

"Sit and rest, then. We'll make camp here."

"No, I'm okay. Anyway, they say you're not -- supposed to sit down -- after running."

"Do they? Whyever for?"

"Beats me. Makes your heart explode or something." Viola tried to come up with a good response to that one, but didn't get a chance. "Did we pass an inn?" asked Kai.

"Nae yet."

"Okay. Let's see if we can get there. Hang on."

"Kai," shouted Viola as he started to speed up again, "yer a loony!"

"Can't hear you! Talk later!"

"Rooms are all upstairs," said Viola, returning from a long discussion with the innkeeper. "This way."

"Sounds great," responded Kai. "I've got aches in places that didn't even exist yesterday."

"That's what ye get fer bein' reckless."

"Hey, we're not sleeping outdoors, right?"

"True, true. Here's the stair. Let's go."

"Uh, Viola...?"

Viola stopped at the head of the stairs and looked back down. Kai's face was just visible around the corner of the landing. "What is it?"

"I think I'm stuck..."

With a silent sigh she went back down the stairs. He had squeezed his way up the first part of the stairwell but didn't have enough room to maneuver the turn. "Aye, ye are. Well, lemme take yer bag up to the room and ye can wait in the tavern until it wears off."

"Okay ... wait, I don't think there's enough room for that, either."

Viola bit back a retort. "Just go and wait downstairs, then. I'll join ye in a minute."

Kai was kneeling at a table, looking through a notebook when Viola returned. "Uh, Viola..."

I don't like that tone of voice... "Aye?"

"Remember when I said the potion would wear off in a few hours?"

"Aye?" She could see what was coming and she didn't like it.

"I uh, think I used too much wandering rosemary and not enough -- "

"How long?"

"A day. Maybe a bit less. But don't worry about it," he quickly added, "I can sleep in the stables. I already asked the landlord and -- "

"Nae ye won't."

"Wha?"

"Ye'll do nae such thing. I paid for a double room and I'd rather be shaven bald than sleep in the women's common."

"But I can't get up the stairs!"

"Underestimate me not, Kai. I, too, am a mage. Wait here." And before Kai could protest, she vanished. Literally.

Viola teleported her way up the stairs and counted doors until she reached her room. Fortunately it had a window, which she opened and stuck her head out of, scanning the road below.

"No problem," she said to herself as her surroundings changed again. "Kai, step outside."

"Wha?" Kai jumped several feet in the air, nearly hitting his head on the tavern ceiling. "Viola..."

"Now, Kai."

He trailed out after her. "You don't have to --"

"Shush." Viola counted windows. "There. Ye see that window above us? T'is our room. I'll just teleport ye inta it. Stay there, I need some rope."

"Rope? What for? ... Viola?"

Kai waited. A few minutes later the window above him opened and a coil of rope hit him on the head.

"Ow!"

"Stand on the end."

"What?"

"O' the rope, Kai." Viola glared down at him, still holding the other end of the coil.

"Yes, ma'am. Now what?"

"Now stay there. I need ta make some calculations." She gathered up the slack, then held something up to the rope and made an adjustment. "Okay, let go."

"What?"

"O' the rope, Kai."

Kai moved one hoof off the rope, then watched it vanish into the window.

"What in the world is she doing?"

If Kai had been inside the inn at this point, he would have been equally bewildered. Viola measured the distance between the points of her calipers, then scribbled in a small pocket notebook. Next, she took a length of twine with colored beads knotted at regular intervals. It looked like a geomancer's charm-rope, but all Viola did with it was to measure out the borrowed rope up to her chalk mark, the dimensions of the room and the height of the window -- all of which went into the notebook. Satisfied, she turned to the case which contained the tools of her trade.

Kinto had the six-foot tall staff he mainly used for aiming lightning bolts; Luen had his trappers' chalice. Viola's own equipment was more mundane: along with the calipers and measuring string she carried a straight-edge, a small compass, a leather-bound book of trigonometric tables, a ball of twine and a few other drafting implements. Not a single item in the kit was enchanted or magical-looking; probably the most exotic-looking of the batch was a silver peg with a wicked point at one end and a ring at the other. Viola turned to this item next. She tied one end of the twine to the peg, then stabbed it into the center of the floor.

"Kai, how big are you?"

"What? Uh...about twice the size I was yesterday?"

Viola sighed and stepped to the window. "Front to back -- measure!"

There was a muffled "Ow!" as her largest measuring string hit him on the head.

"Well?"

"Uh...hang on..."

Viola tapped her foot.

"Eighty beads. Or maybe eighty three. I lost count. Wait, am I supposed to count the one on the end, too?"

Viola hmphed and measured out four feet of twine, which she used to chalk a circle on the floor. "Ye break that, yer gettin' me another one," she muttered. "Now, fer tha figures..." She reached for the chalk and started sketching out a series of calculations around the edge of the circle, interspersed with runes.

"Kai? Ye ready?"

Kai looked up from the beaded cat's cradle he'd been playing with for the past five minutes. "What do I do?"

"Don't move. And keep yer arms and tail close to yer body," she added as an afterthought.

He wrapped his arms around himself nervously. "Uh, right. Ready!"

There was a faint purple glow from the window, followed by one from the ground as a glowing circle appeared around him. He thought he saw mathematical symbols scattered around the edges but wasn't sure.

"I really hope she knows what she's doing..." he mumbled, before the universe pulled him in five opposite directions.

"Kai? Did ye leave yer tongue behind?"

Kai looked around the room, then down at the circle, still faintly glowing. "Wow. That was impressive." He brushed at a few purple sparks clinging to him.

Viola took a bow. "Thank ye. Now let's put the luggage down and get some sleep."

"Sure thing." He set the luggage -- most of it his -- in a corner and pulled a blanket off one of the beds as Viola sat on the other and removed her boots.

"One more question, though?"

"Aye?"

"How am I going to get back down tomorrow?"

"We'll figure that one out in tha morning. G'night."

"Sorry to make you go through this again, Viola," said Kai, handing Viola her bag.

"'Tis nae trouble at all. I just used tha same calculations. Here, I picked this up downstairs for ye."

"What's this?", asked Kai as he took the small wrapped package from Viola.

"Breakfast. Ye can eat it while we walk."

"Hey, Viola?"

"Aye?"

"What sort of plants grow on Glyphic Mountain?"

Alternately walking and cantering, they arrived in Estevas by mid-afternoon. Kai gazed up at the city. "It's gonna be fun negotiating all those steps."

"They must have some way o' carrying supplies up and down," said Viola doubtfully. "Maybe we can borrow one o' those mine carts. First, however, let's find a tavern and see the lay o' tha land." And find out whether Luen and Kinto are still around. I'd be very surprised if they haven't arrived yet.

"Uh, Viola? I think the lay of the land is up."

"Mining town? Where've you been for the last thirty years, huh?"

Viola glared at the bartender eye to eyepatch and refrained from reminding him about why it's important to be polite to customers, especially customers who happen to be mages. "All I wanted ta know is if ye 'ave any news about some friends o' mine."

"Oh, certainly. If there's news to be had, I have it. And if there's drinks to be had, you can have those!" Viola smiled politely and waited for him to stop laughing.

"A blue Vadhan and an orange Tximisti," she explained. "Mages. Can't be many that fit that description around here."

"Oh, the lightning fellow and his friend. 'Course I've seen 'em. I remember when they first walked into this bar like it was yesterday. Fact is, I think it was yesterday."

Don't yell at him, Viola reminded herself, You still need more information. And this is not the town to start a fight in.

"-- nearly got into a fight with Mia. Yes, I knew as soon as I laid eyes on those two that they'd go far. 'You stick around here, boys, and you'll go far' was what I told 'em. Or maybe it was 'You go far, boys, or you'll be stuck here'. Anyway, wha'd you want to know?"

"Are they still in town?"

"That they are. Staying in the inn by the training ground, just ask anyone to point the way... Saaay, you're not the girl they were looking for, are you?"

"Excuse me?"

"The blue one, Luen, said he was trying to find a Levendish girl with four arms. Seemed mighty worried she hadn't shown up in town."

Viola narrowed her eyes. "That may be me," she responded coldly, "But I'm not certain I'm here looking fer him."

The bartender nodded understandingly. "Walked out on him, huh? I know how it is. Why back before I lost my hand, this girl --"

"I'm simply looking fer information, sir," Viola interrupted.

"Right, right. That's what I'm here for. Information and drinks. Hey, is the dopey looking boy outside with you?"

"Fer tha moment, aye. Though I'd thought ta leave him here."

"I wouldn't recommend that. It's a rough town and he doesn't look like he'd last very long in a fight, though I wager he'd get a few bruises in with those legs of his. Still, he's better than nothing."

"Are ye sayin' I need a man fer protection?" Viola's voiced dropped the temperature in the room by several degrees.

"No, no! I'd never say a thing like that, especially not where Mia could hear me. I just think the both of you should watch your steps and be on your way as soon as you can. You two seem like nice kids and nice kids have a habit of missing the obvious and getting in trouble. Just don't take any bets or look funny at anyone or get into any contests and you'll do fine until the next coach arrives tomorrow morning."

"Thank ye, but we have no plans o' leavin' by coach. We're goin' mountain climbing."

"So did you find out what you wanted to know?" asked Kai as they left the tavern.

"Aye, they're here."

"Who?"

"Tha two loonies I was travelling with. They got here before we did. And they're looking for me."

"Great! You know where they're staying?"

"Tisnae great, Kai." Viola stopped walking and turned back to glare at him. "I left them. They were incompetent and did naught but slow me down."

"But they still got here first," Kai pointed out.

"Aye -- on account o' me swapping one slowpoke for another," said Viola, walking away at a faster pace.

Kai looked down, "If you had told me you were in such a hurry..."

"Aye, I know. I'm not mad at ye anymore, Kai. If I were, I'd have warped meself away by now."

Kai trotted after her. "But I don't get it, Viola," he continued in that same innocent, curious tone. "Why haven't you?"

Viola winced inwardly. If only he knew how many times she'd considered doing just that. "Because..." Why is he still tagging along? I promised myself I'd leave him here ... so why does the thought of doing so not cheer me up? "...What, do ye want me ta leave ye?"

"No-o-o...I was just wondering why you put up with me and not them?"

"Ye're a darn sight more polite than Luen ever was, fer one. And a better cook."

Kai waited, but Viola had nothing more to say.

"You know what your problem is?" he asked after a long silence, lengthening his stride so he was walking next to her. Viola turned to glare at him, but he held up a finger before she could open her mouth. "Your problem, Viola, is that you're too nice for your own good."

Funny, I would have said the same about you, she thought. "Aye, and what do ye mean by that? I just told ye I left my team an' ye call me nice?"

"Yes, but you must have put up with a lot from them. No, no, listen to me, Viola. You saved my life, remember? You could've just continued on your way, but you risked your own life to help me. And," he continued before she could protest, "I dragged you off on plant-gathering trips for two days and you didn't say a thing, even though you were in such a hurry to get here."

I said several things, thought Viola, remembering all her sarcastic little remarks over the past few days. But he never noticed. And yet he accuses me of being too nice?

"It must've been eating you up inside that whole time but you were afraid to hurt my feelings. No wonder you exploded! Look, Viola, it's okay to speak your mind when you're upset about something. You don't need to bottle your emotions up like you do."

"...thank ye, Kai," responded Viola weakly, still trying to make sense of this sudden reversal. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Good. I think it'll help you deal with your old friends, too. Uh, Viola?"

"Aye?"

"Where are we going?"

Viola folded her arms. "We're going," she announced with the certainty of a split-second decision, "ta find a pair o' mages."

Luen and Kinto were not at the inn, but the landlord and more than half of the loafers in the lobby were happy to direct the newcomers.

"Have y'tried the tavern yet?"

"Nah, they're probably getting equipment for that big expedition."

"Mia'll know where they are. Ask her."

"You dope! She'll chew the lady up. She may not mind her rep bein' tarnished in town 'cause we all know she can beat us blindfolded, but if an out-of-towner comes asking for Kinto..."

"I'll get 'em."

There was a sudden silence as everyone turned toward the small, skinny Aezite leaning against the door to the cellar. "Make yourselves comfortable, I'll get 'em back here within the hour."

"How -- " asked Kai, but the teenager had already raced out the door.

"Have a seat," said the innkeeper. "Jill knows the town backwards, she'll find 'em for you."

Luen was cleaning and reloading his chalice when someone skidded to a halt behind him. "'Scuse me?"

"Yeah?" He squinted up at the figure. It was that kid who ran errands for the innkeeper -- he couldn't remember her name, though.

"Someone's been askin' about you and him," the girl nodded in the direction of Kinto, who was busy demolishing a target with his new staff.

"Oh? What did this someone look like?"

"There's two of 'em. They're at the inn now. A purple Levendish lady with extra arms and a really tall man with extra legs."

"Sounds like Viola found a new friend," he mumbled. "Hey, Kinto! Playtime's over!"

"Thought you'd wanna know before they found you," she added.

"Thanks, kid."

"Hey, anything for Mia's friends."

"That was fast," remarked Kai as Jill returned, leading the procession.

"They were trainin' out back." She stuck her tongue out at the person who had suggested the tavern.

Her former companions had done well in her absence, Viola noticed. Not only had they somehow made friends with half the town, they had gotten themselves new armor to boot. Luen still carried his old trusty chalice but was now dressed in a chain-mail shirt and a headband with runic symbols printed on it. A small buckler fitted over his left arm; he carried it awkwardly as though he hadn't much practice with it yet.

"Look who's decided to show up, Kinto."

Kinto stepped into the room after him. He had replaced his staff for a newer model - six feet long with a spiky tip inset with a small crystal - and wore black leather armor which had to have been custom-made for him, covered with flat metal plates on the chest, arms, legs, and even along his tail. "Who -- Viola! Yer back!"

"Aye, did ye miss me? I would ha' left ferever, but I knew ye wouldnae get far alone. And here ye still are."

"I think we've done just fine on our own, matter of fact," responded Luen, trying hard to hide his relief at seeing her alive and well. "But I really am glad to see you safe."

"He was goin' crazy th'whole time you were gone," added Kinto. "Completely impossible t'live with."

Luen quickly changed the subject. "So who's your friend?"

"Kai is from Featherglass, believe it or not. I ran across him on tha way here."

"She rescued me actually. Uh, and I don't usually look like this."

"'Tis a long story," Viola interrupted, before Luen could ask. "So when do we leave ta find that Shard?"

"Yer comin' with us?" asked Kinto.

"I do still have yer map, Kinto."

"Oh. Yeah. But what made y'change yer mind?" he pressed, ignoring the shushing motions Luen was making in his direction.

Viola paused. "Let's just say I felt sorry fer ye and figured I could put up with yer nonsense a bit longer," she finally responded. "Besides, we're nearly done with our quest."

"Hey, looks like you found your girlfriend," a new voice chimed in.

"She's not my girlfriend, Mia!" Luen grumbled.

"I'm naebody's girlfriend!," snapped Viola at the same time.

"Yeah, whatever. Ain'cha gonna introduce me?"

"Right, yeah. Mia, this is Viola, the friend we were looking for. That's Kai, who I've never met before. This is Mia."

"Fastest shot in town," responded the spiky-haired woman, "soon's you guys get outta here."

"Mia's th'one who got us th'new armor," explained Kinto.

"Hey, can't win 'em all."

"I was just about to ask Viola if tomorrow morning was a good time for her to leave." Luen said to Mia. Turning back to Viola, "You'll want to pick up some equipment of your own. I can give you the names of a couple places."

"Sounds good ta me. We'll need extra supplies, too." She nodded in Kai's direction.

"You're comin' with?" asked Kinto in surprise. He glanced back at Luen, but the latter didn't seem inclined to argue.

"We'll need a healer, o' course," explained Viola, "And Kai can cook a darn sight better than either o' ye."

"Herbalist, actually," corrected Kai.

"You want to come along?" asked Luen skeptically.

Kai briefly explained his field project. "Glyphic Mountain is known to have a high chroma concentration; imagine the sorts of plants that would grow in that environment. Besides, how often do you get a chance to find a legendary lost Shard of Heaven?"

"The more the merrier, I guess." responded Luen. "But I don't understand why a botany class would send a lower-division student halfway across the world."

"Uh, actually they don't. Something trampled my chromatically infused lettuce patch at the beginning of the second semester. The professor's field of specialty is Aezite flora and since I'd been doing so well up until then, he took pity on me."

"Some pity," grinned Mia while Kinto tried to look as innocent and nonchalant as possible. "Sounds like he wanted t'get rid of you. Anyway, I've got people to see, things to do. I'll let Neysa know he's getting a couple more customers. Toodles!"

"Thanks, Mia!" said Kinto as she left.

"We need to get a room and then go shopping," added Viola. "We'll meet ye back here fer dinner."

"Right. And tomorrow, we leave. Glyphic Mountain, here we come."